Sure, Amazon’s annual summer sale offers a ton of deals. But the biggest discount on a good gaming PC is actually at HP, where this fierce, glorious-looking Omen 45L gaming desktop stacks two discounts to come in at just over $1,600.
As PCMag’s Lead Analyst for hardware, I’ve been at our lab benches since 2015—and I’ve reviewed hundreds of PCs here over the last decade. I see a lot of general-use, ultraportable, and gaming laptops in particular, plus plenty of high-power desktops from major manufacturers and boutique vendors.
Shopping for desktops online can be particularly tricky, and during widespread sales like Prime Day, it can be overwhelming. Identifying the best deal out there—especially where big sales are concerned—revolves around finding the best combination of design, processors, graphics cards, and (of course) price.
Desktops are available across a wide price range, with myriad specs and components to consider that not everyone is equipped to dissect. Plus, towers come in many sizes, future upgradability is a consideration, and users still need to pair the PC with compatible accessories like a suitable monitor.
Like laptops, no one desktop will be right for everyone, but the best sale prices still stand out. While Amazon is offering more discounts than you can count during Prime Day, this time around, I found the best desktop deal elsewhere.
