Gaming PCs are great because of the flexibility they offer. You can choose the parts you want to fit your needs and the type of games you play. While plenty of people like to put together their own PCs like the best PC builds, others prefer the simplicity of buying a rig that's ready to play out of the box.
Intel's latest chips are its Core Ultra 200S series, which are more efficient but aren't great gaming performers compared to previous generations. For Intel loyalists, 13th and 14th Gen chips are still good choices. AMD's Ryzen 9000 processors are a bit more powerful, but the true gaming champion is the cache-hey Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
With the recent launch of Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs, including the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti means that desktop companies are refreshing their high-end systems (in fact, with stock shortages, it may be the easiest way to get some of these graphics cards. AMD's RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 also debuted this year, offering strong value in the mainstream with 16GB of VRAM.
We'll jump into our tested picks for best prebuilt gaming PCs directly below. But if you want more advice about how to shop and specific things to look for, our buying advice follows our top gaming PC picks.
Andrew E. FreedmanSenior EditorAndrew is a Senior Editor on Tom's Hardware covering systems, including pre-built gaming PCs, laptops, consoles, and handhelds. He has been reviewing hardware for 10 years. While he loves his own DIY rig, Andrew appreciates pre-built gaming PCs because they let people easily step into PC gaming, and the best options give them the option to make customizations down the line.
Quick List
Best Overall
A Powerful Gaming PC With Top-Notch Build Quality
Corsair's Vengeance i7600 gaming PC stands out with its superior build quality, excellent gaming performance, quiet operation, and an extensive two-year warranty. It's an excellent choice for those looking to invest in a premium gaming rig.
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Best Mid-range
Best Mid-range Gaming PC
The Asus ROG G700 is a powerful mid-range gaming desktop with plenty of room to grow. It comes in a glass case that shows off components, albeit with a lot of branding. We appreciate that you can get it for 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage for a price that isn't crazy. It also offers a 240 mm liquid cooler, which some PCs in this price range don't include.
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Best Full-Size PC
Best Full-Size Gaming PC
Alienware makes a much-needed return to more standardized parts in this full-sized tower meant for upgrades down the line. Gaming performance is strong, and this is one of the quieter high-end gaming rigs we've tested.
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Best for Upgrades
Best Gaming PC for Upgrades
The Lenovo Legion 5i (Gen 8) is quiet with solid performance at 1080p. At under $1,200 as tested, it's the type of PC you can take out of the box and not he to worry too much about to get started.
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Best Budget Gaming PC
Best Budget Gaming PC
The CyberPower PC Gamer Xtreme puts components for strong 1080p performance in a stylish chassis. At $1,099.99, it's a value-focused machine, but you still get a bloat free Windows 11 install. The major downside is that the air cooler is very loud.
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Best Small PC
A Small PC to Fit on Your Desk
The Corsair One i500 is bigger than it used to be due to the size of today's GPUs, but it also got a makeover with wooden paneling. The larger size also makes it easy to upgrade, but this PC is only ailable in pricey configurations.
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Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs You Can Buy TodayWhy you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
A powerful gaming PC with top-notch build quality
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KGPU: Nvidia RTX 4070 SuperRAM: 64GB DDR5-6000 (2x 32GB)Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSDToday's Best DealsView at CORSAIRView at Best BuyCheck AmazonCheck WalmartReasons to buy+Excellent gaming performance+Top-quality, quiet build+Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7+Two-year warrantyReasons to oid-Pricier than mainstream towers-RGB lighting control software not preinstalledBuy if✅ You want a quality build: Corsair is using its own case and standardized parts here, and the PC feels and looks premium.
✅ You're worried you might mess something up: Corsair sells the i7600 with a 2-year warranty, which is more support than most pre-builts gaming PCs.
Don't Buy if❌ You want a bargain: More mainstream, big box towers may not look as nice, but they're often a bit cheaper.
Not all gaming PCs are created equal. While mainstream brands attract customers with lower prices, specialty aftermarket companies like Corsair can deliver a higher-quality rig. The Vengeance i7600, reviewed at $2,099.99 with an RTX 4070 Super and a Core Ultra 7 265K, incorporates many of Corsair's own components, giving it a custom-built, aftermarket feel while running quietly.
