1. Alienware Aurora R11
The best overall gaming PC
CPU: Intel Core i5 10400F – i9 10900 | GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 – RTX 2080 Super | RAM: 8GB – 32GB 2933MHz | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD + 2TB SATA HDD
No price information
CHECK AMAZON
See all prices (1 found)
Toolless accessUpgradeableSolid after-sale support
Alienware is a household name when it comes to gaming desktops that share a, shall we say, unique aesthetic. While the extraterrestrial styling may not appeal to everyone, their performance remains undeniable. The freshly minted Aurora R11 uses the same compact design as its R9 forebear, our previous top pick, and means the new Intel 10th Gen processors have found a home in Alienware's Aurora chassis.
It offers four different configurations of Comet Lake CPU: the i5 10400F, i7 10700, i7 10700K, and i9 10900. They're paired with Nvidia GPUs from the GTX 1650 up to the RTX 2080 Super. That gives you a range of Alienware gaming machines from affordable 1080p right up to 4K smashing performance, and the Alienware AIO cooling system will help keep the cozy interior of the case at a reasonable temperature too.
It does have to be said that there is an Alienware premium attached whichever components you choose. However, the higher-than-average price provides you with reliable build quality, exceptional customer service, and solid warranties. The numerous pre-fab options offered by Alienware also help eliminate much of the guesswork associated with customizing your system. Some options provide better value for the parts used, but for hassle-free PC gaming out of the box, it's tough to beat the ease of use that Alienware provides.
The unconventional design of the case exploits every inch of its limited space but does initially feel a bit awkward to tinker with. The ability to access nearly every part of the PC without tools, however, is a definite plus, and expedites upgrades and maintenance. There's an obvious priority here on providing a convenient, premium product with some potential for upgrades, and the Aurora R9 accomplishes that goal.
2. Corsair One i164
The best compact form factor gaming PC
CPU: Intel Core i9 9900K | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti | RAM: 32GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: 960GB NVMe M.2 SSD, 2TB HDD
$3,459
VIEW AT AMAZON
$3,499.99
View at Microsoft US
See all prices (3 found)
Slim, minimalist footprintOutstanding performanceUpgradable, but tricky to access some componentsThe cheapest model ain't cheap
One of our highest rated prebuilt gaming PCs is back in an updated model, the Corsair One i164. It’s still the same small form factor PC, but with updated hardware, a revamped internal layout, and a few other slight changes. The case design still looks like something straight out of Tron. The CPU and GPU both use independent liquid cooling solutions, and all the hot air is pumped out by a single 140mm maglev fan. The PSU now sits below the motherboard, and some of the USB ports have been re-positioned on the front of the case, but that’s the extent of the non-component changes.
Like a number of the prebuilt systems on this list, the Corsair One i164 isn't the only configuration the One comes in. In fact, with an Intel Core i9 9900K and an RTX 2080 Ti, the i160 is the mid-range model. Yes, you read that right, the mid-range model. The lower i140 model comes with a Core i7 9700K and an RTX 2080, while the Corsair One Pro i180 workstation model comes with a Core i9-9920X and an RTX 2080 Ti.
The price varies based on the specs, of course, so if $3,600 for the i160 is a little too rich for your blood, the i140 is $600 less at $3,000. If you are in the market for a compact workstation, the i180 will zap $5,000 from your bank account. All three models come with 32GB of RAM, so you won't need to worry about upgrading that aspect of the One for years to come.
Regardless of the configuration, the most recent Corsair One is a sleek, potent little machine designed for anyone wrestling with space considerations, or for those who want a powerful PC but don't want to listen to it whine every time it's stressed with a graphically intensive game.
3. HP Omen Obelisk
The best gaming PC under $2,000
CPU: Intel Core i7 8700 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD, 2TB HDD
$1,099.99
VIEW AT MICROSOFT US
$1,499
View at Amazon
$2,078.99
View at Amazon
See all prices (7 found)
Powerful components Designed to remove needless frills and keep costs lowMinimalist design might not appeal to some
Hewlett Packard has been around since before the second World War, and that historical expertise is evident in the design and construction of the Omen Obelisk. The Obelisk is highly customizable, starting with a GTX 1060 and Ryzen 5 2500X and reaching up some top class parts—the original review unit we received packed an RTX 2080 and an 8th Gen Core i7 8700, so you'll be ready for the moment when ray tracing stops being a buzzword and starts being an essential feature (any day now, right?).
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Obelisk is the price tag. Despite a new, high-end RTX card and that rock solid CPU (as well as 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and 2TB HDD), the Obelisks comes in just under $2,000. This is largely due to HP trimming off all the non-essential frills that tend to pad out the price of a number of similarly specced machines.
You won't find an over-elaborate liquid cooling system or a massive suite of spectacular RGB lighting; the Obelisk is an appropriately named dense black block of computing power. As someone who values smooth lines and compact design over the flash and spectacle of RGB, I appreciate the dark, slightly brooding aesthetic of the Obelisk, and it does have a clear side panel to let you see the red-lit interior of the machine.
It's similarly configured to the slightly more expensive Corsair Vengeance, but it comes in a much smaller frame. While on the one hand there's less space to muck around in the case if you do decide to upgrade in the future, the Obelisk can slip easily into much tighter spaces than larger case and is easier to transport. It's the epitome of function over form and available at a great price.
4. Origin PC Chronos
AMD-powered small form factor PC gaming
CPU: Up to Ryzen 9 3900X | GPU: Up to Titan RTX | RAM: Up to 32GB 3,000MHz | Storage: Gen4 PCIe SSD up to 2TB
No price information
CHECK AMAZON
See all prices (1 found)
Micro gaming rigVertical or horizontal positioningHuge choice of componentsPrice quickly adds up
Origin PC's Chronos machine is a small form factor build that can house the most powerful gaming components around. And, to be honest, the fact you can squeeze a 12-core Ryzen 9 3900X and an Nvidia Titan RTX in there means you could have yourself one hell of a powerful workstation too.
But that way lies supreme expense. Origin PCs aren't cheap, but they're well-built, super customizable, and you could still create yourself a far more affordable gaming machine from a Ryzen 5 3600 and a GTX 1660 pairing. If you're not sold on the actual Origin Chronos chassis, and maybe fancy a little more Perspex in your build, you can go for the lovely Fractal Define Nano S instead.
That will negate any potential thermal issues you might encounter dropping super high-end components into the smaller confines of the Chronos case.
Origin is also offering free shipping and a $100 Visa reward card right now to sweeten the deal a little too. You'll also get three months of Xbox Game Pass if you do drop an AMD Ryzen processor into your build, which means you're not going to have to spend any more cash on games for a while.
Hope you all enjoy reading and hope that you like a pc for gaming so don't be shy to comment and share the article with your friends which are not able to find any gaming computer.
Comments
Post a Comment