If you are looking for a kill gaming machine for under $1500, we are here to assist you to get the best PreBuilt Gaming PC under $1500 that will provide the best value, will be upgradeable and will last a couple of years for gaming on ultra settings.
We know that not everyone has enough time to build a gaming PC for themselves as it requires some rigorous research and an intermediate-level skill to assemble the parts. If you don’t want to take the risk of incompatibility, poor value, and possibly physical damage to the PC components, it’s best to get a PreBuilt Gaming system.
In 2023, we have a lot of PreBuilts under $1500 with different CPU-GPU combinations that offer a great gaming experience on 1080p and 1440p resolutions. It is important that you carefully analyze each PC before proceeding to purchase the system and not just go with any fancy-looking PC.
Don’t worry, you won’t be doing this by yourself as we have done all the work for you and put out the reasons of what and why you should choose one of the PreBuilts listed below.
What Is PreBuilt Gaming PC?
A PreBuilt Gaming PC comes with pre-assembled PC components and is ready to work out of the box. PreBuilt Gaming Systems are put together by well-known and popular brands that feature gaming performance-oriented configurations. A Desktop Gaming PC comes with 6-7 different components that are connected to each other via the motherboard. The user needs to install each component manually to get it working but a PreBuilt Gaming PC comes with everything pre-installed.
Is $1500 Good For A Gaming PC?
[wpsm_titlebox title=”Processor” style=”main”]A $1000-$1500 PreBuilt system can easily utilize a 6-core processor as this price range is sufficient for a custom gaming PC to have one of the latest 6-core CPUs or even 8-core CPUs. A preBuilt system having only 4 cores should be avoided totally. A 6-core CPU with powerful single and multi-thread performance is the way to go to achieve maximum fps and compatibility with other PC hardware.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Motherboard” style=”main”]For locked processors, there is nothing wrong if the PreBuilt PC comes with a locked chipset motherboard. However, it should have enough ports and slots for installing multiple RAM modules, expansion cards, storage drives, and peripherals. If a PreBuilt PC comes with an overclockable CPU, II advise that you also opt for an unlocked chipset motherboard.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Memory” style=”main”]For this budget, the minimum RAM size you should be looking for is 16GB DDR4. The higher the frequency, the better. Similarly, lower latency RAM modules will do better and if the system uses dual memory modules in a dual-channel rather than a single 16GB module, then the performance will be noticeably better.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Graphics Card” style=”main”]At this price, the graphics card should completely max out games at 1080p resolution and should allow gaming at 1440p resolution with at least high settings. VRAM is also crucial as higher resolutions utilize 4GB or higher VRAM. Therefore, 4-8GB of VRAM is recommended and other features such as Ray Tracing and Super-Scaling technologies are also the way to go.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Storage Drive” style=”main”]I believe that a sub $1500 PC should have at least 1TB of fast storage. Fortunately, we have only SSDs in this price range but an NVME SSD will be preferred to the SATA one. A combination of two or more drives will be even better as the secondary drives will help store and separate the game files from the OS/applications.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Power Supply” style=”main”]A reliable power supply at this price is a must. I recommend you to look for at least an 80 Plus rated power supply with at least 500-600W of reliable power supply. The PSU should be power-efficient and provide minimum voltage deviation across all the rails. Also, it will be better if the PSU is modular as it allows a neater PC build.
[/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_titlebox title=”Case” style=”main”]Whether the PC uses a Micro-ATX tower or a Mid-tower, it should have enough clearance to support most PC components out there including CPU coolers of at least 150mm in height and GPUs of at least 250-300mm in length. The case should have good airflow and a proper cable management system.
[/wpsm_titlebox]6 Best PreBuilt Gaming PCs Under $1500
[wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXLDRTC?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”Skytech Shadow 3.0 Gaming PC” description=”CPU- Intel Core i5 10400FGPU- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 1TB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Skytech-Shadow-3.0-Gaming-PC.jpg” ] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Great for 1080 and 1440p gaming
- 600W Gold rated PSU
- High quality TT mid-tower
- High value for the price
- No Keyboard/Mouse combo
Skytech is the most dominant brand for budget and mid to high-end PreBuilt Gaming systems. On this list, I will have a couple of PreBuilts from Skytech as it offers a variety of great PreBuilts under $1500. The first one is the Shadow 3.0 Gaming PC with an Intel Core i5 10400F processor and an RTX 3060. For around $1200, this is one of the best possible combinations in a PreBuilt which is capable of playing a lot of games on ultra settings not only at 1080p but also at 1440p resolution with over 60 fps.
