The best gaming PC 2021: top desktops for PC gamers
If you’re after the best gaming PC, to give you buttery smooth gaming performance and amazing graphical detail, we’re here to help. And, there’s never been a better time to jump on the gaming PC bandwagon – the best PC games are more demanding and beautiful than ever before, so those components will be running hotter and will need a more effective cooling solution.
You’re also going to want a gaming PC that’s equipped with the best processors, graphics cards and more – and you’ll want one that can effectively keep that cool. The best SSDs and RAM are also critically important. Our advice would be to go with at least 512GB of storage, and at least 16GB of RAM, as system requirements continue to inflate.
While you could probably get by gaming on lesser machines, you’ll want one of the best gaming PCs for a truly immersive gaming experience, even if you mostly just play the best free games. From some of the best budget gaming PCs to maxed out ones with an Intel Comet Lake or AMD Ryzen 5000 chip and an Nvidia Turing or Big Navi inside, these belong at the top of the pile. When coupled with the best gaming monitor, they are the stuff of legends.
- Get one of the best gaming keyboards as well.
- These are the best gaming desks of 2021.
- Want a snazzy new case? Here are the best PC cases.
With AMD’s solid campaign to win the CPU and GPU markets, it’s no surprise that many of the best PCs are switching over Team Red’s cause. Our favorite Alienware Aurora gaming desktop PC line is among them, fitting its R10 models with AMD’s powerful yet affordable Ryzen CPUs. Not only do these deliver brute strength when it comes to gaming, but they also tout affordability, giving budget gamers to partake in what those with souped up rigs experience everyday without burning a hole in their pockets. This is the best gaming PC, bar none – especially with the next generation rocking with configurations touting the RTX 3090 for 8K resolution gaming.
If space is an issue, or you simply want a gaming PC set up right in your living room, then the MSI Trident 3 10th is worth considering. This isn’t just one of the smallest gaming PCs we've ever seen, not much larger than the best gaming laptops; it’s also more affordable than the competition with equivalent hardware. Without draining your wallet while touting a smaller footprint, the specs inside will be more than enough to ensure an excellent experience. And, as long as flashy RGB lighting and liquid cooling aren’t vital – and you don’t care much about upgradeability, this is the best gaming PC for you.
Read the full review: MSI Trident 3 10th
This rectangular monster is definitely worthy of its moniker as it boasts lots of power… more than enough, in fact, for most gamers’ needs. When you’ve the funds for an upper-tier configuration, you’ll get a behemoth. Unfortunately, budget-minded buyers will have to be satisfied with gameplay at medium settings, since the lower end models don’t pack the same firepower. Still, because of its high upgradability and tool-less design, such buyers are only an upgrade or two from the best gaming experience on Ultra or Max settings. Plus, we’ve honestly seen more expensive machines for those specs. If you’re looking for the best gaming PC for cheaper, this HP PC is worth looking into.
Read the full review: HP Omen Obelisk review
Never underestimate this compact PC because of its size. The Corsair One a100 is one incredibly powerful machine, packing internals like the legendary AMD Ryzen 9 3950X and Nvidia’s unbeatable RTX 2080 Ti into a tiny chassis that would disappear into the background had it not been for its stylish RGB. Coupled with 32GB of memory and lots of storage space, this one’s a boon for the professional creative types as well. Rightly so, as they’re among the very few who can truly afford that hefty price tag. If you want something that looks cool and runs all the best games, the Corsair One a100 is the best gaming PC for you… if you have a ton of cash to throw, that is.
Read the full review: Corsair One a100
Blending its sleek mid-tower design with clever LED lighting controls and top-tier specs, the Corsair Vengeance i4200 is no slouch, even at its lower configuration (there are only two). It’s the more powerful one that you’d want to go for here – starting at $2,000, you might as well go big – with breathtaking specs like the Intel Core i7-10700KF and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super as well as up to 32GB of memory. If you’re a hardcore gamer, then this is one of the best gaming PCs for you without going completely broke. Though get ready to shell out a bit more for an external SSD, if you find the storage offerings a bit lacking.
Read the full review: Corsair Vengeance i4200
It’s downright impressive how much power the MSI Trident A Plus boasts under the hood, especially considering its slim and small-ish form factor. The self-proclaimed most compact gaming desktop right now isn’t all talk, it walks the walk too with its 5.1 x 15.06 x 15.6-inch size. For superb performance, it offers 9th-generation Intel Core processors, up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 graphics card and 16GB of memory. While it’s not necessarily kitted out, this best gaming PC still spells sheer power. This small yet mighty gaming PC also delivers 4K gaming experience, customizable Mystic Light RGB LED design and the Silent Storm Cooling 3.
A unique chassis coupled with a price to beat, Dell’s latest in its G series is a solid contender in budget gaming. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidia’s most powerful gaming GTX and RTX graphics cards, starting with an i3 processor and the GTX 1650 to handle many powerful games without burning a hole in your pocket. Of course, if you’ve got more cash to spare, it’s VR ready configurations are also on hand, though even those are absolutely affordable.
Intel’s NUC has come a long way from its humble beginnings. For example, while the previous Hades Canyon didn’t come with a RAM or storage, the newer Ghost Canyon has both. In fact, not only does it have more offerings now in terms of specs, but it’s also highly configurable so you can personalize it to your liking before hitting that buy button. With 9th-generation Intel Core chips, up to 64GB of memory and up to 4TB dual storage, we’re all for it. The only catch is that it's pricier now as well. The lower configurations are still quite affordable, and the best gaming PC for the budget- and portability-conscious. However, you may want to stay away from the highest configurations.
If you want a powerful laptop that demolishes any game in high-resolution while looking good doing it, you should take a look at MSI’s latest update to its Raider line. The MSI GE76 Raider is packed with all the good stuff, from the high-end offerings in the RTX 3000 series to a whopping 32GB RAM. That does mean that it’s a bit on the thick and heavy side, so it might not be the best candidate for gaming on the go, but its RGB lighting is something to behold, making up for that non-svelte design in a massive and immersive way.
Read the full review: MSI GE76 Raider
- These are the best gaming laptops of 2021
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