Jump to content

The best gaming PC 2018: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy


Recommended Posts

Posted

2018 was absolutely packed to the brim with the best PC games, and it looks like 2019 is going to follow suit, so you might want to go out and pick up one of the best gaming PCs today, so you can enjoy all that the medium has to offer. From best-in-class stealth-em-ups like Hitman 2 to intense first person shooters like Battlefield V, having the best gaming PC for your budget can make a ton of difference.

It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now that Nvidia Turing graphics cards are finally out in the wild, the best gaming PCs are about to get way better. 

We went ahead and collected our top-rated gaming PCs, both from popular companies like Alienware and Dell to those you might not know, like Zotac. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are currently the 10 best gaming PCs you can buy today, so you can start playing your favorite PC games.

aJnhiAAncsJ3Pfjdrv4gLU.jpg

This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7

  • This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MSI Aegis 3 

RbMTPrF9DUbii7aC9nAmSK.jpg

It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way.

Read the full review: MSI Infinite A

  • This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. Australian and UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid 

FgaHSoZSpRphAgJWJidyL6.jpg

If you’re looking for a gaming PC that doesn’t take up a lot of space, you’ll love the Intel Hades Canyon Nuc. This is one of the best gaming PCs, and it’s a lot smaller than other entries on this list – in fact, it looks more like a set-top box than a high-end gaming. Don’t think this is a weak PC, though – it packs all the power that the best gaming laptops do with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor and discrete Radeon graphics. Just consider that you’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS.  

Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC 

ZcZxQJjke5NTh5So3rYD4n.jpg

Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs.

Read the full review: MSI Trident 3

best gaming pc

If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design.

Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900

  • This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

vVX4Mg8dGFUPd2Zi4ofHb3.jpg

Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’.

Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition 

  • This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

pvVeFPwASU3vWahKVVRy4B.jpg

When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to.

Read the full review: Origin Millennium 

  • This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.

EYHb7sLEygi3hCpLvV6oxR.jpg

In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to.

Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition 

  • This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One  

AuvspuGaaYkbjAtABR2rHA.jpg

We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better.

Read the full review: MSI Trident X

DZJjwXKj2gh8TyYm47kMbj.jpg

Corsair has made a name for itself in pretty much every category of PC components, so it’s only natural that it would eventually create one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. Enter the Corsair One Elite, a high-spec PC in a compact and quiet case that, while expensive, blows the competition out of the water. The Elite is a huge improvement over the original Corsair One, packed with an 8th-generation Core i7 processor, a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and more water cooling than you can shake a stick at. If you can afford its high price tag, the Corsair One Elite is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy today. 

Read the full review: Corsair One Elite 

Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

Check out our Linux vs Windows vs Mac - OS comparison video below.

DauULhfmdkU

View the full article

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.