Are you looking for a $1000 gaming PC that can handle everything you throw at it without a hitch? Then your search ends here.
Being a PC enthusiast, I review and critique numerous gaming PCs, and by bringing all my expertise to this article, I am going to provide you with the best prebuilt gaming PCs under $1000 that are currently available in the market.
But wait, it doesn’t end there. So that you don’t end up buying the wrong PC, this article also contains a comprehensive buyer’s guide. After all, you don’t want to go through the return process now, do you?
To make a diverse list, the PCs in this roundup are categorized. Since I have been exposed to many prebuilt gaming PCs, I have compiled a list that can satisfy all sorts of different gamers.
So, worry not; regardless of what your gaming taste may be, there is a prebuilt gaming PC waiting for you to be picked up.
Ready to find your ideal gaming PC? I can sense the excitement going through the roof so without further ado, let’s begin with the article.
In a Hurry? These are the Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1000
I know you want a sneak peek at the prebuilt gaming PCs that will be reviewed later on in the article, so here is a quick look at them.
*For more info on the gaming PCs below, click the “Jump to review” button to go to our review of that PC.
Best Overall
Best Value
Best Aesthetics
The $1000 Gaming PC Buyer’s Guide
Before we check out the in-depth reviews of the prebuilt gaming PCs, getting a little knowledge about the whole buying process doesn’t hurt.
Yes, I said buying process because I believe in order to buy the best PC fit for our individual needs going through the proper buying process is unavoidable.
The buyer’s guide will highlight this buying process from A to Z and also, like the name suggests, guide you at every turn.
Now you can realize how much significance a buyer’s guide holds. Therefore, it is to be taken with utmost importance. With that said, let’s start the buying guide, shall we?
Why Buyer’s Guide is Needed?
It would have been rather easy for me to just list down only the prebuilt gaming PCs and skip this buyer’s guide, but that would be ignoring the need to enlighten new gamers about buying PCs.
When I was new in the industry, I also needed some guidance on what factors should be looked into in a gaming PC and those queries of sorts.
Therefore, the buyer’s guide section aims to make new gamers more informed buyers.
Why the Best Is Not Always the Right Choice?
This is important because I see many gamers end up regretting the PC they buy. This happens because each gaming PC is different from the other in the experience it provides. However, the dilemma is that gamers always fall for the best on paper specifications rather than seeing the bigger picture of the PC they want to buy.
Mind you, specifications are just that; numbers on paper. The Skytech Blaze II has similar specs to the Skytech Shiva II – the best PC on this list. These specs are capable of playing any game you want. However, the Skytech Blaze II lacks airflow, due to which it overheats and cannot unleash its full performance potential.
Similarly, given your use case, you might not even need such specifications and performance. Therefore you might be better off with another gaming PC that offers better features that you find appealing.
The main thing is to buy the gaming PC based on your needs and gaming use, not on specs. Of course, specifications play a role in determining which PC you should buy, but they should not be the only deciding factor.
To break up this course of action, each of my gaming PC reviews has a gaming experience section that encompasses what it feels like to actually use the given gaming PC.
First Consideration for Purchasing a PC
In the aforementioned section, I gave you a general idea of buying PCs based on your needs and use case and not on specifications alone, but how does one define their needs, you ask?
This is a very important question to ponder upon since it lays the foundation for the rest of our buying decisions.
A simple way of determining your need is to evaluate what you are going to use your PC for. Consider the games that you are going to play on it or tasks that you will do on that gaming PC.
After you have a general framework of what games you are going to play on your PC, be on the lookout for features and specifications that will help you achieve that.
Once you do that, you will eventually realize what to look for and what to avoid in a gaming PC. Simply look for a PC that has the maximum qualities that are aimed at fulfilling your needs and buy that given PC.
For example, if all you want to do is casual gaming, then you don’t need the best specifications and might want a PC that is more functional and looks better. In your case, Skytech Blaze II might be a better fit than someone who wants the best FPS from his Skytech Shiva II.
What Are the Factors That Make up an Ideal Gaming PC?
Now let’s put everything we have learned until now from the Buyer’s guide into context and see the factor that needs to be present in a gaming PC for it to qualify as having the best market offering.
