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9 Best Gaming PCs Under $1000 (Top Picks)

Gaming has become a popular form of entertainment, and having a powerful gaming PC is crucial for an optimal gaming experience. However, only some have a large budget to spend on a gaming PC.

Years back, gaming was a nerdy activity available only in a few cafes. But now, gaming has been laced with newer technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality, making it a multi-billion industry.

Unfortunately, gaming PCs are very expensive. The price of top-of-the-line gaming PCs lies in-between $1500-$2000. The PC-building community is trying to build PCs that are powerful enough to support the gaming load and are comparatively less expensive.

Finding the best gaming PC under $1000 is a top priority for budget-conscious gamers. Luckily, there are fantastic options available that offer high performance and exceptional value for money.

In this article, we will dive into the top gaming PCs under $1000 that deliver outstanding performance and value for money.

Our Top Picks

10
9 Best Gaming PCs Under $1000 (Top Picks)

Skytech Blaze ll Gaming PC Top Picks

Excellent choice for a high-quality, gaming-centric desktop
10
9 Best Gaming PCs Under $1000 (Top Picks)

iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Top Picks

An excellent computer for gaming.
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9 Best Gaming PCs Under $1000 (Top Picks)

ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1 Top PIcks

An excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable gaming PC.

Benefits of Gaming PCs Under $1000

Several benefits come with this budget range for those looking to buy a gaming PC under $1000.

Firstly, you can expect a decent graphics card and processor at this price point. With these components, you can enjoy smooth gameplay and high frame rates in most games.

Another benefit of buying a gaming PC under $1000 is its flexibility. You can easily upgrade specific system parts as your needs change, or newer games require more advanced hardware.

This allows you to keep up with current technology without breaking the bank.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Pc

Factors to Consider
Buying an inexpensive PC does not mean you have to compromise on quality. It is essential to balance the price and performance of a gaming PC.

Here are some factors that must be considered before buying a Gaming PC under $1000.
CPU and GPU Performance:
Before buying a gaming PC, the strength of the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) must be checked for smooth gaming performance.
RAM Capacity:
Gaming requires ample memory to store graphics and other data. Look for systems with at least 8GB or more of RAM for optimal gaming performance.
Storage Capacity:
If you want to play games with better pixels, you should buy a PC with good storage capacity. You should replace traditional hard drives with a minimum of 256GB SSD (Solid State Drive) for faster load times.
Cooling System:
Heavy systems consume more energy and emit more heat. A gaming PC must have a proper cooling system to avoid malfunctioning.
Extra Features:
Consider any additional features that come with the gaming PC, such as built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, RGB lighting options, and expandability options for future upgrades without replacing the entire system.

By considering all these factors before making your purchase decision, you can ensure that you end up with a capable gaming rig that provides an excellent gaming experience while staying within your budget constraints.

9 Best Gaming PCs Under $1000 in 2023

Discover the top 9 gaming PCs under $1000 that offer powerful performance, realistic graphics, and smooth gameplay for an immersive gaming experience

  • Skytech Shadow Gaming PC
  • iBUYPOWER SlateHako Gaming PC
  • Skytech Shiva II Gaming PC Desktop
  • SkyTech Shadow 3.0 Gaming PC
  • ZOTAC Gaming MEK G1 Gaming PC 
  • Acer Nitro 50 Gaming PC Desktop
  • CYBERPOWERPC Xtreme VR Gaming PC
  • Skytech Blaze ll Gaming PC Desktop
  • ZOTAC Gaming MEK G2 Gaming PC

1

The Skytech Shadow 3.0 gaming

Best Gaming PC Under $1000!
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The Skytech Shadow 3.0 gaming computer is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a powerful yet affordable gaming computer.

This gaming computer has 2.9 GHz Intel, Core i5-10400F processor, and plenty of storage space, making it the perfect choice for anyone looking for a powerful PC to play popular games like Call of Duty Warzone, Fortnite, Escape from Tarkov, Grand Theft Auto V, and more.

It also features a sleek design and 8GB of memory with 1TB SSD storage, making storing your games and other files easy.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

Perfect choice for anyone looking for a powerful yet affordable gaming computer under $1000.

Positives for PC
  • Great performance
  • Fast and responsive
  • Stylish design
  • Affordable
Negatives
  • 8GB RAM may not be enough
  • No optical drive included
2

iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N Gaming PC

Top Picks Under $1000!
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The iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N Gaming Desktop Computer is an excellent computer for gaming.

This Gaming Desktop Computer has an Intel Core i5-12600KF. It has a speed of 3.7GHz, is fast enough for most games, and the 16GB RAM to play any game without hindrance.

