The 5 Best Gaming PC under $1500 (Reviewed for 2023)

Expert Consulted: Adrian Gardiner. Years of experience buying both computers and computer parts for my own new builds has given me a keen eye for spotting the best deals when shopping.  In this article, I’ll be sharing my knowledge and tips with you to find the best gaming PC under 1500 USD.

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To find and review the best gaming PC under $1500, I found that this sum will get you a seriously good gaming PC, including a decent processor, plenty of RAM, and a graphics card with some serious grunt.

To help with your selection, I’ve tracked down 5 of the best available gaming PCs under $1500 that are available right now.

As all PCs reviewed are very capable gaming computers, apart from our number 1 Top Pick, the choice will probably boil down to the visual appearance of each system so the additional 4 gaming computers are there mostly for some extra choice.

Related Article: how to afford a gaming PC

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Prebuilt or Self Build Gaming PC

Whether to buy Prebuilt or go the Self Build route? My choice would usually be self-build, as you have so many more options and advantages when going down this route.

Ultimately, you would save money in the long run with a self-build by saving on the manufacturer markup on a prebuilt PC and the chance to look around for the best value components.

However, it’s not for everyone, so I’ve focused here on the convenience of prebuilt Gaming PCs.

The 5 Best Gaming PCs under $1500 Reviewed

Here are our 5 top recommendations for the best gaming PC under $1500 for 2023.

No.1 – Skytech Shadow Gaming PC – Top Pick

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Latest spec. DDR5 4800 MHz RAM
• RTX 3060 Ti graphics card
• AIO Liquid Cooling.

Many competitor systems are using older specification components (i.e., DDR4 RAM, 2.5″ format SSD) to save money.

Always best to get the most current hardware whenever possible.

Cons:

• No USB Type C ports (not a big issue, but it would be nice to have)
• Perhaps not the most exciting-looking chassis here.

Conclusion

It’s a great package, nicely lit with subtle LED lighting, excellent specification, and a great price.

Fitted with a VR-ready graphics card, this Gaming PC is designed for superb gaming performance, allowing gameplay at maximum settings with most of the latest computer games.

NOTE: Monitor not included!

No.2 – MSI Aegis R 12TC-267US Gaming PC- Liquid Cooled

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• AIO Liquid CPU Cooling
• RTX 3060 Graphics Card.

Cons:

• No USB Type C ports (not a big issue, but it would be nice to have)
• It would have been nice to see a system with current spec. DDR5 RAM instead of DDR4.

Conclusion

A nicely put-together build with all the right components for professional gaming. This PC will handle pretty much anything you throw at it, including most of the latest games at full resolution.

What’s not to like?

NOTE: Monitor not included!

No.3 – ROG Strix G15 Gaming PC – Best Case

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Stunning-looking gaming case.
• Carry handle built into the case.
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C Port on front and rear of the case (in addition to 4 x USB 2.0 and 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A ports).
• RTX 3060 graphics card.

Cons:

• Older DDR4 RAM is fitted – I would ideally like to have seen DDR5 for both future proofing and better speed.

Conclusion

Very attractive and professional-looking chassis housing an array of top gaming components, giving you all the power you need to play most current games at maximum settings.

NOTE: Monitor not included!

No.4 – Thermaltake Glacier 360 Gaming PC – White Case

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• AIO Liquid CPU Cooling
• Beautiful, attractive white Snow Edition chassis and generally very nicely thought out system
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type C port at the rear of the case
• RTX 3060 Graphics Card.

Cons:

• No USB Type C ports (not a big issue, but would be nice to have)
• Older DDR4 RAM is fitted – I would ideally like to have seen DDR5 for both future proofing and better speed.

Conclusion

A superb system that looks amazing both inside and out! With color-matched white Thermaltake branded components, it does look more expensive than its actual list price. Power and value an awesome combination!

NOTE: Monitor not included!

No.5 – CyberpowerPC Xtreme VR Gaming PC

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Attractive case with tempered glass panels
• RTX 3060 graphics card.