The Gaming Experience Is Everything
The biggest trait that a gaming PC can offer is a satisfactory gaming experience, and if that is not fulfilled, then there is no point in buying that gaming PC since it has already faltered in the most important aspect.
The gaming experience is the collection of all the aspects of a gaming experience, and therefore in order to have a good gaming experience, a PC has to be good in all of its aspects.
The Specifications to Be On the Look in a Gaming PC Under $1000
Although the gaming experience is the most crucial aspect of a gaming PC, we still can’t deny the importance of having the right specifications for the price.
Given that we are looking at gaming PCs at around the $1000 price tag, therefore for this budget, there are certain specifications that should be in your gaming PC.
- Processor (CPU)
Firstly, the processor should have 6 cores hence the reason most of the gaming PCs in this list have 6 cores CPUs.
- Graphics Card (GPU)
For the graphics card, you should be looking at the Nvidia RTX 3060 or the AMD RX 6600XT for maximum performance.
If they are not available on your desired PCs, then you can resort to the Nvidia RTX 3050. The Nvidia RTX 3050 is a decent pairing for sub $1000 gaming PCs. However, if a gaming PC has a GPU that is inferior to the RTX 3050, don’t bother with that PC.
- RAM
The RAM is pretty straightforward. Either 16GB RAM or nothing because 8GB is not enough for gaming nowadays and hence should be avoided if possible.
Check out my article on how much RAM should a gaming pc have.
- Storage
The storage should be in the form of an SSD. Even though HDDs are cheaper, the slow speed of HDDs is not feasible anymore for fast-paced modern games.
AVGPC Quiet Series is the perfect example of a well-specced out gaming PC since it includes all the top-of-the-line components, which include a Core i5-12400F, RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB RAM, 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD, and AIO cooler.
Can a $1000 Gaming PC Run Games at 1440p?
I know many of you want to play games at 1440p on your new $1000 gaming PC, and I wish a one-line answer to this question existed to ease your query. Since that is not the case, a proper clarification is necessary for proper understanding; therefore, let’s take a deeper look at the topic at hand.
On the surface, yes, it is possible to play games at 1440p on a gaming PC under $1000, but that is when we consider the most optimal situation.
As you know, there are a plethora of different PCs in the $1000 price range, and this leads to specification differences in a lot of them. Let’s take the prebuilt gaming PCs in this article as an example.
The Skytech Shiva II comes with an RTX 3060 graphics card, while the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N comes with an Nvidia RTX 3050.
The performance difference between these two graphics cards amounts to about 15%, therefore, meaning that the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N has up to 15% less gaming performance than that of the Skytech Shiva II.
The performance disparity among PCs in the $1000 price range makes the asked query more complicated because a single answer cannot be given.
That being said, for testing, we always consider the most optimal situation, and that in our case is the gaming performance of the HP Pavilion TG01-2070 because it is the best performer of the lot.
That being said, we always consider the most optimal situation for testing. That, in our case, is the gaming performance of the Skytech Shiva II and the AVGPC Quiet Series because they provide the best performance among our picks.
When taking our top picks into account, I can firmly answer that a gaming desktop under $1000 can indeed play games at 1440p. I say this because, during testing, this PC provided acceptable FPS at 1440p, even in the most demanding of games.
The average frame rate observed at 1440p was the following:
72 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 85 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 91 FPS in GTA V, 132 FPS in Apex Legends, 177 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, and 254 FPS in Valorant,
The obtained figures clearly reflect and solidify the point made earlier that it is very much possible to play games at 1440p resolution on $1000 prebuilt gaming PCs, provided you have the best gaming PC under $1000 there on hand.
In-Depth Review
Now that you are well-versed in the whole buying process, let’s dive into the in-depth reviews of the five gaming PCs that have earned their way to this article.
Every PC that we review has to pass stringent testing. Our methodology not only includes benchmarks and analysis but also how the PC will feel to use in real-world situations.
Then based on the results, an average ranking score is awarded to the PC. This time around, the following PCs that are coming up now earned the highest score out of all the other PCs hence making them the best in their respective price budget.
