The 10 Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1000

Human Made

Affiliate Links

Penned by Kody Wirth

Kody is our expert Destiny 2 and shooter genre writer. He lives in Oregon.

Reviewed by

We’ve already caught glimpses of what the next generation of gaming look likes. Ray tracing, infinite polygons, universal light sources, and games that look so photo-realistic, it’s like you’re watching a movie. Pretty incredible, right?

But that’s not even the best part. With all the advancements in technology, the cost of quality components has also gone way down. No longer do you have to shell out thousands for a personalized PC build — you can play all your favorite games (on respectable settings) with one of the best prebuilt PCs under $1,000.

If talk of the next generation of consoles has you yearning for an upgraded PC, here are our top 10 picks for prebuilt PCs that won’t break the bank.

Zoom In: 10 Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1,000

Starting with our favorite, let’s go through all the top options on the market.

1. HP Pavilion Gaming PC

The best prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000 overall

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: HP | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: Intel Core i5 9400F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti | Price: 💰💰💰

HP’s PC models are all about customization and meeting you at your price-point. That is why the HP Pavilion Desktop acting as a souped-up version of their standard Pavilion PCs makes so much sense. 

Despite it being the more expensive and powerful version of the Pavilion, the price is still quite fair. Depending on the specific model you choose, you can easily get a PC that seamlessly runs 1080p graphics for as little as $750. And while you’d think this PC would be much larger, it’s incredibly lightweight and compact.

Now, all that praise aside, there are some drawbacks to this little powerhouse. The lack of memory and SSD drive means you’ll likely be looking for additional components. And unfortunately, if you do plan on switching anything out, doing so will be tricky. That’s because the panels and internal workings are not easy to remove, even with the right tools. 

2. Alienware Aurora R11

The best prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000 runner-up

View on Dell

Manufacturer: Alienware | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: Intel Core i5 10400F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Price: 💰💰💰

Alienware knows how to make swanky PCs that just so happen to be incredibly powerful and versatile. We’re happy to report that their track record hasn’t changed with the release of the Aurora R11. Completely upgradeable, you’re in control of precisely how powerful you want your build to be. 

For the sake of this list, we’ll stick with the stock option since most upgrades push the price above the $1,000 threshold. But that’s the beauty of this PC — it can grow with you. Sure, the 8GB HyperX Fury DDR4 is easily enough to start with, but what if you want additional memory sometime down the line? 

Thankfully, Alienware makes upgrading simple and eliminates the guesswork that comes with adding onto your PC. While the parts can get spendy, the support for swap-in and swap-out capabilities is honestly worth it.

3. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme

The best prebuilt PC under $1,000 for VR

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: CyberpowerPC | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: Intel Core i5 9400F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 | Price: 💰💰💰

If you’re looking for a VR-ready PC, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is right for you. With an Intel i5 processor and GTX 1660 graphics card, it’s built to squeeze every bit of power and performance out of AAA titles and VR experiences — even when set to the highest visual settings.

That said, one major drawback of this PC is its large and bulky design. Yes, it’s made that way to make cooling a non-issue, but it’s also difficult to move around and fit under smaller desks. Thankfully, its sleek look somewhat hides the issue, but you’ll want to think about where you plan to put the dang thing.

If bulkiness doesn’t bother you and you enjoy the idea of a plug-and-play VR experience, this is an excellent option for a reasonable price. And as a bonus, you get a lovely RGB-capable keyboard and mouse right out of the box. Can’t beat it.

4. iBUYPOWER Pro 134 Av2

The best upgradeable prebuilt PC under $1,000

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: IBUYPOWER | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3200G | GPU: NVIDIA GT 1030 | Price: 💰💰💰

Some PCs work as a long-term investment. This is the case when everything about it screams longevity, well-rounded play, and the potential for upgrading.

The iBUYPOWER Pro 134 Av2 is that and more — a versatile machine built with components that never leave anything on the table due to incompatibility. That is, except for the graphics card, which is a bit weaker than you’d expect for a build like this.

