Best Gaming PC 2021: Shopping Guide &amp; Review

$1,149.00

This powerful computer is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a full set to start playing upon delivery. The Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card, and 6GB of RAM will allow you to play video games in the best settings and resolution. It also features a 240GB SSD and 1TB HDD to store anything you want. Besides, you receive a quality keyboard and gaming mouse with this PC. 1-year warranty.

[Ryzen & GTX 1050 Ti Edition] SkyTech Archangel Gaming Computer Desktop PC Ryzen 1200 3.1GHz Quad-Core, GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, 8GB DDR4 2400, 1TB HDD, 24X DVD, Wi-Fi USB, Windows 10 Home 64-bit

Best Gaming PC With AMD Graphics

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$1,420.98

Skytech Gaming is a leader in the industry, and the Archangel model is as powerful as it is stylish. Assembled right here in the United States and designed for eSport gamers, it incorporates a Ryzen 3 1200 4-Core processor, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB graphics card, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM to take your gaming experience to new heights. This model also comes with a free keyboard and mouse. 1-year warranty.

iBUYPOWER Gaming PC Computer Desktop Element 9260 (Intel Core i7-9700F 3.0Ghz, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB, 16GB DDR4, 240GB SSD, 1TB HDD, Wi-Fi & Windows 10 Home) Black

Best Gaming PC for Avid Gamers

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$1,278.00

The Element 9260 is undeniably the most powerful computer of our selection, with technical specs that will blow your mind. The combination of the Intel Core i7-9700F 8-Core processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6GB graphics card is a thing of beauty, designed to run the latest games in optimal conditions. This gaming PC also integrates 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 240GB SSD, and a 1TB HDD. In addition, it is VR-ready. 1-year warranty.

Acer Aspire TC-885-UA92 Desktop, 9th Gen Intel Core i5-9400, 12GB DDR4, 512GB SSD, 8X DVD, 802.11AC Wifi, USB 3.1 Type C, Windows 10 Home, Black

Best Budget-Friendly Gaming PC

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$655.95

The affordability of the Acer Aspire TC-885-UA92 isn’t the only beautiful thing about it. It’s also incredibly versatile. It may not offer technical specs that can match the Element 9260 above, but this Amazon’s Choice computer is an excellent choice for anyone looking to play less-demanding games and work or study. It integrates a 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9400 processor, 12GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. 1-year warranty.

Shopping Guide: Everything You Should Know About Gaming PCs

There is a series of key features and technical specs that you should be familiar with before purchasing your next gaming PC. As you may have noticed in our selection above, there is a wide range of options on the market. Choosing the model that best suits your needs is essential if you want to make the most of it and take your gaming to new heights. In the section below, we have answered the most frequently asked questions regarding these devices.

Gaming PCs offer a number of advantages over other video game platforms.
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What characterizes gaming PCs?

These electronic devices come with technical specifications that allow them to offer top performance for the latest video games. In that regard, the three fundamental components of a computer are the processor, the RAM, and the graphics card.

In addition, solid-state drives (SSDs) are becoming increasingly common in gaming PCs.

Their design is often attractive, with different light features that give them eye-catching aesthetics. Because these computers are so demanding, they generally include powerful cooling systems. Finally, no good gaming PC can exist without a power supply capable of supporting the needs of this type of equipment.

For whom are gaming PCs recommended?

First of all, any video game enthusiast looking for the best possible gaming experience will enjoy these devices. This is particularly true for those who want to enjoy greater graphics, a wide range of games, and who also need a computer for other tasks. “Work hard, play hard” is the motto of gaming PCs!

Are you a big fan of strategy games? Well, computers are undoubtedly the best platform for this popular genre. Besides, unlike with a PS4 or Xbox One, you can play multiplayer games online without paying a yearly subscription.

Jane McGonigalAmerican Video Game Designer

“A game is an opportunity to focus our energy, with relentless optimism, at something we’re good at (or getting better at) and enjoy. In other words, gameplay is the direct emotional opposite of depression.”

What are the advantages of gaming PCs?

These computers offer a number of advantages over other video game platforms, which is why many players find them so attractive. In the following table, you can compare the pros and cons of gaming PCs to realize just how valuable they are:

Advantages

They offer better features than video game consoles
They allow you to enjoy enhanced graphics
You don”t need a monthly subscription to play online gaming services
There is a wide variety of games, some of which are free
You can upgrade them to improve their overall performance
You can use them for other tasks such as office IT or studying
They have very attractive designs

Disadvantages

They are generally more expensive than video game consoles
Their energy consumption is higher
They can be bulky devices

What gaming PC do I need to play in 4K resolution at 60 FPS?

The difference between playing at 4K resolution and playing at Full HD is truly substantial. However, the level of detail in the images isn’t the only important aspect; you should also consider how a higher refresh rate can transform your gaming experience. This is where the interest of more and more players to play at 4K and 60 FPS comes from.

In that regard, here are some general guidelines regarding minimum requirements: a 3.6 GHz i7 3820 processor or equivalent, an NVIDIA GTX 1060 or AMD RX 480 graphics card, and 8GB of RAM. Keep in mind that this can vary significantly from one game to the next. In any case, you will need a 4K monitor.

