A gaming PC can be an amazing machine to have in your house. They're more powerful and versatile than a console, and have a wide variety of games to play thanks to storefronts like Steam and Green Man Gaming. But let's be real: assembling the most powerful gaming PC in history can be an unwieldy chore, and not everyone's cut out to build their own rig. So if you want the best gaming PC but don't want to put it together yourself, you want to look into pre-built, and there's too many of those out there to count. Well, we're here to help.
What's the best gaming PC for you in 2018? PCs built for gaming come in many shapes and sizes nowadays, and while you can still go for a behemoth - complete with a see-through panel and flashing lights - there are plenty of console-sized machines that aren’t going to bankrupt you and still give you the extra oomph you expect from a gaming PC. Below you'll find our comprehensive list of the best gaming desktop PCs you can buy this year (with have a separate article in case you're looking for a gaming laptop), with pros and cons spelled out in simple English. Let's dive in.
And if you need it, here are the best gaming keyboards you can buy too, along with the best gaming mouse options.
Our first pick is perfect for those who haven't yet invested in a 4K monitor, those who are just getting started with PC gaming, or longtime players who want a gaming PC for under $1000 / £1000. While HP does have a dedicated gaming PC line, you can find a good deal by thinking outside the neon-lit box and going for something a bit more modest-looking. The HP Pavilion Power 580-023w (sorry it doesn't have a cool name like 'Panther Dragon') manages to squeeze a whole heck of a lot of power into a budget-friendly price, and for that it deserves your serious consideration.
It comes equipped with an Intel i5-7400 CPU, 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card with 3GB of dedicated video memory, and a 1TB hard drive. None of these are top of the line components, of course. But for less than $800, it's a remarkable value - and keep in mind that you can always give it a boost down the line with more RAM, an SSD, or a more powerful GPU. In the meantime, this will run most modern games at 1080p, 60fps on high or ultra settings, and that's nothing to sneeze at. And hey, it comes with mouse and keyboard, so there's another bit of savings. Get it on Amazon.
Best for... Those who don't need 4K yet and/or are on a budget
Modern PCs have been rejecting the traditional form factor for the last few years but MSI’s Trident 3 offering has one of the smallest footprints out there and is ideal if you’re still clinging onto your console for dear life. The Trident will happily sit under your TV while firing exceptional graphics via HDMI with none of those pesky limits of PS4 or Xbox gaming. It’s worth saying though that the pay-off for the small size is the cost, which is considerably higher than a traditional PC build with the same components but given that all you’ll need is your TV and a free HDMI port, it’s a great step into PC gaming.
Invest in the model with the Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card and you’ll also be VR ready which is a serious selling point if you’ve had an eye on the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive. These have gradually been dropping in price, making them a far less expensive addition to your full PC build. One final selling point on the Trident 3 is just how ridiculously quiet it is. MSI has invested in some seriously peaceful tech that means you don’t have to turn up your TV when things whirr into action. Peace at last.
Best for… Those looking for a console replacement
Don’t go! Alienware used to just be known for flashy lights and not much else but things have definitely changed for the PC manufacturer. Now happily owned by Dell, Alienware’s range is an impressive array of excellent PCs for all kinds of gaming needs. The Alienware Aurora is a perfect example. Available in four excellent flavours, the cheapest offering contains an i3 processor with an AMD Radeon RX560 graphics card, before going all the way up to VR ready behemoths with i7 processors and GTX 1080 graphics cards.
Everything is accessible inside the sleek case if you want to upgrade and there’s impressive customisation for the RGB lighting system. You didn’t think you’d get away from neons that easily, did you? If you aren’t fussed about 4K gaming or VR, the lower specced machines deliver excellent performance. You’ll also never be in need of a USB port ever again as the case delivers every port you could possibly want on your gaming PC. Throw in an included keyboard and mouse that will start you off on your journey and as reliable gaming PCs go, the Aurora is one of the best to beat.
Best for… Finding a reliable spec and shiny case to suit your budget
- Gaming monitor - No good having a great PC without a monitor to match
- Gaming chairs - Your butt deserves the best
- Gaming headsets - Total immersions from eyes to ears
Truth be told, this uber-powerful gaming PC lies just one step away from being the world's most powerful console. The Corsair One series is incredibly small and lightweight (at least considering how much power it's packing), has an attractive form factor. Also like a console, you'll void your warranty if you pop it open; yup, if you want to upgrade the Corsair One, you need to go through Corsair. So more than likely, what you see is what you'll get (and always get).
But dang, have you seen what you get? A 1080 Ti GeForce graphics card from Nvidia will display even today's most eye-searingly gorgeous games at their optimum, while an i7-8700k Intel processor will ensure you're always running smoothly (and quite future-proofed, too). You'll never have to worry about a bottleneck with 32GB of glorious DDR4 RAM, and a beefy SSD will give you a good amount of space to store your games, make startup near instant, and cause loading bars to disappear. If you want to save a little bit, you can bump each of these components down one notch (a 1080 GeForce graphics card, an i7-7700k Intel processor, 16GB of RAM) and still have a machine to be envious of.
Best for… Those hungry for 4K (and beyond), VR, and who will probably end up sticking with original parts
An Origin Millennium gaming PC may set you back more than many entries on this list, but it's also infinitely more customizable. Everything from the rotation of your motherboard to the paint scheme (and trust us, there are some really cool ones) can be tweaked to your desires. But don't worry, we know that it's what's inside that counts. Luckily, the Origin Millennium packs a whallop there, too.
If you really want to flex your muscle - and your wallet - you can stuff two GTX 1080s, an i7-8700K CPU, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a 250GB SSD, a 4TB HDD, and a Blu-Ray burner in there. The cost of such an absurdly powerful setup will set you back nearly $5k from Origin’s US site (sadly, there’s not a UK branch), so now might be the time to start looking into that second mortgage. That being said, such a hefty price also carries three years of warranty, plus Origin's upgrade service which will help offset future costs of changing out parts. So it's a BIG investment, make no mistake, but Origin is among the best when it comes to taking care of its customers long-term.
Best for... Those with the bank balance of an oligarch who want the ultimate PC gaming experience
Steam Machines can be a wonderful compromise between consoles and gaming PCs. They were sized for the living room and easy to set up and use like a console, but offer the power and versatility of a desktop PC. Alienware's newest generation of Steam Machines, the Alienware Alpha R2, has all that and more.
This little gaming PC that could isn't going to crush the competition or make your friends oo and ah over its bells and whistles. But with an i5-6400T CPU, GTX 960 graphics card, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, it'll output modern games just fine (The Witcher 3, for instance, can easily run at 60fps on the Alienware Alpha R2). It's also one of the most affordable gaming PCs, with configurations starting at just $599 from Dell US (Dell UK no longer sells the Alpha).
Best for... Budget-minded gamers who want a hassle-free, console-like experience
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