Best gaming PCs of 2021: play whatever your budget

As an investment in your gaming future, purchasing a new gaming PC – and setting the exact specifications and high-end components needed to ensure a smooth HD gaming experience – is a big decision.

Before we dive in, it’s worth noting that you can choose to go the custom build route, with companies designing your entire rig from scratch to your exact specifications. But if your pockets aren’t unlimited, then a gaming desktop computer from a mainstream computing company will deliver the high processing speed and quality graphics you need for 21st century gaming, along with a warranty. from the manufacturer which may well prove useful later in the line.

When it comes to choosing the right technology, GPU and CPU are the most important. “The graphics card is the hardware that puts the most work into producing the beautiful visuals you see when playing modern games. The better the GPU is, the higher the resolution, frame rate and graphics settings you can achieve, ”says Kaelum Ross, Founder of What In Tech. 4K resolution monitors (3840 x 2160 pixels) and VR headsets require a high-quality graphics card for the level of detail they offer, so if you’re looking to play with cutting-edge technology, don’t skimp on it. this feature.

The processor is the heart of your PC and determines the efficiency of your computer. Ideally, you want it to support your graphics card and “a processor that complements the power of your GPU is key; if it is too low, the processor will limit the capacity of the graphics card, ”advises Ross. RAM and fast storage should also be high on your list of features. Finally, while 8GB DDR4 memory was a good baseline, that no longer cuts the mustard with modern AAA titles; 16GB RAM is much better if you can afford it.

Gaming PCs can cost more than you’d like and it’s easy to feel like you need the fastest processing speeds and the latest graphics card. At the end of the day, our advice is to set a budget and only spend what you can afford; you can always upgrade individual components at a later date. To inspire you, here are the best gaming PCs for all budgets.

With its 11th generation Intel® Core ™ i9 and the possibility of 128 GB of RAM, we are not exaggerating when we say that the Alienware Aurora R12 is the future of gaming. Not only is the design futuristic and guaranteed to make turn heads even among your non-gaming friends, but it also uses cutting-edge technology to make your gaming as smooth as possible, including supporting liquid-cooled graphics cards.

On the lower specs, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card delivers excellent quality at a decent price for entry-level gamers, but for playing at 1080p on Fortnite Where COD: War zone, you’ll want to spend an additional £ 140 for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, which offers enhanced gaming power and supports ray tracing.

An accessible design means you can easily open and upgrade different components without using any tools, giving you the option of adding more RAM, a second hard drive or SDD, or even an upgraded graphics card. Not only is this a gaming PC with massive power, it can grow with you and your budget as well.

The Aurora Ryzen Edition comes second in our ranking of the best gaming PCs. Equipped with third-generation AMD Ryzen processors, this platform delivers exquisite performance and power at an affordable price. On the lower end of the configurations, you can get a six-core AMD Ryzen â„¢ 5 5600X, with a GTX 1650 Super, 8GB of 3200MHz RAM, and 1TB of storage, a configuration designed to easily handle 1080p games.

It’s worth noting that like all Alienware products, this machine comes with a premium price tag due to the (not unwarranted) hype surrounding this brand, but that doesn’t mean you’re paying too much. A one-year warranty and Dell’s exceptional customer service make it a solid investment for new players and seasoned professionals alike.

We also love the unconventional design of the case, which will not only look cool in your room, but also give you access to almost any part of the PC without tools. So maintenance and upgrades are a cinch which means the sky is the limit with where you take this gaming desktop.

HP’s most powerful gaming platform, the Omen 30L is an impressive high-end PC that is suitable for even the most experienced gamer. It’s available with a seemingly endless array of configurations, but we found the Intel® Core â„¢ i7-10700K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 processors more than adequate for standard gaming. This provides exceptional power for extremely fast playback with smooth and stable frame rates in both 1080p and 4K.

Despite a sleek removable glass side panel, it’s not as easy to customize as the two Alienware desktops (we found space to be limited inside the case, making it difficult to handle components. ), so we recommend that you buy the highest specs you can afford. early, to avoid scalp joints later. That said, by using standardized components, HP has ensured that you can continue to upgrade this platform for years to come, so that it can grow along with your game.

With its customizable RGB lighting, sleek and slim look, and extremely high performance capabilities, this is a great looking product that will give you your dose of gaming without taking up all of your desk space.

The compact design and sleek RGB lighting won’t make a difference to your gaming, but it certainly makes the Acer Predator Orion 3000 look a lot more expensive than it is. Inside, do not forget that performance is here: with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and an Intel® Core â„¢ i7-10700 in the case, it promises crisp graphics thanks to this top GPU. lineup – considered among those to know it as one of the best cards of all time – plus a smooth and powerful game.

Inside, a FrostBlade fan ensures that this desk stays cool, so there’s no worry of overheating forcing you to stop playing, or even cause irreversible damage.

In short, if you’re looking to give NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 a try – an extremely rare GPU due to pandemic shortages – this is an affordable, pre-built high-end desktop that will handle 4K gaming with ease.

A long-time gaming PC company, CyberpowerPC balances build quality and price better than other major manufacturers. The Wyvern proves this point: Coming comfortably below the four-digit mark, it’s a great entry point into the game.

A mid-range NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card is paired with a mid-range processor to deliver more than enough power for casual gaming, although you might want to lower the settings a few notches from the top for the most performance. fluids. in most AAAs.

Customization choices are limited but still allow you to make significant changes. Go for 16GB of RAM to add power where it counts, while we also like the controllable RGB fans that can be tailored to your mood or provide subtle ambient lighting in the middle of the game.

The perfect gaming PC to buy on a budget, the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop delivers high-quality processing power and graphics for casual and multiplayer gaming at 1080p.

All available configurations use 10th Generation Intel® Core ™ processors, but allow you to work with AMD Radeon and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, including those with ray tracing capabilities such as the RTX 2070 Super. What you get is a high performance PC with smooth frame rates for gaming at 1080p at their highest quality settings, and a computer that is compact and durable enough to roam around during group gaming sessions.

While it might not have the full line of bells and whistles like Dell’s top-of-the-line Alienware line, you still get the same great tracking and two-year warranty on what is a Brilliant. Entry-level gaming PC at a superb, sub-four figure price.

Future-proof and delivering all the power you need for your favorite AAA games, the Dell Alienware Aurora R12 blows the rest of the competition out of the water, especially if you upgrade to the highly demanded NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti graphics card for some of the most impressive visuals you’ll find on the market. For budget-conscious gamers, the CyberpowerPC Wyvern is a solid choice for first-time gamers, with enough customization to grow with your game.