I chose the HP Omen 16L as the best gaming PC under $1,000. It features an affordable, robust, Intel-based build, a 14th-generation AMD Ryzen 5 8400F, 8GB of RAM, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, and a 512GB SSD. Right now, when you buy directly from HP, you can save 60% with code LEVELUP20, bringing the price to just $550
Also: The best gaming PCs you can buy
- Current price: $550
- Regular price: $1,250
With an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F processor and Nvidia RTX 3050, you’ll have plenty of power for tackling popular indie and triple-A game titles, with plenty of room to expand memory and storage.
This configuration is an almost ideal build for kids and younger teens looking to get their first gaming PC, or adults needing a decent PC that can double as both a workstation and a gaming rig. The 512GB SSD is more than enough storage space, and the RTX 3050 graphics card has plenty of power to handle the most popular titles like Fortnite and Minecraft, and even a few more graphically intense games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake or Claire’s Obscure: Expedition 33.
Also: The best cheap gaming PCs you can buy
And for parents worried about the build becoming obsolete in a few years as new components come out, the HP Omen 16L supports up to 32GB of RAM and has three slots for M.2 style solid state drives. This means you can swap out individual components or add storage drives if they fail or your needs change. With a few premium features, like support for 5.1CH surround sound, you can fully enjoy your favorite games, movies, and shows with more immersive sound.
Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.
How I rated this deal
While already an affordable option with specific configurations, this 60% markdown on a more robust build gives you an incredible value on a gaming PC that bridges the gap between entry-level and midrange. That’s why I gave it a 5/5 Editor’s deal rating.
Deals are subject to sell out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Considering this offer is for a refurbished product, inventory is even more important than timing, so keep an eye out for the stock of the model that interests you the most.
Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret — we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.
We aim to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter. ZDNET offers 33 years of experience, 30 hands-on product reviewers, and 10,000 square feet of lab space to ensure we bring you the best of tech.
In 2025, we refined our approach to deals, developing a measurable system for sharing savings with readers like you. Our editor’s deal rating badges are affixed to most of our deal content, making it easy to interpret our expertise to help you make the best purchase decision.
At the core of this approach is a percentage-off-based system to classify savings offered on top-tech products, combined with a sliding-scale system based on our team members’ expertise and several factors like frequency, brand or product recognition, and more. The result? Hand-crafted deals chosen specifically for ZDNET readers like you, fully backed by our experts.
