The release of the newest graphics cards from both Nvidia and AMD means a lot of things to different kinds of PC gamers. For a section of them, it means it’s time to upgrade, as these newer cards can sport significant improvements over their current ones. For another section, it’s time to look into the last generation, as it will carry significantly lower prices thanks to the new lineup.
Of course, those with a lot more cash to burn thanks to saving up for this new generation of video cards are in luck, as there are a ton of great pre-built gaming PCs out there that may be worth a try. In the past, pre-built PCs have not been that recommended, as you save significantly money more when you build your own; this argument, however, has somewhat cooled down thanks to some boutiques offering exceptional craftsmanship and build designs that PC enthusiasts can get into.
To that end, here are five of the best pre-built gaming PCs you can buy for just under $1500 – a great starting price for higher end systems, allowing you to play the latest games at higher settings at a very comfortable 60 frames per second and up to 4K resolution. Check them out below and see which one is the best for your needs.
NOTE: If you buy something through this post, Player.One may get a share of the sale.
Skytech Shiva (i5-9600K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, 500GB SSD, 16GB DDR4 RAM)
The cheapest of the bunch, but by no means the worst, the Shiva is a pretty powerful pre-built tower that also boasts amazing aesthetics. It’s significantly less than $1500, which gives you an overhead on your system; you can easily use the money you save for additional components like a monitor plus keyboard and mouse combo, get some more storage for your library of games or buy other peripherals like controllers and headphones.
The Shiva is powered by an Intel i5-9600K, a six-core processor running at 3.7GHz. This is more than enough to run the latest titles at pretty high settings, especially when combined with the RTX 2060 6GB GPU. The processor is cooled by a 120mm all-in-one liquid cooler, which means you’re getting better temperatures for better overhead once you overclock. Combine all of these with the 16GB of RAM, the 500GB SSD and a bonus PCIe Wi-Fi card and you’re all set to play the latest and greatest titles for the next couple of years.
CYBERPOWER is one of the best PC building boutiques out there, crafting both mid-ranged and high-end systems for every kind of PC gamer. If you want something with a little more power – and sexy black tempered glass sides – then look no further than the Gamer Master, one of their best-selling pre-built towers. It’s powered by an AMD processor, making it a great workstation as well. If you’re planning on doing some streaming along with your games, or maybe editing videos of your playthroughs, then this is an amazing pre-built to get.
The Gamer Master runs on a Ryzen 7 2700, which may be last-gen, but still packs quite the punch. The 8-core CPU is a beast for multithreaded tasks, and when combined with the RTX 2070 there should be no game too demanding for you to hit a comfortable 60 frames on the highest settings. Better yet, lower some of those settings and play on a higher resolution – the choice is yours. The Gamer Master also boasts 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 240GB SSD boot drive, a 2TB HDD for your game library and it’s Wi-Fi capable, too. You’re also getting a free keyboard and mouse which, while not exactly best-in-class, is enough to get you started.
iBUYPOWER Pro Gaming PC (i7-9700K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB, 240GB SSD + 1TB HDD, 16GB DDR4 RAM)
Like CYBERPOWER, iBUYPOWER is also an amazing PC building boutique. Their Pro Gaming PC is a bit different from the Gamer Master, though, as the chipset is powered by Intel. AMD may be kicking Intel’s ass in the multi-core department and price-to-performance ratios, but if you want the fastest core speed possible, then there’s still no better choice. iBUYPOWER PCs also come packaged in cases with very pleasing aesthetics, both for those going after a muted look and those who want their machines looking like Christmas.
This Pro Gaming PC is powered by the latest Intel i7-9700K, an unlocked and very powerful CPU running on eight cores with speeds of 3.6Ghz. Combine that with an RTX 2070 8GB and this machine can run any AAA title on Ultra at smooth and silky framerates. The build can go either way with 1440p (higher framerates) and 4K (better resolution) for a monitor, and this build will absolutely cut through whatever you throw at it like butter. The pre-built also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 240GB SSD boot drive, a 1TB HDD for your games and comes Wi-Fi ready thanks to its motherboard.
If you’re willing to go fifty bucks’ over-budget, then getting a CUK Stratos is an amazing choice. Of all the PCs here, this one is probably the best-spec’ed overall, thanks to its decent helping of storage and RAM, in addition to having the latest GPU. The case is also display-worthy, boasting tempered glass sides and a dazzling array of lights thanks to the three RGB fans at the front. Consider the additional fifty bucks a bonus for peripherals, too, as the Stratos comes with an RGB mouse and keyboard combo.
The Stratos is powered by an Intel i7-9700; it’s a bit slower than the 9700K, but it also draws less power overall. The pre-built does not lack in the GPU department, though, as the Stratos has an RTX 2060 Super, one of the newest cards in Nvidia’s refreshed lineup of RTX cards. It has an upgraded VRAM of 8GB over the 2060’s 6GB, giving it an edge over games that chug VRAM like crazy. The storage is pretty well-covered, giving you a 1TB NVMe SSD for a boot drive and 2TB HDD to store your games. It also comes with 32GB of DDR4 RAM, making it more future-proof for memory than the others on this list.
HP Omen Obelisk (Ryzen 7 2700, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB, 256GB SSD + 1TB HDD, 16GB DDR4 RAM)
The final pre-built on this list is also one of the most popular, as HP managed to cram high-powered components at a significantly lower price while still maintaining that premium look and feel. The Omen Obelisk is arguably the best-looking (not so much if you hate red) thanks to its all-black matte finish and red tempered glass side, giving it a rather unique look. The specs are pretty well-rounded as well, and if you want a Ryzen-powered system then this one is a very solid pick, with only a few bucks added atop the $1500 price tag.
The Omen Obelisk is powered by an AMD Ryzen 2700 CPU, running on eight cores and boasting speeds of 3.2GHz. Powering the graphical department is an RTX 2070 8GB, which should push the whole package into Ultra settings at higher resolutions and within the standard 60 fps. The Omen Obelisk also comes with HyperX-branded 16GB DDR4 RAM kit, as well as 256GB SSD boot drive and a 1TB HDD for your games.
So, what do you think? Which of these high-end gaming PCs will you be picking up? Let us know and stay tuned for more recommendations from us for the best deals on the best things in gaming, from peripherals and hardware, to toys and various accessories.
