If you’re in search of the best gaming PC, we have you covered. We’ve reviewed dozens of gaming desktops, whittling down the options to only the best of the best. Our list includes desktops from Alienware, Lenovo, HP, and more, all of which deliver an excellent gaming experience at a reasonable price.
In 2024, we still recommend the Alienware Aurora R16 due to its fantastic design, solid performance, and decent value. However, there are several other options depending on your needs and budget.
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Alienware Aurora R16
The best gaming PC
Pros
- Much smaller than previous versions
- Cool and quiet during operation
- Several configuration options
- Competitively priced
Cons
- Alienware Command Center is a bit annoying
- CPU lacks integrated graphics and overclocking support
Why you should buy this: It’s an Alienware gaming PC built for the everyday gamer
Who’s it for: PC gamers who want a lot of flexibility in their build and don’t need to service their PC.
What we thought of the Alienware Aurora R16:
Alienware has a reputation problem, but the new Aurora R16 attempts to fix that. It’s the first time Alienware has abandoned the angular Aurora design we’ve seen for the past several generations, instead relying on a smaller mid-tower chassis that’s just as powerful, but takes up a lot less space.
It comes in cheaper, as well. Part of the reason Alienware desktops have a bit of a bad name is their price, but the Aurora R16 starts at just $1,300 for an Intel Core i7-13700F, RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of DDR5 memory, and a 1TB SSD. You can scale that up with the same processor, memory, and storage, but with an RTX 4070 Ti, for $1,950.
Alienware upgraded the internals a lot, but it’s the exterior of this machine that stands out. It’s around half the size of the previous version, all without compromising power or thermals. By the end of the year, Alienware says it will be its fastest desktop ever, packing up to an RTX 4090.
Alienware Aurora R16
The best gaming PC
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Origin Neuron
The best custom gaming PC
Pros
- Excellent cable management and design
- Minimal bloatware
- Lifetime 24/7 support
- Great CPU, GPU, and motherboard options
- Easy to upgrade
Cons
- Expensive
- Few non-Corsair part options
- Limited front panel ports
Why you should buy this: The Origin Neuron comes with excellent build quality and highly customizable components.
Who’s it for: Gamers looking to customize their own PC without getting into building.
What we thought of the Origin Neuron:
There’s no shortage of PC builders that use components you can buy and put together yourself, but Origin still manages to stand out. You can buy and build an exact replica of the Origin Neuron, but Origin’s careful attention to detail, deep customization options, and excellent support make an argument not to.
Corsair owns Origin, so the Neuron comes fitted with Corsair components across the board. That’s a good thing in this case, as Corsair makes some of the best PC fans, power supplies, and RAM modules you can buy. All of these first-party components give the Neuron a cohesive feel, free of software conflicts that could mess up your RGB lighting.
You can build the machine exactly how you want, too. Origin offers the latest CPUs from AMD and Intel, as well as the latest GPUs from Nvidia and AMD. Beyond that, you can tweak everything else — power supply rating, memory speed, you name it.
The Neuron is more expensive than a mainstream PC like the Omen 45L. That extra money buys you better build quality, more flexibility, and some modern furnishings. Out of all of the custom PC builds you can buy, the Origin Neuron is our favorite.
Origin Neuron
The best custom gaming PC
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Acer Predator Orion 7000
The best high-end gaming PC
Pros
- Runs cool and quiet
- Bright, vibrant RGB lighting
- Excellent 4K gaming performance
- Great connectivity options
- Hot-swappable SSD bay
Cons
- Expensive
- Upgrades could be frustrating
- Loads of bloatware
Why you should buy this: It’s a fantastic and upgradeable high-end desktop that will hold up for years.
Who’s it for: Enthusiasts that want a great starting point to upgrade their gaming PC in the future.
What we thought of the Acer Predator Orion 7000:
The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a gaming PC in every sense of the phrase. Its design screams that with bright RGB fans and an aggressive design that makes it clear this is a machine built for gaming. Thankfully, it has the performance and thermals to back up its clear design influence.
It packs last-gen components, but they’re still powerful. You can score up to an Intel Core i9-12900K and RTX 3090 graphics card, and we expect a next-gen upgrade soon. Acer just recently updated its Predator laptops, so a desktop makeover should come soon.
Even this model holds up well in 2024, though. The components are still very powerful, and the design of the case makes quick work of all the heat these high-end components can spit out.
Acer Predator Orion 7000
The best high-end gaming PC
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Falcon Northwest Tiki
The best gaming PC for the living room
Pros
- Blazing 4K gaming performance
- Fantastic thermal design
- Top-notch build quality
- Accessible upgrades
- Standard three-year warranty
- Limited fan noise
Cons
- Limited Intel configurations
Why you should buy this: It’s smaller than a gaming console and packs high-end PC hardware.
Who’s it for: Living room gamers looking for a high-end gaming PC that doesn’t take up a lot of space.
