Gaming is a passion, a pure thirst for one’s dedication in a whole new world. Investing in a gaming computer has no limits, but how much should we invest if it’s for a beginner and a professional might vary according to his budget and sense of gaming. For this, we have recruited the ten best gaming PC under 1500 dollars that both fall into the budget PC category as well as a decent amount to spend.
Common FAQs About The Best Gaming PC Under 1500
What configuration falls under the $1500 pre-built gaming PC?
You are going to face a trade-off from one component to the other to bring into the $1500 gaming computer by the manufacturer. This means in the presence of a powerful graphics card, you might get a mid-range CPU and a decent amount of RAM or vice versa. But if you are lucky enough, you may also get a whole beast in your hands within this $1500 cost. Technically, it’s a kind of shuffling of the prices tagged with each of the components of your PC tower.
What is the minimum configuration for a gaming computer?
Asking for minimum configuration means you are heading for a budget gaming PC or we should say you are sweeping out the possibility entirely for the latest games because playing high-end games means spending a healthy amount on a gaming desktop. However, the minimum you can opt for is 6GB RAM, a Quad-core processor and a dedicated graphics card with at least 4GB video memory is a must.
Which games can I play with the PC under $1500?
A PC under $1500 is a fair cost for whichever game you like to play. Any game from less demanding to the most popular one today can be played, though the frame rates fluctuate depending upon the PC components. For instance, you can play Fortnite, Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, etc. Whereas if you have rolled your dice in the right direction (especially for a powerful video card), this range of gaming PC even allows you to play most latest games like Halo Infinite, Elden Ring, and Valheim, etc.
Can I play games at 4k or 1440p resolution with a $1500 pre-built gaming PC?
The gaming computers under $1500 are mainly mid-range desktops for gaming. Typically they are better off with 1080p resolution mainly for gaming purposes. A very few of these PCs with RTX graphics cards can render better frame rates at 1440p resolution. But this does not entirely depend on the GPU and CPU together, though it very much depends on the game you like to play. Hence the results are not always the same for every game at different resolutions. Therefore, according to our experience, we found FHD or 1080p resolution more fruitful than 1440p or 4k especially for high frame rate chasers on $1500 prebuilt PCs.
Why is a prebuilt gaming PC better than a custom-built one?
It is always noticed that whether it’s something new or an old component, every one of the major hardware is always being swiped out from the market and purchased in bulk quantity by the manufacturers or scalpers. As a result of which, either the local customer remains deprived of these components or if not then only remains with renewed hardware, causing them to purchase at higher prices than nominal rates.
That’s how a custom-built PC turns out to exceed our budget, whereas, on the other hand, prebuilt PCs are affordable and are based on the latest hardware, if you want them to. Another favor you are getting from the prebuilt computers is the warranty and support from the customer care of that brand, which is absolutely not there when you build your own PC.
List of Ten Best Pre-Built Gaming PC under 1500 Dollars 2022
- HP Omen 30L – Best 1080p pre-built gaming PC
- MSI Aegis SE – Best AMD prebuilt PC for gaming
- Dell Flagship XPS 8940 – Best prebuilt gaming PC with i7
- MSI Codex R – Best mid-range gaming PC
- Skytech Chronos Mini – Best gaming PC under 1500 with RTX 2060
- Asus Rog Strix GA15DH – Best budget gaming PC under 1500
- Skytech Blaze II – Best 1660 Super gaming computer
- iBUYPOWER Trace 4 9310 – Best pre-built PC for gaming with RX 5500 XT
- iBUYPOWER Trace 4 MR 165i – Best VR gaming PC under 1500
- CyberpowerPC Gamer Master – Best pre-built PC with GTX 1650 Super
Best Gaming PC under $1500 2022 Reviews
1. HP Omen 30L – Pre-built gaming PC for pro gamers
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6 cores processor | Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060 Graphics card | HyperX 16GB RAM | 1TBNVMe SSD | Windows 10 Home
When you need to make an investment that would last more than a couple of years then the latest configuration is an obvious pick. In this case, HP Omen 30L GT13-1074, which is launched in 2021, is one of the best pre-built gaming PCs under 1500 with Nvidia RTX 3060 and the 5th Generation AMD Ryzen 5 6 core processor put you ahead of average gaming.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G is a 6 core processor, having a 12MB Cache with a 3.9GHz base and 4.4GHz boost frequency. Whereas the most attractive part of this machine is the RTX 3060 video card with 12GB VRAM GDDR6 with 2nd Generation Ray Tracing, having a 1320MHz base and 1780MHz boost clock. It’s VR-ready, DLSS supportive, and fulfills DirectX 12 gaming requirements.