Luckily, like our number one pick, this PC is designed for upgrading. Snag it at a reasonable price, and improve it as you need. The choice is yours.

Again, this PC was designed as a long-lasting and upgradable advancement. It does the job now and can handle titles like Fortnite and Warzone without any performance issues.

5. SkyTech Archangel

The most well-rounded prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: SkyTech | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | GPU: GeForce GTX 1660 | Price: 💰💰💰

Sometimes the best PC for the price is one that simply gets the job done, and the SkyTech Archangel does just that. Running on a Ryzen 5 3600, you’ll have a top-tier CPU fueling your PC. Unfortunately, the rest of the components don’t quite hit that high mark, and you simply won’t get the most out of your CPU.

But oddly enough, that’s ok. The 500 GB SSD and GTX 1660 graphics card work in tandem with the Ryzen 5 to bring you smooth and snappy frame rates with little to no lag. Sure, you might not be able to play at the highest visual settings, but it all works incredibly well together.

And if you think about it, the best thing about this PC is that you can build off an incredibly powerful processor.

6. HP Omen Ryzen 5-Series

The best compact prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000

View on Best Buy

Manufacturer: Omen | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: MD Ryzen 5 3600 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER | Price: 💰💰💰

When you think of Omen PCs, a price tag under $1,000 probably doesn’t come to mind. While typically you’d be right, the Ryzen 5-Series breaks that trend. Taking some of the best performance concepts from higher-end models like the Obelisk, the 5-Series is incredibly fast and built to maintain consistent performance.

However, you can tell where Omen had to make concessions to keep the price a bit lower. The Ryzen chip has been known to run incredibly hot, and the internal cooling system isn’t quite enough to handle it. The same can be said about the built-in storage, with most users reporting the need to immediately purchase additional RAM. 

Those gripes aside, the 5-Series is still an incredibly powerful PC that’s well worth the cost. And on the bright side, if you decide to make any memory or cooling upgrades, it can give you a taste of building your own PC.

7. SkyTech Blaze II

The most powerful prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: SkyTech | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: Ryzen 5 2600 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 | Price: 💰💰💰

SkyTech has a knack for releasing mighty machines for an incredibly fair price. And typically, they look sleek as well. But the design of the Blaze II is a bit lacking in some places. That said, it more than makes up for a handful of poor aesthetic choices with a well-balanced build designed for high-fidelity gaming.

Thanks to the CPU, graphics card, and a substantial amount of built-in memory, the Blaze II can easily maintain 60 FPS at 1080p. And in some cases, it can go a step further and smoothly run 4k gaming sessions, but often at the expense of cutting your frame rate. This machine does an incredible job of balancing graphical fidelity with performance and actively maintains the two to provide the best experience possible.

The main drawbacks are the case design and lack of customizable RGB lighting. Oh, and the fact that the fan can sound like a plane about to take off from time-to-time. But that’s what you get in exchange for a PC that actively adjusts performance. 

8. Lenovo Legion T530

The best prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000 for work

View on Lenovo

Manufacturer: Lenovo | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | Price: 💰💰💰

Lenovo has always been known for making killer laptops, but their foray into desktop PCs has been hit or missed. Typically their towers come at a high price compared to the menial quality of the components, but they may have found a winner with the Legion T530.

I’ll say this upfront: this PC is meant for those that plan on utilizing it for gaming and work. It’s not designed with gaming as the sole focus, but it is a well-balanced machine that can seamlessly handle multiple programs. On top of that, it starts at a very reasonable price and allows you to build it out from there. 

Sounds like the perfect PC for work and gaming, right? Unfortunately, the main drawback of this PC is the QA issues. Multiple reviewers reported audio failing, PC crashes, and GPU compatibility issues. Luckily, Lenovo has an excellent customer service program, and getting these things fixed is easy. Still, it might not be worth the hassle with so many similar options available at this price point.

