Best gaming PC 2022:
Given the sheer number of alternatives available from literally dozens of companies, like HP and Maingear, finding the best gaming PC may be difficult. Additionally, the finest gaming PCs aren’t always the most costly; in fact, several excellent low-cost alternatives provide excellent value for both 1080p and 1440p gaming.
Additionally, purchasing a prebuilt gaming PC has several benefits over constructing one yourself, including the opportunity to purchase the finest graphics card for your money and one of the best CPUs available, both of which may be particularly difficult to locate right now (even as inventories start to recover somewhat from the stock shortages of the past couple of years).
A system that has undergone pretty extensive testing from an OEM manufacturer like Dell, Alienware, or Lenovo also has the advantage of being more stable, so you know that even the greatest budget gaming PC will be ready to play the top PC games right out of the box.
But which do you choose? To help you select the best gaming PC for your requirements and budget, we examined the top models from each major manufacturer and compiled our top recommendations in one location.
1.Maingear Turbo
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950XGraphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TiRAM: Up to up to 64GBStorage: Up to 2 x 4TB PCIe SSDs
REASONS TO BUY
- +Outstanding customization options
- +Gorgeous design
- +Custom liquid cooling is a work of art
- +Fantastic customer service
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Higher-end configurations can get eye-wateringly expensive
- -Radiator can get very hot
The Maingear Turbo is a superb gaming PC with amazing flair and customizability that is really within the price range of most people. However, because it is still a custom-built PC, the best configuration options will be rather pricey.
Oh, and if you have a cat, you’ll have to maintain vigilant watchfulness to keep her off of it because the top radiator gets rather warm.
2.Acer Predator Orion 3000
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Up to 12th-gen Intel Core i7Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070RAM: Up to 16GBStorage: Up to 1TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
- +Smart build with lovely RGB
- +Great gaming performance matched with superb cooling
- +Amazing value for money
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Fans can get noisy
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 is very well made, with nearly unmatched attention to detail and a neat, portable design that makes it easier to carry around than many of its rivals. The FrostBlade fans and light bars on the side enhance the RGB lighting, which is already stunning.
While the more expensive models are not very budget-friendly, the more cheap models provide amazing value for the money, outperforming most other gaming PCs in terms of performance per dollar. As a result, it tops our list of the best cheap gaming PCs and is deserving of inclusion in this article.
With a chassis that is simple to update and performance in the base model that makes it readily capable of playing the newest games at 1080p or even 1440p right now, this gaming computer might last you for years. It’s undoubtedly an enticing purchase for gamers that value looks and performance equally.
3.Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950XGraphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 / AMD Radeon RX 6900XTRAM: Up to 128GB 3200MHz DDR4Storage: Up to 2TB SSD + 2TB HDD
REASONS TO BUY
- +Powerful specs
- +Affordable
- +Stunning design
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Still very expensive at highest configurations
- -Loud
It’s not surprising that many of the top PCs are migrating over to Team Red given AMD’s strong drive to dominate the CPU and GPU industries with a gaming-focused strategy. They include our favourite Alienware Aurora gaming desktop PC series, the R10, which equips its versions with AMD’s potent yet reasonably priced Ryzen CPUs.
These promise both sheer force in terms of gaming and affordability, providing less wealthy gamers a chance to experience what people with powerful systems do on a daily basis without breaking the bank. Without a doubt, this is one of the greatest gaming PCs available. If you can afford it, consider the next-generation model, which features configurations that have the RTX 3090 GPU for 8K gaming.
4.Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Up to 11-Gen Intel Core i9Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super – RTX 3070RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4 : Up to 32GB DDR4Storage: Up to 1TB SSD
REASONS TO BUY
- +Solid 1080p performance that’s great for esports
- +Easily upgradable when you need a power boost in the future
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Entry level model GPU lacks ray tracing & DLSS
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i’s entry-level settings are ideal for people who are new to PC gaming or are on a tight budget. The best 1080p AAA games and the most popular esports can be played on it with ease, and it is very configurable so you can upgrade to more powerful hardware if you have the money.
Even though the most entry-level model employs an Nvidia GTX 1660 and lacks more recent GPU standards like ray tracing and DLSS, its black tower chassis is simple to open and easy to handle for upgrades when you’re ready to upgrade to the more powerful specifications. It will be difficult to find a better solution if you’re just getting started in the world of PC gaming than this.
