The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
In recent years, prebuilt gaming PCs have become more powerful and affordable than ever. Indeed, many models sport the latest and greatest graphics cards, processors, and memory hardware, and they're often less expensive than piecing together all the parts individually. That's why we decided to scour the market to find the best prebuilt gaming PCs so that you can get to gaming ASAP.
What to Look For
We like to game with the best, so we compared the options with five key questions to guide us: Does it have high processing power? What is the graphics card? Can you upgrade the components? Is the price fair for the build quality? What types of games can it run? The winner emerged from Skytech, as their Shadow model boasts excellent hardware, such as an advanced graphics card and processor. Better yet, it comes at a modest price. But if your budget can’t swing it, we suggest checking out the incredibly inexpensive Lenovo PC, as it can run a ton of awesome titles without costing an arm and a leg. Read on for more of our best gaming pc recommendations and reviews.
Skytech Shadow Gaming PC Desktop
Everything you need in one place
Our top pick is this gaming PC from Skytech since it has everything you need to start gaming the latest games on high settings. It’s far from cheap, though the RTX 3050 graphics card and Intel i5 processor are worth every penny. With such spectacular hardware, you can easily run many popular titles on high settings, and the results are smooth as butter. Better yet, the 1TB hard drive is sold-state, meaning bootup and load times are wicked fast.
Pros:
- Excellent specs for the price
- Great aesthetics with cool LEDs
- Upgrading is basically foolproof, thanks to the easy-access side panel
- Flawless performance on high settings for tons of games
Cons:
- It only has 8GB of RAM, though this is easy and inexpensive to upgrade
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
Stomp the competition
Compared to video game consoles, gaming PCs are typically quite expensive. But that doesn’t mean you can’t score an awesome computer without shelling out a ton of dough. This mid-tier desktop computer comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and an AMD Radeon RX5500, two pieces of hardware that are respected for their low prices and high performances. Add to that the included 512GB SSD, and you can enjoy plenty of titles on medium-to-high graphics settings.
Pros:
- Includes keyboard and mouse
- Can run almost all games, though you may have to lower your graphics settings
- Comes with 8GB of RAM and room for upgrades
- Sleek and slim style
Cons:
- Can run almost all games, though you may have to lower your graphics settings to boost performance
Lenovo Gaming PC Desktop Computer
Don't break the bank
We typically wouldn’t recommend gaming on anything this inexpensive, though the specs make up for the budget-friendly price point. Indeed, the GTX 1660 graphics card and insane 32GB of RAM can combine forces to run plenty of casual games smoothly and beautifully. Plus, it has both a 256GB SSD and a 3TB HDD, meaning you can save your games on the solid-state drive for fast bootup times and save your files to the hard disk drive.
Pros:
- The quality case has plenty of USB ports and even a disc drive
- The mouse and keyboard sport cool, programmable LED lights
- Best bargain on the market
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- The plastic components on the case, keyboard, and mouse feel kind of flimsy
Alienware Aurora R14 Liquid Cooled Gaming Desktop
Invest in the best
The specs on Alienware’s Aurora R14 gaming desktop are almost too good to be true. Every aspect is at the top of the game; the Ryzen 9 5900 processor, 1TB SSD hard drive, RTX 3080 processor, and ample 32GB of RAM all serve to bring you a premium gaming experience. Seriously, we couldn’t find a video game that this computer doesn’t run smoothly. The price is undeniably high, and you’re going to want a high-quality monitor to take advantage of this beast’s graphical power.
Pros:
- The GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card has 10GB of onboard RAM
- Great choice for VR fans
- Gorgeous design and style
- Includes a 1TB SSD and a 2TB HDD
Cons:
- The HDD can be pretty noisy when running games, so we recommend saving your current games to the SSD for a quieter experience
HP Victus 15L Gaming Desktop Bundle PC
Stretch that dollar
This gaming desktop has everything you need to boot up your favorite games, but it’s also a great choice for adding upgrades down the line. The first area worth upgrading is the RAM since it’s cheap and easy to pop in another 8GB. The Intel i3 processor is also adequate for competitive gaming and high-quality graphics. But with an upgrade to something more powerful, you can boost this computer’s power to the extreme. In other words, this is a great value and a great place to start.
Pros:
- Excellent performance right out of the box
- Can run many major titles on ultra settings
- Compact and quiet build
Cons:
- The SSD hard drive is only 256GB
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a prebuilt or build my own PC?
It’s not always less expensive to build your own PC, though it can be. That being said, prebuilt computers have become more affordable in recent years. It’s worth comparing the prices, but you should also consider the amount of time and research you’ll have to do to piece together a computer. After all, time is money.
How much RAM do I need to play video games?
The minimum amount of RAM is 8GB, though we recommend 16GB. Installing another stick of 8GB of RAM is easy, and if there aren’t any free slots, you can simply swap out the original RAM stick with a 16GB stick. For more information, do a quick web search.
About the Author
Why Trust Us
With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.