If you’re in the market for a new bit of prebuilt hardware but aren’t looking to break the bank, you’ll want to know which gaming PCs under $1,000 are the cream of the crop in 2023 – and we’ve got some of the best picks you’ll want to have on your radar.
PC gaming is more popular than ever, with more and more gamers embracing the platform. Gaming PCs are not cheap, however, nor is it an easy task to put the hardware together – in fact, it can even feel quite daunting at times.
Thankfully, there are some great options out there on the market for buying a prebuilt gaming PC to get plenty of power for your money. Here are our top picks of the best gaming PCs you can buy for less than $1,000 in 2023.
How we choose the best gaming PCs under $1000 in 2023
Click to enlargeImages via Dell | STGAubron | iBUYPOWER | Thermaltake
Unfortunately, $1,000 doesn’t go as far as it once did when it comes to hardware and the best gaming PCs. If you want to get a great deal, you really need to stretch every penny as far as it will go. Thankfully, there are some great pre-built packages out there for both beginners and experienced PC gamers.
The machines in our list below are prebuilt and ready to go out of the box, meaning that you don’t need to do hours of research on parts or watch endless YouTube tutorials to learn how to put them together yourself. What’s more, pre-built PCs these days are much more customisable than they once were, so you can invest in a modest machine now and upgrade later if you so choose.
So whether you’re wanting something simpler for a handful of games, are curious to see what all the hubbub of PC gaming is all about, or want to reach for the upper limits of what gaming hardware can do, we have what you’re looking for in our list of the best pre-built gaming PCs under $1000.
What is the cheapest gaming PC under $1000?
Dell RGB Gaming PC
Click to enlargeImage via Dell
For anyone starting out with PC gaming, a more affordable prebuilt bundle is a great jumping-off point, and this Dell RGB gaming PC certainly boasts impressive stats for such an affordable machine – it even comes with a mouse and keyboard to get you started!
More importantly, it comes with a respectable GTX 1660 and an Intel i5 processor, meaning that it’s equipped with more than enough horsepower for games like Fortnite and Counter-Strike.
While this is by no means a PC that will have you putting your PS5 in a cupboard, for newer players, or anyone who just wants to dip their toe in PC gaming, it’s a surefire way to do so without spending a huge amount of money on a pricier unit.
RTX 2060 gaming PC under $1000
STGAubron Gaming Desktop (RTX 2060)
Click to enlargeA step up from our previous offering, this STGAubron gaming PC bundle is also a great entry point when looking for a bit of kit under $1,000 – especially for anyone who is more confident that PC gaming is their thing. It includes a mouse, keyboard, and sound bar, so you really only need to provide the monitor to complete this package.
As for specs, this machine comes with an Intel i7 CPU and an RTX 2060 GPU. That’s not all, though, as you’ll also get a 512 GB SSD for storing your games and built-in WiFi. If you have the extra cash and are looking for a good starting set, this bundle from STGAubron is a great option.
RTX 3050 gaming PC under $1000
iBUYPOWER SlakeHako AD420N
Click to enlargeImage via iBUYPOWER
Moving up to more serious money, the iBUYPOWER Slake Hako AD420N gaming PC bundle is a bit of kit that will play the most recent games on decent settings – and it won’t break the bank compared to some pricier options.
This bundle comes with a keyboard and mouse too, so while you will need your own screen, for what you get, it is well worth it.
The PC has an i5-12600KF processor from Intel, as well as an RTX 3050 graphics card. It may not be the most up-to-date setup, but it isn’t far behind. This is a lot of horsepower that even just a couple of years ago would have cost much more.
RTX 3060 gaming PC under $1000
STGAubron Gaming Desktop (RTX 3060)
Click to enlargeThis offering from STGAubron is a strong one, for under $900, you get an Intel Core i7 processor, a 12GB RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB solid state drive.
That’s not all, though, as you’ll also be getting a mouse, keyboard, sound bar, and headset included in the bundle.
Overall, it’s a unit with a massive amount of power for a pretty reasonable price in the grand scheme of things. For anyone who is seriously considering getting into PC gaming, or is already onboard and wants to upgrade to a more serious machine, this is a great shout.
What is the best gaming PC under $1000?
Thermaltake Frostbite 360
Click to enlargeImage via Thermaltake
Coming in just $1 under our budget, the Thermaltake Frostbite 360 might just be the best gaming PC you can buy for under $1000. Thermaltake is known for its excellent quality PC cases, so you know that the PC you get is contained in worthy housing.
What is inside the case is all the more impressive, as inside you’ll find an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, a Nvidia RTX 3060, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB lightning-fast NVMe SSD for storage. This is a lot of gaming potential squeezed into a tight budget, and you might never get a better deal for a thousand bucks than this again.
So, that wraps up all of the best gaming PC deals under $1000. Make sure to check out our hardware homepage for all of the latest deals in other categories, as we’ve got so many for you to choose from.
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