The best gaming PCs are the ones you can afford that have enough power to run the games you want to play. We test and review dozens every year and though they can quickly get very expensive if you shop for the best of the best, there are great gaming PCs in a variety of sizes and prices.
Currently, our top recommendation for most people is the Alienware Aurora R16, which offers exceptional performance in a relatively small and attractive tower. We also recommend the more subtle Dell XPS 8960 for those looking for a gaming PC under $1,000 and the more powerful Corsair Vengeance i7500 if money is no concern.
We test all the new gaming PCs (in both our testing lab and our homes) to see if they pass muster, 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 testing and reviews.
The Alienware Aurora R16 is our pick for best overall gaming PC. Not only does it pack powerful components, but it's also easy to open if you want to upgrade any of its parts. This PC is also relatively affordable, which makes it an easy recommendation if you want 4K gaming performance.
The Dell XPS 8960 looks like a normal office PC but it packs enough power to run graphically-intensive games at 1080p. The minimalist style isn't just for show, as it makes this rig easy to open and upgrade. Its relatively small size also makes it easy to place wherever you need it.
The MSI Codex R2 is a great budget gaming PC that's a good value because for under $1,500 it packs enough power to play most games well at 1080p into an elegant, easy-to-access case. The RGB-lit fans keep it cool while giving it some color, and it's Wi-Fi 7 ready to boot.
The Corsair Vengeance i7500 commands a hefty price ($2,500 to start) but its killer performance and sleek appearance justify its cost. This year's model packs the latest and greatest hardware to help it play the most demanding games at high frame rates and resolution. It epitomizes what high-end PC gaming is all about.
The Megamini G1 is a mini marvel packing decent power, peak sustained performance (thanks to liquid cooling), and all the I/O you’ll ever need for work and play in a tiny chassis. For the laptop components in here, that $1,700 price will sting. But if you have the money for a console replacement that does so much more, you will not be disappointed.
The Corsair One i500 is smaller than the average gaming PC but its comparatively diminutive size belies a gaming monster thanks to its impressive internals. The outside also looks impressive thanks to its classy wood paneling and fabric panels. Though expensive, you’ll enjoy a superlative gaming experience.
Tony is a Senior Staff Writer at Tom’s Guide covering everything computing. Though growing up as a console gamer, Tony has been passionate about gaming rigs for over ten years because they deliver the best possible graphics and performance. And since gaming rigs are so powerful, Tony also likes them as productivity machines. If it has an RTX graphics card, Tony is going to take notice.
The best gaming PCs you can buy right now
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The best gaming PC overall
The Alienware Aurora R16 delivers solid gaming performance in an unassuming chassis.
This model has been designed to run cooler and quieter than its predecessors, which our in-house testing bears out. It's also smaller than before, which makes it easier to set up on your work desk. Unfortunately, some of the internal design choices make it harder than necessary to upgrade components. That said, this ensures everything is well-organized.
Starting at $1,599, this beastly gaming machine is relatively affordable — especially for newcomers to the world of PC gaming. Of course, upgrades will bump up the price, so keep that in mind.
Make sure you check our Dell coupons page to find the latest discounts.
Read our full Alienware Aurora R16 review.
The best budget gaming PC
If you want a powerful gaming PC that won't destroy your bank account, then the Dell XPS 8960 is the perfect computer for you. Like its predecessors, this desktop PC seems more at home in an office than in an RGB-drenched gaming room. Don't let its appearance fool you, as this humble-looking PC packs some serious gaming power.
There are many configuration options if you're not happy with the starting model. You can upgrade to Intel Raptor Lake 13th Gen chips and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs, for example. That will raise the price (naturally), but the starting config with its RTX 4070 graphics card, Intel Core i7-13700 processor, 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD allow you to make even the most graphically demanding games with ease.
Read our full Dell XPS 8960 review.
The best value gaming PC
If you're looking for a gaming PC that delivers good performance at a great value, the MSI Codex R2 is a great choice because with a few clicks you can get a machine that plays most games well at 1080p for around $1,200.
The exact amount you'll pay will vary based on how you configure it, of course, and there's good power options available for this mid-size tower PC. Our review unit arrived sporting a 14th Gen Core i5 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU and 16GB of RAM, which is enough muscle to play PC games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Total War: Warhammer 3 well at 1080p. You won't be able to get amazing framerates with all the in-game settings cranked up to max, but if you play with them a bit and rely on Nvidia's DLSS tech you can easily get great-looking games running at 60 FPS on this machine.
There are some drawbacks, which you should expect at this price. The performance isn't amazing, the SSD is especially slow compared to the competition, and the packed-in keyboard and mouse pale in comparison to the best gaming keyboards and best gaming mice.
Even so, the well-organized, easy-to-open case, good performance and compelling price make this our most recommended gaming PC for those seeking a great value, or an affordable way to get started with PC gaming.
Read our full MSI Codex R2 14 review.
The best high-end gaming pc
The Corsair Vengeance i7500 is one of the most expensive gaming rigs you can buy, with even the entry-level model coming at $2,499. The steep price isn't unjustified considering the excellent performance this machine is capable of. Make no mistake, this is a high-end machine for hardcore gaming enthusiasts.
