4 Best Gaming Desktops with RTX GPU Under $1,600

If you’re an avid gamer, you must have considered opting for the best prebuilt gaming PCs with RTX GPUs. If you’re new to PC building, it’s worth knowing that pre-built options have improved significantly and can be purchased at a comparable price to building a desktop from scratch. 

Having said that, the market is flush with options comprising different components. As such, finding a competent gaming desktop that fits your budget can be challenging, to say the least. Well, fret not. We’ve scoured the web and have devised four enticing options for gamers shopping for a gaming desktop under $1,600. 

But before we talk about the potential prospects, you might want to also read about – 

Now, let’s look at the best gaming PCs with RTX GPUs. 

1. YEYIAN Katana X24

  • Processor: Core i5-12400F | Windows: Yes, boots Windows 11
  • PSU: 650W | GPU: RTX 3060
  • On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 1TB SSD
YEYIAN Katana X24

If you want to get into AAA gaming without burning a hole in your wallet, you will find plenty to like about the YEYIAN Katana X24 gaming desktop. For starters, the prebuilt rig ships with Intel’s Core i5-12400F CPU. Interestingly, the CPU doesn’t ship with any E-cores. Instead, it bundles six performance cores clocked at 4.4GHz.

Evidently, the CPU doesn’t come with a ‘K’ suffix, so you can’t overclock the processor. That said, per several outlets, modders have been able to increase the CPU’s base clock, so you should be able to get some added performance gains by going that route. That’s not all, as the desktop has been outfitted with a B660 motherboard, so you should be able to upgrade to Intel’s 13th gen processors down the line. Speaking of which, the desktop ships with 16GB of DDR4 RAM out of the box. 

It goes without saying, then, that the desktop will not work with a DDR5 kit. You can read more about the differences between the two memory modules by checking out our explainer on DDR5 memory. On the upside, the desktop gets an RTX 3060 GPU with 12GB of DDR6 memory and a base clock of 1,320MHz. YEYIAN claims to use ASUS and MSI components for the GPU and the mobo, which is an added plus. 

Moving on, the rig is backed by a 650W, 80 Plus Gold PSU, which should be able to power the desktop seamlessly. The desktop also comes with WiFi 6 chops and complies with Bluetooth v5.2 standard. The rig features three ARGB fans for cooling and comes bundled with a keyboard and mouse. Additionally, the company offers a two-year warranty on parts and a three-year labor warranty too. 

2. ASUS ROG Strix G15 Gaming Desktop

  • Processor: Core i7-12700F | Windows: Yes, boots Windows 11
  • PSU: 550W | GPU: RTX 3060
  • On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 1TB SSD
ROG Strix G15 Gaming Desktop

Buyers looking for an added oomph in the gaming department should also check out ASUS’ prebuilt. On that note, the company’s Strix G15 gaming desktop is backed by Intel’s Core i7-12700F CPU. The processor offers 12 cores, including eight P-cores and four E-cores. Put together; the CPU can deploy up to 20 threads for strenuous workloads. 

That’s not all, as the P-cores can boost up to 4.9GHz, which is an added plus. Do note that the unit is backed by the same GPU as seen on YEYIAN’s offering. As such, you will have to contend with an RTX 3060 graphics card with 12GB of DDR6 memory. Moving on, the desktop is backed by a B660 platform motherboard, so you should be able to upgrade to Intel’s 13th Gen CPUs as and when required. Additionally, the desktop is backed by 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB NVMe SSD.

Needless to say, you will have oodles of storage for your favorite games. If anything, the desktop skimps on a beefy PSU and cooler. In fact, per a handful of buyers, while the unit performs well, the fans get quite loud. Additionally, the desktop features a 550W Bronze Plus PSU, which can get a bit limiting, especially if you upgrade your processor down the line. On the flip side, the desktop is backed by two M.2 slots, so you can upgrade your storage seamlessly. It even comes with built-in WiFi, which is excellent. 