9. SkyTech Shiva

TThe best looking prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: SkyTech | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | GPU: NVIDIA RTX 2060 | Price: 💰💰💰

SkyTech sure knows how to make beautiful PCs. I swear it’s only a coincidence that three models ended up on this list. It’s hard not to include them when they are some of the best performing and well-priced PCs available. But while the Shiva may be the best looking of the bunch, it doesn’t quite match the price and quality component combination of the Blaze II or Archangel.

Similar to the Archangel, this PC was designed to be well-balanced. But unfortunately, the overall price doesn’t make sense for something that sits somewhere in the middle in regards to performance. Sure, the Ryzen 5 is a powerful CPU, but it runs into the issue of not being able to take advantage of that power due to the limitations of other components.

Overall, this is still a great PC, but it could use a few upgrades to make it worthwhile.

10. CUK Continuum Micro

The best upgraded prebuilt gaming PC under $1,000

View on Amazon

Manufacturer: Computer Upgrade King | OS: Windows 10 | CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 1200 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super | Price: 💰💰💰

We’ll round out this list with a PC that gets you the most bang for your buck. Typically priced below $800, the CUK Continuum Micro packs far more value than it’ll cost you.

This PC is like having a laser light show continuously operating beneath your desk. The RGB effects and open casing are simply spectacular and add a fair amount of personality to this machine. Thankfully, it’s not all for show, as the AMD CPU and GTX 1650 provide lightning-fast performance that’s supported by a solid memory unit.

And with a design that’s focused on airflow, the performance isn’t hindered by overheating, making this PC an affordable and fresh option that packs a punch. The only drawback is the potential for this PC to burn out fairly quickly. It’s been known to have components or the overall PC degrade after a year or two, so keep in mind that you may have to upgrade it every few years to keep it running smoothly.

Buyer’s Guide: Prebuilt PCs Under $1,000

Even though you’re not picking out every single component, deciding on the right prebuilt PC for your needs can be a complicated process. Here are a few key features to keep in mind to help you simplify the process.

Component Quality and Compatibility

Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you have to settle for shotty components. Thanks to continuous innovations in processing power, memory, and storage, you’ll easily find prebuilt PCs with some of the latest groundbreaking hardware.

Now, just because it’s the latest and greatest doesn’t always mean it’s a good fit. What’s the point of a beefed-up Ryzen 5 CPU and GeForce GPU if you’ve got 2 gigs of DDR3 memory that can’t take advantage of the boost in performance?

Be sure you understand the compatibility of your chosen parts, as you’ll often see brands pushing out one cutting-edge component, while everything else is a few generations old. It may look nice and shiny, but is it actually a gem?

Ability to Upgrade

You may not be thinking about it now, but you’ll likely want to upgrade your PC (at least pieces of it) down the line. A prebuilt removes the complexity of building your own, but replacing a few parts is actually pretty easy and fun.

If you find a model with a powerful CPU and motherboard, there’s a good chance you can build up around it. Make sure your components are easily accessible, simple to switch out, and compatible with multiple brands and skews. It’ll ensure that your PC is a worthwhile investment for years to come.

The Case

Lastly, consider the look of your PC. Does it fit your aesthetic and match the style of your other gaming hardware? Do you want personalized lighting effects? Is it something you don’t mind looking at all the time? 

Appearances matter, and you don’t want to go for something you can’t stand the sight of, even if it does perform well. Find something that you love the look of, or find a compatible case and swap it out. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

Our Process

For this guide on prebuilt gaming PCs, our writers spent 4 hours researching over 30 of the most popular options from brands big and small. After comparing this data, we then read over 150 user reviews and narrowed our list down to the top 10 prebuilt gaming PCs under $1,000 on the market. All of this research adds up to recommendations you can trust.

We hope you’ve found the perfect model for your setup. Happy Gaming!

Related Reading

• Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,500
• Best Gaming Desktops Under $1,000
• Best Gaming Laptops Under $1,000
• Best Gaming Desktops Under $500
• Best Gaming Laptops Under $500