Building a setup in my new apartment - I've got the desk and the peripherals, but I don't have the actual hardware yet (and I’m not knowledgeable at all lol).
I want something balanced and future-proof, mainly for gaming + productivity. I also stream from time to time (on my laptop which is pretty trash). Budget’s around $2000 total.
I'm mostly torn between Intel vs AMD. I’ve been eyeing stuff like the CyberPower i9-14900KF + RTX 5070 variant, some iBUYPOWER models, but I'm honestly lost
If you had $2K for a prebuilt gaming PC, what would you pick and why?
Any regrets or “I wish I…” stories are super welcome :)
Edit:
I made a list for future readers of some good deals on Amazon right now:
Budget tier
CyberPowerPC Gamer (i5-13400F + RTX 5060) - $987 - Entry-level gaming PC. Good for 1080p at medium to high settings. Not ideal for consistent high-FPS 1440p.
Mid tier
CyberPowerPC Gamer (i7-14700F + RTX 5060 Ti) - $1,359 - Noticeable step up from the RTX 5060. Strong 1080p performance and acceptable 1440p gaming.
CyberPowerPC Gamer (i9-14900KF + RTX 5070) - $1,979 - Very strong CPU paired with a capable GPU. Smooth 1440p at high settings, 4K possible with compromises.
iBUYPOWER Slate (i7-14700F + RTX 5070) - $1,789 - Similar gaming performance to the i9/5070 system but cheaper. Solid all-around 1440p machine.
High tier
iBUYPOWER Y40 PRO (Ryzen 9 7900X + RTX 5070 Ti) -$2,269 - Strong jump in GPU power. Excellent 1440p high-refresh and capable 4K gaming.
Alienware Aurora (Ultra 9 285 + RTX 5080) - $2,799 - Top-end option here. Best choice for high-refresh 1440p and consistent 4K gaming, but priced accordingly.
Hey everyone, I’ve been a console gamer for most of my life but have gamed on a few desktops and MacBooks here and there.
I’m looking to make the switch to a gaming PC, and I’m wondering:
• How much should I expect to spend on a top-tier gaming PC in 2025? • What are some reliable websites for prebuilt systems, or what are the best parts to consider if I want to build one myself? • Which option is better—prebuilt or building?
I don’t have any DIY experience, so if I decide to build, I’d probably pay someone to assemble it for me. Any advice is appreciated!
My budget will be 3-5K and I’ll purchase about a year or two from now. Most likely around GTA6 pc announcement
Videos
Hey guys, seeing if someone can help me with looking for a good pre-built, my budget range is 1.5k-2k I was looking at this one on best buy
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-rog-gaming-desktop-intel-core-i7-14700f-32gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-4060-ti-2tb-ssd-black/6572406.p?skuId=6572406
but is a 4060 ti worth it in 2025?? Anyone have any other recommendations??
Thanks for the help!
I’ve got a $2,500–$3,000 budget for a prebuilt gaming PC, but honestly I’m starting to think spending that much is kind of a scam.. most “high-end” pre-builts in this range seem like overpriced RGB boxes with mid-tier parts, insane markups, and specs that barely outperform rigs $800 cheaper. Is there actually a prebuilt out there that’s worth this kind of money, or is the whole $3K prebuilt market just hype?
Currently I am looking at these pre-builts companies:
CyberPowerPC
iBUYPOWER
MSI Codex
Thanks in advance for any recommendation or tips!
THIS GUIDE IS OUT OF DATE, PLEASE VISIT THE MOST UP TO DATE ONE ON THE FRONT PAGE!
As it's been asked a lot over DM's: If you want to buy me a coffee, you're more than welcome to. These guides will ALWAYS stay free for everyone, and I will never directly ask for any payment. PayPal or BuyMeACoffee are both possible.
Hi everyone, it's been a while! Welcome to the Summer 2025 PC best buy guide!
I've been out of the running due to injury on my arm, but the fast few months also haven't been great for those wanting to buy a PC - or a GPU in particular. As prices have been slowly going and stock going up, I'm hesitantly optimistic on making a new guide. Although it's far from where prices were, and with tarriffs going left and right, there's no telling where things will go, the Winter 2025 guide is now so out of date it warrants replacement.
Before commenting, please read the following:
I have been getting a lot of comments of people being confused what the lists are actually for, and how the parametric selections work on PCPartpicker.com . Please use this flowchart to guide you through the website before commenting some frequently ask questions
I want to reiterate that these lists are here to give you an indication on what you can expect for a certain budget; what kind of value you can get for your money with that budget. That does not only mean pure performance, but also features, expandability, and future upgradability. Some of these are hard to quantify in words, but I have tried my best through my own judgment to make some weighted decisions on each list.
