Buying Guide
Great Gaming PCs Under $1,000
Three gaming PCs under $1,000 with more memory, from RTX 3050 to RX 6600, each with its CPU, graphics, memory and storage named.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
Most sub-$1,000 systems ship with 16GB of RAM. We looked for the few that list 32GB or pair 16GB with a stronger card, since memory is the cheapest thing to get right at purchase.
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 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Most Memory
SKYESEV Prebuilt Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5600, RTX 3050 6GB, 32GB)32GB of RAM.
Best for: Gaming alongside streaming, browsers or editing.
Check price for SKYESEV Prebuilt Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5600, RTX 3050 6GB, 32GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB)The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Check price for Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
RX 6600 Build
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB)An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM.
Best for: 1080p gaming.
Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32GB of RAM. | Gaming alongside streaming, browsers or editing. | Check price for SKYESEV Prebuilt Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5600, RTX 3050 6GB, 32GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM. | 1080p gaming. | Check price for STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB) on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Most Memory1 of 3
SKYESEV Prebuilt Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5600, RTX 3050 6GB, 32GB)
SKYESEV 5600 pairs a Ryzen 5 5600 with an RTX 3050 with 6GB of VRAM, plus 32GB of DDR4-3200 and a 1TB SSD.
Best for
- Gaming alongside streaming, browsers or editing.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p.
Why we like it
It also comes with 32GB of DDR4 under $1,000 at the time of writing. Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. Its 6GB VRAM is the least in this group; the Evounic RX 580 leads at 8GB.
On memory it leads this guide at 32GB, ahead of the Evounic RX 580 (16GB). No other pick in this guide offers an RTX 3050 graphics card; compare the Evounic RX 580, which has an RX 580 graphics card. No other pick in this guide offers a ryzen 5 5600 processor; compare the Evounic RX 580, which has a ryzen 5 5500 processor. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the STGAubron RX 6600 and the rest.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RTX 3050
- VRAM
- 6GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5600
- Memory
- 32GB
- Memory type
- DDR4-3200
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RTX 3050 graphics card
- 32GB of RAM
- 32GB of DDR4 under $1,000 at the time of writing
- Ryzen 5 5600 processor, the only one here
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p
- VRAM trails the Evounic RX 580 (8GB)
- Costs more than the Evounic RX 580 at the time of writing
The catch
The trade-off is VRAM; for more, the Evounic RX 580 offers 8GB.
Lowest Price Here2 of 3
Evounic Gaming PC (Ryzen 5 5500, RX 580 8GB)
Inside the Evounic RX 580 are a Ryzen 5 5500 and an RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM, backed by 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 8GB of VRAM can force lower texture settings in newer games at 1440p rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. On VRAM it ties with the STGAubron RX 6600 at 8GB. An RX 580 graphics card is unique to it among these picks, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses an RX 6600 graphics card.
A ryzen 5 5500 processor is unique to it among these picks, while the STGAubron RX 6600 uses a core i7-10700F processor. Check the Evounic RX 580'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. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the STGAubron RX 6600 was closest.
Key specs
- Graphics card
- RX 580
- VRAM
- 8GB
- Processor
- Ryzen 5 5500
- Memory
- 16GB
- SSD
- 1TB
Pros
- A RX 580 graphics card
- Older RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the SKYESEV 5600
- Ryzen 5 5500 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
- Memory of 16GB, behind the SKYESEV 5600 (32GB)
The catch
What it gives up: memory of 16GB, behind the SKYESEV 5600 (32GB); by contrast, the SKYESEV 5600 offers 32GB.
RX 6600 Build3 of 3
STGAubron Gaming PC (Core i7-10700F, RX 6600 8GB)
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
- 1080p gaming.
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
Its PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before a GPU upgrade. It matches the Evounic RX 580 on VRAM (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RX 6600 graphics card; the SKYESEV 5600 has an RTX 3050 graphics card instead.
It is the only pick here with a core i7-10700F processor; the SKYESEV 5600 has a ryzen 5 5600 processor 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. Its price falls between the Evounic RX 580 and the SKYESEV 5600, based on our last check.
