The Best Gaming PC under $1000 in 2024

We're a big advocate of building your own gaming PC. In terms of cost and value, building your own PC will give you more performance for the same amount of money. And it's also an experience worth learning.

However, not everyone can afford or want to build their own PC. That shows that the demand for the pre-built gaming PC market is still quite large. There are plenty of desktop gaming PCs out there for under $1,000. In this article, we have compiled a list of the five best pre-built desktops that are not only affordable but also offer high performance. If you'd prefer  an affordable gaming PC and don't want to make one yourself, then consider our recommended list of the best gaming PCs under $1000 below.

Top choices

• Best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000: CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme

• A reasonably priced prebuilt gaming desktop under $1000: iBUYPOWER Pro

• An affordable option with additional memory: CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master

• A 1080p gaming experience at a low cost: HP Pavilion

• Better quality at a slightly higher price: Skytech Archangel

1. CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme

For $1000, you'll have plenty of options for pre-built gaming PCs. Among them, CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is one of the best quality machines available today. While its storage or memory isn't too large, it has a great CPU/GPU combo and comes at a price that's well below the performance value it offers. Therefore it is considered the best gaming PC under $1000.

The standout features of this computer are Intel Core i5-11400f and RTX 2060 Super, with an 8GB DDR4 memory and a 500GB SSD. The computer case is made of tempered glass combined with a few RGB fans.

Theoretically, the combination of the i5-11400f and the RTX 2060 should deliver more performance than any other pre-built PC presently under $1,000. That's why we’ve chosen CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme at the top of this list.

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2. iBUYPOWER Pro

If you don’t mind spending a bit more than $1000, you'll enjoy a much better hardware configuration using AMD entirely. And one such game rig is the iBUYPOWER's Pro.

The outstanding features of this machine are that it is equipped with a 480GB SSD, a RAM of 16GB, an RX 6600 XT graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor.

Compared to the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme, this PC has an inferior processor, a comparable GPU, and a memory that is twice in size. However, it costs an addition of more than $100. 

Therefore, it can be concluded that if you want a 16GB RAM system using AMD completely, but not 8GB of RAM like in the Gamer Xtreme version, then iBUYPOWER Pro is a choice not to be missed.

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3. CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master

Another slightly more affordable option is the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master. This prebuilt gaming PC has more memory and has a better price (but won't have as good gaming features as the above models).

CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master is equipped with a Ryzen 3 3100 processor and an RX 550 graphics card - with weaker performance, and 8GB of DDR4 memory. A 2TB hard drive and 240GB of SSD are used for storage.

So despite getting more memory capacity, the CPU/GPU combination is lower. Therefore, this computer will have to make extra efforts to play more demanding titles. So if you're only going to play games like Rocket League or League of Legends, it works perfectly fine. But if you're only going to play non-demanding games like Rocket League or League of Legends, this system should work perfectly fine.

However, at just under $900, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master is one of the cheapest options. So, if you only intend to play simple games and want to save money, this is not a bad choice. Even so, the HP Pavilion series mentioned below is even cheaper than CYBERPOWER PC Gamer but has better hardware configuration.

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4. HP Pavilion

If your budget is a bit tight but you still want a gaming machine that is good enough to run everything on a 1080p screen, then choose the HP Pavilion.

Both of its processor and RAM uses AMD chip production -  an Ryzen 5 5600G processor and RX 5500 graphics card. The computer is also designed with a 256GB SSD, an 8GB DDR4 RAM, and a micro-ATX case.

The highlight of this HP Pavilion is the price. At only approximately $750, which is slightly cheaper than the two options mentioned above, it won't have the same game experience as the above two models. However, the combination of the Ryzen 5 5600G and RX 5500 is stiff enough to run things at high settings on a 1080p display.

In conclusion, the HP Pavilion is a good candidate for those who want a computer that is not too expensive but has a good configuration using a 1080p screen.

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5. Skytech Archangel

Similar to the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme series, you will have to spend a little more than $1000 for this Skytech Archangel series. But in return, what you’re getting will be worth it. This one has a better version of the hardware combination than the above lines.

Skytech Archangel has an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 processor, an NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. So compared to CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme, this series has more memory, a better GPU, and a nicer case.

The GPU/CPU combination is good enough for you to play games on 1440P 144Hz screens and even all games with 4K screen resolution.

Although the price is slightly higher than the above lines, it is a rewarding experience. You will receive a GPU of the highest quality possible. So if you are willing to spend more money, then Skytech Archangel is a good choice.

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Is 16GB RAM enough for gaming?

Some are wondering if 16GB is good enough for gamers to run their favorite games on PCs. The answer is Yes. 16 GB is recommended for most games even the most extensive ones in the esports world.  PCs prepared with 16 GB Ram can provide a noticeable gaming performance when compared to PCs with only 8GB. 16GB RAM can allow you to run complicated applications in the background without affecting gameplay.

Which sub-$1,000 prebuilt gaming PC is best?

With a budget of ~$1,000, you absolutely can afford to buy a solid prebuilt desktop among excellent options on the market. At that price point, you can have a PC that is good enough to max out any games running on a 1080P monitor. Do not hesitate to invest in such PCs as you will have a chance to own a powerful engine that can be paired with a higher refresh rate monitor, improving your gaming experience in a long term. 

In fact, if you only like playing non-demanding games like League of Legends or Rocket League, then you do not need to spend much more than that price point. We have a list of the best gaming PCs under $1000 that meet your need and demand above, let's check them out. 

Read more: Best Prebuilt Gaming PC under $1500.

Is Intel i5 good for gaming?

This is also a common question when it comes to choosing a gaming PC. In reality, The Core i5 and Core i7 processors are often compared to each other when it comes to choosing the best CPUs for gaming. The Core i5 is cheaper, but the Core i7 seems to perform better with multi tasks. Therefore, a streamer should spend a little extra money to get the Core i7 for smoother performance.

Can a $1000 Gaming PC Run Games at 1440p?

It is ideal to play games at 1440p on your PC; and the answer to this question is yes, it is possible to play games at 1440p on a gaming PC for just under $1000. 

As you know, there are specification varieties among PCs under $1000 price range, which leads to the differences in how these devices work. For example, at that price point, we have these two options: The HP Pavilion TG01-1183w comes with an Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card while the Skytech Shadow offers an Nvidia RTX 3050. One thing I can make sure of is that a gaming desktop under $1000 can indeed play the most demanding games at 1440p. 

With $1000 on hand, there are quite a few choices of quality gaming rigs for you. The models listed above when played on a 1080p screen will maximize your gaming experience.

Choose the right model for you, it completely depends on your budget as well as the type of game you want to play. If you only play simple, moderate-level games like league of legends or rocket league, then you can simply choose lower-cost products. And no matter what you are willing to pay and what types of games you want to play, the list above has a few lines that suit your desires. Hope this article has helped you find the best prebuilt gaming PC under $1000.

Next Article: Best Gaming Laptop.