Best Overall
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1. Skytech Shiva II
PROS
CONS
Skytech Shiva II is the quintessential prebuilt gaming PC you expect in the $1000 price range. It comes with great specs and has a plethora of features to keep gamers entertained. The white color scheme is also another major advantage of this gaming PC. Skytech Shiva II isn’t perfect, but it fulfills all the needs of a gamer. As a result, the Skytech Shiva II is the undisputed best prebuilt gaming PC for under $1000.
4.7/5
Editor’s Rating
Gaming Experience
The Skytech Shiva II provides a wonderful gaming experience because it can play pretty much any game you throw. Besides performance, this PC is also fast and opens games and applications swiftly without any delay.
When tested with different games, this PC exceeded my expectations and delivered the following average framerate in games.
Up first were the most demanding PC games, including GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, and Elden Ring. This PC averaged 115, 70, 80, and 86 FPS, respectively.
The Skytech Shiva II fared much better in royal battle games. This PC gave 125 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 171 FPS in Apex Legends, 114 FPS in Fortnite, and 138 FPS in PUBG: Battlegrounds. All games mentioned above were played at 1080p resolution and the highest graphic setting.
Esports games were a no-match for this PC. It gave 360 FPS in CS: GO, 342 FPS in Valorant, 324 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, and 419 FPS in Overwatch 2. All these competitive games were played at low graphic settings with MSA disabled for maximum framerate.
Specifications
The Skytech Shiva II has the most top-notch specs that you will find in the $1000 price range. Powering the PC is an Intel Core i5-12400F processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads. This 12th generation i5 is plenty fast and capable enough to run any game or application you throw at it.
The only downside of the Core i5-12400F is that it produces a lot of heat. However, Skytech has that sorted with a large air cooler. An AIO would have served better, but it’s a lot to ask at this price range.
At the graphic front is the Nvidia RTX 3060. It has 12 GB VRAM and a boost clock of 1700+, depending on the variant in use. Due to its high-performance capability, the Nvidia RTX 3060 is a solid GPU that can play any game you want.
The Skytech Shiva II comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is more than enough for gaming and multitasking. However, I am not too convinced by this PC’s 500GB SSD storage capacity.
500GB of space will run out pretty quickly and seeing that games are already touching the 100GB mark, you will not be able to store more than 3 or 4 games simultaneously.
I like that the fact that Skytech has not skimped on the power supply. This PC comes with a 650W gold-rated PSU, ensuring that the PC will get stable power delivery for years.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case of the Skytech Shiva II has nothing new to offer. It is a typical rectangle box with two RGB led strips running parallel on the front. On the left side, you will be greeted by a glass window through which all the hardware inside the PC is visible.
At the top of the case, Skytech has included a dust filter along the vents, which is a must for keeping dust out of the PC. Talking about vents, this PC has decent ventilation for airflow. The RGB light strips also double as a ventilation grill, which is a nice feature.
Regarding connectivity, the Skytech Shiva II comes with two USB-A ports, a 1x 3.5mm microphone, and headphone jack, a 1x USB-C port, a power button, a reset button, and an led button on the front.
The addition of USB-C to the front panel is very useful. Also, the LED button comes in quite handy for changing the color of RGB lighting on the fly. The remaining ports are found on the back of the PC, including HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet LAN, and additional USB ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
I must commend the attention to detail and refinement of the Skytech Shiva II. Skytech has gone out of their way to refine the little elements that elevate the aesthetics of this gaming PC.
For instance, this PC comes with excellent cable management. All the wires are tucked in for a neat look, and there are no loose or dangling cables that can spoil the look of this PC.
The refined look, coupled with the white case, makes the PC look high-end and premium. The Skytech Shiva II has many salient features that further its appeal. For starters, with this PC, you get a gaming keyboard and mouse without paying anything extra. So, you can get started with gaming right away.
This gaming PC also comes with a 1-year warranty and lifetime technical support. If you are new to PC gaming, having the ability to consult technical support comes in very handy.
On the whole, the Skytech Shiva II stands tall as the best gaming PC for under $1000. It has all the features you need and performs quite well. As a result, it gets the top spot on my list.
