5 Gaming Desktop Computers Under $1500 (Pre-built PCs)
With more people staying home due to Covid-19 and more people getting into gaming, having a decent gaming PC can go a very long way. Many PC gamers will automatically advise those new to PC gaming to build their own PC. But that’s not always a viable option. Not everyone wants to spend the time or effort to put together a PC, especially not for their first PC gaming experience. It always boils down to a person’s needs and time. And buying the right gaming desktop is very convenient.
So we’re going to focus on finding a cheap gaming PC, not laptops.
Why Pre-built Desktops Are Absolutely a Viable Option
It’s one thing to go out and buy a desktop for your work from home business, education, or other projects and uses. It’s quite another to buy a desktop for gaming. And if it’s your first time looking for a cheap gaming PC, one thing you will hear all across the gaming community is, “Build your own. It’s so much cheaper.” Having that hurled at you from all sides can be incredibly intimidating and you might rush to your nearest Best Buy or Walmart and just buy whatever’s cheapest. PLEASE DON’T DO THAT. Let us help you.
While building your own PC is the preference of a majority of PC gamers, there is very good reason to buy pre-built. The main reason to buy pre-built is because you just don’t feel like building a PC on your own. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Another reason to go with a pre-built gaming PC is that you get something extra with a pre-built—exclusive parts and components, pre-installed software, and warranty-safe overclocking. With tariffs placed on China, buying PC components can be a bit more difficult with supply chains running low on product as well as price increases. Not to mention, customer service, and quality assurance to properly test a PC before it goes out.
With building your own PC, there’s a lot of research involved in purchasing and assembling. And there are hundreds of YouTube videos to help you with the process. Building your own PC is also incredibly rewarding for those who do it. But if you don’t have the time or just don’t want to build a PC, you can build a custom PC with a service like NZXT BLD or buy a pre-built gaming desktop.
Specifications to Look for in a Gaming Desktop
When buying a pre-built gaming desktop, you need to understand the specifications that will allow you to play your games seamlessly. You need to consider how much memory you need, how many games it can store, and whether your gaming PC will be able to process the games you want to play. And of course, think about how you want your PC to look. So, you’re looking at RAM, Processor, GPU, Storage, and Chassis.
RAM
Most games recommend 8GB of RAM, but 16GB is preferred.
Processor
Processors determine how your computer will perform while executing software. Performance is determined by cores and range between 1 and 16 cores. The higher the core, the better. Also, there are two processing brands you will need to choose from: AMD or Intel. Intel is associated high performance, especially for gaming. When looking at computers, you’ll see i5, i7, i9, etc. Note that i5 is the absolute lowest you should consider when purchasing a new or even used gaming computer, desktop or laptop.
GPU
The standard entry level GPU is either an Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD RX 570. If you want something with more power, look for a higher number GPU, ie RTX 2060 or AMD RX 5700. Remember, the higher the number, the more powerful the GPU. Keep in mind, however, a lower number that is super-clocked might be a better option.
Storage
You need plenty of storage. How else would access all of your games? Look for an SSD or solid state drive. Look for 512GB to 2TB. SSDs are a lot faster and not as expensive as they used to be. If you play a select few games, you could get away with a little less.
Chassis/Tower
This is all about visual preference and spatial needs. Do you want a clear tower that displays really cool internal lightning? Do you want a tower that takes minimal space? These are things to consider when looking for a case for your computer.
5 Desktop Computers Under $1500
When people new to PC gaming are looking for a gaming PC, they typically set their budget to $500 when inquiring in forums and groups. Here’s the thing: you will rarely find a decent gaming PC under $500. What’s also important to note is that you will rarely find a computer with an i7 processor for less than $1200. But an i5 processor is still great, especially as a starter gaming comp. But we found one. One.
iBUYPOWER Element MR 9320
iBUYPOWER Specifications
Processor - Intel i7-10700F 2.9GHz
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
RAM - 16GB DDR4
Storage - 240 GB + 1TB HDD
Comes with Windows 10 Home
Alienware Aurora R12
Alienware Aurora r12 Specifications
Processor - Intel Core i5 10400F (6-Core, 12MB Cache, 2.9Ghz to 4.3GHz w/Turbo)
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB GDDR6
RAM - 8GB HyperX™ FURY DDR4 XMP at 2933MHz; up to 64GB
Storage - 256GB SSD + 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s
One of the cool things about buying an Alienware PC is the ability to customize your PC however you want it, with the exception of the chassis. If parts and components aren’t compatible while you are customizing your gaming PC, the customization process won’t let you continue until you adjust the components.
CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
CyperpowerPC Gamer Xtreme Specifications
Processor - Intel i5-10400F 2.9GHz
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB
RAM - 8GB DDR4, 500GB NVMe SSD
Storage - 256GB SSD + 1TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s
Comes with Windows 10 Home
Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop - N50-610-UR14
Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop Specifications
Processor - Intel i5-10400F Hexa-core 2.9GHz
GPU - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4 GB dedicated memory
RAM - 8 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
Storage - 512GB SSD
Comes with Windows 10 Home
Skytech Shadow Gaming Computer PC Desktop
Skytech Shadow Gaming Specifications
Processor - Intel Core i5 9400F 2.9GHz
GPU - NVIDIA GTX 1660 6G
RAM - 8GB DDR4 3000MHz
Storage - 500GB SSD
Comes with Windows 10 Home
Whether you are shopping for the holidays or are simply looking for a computer so you can dive into PC gaming, we know these desktops won’t break the bank. How did we find them? By researching what the computer experts were suggesting and narrowing it down to the least expensive desktops they all had in common.