We have tested this prebuilt PC for most popular games and found out this is the best option for 1080p gaming at high graphics settings. On this configuration, it gives 70.8FPS on Red Dead Redemption 2, 80.6FPS for Borderland 3, 98.7FPS for Hitman 3. Whereas, if you tweak for 1440p gaming, these games give 55.6FPS, 63.2FPS, and 76.2FPS, respectively.
On the other hand, it’s a Micro ATX tower, a very reasonable size with 4 slots and 2 bays for expanding the memory. Whereas, the case has a glass tempered panel, showing off the innards of the tower, although the wire stacking is not very nice, nevertheless, the overall build is pretty attractive with customizable RGB lights.
2. MSI Aegis SE – Best pre-built PC for gaming and streaming
Intel i5-10400F 6 cores processor | AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD | Windows 10 Home Adv.
A ready to lead gaming PC straight out of the box. We have MSI Aegis SE, a gaming computer under $1500 with a powerful configuration. You can handle intensive multitasking and can play the most demanding game titles. Its hardware includes the 10th Generation Intel i5 processor and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT video card. A combination that could help you achieve good results for any sort of intensified task whether it’s just gaming or going ahead of standard computing.
Digging the specifications, as mentioned earlier, this $1500 PC owns a 10th Generation Intel i5-10400F 6 core processor with 12 threads, 12MB Cache, having 2.9GHz base, and a 4.3GHz boost frequency. Whereas the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT video card has 6GB GDDR6 memory bandwidth, having a 1375MHz base and 1560MHz boost frequency. Although it lacks ray tracing, it is able to provide on the edge competitive VR gaming.
We have tested this prebuilt gaming PC for Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Just Cause 4, Control, and Borderland 3 on ultra-high settings at 1080p, the results are pretty satisfactory, i.e. the 80.5FPS, 83.1FPS, 64 FPS, and 63 FPS respectively. Besides gaming performance, attending its looks, the MSI Aegis gaming desktop has a unique design, it doesn’t expose the internal cabling and stacking of the hardware to the lookers but is packed from every side. Having built-in air cooling which despite being noisy we found pretty effective and you are also getting customizable sRGB lighting too.
3. Dell Flagship XPS 8940 – Best i7 gaming computer
Intel i7-10700 8 cores processor | AMD Radeon RX 5600 Graphics card | 32GB RAM | 512GB SSD+1TB HDD | Windows 10 Home
Dell Flagship XPS special edition is no less than a packed powerhouse on the table. We have picked this unit not for its looks but for the powerful hardware that meets every aspect of competitive gaming. Nevertheless, if looks are more important to you then skip this pre-built gaming PC and move to the other because Dell has not paid much attention to its exposure rather spend a good time stacking the components to make perfect gaming and content creation sense for everyone.
When we say it’s a powerful gaming machine, it’s because of the 10th Generation Intel i7-10700 8 core processor combined with the strength of AMD RX 5600 6GB GDDR6 video card. Talking about the CPU, i7 comes with 16 threads, 16MB Cache, 2.9GHz base, and 4.8GHz boost frequency. One of the main reasons for being the best gaming PC under 1500 is, you are getting 32GB massive RAM with both SSD and HDD local storage.
