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 RTX 5090-powered Alienware Area-51 if money is no object..
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. With new gaming PCs from the likes of Alienware, HP, Acer, and others, we're sure to add a plethora of great machines to suit your gaming needs.
Read on, and we'll help you find your next gaming PC.
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 Acer Predator Orion 5000 delivers great value for the money thanks to its 14th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU, which make Acer's mid-tier gaming PC good for gaming at 1080p up to 4K. Just beware of its loud fans!
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.
The HP Omen 35L is a beautiful and powerful mid-tower gaming PC that’s highly upgradeable and carries an affordable starting price. Though it comes with a lot of bloatware and its CPU/GPU combination is strange, this rig’s superb gaming performance, gorgeous design and small footprint are hard to argue against.
The Alienware Area-51 is a beast of a gaming PC thanks to its high-end Intel Core Ultra CPU, Nvidia RTX 50-series and generous amount of RAM. Though it’s expensive and takes up a lot of space, the Area-51 offers a truly phenomenal gaming experience.
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The Asus ROG NUC 970 packs a punch with an Intel Core Ultra CPU, a dedicated Nvidia 4060 or 4070 laptop GPU and plenty of rear ports. It’s also expandable with two free M.2 SSD slots and you can upgrade its RAM. However, its high price tag makes it hard to justify over a gaming desktop or similarly specced gaming laptop unless you’re short on space and really want a mini PC you can game on.
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 Acer Predator 5000 (2024) is a great choice because, with a few clicks, you can get a machine that plays most games well at 1080p and up to 4K for a reasonable price.
The exact amount you'll pay will vary based on how you configure it, of course, and there are good power options available for this mid-size tower PC. Our review unit arrived sporting an Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super GPU and 32GB of RAM, which is enough muscle to play PC games like Baldur's Gate 3 and Total War: Warhammer 3 well at 1080p or higher. You might not 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.
Our Acer Predator Orion 5000 review unit makes an audible whirring noise when the machine is under heavy load. That's probably good for heat and performance since this PC isn't water-cooled and relies on system fans studded throughout the case. However, during marathon sessions of demanding games like Alan Wake 2 and Star Wars Outlaws, we definitely noticed the hum of the fans while gaming.
Noisy fans aside, the well-organized, easy-to-open case, good performance and decent price make this a great gaming PC for those seeking a great value for performance.
Read our full MSI Codex R2 14 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 upgradeable gaming PC
The HP Omen 35L isn't just stylish, it's also very upgradeable thanks to its industry-standard parts that make it easy to swap out all of its parts for those of your choosing. On top of that, this mid-tower is stylish and packs components power enough to comfortably run games at mid-to-high settings at 1440p and 60 fps (or higher).
Despite its modest size, there's a whole lot of power underneath the elegant case. Our review unit packs an AMD Ryzen 7 8700G APU, an Nvidia RTX 4080 Super GPU 32GB of RAM. Thanks to that, it can play the most graphically demanding games without breaking a sweat. And that's not just a turn of phrase since this rig remains cool to the touch and runs super quiet.
The Omen 35L might not have a wild design like other gaming PCs, but its simple boxy shape helps it better complement most gaming setups. The clear glass panel on the left side delivers a nice view of the internal components and the wonderful RGB lighting this rig produces.
While it has an odd CPU/GPU pairing and a lot of bloatware, the HP Omen 35L is a winner thanks to its low starting price, abundant configuration options, gorgeous design and easy-to-swap-out industry-standard parts.
Read our full HP Omen 35L review.
The best premium gaming PC
The Alienware Area-51 is one of the largest gaming PCs I've ever reviewed and certainly the biggest on this list. Its considerable size isn't just for sure; it serves as a housing for equally formidable internal components, all encased within a futuristic chassis. This gaming PC delivers uncompromising performance... for those who can afford it.
Our review unit packs high-end components like the powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, fast Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and 64GB of RAM. This combination lets the system easily achieve frame rates well above 60 frames per second across a wide range of graphically demanding game titles. In addition, the innovative positive-pressure cooling system ensures that the machine maintains a low noise profile regardless of the intensity of the gaming load or other demanding tasks.
However, this level of performance comes with a steep cost. With a starting price nearing $4,000, this gaming PC isn't cheap. Beyond the cost, the Alienware Area-51's enormous size and considerable weight can make it difficult to comfortably keep in your workspace. Due to its size and weight, I advise keeping it on the floor to be safe.
Despite its considerable price tag and substantial physical footprint, the Alienware Area-51 delivers an exceptional gaming experience. Its powerful components and efficient cooling work in concert to provide smooth, high-fidelity gaming across a demanding selection of titles. Thanks to its top-tier performance and innovative design, the Alienware Area-51 has earned a place in this guide.
Read our full Alienware Area-51 review.
The best mini gaming PC
The Asus ROG NUC 970 is a powerful, gaming-focused mini PC in a unique chassis that allows it to be used in either a vertical or horizontal orientation. There’s a nice selection of rear ports with support for up to four 4K monitors, and you can easily add more storage thanks to the two free M.2 slots or upgrade its RAM.
After acquiring the rights to Intel’s Next Unit of Compute (NUC) line of mini PCs last year, Asus is now making its own NUC devices. The ROG NUC 970 is its first NUC mini PC for gaming and it comes equipped with an Intel Core Ultra processor and an Nvidia laptop GPU due to size limitations. Even with a tiny 2.5-liter chassis, it packs a punch performance-wise while remaining both cool and quiet.
The ROG NUC 970 does come at a premium price compared to other mini PCs. However, this is because it sports a unique design, has Asus’ Republic of Gamers (ROG) branding and of course, its discrete GPU.
Just like with other mini PCs, the ROG NUC 970 won’t be for everyone. However, if you’re looking for a gaming-focused mini PC that can be used vertically or horizontally and are short on space, it just might be for you.
Read our full Asus ROG NUC 970 review.
Also tested
We test and review many gaming PCs every year, and just because they don't all make this list doesn't mean they aren't good machines.
Below we've gathered all the great gaming PCs we've tested which don't quite make this list, but are still good alternatives well worth considering if they meet your unique needs, or if you can't find your first choice on sale.
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 | Grand Theft Auto V | Borderlands 3 |
|---|---|---|
Alienware Aurora R15 | 186 | 257 |
Dell XPS 8960 | 185 | 185 |
Acer Predator Orion 500 | 169 | 174 |
Corsair One i500 | 186 | 240 |
HP Omen 35L | 159 | 189 |
Alienware Area-51 | 185 | 250 |
Asus ROG NUC 970 | 97 | 104 |
| 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 |
Acer Predator Orion 5000 | 16,534 | 1585 | 2:34 |
Corsair One i500 | 21,560 | 2,095 | 2:04 |
HP Omen 35L | 13,559 | 1,956 | 4:03 |
Alienware Area-51 | 21,786 | 1,898 | 1:53 |
Asus ROG NUC 970 | 13,514 | 1.686 | 3:40 |
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.
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.