In our testing, the Core Ultra 7 265K processor and GeForce RTX 4070 Super graphics card showed they are well-matched, though this setup isn’t ideal for 4K gaming. Corsair offers higher-end configurations for that, including the Core Ultra 9 285K and the GeForce RTX 4090 (with RTX 5090 options likely coming soon). When I wasn't running benchmarks, F1 24 ran nice and smoothly.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)I find it a bit odd that there's no RGB lighting control software preinstalled, but I was able to get around that by installing MSI Mystic Light, which was compatible with the MSI motherboard on our review unit.
I also appreciate that this system has some of the latest connectivity standards. It's still rarely fair to get Thunderbolt 4, but you can get those ports on this PC. Additionally, it supports Wi-Fi 7.
Although the Vengeance i7600 is pricier than mainstream options like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 8, its aftermarket components, liquid cooling, and two-year warranty standard make the extra cost worthwhile for most prebuilt buyers. For an enthusiast-class gaming desktop that’s sure to impress, the Vengeance i7600 is an excellent choice.
Read: Corsair Vengeance i7600 review
Best Mid-range gaming PC
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265KFGPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070RAM: 32GB DDR5-4800Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSDToday's Best DealsView at AmazonView at Best BuyView at WalmartView at NeweggReasons to buy+Solid gaming performance+Well-put together+Liquid-cooled CPU at this priceReasons to oid-Outdated Wi-Fi 6-Limited RGB customization-No room for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives-XMP not enabled out of the boxBuy if✅ You want something with room to grow: The glass case is roomy, and the 850W PSU should offer enough power for some future GPUs. The 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage are great starting points.
✅ You want a PC that feels premium: The case is nice and the system is well-put together.
Don't Buy if❌You want something subtle: The amount of Asus and gamer branding on this PC can be a bit much❌You want to add 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives: This case doesn't he mounting points or cages for larger drives. You can only use SSDs that fit on the motherboard.
The Asus ROG G700 is a mainstream PC verging on the premium market, with its Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, and the fact that it's well put-together.
The glass case is quite nice, perhaps with the exception of a gamer manifesto printed on the PSU shroud, which I found to be a bit excessive, even for a gaming PC. In fact, I'd rather he more RGB customization options. But if you put your system on the floor, this won't matter so much.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)But beyond the aesthetics, you get solid gaming performance that should serve well both at 1080p and 1440p, and even 4K on less intensive games. At this price, you'd be surprised that you don't always get water cooling on the CPU, so I was very glad to see it here.
Some of the other specs should serve you well into the future. The system comes with 32GB of RAM and a roomy 2TB of storage. That's good, because the case doesn't he room for any 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives, just the SSDs on the motherboard.
If you game over Wi-Fi, you might be disappointed that this system has Wi-Fi 6 rather than Wi-Fi 7, but that can be updated down the line. If you can, we encourage you to play online games with an Ethernet connection.
Read: Asus ROG G700 review
A Powerful, Quiet PC with Room to Upgrade
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K / AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3DGPU: OEM GeForce RTX 4090RAM: Kingston Fury Beast 64GB DDR5-6400Storage: 2TB NVMe M.2 SSDToday's Best DealsView at DellView at Best BuyCheck AmazonCheck WalmartReasons to buy+Mostly standardized parts+Runs quiet+Strong gaming performance+Great port selection, including Thunderbolt 4 (or USB4 on AMD models)Reasons to oid-Expensive-Needs adapter kit to replace the motherboardBuy if✅ You want a PC that runs quiet: Say what you will about the fact that the Area-51 has no exhaust fans — it ran surprisingly quiet in our testing. The mix of intakes on the radiator, front of the case, and bottom brought in plenty of air.
✅ You need help upgrading: The Area-51 comes with a series of QR codes that give you advice on how to make upgrades in the future.