Why is cooling crucial in gaming PCs?

Gamers are so demanding with these devices that their components tend to overheat more than usual. This is why it is essential that the equipment integrates a quality cooling system. Nowadays, all-in-one liquid cooling systems have become particularly trendy.

In fact, they are a top-quality option.

That being said, you should know that these components may require specific maintenance tasks that not all users can perform. Air cooling systems are the other alternative. They have the advantage of being more affordable, with very straightforward maintenance. But watch out for dust!

Can I assemble my gaming PC piece by piece?

Advanced users often find the option of designing their own computer component by component attractive. This tends to be more economical and allows you to truly customize your device. You will need some computer knowledge to put it together. Otherwise, you will have to hire a technician to do it for you.

Creating your own gaming PC isn’t necessarily the better option; in the end, it comes down to what is more comfortable for you. If you decide to assemble your new computer from scratch, make sure you check out all our articles on hardware. They will give you an idea of where to start.

Gaming PCs are incredibly powerful machines.
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Buyer’s Guide

In order to purchase the best gaming PC for your needs, you will have to evaluate a number of different shopping criteria. We want to make your life easier so you can start gaming as soon as possible, which is why we have delved into the main aspects in the section below. Once you have read about these different technical specs, you should be ready to find the gaming PC you’ve always wanted.

Game Genres
Computer Case
Motherboard
Processor
RAM
Graphics Card
Storage

Game Genres

Before you can choose which model suits you, it is essential that you consider the type of games you like and what their hardware requirements are. If you want to play games such as Metro Exodus, Crysis 3, or The Witcher III: Wild Hunt at the highest quality, you will need a really powerful computer.

If you’re a soccer fan and enjoy the realism of eFootball PES 2020 or FIFA 20, you’ll be glad to know that their requirements are much more modest. The same goes for stay-at-home strategists who prefer to play games like Hearts of Iron IV. In that regard, always check both the minimum and the recommended requirements of your favorite games beforehand.

If you want to play games such as Metro Exodus, Crysis 3, or The Witcher III: Wild Hunt at the highest quality, you will need a really powerful computer.
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Computer Case

This part of the device can sometimes be like gift wrapping; a few models don’t go beyond looking aesthetically appealing. But, other than lights and other attractive design features, you need to look into the expansion options the case offers. Does it allow you to add new storage units, cooling systems, or graphics cards?

Motherboard

Unfortunately, this hardware component is too often left aside in gaming PCs. But the motherboard is a fundamental element on which the rest of the electronic parts depend. In that sense, you should make sure that it has enough PCIe x16 connectors; this will allow you to integrate a second graphics card to the computer if needed.

If the gaming PC you choose doesn’t come with an SSD, you may want to opt for a model with an M.2 storage connector on the motherboard. That way, you can install an SSD yourself in the future. Keep in mind that it can be challenging to find the motherboard that is preinstalled in the device, so don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer.

Warren SpectorAmerican Video Game Designer

“Gamers both demand and deserve novelty. They need something new. As a game developer, one of my rules is there will be at least one thing in every game that I worked on that no one on the planet has seen before.”

Processor

Along with the graphics card, the processor is perhaps the most important hardware component in a gaming PC. It’s quite simple: the more powerful it is, the better your experience will be. Remember that most of today’s video games require a high processing capacity.

In that regard, betting on a model with a state-of-the-art processor is always a great decision.

When it comes to gaming, many believe that Intel’s chips guarantee better performance than AMD processors. However, the latter stand out for their fantastic value for money – not to mention the fact that the brand’s Zen microarchitecture is closing the gap with Intel.

RAM

Right now, 8 to 16GB of RAM is more than enough if you don’t plan on broadcasting your online gaming sessions in 4K resolution. When it comes to this hardware component, quality is often more important than quantity. You will have to pay attention to the frequency and latency of the RAM to measure its quality.

The higher the frequency, the faster the memory and, therefore, the better the performance. 2400MHz is a good reference value. Regarding the latency (often hidden behind the acronym CL), the lower the latency, the better. In addition, make sure to check the type of memory the component offers – DDR4 being the best available.

Advanced users often find the option of designing their own computer component by component attractive.
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Graphics Card

There’s no having a quality gaming PC without a good graphics card. For many years, NVIDIA has been at the forefront of the industry, providing the best gaming graphics out there. However, AMD is now marketing models that offer top-quality performance to match those of its main rivals.

Once again, you should consider the games you want to play and the resolution you’re expecting to enjoy. If you’re going to play Battlefield V at 4K and 144Hz, anything below an NVIDIA RTX 2080 or an AMD Radeon Vega VII simply won’t do. Other games are much less demanding.

Storage

As far as storage is concerned, three options are available to you. On the one hand, you can opt for a traditional hard drive; on the other hand, you can decide to install an SSD in your gaming PC. The third and best option, however, is to combine both.

On the SSD, you can install the operating system and the games you play.
The HDD is then dedicated to saving all your data.

The advantage of SSDs is that they are much faster, allowing you to load games in less time. So you might want to have a 256GB or 512GB SSD with an HDD of 1TB or more.