The best gaming PCs are powerful enough to run the most demanding video games well and do so in the largest, sleekest design possible. While these machines are somewhat the epitome of what a PC can be, they often come with high prices. While the high costs you pay for a top-of-the-line gaming PC are nothing to sneeze at, the benefits you get are often worth the cost of entry.
In addition to being able to enjoy games with ultra-fast frame rates and ultra-high resolution, these high-priced computers are often suitable for demanding work in fields such as game development, graphic design, and animation. If you’re interested in what generative AI can do, the beefy GPUs in the best gaming PCs are also well suited for tasks like generating art through tools like Stable Diffusion.
We test all new gaming PCs (both in our test lab and in our homes) to see if they pass the test, and we regularly update this page as systems become available. Read on and we’ll help you find your next great gaming machine.
The quick list
Here’s a quick overview of the best gaming PCs you can buy right now based on our tests and reviews.
The best gaming PCs you can buy right now
Best overall gaming PC
The Alienware Aurora R15 may not be the latest model available, but it still offers solid gaming performance in an attractive chassis.
This model has been redesigned to run cooler and quieter than its predecessors, as confirmed by our internal testing. Although the chassis is large, its oblong shape can sometimes make working inside difficult. Additionally, some of the internal design choices make it more difficult than necessary to upgrade components. That said, this also ensures that everything is well organized.
Currently starting at $1,149, this beast of a gaming machine is relatively affordable, especially for newcomers to the world of PC gaming. Of course, upgrades will increase the price, so keep that in mind. You can also opt for the Aurora R16 listed below, although it doesn’t look as stylish as the Aurora R15.
Be sure to check out our Dell coupons page to find the latest discounts.
Read our full Alienware Aurora R15 Review.
Unspeakable best gaming PC
If you want a powerful gaming PC that doesn’t feel like it came from another planet, then the Dell XPS 8960 is the perfect computer for you. Like its predecessors, this desktop PC looks more at home in an office than an RGB-filled gaming room. Don’t let its appearance fool you, as this humble-looking PC packs serious gaming power.
There are many configuration options if you are not satisfied with the initial model. You can upgrade to 13th Gen Intel Raptor Lake chips and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs, for example. That will increase the price (naturally), but the starting configuration with its RTX 4070 graphics card, Intel Core i7-13700 processor, 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB SSD allows you to create even the most visually demanding games with ease. graphic.
Read our full Dell XPS 8960 Review.
The best gaming PC for beginners
If you’re absolutely new to PC gaming, the Acer Predator Orion 3000 is a great mid-size gaming PC that’s powerful, attractive, and now available for under $1,000.
However, there are some drawbacks. Although powerful, this machine is better at playing games at 1080p than at 4K resolution. We also weren’t thrilled with the included keyboard and mouse, which pale in comparison to the best gaming keyboards and mice. This PC also didn’t test as well as similarly priced machines we’ve tested, although that could be because it only has 16GB of RAM. Fortunately, the well-organized case is easy to open if you want to add more RAM or any other components.
Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 Review.
The Corsair Vengeance i7200 features attractive RGB lighting that is not distracting. The side glass panels do a great job of showing off the internal RGB lighting of this deck and its components.
Speaking of components, it includes CPUs up to an Intel Core i9 and GPUs up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090. You can also upgrade to more current parts, although it will cost more depending on what you buy. And given its specifications, this equipment is also ideal for daily work and even for video/audio editing.
Read our fullCorsair Vengeance i7200 review.
Best mid-range gaming PC
Alienware Aurora R16 is an updated version of the Aurora R15 mentioned above. As you can see, it looks very different from its predecessor. Don’t be fooled by this understated new design, as the latest R16 is a mid-range gaming powerhouse.
Its initial configuration lets you play games at medium to high settings right out of the box, but you can also upgrade with more RAM, storage, and the latest Intel processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs. Thanks to its advanced cooling technology and its redesigned chassis, this rig will run cool and quiet no matter what game you’re playing.
Read our full Alienware Aurora R16 review.
Best mid-tower gaming PC
The iBuyPower Y60 doesn’t take up much space on a desk, but its eye-catching design will certainly turn heads. Yes, it looks like a fishbowl, but that’s part of the charm of this platform.
The Hyte Y60 mid-tower case, our review unit, used very powerful packaged components. The latest version of this gaming PC includes the most up-to-date parts from Intel and Nvidia. Although this machine looks attractive, it is not easy to move. However, once you have found a place for it, it will be easy to work with. Unfortunately, our review unit generated a lot of tension during intense gaming sessions.
Read our full iBuyPower Y60 Review.
Best gaming PCs compared
Here’s a quick look at our test data for the gaming PCs on this list. The following tables show how well they run the games and their overall performance. The latter is important as a good gaming PC is also great for other tasks like video editing and rendering.
How to choose the best gaming PC
Price: If you’re concerned about affordability, most decent gaming PCs cost between $700 and $1,000. For that price, you’re looking at basic specs like an Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia 2000 series GPU, and 8GB to 16GB of RAM.
Performance: Think about the type of gaming experience you are looking for. Game streaming services like Google Stadia can offer decent performance, but if you want solid 1080p/60fps gaming, a machine with a decent Core i5 processor and a GeForce 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 GPU will get you there. . Cards like the Radeon RX 5700 and GeForce 2080 hit a nice sweet spot for reliable 1440p gaming. Going to 4K? You’ll want to opt for hardware like an RTX 3080 or AMD RX 6800.
Updatable: Gaming PC components are constantly evolving and the best gaming PCs can be easily upgraded with new parts over time. Machines like the Alienware Aurora and Dell G5 are easy to open and modify, even for the least tech-savvy. Compact machines, like the Corsair One, can be a little more difficult to open. So if you plan to improve your investment over time, keep this in mind.
Preparation for virtual reality: Do you want to play in virtual reality? Requirements for headsets like the Oculus Rift S and HTC Vive start with an Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti/AMD Radeon RX 470 GPU, an Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a DisplayPort 1.2 or mini DisplayPort. Make sure your machine meets this requirement before spending cash to purchase it.
How we test the best gaming PCs
In our search for the best gaming PC, we run each model we review through a standardized set of real-world and benchmark tests, to measure how each desktop stacks up as a gaming machine and as an everyday computer.
As far as hard numbers go, we currently run the frame rate benchmarks for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry: New Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Grand Theft Auto V at 1920 x 1080 with maximum graphics, as well as at 2560. x 1440 and 4K if a system allows it. On top of that, we played tons of graphics-intensive games to give you an idea of how these gaming desktops perform anecdotally.
In terms of synthetic tests, we ran a range of benchmarks including 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (for graphics) and Geekbench 4 and 5 (for processor performance). We also run the SteamVR performance test on all of our machines to assess how ready they are for VR. To test a system’s hard drive, we measure how fast each PC can copy 4.97 GB of media files.