A very feasible configuration to meet the ends of intensive multitasking, gaming, content generating, and a lot more. However, the design of this PC is too ordinary, apart from the front panel that is mashed design, from where the heat dissipates. Other than that, there is nothing like what we usually get attracted to, that is the see-through glass panel, engravings, and the sRGB lighting. Instead, it’s a compact PC case without much formality, a simple looking machine with great efficiency though.
4. MSI Codex R – Best gaming PC under 1500 with RTX 2060
Intel i5-10400F 6 cores processor | Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 500GB SSD+1TB HDD | Windows 10 Home Adv.
All those fancy lights and stylishly funky gaming tower cravers are entertained here. We are talking about the MSI Codex R gaming tower with everything a gamer wants in his gaming rig from power to immersiveness to every detail to customizing lights. A great combination of Intel 10th Generation processor and the best graphics card for 1080p gaming. It’s a packed power for gaming, streaming, and multitasking altogether.
The offered configuration includes the Intel i5 6 core processor, having 12 threads, 12MB Cache, 2.9GHz base, and 4.3GHz boost frequency. Further, the good part of this gaming PC is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB GDDR6 GPU, although it is now considered one of the best mid-range graphics cards, it’s still very much capable of handling the requirements of modern games compared to the latest video cards released today. The RTX 2060 supports Real-Time Ray Tracing, VR ready, DLSS 2.0, and DirectX 12.1, and has more than enough frame rates for popular game titles.
Whereas talking about its build, we must say it’s as gorgeous as its hardware attracts us, it’s a beautiful unit inside out. It has a mashed knitted net front panel in black, reflecting the two sRGB ring light fans. There is one sRGB ring light fan at the back of the case too. The size of the case is standard in an ATX form factor. Having a glass panel at one side of the case, letting the inwards expose themself. Besides having three air cooling fans, this machine is pretty hot and noisy under load.
5. Skytech Chronos Mini – Best $1500 gaming desktop with 9th generation processor
Intel i7-9700KF 8 cores processor | Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 1TB SSD | Windows 10 Home
Skytech is one of the famous brands for pre-built gaming PCs at affordable prices. We have selected Skytech Chronos Mini gaming PC for the $1500 gaming computer category specifically. This machine bears incredible power and is so good for multitasking, content creation, and any sort of professional work that can be done. It’s a wise choice for budget gamers or beginners and also adequate for pro gamers too.
This $1500 PC is equipped with a 9th Generation Intel i7-9700KF 8 core processor, having 8 threads, 12MB Cache, 3.6GHz base, and 4.90GHz boost frequency. Whereas the video card is the Nvidia Geforce RTX 2060 with 6GB GDDR6 video memory. The combination of this hardware is too good for 1080p gaming at high settings. You can play Apex Legends, Dota 2, Battlefield V, GTA V, Hitman, and many other popular games with up to 60FPS easily. In addition, this gaming PC is also a great option for VR gaming.
This gaming computer is worth buying for those who have little space on their table. It is a small ATX form factor, takes minimum space, and is also light in weight. The build is pretty satisfying with a front mesh panel, behind it having two RGB ring light fans and one at the back of the case, these lights are customizable. Although the fans are a little noisy but are pretty much tolerable. Moreover, the heat spreading is quite good as well.
6. Asus Rog Strix GA15DH – Best gaming PC under 1500 for starters
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8 cores processor | Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Ti Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD | Windows 10 Home
This is my personal favorite gaming desktop, I have initialized my gaming journey with. The combination of the 3rd Generation processor and a GTX 1660 Ti is a great combo to dive into the gaming world. Not just gaming, it’s a perfect computer for you if you are up for some professional digital work like creating content, editing videos, and streaming together. Asus meets the high-quality build every gamer and a professional might look for in order to follow an investment that would last a decade with him.
Checking out the configuration this tower is stacked with, it has AMD Ryzen 7 8 core processor, having 16 threads, 32MB Cache, 3.6GHz base and 4.4GHz boost clock, a very powerful CPU to render high-end content. Whereas the GTX 1660 Ti is a 6GB GDDR6 video card with a 1500MHz base and 1770MHz boost frequency. It is one of the best VR graphics cards, and meets the requirement of DLSS and also provides real-time ray tracing. We have tested PUBG, Assassins Creed: Origin and Just Cause 4 at ultra-high settings at 1080p and we are glad to find 70+FPS results with each of these.