Don't Buy if❌ You don't he a lot of room: The 80-liter chassis is really big. It's great for adding massive graphics cards down the line and has room for a 480 mm radiator, but many gaming PCs he smaller cases that better fit on or under your desk.
❌ You're on a budget: Both the Intel and AMD versions of the Area-51 can easily go over $5,000 in top configurations.
Alienware's Area-51 has returned after a hiatus, and it's bringing standardized parts with it. Finally, we're getting back to an Alienware rig with an ATX motherboard and a PSU meant for a gaming rig, not a server.
What excited me the most about this PC was just how quiet it ran. I won't tell you the fans are silent, but between our stress tests and my playing games on it, I never felt the need to rush for a headset. And this was the case on both the Intel and AMD variants of this gamaing. PC. This surprised me, because there's no exhaust fan here — Alienware is using a series of large intakes to push cool air through the system and out the back.
While the RTX 5090 we tested the Alienware with is powerful, the Intel Core Ultra 285K isn't the best for gaming at 1080p. Surprisingly, the AMD version wasn't significantly better at 1080p in our testing, suggesting Alienware's implementation could be improved.
While the parts are standardized, you will need a $35 adapter kit to replace the motherboard, as it needs to attach to a special daughterboard for fans, RGB lighting, and the power button. For many parts of the system, you can scan QR codes with your phone to get detailed instructions on how to make the upgrade, which is a nice perk for PC builders getting into the space with the Area-51.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The 80-liter chassis is massive, and takes up a ton of space on either a desk or a floor. While this lees room for huge GPUs and plenty of uninterrupted airflow, you might want to consider other options if you prefer a mid-tower.
Read: Alienware Area-51 review
For 1080p Gaming
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core i5-14400FGPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800Storage: 1TB SSDToday's Best DealsView at AmazonView at WalmartView at AmazonView at AmazonReasons to buy+Good 1080p performance for the money+Quiet cooling and operation+Solid build quality+Customizable RGB lightingReasons to oid-Lacks front USB Type-C port-Cable management is a bit haphazardBuy if✅ You play games at 1080p: in our testing, this system's RTX 4060 delivered great FHD performance for the money.
Don't Buy if❌ You're a stickler for cable management: The back of this system isn't gorgeous. But hey, the case fits on, right?
If you're buying a PC from a big box store rather than building it yourself, you're likely looking for something with solid performance, quiet operation, and decent quality that you otherwise don't he to think about.
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8) checks those boxes, delivering strong 1080p gaming for under $1,200 as tested.
Despite a small 80 mm fan on the Core i5-14400F, the system offered quiet cooling and operation during our gameplay testing. Among competitors like the MSI Codex R2 and Maingear-1, I found that this system had quieter fans even when the system was under load.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)You get a solid case with good build quality and customizable RGB lighting, though it lacks a front USB Type-C port, which is convenient as more accessories and peripherals move to the newer standard.
I don't think that it's a beautiful system, but if you're putting it under a desk anyway, you won't he to worry too much about that. The cable management is also a bit haphazard in the back, but as long as you can fit the case on, you should be golden.
Read more: Lenovo Legion Tower 5i review
Best Budget Gaming PC
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 225FGPU: MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X OCRAM: 32GB Team Group T-Force Vulcan DDR5-6400 (2x 16GB)Storage: 2TB MSI M470 Pro NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSDToday's Best DealsCheck AmazonCheck WalmartView at CostcoReasons to buy+Strong build quality+Fairly affordable starting price+Neatly, professionally built+No bloatwareReasons to oid-Needs more dust protection-SSD is slowBuy if✅ You play games at 1080p: The Intel Core Ultra 5 225F and GeForce RTX 5060 is fine for FHD, but won't run most games at higher resolutions, especially 4K.
✅ You don't want to spend a ton: We tested the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme at $1,099.99, which isn't a ton for a gaming rig.
Don't Buy if❌ You want your system to run quietly: The Gamer Xtreme's CPU cooler is very loud. You may want to wear headphones or change the cooler down the line.
