For gamers who prefer a hassle-free entry into the PC gaming world, pre-built gaming PCs offer a compelling alternative to building your own rig. While you miss the satisfaction of a DIY build, the time saved on research, component sourcing, assembly, and troubleshooting is significant—time you can spend actually playing games. Gone are the days of inferior pre-built systems; today's options boast long-lasting components and often offer cost savings compared to purchasing high-end graphics cards and processors individually. Many are also easily upgradeable, allowing for future enhancements, such as our favorite, the spacious HP Omen 45L.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming PCs

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Our Top Pick: Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

See it at Lenovo

HP Omen 45L

See it at HP

iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Gaming Desktop

See it at Amazon
See it at Best Buy

Alienware Aurora R16

See it at Dell

Asus ROG NUC

See it at Amazon

Choosing a gaming PC involves more than selecting a console. Consider your gaming preferences and desired performance levels; budget gaming PCs won't match high-end systems in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Matching processor, storage, memory, and cooling is crucial for optimal performance. Fortunately, many manufacturers handle this, preventing system bottlenecks.

Note the recent release of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, and the upcoming AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in March 2025. While not all pre-builts currently feature these, expect updates soon.

Whether you prioritize affordability, compact size, or top-tier 4K performance, our selection caters to various needs. Click here for UK options.

*Contributions by Danielle Abraham and Georgie Peru*

*For additional savings, check out the best gaming PC deals.*

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i – Photos

7 Images

1. Lenovo Legion Tower 7i

Best Gaming PC

The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i boasts powerful hardware and easy upgradability. See it at Lenovo

Product Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KF
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti – RTX 4080 Super
• RAM: Up to 32GB DDR5 @ 4,000MHz
• Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD
• Weight: 37.48 lbs
• Size: 19.37 x 8.31 x 18.27 inches (H x W x D)

PROS: Extremely solid performance for the money; Easy to upgrade
CONS: Ships with very basic memory and motherboard

The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i exemplifies a shift away from proprietary hardware, offering standard components for easy repair and upgrading. While it economizes on initial memory and motherboard specs, the standard sizing makes future upgrades straightforward, serving as an accessible entry point into PC customization.

2. HP Omen 45L

Best Current-Gen PC

Breeze through tasks and games with an Intel Core i9 CPU, Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU, and 16GB RAM, all kept cool by a robust system. See it at HP

Product Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core i7-14700K – Intel Core i9-14900K
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti – RTX 4090
• RAM: 16GB DDR5 – 64GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB – 2TB SSD (System); 1TB – 2TB 7200 rpm hard disk (Secondary)
• Weight: 49.82 pounds
• Size: 8.03 x 18.5 x 21.85 inches (W x D x H)

PROS: Great cooling system; One of the best cases in a pre-built gaming PC
CONS: It is VERY heavy. Team lifting definitely recommended.

The HP Omen 45L stands out with its spacious, upgrade-friendly case, accommodating even custom water cooling and high-end graphics cards. While pricey, the ease of upgrading makes it a worthwhile investment, especially considering its excellent chassis.

3. iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh Gaming Desktop

Best Budget Gaming PC

An affordable option offering processors for 1080p gaming and high-bandwidth DDR5 RAM. See it at Amazon & Best Buy

Product Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core i7-14700F
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz
• Storage: 1TB SSD
• Weight: 35 pounds
• Size: 19.3" x 8.66" x 18.9"

PROS: Ready to run games in 1080p at high frame rates; Includes mouse and keyboard
CONS: Not good for 4K gaming

The iBuyPower Trace 7 Mesh offers excellent value, delivering solid 1080p performance with its 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and RTX 4060 Ti. The inclusion of a keyboard and mouse further enhances its appeal for budget-conscious gamers.

4. Alienware Aurora R16

Best High-End Gaming PC

Push your gaming limits with powerful processors, impressive cooling, and 32GB RAM for high frame rates in 4K. See it at Dell

Product Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KF
• GPU: Nvidia RTX 4080 Super
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 5,600MHz
• Storage: 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD
• Weight: 33.9 pounds
• Size: 16.46" x 7.75" x 18.05"

PROS: Wildly powerful processors; Multitasking maven
CONS: More mainstream design

For those with a substantial budget, the Alienware Aurora R16 delivers top-tier performance with its high-end components and efficient cooling.

5. Asus ROG NUC

Best Mini Gaming PC

The Asus ROG NUC is surprisingly powerful for its compact size, featuring a mobile-class RTX 4070. See it at Amazon

Product Specifications

• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 – Intel Core Ultra 9
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 – Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (Mobile)
• RAM: 16GB – 32GB DDR5
• Storage: 512GB – 1TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD
• Weight: 5.73 pounds
• Size: 10.62 x 7.09 x 2.36 inches (W x D x H)

PROS: The same size as a cable box; Solid 1080p gaming performance
CONS: Uses mobile-class hardware

The Asus ROG NUC provides a powerful gaming experience in a remarkably small form factor, ideal for space-constrained setups or as a home theater PC.

Where to Get the Best Gaming PC in the UK

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MSI MEG Trident X2

See it at Newegg

How to Choose a Gaming PC

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Pre-built PCs offer convenience and often cost-effectiveness. Prioritize the graphics card based on your monitor's resolution (e.g., an RTX 3060 Ti suffices for 1080p). An Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor with four cores handles most modern games. Consider upgrading RAM and storage yourself later for potential cost savings. Barebones systems offer another option, providing major hardware but omitting storage, memory, and OS. Boutique builders offer customized builds with superior cable management. NZXT's BLD and iBuyPower's Easy Builder services simplify component selection based on your gaming preferences.

Gaming PC FAQ

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Should you buy a gaming PC or a gaming laptop? Desktops usually offer better performance, upgradability, and longevity.

Is it easy to upgrade your prebuilt gaming PC? Most modern pre-builts use standard components for easier upgrades. Look for tool-less designs for simpler component swaps.

Should you buy a gaming PC or a console? PCs offer a wider game library, superior upgradability, better performance, and greater peripheral options.

Can you find a good gaming PC for under $1,000? Yes, but expect limitations in performance, especially in graphically demanding games.

Should you build your own gaming PC? Building your own offers customization and potential cost savings but requires technical knowledge and time.