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 The PC Journal editorial team
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
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
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.
Our take Check price for HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) (opens in a new tab)
Arc B570 Pick
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB)
An Arc B570 with 10GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Our take Check price for iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB) (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.
Our take Check price for MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060) (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.
Our take Check price for STORMCRAFT Sirius Gaming PC (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060) (opens in a new tab)
RTX 5050 Pick
iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB)
An RTX 5050 with 8GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Our take Check price for iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB) (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Most VRAM1 of 5
HOENGAGER Panorama (Ryzen 7 5700X, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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.
Only the Slate Arc B570 came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published power supply wattage figure, whereas the STORMCRAFT Sirius offers 650W.
Key dimensions & 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
Arc B570 Pick2 of 5
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core Ultra 5 225F, Intel Arc B570 10GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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. It was priced above the Element SE RTX 5050 and below the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT at the time of writing. There is no published power supply wattage figure, whereas the STORMCRAFT Sirius offers 650W.
Key dimensions & 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
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 1440 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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the STORMCRAFT Sirius was closest. SSD capacity is its weakest area, and the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT covers it better at 1TB.
Key dimensions & 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
Largest Listed PSU4 of 5
STORMCRAFT Sirius Gaming PC (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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 dimensions & 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 Pick5 of 5
iBUYPOWER Element SE (Core i5-14400F, RTX 5050 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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. It gives ground on VRAM, where the HOENGAGER RX 9060 XT offers 16GB.
Key dimensions & 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)
How We Chose These Gaming Desktop Computers
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Power and upgrades
- We recorded PSU wattage and rating where listed, which decides later GPU upgrades.
- Stated parts
- We included only listings that name the CPU, the GPU with its VRAM, the RAM and the SSD capacity.
- Balance
- We compared how the CPU, memory and storage match the graphics card's class.
- Price and warranty
- We compared prices at the time of writing and the warranty terms each listing states.
What to Look for in a Gaming Desktop Computer
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Pair a sensible processor
A current six- or eight-core CPU is enough for most games. X3D chips with extra cache help at high frame rates, while older or unnamed CPUs are a warning sign in a listing.
Start with the graphics card
The GPU decides gaming performance more than any other part. Match it to your monitor: an RTX 5060 class card suits 1080p, an RTX 5070 suits 1440p, and 4K high-refresh play needs an RTX 5080 or above.
Check the VRAM figure too; 8GB cards can need lower texture settings in newer games.
Check memory and storage
16GB of RAM runs games; 32GB leaves room for streaming, browsers and editing. A 1TB SSD holds a handful of large games, so plan for a second drive if you keep a big library.
Trust specific listings
Prefer listings that name every part: CPU model, GPU model and VRAM, RAM, SSD and PSU. Vague terms like "Core i7" or "brand may vary" leave room for weaker parts.
Read the warranty terms
Prebuilt warranties vary from one year of parts and labor to three years. Check who handles repairs and whether shipping is covered.
Look for a named power supply
A listing that states wattage and an 80 Plus rating is easier to trust and to upgrade later. When a listing is silent, ask before buying.
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
Figures as each maker states them.
| 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
Prices change often; these tiers reflect Amazon prices when this guide was updated.
| 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
Is a prebuilt cheaper than building a PC?
Sometimes. Prebuilts include Windows, assembly and a system warranty; building yourself can cost less but you handle part choices and support.
Is 16GB of RAM enough for gaming?
For most games, yes. 32GB helps when you stream, keep many browser tabs open or edit video alongside gaming.
What does "brand may vary" mean in a listing?
The builder may ship an equivalent part from a different maker. The model and capacity should match; ask the seller if it matters to you.
Do prebuilt PCs come with extra software?
Some do. Check the product page for trial software, and remove what you do not need after setup.
How much VRAM do I need?
8GB works at 1080p with some texture compromises in newer games; 12GB to 16GB is more comfortable at 1440p and 4K.
Can I upgrade a prebuilt later?
Usually. Check the power supply wattage and connectors, the case's GPU clearance and free RAM slots before buying a part.
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.