PC gaming is an expensive hobby, and prebuilt rigs can be expensive. That's why we were so impressed by the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, a budget PC that we tested at just $1,099.99 that's perfectly suitable for 1080p play.
That price also gets you 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD alongside the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F and MSI GeForce RTX 5060 Shadow 2X OC graphics cars. That SSD upgrade alone often costs a fortune from some competitors, but here you won't he to worry too much about installing a bunch of games.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)The Phanteks NV5 mid-tower case is stylish if you like fishbowl style. I particularly appreciate that this came without any bloatware — just stock Windows 11.
The only major issue we had with this machine at this price was the CPU cooler, which is very loud even when the system is at idle. You might want to make sure you he a good pair of headphones while you're gaming. Or you could use the cost sings from this PC to buy a better cooler down the line.
Read: CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme
A Small PC to Fit on Your Desk
Our expert review:
SpecificationsCPU: Intel Core i9-14900KGPU: Zotac RTX 4080 Super Trinity (16GB GDDR6X, 2,550 MHz boost clock), liquid-cooledRAM: 32GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000Storage: 2TB Samsung MZVL22T0HBLB-00B00 PCIe NVMe SSDToday's Best DealsView at CORSAIRView at CORSAIRCheck AmazonCheck WalmartReasons to buy+Wood paneling looks great+Strong gaming performance+Easier to upgrade than prior versions+Doesn't use iCue softwareReasons to oid-Only comes with very expensive components-Need customer support for GPU upgrades-120 mm radiator on Core i9-14900KBuy if✅ You want something small: While the latest Corsair One has increased in size since the previous generation, it's still among the smallest pre-built gaming desktops you can get with real power.
✅ You're into mid-century modern: The wood paneling on the Corsair One certainly makes a statement. I happen to love it.
Don't Buy if❌ CPU cooling is your priority: There's room for something bigger, burt Corsair has only put a 120 mm radiator on the processor.
It's not exactly a secret that many desktops end up sitting on the floor, not a desk. The Corsair One i500 is designed to fit on your desk, even if this version is a bit larger than previous iterations. The new model can fit large graphics cards, like the Nvidia RTX 4080 and RTX 4090, and also has a bit more room for upgradeability.
The One also follows another recent trend, offering wood paneling on the case. Corsair offers both dark and light wood, and in theory no two should look exactly the same. I'm a fan of the look, which mixes in some mid-century modern sensibilities with a bunch of metal and RGB.
Some of the cooling could use work, particularly on the CPU. There's a 120 mm radiator on the Core i9, but there's room for something bigger. That being said, performance didn't seem to suffer too much in my testing. It did great at 1080p and 4K, though it's not surprising that systems with RTX 4090 cards did even better.
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)If you don't like bloatware, you'll like that the One comes largely clean. Corsair doesn't even use its own iCue software, instead opting for a minimalist app to control the RGB lighting. There's also a touch strip on the front to control the effects, but the software is more exact.
Read: Corsair One i500 review
Other Gaming PCs We Tested👾 CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme
This big-box PC pairs an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Asus GeForce RTX 5060 Ti in a mostly-white build with quiet fans. The fit and finish of the case could be nicer, though.
Read: CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme review
👾 Corsair Vengeance a7500
Similar to our top pick but with an AMD CPU. Beyond the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5070 Ti, you get a two-year warranty and a premium case. The only problem is that it's quite expensive.
Read: Corsair Vengeance a7500 review
How We Test Gaming PCsHow we test gaming PCsWe put prebuilt gaming PCs through a number of benchmarks and other tests as part of our review process.
Currently, games that we run and may include in our reviews are:
Swipe to scroll horizontallyGame
Preset
Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Highest
Grand Theft Auto V
Very High
Cyberpunk 2077
Ray Tracing Ultra
Far Cry 6
Ultra
Red Dead Redemption 2
Medium
Borderlands 3
Badass
We also run a stress test, which currently consists of the Metro Exodus benchmark on the RTX preset, run 15 times in a loop while recording system statistics with HWInfo.
While productivity performance takes a backseat to gaming, we also run benchmarks such as Geekbench, Handbrake, and our proprietary file transfer test.
