Here are some pointers for selecting a PC with an appropriate assortment of ports and connectivity features:. Find a store. Get directions. Visit Website. Altering clock frequency or voltage may void any product warranties and reduce stability, security, performance, and life of the processor and other components. Check with system and component manufacturers for details. Skip To Main Content. Safari Chrome Edge Firefox. Consider an SSD for faster loading times.
Make sure the system has plenty of accessible USB ports for connecting gaming devices. This article will cover some of the primary considerations when choosing a pre-built PC, including: Case design and aesthetics , or how to choose a case that fits your gaming environment, your visual preferences, and has the feature set you need.
Case Design. Outside of the size of the case, other design decisions should factor into your purchasing decision: Front panel connectivity.
Ensure the front panel has enough quick-access USB or audio ports for connecting peripherals and devices that frequently need to be unplugged, like controllers, phones, headsets, and external storage. Otherwise, you may have to connect them to the back of the system, which can be more difficult to access depending on your setup. Rear panel connectivity. Likewise, the back panel should have sufficient ports for devices that stay plugged in long-term, like your monitor, Ethernet connection, mouse, and keyboard.
Future upgradeability. Though you can certainly still work on smaller systems, compact configurations tend to be more complex and potentially more challenging than a standard ATX build. If future upgrades are a consideration, a more spacious case also means more flexibility when it comes to larger hardware.
Not all pre-built systems are designed to be opened, however, so consult any relevant warranties before attempting to work on a system for the first time. Cooling and airflow. Gaming desktops use various methods to keep the components inside sufficiently cool, and the more powerful the hardware, the more important proper cooling becomes.
A pre-built system will likely have been built with a cooling system appropriate for the components inside. For more about system cooling, check out this guide to the importance of keeping your PC cool or read about liquid and air CPU coolers. But the Vengeance gaming PCs are more straightforward, and that means they're also far easier to upgrade down the line. Corsair's chassis are among the best around, and the most accessible when it comes to getting all DIY yourself, which makes the Vengeance machines a great first PC with a view to getting into the upgrade game later on down the line.
The only issue with that is Corsair doesn't really lend itself to the more affordable end of the PC spectrum. Read our full Corsair Vengeance A review. The standard config comes with 8GB dual-channel memory, and a GB SSD, but there are configuration options galore to tweak, and we'd recommend taking a look at a 16GB memory spec with a larger SSD if you can afford it. 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.
We received the original review unit packed an RTX and an 8th Gen Core i7 , but we've come a long way since then. Perhaps the most impressive part of the Obelisk is the price tag. This is primarily due to HP trimming off all the non-essential frills that tend to pad out the price of several 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.
If you value smooth lines and compact design over the flash and spectacle of RGB, you'll appreciate the dark, slightly brooding aesthetic of the Obelisk. 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 a larger case and is easier to transport.
It's the epitome of function over form and is available at a great price. Read our full HP Omen Obelisk review. Especially if you're after something that isn't the size of a house too. Origin PC's Chronos machine is a slight form factor build that can house the most powerful gaming components around.
And, to be honest, the fact you can squeeze a core Ryzen 9 X and an Nvidia GeForce RTX in there means you could have yourself one hell of a powerful workstation too.
That next-gen hardware is now available in the Chronos V2 design. But that way lies supreme expense. Origin PCs aren't cheap, but they are well-built, super customizable, and you could still create a far more affordable gaming machine from a Ryzen 5 X and an RTX 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. There's also the Fractal ERA if you're the serious type. That will negate any potential thermal issues you might encounter, dropping super high-end components into the smaller confines of the Chronos case. If you prefer gaming on-the-go, you'll want to take a look at our best gaming laptop guide. It's wild what you can stuff into such a small chassis nowadays and have it run reasonably cool and quiet too.
You'll have to adjust your expectations for CPU temperatures perhaps a little above your comfort zone during intense operations, but nothing these chips aren't built to handle day in, day out. It's an impressive PC given its small stature—you could happily sit this PC on your desktop and still leave plenty of room for your gamer drinks and tinted glasses.
Read our full Corsair One A review. One of the most significant advantages of building your PC is the ability to hand-pick every single component in the system. This allows you to take your time shopping around for deals and finding the perfect combination of parts to fit your budget and performance needs. The downside for most inexperienced builders is that this process can take some time and cause quite a headache if something goes wrong. So if you plan on upgrading your investment over time, keep this in mind.
VR-readiness: Want to game in VR? Make sure your machine meets this requirements before you plunk down cash for one. In our search to find the best gaming PC, we run every model we review through a standardized gauntlet of real-world and benchmark tests, in order to measure how each desktop stacks up as both a gaming machine and as an everyday computer.
As far as hard numbers go, we currently run the framerate benchmark utilities for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry: New Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Grand Theft Auto V at x with graphics maxed out, as well as at x and 4K if a system allows for it. On top of that, we play tons of graphics-intensive games in order to give you a sense of how these gaming desktops hold up anecdotally.
In terms of synthetic tests, we run a gamut of benchmarks that include 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra for graphics and Geekbench 4 and 5 for processor performance. We also run the SteamVR Performance Test on all of our machines to evaluate how ready they are for virtual reality. To test a system's hard drive, we measure how fast each PC can copy 4. Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software.
He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi. Included in this guide: 1. The best gaming PCs give you the power to play the most impressive, demanding games in the biggest and most beautiful form possible.
Corsair Vengeance i Specifications VR Ready: Yes. Accessories: None. Reasons to avoid - Boxy, old-fashioned case design - Doesn't include peripherals. Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R Reasons to avoid - Very loud - Inconvenient design. Processor: Up to Intel Core iK, 3. Corsair One Pro i Processor: Intel Core iX.
Reasons to avoid - Expensive, confusing configurations - Needless software and accessories. Dell XPS Specifications VR-Ready: Yes if configured properly. Reasons to avoid - No extremely powerful configurations - Limited storage options. Dell G5 Gaming Desktop However, modular PSUs are expensive, sometimes twice as much as their non-modular counterparts. You can save big by opting for a non-modular PSU. Bringing everything together is your motherboard. There are two aspects to consider: The socket and the chipset.
Thankfully, the former is easy. Every processor is manufactured to fit in a certain socket — Ryzen processors use the AM4 socket, for example — so you just need to make sure your CPU fits the socket on your motherboard. The chipset is more interesting. Both AMD and Intel offer different chipsets with different features targeting different prices.
For gaming, the important question is if you want to overclock your processor. AMD supports overclocking on its X- and B-series chipsets, while Intel only supports overclocking on its X-series chipsets. Otherwise, your motherboard will have almost zero performance impact. There are considerations outside of performance, however. Manufacturers will include different features on their motherboards, such as better networking capabilities or a better sound chip.
Furthermore, motherboards come with different levels of expandability some may come with only two RAM slots, for example. For better insight into what motherboard to pick, read our guide on the best motherboards for gaming. When setting up your gaming desktop, keep in mind that your gaming ecosystem is a careful balancing act.
You have to figure out what you prefer and want from your overall gameplay experience and then invest in the resources that will make that happen. Those features will make the biggest difference in improving how your game visually looks. From there, reliable and ample storage will make the game run and load faster. Keep in mind; this investment is entirely up to you, so build a PC that works for you. If how your PC looks matters to you, then trick it out.
Light the PC up and make it look incredible. Galaxy Buds 2.
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