The Core i5 10400F is a powerful 6-core/12 thread CPU featuring a base/boost clock speed of 2.9/4.3GHz and requires no aftermarket cooling solution as it is a locked chip and hence, requires no overclocking chipset motherboard as well. With the RTX 3060, you will get 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM and the power to turn On Ray Tracing in supported games. The PC has 16GB of system RAM clocked at 3200MHz and a single 1TB of SSD storage to start with. I believe that it is the perfect configuration for this price and won’t require any sort of addition right now.
Further, it comes with a quality Thermaltake mid-tower case that comes with 3x RGB fans pre-installed and supports a lot of components for further upgrades. You can upgrade to a big Air or an AIO cooler in the future or you can add a long 300mm GPU without any problem. The front panel of this case comes with an RGB LED strip that can sync with the RGB fans installed via the RGB button provided on top of the case.
To start gaming right away, you will get pre-installed Wifi and Windows 10 Home. Skytech is providing a 1-year warranty on parts and labor and free lifetime technical support if you ever run into problems.
[wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KTMQ3R4?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”Skytech Blaze 3.0 Gaming PC” description=”CPU- Intel Core i5 11400FGPU- AMD Radeon RX 6600
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 1TB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Skytech-Shadow-3.0-Gaming-PC.jpg” ] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Great for 1080p gaming
- Fully vented mid-tower with 3x RGB fans
- Wifi and Windows 10 Home
- No Keyboard/Mouse combo
- Not great for 1440p gaming
Another great system from Skytech. This one is called the Blaze 3.0 with a configuration that is really good for 1080p/1440p gaming. The processor used here is the newer i5 11400F processor that is noticeably faster in single and multi-threaded performance. However, the GPU here is a little downgrade. You will get the Radeon RX 6600 which is a little slower than the RTX 3060 but still competitive enough to play almost all the games at 1440p resolution with high to ultra settings.
The PC comes with a really good-looking and functional mid-tower that has a fully vented front panel to allow a lot of cool air inside through the pre-installed RGB fans. For exhaust, it comes with an RGB fan at the rear too. You can expect a similar upgrade on this PC just like the previous one and you get pre-installed Wifi and Windows 10 Home.
[wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QYC1PG5?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC SlateMono 230A” description=”CPU- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XGPU- AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 480GB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/iBUYPOWER-Pro-Gaming-PC-1.jpg” ] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Good for 1440p Gaming
- Overclockable CPU
- Keyboard/Mouse combo
- Wifi and WIndows 10 Home
- Good storage capacity
- Poor case airflow
iBuyPower excels in providing overall the best value PreBuilt Gaming PCs no matter what the budget is. For around $1200, I recommend the SlateMono 230A Gaming PC that comes with an AMD CPU-GPU configuration. It features a Zen 3 based Ryzen 5600X CPU that features 6 cores and 12 threads and is also overclockable. It is combined with a powerful 1440p gaming GPU, the Radeon RX 6600 XT which is faster than the non-XT GPU in the Skytech Blaze 3.0.
With 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a CPU-GPU combo like this, you won’t see any noticeable dips in fps and can max out games at both 1080p and 1440p resolutions(of course, some games are exceptions). Moreover, it comes with better storage with a single 480GB SD plus a 1TB hard drive that will be sufficient for storing a dozen games at the same time.
The PC uses a decent-looking mid-tower case that features a transparent front and side panel through which you can clearly see the pre-installed RGB fans at the front and your beautiful GPU.
It is spacious and has multiple routing holes to easily manage cables. The bottom has a full-length PSU shroud to cover all the cable clutter and you get a nice and tidy-looking system. One of the best advantages you will get with this PC is the keyboard/mouse combo that is absent from the two PreBuilts listed above and those are some reliable peripherals that will not only work for a good time but will also save you some decent cash.
[wpsm_titlebox title=”Best Value” style=”main”] [wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VS9QXXR?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”Skytech Blaze II Gaming PC” description=”CPU- AMD Ryzen 5 5600GGPU- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 500GB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Skytech-Blaze-II-Gaming-PC-1.jpg” ] [/wpsm_titlebox] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Great CPU-GPU combination
- Perfect for 1440p gaming
- Spacious case with triple RGB fans
- Cheaper than most PreBuilts
- Poor case airflow
- No keyboard/mouse combo
Skytech offers Blaze II in multiple configurations with different prices ranging from $800 to more than $4000. This particular model comes with an amazing configuration and at a price that is unmatched. It uses an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G with an RTX 3060. Ryzen 5600G is in itself one of the best 6-core CPUs that feature both processor and iGPU giving users an advantage over the ones that have processors with no iGPU.
Therefore, you could use the Vega 7 on 5600G in case you face any problems with the discrete GPU. This combination of 5600G and RTX 3060 will be sufficient for gaming at 1440p resolution and medium-quality Ray Tracing at 1080p. The main system RAM is 16GB DDR4 clocked at 3200MHz and a single 500GB NVME SSD for storage is there for storing a couple of games.
