For a solid gaming desktop around the $1200 price point that's well-suited for a student, I'd recommend considering these options:

1. CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC

• Intel Core i5-11400F 2.6GHz 6-Core Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB Graphics Card
• 8GB DDR4 RAM, 500GB NVMe SSD
• Comes with keyboard and mouse
• Price: ~$1100

This CyberPowerPC model offers excellent performance for the price. The i5-11400F and RTX 2060 are a great combo for 1080p gaming. 8GB of RAM is sufficient but can be upgraded later if needed.

2. Skytech Archangel Gaming Computer PC Desktop

• Ryzen 5 3600 3.6GHz 6-Core Processor
• NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super 6GB Graphics Card
• 16GB DDR4 RAM, 500GB SSD
• Bundled with gaming mouse and keyboard
• Price: ~$1000

The Ryzen 5 3600 is a fantastic CPU for gaming and pairs nicely with the capable GTX 1660 Super. 16GB RAM is a good starting point. This Skytech build gives you more headroom in the budget for peripherals or future upgrades.

3. Build Your Own

• Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12400F CPU
• NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT GPU
• 16GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD
• 650W 80+ Gold Power Supply
• ATX Mid Tower Case
• Price: $1100-1300 depending on exact components

Building your own PC lets you allocate your budget precisely and offers a fun learning experience. With current part prices, $1200 can get you a very capable 1080p gaming machine with a latest-gen CPU and GPU.

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1GHz, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB, 16GB DDR5, 1TB NVMe SSD, Wi-Fi Ready & Windows 11 Home (GXiVR8040A14)

• System: Intel Core i7-13700F 2.1GHz 8+8 Cores | Intel B760 Chipset | 16GB DDR5 | 1TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD | Genuine Windows 11 Home 64-bit
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB Video Card | 1x HDMI | 2x DisplayPort
• Connectivity: 6 x USB 3.1 | 2 x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 802.11AC Wi-Fi | Audio: 7.1 Channel | Keyboard and mouse
• Special feature: Tempered glass side case panel | Custom RGB case lighting | 7 colors gaming mouse
• 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support

Alienware desktop is the best choice.

Skytech Gaming Nebula Gaming PC Desktop – Intel Core i5 13400F 2.5 GHz, NVIDIA RTX 4060, 1TB NVME SSD, 16GB DDR4 RAM 3200, 600W Gold PSU, 11AC Wi-Fi, Windows 11 Home 64-bit,Black (Around $1000)

One option to consider around that price point is building your own PC. You can stretch your dollars further that way. Here's a sample build with current prices:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-14400F ($180)
• GPU: Radeon RX 7700 XT ($420)
• Motherboard: MSI Pro B760M-A WIFI ($140)
• RAM: 16 GB DDR5 ($60)
• SSD: 2TB NVMe SSD ($100)
• Case: Corsair 4000D Airflow ($95)
• Power Supply: 650W 80+ Gold ($80)
• Total: ~$1075

This would be a beast of a 1080p gaming machine and give you some budget room for a monitor and peripherals. Building a PC is easier than you might think - there are lots of step-by-step guides online. Just take your time and you'll end up with an awesome custom machine!