It also constitutes a 500GB SSD that will give you plenty of space to store your games and files, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8GB will let you play the latest games with stunning graphics.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

An excellent computer for gaming Pc under $1000 and fast enough for most games.

Positives for PC
  • Great gaming performance
  • Sleek and modern design
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM
  • Can handle popular games
Negatives
  • No optical drive included
  • Limited Storage Space
3

The Skytech Shiva II Gaming PC

Top Choices Under $1000
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This gaming desktop has an Intel Core i5 12400F 2.5 GHz for smooth gameplay. The memory of this gaming PC is also appreciable. It has

  • NVIDIA RTX 3060,
  • 500GB NVME SSD,
  • 16GB DDR4 RAM 3200, 650W Gold PSU,
  • 11AC Wi-Fi, and
  • Windows 11 Home 64-bit

Collectively all these features make this a robust and durable PC. The mechanical keyboard of this PC has a unique feature of RGB illumination,  it also has a fancy backlit gaming mouse.

The cooling system of Skytech is also worth it as it is equipped with water cooling for the CPU, and a liquid cooler for the GPU. If you are a casual gamer or a hardcore gaming beast, this PC is highly recommended.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

The Skytech Shiva II Gaming PC Desktop is a fantastic machine for gamers

Positives for PC
  • Excellent gaming performance
  • Able to handle popular games
  • Affordable price
  • Sleek and modern design
Negatives
  • Limited Storage Space
  • Only has 1 RGB fan
4

The SkyTech Shadow 3.0 Gaming PC

Budget-Friendly $1000 PC
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The SkyTech Shadow 3.0 Gaming Computer PC is laced with Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core and has a high speed of 3.6GHz  to handle hefty tasks. This PC has incredible graphics as it has RTX 3060.  Other features include,

  • The 1TB SSD and the 16GB DDR4 memory
  • 1TB storage to store all your media and games 
  • LED lighting in a case that is customizable according to the choice of users.
10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

The SkyTech Shadow 3.0 Gaming Computer PC Desktop is excellent for a high-performance Gaming Pc.

Positives for PC
  • Can handle popular games
  • High-end gaming performance
  • Powerful performance
  • Large 1TB NVMe SSD
Negatives
  • Limited expandability options
  • No optical drive included
5

ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1 Gaming PC

Best Gaming PCs Under $1000
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This gaming PC Desktop has a sleek design, high performance, and affordable price.

It has an Intel Core i5 11400F processor and a GeForce GTX 1650 4GB graphics card for better graphics. This PC has a 500GB M.2 NVMe SSD that allows it to play all new games. plenty of storage space is also an additional feature.

The ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G1 I1416FV Gaming PC Desktop has a sleek black exterior and reasonably compact design measuring just 17.9 x 13 which makes it beautiful.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

An excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable gaming PC under $1000.

Positives for PC
  • High-speed G5 memory
  • Simplified and easy to use
  • Powerful performance
  • Affordable price
Negatives
  • Only 8GB of RAM
  • Limited graphics card
6

Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop PC

Under $1000 Gaming PC
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Acer Nitro 50 N50-620-UA91 is the perfect option when buying a gaming PC as you can play all the new games on this PC and the price is also affordable.

It has 11th Gen Intel Core i5-11400F 6-Core Processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 making this PC powerful enough to display all the graphics and play games without any burden on the hardware.

This PC also has plenty of space as it has 8GB DDR4 RAM and 512GB NVMe M. It also has a solid-state drive that allows quick loading. Along with all these qualities, Ace Nitro has a 15.6-inch full HD display that enhances your gaming experience.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

This PC is powerful enough to play most games on high settings without any problems.

Positives for PC
  • Turbo Boost technology
  • Fast NVMe SSD storage
  • Powerful performance
  • Comes with keyboard &amp
  • mouse
Negatives
  • No optical drive
  • Only 8GB RAM
7

CYBERPOWERPC Xtreme VR Gaming PC,

Best Choices Under $1000
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If you’re into VR, CyberPowerPC is a perfect option for you as it has a powerful processor and a graphics card to handle the graphics of any game. This PC also has a Wi-Fi option that allows you to connect to the internet and download more games easily.

The 16GB of RAM is also great for multitasking. Overall, this PC is perfect for any gamer and would be an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into VR.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

Perfect for any gamer and would be an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into VR.

Positives for PC
  • Powerful discreet video card
  • High-performance processor
  • Powerful performance
  • SSD fast storage
Negatives
  • No optical drive
  • Limited storage space
8

The Skytech Blaze ll Gaming PC Desktop

Top Picks Under $1000
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The Skytech Blaze ll Gaming PC Desktop is an excellent choice for a high-quality, gaming-centric desktop.

