Key Points
- The Skytech Nebula is the best overall gaming PC under $1,500, featuring an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU.
- The HP OMEN 25L is the best choice for beginners, offering strong performance for the price with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1660 graphics.
- The ABS Stratos Aqua is the best value gaming PC under $1,500, with a clean-looking white case, Intel Core i5 processor, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU.
- The ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC is the best budget-friendly option, providing excellent performance in a small size with an AMD Zen 3 Ryzen 7 5800U processor and Radeon RX Vega8 graphics.
- The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is the best for virtual reality, featuring a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, and compatibility with HTC Vive and Oculus Rift headsets.
Whether you’re just deciding to step into the world of PC gaming or are looking for your next computer, having a $1,500 budget is a great way to get started.
Making an investment of this size into a new PC can be an opportunity to play the latest games and have plenty of room to upgrade down the road. Best of all, you can expect to find some computer models in this price range that offer the latest in GPU architecture for virtual reality as well as computers that can help you be productive when the time for gaming is over.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 7 best gaming PCs you can find today for under $1,500.
- Best Overall: Skytech Nebula
- Best for Beginners: HP OMEN 25L
- Best Value: ABS Stratos Aqua
- Best Budget-Friendly: ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC
- Best for Virtual Reality: CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme
- Best Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G15
- Best Dual Purpose: Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i
#1 Best Overall: Skytech Nebula
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7GHz
- NVIDIA RTX 4070
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 16GB DDR4 RAM 3200
- 600W Gold PSU
- 11AC Wi-Fi
- Windows 11 Home
- 64-bit
- Black
When it comes to the best overall gaming PC you can find under $1,500, the Skytech Nebula gaming PC is the absolute way to go.
Right away, the benefits of the Skytech Nebula shine through with its AMD Ryzen 5 5600X 3.7Ghz processor. Paired with a 1TB SSD and 16GB of RAM, the Nebula has all of the immediate power you need to get started with the latest gaming titles.
This is especially true when you consider the Skytech Nebula has an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which is one of the most popular GPUs on the planet right now. With its own 12GB of dedicated RAM, you should be able to use the Nebula to power through AAA titles on mid-to-high settings. Best of all, many games will be able to take advantage of ray tracing.
To keep things running with all of its power built-in, the 4 RGB-ready fans provide plenty of airflow for proper cooling while you’re plugging away in your 5th hour of a Call of Duty or Grand Theft Auto V Online marathon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent price-to-performance | Not a commonly known brand name |
| Enables plenty of upgrade opportunities |
Check out Skytech Nebula on Amazon.
Best for Beginners: HP OMEN 25L
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6G GDDR6
- Windows 11 Pro
- White
- 32GB Snowbell USB card
If you’re a beginner looking for your very first gaming PC and want to keep your budget to less than $1,500, the HP OMEN 25L is the best way to go.
With a price tag under $900, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G processor paired with 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is more than good enough for a first gaming PC. When combined with Windows 11, you have a machine that is capable of doing everyday tasks plus a beautiful piece of hardware that can play plenty of games.
Gaming performance itself stems from the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 1660 graphics, which is the perfect graphics card for dipping your toes into the PC gaming world. As the 1660 card includes its own 6GB of dedicated RAM, you should be more than able to run a gauntlet of AA games while also exploring running AAA games at low settings.
Whether it’s for gaming or regular use, the HP OMEN 25L is also full of ports for you to add a terrific mechanical keyboard and the best gaming mouse.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong performance for the price | Only 8GB of RAM out of the box |
| Easy to upgrade | Not enough USB-C ports |
Check out HP OMEN 25L 5i on Amazon.
Best Value: ABS Stratos Aqua
- Intel i5 13400F
- GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
- 16GB DDR5 5600MHz
- 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
While the brand name might not be mainstream, the ABS Stratos Aqua has quietly crept into the gaming conversation as a strong value option.
The best part of the ABS Stratos Aqua is undoubtedly its clean-looking white case which screams minimalism. It’s the perfect look to add to any gaming setup and feels fresh against a sea of black gaming PCs all under $1,500.
Looks aside, the ABS Stratos Aqua also performs very well with an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD for storage. ABS even boldly claims its combination of hardware and price equals one of the “best cost-to-performance ratios” in all of gaming, especially at this price point.
