The best gaming PCs in 2022

Here are the best gaming PCs for every budget, based on our reviews








Image credit: Corsair

The best gaming PCs are powerful enough to play the most resource-demanding and graphically-intensive games in the biggest and most elegant form factor possible. Of course, these gaming rigs also tend to come with the highest price tags in the PC market.

A powerful gaming PC is a huge investment but it pays off in a variety of ways. In addition to experiencing games at blazing fast frame rates and ultra-high resolution, you can also use your premium-priced PC for graphic design, animation, streaming movies in glorious 4K on your TV or simply to get work done.

With next-gen consoles in the market we should point out that while the PS5 and Xbox Series X deliver plenty of power, they're still no match for one of the best gaming desktops. If you want fast-loading SSDs, gorgeous ray tracing, massive quantities of RAM, 4K resolution and 60+ fps frame rate, you don't have to wait for these consoles to be back in stock; you can have the best gaming desktops right now.

What are the best gaming PCs right now?

Due to the ongoing chip shortage, gaming PCs are scarce and back-ordered enough that to some extent, whatever you can find for a reasonable price is the best gaming PC you can buy right now.

If it's available, the Corsair Vengeance i7200 is one of the best gaming PCs you can buy, with powerful components and highly customizable options. The RGB lighting is a nice touch, while the price is reasonable, considering the level of performance you can get.

On the other hand, if you can afford it the Maingear Turbo is a beast of a machine that runs quiet and looks great on a desk. It's smaller than most full-size gaming PCs, so it's easy to squeeze into your desk or entertainment center setup. 

If you're buying a machine for someone who's new to gaming PCs (even if that someone is you), we recommend the Acer Predator Orion 3000. This relatively affordable gaming rig can be had for under $2k, yet packs enough power to play the latest games at 1080p or even 1440p. Plus, the case is small, stylish, and easy to open, which will come in handy for upgrades down the road. Just be aware that this machine struggles with 4K gaming.

If you'd rather buy a pre-built gaming PC that looks like it belongs in an office (i.e. no flashing lights or other bells and whistles) but still packs enough power to play the latest games, consider the subtle Dell XPS 8940. It's not going to break any performance records, but it plays the latest games well and its drab, RGB-less case will blend right in with your office.

                        corsair-vengeance-i7200

SPECIFICATIONS

VR Ready: Yes
Processor: Up to Intel Core i9-10850K/AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
RAM: Up to 64 GB
Graphics Card: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090
Storage: Up to two 2 TB SSDs
Accessories: None

REASONS TO BUY

+
Powerful, gaming-oriented hardware
+
Flashy, customizable lighting effects
+
Relatively low price

REASONS TO AVOID

-
Boxy, old-fashioned case design
-
Doesn't include peripherals


The Corsair Vengeance i7200 doesn't cost nearly as much as some of its competitors, but it still gives you access to some of the most powerful hardware on the market. That's because the Vengeance i7200 comes in a plain-looking case, and doesn't include any peripherals. But if you prefer substance to style, this is probably the right gaming PC for you. With CPUs up to an Intel Core i9 and GPUs up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090, you can make a beast of a machine — if you can pay for it.

Apart from that, the Vengeance i7200 features beautiful RGB lighting, a tasteful glass side panel and extremely quiet fans. That makes it a good productivity tool in addition to a gaming powerhouse. Whether you game in QHD or 4K, there's almost certainly a Vengeance i7200 build that will work with your setup.






                              acer-predator-orion-3000


SPECIFICATIONS

VR Ready: Yes
Processor: Up to Intel Core i7
RAM: 16GB
Graphics Card: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti
Storage: Up to 1TB HDD, 1TB SSD
Accessories: Predator wired keyboard and gaming mouse, both w/ customizable RPGB lighting


REASONS TO BUY

+
Stylish design looks good on a desk
+
Easy to open and upgrade
+
Quiet, even while gaming
+
Great 1080p performance

REASONS TO AVOID

-
Underwhelming performance vs. competition
-
Low-quality keyboard and mouse



The Maingear Turbo ($2,162 to start, $7,199 as reviewed) is a juggernaut. Blistering speeds befitting the name are coupled with a dizzying price tag, as the bespoke PC vendor has packed the most powerful (and expensive) hardware available into this singular machine