This Gaming PC Desktop has an Intel i5-10400F processor, GTX 1660 graphics card, and a 1TB NVME drive that allows high performance, excellent graphics, and high storage to play all games without any trouble.

This PC is also equipped with a powerful yet silent fan for airflow. The robust cooling system of this PC enhances its performance and reliability.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

An excellent choice for a high-quality, gaming-centric desktop.

Positives for PC
  • Powerful Intel i5 10400F processor
  • 16GB DDR4 3200Mhz Gaming Memory
  • Powerful performance
  • Attractive Skytech mATX Mid-Tower
Negatives
  • Limited storage space
  • No optical drive
9

ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G2 I2435F Gaming PC

Best PC Option Under $1000
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The ZOTAC Gaming MEK Hero G2 I2435F Gaming PC Desktop is a fantastic machine that can handle all your gaming needs,

Has an Intel 12th Gen, Core i5 12400F processor, GeForce RTX 3050 8GB graphics card, and 16GB 3200 MHz DDR4 memory plenty for most games and allows stunning graphics at a fast speed.  It also has a 500GB SSD to increase the loading speed.

10Expert Score
Awesome for this price

An excellent choice for a high-quality, gaming-centric desktop.

Positives for PC
  • 12th Gen Intel® Core&#x2122
  • processors
  • Dual-Band WiFi6, Bluetooth 5.2
  • Powerful performance
  • Affordable Price
Negatives
  • Limited upgrade options
  • No optical drive or SD card reader

How to Build Your Gaming PC Under $1000

Choosing between a pre-built gaming PC and building it can be challenging. First-time gamers are recommended to buy pre-built gaming PCs as they require no technical expertise.

f you are on a low budget and good at research, then building a gaming PC under $1000 from scratch—all by yourself—can be a rewarding experience.

When your budget is under $1,000, you make sure that you spend every dollar to derive maximum performance and value. Here is a list of components required to build a gaming PC. 

Links are provided in the below table

ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 Twin Edge OC 8GB – $267.00
Intel® Core™ i5-11600K – $186.42
MSI MPG Z590 Gaming Motherboard – $109.99
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO V2 CPU Air Cooler – $47.99
Thermaltake Smart 700W – $54.95
SAMSUNG 980 SSD 500GB NVMe M.2 2280 – $39.99
Cooler Master MasterBox Q300L – $69.99
SAMSUNG T350 Series 22-Inch FHD 1080p Computer Monitor, 75Hz – $99.99
Redragon S107 Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo – $27.89
ZIUMIER Gaming Headset with Microphone – $21.24
Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 DRAM 3200MHz – $42.99 

The total price for the listed components is $967.45 so you can have a great price-to-performance ratio without going over the budget.

Accessories to Consider for Your Gaming PC

A gaming PC requires accessories or peripherals for communication, streaming, performance, and control. These accessories improve your gaming experience.

gaming accessories
Here are the gaming accessories that you can buy with your PC
High-Resolution Gaming Monitor
A high-resolution PC or monitor lets you enjoy your game without glitches, heating, poor lighting, or screen tearing. BenQ is a good option for the monitor.
Gaming Headset
If you want to enjoy playing online multiplayer games with friends, a gaming headset is an essential PC gaming accessory.
HyperX Cloud Flight S and Cloud Revolver are the best headsets for gaming PC
Gaming Keyboard
Razer’s Ornata Wired Keyboard is reviewed as one of the best keyboards for gaming PCs. It has backlighting features to enhance your gaming experience.
Gaming Mouse and Mouse Pad
Logitech’s G502 is the best choice for buying a gaming mouse. Has an optical sensor with pinpoint precision for more significant clicks
HD 4K Gaming Webcam 
HD webcam is needed if you stream online to social media such as Facebook, YouTube Live, Steam, Discord, or Twitch. Logitech’s Brio is the best choice for webcams.

Gaming PC brands to consider:

Now you know all about the features and requirements of a gaming PC under $1000, here are some brands you must consider if you buy a gaming PC.

Conclusion

Building a gaming PC under $1000 can be a challenging task, but it is definitely achievable with the right approach. It’s important to consider the specifications of each component and compare them with others in the same price range.

When building a gaming PC under $1000, you should aim for a balance between price and performance. The most critical components that affect gaming performance are the CPU, GPU, and RAM. You can find excellent options for these components at an affordable price.

For instance, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and Intel Core i5-10400F are powerful processors that can handle most modern games without bottlenecking your GPU. As for the GPU, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT are great options for budget-friendly gaming PCs.

When it comes to RAM, 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz is the sweet spot for most gamers. However, you can start with 8GB of RAM and upgrade it later if needed.

Jason
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