Of course, the real highlight is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU, which offers more than enough power to handle the latest AAA games today and likely well into the future. Add an RGB air cooler and you can keep the 4060 Ti GPU cool to keep performance running well no matter what game you’re favoring this week.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful white PC case | Not a well-known brand name |
| Comes with DDR5 RAM | Too many different build options |
Check out ABS Stratos Aqua 5i on Amazon.
Best Budget-Friendly: ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (up to 4.4GHz)
- 32GB DDR4 512 M.2 SSD
- Windows 11 Pro Zen 3 Ryzen
- RGB lgihts
- AMR5 mini computer
- Wi-Fi 6
- 4K
- HDMI, DP, Type-C
- Auto Power On
While many gaming PCs under $1,500 offer full-sized rigs, the ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC is appropriately named because it truly is a small but capable computer.
Even with its small size, the ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC is more than capable with a built-in AMD Zen 3 Ryzen 7 5800U, which can offer up a max boost clock of 4.4Ghz. This means you have 8 cores and 16 threads at your disposal in a small package that is ready to tear through any game you hope to throw at it.
Better yet, you get 32GB of RAM plus a 512GB SSD, all for under $500, which is a steal at this price point. Add in a Radeon RX Vega8 graphics card and it’s hard to ignore just how much value you are getting for the ACEMAGICIAN price.
Most important is to not let the small size of this PC make you think it’s going to miss out on some important connectivity features. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 4.2 are built right in as are dual USB 3.0 ports, a single USB-C port, a display port, HDMI 2.0, and Gigabit Ethernet.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent size for performance | The small size means limited upgrades. |
| Terrific price point |
Check out ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC 5i on Amazon.
Best for Virtual Reality: CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme
- Includes Intel Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card with 12GB of dedicated RAM
- Tempered glass side case panel
- Custom RGB lighting
While many people focus on more traditional gaming experiences when buying a PC, some people are eager to look at virtual reality as their next big thing in gaming with the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme.
For anyone jumping onto the VR train and looking for a PC under $1,500, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme is the way to go. Running a powerful Intel Core i7 processor paired with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, the CyberpowerPC is powerful enough to handle just about any VR game title available.
Compatible with both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, the CyberpowerPC comes right out of the box already optimized for ultra-high game settings. These settings are boosted by the addition of the GeForce RTX 3060, which is one of the most popular GPUs for virtual reality computers.
Along with the GPU, the 12th-generation Intel processor can boost performance up to 4.9 GHz with its max clock speed. Plus, with up to 12 cores available, you have ample power to handle all of the VR titles you’re looking to use with this PC.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for virtual-reality game titles | Does not support all VR headsets |
| Has a big max clock speed to help with VR performance | Might need additional out-of-the-box optimizations |
Check out CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme 5i on Amazon.
Best Laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G15
- 15.6" 165Hz QHD (2560 x 1440p) display
- 8 cores AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX
- Radeon RX 6800M
- RGB backlit keyboard
- Wi-Fi 6
- IR sensor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
When you are on the hunt for a gaming PC under $1,500, it’s likely you are just looking for a desktop but the ASUS ROG Strix G15 might make you think otherwise.
Widely regarded as one of the best gaming laptops available today, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 offers a fantastic AMD Ryzen 9 5980HX processor which helps it scream through both multitasking and games. Add in 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD and you have a truly complete laptop that still offers you the ability to upgrade both RAM and storage down the line.
Where the ASUS really stands out is with its Radeon RX 6800M GPU, which is comparable to a GeForce RTX 3070 performance-wise. This means AAA games should be well within the capabilities of this laptop, just not at their absolute maximum performance levels as far as frames per second.
Along with its excellent performance, you can find a 15.6-inch IPS QHD 2560 x 1440 anti-glare display with a 165Hz refresh rate. Sitting right below the monitor is an RGB backlit keyboard and a fun RGB light bar just underneath the keyboard adorning the sides of the laptop.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| One of the best gaming laptops around | No touchscreen |
| Fantastic RGB lighting experience | Only comes with 512GB of storage |
Check out ASUS ROG Strix G15 5i on Amazon.
