With Black Friday 2025 sales now in full swing, picking the best gaming PC for your needs is more important than ever. However, as easy as it would make things, there is no single best gaming PC on the market. The desktop that will serve you best depends on your budget and the kind of games you like to play.
If you’re big into competitive online titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Rocket League (like me), you don’t need to shell out thousands of dollars on the best graphics card and processor combo you can find. Your main goal should be maximizing FPS while keeping costs low.
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Whatever you like to play, the gaming PCs I’ve chosen for this list are configurable to match your needs. The Dell Tower Plus, for instance, can come equipped with anything from Intel integrated graphics to a GeForce RTX 5070 and varies widely in price.
This means if you like the look and the price tag of a certain PC, you can customize it to be the best gaming PC for you.
At TechRadar, we’ve reviewed over 130 gaming PCs and hundreds more gaming laptops, going hands-on with each of them for at least a week. Our recommendations are our own, so you can trust us to give you real, actionable buying advice.
These are my top picks for the best gaming PC on the market in 2025.
Marcus Mears III
I’m Marcus Mears III, a lifelong PC gamer and TechRadar’s Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor. I’ve played on everything from integrated graphics to an RTX 5090, and I carefully chose the PCs on this list based on criteria including price, configurability, overall performance, and design.
The quick list
Alienware
Aurora Gaming Desktop (ACT1250)
Best Alienware gaming PC
One of the best looking PCs we’ve ever seen, hands down. And it’s not just a pretty face; the Aurora features excellent entry-level performance with an affordable price tag to match.
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Best Corsair gaming PC
Offering fantastic performance and incredible style, this small form factor prebuilt gaming PC comes with top-of-the-line specs for a not-too-unreasonable price.
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Dell
Tower Plus (EBT2250)
Best Dell gaming PC
Not big on flashy RGB lights and futuristic design schemes? The Dell Tower Plus is business in the front, party in the back with a low-key case design but top-tier specs.
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Best HP gaming PC
Don’t need to game at the highest settings? Getting a budget option like the HP Victus 15L that delivers decent 1080p gaming is the way to go.
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Best Lenovo gaming PC
Sleek, durable, and extremely performant. There aren’t as many entry-level specs on offer here – the focus is all in on a high-end PC that keeps cool under pressure.
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Best NZXT gaming PC
Want to look over your options? The Player PC lineup features a configuration for every type of gamer, from budget 1080p esports competitors to those who only game in 4K.
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Best mini gaming PC
Judge PCs by their size, do you? That ends here – an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 packed into an 11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2in frame.
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The best gaming PC in 2025
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Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the gaming PCs I’ve carefully hand-selected. This list is in alphabetical order, and since each PC is configurable, it’s a little different from our normal buying guides. There is no particular ranking system, so if you see a PC you like, rest assured we’ve tested it and recommend it for your setup.
The best Alienware Gaming PC
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I’m kicking this list off with one of the best looking gaming PCs I’ve ever seen. The Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop is as much of a joy to look at as it is to play on.
It’s also a great option if you’re short on desk space thanks to its compact form factor. That does make it a bit more difficult to upgrade down the line, but far from impossible. And it does come with the added benefits of saving space and being easier to transport.
But what’s under the hood? The entry-level configuration starts at $1,499.99 and offers an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. That’s a fantastic 1080p gaming machine, perfect for the esports titles I mentioned earlier like Counter-Strike.
On the other end of the spectrum, you can get a Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD. There are 11 total configurations, so you can find a deal that fits the level of performance you need.
Read our full Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop review
The best Corsair Gaming PC
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The Corsair One i500 gaming PC is a remarkable product, bringing fantastic gaming performance and design together into a single, small-form-factor PC that fits as easily into your living room’s decor as it does with your existing PC gaming setup.
Featuring an eye-catching wooden front panel with fabric side panels reminiscent of a stereo speaker, this showpiece gaming PC isn’t cheap to say the least. Starting at $3,599.99/£3,499.99, you could probably find a gaming PC with an Intel Core i9-14900K and Nvidia RTX 4090 for less, but it definitely won’t look this good or come with AIO liquid cooling for both the CPU and GPU.
