The Best Gaming PCs in 2024

The Alienware Aurora R16 packs in the RTX 4080 Super 16GB GPU and a 14th-gen Intel Core i9 processor from Intel’s flagship gaming CPU lineup. You can overclock the processor, but most games cannot fully utilize its base performance, let alone its overclocked mode.

As expected, it tackles titles like “Black Myth: Wukong” at 4K resolution, with FPS well above 60. But why not the RTX 4090? Despite being at the helm, the RTX 4090 is overkill for most gamers and inflates the price of this best computer for gaming by $700-1000. The RTX 4080 Super delivers exceptional 4K performance at this price point and has plenty of VRAM for future games.

It uses a custom mid-tower design with mindful RGB placement that doesn’t cover the entire case, and the AlienFX app allows you to customize the light zones. I love the port selection: The front has 4 USB ports (one USB-C) with fast data transfer speeds, and the back has eight more USB (two USB-C) and video ports.

I admire that Alienware added liquid cooling to the CPU. The case has adequate airflow vents to keep the components cool. So you won’t have to worry about excessive temperatures sabotaging its performance.

It uses a few proprietary parts (motherboard and PSU) that can’t be upgraded in the future. Still, the RAM, GPU, and storage are upgradeable. With all variants of the Aurora R16, you’ll also get a basic keyboard and mouse combo.

The Alienware Aurora R16 has multiple variants with different Nvidia GPUs and Intel Core i7 or i9 processors. Here are the best options:

• Intel i7 14700F/32GB/RTX 4060 – A great option for budget gamers looking for a 1080p resolution experience.
• Intel i7 14700F/32GB/RTX 4070 SUPER – Can handle games at 2K resolution without hiccups.
• Intel i9 14900KF/32GB/RTX 4080 SUPER – Suitable for playing games at 4K resolution with 60 FPS or more, streaming, or VR.

The RTX 4080 SUPER variant is a superb choice for heavy-duty gaming performance.

If you want to play all games in 4K resolution, stream them, or do creative stuff like video editing, the Alienware Aurora R16 can handle it well. Its only downside is limited upgradeability.

I’m baffled that the Origin Chronos V3 fits such potent hardware in a limited space. It employs a 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD. The processor trails behind the i9 in performance, but you won’t see any signs of struggle while playing CPU-bound games like Cyberpunk 2077.

The Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti SUPER handles the GPU department, ensuring seamless 1440p gaming at the highest settings. With its 16GB VRAM capacity, you will crush the recommended limit for most new/upcoming games. You can also achieve 4K performance with DLSS 3.5, and Frame Generation tech backed into this RTX 40-series GPU.

I like the color options, and Origin includes dust filters on the backside, something that Alienware Aurora R16 skips. The temperature doesn’t climb to eyebrow-raising levels, which is a commendable feat for this small gaming PC.

The Origin Chronos V3 includes seven USB ports, but you have to open the top part to access four, which is kind of annoying. I recommend investing in a USB hub to solve this problem because the three USB ports on the front (one USB-C port) get occupied quickly.

The Origin Chronos V3 is the best-looking gaming PC and demands a premium price. Even the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti variant retails above $2,000. Here are its variant’s specs and pricing:

• Intel Core i5-14600K/32GB/RTX 4060 Ti 8GB – A mid-range gaming PC capable of running games at 1080p.
• Intel Core i7-14700K/32GB/RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 12GB – This is the perfect middle-ground offering that can push games to their limit in 1440p.
• Intel Core i9-14900K /64GB/RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB – Includes all the bells and whistles of a 4K capable rig.

The Intel Core i7 and RTX 4070 Ti Super variant is the best choice, sufficient for immersive gaming.

If you need a compact gaming PC with powerful gaming hardware and a stunning case design, go for the Origin Chronos V3. It is more expensive than the Alienware Aurora R16 because it targets a niche audience.

The Asus ROG G22CH’s apt combination of Intel Core i7 and Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti makes it a perfect mid-range gaming build. However, its processor is slightly slower than the i7 14700K variant and lacks integrated graphics.