To give you an example, in the $1100 list I might recommend a Ryzen 7600(X) with an RTX 5060 Ti, 32GB RAM, paired with a 1TB SSD, and a relatively value-oriented case, cooler & motherboard. This is my vision of the best 'value' PC you can get, but if you have a different PC with a high end case with RGB, expensive cooler, and 2TB SSD, that is 100%, utterly and completely, fine! I just want you to have a reference point.
Gaming PCs
| Budget | Note / compared to previous budget | Possible upgrades with leftover budget (in order of priority) |
|---|---|---|
| ~ $400 | This is the cheapest gaming PC I can somewhat recommend. Do note that this PC does NOT have WiFi, and if you do need WiFi you need to either buy a WiFi enabled motherboard or add a (preferably PCIe x1) WiFI module. This PC uses the Arc A380 which is a pretty basic GPU. | A faster - but second hand - GPU like a used RTX 2070 (Super) or RX 5700XT. WiFi / Bluetooth capabilities on the motherboard, 1TB SSD, extra RAM (2x16GB) |
| ~ $500 (iGPU) | If you're planning on buying a GPU later on, or are only a very light gamer, this might be interesting for you. You're getting an AM5 CPU with 32GB of DDR5 RAM which means great upgradability in the future. This list also ensures a fast Wi-Fi connection (as opposed to just wired Ethernet) | Ryzen 8700G (which has 8 cores and a faster iGPU). 1TB SSD. |
| ~ $650 | With $250 extra to spend compared to the $400 list, you're getting a huge upgrade, mainly in the form of the AMD Radeon RX 7600. As the stock and availability of the Radeon RX 6600, 6600XT, and 6650XT withers over time, the 7600 comes the more logical choice, even though it's quite expensive. You're also getting 32GB RAM which is really nice to have in 2025. | My first priority would be getting a 1TB SSD. We have a motherboard that supports as least 2 M.2 SSDs, so you can also add another SSD later on. If you have the i5 12400F selected, you could get a DDR5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM for better longevity as DDR5 is continuously getting faster than DDR4 in games. |
| ~ $850 | We're making a few nice to have upgrades here. The Intel Arc B580 is a fantastic value GPU, though it's still too expensive to be added in more budgets. If you can find a good deal on an RX 6750XT, 7600XT4060 Ti (16GB), or 7700XT, I'd pick that instead. We're also guaranteeing a 1TB SSD (finally), a much quieter cooler, 32GB RAM, a roomier case and a better quality power supply. The con of using the B580 with this specific build would be that the B580 really likes having more CPU overhead. | As mentioned, I'd prefer a 7700XT here if possible. A DDR5 motherboard + RAM is also a nice upgrade to make here. A better case would also be nice. |
| ~ $1000 | The main jump we're making here is in terms of CPU gaming performance, future upgradability, and DDR5 RAM. The Ryzen 7600(X) / 9600(X) are still the best overall value CPUs out there. They have fantastic gaming performance, a great upgrade path (to the 9800X3D or future AM5 socket generations), and are great to use. The starting price is a lot higher though, and we don't have a ton of GPU overhead anymore. I would love to add the 7600/9600 to lower lists, but that's hard to justify with current GPU prices. | You could 'future proof' the PSU to an 850W model. |
| ~ $1100 | Although the $1000 is a nicely rounded budget, I think that this $1100 list is a noticeably better PC due to the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti. Even though there's been a lot of drama on the 5060 Ti due to the 8GB variant, objectively speaking the 16GB version is one of the best Nvidia cards you can currently get in terms of value. With current prices that's not saying much, but it's something. All in all you're getting a nicely rounded PC | 2TB SSD, dual tower cooler (like a Thermalright Phantom Spirit) |
| ~ $1300 | The AMD RX 9070 would be a nice upgrade over the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB. It's currently still a bit too overpriced, but would be a nice middle-of-the-road upgrade nonetheless. | Check the price on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600(X). If it's within $25 of the 7600(X), I'd upgrade tot that if you have the slack. 2TB SSD, dual tower cooler (like a Thermalright Phantom Spirit), higher end case. |
| ~ $1500 | Upgraded to the RTX 5070 Ti. If the 9070 XT is much cheaper, I'd grab that instead. | Check the price on the AMD Ryzen 5 9600(X). If it's within $25 of the 7600(X), I'd upgrade tot that if you have the slack. 2TB SSD, dual tower cooler (like a Thermalright Phantom Spirit), higher end case. |
| ~ $1800 | Upgraded to the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D for much faster CPU gaming performance, with the added bonus of a much beefier cooler. Also upgraded the motherboard to an ATX model with at least 3 M.2 slots and Wi-Fi 6E, and a 2TB SSD. | For $100 extra you could consider the 9800X3D. Also look into a higher end case. |