3. iBUYPOWER Y40

  • Processor: Core i7-13700KF | Windows: Yes, boots Windows 11
  • PSU: Not Specified | GPU: RTX 4060 Ti
  • On-board RAM: 32GB DDR5 | On-board Storage: 2TB SSD
iBuyPower Y40 Gaming Desktop

If you’re looking to get a competent rig that will let you play AAA games at the best presets for the foreseeable future, you should give the iBUYPOWER Y40 a second look. The desktop is backed by high-end components, and the unit features Intel’s Core i7-13700KF CPU. For those unaware, the 13700KF processor is backed by eight performance and eight efficiency cores. 

That’s not all; the CPU’s P-cores can turbo up to 5.30GHz. Additionally, you can overclock the CPU too. Moving on, the CPU works in tandem with Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti graphics card. Compared to a 4060 GPU, the Ti variant can boost higher and features more CUDA cores as well. Furthermore, the rig has a 32GB dual-channel DDR5 kit comprising two 16GB modules. For storage, the desktop comes with a 2TB NVMe SSD. However, you can expand it further via the bundled M.2 and SATA ports.

Needless to say, the concoction should run most, if not all, demanding games at superb graphics settings. We should also add that the desktop comes with integrated Wi-Fi and an RGB case. More to the point, buyers opting for the unit will be entitled to free lifetime tech support. The PC comes with a one-year warranty for parts, and the company has bundled a free keyboard and mouse to sweeten the deal further. 

4. Skytech Chronos Gaming PC

  • Processor: Core i7-12700F | Windows: Yes, boots Windows 11
  • PSU: 750W | GPU: RTX 4070
  • On-board RAM: 16GB DDR4 | On-board Storage: 1TB SSD
Skytech Chronos Gaming PC Desktop

It’s no secret that gaming desktops can run hot, especially when taxed with demanding titles. Thankfully, Skytech’s Chronos Gaming PC features a built-in AIO to keep the core temps from skyrocketing. More notably, the desktop comes with Intel’s Core i7-12700F CPU, which on paper, is a notch below iBUYPOWER Y40’s 13700KF chipset. 

With that said, while the newer 13th Gen processor might edge out the 12700F processor in CPU-bound workloads, the CPUs should be neck and neck for gaming. More importantly, the Skytech Chronos features a beefier RTX 4070 GPU that can run all games in your Steam library without breaking a sweat. Per the brand, the desktop is VR-ready too, and the specs seemingly paint a similar picture. 

You should also note that the desktop features a 750W Gold-certified PSU. And, while the company doesn’t specify the make or the brand of the PSU or the motherboard, buyers will assuredly get a mobo with USB 3.2 Gen1 ports and at least one DisplayPort, among other things. The desktop boots Windows 11 Home out of the box, and it features 16GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3,200MHz. 

1 – Is $1,500 a good budget for a gaming PC?

Yes, you can build a high-performance gaming PC for well around the $1,500 mark. As an example, you can look at the iBUYPOWER gaming PC prefaced above, which features Nvidia’s RTX 4060 Ti GPU and oodles of RAM.

2 – Is it cheaper to build a gaming PC?

A pre-built rig often costs slightly more than building a PC yourself. That said, if you don’t want to meddle with cables, or don’t have the expertise to build a rig yourself, then it’s advisable to opt for a pre-built rig.

3 – Is PC gaming an expensive hobby?

The answer to the query is not as black and white as we’d like it to be. While you can splurge on a gaming rig, you can also source affordable parts, or opt for a VFM prebuilt desktop to get your dose of gaming.

Game On!

The aforementioned gaming desktops will run your favorite games without any performance niggles. If you’re on a tight budget, then you should pick up the X24 Katana. That said, buyers looking to future-proof their gaming sessions will find the iBUYPOWER Y40 and Skytech Chronos right up their alley. Do let us know which gaming desktop you opted for in the comments below.

Last updated on 18 July, 2023

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