What we thought of the Falcon Northwest Tiki:
The Falcon Northwest Tiki is the perfect small form factor gaming PC. Just like the Talon, the Tiki stands out with exceptional build quality, clear attention to detail, and support that puts major PC manufacturers to shame. It’s expensive, but Falcon Northwest makes every penny feel worth it.
For size, the Tiki is the smallest gaming PC you can buy fully configured. But Falcon Northwest doesn’t sacrifice performance in the process. The latest version supports up to a Ryzen 9 7950X or Intel Core i9-14900, along with an RTX 4080. You can also add up to 8TB of NVMe storage, which is insane considering the Tiki’s size.
Usually, a smaller size comes at the cost of thermals and noise, but not with the Tiki. It manages to stay cooler and quieter than many mid-sized desktops (read our Asus ProArt PD5 review for an example of bad thermals on a desktop).
Falcon Northwest is one of the few boutique PC builders left, and the Tiki is a perfect showcase for what that model can achieve. It’s an exception PC overall, and it’s even more impressive considering it’s smaller than a PlayStation 5.
Falcon Northwest Tiki
The best gaming PC for the living room
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Dell XPS Desktop (8960)
The gaming PC for remote workers
Pros
- Flagship performance
- Understated, attractive design
- Relatively quiet
- Solid port selection
Cons
- Limited upgrade potential
- Expensive
Why you should buy this: The Dell XPS Desktop 8650 doesn’t look like a gaming PC, but it comes with the right hardware to run the latest titles.
Who’s it for: Remote workers who need a professional PC during the day and a gaming PC at night.
What we thought of the Dell XPS Desktop 8960:
If you want to pick up a gaming desktop, but you’re not interested in learning about upgrading or tricking it out with RGB, the Dell XPS 8960 Desktop is a great option. It’s a stealth gaming PC that looks like an office desktop on the outside, but hides some of the most powerful components you can buy inside.
You can’t upgrade major components in the Dell XPS Desktop, which is almost always a downside. But you can at least trick out this PC with up to an Intel Core i9-13900 and Nvidia RTX 4080. You can even configure it with liquid cooling.
Configurations start as low as $750, with the first configuration with a discrete graphics card coming in at around $1,100. You’re giving up all of the trimmings that make a gaming PC look like one, but if you’re content to recycle your PC and upgrade a few years down the line, that’s not a big deal.
Although the XPS Desktop can fit into any office setting, we’re recommending it specifically for remote workers. You might not want to ask your boss to bill an RGB-ridden gaming behemoth; the XPS Desktop is much more reasonable, and it still has enough muscle for gaming after hours.
Dell XPS Desktop (8960)
The gaming PC for remote workers
Image used with permission by copyright holder
NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit
The best DIY gaming desktop
Pros
- Powerful
- Inexpensive
- Includes all the tools you need to build your own PC
Cons
- PC building isn’t for everyone
- Limited customization options
Why we chose this: The NZXT BLD Kit allows you to dip your toes into building a custom gaming PC and save some money in the process.
Who’s it for: Hobbyists who want to get into building PCs but don’t know where to start.
What we thought of the NZXT BLD Kit:
NZXT has a different approach to gaming desktops. Instead of shipping you a prebuilt machine, you get all of the components, tools, and an instruction manual to build the PC yourself. And don’t worry – you get all of that at a discount compared to getting a machine already built for you.
The BLD kits offer great value, and NZXT has several available. We’re recommending the Streaming Plus kit, which comes fitted with an eight-core Ryzen 7 5700X processor, an Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM. Overall, the kit is about $200 than shopping for the cheapest parts yourself, rather than the anywhere from $500 to $1,000 that brands usually charge as a building fee.
If you can’t be bothered, NZXT also offers its custom BLD program. Unlike most system builders, NZXT charges a flat $110 building fee. Otherwise, you’re paying the exact same price for the components that you would if you bought them individually.
PC building isn’t for everyone, but NZXT’s BLD program offers a cost-effective and simple way to get into the hobby.
NZXT Streaming Plus BLD Kit
The best DIY gaming desktop
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
MSI Aegis RS 14
The best gaming PC for beginners
Pros
- Cheaper than building yourself
- All MSI components
- Dense, bright RGB lighting
- Excellent gaming and processor performance
- Fantastic connectivity and expansion options
Cons
- Poor cable management
- Twist ties used for some cables
- Case isn’t the best
Why we chose this: It’s a no-fuss, powerful gaming PC that won’t break the bank.
Who’s it for: PC gamers who want a powerful PC and don’t need to mess around with upgrades.
What we thought of the MSI Aegis RS 14:
You get a lot of PC for your dollar with the MSI Aegis RS 14. The design of this desktop has stayed the same the past couple of generations, but the latest version combines up to an Intel Core i9-14900KF with up to an RTX 4080 Super, giving you access to some of the most powerful hardware money can buy.
Pricing is what really stands out for this desktop, though. Our recommended configuration comes with a Core i7-14700KF and an RTX 4070 Super, which you can grab for about $2,150. It’s a solid price considering the hardware inside, especially when you factor in the fact that MSI uses a 240mm all-in-one liquid cooler for the processor.