We also pore over a PC's build quality, components, cable management, and port selection. Ideally, we like to see a system that you can buy off the shelf, but upgrade or repair down the line if you need to. We prefer standardized parts and want to see clean cable management that makes it easy to swap out parts. In some more unique form-factors, we may give some of these a pass, but it has to provide benefits elsewhere.
If a test system includes a keyboard and mouse, we use them to evaluate if they add value or if you'll want to replace them. We don't typically penalize systems for not including peripherals.
Additionally, we spend time playing games and using systems on our own, playing games, listening for fan noise, and seeing how systems perform outside of benchmarks.
Gaming PC FAQs◼ Is a gaming PC worth it?
Gaming PCs are different from consoles in that they provide significant levels of flexibility, from the components inside to tons of settings to tweak and adjust. If you want to make your gaming experience completely yours, a gaming PC is worth it.
There are other benefits. Games you buy once on stores like Steam or Epic Games will stay with you when you upgrade your rig, and you'll he access to decades of games.
If you don't care about those benefits and just want simplicity, you might be better off with a console. But even a cheaper gaming PC can be upgraded later.
◼ How much storage space do I need?
Look for at least a 256GB SSD boot drive, ideally paired with a larger secondary SSD or a best hard drive for storage. Get an SSD if at all possible; This will make your computer far faster than loading off of a traditional HDD, and has no moving parts.
◼ How much RAM do I need?
8GB is OK in a pinch, but 16GB is ideal for most users. Serious game streamers and those doing high-end media creation working with large files will want more, but will he to pay a lot for options going as high as 64GB or even 128GB.
◼ Are bigger gaming PCs better?
Bigger isn't always better: You don’t need a huge tower to get a system with high-end components. Only buy a big desktop tower if you like the look of it and want lots of room to install future upgrades.
◼ Why are gaming PCs expensive?Gaming PC parts are expensive, partially due to intense demand for the latest graphics cards. But when you buy a pre-built system, you're also paying for labor, warranty service, and support. But with the price of GPUs these days, getting one in a desktop can sometimes be cheaper than going the standalone route.
Not all gaming PCs will break the bank. Some start for as little as $1,500, and you can upgrade down the line.
◼ Are gaming PCs good for video editing?
Gaming PCs often he high-power CPUs and graphics cards, both of which can be great for video editing. If you're using an Nvidia GPU, you might want to consider installing Studio drivers that offer the most compatibility with creative applications.
If you're a professional video editor, you may want to consider professional-grade CPUs and GPUs.
◼ Do gaming PCs use a lot of electricity?
It depends on the gaming PC, but in general, using a PC for playing intense video games requires more power than browsing the web, running spreadsheets, or streaming videos. In general, both CPUs and GPUs he been consuming more and more power year after year in order to improve performance. Anything higher than a mid-range system will use more electricity than a console.
If energy use is a primary concern, consider sticking to something like one of the best PC gaming handhelds.
GPU HierarchyThe GPU is widely seen as the most important component in a gaming PC because it is the powerhouse behind graphics performance. In a pre-built, that's still the case, but you need to make sure you're getting a good value between the GPU, CPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, and other components.
Our GPU benchmarks hierarchy ranks current and past GPUs by performance so you can get an idea where your card stands. Here's a sampling of cards you may find in pre-built gaming PCs on the market now and how they rank:
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(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)Discounts on the Best Gaming PCsDiscounts on the Best Gaming PCsIf you're looking for a system that's among our best gaming PCs or something similar, you may find sings by checking out the latest Newegg promo codes, Corsair coupon codes, Dell coupon codes, HP coupon codes, Lenovo coupon codes or Razer promo codes.
Round up of today's best deals
Corsair Vengeance i7600
$2,899.99ViewSee all prices
Asus ROG G700
$1,899.99ViewSee all pricesdeal
Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop
$3,599.99 $3,299.99ViewSee all prices
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8) $1,759.99ViewSee all prices
Corsair One i500
$2,299.99 $1,699.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricespowered by 