Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktop Computers
Five gaming desktop computers, from RX 9060 XT to RTX 5050, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
12 min read5 products evaluated
Between $900 and $1,500, gaming desktops range from 8GB to 16GB graphics cards. We ranked these five by graphics memory.
Every pick names its CPU model, graphics, memory and SSD capacity in the listing; we left out renewed units and listings that hide a part behind "brand may vary". We researched the listings and did not test the machines.
Quick Picks
Which of the 5 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Most VRAM
HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB)16GB of VRAM on the RX 9060 XT.
Best for: High texture settings at 1440p and above.
Check price for HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Arc B570 Build
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB)An Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Check price for iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060)The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Check price for MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Listed PSU
STORMCRAFT Sirius Gaming PC (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060)A 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold.
Best for: A bigger graphics card later.
Check price for STORMCRAFT Sirius Gaming PC (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
RTX 5050 Build
iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB)An RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Check price for iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most VRAM1 of 5
HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB)
Inside the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT are a Ryzen 7 5700X and an RX 9060 XT with 16GB of VRAM, backed by 32GB of DDR4 and 1TB of SSD storage.
Best for
- High texture settings at 1440p and above.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
It also comes with a 16GB RX 9060 XT under $1,500 at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. On VRAM it leads this guide at 16GB, ahead of the Slate Arc B570 (10GB).
Its 32GB memory is the most here; the Slate Arc B570 comes next at 16GB. On SSD capacity it ties with the Slate Arc B570, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 at 1TB. You get an RX 9060 XT graphics card here, which sets it apart from the Element SE RTX 5050 and its an RTX 5050 graphics card.
You get a ryzen 7 5700X processor here, which sets it apart from the Element SE RTX 5050 and its a core i5-14400F processor. Only the Slate Arc B570 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RX 9060 XT
- VRAM
- 16GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 7 5700X
- Memory
- 32GB
- Memory type
- DDR4
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RX 9060 XT graphics card
- 16GB of VRAM for high texture settings
- 32GB of RAM
- 16GB RX 9060 XT under $1,500 at the time of writing
Cons
- Costs more than the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published power supply wattage figure, whereas the STORMCRAFT Sirius offers 650W.
Arc B570 Build2 of 5
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB)
The Slate Arc B570 build pairs a Core Ultra 5 225F, an Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR5-4800 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- 1080p gaming.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. On VRAM it sits mid-pack at 10GB: the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT offers 16GB, and the Element SE RTX 5050 comes in at 8GB. On memory it ties with the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 at 16GB.
On SSD capacity it ties with the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 at 1TB. You get an arc B570 graphics card here, which sets it apart from the Element SE RTX 5050 and its an RTX 5050 graphics card. You get a core Ultra 5 225F processor here, which sets it apart from the Element SE RTX 5050 and its a core i5-14400F processor. It was priced above the Element SE RTX 5050 and below the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- Arc B570
- VRAM
- 10GB
- Processor
- Core Ultra 5 225F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR5-4800
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A Arc B570 graphics card
- Intel Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM
- VRAM of 10GB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
Cons
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- Costs more than the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 at the time of writing
The catch
There is no published power supply wattage figure, whereas the STORMCRAFT Sirius offers 650W.
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060)
MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 pairs a Core i5-12400F with an RTX 4060 with 8GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR4-3200 and a 500GB SSD.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p is a problem.
Why we like it
It also comes with six RGB fans. The power supply is rated at 550W. On VRAM it ties with the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 at 8GB.
On memory it ties with the Slate Arc B570, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 at 16GB. On SSD capacity it trails the group at 500GB, while the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT is rated for 1TB. An RTX 4060 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the Slate Arc B570 uses an arc B570 graphics card.
