The Most Customizable Prebuilt PCs for Gaming

Jul 31, 2023

Here are some of the most customizable and upgradeable prebuilt PCs for gamers!

Gaming PCs are all the rage as of late, despite modern gaming consoles continuing to narrow the gap between them and a modern computer. This is because, in terms of components since the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One, gaming consoles use very similar hardware and offer increasingly similar functionality to gaming PCs and laptops.

An example would be the current generation of consoles adding SSDs to the mix to power the next generation of game experiences. A strength that game consoles do not possess however is the versatility and modularity that most gaming PCs have thanks to them being upgradeable over time. This allows for gaming PCs to be much better investments over time.

Prebuilt gaming PCs are ideal for many users without the time or expertise to build a computer from scratch, but they often have component choices that can hinder upgrades or be dead-end products that can not be swapped out for a newer or faster hardware option. This could be something as simple as an entry-level motherboard limiting memory upgrades to a PSU that can not handle a GPU upgrade down the line.

While this is primarily done to reduce overall costs, it can impede upgrades that might be easier to do if some flexibility was permitted by the system builder. Here are some of the best customizable gaming PCs that can easily be upgraded or modified to suit enthusiasts' and gamers' needs down the road if they need to get their desired level of performance through more powerful parts.

The CyberpowerPC Gamer Extreme VR Gaming PC obviously supports VR out of the box as the name suggests, but it is the most balanced and well-build PC on our list with every component making sense in terms of choice and price point making it our pick for the best-prebuilt gaming PC in 2023.

The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC with an Intel Core i9 13900KF and an Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti is one of the most customizable prebuilt gaming PCs on offer currently. Much of this is due to its choice of the Hyte Y60 case as its enclosure. The Y60 is a versatile and good-looking case option with plenty of mounting areas for fans and storage while being able to support E-ATX motherboards down the line if needed.

With support for custom LCD screens if users want them in the PC and a pre-attached liquid cooler, the Xtreme VR Gaming PC has users looking for more aesthetic upgrades covered. For users looking more for easy upgrades in the future, the PC should support the next-generation Intel Core CPUs, even as BIOS updates continue to roll out in anticipation of a new, 14th-generation CPU family. With as many as 3 RAM slots free for upgrades, M2 slots on the motherboard and concealed storage bays for SATA hard drives or SSDs, it happens to be one of the most versatile options available currently.

While some reviews indicate that a 1000W PSU is used in the gaming PC, parts can vary based on availability so hypothetically the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC may or may not support an RTX 4090 down the line depending on what PSU it houses making it a somewhat luck-based endeavor. It also happens to be a somewhat expensive start to a custom gaming PC or one that can be upgraded down the line, but the excellent Hyte Y60 case takes a bite out of most user concerns about upgradeability.

The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro is a gaming computer designed for high-performance gaming. It houses an Intel Core i7-12700F processor, which can clock up to 4.9 GHz. There's also an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12GB graphics card, which makes this machine ready for virtual reality gaming.Cooler Master components are used throughout the system. These include a high-air-flow HAF 500 Case, a Hyper 212 Halo Tower CPU Cooler, and a G600 600W 80+ Gold Efficiency Power Supply Unit.

The Cooler Master HAF 5 Pro Gaming Desktop is a well-priced and customizable entry when it comes to prebuilt gaming PCs. It houses a capable locked Intel Core i7 12700F and a middle of the road RTX 3060, both of which can be swapped out for more powerful counterparts with ease. The case happens to have excellent airflow and supports a top-mounted liquid cooler for users intending to go that route, while offering 2 large 200MM ARGB fans in the front.

It does have some cost additions for upgrades however, thanks to it using an air cooler for the locked 12700F CPU which means that any meaningful CPU upgrade would also need a cooler upgrade. While the 600W PSU is excellent for the PC in question, it has very limited leeway when it comes to upgrades, making it a mandatory overhaul consideration whenever gamers plan to make any significant CPU or GPU upgrades.

The Skytech Nebula gaming computer is powered by an Intel Core i5-12400F processor with a base clock of 2.5GHz. The processor can also turbo boost to offer clock speeds of up to 4.4GHz. The unit comes with a 1 terabyte NVME SSD, which offers super-fast start-up speeds. It's equipped with an RTX 3050 graphics card that supports ray-tracing graphics and 16GB DDR4 memory.This desktop offers a host of connectivity options, including USB 2.0, 3.0, and 3.2 Gen1. It supports Wi-Fi out of the box and provides HDMI and Display Port outputs for multi display setup.

The Skytech Nebula Desktop PC is an excellent budget gaming PC offering that does offer decent value for money to gamers on a budget looking for a decent RGB-lit gaming PC with possible upgrades down the line. It does sport a fairly recent 12th gen Intel Core i5 12400F chip, 16GB of DDR4 memory and an RTX 3050, making it an ideal esports partner for most gamers.

It does however suffer from a lack of clarity for users looking to upgrade down the line, thanks to Skytech not publishing any information regarding the PSU, motherboard, or air cooler choices it uses for the Nebula Desktop. This may make both user experience and upgrade potential differ from build to build, and while the Nebula seems like an excellent starting point, it might be a bit of a gamble for users who plan to swap parts out over time or add new ones to the mix such as an additional SSD, more RAM or even a better CPU.

