If you’re in the market for a gaming PC, you’ve come to the right place. With the introduction of Intel’s Core i7 7700K and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060, there’s a whole host of options out there. But which are the best gaming computers for your budget? Here’s a rundown of some of the top options, and what each one can offer.
Lenovo Legion 5i
Lenovo’s Legion Tower 5i gaming computer is a solid, well-designed PC. It isn’t the cheapest on the market, but it does pack some decent hardware. You can expect an RTX ray tracing graphics card, a 4.8GHz Turbo Boost processor, a large, clear display window, and plenty of ports for wired and wireless networking.
Lenovo’s Legion tower has a light up front logo, LED lights on the side, and an internal ambient lighting system. The side panel has a tempered glass viewport, and the case is a good mix of metal and aRGB.
Its keyboard is a bit bulky compared to a thin and light gaming laptop, but it’s still an improvement over some of the cheap ones I’ve tried. The heft of the keypad and the heft of the chassis are well-balanced.
Aside from the RTX ray tracing technology, the Legion Tower 5i also has the fastest response times in its price range. In Red Dead Redemption 2, the 5i averaged 48.8 frames per second at 1440p, while the same game on a laptop produced a measly 3 ms.
One thing to watch out for is the performance of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card. While the card itself isn’t cheap, it can still cost more than double the price of some other GPUs.
MSI MEG Trident X
MSI MEG Trident X is a slim gaming PC which is capable of delivering extreme performance in a compact package. It features a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card and is equipped with the latest Intel Core processors.
This PC is packed into a compact 10 liter chassis. It comes with RGB lighting, a tempered glass side panel, and venting holes for the CPU cooler. The front panel is also lighted up with triangular LEDs.
Trident X supports both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. It also has five USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports. These ports are labeled on the chassis.
Trident X is also capable of supporting 4K 120Hz gaming TVs. The system is also compatible with NVIDIA DLSS for boosting image quality. Additionally, it comes with a Thunderbolt 3 port, which can deliver bandwidths up to 40 Gbps.
This PC is powered by an Intel Core i9 processor. It is also compatible with a 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD and 32GB of RAM. If you prefer a more powerful graphics card, you can choose the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Ventus OC.
MSI has designed this PC to be an all-in-one solution. In addition to the hardware, it comes with Microsoft Jigsaw and PowerDirector 17 Essential.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is a great gaming notebook that offers high-end performance and portability. With a QHD 120Hz display, a GeForce RTX(tm) 3060 GPU and an AMD Ryzen(tm) 9 processor, this PC delivers a smooth 1080p gaming experience.
The design of the ROG Zephyrus is understated but elegant. It measures 12.3″ x 8.9″ x.76″ and is lightweight. There is a magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis to keep it strong. Specifying the X-Light, the lid is illuminated by perforations. Asus is also offering a white version.
Unlike most gaming laptops, the Zephyrus G14 has a long battery life. This means it can last all day without needing to be recharged.
The ROG Zephyrus G14 also has a 1TB SSD. This drive is fast and zippy, with a transfer rate of 1,131 MBps. Compared to the 1TB SSD of the Scar III, this model’s SSD is twice as fast.
A new addition to the G14 is a UHS-II MicroSD card reader. This improves on the criticisms of the old version.
The keyboard features dedicated mic mute buttons, a standard QWERTY layout, and volume control buttons. The touchpad has a shallow clicking depth, and it has good right and left click distinction.
Alienware Aurora Ryzen R14
The Alienware Aurora Ryzen R14 Gaming Computer is a powerful gaming machine. It is a high-end rig that is ideal for playing games on VR. This PC is also designed to handle photo editing.
For the price, the Alienware Aurora R14 is a great choice. You can get this PC for as little as $1,300. If you want a better value, you should look into a system with an RTX 3070 or 3060 Ti graphics card. These cards can cut down on the need for a 120mm cooler.
Depending on your needs, you can choose between a liquid cooled or air cooled AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU. Both can be used for photo editing, video and 4K gaming. A 750W power supply is also included.
The Alienware Aurora R14 features a redesigned case. This new design aims to make the desktop more accessible, while still being very recognizable as an Aurora. In addition, the Legend 2.0 chassis leans back to give the desktop a more oval face. With a redesigned design, the case also allows for better cable management.
Another great feature is the AlienFX lighting. The Aurora 14 uses a clear panel around its RGB lighting, which helps to give the PC a more “gaming” feel. Additionally, you can configure the lighting to any color you like.
AMD FX-4300
The AMD FX-4300 is the most popular CPU in the AMD lineup. If you are in the market for a new desktop, you’ll be happy to know that it is available in a multitude of configurations. One of the best features of the FX-4300 is the unlocked multiplier. You can dial in the clock speeds to your heart’s content. There is a reason it is a popular choice with gamers, and the price tag isn’t too shabby either.
A look at the box will reveal that the processor is based on the Vishera architecture. Although the name badge is a nod to the venerable AMD FX-4300, the silicon die is actually manufactured by GlobalFoundries. This may explain the low price. With a base clock of 3.8 GHz and a TDP of 95 W, the FX-4300 isn’t a powerhouse, but it’s not a total waste of money either. It isn’t for everyone, but if you are in the market for a new gaming PC, this could be the best deal you’ve ever seen.
As for the best way to go about choosing a gaming PC, a combination of price, quality, and a personal preference will help you sift through the chaff. But before you buy, you should take into account the following: The best gaming computer isn’t always the most expensive; the less you spend, the better.
Intel Core i7-7700K
The Intel Core i7-7700K is the top consumer enthusiast chip from Kaby Lake. It is built using a 14nm+ process, which supposedly improves power efficiency. However, the improvements it supposedly brings to the table are minimal.
In addition to that, it has the aforementioned 8MB of SmartCache and a Turbo Boost clock speed of 4.5GHz. Both of these are impressive, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll be enough to boost your gaming experience.
Despite the extra performance, you’re probably better off just saving your money. That said, if you’re in the market for a new CPU, you should definitely check out the 7700K.
The Core i7-7700K uses the same LGA 1151 socket as Skylake, but it’s also compatible with some of the newer 200-series motherboards. This is good news if you’re looking to build your own system. You’ll have to get a new BIOS, though.
If you’re looking for the best possible gaming experience, the Core i7 7700K is the right choice. Although it isn’t a great deal faster than the i7-6700K, it does offer improved single-core performance. Even so, if you’re primarily interested in gaming, you’re not likely to make much use of it.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060
NVIDIA has announced a new graphics card that should compete in the mid-range. The GeForce GTX 1060 is based on the new Pascal architecture. It should provide similar performance to the company’s high-end product, the GeForce GTX 980.
This GPU is based on the 16nm FinFET process and has 1,280 CUDA cores. It supports DirectX 12 and is compatible with both HDMI and DVI display outputs.
Unlike the GeForce GTX 980, the GTX 1060 has not been designed to support ray tracing. However, the new chip does have a boosted clock speed of 1.7GHz.
While it is a powerful and capable graphics card, the GTX 1060 does not offer any edge over its nearest competitor, the AMD Radeon RX 580. There is also a bug in the RX 580 that limits its performance.
But, the GTX 1060 should still be an excellent value option for PC gamers. With a suggested $249 MSRP, it is priced below the competition. If you want to save money, there are used models available for as low as $300.
However, the 6GB version of the card is not a great deal today. Even if you need more VRAM, you’ll have to spend a bit more. That makes the 3GB model a better choice.