That said, this PC has a dedicated GPU, so the lack of an integrated GPU isn’t an issue. It still has 20 cores and measures well in my gaming and productivity tests. The RTX 4060 Ti makes a big difference in performance compared to the older RTX 3060. In addition, you can leverage the AI upscaling features of this GPU to run demanding games like Starfield and Baldurs Gate 3 at high settings.

I’m amazed by the build quality of the Asus ROG G22CH case. It is tiny and sturdy and has a mesh design on all corners for airflow, which is rare in budget rigs.

With the Asus ROG G22CH, you get only 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD, which will require an upgrade in the coming years. The port selection is pretty standard: three USB 3.2 Gen 2 (One USB-C) and four more at the back, which are hard to reach. You can only change its RAM and storage.

The Asus ROG G22CH has multiple models, but most lack the 32GB RAM option. Here are some of them:

• Intel Core i5-13400F/16GB/RTX 3060 12GB – This is a budget gaming rig that can run games at 1080p and is priced well.
• Intel Core i7-14700F/16GB/RTX 4060 Ti 8GB – A perfect value proposition for 1080p/1440p gaming with Nvidia’s latest AI upscaling technology.
• Intel Core i9-14900KF/32GB/RTX 4070 12GB – Powerful rig for gaming at ultra settings in 1440p and even 4K with some compromise in the FPS.

The RTX 4060 Ti variant is the top choice among all the Asus ROG G22CH pre-builts.

If you’re on a budget but want to make a good investment, the Asus ROG G22CH is a solid choice. Its powerful 20-core processor will perform well in gaming and other CPU-intensive scenarios. It’s not as good-looking as the Origin Chronos V3, but it makes up for it in build quality and performance—a true value proposition.

The Corsair Vengeance i7500’s case design isn’t much different from its predecessors, but why change it if it works? It sports an elegant transparent side panel that showcases its monstrous components, and accessing the parts, cleaning them, or swapping them is convenient.

You get the 14th-gen Intel Core i9 processor with 64GB RAM and two additional RAM slots to complement it, and the RTX 4090 inside it is the best GPU that money can buy now. With these overkill specifications, the FPS soared to new levels in every game I played on this PC. Even Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K with Ray tracing is a piece of cake with this graphics card.

Despite having the best computer specs for gaming, I cannot praise this PC’s port selection. You get only two latest-gen USB ports (one Type-C) at the top front area, while the eight others live in the back and are a pain to access. Its CPU uses a liquid cooler that dissipates the heat from the top of the case.

You get a two-year warranty with massive upgrade options in most departments except the CPU. However, it only offers a 2TB SSD, which could be higher.

Corsair Vengeance i7500 is a premium purchase, even in its lower-end configurations:

• Intel Core i5-14600KF/32GB/RTX 4060 Ti 8GB – A 1080p gaming rig that’s quite a bit overpriced than it should be.
• Intel Core i7-14700KF/32GB/RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB – This rig can play 4K games, but it will shine in 1440p scenarios at the highest framerates.
• Intel Core i9-14900KF/64GB/RTX 4090 24GB – This is the top-end model that can run everything imaginable.

The RTX 4090 model is overall one of the best gaming PCs you can buy in 2024.

The Corsair Vengeance i7500 is great for anyone looking for extensive customization and unwavering performance in all scenarios. If you aren’t worried about the price, it’s the best-prebuilt gaming PC for 4K gaming, playing the best VR games, or running anything else.

Apart from its massive 45L case, the HP Omen has good specs for 1440p gaming and the same processor present in Origin Chronos V3. The RTX 4070 Super in this rig is inferior to the RTX 4070 Ti Super in Origin Chronos V3, but this decision keeps the overall price under $2,000.

I didn’t notice any performance letdown in 1440p scenarios, and the GPU kept up with 4K demands in GTA V and Resident Evil 4.

The only questionable choice and a limiting factor in a good gaming computer like this is its measly 16GB RAM. It makes sense in a value product like the Asus ROG G22CH but not in a $2,000 computer gaming machine. You can use the bundled Omen gaming hub app to check system vitals, configure lighting, and even overclock it.

