With a steady stream of brilliant
PC games, the PC continues to be the greatest gaming platform. Whether you want to play best-in-class JRPGs like
Final Fantasy XV or intense shooters like
Far Cry 5, having the best gaming PC for your budget means you're getting the ultimate gaming experience.
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the
best processors and
best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now that cryptocurrency mining has died down a bit, the prices of the best gaming PCs will inevitably fall as well.
From manufacturers you know like Alienware and Lenovo to those you may never have even expected like Corsair and Zotac, we’ve made a list of the best gaming PCs we could find – after putting them through an ultimate test to decide which ones provide the most bang for your buck. So, let’s dive in to the 10 best gaming PCs you can buy today, so you can get to pushing your pixels.
1. Alienware Aurora R7
Ease of use meets a pretty chassis
CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – 1080; AMD Radeon RX 580 – Vega 64 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Storage: 1TB HDD – 1TB NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD
Plays games smooth as butter
Attractive, not over the top design
Chassis lid a bit finicky
Noticeable fan sound
As is custom with pre-built gaming PCs, the Alienware Aurora R7 isn’t just a computer. It’s a whole menu of computers that you can choose from and personalize based on the specs of your liking combined with a set budget. It’s important, then, for it to be easily upgradeable and attractive to look at considering its awfully high price tag. Fortunately, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of those things and will impress those unconvinced that they should build their own rig.
2. MSI Infinite A
This VR-ready machine is built to last
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1080 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 2TB HDD; 128GB SSD – 2TB HDD; 512GB SSD
Very powerful gaming system
Whisper quiet fans
Variety of ports can be confusing
High specs mean high price tag
It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way.
- This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid
3. Intel Hades Canyon NUC
CPU: Intel Core i7-8809G | Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics (4GB HBM2 VRAM), Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: N/A | Storage: N/A
Lots of ports
Easy to upgrade
Expensive
If you’re looking for one of the best gaming PCs, but want something that doesn’t look like, well, a gaming PC – you’re in luck. While the Intel Hades Canyon NUC isn’t as powerful as some of the other gaming PCs on this list, it’s also much smaller – looking more like a set-top box than any PC. And, even with its small form-factor it still packs just as much power as the best gaming laptops with its beefy 8th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and discrete-class Radeon graphics. Just keep in mind you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS.
4. MSI Trident 3
A slimline console-sized mini PC for your living room
CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 – i7-7700 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti – 1060 | RAM: 8GB – 32GB DDR4 (2,400MHz) | Storage: 2TB HDD; 120GB SSD – 2TB HDD; 1TB SSD
Compact size
Silent and cool running
External 330W power brick
Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs.
5. Lenovo Ideacentre Y900
PC gaming on the high-end, no tools required
CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K – i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 – 1080 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB DDR4 (2,133MHz) | Storage: 1TB HDD – 2TB HDD, 256GB SSD
Available GTX 1080 GPU
Looks awesome
Included mouse and keyboard stink
Limited store upgrade options
If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design.
- This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.
6. Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
It doesn’t look the part, but plays it well
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 – Core i7-8700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) | Storage: 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD – 256GB SSD; 2TB HDD
Compact, minimalistic design
Affordably priced
Non-K, locked processor
The Dell XPS Tower Special Edition is a lesson in subtlety. This on-the-DL gaming rig looks like something you’d find in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, rocking an Intel 8th generation Coffee Lake CPU and a Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti even at the lowest configuration option, you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs you can buy in 2018, but without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’.
- This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.
7. Origin Millennium
The ultimate power is freedom to choose
CPU: Intel Core i3 – i9; AMD Ryzen 3 – Threadripper | Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 Ti – 1080 Ti; AMD Radeon Vega 64 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB DDR4 (3,000MHz) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD; 1TB – 8TB HDD
Sharp and solid new design
Stealthy PC case elements
More expensive than a DIY PC
When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to.
- This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.
8. Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition
Top-notch power comes at a cost
CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1080 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Storage: 2TB HDD – 1TB SSD; 2TB HDD
So much space for activities
Record-breaking benchmark results
Absolutely massive
Absurdly expensive
In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to.
- This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One
9. MSI Aegis 3
Finally, a true contender to building it yourself
CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 – i7-7700 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1080 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Storage: 2TB HDD; 256GB SSD – 2TB HDD; 512GB SSD
Tons of ports
So very, very quiet
Surprisingly heavy
Difficult to open chassis
Looking like something out of a sci-fi film, the MSI Aegis 3 is an example of a gaming PC that’s way cooler pre-built than what you could possibly assemble on your own. Not only does the case look amazing, but it also features customizable, interactive lighting and top-of-the-line cooling. What’s more, it’s similar in size to the Alienware Aurora, but with a 7th-generation
Kaby Lakeprocessor rather than a Skylake.
10. Corsair One Elite
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 1080 Ti | RAM: 16GB – 32GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) | Storage: 480GB M.2 NVMe SSD; 2TB HDD
Unbelievable gaming performance
Compact, near-silent design
More expensive than competition
Corsair has made a name for themselves in pretty much every PC component category there is, so it was perhaps only a matter of time until they made their mark on the gaming PC market. Last year, they unveiled their Corsair One, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blew their competition out of the water. And they just made it better with the Corsair One Elite. Packed with an i7 Coffee Lake CPU and a GTX 1080 Ti, there isn’t a game, or even a creative application that stands a chance against this tiny behemoth. If it’s in your budget, this certainly is one of the best gaming PCs.