5.Corsair One i300
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: up to 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900KGraphics: up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 TiRAM: up to 64GB DDR5Storage: 1 x M.2 SSD + 1 x 2.5″ HDD / SSD
REASONS TO BUY
- +Great performance in a compact design
- +Not too loud
REASONS TO AVOID
- -Gets expensive fast
- -Components might not fit
Some people could argue that the Corsair One i300 is a touch excessive, and for the majority of casual gamers, that argument is definitely true. However, for gamers who need (or desire) the finest in a tiny form, this exquisitely crafted micro PC is precisely the thing.
Whether you want to future-proof your gaming setup because you play competitively or because you have a lot of money to spend. With its high-end setup capable of handling any game at 4K and any content development workflows, if you’re trying to catch two fish with one worm, it comes with some of the greatest components money can buy.
How we evaluate gaming PCs
Because buying a gaming PC is a significant investment, we don’t take our testing lightly either. We usually evaluate gaming PCs thoroughly, using them to play both the newest or most popular games as well as older but still demanding games, noting aspects like performance – notably in gaming – as well as noise and thermal efficiency. Additionally, we use artificial benchmarks like Geekbench 5, PCMark 10, and 3DMark (opens in new tab).
We also examine its design, including features like the ports that are available, the chassis’s capacity to be expanded and upgraded, its RGB lighting, and its accessibility. Given the importance of build quality in relation to the asking price, any hardware that seems cheap or fragile in an expensive product will be marked down. Since most of us use our gaming PCs for more than just gaming and also use them as our primary computers, we’ll examine how well it performs in regular work as well.
Then, using all we’ve learned, we evaluate the gaming PC’s pricing to its performance and features to determine whether it provides users with the best value for their money.
See how we test for additional details regarding our procedure.
Is building a gaming PC preferable than buying one?
The dilemma is whether to build or purchase a gaming computer. Some PC gamers believe that constructing a system is the only practical option since it allows for extremely accurate rig customization. Unfortunately, it’s growing harder than ever to find the various parts you need to assemble a PC. Even though you might desire to, you might not actually be able to create a bespoke gaming PC.
If so, there isn’t anything improper about purchasing a gaming PC. No, you might not be able to perfectly personalise it to your preferences, but purchasing one of the finest gaming PCs you can afford will just make the process simpler if all you want to do is play your favourite PC games.
What qualities should you check while purchasing a new gaming PC?
Buying the greatest gaming PC you can afford surely makes the process simpler because creating your own PC can be expensive and/or a pain. And you don’t even need to spend a fortune thanks to some recent deals from businesses like HP and Dell. However, it’s always a good idea to walk in knowing what you want within your means.
Your top priority should be finding something that manages to be affordable for you without sacrificing performance or skimping on essential features like a healthy port selection and eye-catching RGB lighting. This is true whether you’re playing the best PC games or the best free games to save a little money.
That may refer to an expensive desktop PC that can handle 4K gaming or one of the finest budget gaming PCs that can handle 1080p gaming without lag. Unless your budget is flexible or you have large resources, don’t worry too much about the frills and the design.
Make sure there is sufficient quick RAM and quick storage. These days, 8GB of DDR4 memory is the minimal need; however, 16GB is preferable. Although you may always buy an extra disc later on, having a lot of SSD storage is preferable because many popular games require a lot of space.
Finally, make sure you have enough cash to purchase high-quality accessories. A gaming PC is only as good as its peripherals, after all. Yours will only be the stuff of legends when paired with the top gaming display and keyboards.
Should you buy a next-generation console or a gaming PC?
There may not be a simple solution to the PC vs. next-gen console gaming console argument, but there are a few important factors you should take into account before purchasing either one. The most recent game releases will run smoothly on both pieces of technology, but gaming systems like the PS5 still offer exclusive titles like Horizon Forbidden West that are only available on their platforms.
The system and at least one controller are purchased together when buying a next-generation console. A tower, monitor, keyboard, and mouse are necessary for gaming PCs, all of which must be purchased individually in the majority of cases. The price of PC gaming equipment only increases when you want to get the best gaming keyboard, mouse, and headphones, for example.
Component shortages have impacted both next-generation consoles and gaming PCs, making it challenging to locate both consoles and more recent PC gaming parts. It won’t require as big of an investment if you can get these things at retail pricing, but it’s getting harder to locate decent deals among scalpers. Stock sometimes sells out quickly as well, making it challenging to get either technology.
So, is a next-generation console superior than a gaming PC? Not always, especially if you don’t have enough space to dedicate to a PC gaming setup’s many components. However, the greatest gaming PC will perform equally well as the most recent next-gen consoles, so ultimately it comes down to the type of gaming experience you want. Either way, selecting between a next-gen console or gaming PC is a win.