Best gaming PC in 2026: which configuration should you choose based on your budget?

Best gaming PC in 2026: what setup should you choose based on your budget?

Choosing the best gaming PC in 2026 can seem complicated. Between RTX 50 graphics cards, Radeon RX 9000, Ryzen X3D processors and new technologies like DLSS 4 or DDR5, the market is changing very quickly.

The reality is simple: the best gaming PC isn’t the most expensive, but the one that’s best suited to your use, your resolution and your budget.

If you want to discover ready-to-play gaming PCs straight away, you can check out our selection here:

What makes a good gaming PC in 2026?

A good gaming PC is based on a balance between:

  • the processor (CPU)
  • the graphics card (GPU)
  • RAM
  • SSD storage
  • the power supply
  • cooling

The graphics card remains the most important component for gaming.

If you want to understand how to choose a balanced setup, you can read our full guide:

How to choose your gaming PC setup in 2026


The best gaming PC for your budget

Best gaming PC around €1000

For many gamers, €1000 is the ideal budget for a first gaming PC.

Balanced configuration:

  • CPU: Ryzen 5 5600 / Ryzen 5 7500F / Core i5-12400F
  • GPU: RTX 5060 or RX 9060 XT
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • SSD: 1 TB NVMe

With this kind of setup, you can play Fortnite, Warzone, Valorant, Apex Legends with over 120 FPS at 1080p.


If you’re looking for a ready-to-play gaming PC within this budget, take a look at our selection 


Inside a gaming PC with Corsair RGB watercooling, an MSI motherboard and blue-lit RAM



Best gaming PC around €1500

Today, the €1500 budget offers the best performance-to-price ratio.

It’s also the ideal budget for playing in 1440p.

Recommended configuration:

  • CPU: Ryzen 5 7500F / Core i5-14600KF
  • GPU: RTX 5070 / RX 9070
  • RAM: 16 GB DDR5
  • SSD: 1–2 TB NVMe


This type of setup matches a lot of FlowUP gaming PCs optimised for 1440p.

Inside a gaming PC with AIO watercooling, purple RGB RAM, an ASUS TUF Gaming motherboard and a GeForce RTX graphics card


Best gaming PC around €2000

If you want a powerful gaming PC that can last for years, a budget around €2000 is ideal.

Recommended configuration:

  • CPU: Ryzen 7 7800X3D / Ryzen 7 9800X3D
  • GPU: RTX 5070 Ti / RX 9070 XT
  • RAM: 32 GB DDR5
  • SSD: 2 TB NVMe


If you want to see the high-end configurations available, check out our catalogue:


Inside a gaming PC with red Arctic RGB watercooling, an MSI motherboard and a Radeon graphics card



🔥 Our most popular gaming PCs

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The most important components in a gaming PC

The processor

The best gaming CPUs right now:

  • Ryzen 7 7800X3D
  • Ryzen 7 9800X3D
  • Intel Core i5-14600KF

To understand why these processors dominate gaming, you can read: Ryzen 7 7800X3D: king of gaming?


The graphics card

The graphics card determines most of the performance.

The most popular GPUs:

  • RTX 5060
  • RTX 5070
  • RTX 5070 Ti
  • RX 9070
  • RX 9070 XT

To understand which graphics card to choose, you can also read: Which GPU to buy in 2026 despite rising prices 


Build it yourself or buy a PC to build?

Build your own PC

Advantages:

  • total customisation
  • precise choice of components

Disadvantages:

  • compatibility to check
  • sometimes complex assembly

👉We talk about it in more detail here: Build your PC or buy a pre-built PC


Buy a built gaming PC

Advantages:

  • ready to play
  • BIOS configured
  • Tested components

Today, it’s the solution chosen by many players.


Inside a gaming PC with NZXT liquid cooling, purple RGB RAM and blue-lit fans


The mistakes to avoid when buying a gaming PC

  • Graphics card too powerful for the CPU
  • Power supply too low
  • Poor cooling
  • Insufficient storage

If your PC has stability issues, this guide can help you too: Clear CMOS: what is it and how do you do it?


Conclusion: which is the best gaming PC in 2026?

The best gaming PC mainly depends on your budget and your use.

1080p → a PC around €1,000

1440p → a PC around €1,500

4K → a PC around €2,000 or more

Most important is still the balance of the configuration.

At FlowUP, our gaming PCs are designed to provide this balance: consistent, tested and optimised builds.


FAQ: Best gaming PC

What is the best gaming PC in 2026?

The best gaming PC depends on your budget, but a build around €1,500 with a Ryzen 5 7500F and a RTX 5070 represents an excellent balance today.

How much does a good gaming PC cost?

A good gaming PC typically costs between €1,000 and €2,000, depending on the performance and the game resolution you want.

Which gaming PC should you choose for 1440p?

A PC with RTX 5070 or RX 9070 and a mid-range CPU is perfect for playing at 1440p.

16 GB or 32 GB of RAM for a gaming PC?

16 GB is enough for gaming, but 32 GB is more comfortable for newer games and for multitasking.

Which graphics card should you choose for a gaming PC?

The most popular graphics cards in 2026 are:

  • RTX 5060
  • RTX 5070
  • RTX 5070 Ti
  • RX 9070
  • RX 9070 XT

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