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03Best Future Proof Gaming PC Under $1000
If you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $1000 we’ve got you covered with our top picks.
Buying a pre build gaming PC for under $1000 is the cheapest, simplest and faster way to get into PC gaming.
Best gaming PC under $1000 at a glance
Skytech Azure Gaming PCÂ
CPU
Intel Core i5 11400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
500GB NVMe SSD
Skytech Archangel 3.0
CPU
Intel Core i5 10400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Internal Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
YEYIAN Katana X24 Gaming PC
CPU
Intel Core i5 12400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Gaming components can be expensive and building them requires expertise and research. This takes time. You can buy one of the best GPUs for raytracing but then you’ll need the PSU, CPU, motherboard and then a case to house them all.
It’s much simpler to buy one that has been built by a manufacturer. The picks on this list have all been expertly built with components that complement one another.
However, as they are all under $1000 you can’t expect the most powerful specs or graphics cards. You won’t be seeing the best RX 7900 XTX prebuilt gaming PCs for example.
We’ve provided a brief description of each PC so you can get a better overview and know which one makes the most sense for you. Let’s get into our picks.
Best 1440p Performance PC Under $1000 – Skytech Azure Gaming PC
Skytech Azure Gaming PCÂ
CPU
Intel Core i5 11400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
500GB NVMe SSD
- Powerful GPU
- Effective cooling
- Storage could be larger
Skytech is a popular name in the pre-built gaming PC market and one of their gaming rigs is just under $1000, the SkyTech Azure Gaming PC comes highly recommended if you’re aiming for 1440p performance. Not only does it come with an Intel 11th-gen flagship processor, but also a top-tier GPU from RTX 30 series to ensure unmatched performance. For an a thousand-buck gaming PC, Skytech Azure gaming PC really does offer value for money and in the long run, the PC is quite future-proof as well.
The combination of Intel Core i5-11400F and GeForce RTX 3060 manages to produce excellent frame rates on 1440p displays. Since the GPU natively supports 2nd-gen real-time ray tracing, players could take advantage of this new technology and enjoy the most stunning and upscaled gameplay experience. Moreover, Skytech Azure comes with 16GB of DDR4 memory which is more than sufficient if you plan to play on 1440p displays.
Read more: Best Gaming PC for Hogwarts Legacy
Moreover, this PC also comes with a 500GB NVMe SSD which is significantly faster than your average hard disk. However, in this modern age, 500GB just isn’t enough. Fortunately, the PC naturally supports expansion slots and you wouldn’t have any problem if you decide to add more HDDs and SSDs to increase your internal storage.
As for the PC itself, the aesthetics are quite pleasing and the custom-built solid chassis that’s laden with RGB strips is really a sight for sore eyes. And for the interior, there’s plenty of room inside the case and in case you decide to add more 120mm fans or expansion slots, you won’t have any problems. All-in-all, if you’re looking for the best gaming PC under $1000, the Skytech Azure gaming PC is a pretty decent option.
Best Value for Money PC Under $1000 – Skytech Archangel 3.0
Skytech Archangel 3.0
CPU
Intel Core i5 10400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Internal Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
- Best GPU
- Large storage capacity
- Large size
If you’re after an elegant-looking machine that can handle everything you throw at it, the Skytech Archangel 3.0 is right up your alley. At the core of this build, you’ll find an Intel Core i5-10400F that comes with a base clock of 2.9Ghz and it has decent headroom for overclocking. If you’re keen on squeezing every bit of performance from the CPU, you’ll find the Intel Core i5-10400F more than capable of offering extreme performance.
Backed by a GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, the Skytech Archangel 3.0 is optimized for high-end gaming with a 60FPS cap on 1440p displays. And thanks to the 2nd-gen real-time ray tracing abilities of the card, you can enjoy stunning visuals and flawless performance. The combination of Core i5-10400F and RTX 3060 is quite ideal and you won’t be noticing any sort of bottleneck or any other limitations.
Read more: Best PC case for RTX 3060
Moreover, you’ll also get 16GB of DDR4 memory which is ideal and hits the sweet spot if you’re aiming for 1440p gameplay. Similarly, this battle station also comes with a 1TB NVMe SSD that’s phenomenally fast and you’ll never have to wait more than a few seconds for the loading screens and boot-up time. Generally, with a $1000 gaming PC, you generally get 500GB NVMe SSDs. However, the Skytech Archangel 3,0 pre-installed 1TB NVMe SSD ensures that you get the most out of your money,
As for the aesthetics, you’ll get an ATX case with an all-white solid exterior with a side-tempered glass in a medley with all the glowing RGB strips that really are a sight for sore eyes. As far as the interior is concerned, it is quite roomy and readily supports expansion devices. Lastly, the airflow inside the case is quite ideal as well, making Skytech Archangel 3.0 one of the best gaming PCs under $1000 on the market.
Best Future Proof Gaming PC Under $1000 – YEYIAN Katana X24 Gaming PC
YEYIAN Katana X24 Gaming PC
CPU
Intel Core i5 12400F
GPU
RTX 3060
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
- Powerful GPU
- Great connectivity
- RGB look could be off-putting
Don’t mind going slightly over the budget of a thousand bucks? The Yeyian Katana X24 is another top contender for one of the best mid-range Gaming PCs on the market. It comes laden with top-tier components which include one of the latest flagship processors from Intel’s 12th-gen Alder Lake lineup, the Core i5-12400F. Featuring a core count of 6 and thread count of 12, the processor is optimized for gaming and is quite capable of offering desired performance.
In the graphics section, you’ll find an RTX 3060 with 12GB of VRAM. Coupled with the processor, expect to get excellent performance and stunning visuals. You can also take advantage of the real-time ray tracing and DLSS upscaling features of the card to further boost the image quality without compromising much frame rates.
Moreover, as other builds on the page, the Yeyian Katana X24 gaming PC also comes with 16GB of DDR4 memory with a boost clock of 3200MHz. By default, the frequency is set at 2666MHz but since there’s a pretty decent headroom, you can use the XMP settings in the BIOS to push the RAM to its limit and produce a few more frames per second. The memory features heat spreaders, so you will never have to worry about overheating when overclocking.
If you’re an enthusiast who enjoys a neat build, you’ll love the Yeyian Katana X24’s minimalistic aesthetics. Featuring a glass build on the front as well as side-tempered glass, the ATX-sized case is surely a sight a sore eyes. Backed by ARGB 120mm fans and an AIO, the build looks quite stunning.
Moving on, there’s a total of 4x120mm ARGB fans installed inside the case. 3x ARGB fans are mounted on the front while 1xARGB is located on the rear and functions as an exhaust. Also since it also features an AIO, you’ll never have to complain about the temps.
Frequently asked questions
Is 16 GB RAM good for gaming?
16 GB of RAM is suitable for gaming and is recommended for most games. That said if you have more, your PC will be more future-proofed.
Is it cheaper to build a gaming PC or buy a prebuilt?
In general, the cost of buying each component and building it yourself will be cheaper, though also requires expertise. It is also not always the case and manufacturers of pre-built PCs can buy components in bulk for cheaper.