In addition, if you want to play modern games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman 3 and GTA 5, the results are indeed lower FPS but still playable. Coming towards the build, it has aesthetic exposure, having an EMI reducing panel lets the innards peak out, there are RGB fans and lighting all over. Although the cooling is not very effective, this might be because of being a mid-range gaming PC. However, the upgrading of the components are pretty easy too and the case has welcoming slots and bays to make it future proof later.
7. Skytech Blaze II – Best compact gaming PC under 1500
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 cores processor | Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Super Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 500GB SSD | Windows 10 Home
Skytech prebuilt gaming PCs are one of the best PC brands that build amazing computers with great engineering and reliable efficacy to compete all over the world in tournaments. We have picked Skytech Blaze II for a $1500 gaming desktop. The configuration it holds mainly falls under the mid-range computers for the gaming category today. You are getting a 3rd Generation AMD processor with GTX 1660 Super. A perfect combination for nonpopular or less demanding games to play.
The details of the above hardware says the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6 core processor, having 12 threads, 32MB Cache, 3.6GHz base and 4.2GHz boost frequency. The Nvidia Geforce GTX 1660 Super video card comes with 6GB GDDR6 video memory, having a 1530MHz base and 1785MHz boost clock. Besides it is unable to do real-time ray tracing but is a VR-ready GPU that meets current requirements for virtual reality gaming. Other than this, the frame rates are similar to GTX 1660 Ti, i.e. around 60FPS at 1080p resolution for less popular games.
Besides being a compact PC built on an mATX form factor tower, it has an effective cooling mechanism with three RGB ring lights and the wiring is nicely done with fine stacking of the components. Having a glass tempered panel that needs a screwdriver to pull it off. The upgrading is although not easy because of the small casing. However, the good part is, the airflow is nice irrespective of the compactness. Overall it’s a good computer for budget gaming seekers.
8. iBUYPOWER Trace 4 9310 – Best AMD gaming PC
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 cores processor | AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT Graphics card | 8GB RAM | 240GB SSD | Windows 10 Home
There are a number of budget gaming PCs in the market, out of which not many are easy to upgrade. iBUYPPOWER Trace 4 is the one we find with tool less excess in the components if somehow we put gear for the cheap gaming computer. If on one hand, it is not for competitive gaming then on the other hand it lets you upgrade the configuration without learning any expertise.
However, on purchase of this model, this gaming PC tower is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600, a 3rd Generation processor with 6 cores and a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Further, it has an AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, 4GB GDDR6 video card, with a 1717MHz base and 1845MHz boost clock. This is a VR-ready graphics card but unable to do real time ray tracing. Apart from the technology analysis, RX 5500 XT 4GB is mainly a 1080p gaming GPU, it is able to play many popular games at FHD resolution, though not great for 1440p gaming.
This gaming PC is a very nice option to avail for beginners and budget gamers too. Unfortunately, the 240GB SSD is too little space to save games on the PC, which will quickly develop the need for upgrading. The expansion slots are welcomed to increase memory. Furthermore, the tower consists of three-ring RGB fans and RGB strips at the front, having a glass tempered panel at one side. In short, this gaming computer is ready to lead whatever games you like to play straight out of the box, although feasible for less demanding games unless you upgrade.
9. iBUYPOWER Trace 4 MR 165i – Best $1500 gaming PC with RX 580
Intel i7-10700F 8 cores processor | AMD Radeon RX 580 Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 480GB SSD+1TB HDD | Windows 10 Home
We have another entry gaming PC under 1500 dollars by iBUYPOWER. Perfect for gamers and students who strive for a budget gaming computer. This PC makes a whole lot of sense for 1080p gaming with nice frame rates which many latest graphics cards are unable to push for a number of games. This is because of the AMD RX 580 video card which is still very popular even in 2021 especially for budget gaming.