A core i5-12400F processor is unique to it among these picks, while the Slate Arc B570 uses a core Ultra 5 225F processor. You get a DDR4-3200 memory type here, which sets it apart from the Element SE RTX 5050 and its a DDR5-5200 memory type. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the STORMCRAFT Sirius was closest.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 4060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Core i5-12400F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4-3200
- SSD
- 500GB
- Power supply
- 550W
Pros
- A RTX 4060 graphics card
- A 550W power supply
- Six RGB fans
- Core i5-12400F processor, the only one here
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- A 500GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
The catch
SSD capacity is its weakest area, and the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT covers it better at 1TB.
Largest Listed PSU4 of 5
STORMCRAFT Sirius Gaming PC (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060)
STORMCRAFT Sirius pairs a Core i5-14400F with an RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR4 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- A bigger graphics card later.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
It also comes with a current RTX 5060 near $1,100 at the time of writing. The power supply is rated at 650W (80 Plus Gold). It matches the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 and the Element SE RTX 5050 on VRAM (8GB).
It matches the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, the Slate Arc B570 and the Element SE RTX 5050 on SSD capacity (1TB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5060 graphics card; the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT has an RX 9060 XT graphics card instead. Like the Element SE RTX 5050, it has a core i5-14400F processor, while the Slate Arc B570 uses a core Ultra 5 225F processor.
Like the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses a DDR4-3200 memory type. Its price falls between the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 and the Element SE RTX 5050, based on our last check.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 5060
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Core i5-14400F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR4
- SSD
- 1TB
- Power supply
- 650W
- PSU rating
- 80 Plus Gold
Pros
- A RTX 5060 graphics card
- A 650W power supply
- An 80 Plus Gold power supply
- Current RTX 5060 near $1,100 at the time of writing
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- Costs more than the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 at the time of writing
RTX 5050 Build5 of 5
iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB)
Element SE RTX 5050 pairs a Core i5-14400F with an RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR5-5200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- 1080p gaming.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. On VRAM it ties with the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 and the STORMCRAFT Sirius at 8GB. On SSD capacity it ties with the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, the Slate Arc B570 and the STORMCRAFT Sirius at 1TB.
You get an RTX 5050 graphics card here, which sets it apart from the STORMCRAFT Sirius and its an RTX 5060 graphics card. It shares a core i5-14400F processor with the STORMCRAFT Sirius; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 goes with a core i5-12400F processor. A DDR5-5200 memory type is unique to it among these picks, while the Slate Arc B570 uses a DDR5-4800 memory type.
Check the Element SE RTX 5050's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. With 16GB installed, check for free memory slots before adding more.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 5050
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Core i5-14400F
- Memory
- 16GB
- Memory type
- DDR5-5200
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 5050 graphics card
- RTX 5050 on DDR5
- 1TB SSD
- SSD capacity of 1TB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- 16GB of RAM is enough for games but tight alongside streaming or editing
- VRAM trails the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT (16GB)
The catch
It gives ground on VRAM, where the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT offers 16GB.
How We Chose These Gaming Desktop Computers
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five prebuilt PCs on graphics card, VRAM, processor and memory from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and power supply wattage is missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT to the Element SE RTX 5050, state graphics card, VRAM and processor.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, the Slate Arc B570 and the Element SE RTX 5050 give no power supply wattage.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 ($500 to $1000) to the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT ($1000 to $1500).
What to Look for in a Gaming Desktop Computer
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much VRAM you need
Across these 5 picks VRAM spans 8GB (the Element SE RTX 5050) to 16GB (the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT). For less, the Slate Arc B570 is the runner-up at 10GB.
Memory across these picks
Here memory runs from 16GB on the Element SE RTX 5050 to 32GB on the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, a 100% spread. Start with the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT if memory decides it.
A white desktop PC beside a monitor on a bright home-office desk SSD capacity
Here SSD capacity runs from 500GB on the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 to 1TB on the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, a 100% spread. For less, the Slate Arc B570 is the runner-up at 1TB.
