The best gaming PC 2019: 10 of the top gaming desktops you can buy

This year is packed to the brim with great upcoming games, titles like Doom Eternal and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice promise to be some of the best PC games in years. Not to mention games that are already out, like Metro Exodus and Anthem. So, if you want to prepare yourself for the onslaught of great games in 2019, you should arm yourself with one of the best gaming PCs. No matter which games you plan to buy, having one of the best gaming PCs for your budget can make all the difference.
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer Intel, AMD or Nvidia – most PC makers will let you choose the best processors and best graphics card for your needs anyway. And, now there are Nvidia Turing graphics cards, the best gaming PCs are about to get even better looking.
So, we gathered up some of the best gaming PCs on the market, some from popular manufacturers like Alienware and MSI, to more exotic brands like Origin. We put these PCs through rigorous testing to find out which ones will provide the best bang for your buck. These are the 10 best gaming PCs on the market right now, and all of them will be able to destroy any PC game you throw at them.

 

1. Corsair One i160

Huge power, teeny size

CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K - Intel Core i9-9900K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 - RTX 2080 Ti | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 480GB M.2 SSD/2TB HDD

The Corsair One has been among the best gaming PCs ever since its debut a few years ago, and the Corsair One i160 takes things to a whole new level with Nvidia Turing graphics and Intel Coffee Lake Refresh processors. With this gaming PC, you’ll be able to tackle 4K gaming on a machine that’s not much larger than your average gaming console. It is expensive though – that much power kind of has to be – but it may be worth it if you’re looking for a small form factor machine without compromises.
Read the full review: Corsair One i160

2. Alienware Aurora R7

Ease of use meets a pretty chassis

CPU: Intel Core i5 – i7 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – 1080; AMD Radeon RX 580 – Vega 64 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Storage: 1TB HDD – 1TB NVMe SSD, 2TB HDD

This isn’t your everyday pre-built gaming PC. The Alienware Aurora R7 feat of engineering in that it packs full-sized PC parts into chassis much smaller than your traditional mid-tower rig. At the same time it’s easily upgradeable and attractive to look at. All of which we would expect considering its extremely high price tag. Luckily, the Alienware Aurora R7 is both of these things and will impress those not ready or willing to build their own gaming PC.
Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R7

• This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the MSI Aegis 3
  

3. MSI Infinite A

This VR-ready machine is built to last

CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1080 Ti | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 2TB HDD; 128GB SSD – 2TB HDD; 512GB SSD

It’s not uncommon anymore for PC makers to brandish their pre-built desktop rigs as VR-ready. What is unusual is to do so with a computer that’s also ready to conquer any game you throw at it at well over 60 frames per second and for under two grand. That’s exactly what MSI has accomplished with the Infinite A, a tower whose graphical efforts aren’t thwarted by its preparedness for VR, nor is it so expensive that it would see your head turn the other way.
Read the full review: MSI Infinite A

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. Australian and UK readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid

4. Intel Hades Canyon NUC

Small, but deadly

CPU: Intel Core i7-8809G | Graphics: Radeon RX Vega M GH graphics (4GB HBM2 VRAM), Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: N/A | Storage: N/A

If you’re on the market for the best gaming PC under $1,000, the Intel Hades Canyon NUC is for you. This tiny gaming PC isn’t just cost-effective, but it takes up little to no space, looking more like a set-top box than a gaming PC. Don’t let its size fool you, though – it packs all the power of the best gaming laptops, with an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete AMD Radeon graphics. You’ll have to supply your own RAM, storage and OS, but if you have extra PC hardware lying around, you can save even more money.
Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC

5. MSI Trident 3

A slimline console-sized mini PC for your living room

CPU: Intel Core i5-7400 – i7-7700 | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti – 1060 | RAM: 8GB – 32GB DDR4 (2,400MHz) | Storage: 2TB HDD; 120GB SSD – 2TB HDD; 1TB SSD

Positioned as a ’console killer,’ the MSI Trident 3 looks a lot like an Xbox One S and is more powerful than a PS4 Pro, but at the end of the day, it’s a PC that feels just right in your living room. Complete with all the ports you could ever dream of, the MSI Trident 3’s advantages are clear. Still, in trying to be as thin and light as possible, the MSI Trident 3 comes equipped with a 330W external power supply brick, resembling some of the most less attractive console designs.
Read the full review: MSI Trident 3

6. Lenovo Ideacentre Y900

PC gaming on the high-end, no tools required

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K – i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 – 1080 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB DDR4 (2,133MHz) | Storage: 1TB HDD – 2TB HDD, 256GB SSD

If you’re buying a pre-built PC, upgrades should be simple, right? That’s the philosophy behind the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900. Embellished with red lights all over, the front of its chassis is bespeckled with textured patterns that’ll no doubt make your friends jealous. On top of offering support for a VR-ready GTX 1080, the Lenovo IdeaCentre boasts SLI support and room for up to 64GB of RAM, which are thankfully complemented by a convenient tool-less design.
Read the full review: Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

7. Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

It doesn’t look the part, but plays it well

CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 – Core i7-8700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB DDR4 (2,666MHz) | Storage: 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD – 256GB SSD; 2TB HDD

Much like the sublime Dell XPS 13, the Dell XPS Tower is a lesson in packing beefy specs into a svelte chassis. This inconspicuous gaming machine looks a lot like the computer that’s been collecting dust in your dad’s office, rather than something powering the latest PC games. But, beneath that quiet exterior, the Dell XPS Tower is one of the best gaming PCs on the market, with 8th-generation Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GTX 10-series graphics cards. With the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition,you’re getting one of the best gaming PCs money can buy, without any of the off-putting ‘gamer aesthetic’.
Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

• This product is only available in the US and UK as of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One.

8. Origin Millennium

The ultimate power is freedom to choose

CPU: Intel Core i3 – i9; AMD Ryzen 3 – Threadripper | Graphics: Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 Ti – 1080 Ti; AMD Radeon Vega 64 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB DDR4 (3,000MHz) | Storage: 128GB – 2TB SSD; 1TB – 8TB HDD

When you buy a computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’re building it on your own. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much money you’re going to spend on it. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar model for cheaper. However, because of its subtle design and flexible specs, we’re willing to bet you won’t want to.
Read the full review: Origin Millennium

• This product is only available in the US as of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Overclockers 8Pack Asteroid.

9. Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition

Top-notch power comes at a cost

CPU: AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 – 1080 Ti | RAM: 8GB – 32GB | Storage: 2TB HDD – 1TB SSD; 2TB HDD

In classic Alienware fashion, the Area 51 Threadripper Edition pushes the limits of both technology and your wallet. It’s wildly powerful, markedly featuring the latest AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X across all of its configurations. The Area 51’s triad-design hasn’t changed much since its introduction back in 2014, but on the inside this machine is essentially tool-less to upgrade, not that you would even need to.
Read the full review: Alienware Area 51 Threadripper Edition 

• This product is only available in the US at the time of this writing. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Corsair One  

10. MSI Trident X

Out of this world performance

CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 512GB SSD, 2TB HDD

We knew that it was only a matter of time before the best gaming PCs started rolling out with the latest Coffee Lake Refresh and Nvidia Turing parts, and the MSI Trident X is here to lead the charge. This small-form factor PC pulls no punches, and will absolutely demolish any game you throw at it, at any resolution. Just keep in mind that the thin metal build might be a bit flimsy for travel, and its price tag is kind of steep. But, if you’re looking for no-holds-barred power that won’t look out of place in your living room, you can’t do much better.