For serious gamers looking for the best gaming experience, a gaming PC that fits your budget is essential. At the $1000 price point, gamers can expect an advanced processor, plenty of RAM, a discrete graphics card, and ample storage space. The machines featured here deliver great performance without breaking the bank.
A great gaming PC under $1000 is the ASUS ROG Strix GL503VM-DH74. This laptop packs an Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. Both are more than enough for the most demanding of games. For RAM, 8GB comes in the box, but you can upgrade to 16GB if you need more. Storage wise, you get an impressive 512GB solid-state drive.
If portability isn’t a priority, then the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8180A is an outstanding choice. The latest Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB RAM, and a powerful GeForce GTX 1070 graphics are at the heart of this PC. It also contains a large 1TB hard drive and a 24x DVD-RW drive. The Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8180A is an excellent choice for playing the hottest games.
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA1388A is a great choice for gamers who need a powerful system on a budget. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor and a discreet Radeon RX 580 graphics card, the Gamer Master GMA1388A delivers performance that is capable of handleing maxed out games settings. Storage-wise, it comes with an 8GB RAM that’s upgradeable up to 16GB and a 1TB hard drive.
For gamers who want a more upgradeable option, the Skytech Shiva Gaming PC is an ideal choice. Its AMD Ryzen 5 1500X processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card are great starting points and still offers decent gaming performance. As for storage, the Shiva comes with 12GB RAM, a 240GB solid-state drive, and a 1TB hard drive. It also has plenty of room for expansion, so gamers can upgrade it as needed.
The Lenovo Legion Y520 is a great choice for gamers who want a reliable system without breaking the bank. It comes with the latest Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card. The Y520 also has 8GB RAM, a 128GB solid-state drive, and a 1TB hard drive. This system is equipped with all the necessary components for serious gaming performance.
The Alienware Aurora R7 is considered by many as the best gaming PC for 1000. It features the latest 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, a 2TB hard drive, and the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics card. This system will enable you to experience true 4K gaming with no compromises.
Processor
The processor is the most important component in any gaming PC and it’s important to choose one that can handle all the intensive gaming your system can handle. Most gaming PCs in the $1000 price range come with Intel’s latest 8th-generation processors, with the i7 and i9 being the best ones. AMD’s Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 series processors are also suitable choices, but they usually cost slightly more than their Intel counterparts.
Graphics Card
When it comes to graphics cards, you want to get the most bang for your buck. In the $1000 range, you’ll find a wide range of brands including Nvidia GTX 1070, 1080 and RTX 2060, 2070 and 2080 graphics cards. AMD GPUs such as the Radeon RX 580 and RX 570 are also excellent choices and are more budget-friendly. NVIDIA’s 1050 and 1060 cards are also capable of running most games, albeit at lower settings.
Storage Options
Storage is important to consider when purchasing a gaming PC. How much you need depends on your gaming habits and what type of games you play. A 256GB solid-state drive will offer the best performance for the fastest loading times. However, a 1TB hard drive is usually sufficient for most gamers, and you get much more storage for the same cost.
Memory
Memory is essential to any gaming PC, with 8GB being the recommended minimum. That’s plenty for many games, but more intensive games may require up to 16GB or even 32GB. It’s best to buy a system with RAM that’s easily upgradable so you don’t have to deal with replacing it down the road.
Cooling
Cooling is important for any gaming PC, especially with the amount of power needed for playing graphically intense games. Cooling systems come in the form of fans and liquid cooling. Fans are the most common type of cooling and come in various sizes and types to suit your needs. Liquid cooling is more expensive and requires additional maintenance, but it’s more effective at keeping your system cool.
Connectivity
Most gaming PCs come with a variety of inputs and outputs to connect to your other devices and accessories. You’ll need to make sure you have enough USB ports to connect your headset or mouse and keyboard. HDMI ports are also useful for connecting gaming consoles. If you opt for a laptop, make sure it has an Ethernet port for a faster and more reliable connection.