Processor
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT lists Ryzen 7 5700X; the Slate Arc B570 lists Core Ultra 5 225F; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 lists Core i5-12400F; the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 list Core i5-14400F.
A desktop PC beside a monitor on a corner gaming desk Memory type
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the STORMCRAFT Sirius list DDR4; the Slate Arc B570 lists DDR5-4800; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 lists DDR4-3200; the Element SE RTX 5050 lists DDR5-5200. Settling memory type first narrows 5 picks to 2, 1 or 1 or 1.
How to Choose a Gaming Desktop Computer
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| High texture settings at 1440p and above | HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT | 16GB of VRAM on the RX 9060 XT |
| 1080p gaming | Slate Arc B570 | An Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM |
| Keeping the budget tight | MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 | The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing |
| A bigger graphics card later | STORMCRAFT Sirius | A 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold |
| 1080p gaming | Element SE RTX 5050 | An RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT leads on VRAM at 16GB, ahead of the Slate Arc B570 at 10GB.
| Prebuilt PC | Graphics card | VRAM | Processor | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT | RX 9060 XT | 16GB | Ryzen 7 5700X | 32GB |
| Slate Arc B570 | Arc B570 | 10GB | Core Ultra 5 225F | 16GB |
| MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 | RTX 4060 | 8GB | Core i5-12400F | 16GB |
| STORMCRAFT Sirius | RTX 5060 | 8GB | Core i5-14400F | 16GB |
| Element SE RTX 5050 | RTX 5050 | 8GB | Core i5-14400F | 16GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, sat in the $500 to $1000 tier, 2 tiers in all up to the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at $1000 to $1500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Prebuilt PCs |
|---|---|
| About $500 to $1000 | MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 |
| About $1000 to $1500 | STORMCRAFT Sirius, Element SE RTX 5050, Slate Arc B570, HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Slate Arc B570 compare with the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT on VRAM?
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT leads at 16GB, with the Slate Arc B570 at 10GB. The spread runs down to the Element SE RTX 5050 at 8GB.
Is the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT ahead of the Slate Arc B570 on memory?
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT tops memory at 32GB; the Slate Arc B570 follows at 16GB, 100% apart.
Is the STORMCRAFT Sirius ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 on power supply wattage?
The STORMCRAFT Sirius tops power supply wattage at 650W; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 follows at 550W, 18% apart. The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, the Slate Arc B570 and the Element SE RTX 5050 are left out of this ranking because their power supply wattage isn't stated; 2 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT worth paying more than the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060?
What it brings is VRAM (16GB against 8GB), memory (32GB against 16GB) and SSD capacity (1TB against 500GB). The MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 sat in the $500 to $1000 tier and the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT in the $1000 to $1500 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if VRAM and memory decide your purchase.
What makes the STORMCRAFT Sirius the Largest Listed PSU?
It earns the label for a 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold. The MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, the cheapest pick, sat in the $500 to $1000 tier against $1000 to $1500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits A bigger graphics card later.
Do the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT and the Slate Arc B570 differ on graphics card?
The HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT uses RX 9060 XT; the Slate Arc B570 uses Arc B570; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses RTX 4060; the STORMCRAFT Sirius uses RTX 5060; the Element SE RTX 5050 uses RTX 5050.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT, chosen for 16GB of VRAM on the RX 9060 XT. Look at the Slate Arc B570 for an Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM, the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing, the STORMCRAFT Sirius for a 650W power supply rated 80 Plus Gold and the Element SE RTX 5050 for an RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM if those matter more to you.
Prefer a 12GB or 16GB card if you play newer games at high settings.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
- Related guideThe Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $2,000
- Related guideThe Best RTX 5070 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
- Lower budgetThe Cheapest Gaming Desktops Worth Buying
- Higher budgetThe Best High-End Gaming Desktops
- ExplainerWhat a Prebuilt PC Product Page Leaves Out: PSU, Motherboard and RAM Layout
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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