Best Desktops under CA$1,000 for gaming

Best Pick

ASUS ExpertCenter PN54 Mini Barebone

51.9 Gaming Score
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 32GB RAM 0 AMD Radeon 860 Desktop
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.55kg chassis houses an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and supports up to 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, making it a powerful yet space-efficient unit. The inclusion of WiFi 7 and a discrete AMD Radeon 860 GPU provides excellent connectivity and solid graphical output for a business desktop. This system is best for business users and developers who need a reliable, high-performance mini PC for office applications and coding environments.

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ASUS NUC NUC 14 Pro Tall Barebone Kit Mini PC 2025

16 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 5 135H 32GB RAM 2TB Intel Arc Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact, 0.77kg toolless chassis houses a 14-core Intel Core Ultra 5 135H processor and supports high-speed DDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 storage. The system excels as a space-efficient business hub with Thunderbolt 4 and dual HDMI 2.1 outputs for connecting up to four displays. This barebone kit is ideal for office IT managers building standardized, compact workstations or digital signage players.

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ASUS NUC 15 Pro Slim Mini

12 Gaming Score
Intel Core 3 100U 16GB RAM 512GB Intel Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.69kg chassis and 120W PSU make it a highly portable and power-efficient mini desktop. The inclusion of WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt connectivity provides excellent future-proofing for office networks and high-speed peripherals. This system is best for business users who need an ultra-compact, modern, and easily deployable workstation for general office productivity and conferencing.

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ASUS Mini PC NUC 13 Pro Slim Barebone Kit

11.9 Gaming Score
Intel Core i7 13620H 64GB RAM 0 Intel Iris Xe Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics deliver solid performance within a 0.51kg chassis that supports dual storage drives. The system's extensive connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 and 2.5G Ethernet, is notable for such a compact form factor. This barebone kit is best for IT departments or home office users building reliable, space-efficient workstations for general productivity and digital signage.

ASUS Mini PC NUC 13 Pro Slim Barebone Kit desktop
Price CA$815

ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ NUC 15 Pro+ Barebone Kit

11.3 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 5 225H 0 0 Intel Arc Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.59kg chassis houses a 14-core Intel Ultra 5 processor and integrated Intel Arc graphics with 16GB of dedicated VRAM, making it a uniquely powerful mini PC. The system offers excellent future-proofing with PCIe 5.0 storage, DDR5 memory slots, and modern connectivity like WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt. This barebone kit is best for professionals seeking a highly portable, modular workstation for business applications and light creative tasks, not gaming.

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ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ NUC 15 Pro+ Barebone Kit desktop
Price CA$812

Best Desktops under CA$2,000 for gaming

Best Pick

ASUS RTARU00145

61.6 Gaming Score
Intel Core i7 14700F 0 2TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 All-in-One
Why we recommend this

Its 20-core Intel i7-14700F processor and discrete RTX 5060 graphics provide strong performance for gaming and content creation. The all-in-one form factor and 2TB SSD offer a clean, high-capacity desktop setup. This system is best for gamers and creators who want a powerful, space-saving workstation without building a traditional tower.

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ASUS ExpertCenter PN54 Mini

51.1 Gaming Score
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 16GB RAM 1TB AMD Radeon 860 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 8-core CPU and integrated Radeon 860M graphics provide solid performance for office tasks in a remarkably compact 0.55kg chassis. The inclusion of WiFi 7 and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ensures fast connectivity and storage for modern workflows. This mini PC is best for home office users and small businesses needing a powerful, space-saving desktop for productivity and video conferencing.

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ASUS TUF Gaming T500 Gaming PC Solar Eclipse

41.7 Gaming Score
Intel Core i5 13420H 0 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050

ASUS Mini PC NUC 14 Pro+ Desktop Mini PC Ultra 7 14th Gen 155H

15.9 Gaming Score
64 bit 16-Core Processor 32GB RAM 1TB Intel Integrated video Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 5 x 4-inch aluminum chassis houses a 14th Gen Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, making it uniquely capable of handling local generative AI tasks for its size. The system's comprehensive connectivity, including Thunderbolt and dual HDMI 2.1 ports, supports a highly flexible multi-display office setup. This mini PC is best for professionals needing a powerful, space-efficient workstation for data analysis, AI prototyping, and productivity applications.

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ASUS Mini PC NUC 14 Pro+ Desktop Mini PC Ultra 7 14th Gen 155H desktop
Price CA$1,380

Best Desktops under CA$3,500 for gaming

Best Pick

ASUS Republic of Gamers G700TF-DS774 Desktop Gaming

78 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 7 265F 16GB RAM 1TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Desktop
Why we recommend this

Its 20-core Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 with 12GB of GDDR7 VRAM provide a powerful foundation for demanding games and creative tasks. The desktop's high-speed 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and 16GB of DDR5 memory ensure rapid load times and smooth multitasking. This system is best for gamers seeking high frame rates at 1440p and creators working with 3D rendering or video editing software.

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ASUS Republic of Gamers NUC Republic of Gamers NUC NUC15JNK Mini

70 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 32GB RAM 1TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 24-core Intel Ultra 9 275HX CPU and discrete NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics deliver exceptional performance for gaming and demanding tasks within a compact 3.12kg chassis. The system is further bolstered by its 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM and comprehensive connectivity, including Thunderbolt and WiFi 7. This mini desktop is best for competitive gamers and software developers who need maximum power in a minimal footprint.

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ASUS ROG G700 Gaming PC Only at Best Buy

51.2 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 7 265F 0 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070

ASUS Mini PC NUC 15 Performance Barebone Kit

45.7 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX 0 0 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 3.12kg chassis houses a potent Intel Ultra 7 255HX CPU and a discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, delivering surprising power for its mini form factor. The system is highly configurable with dual DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, and its extensive connectivity includes Thunderbolt and WiFi 7. This barebone kit is best for space-conscious users who want to build a powerful, compact workstation for gaming or content creation.

Best Desktops under CA$6,000 for gaming

Best Pick

ASUS MEPC PRIME 5080 V2 Gaming PC POWERED BY

82.3 Gaming Score
AMD Ryzen™ 7 9800X3D Processor 8 Cores + 16 Threads Max Turbo Clock: 5.2GHz Base Clock: 4.7GHz 32GB RAM 2TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 All-in-One
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics deliver top-tier performance for demanding games and creative tasks. The all-in-one form factor with a 1000W PSU provides a powerful, integrated desktop experience without the bulk of a separate tower. This system is best for high-fidelity gamers and 3D artists who need maximum rendering power but prefer a cleaner, single-unit desktop setup.

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ASUS ROG NUC Gaming 2025

80.4 Gaming Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 32GB RAM 2TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 24-core Intel 275HX CPU and discrete NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU deliver desktop-class gaming performance in a compact 3L chassis. The system's QuietFlow cooling and tool-free upgrade design make it both quiet and user-serviceable. This mini PC is best for gamers who need maximum power in a small footprint for high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K gaming.

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Premium Desktops for gaming

Best Pick

ASUS Ascent GX10

20 Gaming Score
NVIDIA GB10 128GB RAM 4TB NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Desktop
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Superchip, delivering petaflop-scale AI performance in a compact 1.48kg chassis. It pairs this with 128GB of unified LPDDR5x RAM and a 4TB NVMe SSD for massive data throughput. This system is built specifically for AI researchers and developers working on full-stack model training and deployment.

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Price CA$6,449
ASUS Ascent GX10 desktop