Key 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
- VRAM of 8GB, ahead of the SKYESEV 5600
- Core i7-10700F 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
- Memory trails the SKYESEV 5600 (32GB)
The catch
If memory is your priority, the SKYESEV 5600 (32GB) is the stronger choice.
How We Chose
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.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side three prebuilt PCs on graphics card, VRAM, processor and memory as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 5 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while memory type has gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the SKYESEV 5600 to the STGAubron RX 6600, state graphics card, VRAM and processor.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Evounic RX 580 gives no memory type.
- Price range
- From the Evounic RX 580 to the SKYESEV 5600, all sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked.
What to Look For
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
VRAM across these picks
Across these 3 picks VRAM spans 6GB (the SKYESEV 5600) to 8GB (the Evounic RX 580). The Evounic RX 580 is the pick for VRAM.
Memory
Here memory runs from 16GB on the STGAubron RX 6600 to 32GB on the SKYESEV 5600, a 100% spread. If memory is your first filter, the SKYESEV 5600 sets the ceiling at 32GB.
A desktop PC beside a monitor on a corner gaming desk Processor
The SKYESEV 5600 lists ryzen 5 5600; the Evounic RX 580 lists ryzen 5 5500; the STGAubron RX 6600 lists Core i7-10700F. Sort out processor before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 1, 1 and 1.
Memory type
The SKYESEV 5600 lists DDR4-3200; the STGAubron RX 6600 lists DDR4.
A desktop PC and monitor on a desk lit with red and blue lighting What to check at home
Check the SKYESEV 5600's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want.
How to Choose
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming alongside streaming, browsers or editing | SKYESEV 5600 | 32GB of RAM |
| Keeping the budget tight | Evounic RX 580 | The lowest price among these picks at the time of writing |
| 1080p gaming | STGAubron RX 6600 | An RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Evounic RX 580 leads on VRAM at 8GB, ahead of the STGAubron RX 6600 at 8GB.
| Prebuilt PC | Graphics card | VRAM | Processor | Memory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SKYESEV 5600 | RTX 3050 | 6GB | Ryzen 5 5600 | 32GB |
| Evounic RX 580 | RX 580 | 8GB | Ryzen 5 5500 | 16GB |
| STGAubron RX 6600 | RX 6600 | 8GB | Core i7-10700F | 16GB |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SKYESEV 5600 ahead of the Evounic RX 580 on memory?
The SKYESEV 5600 leads at 32GB, with the Evounic RX 580 at 16GB.
Is the SKYESEV 5600 worth paying more than the Evounic RX 580?
On paper it adds memory (32GB against 16GB). It does not win everywhere: the Evounic RX 580 still leads on VRAM (8GB). Both sat in the $500 to $1000 tier when we checked, so the gains in memory cost little extra by tier.
What makes the SKYESEV 5600 the Most Memory?
The label rests on 32GB of RAM. It gives up VRAM (6GB against 8GB) to the Evounic RX 580, the cheapest pick. It suits gaming alongside streaming, browsers or editing.
Do the SKYESEV 5600 and the Evounic RX 580 differ on graphics card?
The SKYESEV 5600 uses RTX 3050; the Evounic RX 580 uses RX 580; the STGAubron RX 6600 uses RX 6600.
What should I check before buying the Evounic RX 580?
Check the Evounic RX 580's ports against your monitor: most graphics cards use DisplayPort and HDMI, so match the cable to the refresh rate you want. The Evounic RX 580's PSU wattage isn't published, so ask the seller before planning a GPU upgrade. In this guide it ranks second of 3, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and first of 3 on VRAM (8GB).
Beyond the specs, what sets the SKYESEV 5600 and the Evounic RX 580 apart?
The SKYESEV 5600: 32GB of DDR4 under $1,000 at the time of writing. The Evounic RX 580: an older RX 580 with 8GB of VRAM. The STGAubron RX 6600: a desktop RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the SKYESEV 5600, chosen for 32GB of RAM. Look at the Evounic RX 580 for the lowest price among these picks at the time of writing and the STGAubron RX 6600 for an RX 6600 with 8GB of VRAM if those matter more to you.
16GB is fine for games alone; 32GB helps if Discord, a browser and a stream run alongside.
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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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