Best Value
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2. AVGPC Quiet Series
PROS
CONS
The AVGPC Quiet Series is a minimalist and functional PC that gets the job done. It comes with the best specs of any gaming PC on this list. The industrial look of this PC is not for everyone. However, if you are looking for the best-performing and highest-spec $1000 gaming PC, the AVGPC Quiet Series is the obvious choice.
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
Gaming Experience
The gaming experience of the AVGPC Quiet Series is quite remarkable. Due to its high-end hardware, this gaming PC can play any game you want.
During my testing, this PC delivered excellent framerate in demanding games. It gave 120 FPS in GTA V, 72 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 85 FPS in CyberPunk 2077, and 90 FPS in Elden Ring.
This PC was able to stretch its muscles in battle royal games and gave 125 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 171 FPS in Apex Legends, 114 FPS in Fortnite, and 138 FPS in PUBG: Battlegrounds. All previous games were played at 1080p resolution and the highest graphic setting.
I recommend getting a high refresh rate monitor for Esports games because this PC gives more than 240 FPS in all games. It gave 360 FPS in CS: GO, 342 FPS in Valorant, 324 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, and 419 FPS in Overwatch 2. All the Esports games were played at low graphic settings.
Specifications
The specification is the area where this gaming PC truly shines. I have no complaints about the specs of this PC.
At the heart of the PC is the Intel Core i5-12400F, a 6-core and 12-thread processor. The Core i5-12400F is more potent than the Ryzen 5 5600G on other gaming PCs. However, the main negative of this processor is the high heat output.
To solve that issue, this PC comes with a 240mm AIO liquid cooler. The AIO liquid cooler does a fantastic job at keeping the toasty Core i5-12400F below 80°C in games.
For the graphics, this PC comes with a 12GB Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card. This graphics card has enormous performance potential. As a result, it is the best graphics card for a mid-range gaming PC for under $1000.
To ensure a smooth multitasking experience, this gaming PC comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM. This PC takes the upper hand compared to other gaming PCs when it comes to storage space. This PC comes with a 1TB NVMe M.2 SSD instead of the 500GB found in its competitors. The 1TB storage space allows users to install a lot more games on the PC.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case design of the AVGPC Quiet Series is similar to another PC on this list – Skytech Blaze II. The design encompasses front and side glass panels that distribute the RGB lighting evenly throughout the PC.
Despite being similarly designed, this PC case has a leg up over its competition because of airflow. Typically, cases with front glass panels don’t provide good airflow. However, the AVGPC Quiet Series case has a mesh grill that does not restrict airflow like glass but provides most of the aesthetic benefits of using glass.
As for the connectivity, the AVGPC Quiet Series comes with 2x USB-A ports, a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack, a power button, a reset button, and an LED button.
Having two USB-A ports on the front restricts connectivity, and not having a single USB-C limits options further. You will find the missing USB-C port on the back of the PC. The backside also includes HDMI, DisplayPort, and an Ethernet LAN.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The AVGPC Quiet Series is very attractive to look at. Although this PC does not reinvent the wheel when it comes to aesthetics, everything is neatly put together.
The front mesh grill adds a layer of depth to the PC’s look and, compared to glass, looks more sophisticated. The flaring arches of the PC give it a mean and muscular look which many gamers prefer.
The AVGPC Quiet Series has the standard set of features that you find on gaming PCs in this price range. To ensure peace of mind, this PC comes with a 1-year warranty and technical support.
This PC also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which work well. Like other gaming PCs, AVGPC has also included a free keyboard and mouse bundle with this PC.
Overall, the AVGPC Quiet Series is a great option for gamers that want a PC with maximum performance and the best specs under $1000.
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3. AVGPC Q-Box Series
PROS
CONS
The AVGPC Q-Box Series is a unique PC that looks and feels nothing like other gaming PCs on this list. The specs of the PC are quite good, making it a great option for any gamer that does not want to compromise on performance but wants a unique gaming PC in the $1000 budget.
4.2/5
Editor’s Rating
Gaming Experience
The AVGPC Q-Box Series plays games exceptionally well, and you won’t have any trouble playing your favorite games on this PC. Due to its high performance, this gaming PC will not only play the current trending games but will also run any game that releases in the future.