| ~ $2000 | Upgraded to the 9800X3D and an extra 2TB SSD. Also clamped down the PSU to a more limited selection of premium brands | Higher end case, liquid cooling. |
| ~ $2250 | Upgraded to the RTX 5080. | |
| ~ $3000 | High end liquid cooling, a higher end motherboard, double the RAM, a larger single SSD, a higher end power supply and a higher end case. | |
| ~ $5000 | RTX 5090, an extra (PCIe gen 5) 2TB SSD, an even higher end motherboard, and top of the line power supply. | Anything you want! |
Workstations
| Budget | Note / compared to previous budget | Possible upgrades with leftover budget (in order of priority) |
|---|---|---|
| ~ $850 | Very fast and high quality Workstation without 3D acceleration. Although the new Intel Core Ultra CPUs aren't that interesting for gaming, with the reduced prices they're quite appealing for workstations. | If you want a 3D accelerated machine, you can add any GPU you like. For a high end (70-class and higher) you might want to consider a higher capacity PSU. If 2D is all you need but have budget left over, the Core Ultra 9 285K is a good upgrade too. |
| ~ $1700 | Upraded to the Core Ultra 9 285K added the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti. This gives you a relatively large VRAM buffer that's nice to have for 3D workstation applications. | Extra RAM, more storage, higher end case. |
| ~ $3000 | Upgraded to a 360mm radiator for CPU cooling, extra 2TB storage, an RTX 5080, a crap-load more RAM, and a much higher end case. If you don't need such a high amount of RAM, you can remove a set, or even go for a faster set of 2x32GB if that's enough for you. | RTX 5090 if you can stomach it. Spend more budget on storage if you don't need the RAM. |
| ~ $5500 | Changed to the Noctua NH-D15 G2 for ultimate air-cooling. Motherboard with Wi-Fi 7 and faster networking. Set of 4x48GB to guarantee stability over 2 sets of 2 x 48GB. More RAM. RTX 5090. More storage. Titanium rated power supply. | Anything you want! |
First of all, i'm quite curious why many people hate prebuilt pc so much? Why? It's just the price difference?
Now i'm planning to get a new one just because the performance on my current 7-year old pc has no longer been absolutely amazing anymore because of its age. Tbh my financial situation has been better lately so I want to get a prebuilt one for my daily gaming (Fortnite mainly) and i'm willing to pay up to $2000.
So which brands/companies do you think are really good to buy right now? Or what are your favorite brands so far? Thanks.
I’m looking to buy a prebuilt gaming PC but not sure which brands or models are actually worth the money in 2025. Any solid recommendations for performance and reliability?
Budget is flexible, but I'm aiming for the best value around the $2000–$2300 range. I'd also love to hear any brands or specific models you’ve had good experiences with (or ones to avoid). Bonus points for good thermals, build quality, and upgradability.
I have looked on different sites and according to them these are the best prebuilt gaming pcs:
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme
iBUYPOWER Y40 PRO
MSI Codex R2 AI
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master
I'm looking for some real user experience. So, what's the best prebuilt gaming pc I can get?
Hi guys, looking for the best modern prebuilt PC for running modded games like GTA V and Flight Simulator while also being able to store work related files and projects. Budget is around $1,000 Don't really care for monitors or anything, just need a good platform. Maybe something that can be easily upgraded as well, for better performance as my budget increases. new build or upgrade? Not a request
Say hello to a quick guide to picking the best prebuilt pc for gaming and streaming. Use it as a quick reference to avoiding a gpu throttling dud.
-Research GPUs, both AMD and Nvidia. Intel Arc is the third option, but its still a developing technology. The amount of video RAM (VRAM) is also essential. Looking at new cards, 8gb of VRAM is the new minimum. 12gb or more is recommended.
-all memory (RAM) modules are not created equal. Buy 16GB or 32GB RAM to prevent memory bottlenecks, but know that different modules work at different speeds.
-an attractive chassis is all very well, but don’t prioritize aesthetics over bleeding edge supplemental features. If you have a beast of a motherboard and GPU, a reliable power supply will be needed to supply plenty of juice. And dont forget the cooling fans, too.
-Video production workloads are slow enough when 4K footage is being processed. Don’t sabotage your efforts by relying on slow storage technology. Fit a fast SSD.