While you can upgrade the RAM and SSD easily enough by removing a few screws, upgrading the CPU and GPU is going to be a much taller order, so this is really only for those who want a one-and-done PC gaming solution that they won’t need to tinker with for many years to come.
Read our full Corsair One i500 review
Before making your final choice, check out our latest Corsair promo codes to save on Corsair products.
The best Dell gaming PC
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The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a very interesting machine. On the outside, it looks like a normal office PC – and if you choose the most affordable models, that’s what you get. But if you check out the other configurations, you’ll quickly find some hidden gems.
Since you’re after a gaming PC, I’d stay away from the base configuration here, which features integrated graphics and only 512GB of storage. One tier up, though, gets you to a solid entry-level gaming desktop equipped with an RTX 5060, Intel Core Ultra 7 265, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for just $1,449.99 (and it frequently goes on sale – it’s down to just $1,149.99 at the time of writing this update).
With 15 different specs on offer here, there’s something for everyone. As long as you like the “sleeper build” look, the Dell Tower Plus is a fantastic option for gaming.
There are also plenty of ports for your peripherals, and there’s a ton of room for upgradeability here if you want to add more RAM, get a new SSD, or replace your graphics card.
Read our full Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review
The best HP gaming PC
The HP Victus 15L doesn’t hide the fact that it’s a budget gaming PC. It’s less robust, less flashy, and the available configurations are a bit less powerful than the other systems on this list. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing, though: it means the starting price is a lot lower (and even the more powerful versions remain affordable), and its compact size makes it good for setups where desktop real-estate is in short supply.
Despite its budget status, we found in our testing process that the HP Victus 15L offers solid 1080p gaming performance, only requiring some modest fiddling in the graphical settings to ensure good frame rates. Stay away from Ultra presets and ray tracing, and you should be fine for the vast majority of games at 1080p. Combined with decent upgradability and a good selection of ports on the front panel, this is an excellent pick for anyone who needs a gaming PC for cheap.
Read our full HP Victus 15L review
You could save on HP products with our HP promo codes.
The best Lenovo gaming PC
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The Lenovo Legion Tower is configurable like the rest of the options on this list are, but you’re going to find more higher-end builds here with fewer entry-level specs.
That’s because this machine is made to be a good looking workhorse, routinely pumping out triple-digit FPS numbers in AAA games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and F1 2024 on the highest settings at 1080p.
If you move your PC relatively often (to and from a friend’s or parents’ houses), this may not be the best choice for you because of its heavy case. But the flipside is that it offers outstanding durability for at-home use.
Our Reviews Writer Lewis Maddison praised the Legion Tower for staying cool and quiet while playing resource-intensive games, which is one of the best things you can say about a prebuilt rig in my mind. No one wants a space heater PC that ends up turning your FPS into a slide show due to thermal throttling – you won’t have to worry about that here.
Read our full Lenovo Legion Tower 5 review
The best NZXT gaming PC
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The NZXT Player PC line is the most customizable on this list, offering just under 20 different configurations to match your needs and budget. The NZXT Player One and One Prime lineup starts you off at entry-level builds, while the Player Three and Player Three Prime models start at high-end rigs and prices.
Our review unit was the Player One PC (5070 Intel edition) and offered a great blend of the three main gaming PC checkboxes: performance, budget, and design.
Not only is the mid-tower ATX case nice and airy for efficient cooling, but it also features solid cable management options, a sleek design, and plenty of ports for your gaming keyboard, mouse, headphones, and any other accessories that help you play at your best.
Our contributor James Holland was able to hit a consistent 70 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 (at 1080p Ultra settings) and 182 FPS in Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p), meaning there’s some fantastic performance on offer here.
Read our full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review
The best mini gaming PC
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I couldn’t complete this list without a mini PC option, and one came to mind immediately. The Asus ROG NUC is tiny but mighty, packing Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and a Core Ultra processor into an incredibly svelte form factor.