For testing, I played all sorts of different games on this PC. The framerate obtained in games was quite good.
In the demanding games category – these games stretch the PC to its limit; the AVGPC Q-Box gave an average of 75 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 110 FPS in GTA V, 60 FPS in Elden Ring, and 55 FPS in CyberPunk 2077.
In battle royal games, this PC gave 122 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 135 FPS in Apex Legends, 90 FPS in Fortnite, and 132 FPS in PUBG: Battlegrounds. All the single-player story and battle royal games were played at the highest graphic settings.
This PC dominated Esports games and averaged 370 FPS in CS: GO, 325 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 412 FPS in Valorant, and 390 FPS in Overwatch 2.
While the framerate is less than the two aforementioned gaming PCs with the Intel Core i5-12400F, the difference is insignificant.
Specifications
AVGPC has opted to join team red for the Q-Box. The PC is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, a 6-core and 12-thread processor. Although not the latest, this processor has plenty of life left in it and dominates all the latest games and heavy applications.
The Ryzen 5 5600G runs less hot than the Core i5-12400F. However, this PC still comes with a cooler master 240mm AIO liquid cooler hence ensuring future proofing for the CPU.
The graphics card in this PC is the Nvidia RTX 3060. The previous two gaming PCs also came with the Nvidia RTX 3060, so I don’t think there is confusion at this point regarding the performance of the Nvidia RTX 3060. Simply put, it is the best mid-range graphics card for a sub $1000 prebuilt gaming PC.
As for the other specs, this PC has 16GB DDR4 RAM, which is plentiful for gaming and multitasking. However, it comes with only 500GB of SSD storage space. As I have said before, 500GB of storage space is not enough for storing games these days and will limit you considerably.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case of AVGPC Q-Box Series is a unique aspect of this gaming PC. Unlike other gaming cases that have blingy RGB lighting, this PC takes a slightly different approach.
This PC case comes with a 3D diamond-printed design on the front mesh panel. The mesh allows air to pass freely, increasing the PC’s airflow. The side profile of the case is quite generic. It has a glass window allowing gamers to see the hardware installed on the PC.
Coming to the connectivity, I find the location of the front ports very convenient. This PC has ports at the side rather than at the top of the PC, which makes reaching them a breeze.
As for the ports themself, this PC comes with 2x USB-A ports, a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack, a reset button, and a power button. Having only two USB-A ports limits connectivity.
The rest of the ports are found on the back of the PC, including HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, Ethernet LAN, and additional USB-A and audio ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
When it comes to aesthetics, the AVGPC Q-Box Series is not for everyone. This PC has a unique and sophisticated design that not every gamer can appreciate. That being said, the design of this PC is a nice change from the sea of RGB-induced gaming PCs.
As far as the salient features are concerned, the AVGPC Q-Box comes with built-in Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi range and reception are quite good, and I never had any signal drops during gaming.
Gamers will not be concerned about the parts of this PC because a 1-year warranty covers the AVGPC Q-Box. AVGPC has also included a gaming mouse and keyboard to sweeten the deal of buying this gaming PC.
Overall, the AVGPC Q-Box Series is a great option for gamers that want a unique and powerful gaming PC in this price range.
Best Aesthetics
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4. Skytech Blaze II
PROS
CONS
The Skytech Blaze II ticks all the boxes for a great gaming PC. It has great performance, and the looks are one of the best you can get in this price range. However, due to its restricted airflow, this PC cannot live up to its performance potential because of overheating. As a result, the Skytech Blaze II is lower on the list compared to other PCs with similar specs. That being said, after the overheating problem is fixed, this PC truly shines as a worthy contender for the top spot.
3.7/5
Editor’s Rating
Gaming Experience
At initial testing, the Skytech Blaze II provided a wonderful gaming experience. This PC has the power to play any game you throw at. However, after a sustained gaming load for over 6-7 hours, the framerate started to nosedive.
To eliminate the performance degradation, I used an AIO liquid cooler when testing the PC. You will observe a different framerate if you don’t use an AIO liquid cooler with this PC. The AIO worked better than the air cooler installed on this PC, keeping temperatures under the thermal limit.
For consistency, this PC was tested with the same games played on other competing offerings in this roundup, and it gave the following framerate.