The Thermaltake Shadow 370 v2 AIO gaming PC features a closed-loop liquid-cooled system with a 360 mm radiator. The performance is delivered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X six-core processor and Nvidia GeForce 3070 graphics card with improved ray-tracing performance. The system also has 16 gigabytes of RGB-lit DDR4 memory with a 3600 MHz speed and one terabyte of fast NVMe M.2 SSD storage. The system supports Wi-Fi and comes with a Windows 10 Home license.

The Thermaltake Shadow 370 v2 AIO Gaming PC uses ThermalTake's components wherever possible to offer one of the best-looking gaming PCs in its price range. The stylish design extends to its PSU, AIO cooler, RAM and case, all of which use mid-range or high-end parts, a rarity for prebuilt gaming PCs. The Shadow 370 v2 employs a capable Ryzen 5 5600X, along with an Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU to power its gaming experiences, bundling them with a 1TB SSD and 16GB of fast DDR4 memory.

It does however have its drawbacks, demanding a significantly higher price for its looks compared to PCs offering much more in the performance department. For gamers considering upgrades down the line, it does have a somewhat straightforward upgrade path to the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D down the line. With a GPU upgrade possible with a potential PSU upgrade, it does have an upgrade path.

It must be noted that the socket AM4-based PC might need both a memory and motherboard replacement in the future. If users wish to move to AMD's Ryzen 7000 series, which requires a newer AM5 socket-based motherboard and DDR5 memory to work, it could make later upgrades an expensive endeavor.

The 13th generation MSI Infinite RS is a powerhouse gaming PC with the flexibility to serve gamers for many years. The MEG Prospect 700RL case is modular with more room for expansion than the typical prebuilt PC case. This Infinite RS 13 prebuilt system includes MSI's own RTX 4090 Gaming Trio 24GB graphics card, for an added boost in performance and cooling. To enhance its graphical performance further, the system is powered by the Intel Core i9-13900KF CPU accompanied by 32 GB of DDR5 memory and 4 TB of combined storage.

The maxed out MSI Infinite RS (13th-gen Intel, RTX 40 series) gaming PC has few, if any, major upgrades one can currently make. That does not mean that it does not account for them, however. Packing a newer Z790 motherboard that already has BIOS updates on the way for the upcoming 14th generation Intel CPU lineup, this is as future-proof as players can be when it comes to a gaming PC. The MSI gaming PC packs serious hardware under the hood that allows it to handle most games at 4K resolutions with ease, while touting significant leeway with the storage and memory on offer.

While it is an excellent, well-built gaming PC from MSI, with multiple reviews appreciating its cable management and hardware choices, it does happen to have limited customizability choices. Primarily due to the fact that most of its hardware is currently top of the line, making any hardware upgrades seems to be out of question, at least until some time in the future. The Infinite RS has significant upgrade potential down the road though and, thanks to it supporting as many as ten 120mm fans as part of its configuration, can have its looks customized by enthusiasts and PC builders alike with ease.

All in all, the MSI Infinite RS is an expensive proposition, but one that can push back upgrade needs, even for the most ardent of enthusiasts. Boasting the highest-end PC hardware on offer to date at the time of writing, the Infinite RS makes the most of its current customization potential being purely cosmetic in nature.

The Intel NUC 13 Extreme is a pairing of Intel's latest 13th-generation processors with its low-profile design that fits in both a living room and an office with ease without making any significant compromises on power due to its form factor that blends no-nonsense design with some of the best PC hardware money can buy in 2023.

The Intel NUC 13 Extreme Prebuilt PC isn't a gaming PC per se, but it allows for a degree of customizability that allows gamers and enthusiasts alike to use it as one. It comes in a compact NUC case and houses a powerful Intel Core i9 13900K CPU with customizable memory and storage options.

It is important to note that while the NUC supports up to a tri-slot GPU in its casing, it does not ship with one. This allows users to put off an upgrade further down the line or add a GPU based on their use cases. The model selected by the team at Game Rant is on the higher end of the spectrum, but cheaper models do exist on the same listing, offering lower memory and storage configurations.

While one can use any GPU theoretically, the internal power supply might cause options to cap out at RTX 4080 levels, due to its 750W power rating. The NUC, while intriguing, is a somewhat expensive purchase to make, and unless gamers need a small and silent, yet powerful alternative to other prebuilt solutions. A slight niche purchase, allowing for a degree of customizability higher than most gaming PCs, the Intel NUC is ideal for players who value compact pre-built PCs.

Most prebuilt gaming PCs do allow for RAM and SSD upgrades. They may also allow for upgrades to the cooling, CPU and GPU as well as PSU offerings as prebuilt gaming PCs grow increasingly modular and similar to custom-built solutions at home in terms of standardized parts.

AMD's fastest CPU for gaming is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D which currently also doubles as the fastest overall CPU for gamers. The fastest gaming Intel CPU currently available as an upgrade is the Core i9 13900K/KF processor.

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Rahim is a Senior Tech/Commerce Writer at Valnet and builds PCs & networking solutions on demand. Whether It's your GPU, CPU, Display, or just an SSD upgrade, expect him to have a well-researched opinion on offer. When he's not helping with tech hardware or writing about it, you can find him playing the latest single-player titles or toying around with Unreal Engine with friends.Interests: PC Hardware, Final Fantasy, Pokemon, Game Development, The Witcher (not necessarily in that order)