The configuration of iBUYPOWER Trace 4 MR 165i is based on the 10th Generation Intel i7-10700 CPU, having 8 cores, 16 thread, 16MB Cache, 2.90GHz base and 4.8GHz high boost frequency. It delivers incredible performance with the AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card, having 8GB GDDR5 video memory, 1257MHz base and 1340MHz boost clock. It is a highly recommended VR gaming PC. However, testing this PC for The Witcher III and Hitman 2 gives up to 60FPS, Battlefield V and GTA V gives more than 70FPS.
Now coming towards the design, like many other gaming desktops, iBUYPOWER has also dedicated the exposure to glass tempering. It has one side of the case totally exposing the innards whereas the front panel has more likely a mirror with a little reflection. You can see three RGB fans from the front panel and one at the back. The airflow is pretty good and the case is spacious with expandable slots for upgrading in the future.
10. CyberpowerPC Gamer Master – Best gaming PC with 1650 Super
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 cores processor | Nvidia Geforce GTX 1650 Super Graphics card | 16GB RAM | 500GB NVMe SSD+1TB HDD | Windows 10 Home
CyberpowerPC is a renowned brand for pre-built gaming PCs. For gaming desktops under $1500, we have picked CyberpowerPC Gamer Master that falls perfectly under this range. It is a powerful and decent rig to play at 1080p resolution. This configuration is set by the 3rd Generation CPU and a GTX 1650 video card. It is a suitable computer for less demanding games together with multitasking.
This gaming computer has an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 core processor with up to 4.2GHz boost frequency. Further having an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 video card with 4GB GDDR6 video memory. It has a 1530MHz base and a 1725MHz boost clock which supports Virtual Reality but no real-time ray tracing. Although the test results are not so good for most demanding games, even the less popular games can only be played at medium graphics settings. If you try to go for higher settings and resolution together, the frame rate gets worse.
Thus we suggest this model for mainstream gaming. Talking about the build, the quality of the case and structure is nice. Having a decent yet hooks up with stylishness a gamer mostly likes to have in his PC. The overall design is not identical to the rest of the CyberpowerPC’s, instead, it has a little divergence if you have ever come across the other models of this brand. A plain aluminum panel is unfinished at the bottom, leaving a space to let a single RGB fan peak. A glass tempered panel on one side and an RGB fan at the back.
How to choose the best gaming PC under 1500 dollars? Buying Guide
Just don’t embark and make furious clicks to fill your cart. A serious research is required about the components/ hardware your gaming would require. A prebuilt gaming PC needs your full attention to minimize the chances of regretting or overspending. Thus we have penned down all the details straight to the point to educate about everything you need to know for a gaming computer.
It’s not only about a $1500 PC build, but can be taken fully for any range of desktop you are willing to invest in. However, remember this guide is not for building your own PC but “Pre-Built gaming PC” instead. Now let us begin.
What games do you plan to play on a gaming desktop?
It might seem a silly question but being an expert I have been asked this question many times and it’s totally reasonable. Honestly speaking, I don’t believe someone is willing to spend on a gaming rig just to play spider solitaire, Hardwar, Puchi Carat, Ford Racing, Coffee Tycoon or even a Team Indie from 2014. Rather, willing to play Fortnite Battle Royale, Doom Eternal, Destiny 2, PUBG, Overwatch 2, Cyberpunk 2077, or even Hitman 3, Valheim, Scarlet Nexus the latest from 2021. If you belong to the latter category then you are welcome to start your journey with the gaming PC built.
Graphics card for your gaming computer
You can’t enter this gaming world with an integrated graphics card. Gaming requires a dedicated video card. For this, you have two main manufacturers of GPU, i.e the Nvidia and AMD. The Nvidia GPUs are 10 Series, 20 and 30 Series is the latest Series with Ray Tracing Technology, whereas the AMD graphics cards are RX 500 Series, Vega Series, RX 5000, and the latest yet now is the RX 6000.
