Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PC for Console Emulation
From the STGAubron RX 6600 to the YAWYORE 5700X: five gaming PCs ranked on VRAM and memory, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Emulating newer consoles leans on single-thread CPU speed more than on the graphics card. Every pick has a Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9, Core i7, Core i9 or Core Ultra 7/9 class CPU.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: graphics card, VRAM and processor come from each maker's published specs; nothing here was tested in-house, and a missing memory type is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB)
The lowest price among these gaming PCs at the time of writing.
Best for: Getting desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM for the least money.
Our take Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060, 32GB)
32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price.
Best for: Buyers who want 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price.
Our take Check price for Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060, 32GB) (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060)
An RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who want RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing.
Our take Check price for Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060) (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core i7-14700F, RTX 5060 8GB)
A Core i7-14700F on DDR4.
Best for: Buyers who want Core i7-14700F on DDR4.
Our take Check price for iBUYPOWER Slate (Core i7-14700F, RTX 5060 8GB) (opens in a new tab)
Solid Runner-Up
YAWYORE Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5060 8GB)
32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU.
Best for: Buyers who want 32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU.
Our take Check price for YAWYORE Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5060 8GB) (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The STGAubron RX 6600 build pairs a Core i7-10700F, an RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Getting desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM for the least money.
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
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 and the Slate i7 RTX 5060 on memory (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RX 6600 graphics card; compare the Slate i7 RTX 5060, which has an RTX 5060 graphics card.
It is the only pick here with a DDR4 memory type; the Slate i7 RTX 5060 has a DDR4-3200 memory type instead. Check the STGAubron RX 6600'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. It undercut the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RX 6600
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Core i7-10700F
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR4
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RX 6600 graphics card
- Desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM
- Core i7-10700F processor, the only one here
- DDR4 memory type, 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
- Memory of 16GB, behind the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB (32GB)
Also Consider2 of 5
Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060, 32GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Skytech's Ryzen 7 5700 build doubles the usual memory to 32GB alongside an RTX 5060.
Best for
- Buyers who want 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price.
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
That extra RAM helps when a game shares the PC with a stream or browser. It ships in a triple-glass case with an ARGB air cooler, and the parts and labour warranty runs for a year. Check the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
The Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. At 8GB of VRAM, 1080p is the comfortable target for new games. When we checked, only the STGAubron RX 6600 cost less, and the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700
- Memory: 32GB
- SSD: 1TB
- Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Pros
- A RTX 5060 graphics card
- 32GB of RAM
- 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- Costs more than the STGAubron RX 6600 at the time of writing
Strong Alternative3 of 5
Skytech Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700, RTX 5060) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 build pairs a Ryzen 7 5700, an RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440 rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also comes with an RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the STGAubron RX 6600 and the Slate i7 RTX 5060 on memory (16GB).
Like the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB, it has a ryzen 7 5700 processor, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a core i7-10700F processor. Like the Slate i7 RTX 5060 and YAWYORE 5700X, it has a DDR4-3200 memory type, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a DDR4 memory type. Check the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060'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.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR4-3200
- SSD: 1TB
- Warranty: 1 year parts and labor
Pros
- A RTX 5060 graphics card
- RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing
- Eight-core Ryzen 7 5700
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 RX 6600 at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
iBUYPOWER Slate (Core i7-14700F, RTX 5060 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Slate i7 RTX 5060 pairs a Core i7-14700F with an RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM, plus 16GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want Core i7-14700F on DDR4.
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
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the STGAubron RX 6600 and the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 on memory (16GB). It is the only pick here with a core i7-14700F processor; the STGAubron RX 6600 has a core i7-10700F processor instead.
Like the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 and YAWYORE 5700X, it has a DDR4-3200 memory type, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a DDR4 memory type. Check the Slate i7 RTX 5060'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. Its price falls between the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 and the YAWYORE 5700X, based on our last check. If memory is your priority, the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB (32GB) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Core i7-14700F
- Memory: 16GB
- Memory type: DDR4-3200
- SSD: 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 5060 graphics card
- Core i7-14700F on DDR4
- 8GB VRAM
- 16GB memory
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
- Memory trails the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB (32GB)
Solid Runner-Up5 of 5
YAWYORE Gaming PC (Ryzen 7 5700X, RTX 5060 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The YAWYORE 5700X build pairs a Ryzen 7 5700X, an RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM, 32GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Buyers who want 32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU.
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 32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU. It is the only pick here with a ryzen 7 5700X processor; the STGAubron RX 6600 has a core i7-10700F processor instead. Like the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 and Slate i7 RTX 5060, it has a DDR4-3200 memory type, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a DDR4 memory type.
Check the YAWYORE 5700X's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The 650W power supply is the stated figure; check its connectors before a later GPU upgrade. At 8GB of VRAM, 1080p is the comfortable target for new games. If VRAM is your priority, the STGAubron RX 6600 (8GB) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- Graphics card: RTX 5060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Processor: Ryzen 7 5700X
- Memory: 32GB
- Memory type: DDR4-3200
- SSD: 1TB
- Power supply: 650W
- PSU rating: 80 Plus Bronze
Pros
- A RTX 5060 graphics card
- 32GB of RAM
- A 650W power supply
- An 80 Plus Bronze power supply
Cons
- 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- Costs more than the STGAubron RX 6600 at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- 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.
- 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.
What to Look for in a Gaming PC for Console Emulation
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
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.
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.
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 PC for Console Emulation
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM for the least money | STGAubron RX 6600 | The lowest price among these gaming PCs at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price | Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB | 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price |
| Buyers who want RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing | Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 | An RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want Core i7-14700F on DDR4 | Slate i7 RTX 5060 | A Core i7-14700F on DDR4 |
| Buyers who want 32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU | YAWYORE 5700X | 32GB of DDR4 and a 650W Bronze PSU |
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 RX 6600 | RX 6600 | 8GB | Core i7-10700F | 16GB |
| Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB | RTX 5060 | 8GB | Ryzen 7 5700 | 32GB |
| Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | Ryzen 7 5700 | 16GB |
| Slate i7 RTX 5060 | RTX 5060 | 8GB | Core i7-14700F | 16GB |
| YAWYORE 5700X | RTX 5060 | 8GB | Ryzen 7 5700X | 32GB |
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 RX 6600 |
| About $1000 to $1500 | Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB, Skytech 5700 RTX 5060, Slate i7 RTX 5060, YAWYORE 5700X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these gaming PCs has the most memory?
The Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB leads at 32GB, ahead of the YAWYORE 5700X at 32GB; the Slate i7 RTX 5060 sits at the other end with 16GB.
What is the least I can spend on one of these gaming PCs?
The STGAubron RX 6600. It undercut the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB when we checked, while the YAWYORE 5700X cost the most of the group.
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 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.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the STGAubron RX 6600, chosen for the lowest price among these gaming PCs at the time of writing. Look at the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 32GB for 32GB of RAM at an RTX 5060 price, the Skytech 5700 RTX 5060 for an RTX 5060 near $1,200 at the time of writing and the Slate i7 RTX 5060 for a Core i7-14700F on DDR4 if those matter more to you.
Only emulate games you own, and check each emulator's hardware notes.