Of course, you’re not going to have the best luck with upgradability here – but you do reap the reward of a high-powered gaming PC that you can slip in a backpack and take on the go.
At just 11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2in / 28.2cm x 18.8cm x 5.7cm, you may be surprised to hear that the ROG NUC (2025) still provides all the essential ports you need for gaming, including 6x USB-A 3.2, 2x USB-C, 2x HDMI 2.1, and 2x DisplayPort 2.1. That’s more than you’ll find on most tower desktops!
And of course, with the fantastic high-end components carefully assembled inside, you’re going to see some eye-watering FPS numbers. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton was able to reach a stable 148 FPS average in Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra settings) – seriously impressive numbers for a machine this tiny.
Read our full Asus ROG NUC (2025) review
The best gaming PC: FAQs
What type of PC is best for gaming?
There are a few things to keep in mind when buying a new gaming PC, since gaming requires very specific hardware and not all PCs have what you’ll need.
The most important factor is the graphics card. Make sure that any PC you buy for gaming comes with a fairly recent graphics card. An Nvidia RTX 3000-series, AMD Radeon RX 6000-series, or Intel Arc graphics card (or GPU) are what you really want to aim for.
Next, make sure that the gaming PC has at least 16GB RAM, since 8GB of even the best RAM is not enough memory to really run modern PC games.
You’ll also want a more modern processor, so Intel Core 11000-series and AMD Ryzen 5000-series or higher. You don’t need the best Intel processor or best AMD processor from these generations, mind you. An Intel Core i5 or Core i7 (or AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7) are perfectly fine, though if you can get an AMD Ryzen X3D-series processor (like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D), these are the best gaming processors you’re going to find.
Storage is not nearly as big of an issue, and it is pretty easy to upgrade to one of the best SSDs, so a 512GB SSD is fine to start (though you’ll have to manage your game installations somewhat).
If you’re not particularly familiar with managing gaming specific hardware and building PCs, we’d definitely suggest sticking with larger OEM manufacturers like Dell, Alienware, HP, Lenovo, Asus, and MSI rather than more boutique builds. There’s nothing wrong with companies like Maingear and Origin (who both make phenomenal systems), but these are definitely more in the enthusiast lane. If that’s you, you’ll love what they build, but if you don’t know what a BIOS is, better to stick with more mainstream manufacturers.
Is it better to build or buy a gaming PC?
Whether to build or buy a gaming PC, that is the question. For some PC gamers, building a system is the only way to go, as this lets you customize your rig to very precise specifications. Unfortunately, finding the individual components you need to build a PC is getting tougher than ever. As much as you might want to build a custom gaming PC, you might not actually be able to do so.
If that’s the case, then there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying a gaming PC. No, you might not be able to precisely customize it to your liking, but if what you want to do is play your favorite PC games, then buying one of the best gaming PCs you can afford will simply make the whole process easier.
Should you get a gaming PC or a next-gen console?
There may not be a clear answer to settle the gaming PC vs next-gen console debate, but there are a few key things you should consider before buying either one. Both pieces of technology will flawlessly play the biggest game releases, but consoles like the PS5 still have exclusive games like Horizon Forbidden West that can’t be played anywhere else.
Next-gen consoles are also an all-in-one package with the console and at least one controller in the same purchase. The best prebuilt gaming PC, however, often requires a tower PC, monitor, keyboard, and mouse – most of which all have to be purchased separately. The cost for PC gaming accessories only goes up when you want to get things like the best gaming keyboard, best gaming mouse, and best PC gaming headsets.
Both next-gen consoles and gaming PCs have been affected by component shortages, making it difficult to find consoles as well as newer PC gaming parts. If you can get these items for retail price it won’t be as much of an investment, but it has become increasingly difficult to find reasonable prices amongst scalpers. Stock often sells out fast as well, making it hard to get your hands on either technology.