For mid-end games like Counter Strike Global Offensive, and GTA San Andreas Nvidia GTX 10 Series or AMD equivalent brings 40-50 frames per second which is not a bad option. Whereas the RTX 20 Series performs better with up to 60FPS at 1080p resolution. Though the AAA titles games which are also called the latest games need something as powerful as the Nvidia 30 Series and RX 6000 Series by AMD at the same resolution.
However, we suggest you make your purchase a little futuristic by considering Ray Tracing GPU so that the coming game requirements are also fulfilled and you would be capable of squeezing out the last drop of your rig in the future.
Processor for gaming
A couple of years back, the processor had less to do anything with gaming, but now the most demanding or latest games require a good amount of role from the CPU as well. For mid-end games like the one mentioned above, you can pick a computer with a 4 core processor, it is also the minimum you can look for. Whereas, for high-end futuristic gaming, an 8 to 10 cores processor is the most suitable idea.
Hard drive for gaming
For big fat files of your games, you do not need much of the storage, a 512GB SSD can do this, even boot up your PC in minimalist time compared to HDD and SATA. But never put aside the other possibilities that you may encounter like making some serious efforts in terms of professional editing, animating, or even if it’s simple streaming. All these activities are quite possible at any period of time. Thus we recommend, get as much storage as your budget allows. Nonetheless, make sure your opted PC doesn’t entirely depend on the HDD, if that’s the case then move to some better option which either has SSD or SATA SSD or is a combination of both HDD and SSD that is a much better option.
RAM for gaming
Another crucial hardware for gaming is the RAM (Random Access Memory). A good amount of RAM smoothes down the creases in terms of eliminating the lagging of the system when you are playing games. If you are the one with the possibility to deal with crowded apps and games altogether, then make sure you have passed the minimum 6GB RAM for gaming to up to 16GB RAM, this will make your life super easy in the future as well.
The cooling system of the gaming PC
In any PC case, all the hardware is lined together with very little space between them. And when it’s about the gaming computer, its components are especially more powerful with more transistors piled together causing excessive heat compared to a regular PC. Having said that, we recommend, don’t rely fully on the fans of the processor and graphics cards entirely. Rather, try to choose a gaming PC with an effective heat dissipation system whether it’s air cooling or liquid cooling. Both types of cooling mechanisms are productive in their own respect, but liquid cooling is an advanced cooling system today.
Exposure of your gaming PC
Despite talking about the type of PC tower, the looks of the PC sometimes make a huge difference. It includes the fancy RGBs, LED lights, glass tempered see-through panel, size of the case, and the front engravings matter to many of us. Although many gamers focus only on the performance that is the hardware within the tower and pay little attention to the physical appearance of the PC. nonetheless, this is certainly a personal choice, you can welcome whatever your budget allows.
Don’t ever forget your monitor before buying a pre-built gaming PC
Buying a prebuilt PC means you are replacing your old setup with the new one or bringing in a whole setup from the beginning. Either way, it’s an upgrading your gaming setup or a working station. Here you need to pause your every decision for a while and think about the monitor you already have on your table.
Is this monitor capable of showing the results of your system investment on the screen optimally? Would this monitor handle the frames per second your system is pushing towards the screen? Or would it cause screen tearing? All these questions are associated with the compatibility of the monitor with your newly bought computer.
This means, your monitor has to be powerful enough to deliver the results just the way your configuration is capable of. Otherwise, the whole investment you have made will be down to the drain pipe. Let’s take an example of a monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate and a configuration based on a beefy GPU that is capable of pushing up to 150FPS. This misalignment causes screen tearing or even lag. In short, make a wise decision by checking the ability of your monitor as well, or else you have to upgrade your monitor too.
Conclusion
The $1500 pre-built gaming PCs are worth buying for every one of us, whether we have just entered into the gaming world or even if we are pro gamers. This range of cost entertains each of the people and helps to find more competitiveness and is also potent enough to let you lead in your gaming peers. This means if you were playing with 60 or less FPS at 1080p resolution before, now, buying a gaming desktop within $1500 can improve your scale to a great extent.