-connectivity options should be biased towards the latest future-proof streaming technologies, including WiFi 6 or 7, a PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 high-bandwidth motherboard, and an easy-access collection of the latest and greatest physical ports, which must include standard USB 3.0 and USB-C.
-Outer system accessories to buy for your new setup include a gaming mouse and keyboard, a 1080p or 4K camera, and a broadcast-quality microphone. Inside the computer, the installation of a capture card, like the Elgato 4K60 Pro or the AverMedia Live Gamer 4K takes care of recorded player video and audio.
-Buy a prebuilt PC with a next-generation CPU from Intel or AMD. Recent generations have integrated hardware extras, such as h.265 video encoding. Pay attention to core numbers, clock frequencies, and user-friendly capabilities.
-although not heavily covered in this post, dont forget a monitor with a high refresh rate and a low response time. A high resolution, to partner with 1080p or 4K gaming, is also advised.
With several hard-core gamers and one game streamer among our staff, we consider the above guidelines as written-in-stone essential. Sticking with popular Intel and nVidia pairings, don’t be caught out by a rig that doesn’t have at least a 30XX or 40XX series RTX GPU, plus a 13th or 14th generation i7 CPU. Armed with all of this, it’s time to go shopping.
Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs To Buy Now
-
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 Prebuilt PC
-
Alienware Aurora R16 Prebuilt PC
-
HP Omen 45L Prebuilt Gaming Desktop
-
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master Gaming PC – Budget Friendly Option!
-
Corsair Vengeance i7200 Streaming PC
-
MSI Vision Elite RS 14th Gen Prebuilt Gaming PC
Single biggest thing to look for is AFTER care; warranties, service/shipping costs. The hardware options are generally the same and you’re going to buy what you can afford anyway, so focus on how well the company handles returns, warranty service, and the often overlooked shipping. This assumes you’re NOT working on it yourself or you’d just build it yourself. And everyone has some type of warranty so use it if needed because you paid for it. But you usually do NOT get free shipping back and forth if you do need to send it back for repairs/replacements. This also assumes you’re buying online from a boutique builder and not from a store that you can physically go to. But even at a store you need to be aware of how they handle you and your computer problems 6months from now, or next year, etc, if needed.
Hope this helped.
Hello there. Im looking for a gaming pc that can run games like red dead 2 and eventually games like gta 6. I have a budget of 1-4k. What gaming pc is the best that will support those games and last long?
So, this question has been asked a lot in our subreddit. To resolve it once for an all, I have compiled a list of Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs in 2024. I will keep on updating this with new choices as per other Reddit users comments.
Skytech Gaming Nebula
CyberPowerPC Gaming Xtreme
Alienware Aurora R15
iBuyPower Y40
Lenovo Legion T5
SKytech Gaming Archangle
Corsair Vengeance
Skytech Gaming Azure
Alienware Aurora R16
HP Omen 16
These are some best prebuilt gaming PC as suggested by other Reddit users in various subreddits. If you have more in mind, please mention them in the comments below.
Hey everyone, I’m looking to buy a prebuilt gaming PC and would love your recommendations. My budget is $2,500–$3,000 (USD).
A few quick notes on what I want and care about:
Primary goal: excellent AAA gaming performance (1440p high refresh and smooth 4K where possible).
Prefer something that’s well-cooled, quiet, and easy to upgrade later.
Must include a reputable warranty and decent customer support.
If you’ve got specific model suggestions or current sales/deals in the $2.5k–$3k range, let me know. Thanks in advance!
I’ve been doing research on so many pc’s and I can’t really decide which one is the best. My budget is around $2000 and it’s strictly for playing games.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/skytech-gaming-king95-gaming-pc-amd-ryzen-7-9700x-32gb-memory-nvidia-rtx-geforce-5070-2tb-nvme-ssd-white/6618815.p?skuId=6618815
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-gamer-supreme-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-9800x3d-32gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-12gb-2tb-pcie-4-0-ssd-white/6617081.p?skuId=6617081#tabbed-customerreviews
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-gamer-supreme-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-9700x-32gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-ti-16gb-2tb-pcie-4-0-ssd-white/6617168.p?skuId=6617168
https://www.newegg.com/skytech-gaming-desktop-pcs-geforce-rtx-5070-amd-ryzen-7-7800x3d-32gb-ddr5-2-tb-ssd-st-azure2-1822-b-al-black/p/3D5-000Z-002F9
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/cyberpowerpc-gamer-supreme-gaming-desktop-amd-ryzen-7-7800x3d-32gb-memory-amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-16gb-2tb-pcie-4-0-ssd-black/6617171.p?skuId=6617171