So, is a gaming PC better than a next-gen console? Not necessarily, especially if you don’t have the room to devote to all the aspects of a PC gaming rig. However, the best gaming PC will run on-par with the newest next-gen consoles so it’s ultimately about the gaming experience you’re looking for – choosing between a next-gen console or gaming PC is a win either way.
How expensive should the best gaming PC be?
For a competent performer targeting 1080p gameplay, you can expect to spend a minimum of $1,000 / £1,000 / AU$1,500. However, on this end of the scale, you’re likely to rely on AI upscaling such as FSR and DLSS to keep framerates consisent at 60fps. At $1,500 / £1,500 / $AU2,300, you can get your hands on a mid-range rig that can confidently game in 1440p and benefit from ray tracing, too.
There’s no exact ceiling for how expensive a gaming PC can be, but RTX 4090 and RX 7900 XTX machines hover around the $3,500 / £3,500 / AU$5,000 which tend to feature cutting-edge processors combined with a stacked amount of storage and a wealth of RAM. Our buying guide goes through the full price-to-performance range from mainstream to enthusiast to help you find which is right for your uses.
How to choose the best gaming PC for you
Since building a gaming PC from scratch can be pricey and a bit of a hassle, buying the best gaming PC you can afford makes the whole process easier. And with some recent offerings from companies like HP and Dell, you don’t even necessarily have to spend a fortune either. Still, it’s always good to go in knowing what you’re looking for within your budget.
Whether you’re playing the best PC games or the best free games to save a bit of coin, your priority should be choosing something that manages to be within your budget without compromising on performance or scrimping on vital features like a healthy port selection and appealing RGB lighting.
That could very well mean the very best prebuilt gaming PC that will see you through 4K gaming at high frame rates, or one of the best budget gaming PCs that will give you a smooth 1080p gaming experience at an accessible price point. Don’t worry so much about the frills and the design unless your budget is flexible or you’ve got deep pockets.
Once you’ve decided on your budget, you should pick a computer with the best GPU you can afford. You’ll want at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (or RX 7800 XT) if you plan on gaming in 4K while an RTX 4060 Ti can handle 1440p gaming. While you want a CPU that can keep up like Intel Core i5 or i7, pre-built PCs won’t come with underperforming CPUs. AMD also offer the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 CPUs which suit mid-range systems well.
You should also make sure you have enough speedy RAM and fast storage capable of keeping up. These days, 8GB DDR4 memory is the bare minimum, I recommend at least 16GB if you can stretch to it. Plenty of SSD storage is ideal as well, since many top titles take up a lot of space, although you can always get an additional drive later down the line. Now, in 2024, it’s far more common to find much faster DDR5 kits (even at the budget end of the scale) so opt for the fast memory if you can.
Finally, make sure you have enough money for quality peripherals as well. After all, a gaming PC is only as good as its peripherals. Only when coupled with the best gaming monitor and the best gaming keyboards will your gaming setup be fully complete. You won’t want to skimp on the audio either; that’s where the best computer speakers come into play, as some displays lack inbuilt options, and they don’t sound all too good when compared to the best gaming TVs.
How we tested out best gaming PC picks
A gaming PC is a big purchase that shouldn’t be taken lightly, which is why we don’t take our testing lightly either. Testing gaming PCs is always a comprehensive undertaking for us, using them to play not only the latest or hottest games but also older yet still demanding titles as well, noting things like performance – especially in gaming – as well as noise and thermal efficiency. We also run synthetic benchmarks like PCMark 10, 3DMark, and Geekbench 6.
Furthermore, we take a look at its design: things like the number of available ports, expandability and upgradability, RGB lighting, and accessibility that its chassis offers. Build quality is an important factor in the best prebuilt gaming PC, so we also look at a PC’s price and if any piece of hardware feels cheap or flimsy in an expensive product, it’s going to get marked down.
For good measure, we’ll also check how it does with daily tasks because most of us don’t only use our gaming PCs for gaming; it serves as our everyday computer as well. We then take everything we’ve learned about the gaming PC and compare it to its price – whether or not its performance and features are worth that price tag, and whether or not it offers the best value to customers.
For more information about our process, see how we test.
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