It comes with 1TB of storage, which is the norm, and you can easily upgrade the RAM and SSD. The Cryo Chamber design helps the CPU draw cool air to prevent CPU overheating. HP hasn’t improved the front USB port selection and lacks the USB-C port. You’ll have to turn the case to plug a USB device into the two USB Type-C ports.

HP Omen 45L only offers RTX 40XX series GPU options. Here are some of the variants you can consider:

• Intel Core i7-14700K/16GB/RTX 4060 Ti 8GB – A capable CPU with a good GPU for stellar 1080p gaming.
• Intel Core i7-14700K/16GB/RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB – This model offers the best balance of CPU and GPU for 2K gaming.
• Intel Core i9-14900K/32GB/RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB – This is a high-end rig for 4K lovers but at a very steep price.

HP Omen 45L RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB variant is a sensible choice among the above three.

The HP Omen 45L is ideal for gamers who want maximum room for upgrades and an overclockable processor. No component is too big for this case.

The iBUYPOWER Y40 is a mid-range gaming PC that packs the latest-gen Intel Core i7 14700F processor and 32GB RAM. RTX 4060 Ti with 16GB VRAM is a competent card in this segment that’ll help you in games that need more video memory.

With these specifications, 1080p gaming is a cherishable experience. It delivered exceptionally well in some games I tested at 1440p with high settings—so, despite being a budget gaming PC, it had no performance issues.

The all-glass design is a sight to behold but quickly catches fingerprints. It has a modest port selection: two USB Type-A and one USB Type-C port at the front, while the rest of the connectivity options (USB, display, audio, etc.) are at the back.

I also appreciate iBUYPOWER Y40’s idea of including a 2TB SSD with the rig—no need to purchase additional SSD drives.

The iBUYPOWER Y40 is more economical than all other PC gaming brands on this list:

• Intel Core i7 14700F/32GB/RTX 4060 Ti 16GB – A reasonably capable rig for 1080p gaming and multitasking.
• Intel Core i7 14700F/32GB/RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB – More powerful GPU paired with the same processor for 1440p gaming and streaming.
• Intel Core i7 14700F/32GB/RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB – This model features Nvidia’s second-most powerful card for 4K gaming with ray tracing.

Of the three options here, the RTX 4060 Ti with 16GB VRAM is the ideal budget gamer’s PC.

The iBUYPOWER Y40 is great for anyone looking for the best bang-for-the-buck option. It comes loaded with a sleek-looking tempered glass case and even a keyboard-mouse combo, making it difficult to find another similar gaming PC for under $1,500.

The MSI Infinite RS 14th is stacked with the most robust components available today. Be it the 24-core Intel Core i9 14900KF processor or the avant-garde RTX 4090 graphics card, everything is maxed out. Note that the “KF” processor variant has the same overclocking capabilities as Core i9 14900K but lacks the integrated GPU.

Add 64 GB RAM and 2 GB SSD, and you get a perfect gaming beast. Like the Corsair i7500, this pricy gaming PC delivers sustained performance at 4K resolution. I didn’t find any shortcomings with its performance, even in ray tracing-supported titles. However, the credit goes to its liquid-cooled GPU and CPU.

It’s also one of the few recommended gaming PCs with a hinged case design. You can open the doors from either side to clean the PC or add components. The front-top area has three USB ports (one Type-C), a reset, and an LED control switch.

I found it easy to switch the RGB mode from the case rather than juggling with profiles in the app. The MSI is even generous enough to bundle a gaming keyboard and mouse combo, so you can’t go wrong if you have the budget.

The MSI Infinite RS 14th is one for those with deeper pockets, with only two variants:

The MSI Infinite RS 14th doesn’t have a low-spec version. I recommend the 64GB RAM variant because it has better thermal management due to liquid cooling.

The MSI Infinite RS 14th is a bit of an overkill gaming PC, certainly not for the faint-hearted. Grab it if you want a good gaming PC with a full-blown 4K performance at a significantly lower price.