Best Dual Purpose: Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Intel i5 12400 16GB RAM
- 1TB HDD + 512GB SSD
- Windows 11
- Black
- Mouse and keyboard included
- Free 3-month Xbox Game Pass!
Should the moment come when you want a PC that is geared for both gaming and looks more like a business-ready desktop, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i is ready for you.
Packed with a 12th generation Intel Core i5 processor, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i is all business in that it’s ready to take on any productivity tasks you can think of. More importantly, it’s running the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 for tackling plenty of AAA and AA games any time of the day.
When you’re ready to jump into a game, the 65W CPU cooler not only helps keep air circulating for better performance, but the case of the Lenovo also enables 50% more airflow. This is good news for hardware longevity and helps ensure your Lenovo will be around for years to come.
The rest of the design of the Lenovo feels very functional in that it has a minimalist design while still offering plenty of room for future upgrades. One added bonus with the Lenovo is that it comes with 3 months of Xbox Game Pass included, just in case you haven’t already found a host of games to add to your backlog.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| PC case looks at home in a professional environment | Business-like PC case instead of RGB lighting |
| Includes 3 months of Xbox Game Pass | Changing the case would mitigate cooling |
Check out Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i on Amazon.
©Om.Nom.Nom/Shutterstock.com
How to Pick the Best Gaming PC Under $1,500: Step-by-Step
When looking to choose a gaming computer under $1,500, there are 4 main considerations most buyers should think through.
- Performance
- Upgrades
- Looks
- Price
Let’s break them down in detail below.
Performance
This is arguably the most important consideration since you want the best performance for your price. However, you also need to think through your needs as you may not need to spend all the way up to $1,500. If you can get exactly what you need performance-wise out of a $900 computer, there might not be any reason to max out your budget.
Upgrades
When it comes to upgrades, most PCs on this list should give you ample opportunity to upgrade your hard drive, RAM, GPU, and just about everything else. Even your PC case and RGB lighting are going to be on the list of things you can upgrade down the line. What you do need to consider is just how much upgrading you want to do, which will influence your initial computer purchase.
Looks
For many people, looks on a gaming PC under $1,500 won’t be a huge factor, but it’s still an important consideration nonetheless. There are far too many plain black PC cases in the gaming world so you might want to look at something like the ABS Stratos Aqua with its stark white case and really change things up. Alternatively, you can lean heavily into RGB lighting to help create a more personalized experience.
Price
While you might have up to $1,500 to spend, it’s worth emphasizing again that you may not need to max out your budget. If you can get away with the specs for a computer that is below the $1,500 mark, it’s good to save that extra money and use it to buy yourself a whole lot of games you can play down the road. Don’t feel compelled to spend right up to your maximum budget just because you have the available budget.
Using a Gaming PC Under $1,500: What It’s Like
Using a gaming PC under $1,500 is still a very good experience as you should be able to play many of the latest AAA games at slightly lower settings. This is a solid price point to get a very good gaming computer that will last you for years to come.
At this price point, you should also be able to buy a PC that has plenty of room for future upgrades, which are going to be a lot less expensive overall than buying a whole new gaming computer in a few years.
Summary Table
| Gaming PC | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Skytech Nebula | Excellent price-to-performance, Enables plenty of upgrade opportunities | Not a commonly known brand name |
| HP OMEN 25L | Strong performance for the price, Easy to upgrade | Only 8GB of RAM out of the box, Not enough USB-C ports |
| ABS Stratos Aqua | Beautiful white PC case, Comes with DDR5 RAM | Not a well-known brand name, Too many different build options |
| ACEMAGICIAN Mini Gaming PC | Excellent size for performance, Terrific price point | The small size means limited upgrades. |
| CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme | Ideal for virtual-reality game titles, Has a big max clock speed to help with VR performance | Does not support all VR headsets, Might need additional out-of-the-box optimizations |
| ASUS ROG Strix G15 | One of the best gaming laptops around, Fantastic RGB lighting experience | No touchscreen, Only comes with 512GB of storage |
| Lenovo IdeaCentre Gaming 5i | PC case looks at home in a professional environment, Includes 3 months of Xbox Game Pass | Business-like PC case instead of RGB lighting, Changing the case would mitigate cooling |
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com.