On top of that, MSI includes a solid mechanical gaming keyboard and mouse in the box. They aren’t top-tier peripherals, but they’re more than enough to get beginners started with PC gaming.
MSI Aegis RS 14
The best gaming PC for beginners
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
CLX Hathor
The best dual gaming PC
Pros
- Beautiful design and build quality
- Two PCs in the size of one case
- Flagship hardware support
Cons
- Very expensive
- Dual PCs aren’t required for most people
Why we chose this: It’s a monster gaming PC that pulls double duty.
Who’s it for: Streamers who need a dual PC setup but don’t have the space for two PCs.
What we thought of the CLX Hathor:
What’s better than one monster gaming PC? Two, obviously. The CLX Hathor is insane, packing two full PCs into a single case. One if a high-end gaming rig fit with one of the latest CPUs from AMD or Intel, along with one of the latest graphics cards from AMD or Nvidia. The second is an Intel NUC that pull lightweight duty so you don’t have to bog down one machine.
CLX allows you to customize just about every aspect of the PC, as well. There are the core components like your GPU, CPU, and RAM, but you can even tweak your cooler, multiple storage options, and even customize the Lian Li case the PC ships in.
It’s an excellent PC, assuming you need all of the power it offers. The Hathor starts at $4,100, and it only goes up from there. This is a high-end PC for high-end streamers, who need a secondary PC holding the work of streaming so your main PC can focus on gaming.
CLX Hathor
The best dual gaming PC
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)
The best portable desktop PC
Pros
- Solid performance
- Acceptable battery life
- Beautiful, 120Hz screen
- Flexible control scheme
- Support for basically any PC game
Cons
- Turbo mode drains battery quickly
- Windows has a lot of quirks
- Armoury Crate is a utility, not an OS
Why we chose this: It’s a top-tier handheld with a special connection that turns the portable gaming device into a desktop.
Who’s it for: Gamers who want a flexible setup that never compromises performance.
What we thought of the Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme):
The Asus ROG Ally doesn’t look like a gaming desktop, sure, but it can play the role of one well. The Z1 Extreme chip inside the handheld gaming PC is capable enough for portable gaming, but the ROG Ally really shines as a desktop with the XG Mobile external GPU.
This accessory uses a proprietary connector, allowing you to connect an external GPU with a host of connectivity to the ROG Ally. With a single cable, it transforms the handheld into a full-fledged gaming desktop, and with performance to match that name.
It’s one of the most flexible PC setups you can get right now for gaming, but it’s not free of issues. The XG Mobile can cause strange behavior, particularly when connecting and disconnecting the cable, and the setup is expensive. For a lot of gamers, though, there’s nothing better.
Asus ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme)
The best portable desktop PC
Frequently Asked Questions
PC vs. laptop for gaming
While you can play on the go with a gaming laptop outfitted with a discrete graphics card, a gaming desktop will deliver more flexibility, power, and performance for serious gamers. With more space inside a desktop tower, thermal management is generally better, which leads to stronger graphics and processing performance without the fear of throttling.
Another benefit of going with a desktop is that there is more space to perform upgrades in the future, so you can add more memory or storage, swap out your graphics card, and upgrade your motherboard and processor down the road. When shopping for a gaming desktop, you should look for key features like upgradability, expandability, and support for the latest protocols, like Thunderbolt 3, which could help extend the life of your investment.
What’s the best gaming PC for beginners?
The best gaming PC for beginners is the HP Omen 30L or 45L. These two machines live in the same family, and the 30L is slightly smaller than the 45L. We recommend them for beginners because they come with the latest, most powerful components, they’re readily available, and they’re easy to upgrade.
For configurations, you want to pay attention to the GPU and CPU. For beginners, we recommend the Nvidia RTX 3060 for 1080p gameplay, paired with either an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i5-12600K.
Gamers will also want to have enough RAM — we suggest at least 16GB of memory — and fast storage. Moreover, taking the dual-drive route means you don’t need to invest in an expensive solid-state drive with large storage. This allows you to pair a more modest-capacity SSD with a larger hard drive to store all the large media libraries for your game.
Can gaming PCs be used for work?
Most definitely. Manufacturers like HP recognize that gamers don’t just play games — office workers want to stay entertained during their downtime, too. All that’s needed to play games is a capable processor, a strong enough discrete graphics card, and enough memory to keep the entire system running smoothly.
If you’re looking to save money by using one desktop for gaming and for your productivity tasks, you’ll want to choose a PC or one of the best laptops with more understated aesthetics that will blend in better with your office decor. Once you have the right PC selected, just pick out a few games and have fun.
Is PC gaming dying?
Absolutely not. With sales of general-purpose desktops stagnating in recent years, manufacturers like HP and Lenovo are investing more resources into their gaming brands to fuel growth.
With new hardware features supported on gaming PCs — from VR and augmented reality to real-time ray tracing — developers will have plenty of new technologies to leverage in order to tell visually engaging stories through their games.
Editors’ Recommendations
