Buying Guide
The Best Intel Core i5 Gaming Desktops
Five Intel Core i5 gaming desktops, from RTX 3050 to RTX 5050, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
The Core i5-14400F and i5-13400F are the most common Intel chips in budget and mid-range prebuilts. These five are the lowest-priced desktops built on them.
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.
Lowest Price Here
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i5-13400F, RTX 3050 6GB)
The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i5-13400F, RTX 3050 6GB) (opens in a new tab)
Core i5-12400F Pick
MXZ Gaming PC (Core i5-12400F, RTX 4060)
A Core i5-12400F processor.
Best for: Buyers who prefer this CPU platform.
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)
Worth Considering
iBUYPOWER Scale (Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060 8GB)
The iBUYPOWER Scale build pairs a Core i5-14400F, an RTX 4060 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR5-5200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for: Buyers who want a rtx 4060 graphics card.
Our take Check price for iBUYPOWER Scale (Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060 8GB) (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i5-13400F, RTX 3050 6GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The STGAubron 13400F build pairs a Core i5-13400F, an RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 and a 512GB SSD.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6GB 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. Its 6GB VRAM is the least in this group; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 leads at 8GB. Its 512GB SSD capacity ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the STORMCRAFT Sirius (1TB) and ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 (500GB).
It is the only pick here with an RTX 3050 graphics card; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 has an RTX 4060 graphics card instead. Like the STORMCRAFT Sirius, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses a DDR4-3200 memory type. Check the STGAubron 13400F'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. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 3050
- VRAM: 6GB
- Processor: Core i5-13400F
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR4
- SSD: 512GB
Pros
- A RTX 3050 graphics card
- 10-core Core i5-13400F
- SSD capacity of 512GB, ahead of the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060
- The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing
Cons
- 6GB 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 512GB SSD fills quickly with modern games
Core i5-12400F Pick2 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
- Buyers who prefer this CPU platform.
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, the Element SE RTX 5050 and the iBUYPOWER Scale at 8GB.
On SSD capacity it trails the group at 500GB, while the STORMCRAFT Sirius is rated for 1TB. It shares an RTX 4060 graphics card with the iBUYPOWER Scale; the Element SE RTX 5050 goes with an RTX 5050 graphics card. You get a core i5-12400F processor here, which sets it apart from the iBUYPOWER Scale and its a core i5-14400F processor.
A DDR4-3200 memory type is unique to it among these picks, while the STORMCRAFT Sirius uses a DDR4 memory type. Check the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. It was priced above the STGAubron 13400F and below the STORMCRAFT Sirius at the time of writing.
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
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron 13400F
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 PSU3 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
- 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 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, the Element SE RTX 5050 and the iBUYPOWER Scale on VRAM (8GB).
No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 5060 graphics card; compare the Element SE RTX 5050, which has an RTX 5050 graphics card. Like the Element SE RTX 5050 and iBUYPOWER Scale, it has a core i5-14400F processor, while the STGAubron 13400F uses a core i5-13400F processor. Like the STGAubron 13400F, it has a DDR4 memory type, while the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses a DDR4-3200 memory type. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 and the pricier Element SE RTX 5050, at the time of writing.
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 STGAubron 13400F at the time of writing
RTX 5050 Pick4 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, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the iBUYPOWER Scale at 8GB. An RTX 5050 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 uses an RTX 4060 graphics card.
It shares a DDR5-5200 memory type with the iBUYPOWER Scale; the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 goes with a DDR4-3200 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.
At 8GB of VRAM, 1080p is the comfortable target for new games. If you want a confirmed power supply wattage, look to the STORMCRAFT Sirius instead: it offers 650W, while this one gives no figure.
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
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron 13400F
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 STGAubron 13400F at the time of writing
Worth Considering5 of 5
iBUYPOWER Scale (Core i5-14400F, RTX 4060 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The iBUYPOWER Scale build pairs a Core i5-14400F, an RTX 4060 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR5-5200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want a rtx 4060 graphics card.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
It also comes with DDR5 memory with RGB. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, the STORMCRAFT Sirius and the Element SE RTX 5050 on VRAM (8GB).
Like the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060, it has an RTX 4060 graphics card, while the STGAubron 13400F uses an RTX 3050 graphics card. Like the STORMCRAFT Sirius and Element SE RTX 5050, it has a core i5-14400F processor, while the STGAubron 13400F uses a core i5-13400F processor. Like the Element SE RTX 5050, it has a DDR5-5200 memory type, while the STGAubron 13400F uses a DDR4 memory type.
It also offers a 1TB SSD. It was the most expensive pick when we checked, so weigh what it adds over the Element SE RTX 5050. If memory is your priority, the STGAubron 13400F (16GB) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Core i5-14400F
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR5-5200
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 4060 graphics card
- DDR5 memory with RGB
- 1TB SSD
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron 13400F
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 STGAubron 13400F at the time of writing
How We Chose These Intel Core i5 Gaming Desktops
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.
- Price and warranty
- We compared prices at the time of writing and the warranty terms each listing states.
- Balance
- We compared how the CPU, memory and storage match the graphics card's class.
- Stated parts
- We included only listings that name the CPU, the GPU with its VRAM, the RAM and the SSD capacity.
What to Look for in an Intel Core i5 Gaming Desktop
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.
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.
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.
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 an Intel Core i5 Gaming Desktop
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | STGAubron 13400F | The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing |
| Buyers who prefer this CPU platform | MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 | A Core i5-12400F processor |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STGAubron 13400F | RTX 3050 | 6GB | Core i5-13400F | 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 |
| iBUYPOWER Scale | RTX 4060 | 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 | STGAubron 13400F, MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 |
| About $1000 to $1500 | STORMCRAFT Sirius, Element SE RTX 5050, iBUYPOWER Scale |
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the STGAubron 13400F, chosen for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing. Look at the MXZ i5-12400F RTX 4060 for a Core i5-12400F processor, 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.
A Core i5 is enough for 1080p and 1440p gaming; spend the difference on the graphics card.