Optimization imperfections aside, PC gaming is in better shape than ever before. HDR-equipped monitors are finally making their way to market while graphics cards like Zotac’s GTX 1070 Mini are much cheaper than before. Even as top-end powerhouses cater to their respective audience, there’s a hell of a lot more to choose from going into 2017.
The streamlined nature of digital storefronts Steam and Origin makes PC gaming more accessible than ever. Better yet, as components are all interchangeable on PC, choosing the right configuration within a budget can produce visuals far superior to anything on the latest consoles.
A great gaming rig still doesn’t come cheap though. You’ll need to reach into the depths of your wallet for a PC donning the utmost powerful GPU, a sophisticated Kaby Lake processor and ultra fast, highly capacious storage options. At the same time, you’ll want to secure only the best motherboard, too. Else, you’ll be facing the wrath of port limitations.
However, if you prefer that your games run with the graphics and frame rates cranked all the way up to max, the lofty upfront cost may very well be justified. Ultimately, it all comes down to this: you can either build a PC that tailors to your own specific needs or effortlessly purchase one of what we consider the 7 stellar gaming PCs to date.
The latest Overclockers machine is one of the best-designed gaming PCs we’ve ever seen, with bespoke water-cooling, a great color scheme and keen attention to detail. It marries its great design with top-notch performance in games and applications. Luckily it never gets too hot or too loud either. It is, however expensive and niche, with limited potential for upgrading. If you’re looking for an attractive and unique LAN-friendly gaming PC that can handle anything from 4K gaming to VR, the Asteroid is an out-of-this-world machine with a price tag that will bring you back down to earth.
[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.]
Read the full review: Overclockers Asteroid
One of the few PCs on this list to earn a perfect score, the Alienware Aurora R5 combines design elements traditional to Dell’s famed luxury gaming brand with a handful of contemporary twists. The nigh-mini ITX computer bears resemblance to, say, the Area 51, but with a case that feels strikingly more native to our home planet. Of course, it simultaneously boasts top-of-the-line specs; an overclockable K-series Intel Core i7 CPU, a GeForce GTX 1080 and a massively capable 850W power supply are just a few of the Aurora R5’s redeeming qualities. Plus, even with the small chassis, there’s plenty of room for an unparalleled SLI configuration.
Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R5
Sure, for the price of an Origin Millennium PC, you could buy a halfway decent car. But why would you need to leave the house when you can play games in 4K at a buttery smooth 60 fps? That’s the question Origin hopes you’ll ask when you talk to your spouse about dropping six grand on a new gaming rig. Between its pair of EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition twins and the new Intel Broadwell-E Core i7-6950X processor, there is nothing the Origin Millennium can’t handle – and on the best of the best displays at that. Of course, it’s expensive; it’s like ten years worth of future-proof.
Read the full review: Origin Millennium
This gaming desktop might come wrapped in a designer case, but don’t be fooled – it’s significantly more accessible and easy to upgrade than your average pre-built system short of a boutique. The arrival of the Y900, among a few other machines on this very list, herald a eureka moment in the major vendors’ approach to PC gaming: give the people exactly what they want. A tool-less internal design will help soften the blow of sub-par cable management. Meanwhile, the device has plenty of room for expansions and upgrades. If you want the lowest friction possible getting into PC gaming, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is a fine place to start.
Read the full review: Lenovo Ideacentre Y900
Interested in Ultra HD gaming without spending a fortune? Enter the StormForce Tornado, a GTX 1070-equipped rig with the outward appearance of a spaceship and five drive bays for nearly limitless internal storage potential. If you don’t mind the extensive wait times of a hard drive (as opposed to a PCIe or M.2 SSD), the StormForce Tornado is a no-brainer. Starting at a mere £899 (about $1,180/AUS$1,540), the StormForce Tornado makes 1440p gaming (and even 4K, to an extent) affordable, and who doesn’t want that?
[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.]
Read the full review: StormForce Tornado
While the Titan Virtual Force is neither tastefully designed nor particularly subtle, it’s glitzy and self-indulgent, illuminating a green ooze reminiscent of the Manhattan sewers (cowabunga!). At the same time, of course, Overclockers was less concerned about making a fashion statement and more obsessed with crafting one of the most capable pre-built computers money can buy. Complete with a 4K-capable GTX 980 Ti, an overclockable Intel 6600K and 8GB of RAM at the entry level, the Titan Virtual Force serves as an excellent shortcut to buttery smooth VR, or UltraHD, gaming on the high end.
[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.]
Read the full review: Overclockers Titan Virtual Force
Though you might mistake it for a Rubik’s Cube at first glance, the HP Omen X’s quirky design is all part of its charm. Don’t confuse eccentric casing with limited upgradeability, however, as the HP Omen X is more than just a pretty face. Complete with three chambers for components, including one with four hard drive bays, this desktop leaves plenty of room for expansion later down the line. Upgrades can be performed nearly without tools altogether, requiring not much more than a basic Allen wrench to lift up the panel. Perhaps the most practical aspect of the Omen X, though, is its ability to change the color of its lighting based on which components are sweating the most.
Read the full review: HP Omen X Desktop
- Now that you have a new gaming PC, it’s time to buy the best gaming mouse
Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article