This machine might be overkill for those who just want 60 fps/4K gaming but is ideal for 120fps gaming. Considering its high-end specs, this machine will handle even the most graphically demanding titles for the next few years. Despite its beefy internals, this gaming PC remains relatively quiet. It's also fetching, with tasty RGB lighting within its non-descript case.
The Corsair Vengeance i7500 isn't cheap but it's worth the money considering everything it has to offer. This machine doesn't cut corners or lack quality-of-life features. It's the gaming rig for dedicated PC gamers.
Read our full Corsair Vengeance i7500 review.
The best console replacement
At $1,899, the MegaMini G1 is on the pricier side of mini gaming PCs. But for what this thing has, and its ability to replace your gaming console while looking stylish doing so, it’s a purchase you won’t be disappointed with.
That’s because the internal horsepower of the Intel Core i9-13900H and RTX 4060 are turned up to 11 for strong sustained performance, thanks to that Liquid Cooling block. On top of that, opting for Nvidia gives you DLSS tech — enabling shockingly fast frame rates even at 4K with all the detail settings turned up significantly high.
So while we wouldn’t call it the absolute best mini gaming PC (that title belongs to the better value AtomMan G7 PT), this is a solid premium option that benefits from all of Nvidia’s future developments in AI frame generation and upscaling.
Read our full Geekom Megamini G1 review.
The best compact gaming PC
The Corsair One i500 might be smaller than a traditional desktop but it's no mini PC—not in size and certainly not in power. With its wood front panel and fabric sides, this doesn't look like the average gaming rig, but we can assure you it's got what it counts on the inside. This small PC delivers big gaming performance.
Thanks to its Intel Core i9-14900K CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super GPU and 32GB of RAM, this miniature monster can run your favorite games at max graphical settings without breaking a sweat. And that's impressive considering how the Corsair One i500 remains cool to the touch and runs quietly even if you're playing something graphically demanding like Cyberpunk 2077.
As great as this machine is, it's not perfect. Right now, there are only two available configurations. Though the price has dropped since our review went live, you'll still have to pay a hefty amount for this rig. Also, while you can swap out its components, doing so isn't easy due to the i500's compact size. And if you want to change the GPU, you'll have to ship this desktop to Corsair so the company can do it.
The Corsair One i500 is expensive and hard to configure, but it’s one of the best gaming PCs I’ve tested. If you're looking for a powerful gaming rig that won't take up a lot of space on your desk (and looks good to boot!), then I can't recommend this one enough.
Read our full Corsair One i500 review.
The best gaming PCs compared
Here is a quick look at our testing data for the gaming PCs on this list. The tables below show you how well they run games and their overall performance. The latter is important since a good gaming PC is also great at other tasks like video editing and rendering.
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Assassin's Creed Valhalla | Grand Theft Auto V | Borderlands 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware Aurora R15 | 200 | 186 | 257 |
| Dell XPS 8960 | 188 | 185 | 185 |
| MSI Codex R2 | DNR | 60.7 | 112.4 |
| Corsair Vengeance i7500 | 230 | 187 | 286 |
| Corsair One i500 | 200 | 186 | 240 |
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Geekbench 6 (multi-core) | 25 GB File Copy (MBps) | Handbrake (Min:Seconds) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware Aurora R15 | 22,494 | 1,340 | 2:17 |
| Dell XPS 8960 | 19,134 | 2,047 | 2:58 |
| MSI Codex R2 | 12,715 | 747.9 | 4:43 |
| Corsair Vengeance i7500 | 25,562 | 1,774 | 2:10 |
| Corsair One i500 | 21,560 | 2,095 | 2:04 |
How to choose the best gaming PC
Price: It can be tricky shopping for a good "cheap" gaming PC since the best systems also tend to cost the most. Nowadays, decent PCs can start at over $1,000 and that's usually during a sale. If you want to keep costs as low as possible, look for rigs with at least a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU and 16GB of RAM.
Performance: You'll also need to think about the kind of gaming experience you want. The aforementioned specs should allow you to play most games at medium setting and 60fps so long as you keep the resolution to 1080p. However, if you want to play at 4K and higher resolutions, you'll need a beefier rig with hardware like a 13th (or 14th) Gen Intel Core i7 or i9 CPU, an RTX 3080 Ti (or 3090) or an RTX 40-series GPU starting with the RTX 4070. You'll also want 32GB of RAM to really get things cranking.
Upgradability: Gaming PC components are always evolving, and the best gaming PCs can be easily upgraded with new parts over time. Machines such as the Alienware Aurora are easy to open up and tinker with, even for the less tech-savvy. Compact machines, such as the Corsair One, can be a bit harder to open up. So if you plan on upgrading your investment over time, keep this in mind.
How we test the best gaming PCs
In our search to find the best gaming PC, we run every model we review through a standardized gauntlet of real-world and benchmark tests, in order to measure how each desktop stacks up as both a gaming machine and as an everyday computer.
As far as hard numbers go, we currently run the framerate benchmark utilities for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 6, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V at 1920 x 1080 with graphics maxed out, as well as at 2560 x 1440 and 4K if a system allows for it. On top of that, we play tons of graphics-intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 to give you a sense of how these gaming desktops hold up anecdotally.
In terms of synthetic tests, we run a gamut of benchmarks that include PCMark 10 (for graphics) and Geekbench 6 (for CPU performance). To test a system's hard drive, we measure how fast each PC can copy 4.97GB worth of multimedia files.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
