Best gaming PC build under $1500 in 2024
Built & Tested By Our Team
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Best gaming PC build under $1500
The best gaming PC under $1500 gets you a PC that can handle almost anything. With a $1500 PC build, you should be able to play any game you wish, no matter the settings, and do it in 4k no less. However, where this PC will shine is in 1440p, offering high FPS in almost all games, giving you the ability to take full advantage of a high refresh rate monitor.
$1500 gaming PC of the month
This is the ultimate $1500 gaming PC, we feel that $1500 is about the right amount to spend on a high-end gaming PC capable of 4k performance, and capable it is. The RTX 4070 this PC is equipped with does all the heavy lifting, a very capable GPU that can handle even some demanding titles in 4k at 60 FPS. We went hard on the GPU in the $1500 build, meaning we had to compromise a little on the CPU, but rest assured the i5-12600KF is still very capable of supporting the RTX 4070 in 1440p and 4K resolutions. Of course, we went with the DDR5 variant of the Z790 MSI Pro to milk the most performance possible out of the 12600KF. Aiding us in that venture is the T-Force Delta 23GB 5600MHz kit itself. All of these components together make for a well-optimized, high-performance, and future-proof 1500-dollar gaming PC build.
How we test
We build each of our selected PCs from scratch to make sure all the parts we recommend can be configured properly together, fit into the selected case, and provide the best performance possible for the price. Once built, the PCs are tested in the office with everyday use as well as in a series of games that range from light to demanding. While we test, we also run benchmarks to see how well our builds perform, all while keeping an eye on the temperature of the components and the overall health of the configuration.
We know how much some of you enjoy overclocking your PCs, so we made sure to test that too. So, you can rest assured knowing these machines can be comfortably pushed beyond their standard capabilities. But, please make sure you know how to overclock before trying to maximize the performance of your brand-new PC build, as overclocking carries risks and voids warranties.
The WePC experts that worked on this build
As a Junior Staff Writer, Jack is involved in writing and maintaining a bunch of hardware guides & reviews. With an interest in PC gaming, he now focuses on writing about monitors, headsets, and more.
Shaun is a gaming enthusiast and computer science graduate who has been working with computers for the last 15 years. He took a shine to competitive FPS back in the mid-2000s and hasn’t looked back since.
Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1500
Skytech Nebula Gaming PC Desktop (R5 5600X, RTX 4070)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
GPU
RTX 4070
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Skytech Nebula Gaming PC Desktop (R5 5600X, RTX 4070)
CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
GPU
RTX 4070
RAM
16GB DDR4
Storage
1TB NVMe SSD
Not everyone can build a new gaming PC from scratch, so we have included some premium prebuilt options for your consideration. While building your own is always going to be the best choice for both your experience and wallet, since you pay a premium for assembly, we understand this can be a daunting task for some. It is worth noting; that we select our prebuilt PCs from reputable custom PC builders that you can trust.
This post recommends the best gaming PC you can build for under $1500. If you’re looking to buy a prebuilt gaming PC instead, we recommend the Skytech Nebula gaming PC. It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and the RTX 4070 GPU, that can run AAA games at high settings without breaking a sweat. However, the CPU is a little behind our option, the 12600KF.
Best gaming PC build under $1500
- Last Updated - Mar 14, 2024
This $1500 gaming PC was designed to bring out all the power you’ll need to play any game in both high settings and higher resolutions, while also providing silky-smooth streaming/rendering performance.
Our $1500 Intel custom gaming PC
With the best gaming PC build for around $1500, you’ll enjoy a high level of performance, productivity, and content production. In the $1500 range, you can expect every game to run without any issues and a system that won’t let you down for years to come. This is the best gaming PC you can buy for the price, and it comes packed with serious ability across the board.
Intel Core i5-12600KF
Boost clock speed (single core)
4.9 GHz
Total Cores / Threads
10/16
P-cores
6
E-cores
4
Socket
LGA 1700
Overclockable
Yes
Intel Core i5-12600KF
Boost clock speed (single core)
4.9 GHz
Total Cores / Threads
10/16
P-cores
6
E-cores
4
Socket
LGA 1700
Overclockable
Yes
The Intel i5-12600KF was one of Intel’s most successful 12th-gen processors largely down to its price to performance. While we would love to fit a 13600K or 14600K into this build, we have compromised to get a better GPU inside – all three of these CPU generations work with the same LGA 1700 socket regardless. The 12600KF comes to shelves with an impressive 10-core/16-thread makeup, beating its predecessor convincingly.
It has a potential of 4.9GHz boost clock and is still a great option for gamers at its current price. The rest of the build features next-gen components and you will be able to upgrade to a 13th-gen CPU with the motherboard below.
MSI PRO Z790-P Wifi DDR5
Form factor
ATX
Power stages
14+1+1 DRPS with 55A DrMOS
Connectivity
PCIe 5.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2
Wifi
Wi-Fi 6E
MSI PRO Z790-P Wifi DDR5
Form factor
ATX
Power stages
14+1+1 DRPS with 55A DrMOS
Connectivity
PCIe 5.0, M.2, 2.5Gbps LAN, USB 3.2 Gen2
Wifi
Wi-Fi 6E
To match the potential of the CPU, you are going to need a reliable motherboard. The MSI PROI Z790-P is a DDR5 option that offers a nice balance of affordability and quality. This board is packed with features for the price, supporting overclocking, fast RAM speeds, Wifi6E, PCIe 5,0, and more.
DeepCool AK620 CPU cooler
Type
Air
TDP
260w