In demanding games, this PC gave 75 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 110 FPS in GTA V, 60 FPS in Elden Ring, and 55 FPS in CyberPunk 2077.
All the royal battle games I played were very enjoyable. I got 118 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 135 FPS in Apex Legends, 90 FPS in Fortnite, and 132 FPS in PUBG: Battlegrounds. All the aforementioned games were played at the highest graphic settings.
This PC has no challenge playing demanding games, so Esports games break no sweat either. The Skytech Blaze II averaged 370 FPS in CS: GO, 325 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, 412 FPS in Valorant, and 390 FPS in Overwatch 2. All Esports games were played at low graphic settings to get the maximum possible framerate.
Specifications
This PC comes with great specs. At the helm of the PC is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor, which has 6 cores and 12 threads. Despite being older generation, the Ryzen 5 5600G still packs a punch. However, the performance of the Ryzen 5 5600G is not on par with the Intel Core i5-12400F, so keep that in mind.
The Ryzen 5 5600G is cooled by the stock air cooler, which comes with this processor. The stock cooler needs to be swapped out for a better cooler if you want to get sustained and consistent performance out of this PC.
Like other gaming PCs at this price, the Skytech Blaze II comes with the Nvidia RTX 3060. The Nvidia RTX 3060 needs no introduction; it is the best-performing mid-range graphics card you can get in a $1000 gaming PC.
The Skytech Blaze II comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM, which runs at a clock speed of 3200 MHz. The 16GB RAM capacity is more than enough for gaming and multitasking, so you won’t have any problem.
The main drawback of this PC is that it comes with only a 500GB SSD storage drive. Modern games can occupy as much as 100GB of disk space. So, with 500GB storage space, you can only keep 3-4 games on your PC.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case of the Skytech Blaze II has a glass sandwiched design. It follows the latest trend in the PC design industry – form first, function later.
Although the case looks quite good, and many gamers may rate it as the best-looking case of any PC in this price range, it is not functional. The airflow is very restrictive because there are no proper ventilation holes in the case.
Moving onto the connectivity of the PC, the Skytech Blaze II fares quite well here. At the front of the PC, you get 3x USB-A ports, a 3.5mm microphone and headphone jack, a reset button, an LED button, and a power button.
The only port missing on the front is a USB-C. However, you do get a USB-C on the back of the PC. Other ports at the back include HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet LAN, and additional USB-A ports.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The Skytech Blaze II has a charming bling. The excessive use of RGB lighting makes this PC stand out from the crowd. The glass side and front panel accentuate the RGB lighting.
The on-the-fly RGB adjustment allows users to change the PC’s color depending on the gamer’s mood. In terms of salient features, this PC comes with a 1-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.
Skytech has also bundled a free gaming keyboard and mouse with this PC, so gamers can get to gaming right off the bat. This PC also comes with Windows 11 out of the box.
Overall, the Skytech Blaze II is a decent gaming PC if you swap the stock cooler for a better air cooler or an AIO cooler. If you are a hardcore gamer, the top two gaming PCs are a better option. However, if you want a striking design, you cannot go wrong with the Skytech Blaze II.
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5. iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N
PROS
CONS
The iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N is a great-looking gaming PC. Among the other options available in the $1000 price range, the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N has the most RGB lighting. However, the aesthetics come at an expense. This gaming PC is not the most powerful when compared with the competition.
3.5/5
Editor’s Rating
Gaming Experience
The iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N is not the most powerful on this list. However, despite that, this PC can play any game you throw at it. Although it may not top any framerate charts, the overall gaming experience is not very subpar compared to the competition.
For testing, I ran the usual set of games for benchmarks and got the following framerate.
In demanding games, this PC gave 120 FPS in GTA V, 55 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2, 48 FPS in CyberPunk 2077, and 56 FPS in Elden Ring.
For battle royal games, this PC gave 85 FPS in CoD: Warzone, 124 FPS in Apex Legends, 88 FPS in Fortnite, and 105 FPS in PUBG: Battlegrounds. The single-player story and battle royal games were played at the highest graphic setting.
The iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N gave better framerate in Esports games than I had anticipated. This PC gave 340 FPS in CS:GO, 418 FPS in Valorant, 270 FPS in Rainbow Six Siege, and 344 FPS in Overwatch 2.
All the Esports games were played at low graphic settings for maximum framerate. The framerate in Esports games is comparable to PCs with the Nvidia RTX 3060 because, at 1080p resolution, these games depend more on the CPU than the GPU.
Specifications
The specs are not the strong suit for this gaming PC. At the heart of the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N is the Intel Core i5-12600KF, which is a 10-core and 16-thread processor. The Core i5-12600KF is the fastest processor on this list; however, that is pretty much all this PC has going for it.
The Core i5-12600KF is notorious for running hot. This PC comes with an air cooler. However, its small size cannot keep the Core i5-12600KF cool at sustained load. So, you will see temperatures tipping over the 80°C mark in benchmarks and stress tests.
The graphics card used in this PC is the Nvidia RTX 3050, which is a league below the Nvidia RTX 3060 found in its competitors. The Nvidia RTX 3060 is a much better GPU and delivers a higher framerate.
Other PC specs include 16GB DDR4 RAM and 500GB SSD. The 16GB RAM capacity is plentiful for gaming and multitasking. However, the 500GB SSD for storage is not enough. The storage space will run out quickly, and you cannot keep more than 3-4 games on your PC due to limited storage space.
Case Design and Connectivity
The case of the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N has unique elements and design variations that make it stand out from the rest. However, it is not functional.
Like the Skytech Blaze II, this PC case has no proper ventilation for airflow. Since it has a glass front and side panels, air cannot penetrate into the case.
As far the connectivity is concerned, the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N also does not fare well in this regard. It has only two USB-A ports on the top, along with a 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack, a power button, and a reset button.
Having only two USB-A ports restricts connectivity, but luckily that issue is solved by the inclusion of additional USB-A ports on the back of the PC. Other back ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet LAN, and USB-C.
Aesthetics and Salient Features
The aesthetic is the main selling point of the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N. This PC comes with four RGB fans and an LED CPU cooler, which results in the RGB lighting covering every inch and corner of this gaming PC.
The glass panels help highlight the RGB lighting. If you are a fan of RGB lighting, you will find the look of this PC very striking and appealing.
Coming to the salient features, this PC comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, which work quite well. The signal strength is good, and there are no drops, hence allowing users to game without any worry.
Talking about worry, this PC comes with a 1-year warranty to eliminate any worry that users might have. iBUYPOWER is also providing a gaming mouse and keyboard with the PC.
All things considered, the iBUYPOWER SlateHako AD420N is a half-decent gaming PC. The main drawback of this PC is the less powerful GPU. However, this PC has many things going for it in the looks department.
Related Guides
Check out our price-focused prebuilt PC guides below.
Check out our GPU-focused prebuilt PC guides below.
Check out our aesthetics-focused gaming PC guides below.
Final Word
With all the reviews done, it is time to wrap up the article. Buying a good gaming PC is the ultimate goal of each and every gamer; hopefully, by going through the article, your task should be easier by now.
Granted, you know where to look; finding your ideal gaming PC is not that difficult. As stated in the buyer’s guide, the main point is to understand what you want and need because the moment you realize that, it will be ten times easier for you to find the best prebuilt gaming machine for your needs.
Also, I would like to point out that we all have different individual preferences and needs, so don’t just follow your favorite streamer or content creator and get the gaming PC they are using. Remember, their situation is different from yours.
So that you don’t regret your purchase afterward, we have thoroughly reviewed the best prebuilt gaming PCs that you can get in the $1000 price range. These prebuilt gaming PCs will enlighten you regarding what good prebuilt gaming PCs are but still remember all the featured PCs are different from one another.
Here you also have to use your judgment and buy the PC that is best suited for your needs. For example, if you want the best performance go with the Skytech Shiva II or AVGPC Quiet Series, while if aesthetics is your priority, then there is no better than the Skytech Blaze II.
For your ease, I have also categorized the PCs where needed. Before signing off, I want you to let me know in the comment section which PC you liked the most, and while you are at it, tell me why you prefer Prebuilt gaming PCs over custom-built rigs.
