Ignore the haters, PC gaming is in better shape than ever. Top-end powerhouse builds, such as the cutting-edge Overclockers UK Titan Hadron are no longer single-handedly occupying the throne, thanks to loosened system requirements in emerging games tech like VR.
The simplicity of digital storefronts like Steam and the Windows Store makes buying the best PC games easy as pie, even if digital supplies aren't as endless as they once were. As all the components are interchangeable on a PC, the right configuration can produce visuals far superior to the latest consoles.
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A great gaming rig doesn't come cheap though. You'll need to dive deep into in your wallet for a PC donning the most powerful graphics card, a top-end Skylake (or Kaby Lake if you want Netflix in 4K) processor and ultra fast, capacious storage options.
However, if you strongly prefer to play games with the settings cranked up at a steady frame rate, you may not mind the lofty upfront cost. The choice is yours: you can build your own PC that tailors to your specific needs or you could effortlessly purchase one of the 7 stellar gaming PCs that we have recommended below. Your call.
The latest Overclockers machine is one of the best-designed gaming PCs we've ever seen, with bespoke water-cooling, a great color scheme and keen attention to detail. It marries its great design with top-notch performance in games and applications. Luckily it never gets too hot or too loud either. It is, however expensive and niche, with limited potential for upgrading. If you're looking for an attractive and unique LAN-friendly gaming PC that can handle anything from 4K gaming to VR, the Asteroid is an out-of-this-world machine with a price tag that will bring you back down to earth.
Read the full review: Overclockers Asteroid
This gaming desktop might come wrapped in a designer case, but don't be fooled – it's significantly more accessible and easy to upgrade than your average pre-built system short of a boutique. The arrival of the Y900, among a few other machines on this very list, herald a eureka moment in the major vendors' approach to PC gaming: give the people exactly what they want. A tool-less internal design will help soften the blow of sub-par cable management. Meanwhile, the device has plenty of room for expansions and upgrades. If you want the lowest friction possible getting into PC gaming, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is a fine place to start.
Read the full review: Lenovo Ideacentre Y900
One of the few PCs on this list to earn a perfect score, the Alienware Aurora R5 combines design elements traditional to Dell's famed luxury gaming brand with a handful of contemporary twists. The nigh-mini ITX computer bears resemblance to, say, the Area 51, but with a case that feels strikingly more native to our home planet. Of course, it simultaneously boasts top-of-the-line specs; an overclockable K-series Intel Core i7 CPU, a GeForce GTX 1080 and a massively capable 850W power supply are just a few of the Aurora R5's redeeming qualities. Plus, even with the small chassis, there's plenty of room for an unparalleled SLI configuration.
Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R5
Sure, for the price of an Origin Millennium PC, you could buy a halfway decent car. But why would you need to leave the house when you can play games in 4K at a buttery smooth 60 fps? That's the question Origin hopes you'll ask when you talk to your spouse about dropping six grand on a new gaming rig. Between its pair of EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition twins and the new Intel Broadwell-E Core i7-6950X processor, there is nothing the Origin Millennium can't handle – and on the best of the best displays at that. Of course, it's expensive; it's like ten years worth of future-proof.
Read the full review: Origin Millennium
Interested in Ultra HD gaming without spending a fortune? Enter the StormForce Tornado, a GTX 1070-equipped rig with the outward appearance of a spaceship and five drive bays for nearly limitless internal storage potential. If you don't mind the extensive wait times of a hard drive (as opposed to a PCIe or M.2 SSD), the StormForce Tornado is a no-brainer. Starting at a mere £899 (about $1,180/AUS$1,540), the StormForce Tornado makes 1440p gaming (and even 4K, to an extent) affordable, and who doesn't want that?
Read the full review: StormForce Tornado
Scan's 3XS Vengeance gaming computer very closely matches that of Chillblast's Fusion Master, boasting an overclocked Skylake processor for the fastest possible gaming performance and a powerful, if not a little outdated, GeForce GTX 980 graphics card. This sort of setup will cope with any game up to 1440p resolution in maximum detail. The gap in price between the two systems can be attributed to small differences – a slightly smaller Samsung M.2 PCI Express SSD and less memory in Scan's default configuration. Whichever you opt for, the combination of Skylake and a GeForce GTX 980 will result in an exceptional gaming PC.
While the Titan Virtual Force is neither tastefully designed nor particularly subtle, it's glitzy and self-indulgent, illuminating a green ooze reminiscent of the Manhattan sewers (cowabunga!). At the same time, of course, Overclockers was less concerned about making a fashion statement and more obsessed with crafting one of the most capable pre-built computers money can buy. Complete with a 4K-capable GTX 980 Ti, an overclockable Intel 6600K and 8GB of RAM at the entry level, the Titan Virtual Force serves as an excellent shortcut to buttery smooth VR, or UltraHD, gaming on the high end.
Read the full review: Overclockers Titan Virtual Force
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Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article
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