It uses a Micro-ATX tower from Skytech that offers triple RGB fans pre-installed. However, the airflow of this case is poor due to having a limited ventilation front panel. Except for this, the case does have good clearance for components installation and an easy-to-remove side panel. This PC is available for around $1100 most of the time making it the Best Value PreBuilt Gaming PC under $1500.
[wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DHTWR5N?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC” description=”CPU- Intel Core i5 11400KFGPU- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 500GB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/CYBERPOWERPC-Gamer-Xtreme-VR-Gaming-PC.jpg” ] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- Overclockable Intel Core i5 CPU
- RTX 3060 for 1080/1440p gaming
- Good storage capacity
- RGB keyboard/mouse combo
- Wifi and Windows 11 Home
- Stock Intel Cooler
We hardly see a budget PreBuilt that uses an unlocked Intel Core processor but this one features a powerful Core i5 11th gen CPU with a base/boost clock of 3.9/4.9GHz. So, it is easy to cross the 5.0GHz mark with a little overclocking and without thermal throttling. However, it comes with an Intel stock cooler which is terrible at performance and is noisy. I recommend that you buy at least a good budget air cooler like Hyper 212 RGB Black Edition if you plan to overclock.
The GPU used is the RTX 3060 which is the most common GPU in most $1500 PreBuilts. Other specs include 16GB DDR4 RAM, 500GB SSD plus a 1TB HDD for providing you good storage space and pre-installed Wifi and Windows 11 Home. The case that hosts all the components is a beautifully designed mid-tower that features 4x 120mm RGB fans pre-installed and a front panel that you can open for more airflow.
There is a PSU shroud at the bottom that covers the storage drives and unmanaged cables. Lastly, to start gaming right away, you will receive an RGB keyboard/mouse combo for free.
It currently sits at $1200 with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor with free lifetime tech support.
[wpsm_offerbox button_link=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W7XCQ1F?tag=xtremegaminer-20″ button_text=”CHECK AMAZON PRICE” title=”Skytech Shiva Gaming PC” description=”CPU- AMD Ryzen 5 5600XGPU- Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 Ti
RAM- 16GB DDR4
Storage- 1TB SSD” thumb=”https://www.xtremegaminerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Skytech-Shiva-Gaming-PC-1.jpg” ] [wpsm_column size=”one-half”][wpsm_pros title=”PROS:”]
- No compromise 1440p gaming
- Overclockable Ryzen CPU
- InWin case with unique design
- Wifi and Windows 10 Home
- 600W Gold power supply
- Stock Intel Cooler
Finally, the best PreBuilt for $1500 is the Skytech Shiva which has the best possible combination for gaming at 1440p. The Ryzen 5 5600X combined with an RTX 3060 Ti is overkill for 1080p gaming and therefore, even after a couple of years you will be able to play on the max settings at this resolution. It comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 1TB SSD. Powering all these components, the PC is definitely on advantage with the 600 watts 80 Plus Gold rated power supply.
The InWin mid-tower here features an unusual design with the PSU shroud at the top. The top of the case is also shared by the storage drive bay and you get full clearance at the bottom to add whatever expansion card you would like to. The case has three RGB fans pre-installed, however, the front fans are not directly attached to the front panel but on the side as the case has ventilated side panel.
Are $1500 PreBuilt Gaming PCs Upgradable?
Almost every PreBuilt listed above has a decent mid-tower case that makes it easier for upgrades in the future. You can easily change your GPU to a better one without worrying about the clearance or power requirement. Most of these PreBuilts come with at least a 600W quality PSU that has all the cables required to power your high-end GPU as well as other PC components. This makes upgrading easier without the need to change the PSU.
As you may have seen that most of these Gaming PCs use either one of the latest Intel Core i5 6-core or Ryzen 6-core CPUs, you can upgrade to a better one if you have any need for more CPU cores. Generally speaking, 6 cores are sufficient for playing any intensive AAA title in 2022 and you will hardly feel any need to change your CPU for a couple of years.
Every PreBuilt comes with at least 16GB of RAM and most of them come with 1TB of SSD storage. RAM will be sufficient for a while but most PreBulits come with motherboards having 4x DIMM slots making it easier to install at least 16GB more RAM. For storage, you can add one or more drives in the future if 1TB is not enough for your big games and movies.
That said, there is hardly anything that you won’t be able to upgrade and you can make the configuration as per your needs just like a custom gaming PC.
Final Words
Out of more than a dozen PreBuilt systems under $1000, we have listed only the ones that give you the most for your money. If you need any advice or suggestions regarding the PreBuilts or if you want to build a custom gaming system for yourself, feel free to use the comments section below, and we will try to help you within a day or so.
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