The Best Gaming Desktop PC Deals for September 2023

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Credit: Charles Jefferies

We’re never going to take sides in the never-ending PC-versus-console war. Games are games, no matter what platform you decide to play them on. That said, if you’re ignoring the massive world of computer gaming, you’re missing out. Indie scene innovation couples with cutting-edge PC performance to deliver experiences that you can’t find anywhere else. That said, getting into PC gaming can be a little bit daunting from both a price and a knowledge standpoint. Let us give you a hand with these solid PC gaming desktop deals.

The Hottest Gaming Desktop PC Deals Right Now

AMD Ryzen Mini PC for $379.99 (list price $499.99) – must apply coupon
Zotac MEK Hero Gaming Desktop for $683.99 (list price $869.99)
HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop for $599.99 (list price $899.99)
ASUS ROG Gaming Desktop for $1,299.99 (list price $1,649.99)
Skytech Nebula Gaming Desktop for $899.99 (list price $999.99)
Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop for $849.97 (list price $1,199.99)
Alienware Aurora R13 Gaming Desktop for $1,530.49 (list price $1,799.97)
HP Omen 45L Gaming Desktop for $2,205.37 (list price $2,499.99)
Lenovo Legion Tower Gaming Desktop for $2,239.99 (list price $2,499.99)

The Best Starter Gaming Desktop Deals

Just getting into the world of PC gaming, or operating on a limited budget? Don’t stress. You can pick up a more than capable desktop for slightly more than a new gaming console. These aren’t going to wow your LAN party buddies with 120fps 4K output, but they will run the vast majority of the last generation’s games without a hiccup.

AMD Ryzen Mini PC Credit: Credit: Amazon

AMD Ryzen Mini PC

If you’re not looking for blockbuster output but want to play PC games without much fuss, a mini PC might be the way to go. These desktops have a console-like form factor and are simple to set up. This one has a solid graphics card and can be run in one of three different modes: silent, auto, or performance for variable noise and processing power. This configuration comes with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro.

AMD Ryzen Mini PC for $379.99 (list price $499.99) – must apply coupon

Zotac MEK Hero Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Amazon

Zotac MEK Hero Gaming Desktop

This is the lowest price we’ve seen in 30 days on this robust little performer. Zotac might not necessarily be a name at the front of your mind when it comes to PCs, but they’re dependable and affordable. The big draw with this one is the GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5 GPU, which is a potent graphics card that delivers 4K performance. This certainly can’t keep pace with higher-end machines, but for most games, it’ll work just fine. This configuration comes with 8GB of RAM, a 500GB SSD, and Windows 11 Pro.

Zotac MEK Hero Gaming Desktop for $683.99 (list price $869.99)

HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Best Buy

HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop

Coming to your desk in a striking white case, this machine delivers remarkably good performance for the price point. If solid 1080p gaming is your target, the Omen 25L does the job. While it lacks some of the perks of higher-end machines, like a panoply of ports, it pushes out solid graphics courtesy of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER GPU. LEDs in the front diamond and a clear glass panel on the case add visual appeal. This configuration comes with 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

HP Omen 25L Gaming Desktop for $599.99 (list price $899.99)

The Best Midrange Gaming Desktop Deals

If you’re willing to drop a little more money, you can walk away with a lot more performance. Midrange machines are typically pegged to the software that’s on the market right now, so if you’re not looking to live on the edge this is probably the bracket for you. These typically land around the $1000 range, which might seem steep but they’re easily expandable and will last you a while.

ASUS ROG Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Best Buy

ASUS ROG Gaming Desktop

Intel’s Core i7-13700K processor is at the heart of this solid gaming PC that delivers ambitious performance in a stylish casing. Couple that with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and you’ve got a solid battlestation, especially at $350 off of retail. It runs most titles great at 1080p but might feel the pressure if you pump resolution up to 4K, especially on more system-intensive games. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

ASUS ROG Gaming Desktop for $1,299.99 (list price $1,649.99)

Skytech Nebula Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Amazon

Skytech Nebula Gaming Desktop

If breaking four figures is your hard limit for PC gaming prices, this one will land right under it, especially when you can take another $100 off. This Skytech Nebula rig is built around an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz CPU that definitely can keep up with whatever you throw at it, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. A four-fan array with RGB lighting keeps the insides feeling cool and looking cooler. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 500GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

Skytech Nebula Gaming Desktop for $899.99 (list price $999.99)

Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Amazon

Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop

The case for this bad boy looks like an evil robot from an 80s sci-fi movie, and it’s just as scary on the inside. PCMag reviewed the Acer Nitro 50 and called it “a reliable HD gaming machine with few real drawbacks.” Inside you’ll find a 12th Gen lntel Core i5 processor and GeForce RTX 3050 GPU, industry standard for solid performance. The desktop footprint is impressively small, measuring just 13.4 by 6.4 by 13.8 inches. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

Acer Nitro 50 Gaming Desktop for $849.97 (list price $1,199.99)

The Best High-End Gaming Desktop Deals

Ready to get serious? If you’ve got the money to spend, you can pick up a gaming desktop that pumps out incredible graphics at lightning-fast frame rates, even with the latest titles. These packages might not be for everybody, but once you’ve experienced true HD gaming from a top-of-the-line machine, you won’t want anything else. Save massive amounts on these high-end gaming desktops.

Alienware Aurora R13 Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Amazon

Alienware Aurora R13 Gaming Desktop

Running off of Intel’s 12th generation Alder Lake CPU, this is a spendy but serious gaming rig that has a unique case design and some juicy specs. PCMag reviewed it, giving it an Excellent rating and saying that it was “a nice option for many plug-and-play-minded shoppers who want a little flair, and a lot of power.” A clear side window lets you keep an eye on your components, and the ‎Nvidia Ge Force Rtx 3060 Ti GPU pumps out gorgeous visuals. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD, and Windows 11 Home.

Alienware Aurora R13 Gaming Desktop for $1,530.49 (list price $1,799.97)

HP Omen 45L Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Amazon

HP Omen 45L Gaming Desktop

PCMag gave this “big, cool beast” an Editors’ Choice award in its review, saying that the Omen 45L offers “top-notch quality, easy serviceability, room for six storage drives, and outstanding performance.” This is a spendy solution for your PC gaming needs, but there’s not much this baby can’t do courtesy of its 13th Generation Intel Core processor and revolutionary Cryo Chamber cooling system. This configuration comes with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

HP Omen 45L Gaming Desktop for $2,205.37 (list price $2,499.99)

Lenovo Legion Tower Gaming Desktop Credit: Credit: Lenovo

Lenovo Legion Tower Gaming Desktop

This is an incredibly solid tower at this price point, with a massive amount of RAM, a solid processor, and more. With a 13th Generation Intel Core i7-13700KF processor at the heart of the system that can clock up to 5.3 GHz, this is a potent machine that’s great for gaming and creativity. Graphics are exceptional courtesy of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. This deal also comes with three free months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This configuration comes with 32GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 11 Home.

Lenovo Legion Tower Gaming Desktop for $2,239.99 (list price $2,499.99)

Gaming Desktop Buying Guide

If you’re ready to pull the trigger on a gaming desktop PC, here are three tips for getting the best deals:

Gaming is one of the most processor-intensive things you can do with a PC, so a fast multi-core CPU is key. All of the desktops we’ve selected for this list prioritize fast speed and multi-core threading for peak performance.
A gaming desktop also rises and falls on the strength of its GPU. To enjoy most modern titles the way the developers intended, you need a graphics card with a good amount of RAM.
All of that power comes with heat. One advantage gaming desktops have is that they are typically designed from the ground up with advanced cooling features to keep the PC running at top performance without overheating.

Frequently Asked Gaming Desktop Questions

What’s Better, a Prebuilt or Custom PC?

This is a great question. Both options have their advantages. Assembling a custom PC gives you total control over every aspect of your machine and lets you spend money on the features that matter to you. However, they can end up being more expensive than a prebuilt machine due to the economy of scale. Also, if you plan to assemble your PC yourself, you are taking some risk into your hands. A prebuilt gaming desktop is easier to understand in terms of the specifications of what it can run, and it typically comes with warranties for repair and parts replacement that cover the whole machine.

What Are Good Specs for a Gaming Desktop?

This is a question where the answer changes every year, as game developers are constantly pushing the envelopes of what they can get out of PCs to make their titles immersive and rich. As of 2023, we’d recommend your gaming desktop have at least 8GB of onboard RAM, although 16GB is better for modern titles. For processors, AMD Ryzen or Intel Core i5/i7 models are solid. For a GPU, you need a card with at least 2GB of VRAM, but more is always better.

What Are the Best Gaming Desktop Brands?

For prebuilt gaming desktops, there are a few companies that are reliable and widely available. Dell’s Alienware division produces solid if sometimes pricey PCs that have a fan following. Asus’s Republic of Gamers line hits the midrange and high-end markets with good machines. Acer’s Predator line is also good, and HP’s Omen models have their adherents.