Cons:

• No USB Type C ports
• Older DDR4 RAM is fitted – I would ideally like to have seen DDR5 for both future proofing and better speed.

Conclusion

Another beefy-looking gaming PC with glass panels to one side and the front, allowing you to see the attractive and well thought out LED illuminated interior.

Coupled with a competitive and powerful specification, this is a gaming PC that’s built for a great and lasting gaming experience. All the power you’ll ever need.

NOTE: Monitor not included!

Buying Considerations

To help you with the buying/selection process, I’ve outlined a few areas to consider that will hopefully save you time and money.

Budget

As mentioned above, $1500 is an excellent starting point for a great Gaming PC that will enable you to play the latest games with the highest settings and at high resolution too.

When looking for a Gaming PC, I would start by identifying which games you’re looking to play (from my own experience, this is often dictated by your friends all wanting to play the same game) and then checking the game performance requirements at www.systemrequirementslab.com to then base your computer budget on a PC that will match.

After checking your game performance needs, you may actually find that your budget can be set lower (you can find great Gaming PCs for under $1000) – you can always upgrade at a later date should your gaming choices change.

Choosing Your Specification

Having a budget of $1500 is one thing, but knowing whether you have the right components included is another matter entirely.

Here, I’ve outlined the key performance-related parts you need to be looking out for to avoid a performance bottleneck in your system.

Processor (CPU)

The heart of your computer is the CPU, so the most important choice. Choose the wrong processor, and you’ll have problems down the road with slower-than-ideal performance.

I recommend, at a minimum, that you go for either an Intel Core i7 or an AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 processor. Either will give you great performance. The higher you can go, the better.

Graphics Card (GPU)

The next most important component is the graphics card. This part dictates the quality of your display and, consequently, gameplay.

The integrated graphics built into your processor won’t be enough to allow you to play all of the top games, and display quality will be limited – a dedicated graphics card is, therefore, essential.

All the systems reviewed in this article include at least an RTX 3060 or equivalent, which will provide you with an excellent gaming experience.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Having enough RAM is essential to a smooth-running computer and is especially important when running the latest and most demanding computer games.

Windows 10 / 11 both require a minimum of 8 GB of RAM just on their own (ignore Microsoft’s minimum requirements of 4 GB, which in my experience are insufficient).

For gaming, you need at least 16 GB of RAM to be comfortable and ensure reliable gameplay. All of the reviewed systems include at least 16 GB.

Questionable Add-Ons

Beware of expensive and probably unnecessary add-ons at the checkout stage. Sellers will often recommend ‘essential’ items like:

• Microsoft Office (if you really need Office and the price is too good to ignore, then this add-on is probably worth it.).
• Overpriced security software (also beware of security software that auto-renews every year at full price – it can be very costly). Windows 10 includes pretty good security these days, so a third-party security program may be overkill for you.
• Expensive yearly ‘Tech’ support.
• Unnecessary insurance.

The above items can add a huge amount to your bill, so I’d advise caution here.

Worthwhile Add-Ons

Monitor

If the price is competitive, then a new monitor would be worth considering as all of our reviewed computers will need one. Check other sites online to make sure the price is good and that the seller is not just clearing old stock.

Printer

Printers are often offered at a discount, so add this if you need one and the model offered looks like it will fit your needs, and their price is good.

Webcam

Most of us need a webcam these days, but it’s not one of the discounted add-ons, see if the retailer will discount one for you or even throw one in for free – you’ll probably need to buy over the phone or in-person to be able to do this.

Note: Some monitors include a built-in webcam, so check this first if you’ve added a monitor to your order.

Shipping

If applicable, and you live local to your computer store with the new system you want in stock, consider collecting it and saving on shipping costs.

Trade-Ins

If buying in-store and you have similar but older computer equipment that you’re upgrading from and no longer need, consider a trade-in (if your seller offers this) to save money.

Conclusion

All 5 computers reviewed here represent great value, including all of the necessary components for a great gaming experience.

However, for the best all-round value for money, my top pick out of these 5 is the Skytech Shadow Gaming PC, which includes the latest hardware specs and is below our target price of $1500.