Upgrade Your Gear: The 5 Best Gaming PCs for 2018

Jump to: Gaming PCs Comparison Table | PC Descriptions | Features & Peripherals | FAQs

Step into the future with a new Gaming PC.

From exploring open-world landscapes in 4K Ultra HD to reveling in the magic of virtual reality (VR), you need a powerful machine to truly experience the today’s top-end games. And there’s nothing that will hold you back more than noob equipment.

So, if you’re tired of getting pwnd, it might be time to level up to one of these high-powered gaming desktops, or learn to build your own gaming PC.

Best PCs for Gaming

Specs and Features Comparison

As you can see, gaming PCs aren’t exactly cheap. And if you don’t already have a monitor, you’ll need to factor that into your budget as well. The prices listed in our chart don’t include monitors, which also have a huge effect on your gaming experience.

See our recommended gaming monitors post for help choosing the best one for you.

The PCs

There’s nothing ancient about this list—all the PCs we recommend come VR-ready and pre-loaded with Windows 10 operating systems. That’s the big stuff. But it’s the differences in the small stuff that will help you decide which one is best for you. Let’s dive in a little deeper so you can  choose your gaming rig wisely.

CORSAIR ONE ELITE

Dell Alienware Aurora R7 VR

ZOTAC MEK1

Dell XPS Tower Special Edition 8930

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR

What to Look For in a Gaming Desktop

Don’t worry if all this technical jargon is overwhelming. There are a lot of details that go into how well a computer runs complex games. Here are the most important things to know so you don’t get pwnd before you start.

Processor (CPU) Speed

The processor performs the rapid calculations that make a computer work. It’s essentially the brain of the computer. Several factors affect processing speed, but the number of cores it has is a big one. Usually the more cores, the faster the processor, but there are exceptions.

Processing speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz). Generally speaking, computers with faster processors (more GHz) can perform more tasks at a quicker rate, which is exactly what you’re looking for to run big, beautiful games.

That was the simplified explanation of a processor. For a more detailed explanation of the relationship between your CPU and your gaming experience, check out “How Much Does Your CPU Matter When Gaming in 2018?”

Graphics Card/Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

There are three basic measurements to look for in a graphics processor: FLOPS, video memory (video buffer), and speed in GHz. As with any processor, generally more is better.

FLOPS: FLOPS is short for floating operations per second. It’s an indication of how efficient a graphics processor is. Some brands of graphics cards don’t list FLOPS, but there’s a formula for figuring it out. Fortunately, several third-party comparison sites calculate FLOPS and publish them, so you can usually find what you need. This number can get large, which is why you’ll sometimes see FLOPS listed as GFLOPS (a million FLOPS) or TFLOPS (a trillion FLOPS).

Video Memory: Video memory (VRAM), sometimes called video buffering, is RAM stored on your video card that’s designated for video processing. More video memory generally means you can run games at a higher resolution. The clarity of high-resolution graphics can be the difference between seeing the game world and being immersed in it.

Clock Speed: Clock speed is essentially the tempo of a processor. Think of it as how often the computer is ready for the next task. For most computer programs, the clock speed moves quickly enough to be unnoticeable, but some games will struggle if it’s too slow. Games that require huge amounts of graphical information changing by the microsecond can overload a weak processor. With gaming computers, you have two clock speeds to think about: your CPU clock speed and your GPU clock speed.

Random-Access Memory (RAM)

Random-access memory (RAM) is a 2013 Daft Punk album the physical location a computer stores data during processing. Gaming computers do a lot of processing, so they need a lot of RAM. If your computer doesn’t have enough RAM, your processor may be forced to work harder to keep up. Overworking a processor can cause it to overheat and damage your chipset.

So . . . don’t skimp on the RAM.

Peripherals

Monitor: Your computer monitor can have a significant effect on your gaming experience. The main thing to look for in a monitor is a high frame rate or refresh rate. See our best monitors for gaming for the specifics.

Mouse: A gaming mouse can range anywhere from a standard two-button mouse with a scroll wheel to a bulky, button-laden ball of intimidation that never quite fits your hand. Put practicality first.

Go with something that tracks your movements well and feels comfortable in your hand. Try before you buy if you can.

How many buttons you need and whether they need to be static or programmable depends entirely on the games you intend to play. Check if your game has suggestions for the best type of mouse to use.

Keyboard: You can find keyboards specifically designed for gaming, but this is more of a luxury than a necessity. Some gaming keyboards, like this one-handed model, can get extreme.

A standard keyboard will do the job for most games. If you play a lot of keyboard-intensive games, you may want to find something ergonomic just so it’s comfortable. It’ll also help you avoid repetitive-use injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

Unconventional models may give you a slight advantage in some games, but you’ll also likely experience a learning curve when you start using them. Be prepared to get worse before you get better.

Controllers and Joysticks: Many games designed for PCs don’t require extra controllers, but if you’re using an emulator to play console games on your computer, you will enjoy them much more if you have a console-type controller or joystick.

You can find several PC controllers (like this one) that are designed like console controllers. There are also online guides that show how to get your actual Xbox One, PlayStation 3, or PlayStation 4 controllers to work with your PC.

Virtual Reality (VR) Interface: All the computers we recommend in this article come VR-ready, but you still need a VR interface to participate in any virtual reality experience. The two most popular VR interfaces for gaming are the Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive. Virtual reality is still new, but prices will become more affordable as the technology improves.

Congratulations! You leveled up.

• Intelligence +1
• New ability unlocked: PC Purchase Power

You are now empowered to buy your gaming PC. You know what to look for and which options are the best. Now it’s time to get your equipment and prepare for raid night.

FAQs about Gaming Computers

What is the best gaming PC brand?

The CORSAIR ONE series has the best specs. Alienware, a branch of Dell, has several affordable, high-powered models with good reviews. MSI also has several good gaming PCs, although it didn’t have a model that stood out enough for us to recommend it.

What are the specs for a good gaming computer?

Here are the minimum recommended specs for gaming PCs:

How much does a decent gaming PC cost?

The gaming PCs we recommend start at around $700.00, but you can find some decent machines for less than that. Be aware that cheaper computers tend to have weaker hardware. They may run the games you like now, but they could quickly become obsolete—especially as VR grows in popularity.