The best gaming PCs are seeing a 2023 refresh. With a new generation of CPUs and GPUs hitting the shelves, as well as gen 5 SSDs looming, and DDR5 becoming more common, we are starting to see some ridiculous prebuilt gaming PCs this year. The best part is, the frequent flyers are still relevant choices, as HP and Acer have refreshed their popular Orion and 45L gaming PCs to house the latest components. Meanwhile, Alienware has early Aurora R15s available. In short, it's an exciting time to shop around.
Of course, there's always a silver lining, and with all these new components releasing, it means that PCs containing the previously elusive 30 series GPUs are now becoming a lot more affordable. Just keep in mind that the best graphics cards releasing this year will likely offer better value. Of course, there is the option to assemble newer components later in the year, or even build your own gaming PC from scratch. While there are definitely benefits to doing this, we'd think you could save yourself some money at the moment with one of the prebuilt recommendations down below. If you're looking for your first gaming PC, a prebuild can definitely save you a lot of stress and headaches.
PC gaming presents a lot of learning when you first get into it - more than is needed for console gaming, we'd say. Whether you're looking for the latest and greatest Alienware gaming PC, or you're a seasoned pro looking for something you can modify as you go, one of our picks below will definitely set you on the right track. We'd just recommend that you think about futureproofing if you're about to invest a large sum. For example, try to make sure the gaming PC you go for has one of the best CPUs, and something resembling the best RAM for gaming inside it.
The best gaming PCs 2023
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is our number one pick for the best gaming PC that you can buy in the UK for its thoughtful design, PCIe 5.0 compatibility, and powerful hardware that's sure to be futureproofed for many years to come. In our testing, we found that there was nothing we could throw at this machine that it couldn't handle, including frame rates in the 100+ FPS range in a whole suite of demanding titles in 4K, and even higher in the likes of 1440p.
This gaming PC has been thoughtfully re-engineered to replace the old plastic panels of the previous model, instead opting for an all-glass and metal finish. Perhaps most important with the Acer Predator Orion 7000 is how its design philosophy mimics that of a traditional home-built PC without any proprietary manufactured pieces inhibiting tinkering, meaning it's easy to upgrade in the future.
The Acer Predator Orion 7000's performance is nothing short of exceptional
Acer Predator Orion 7000 review
The bump up to DDR5 RAM is a sure-fire noticeable one if you're coming from a machine running a similar frequency DDR4. We had dual-channel 4000 MHz kit inside our machine and found the difference to be light and day, made especially snappy by the lightning-fast, though admittedly hot, Intel Core i9-12900K.
- Read more: Acer Predator Orion 7000 review
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)If you’re not out to build your own PC (or you’ve had no luck with the current GPU lottery) but still want a powerhouse desktop for some next-gen gaming, check out HP’s Omen 30L line. Custom-built inside a slick Omen chassis, they offer solid hardware with plenty of customization options and the potential for easy future upgrades.
It’s hard to deny that this is an exceptional pre-built gaming system
HP Omen 30L
The HP Omen 30L we’ve reviewed comes with some slick, understated RGB lighting, as well as a 10th-gen Intel processor and RTX 2080 Super GPU. This version costs $1,999 (with a year’s warranty included), but pricier models are available with RTX 3000-series cards (though be prepared for all kinds of stock fluctuation given it is the year 2022). The case has two tempered glass panels to showcase your system, with easy access for adjustments and excellent ventilation to prevent overheating.
While the interior isn’t the tidiest we’ve seen amongst the best gaming PCs, the performance speaks for itself. The RTX 2080 Super GPU is still a beast at 1440p and respectable in 4K, too, with its liquid-cooled processor never getting too hot even playing the most demanding titles. HP has proven that it is taking pre-built machines seriously, so the Omen 30L gets a thumbs up from us.
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)The Alienware Aurora R13 is one of the latest in the long-standing line of Dell's gamer-centric machines, only surpassed by the R15 which is slowly creeping onto the scene. With support for PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM, combined with the prowess of both the RTX 30-series and RX 6000 line, the R13 is purpose-built for tomorrow's games with no compromises.
In our testing, we found that the Alienware Aurora R13 made short work of our benchmarking tools and the games that we use to stress test higher-end models. Our review unit came powered by the Intel Core i9-12900KF CPU, with 64GB DDR5 RAM, and an RTX 3080, so naturally 4K60 and above was absolutely no problem here.
Perhaps the greatest strength of the Alienware Aurora R13 is in its customization options though, and while it is decidedly difficult to open up and work on the insides yourself, the manufacturer does give you specific hardware options when purchasing. This means that the R13 line can be as affordable, or as premium, as to suit your needs. Almost everything can be swapped out from graphics cards to the amount of available storage, and RAM too. Just keep in mind if you want an AMD CPU, you'll need to go for the Aurora R14.
Gaming on the Alienware Aurora R13 was a very pleasant experience
Alienware Aurora R13 review
Something that doesn't change regardless of configuration is the aesthetics of the machine. For the first time since its inception, the Alienware Aurora R13 features a vast overhaul to the visual language, with a transparent panel revealing the impressive lighting and hardware at the helm. Now visible is a small AIO water cooler, complete with a 120mm radiator, as well as your GPU and RAM sticks. It's a touch of transparency that's greatly appreciated in our opinion. The Alienware Aurora R13's main drawback, though, is in how that little water cooler has to work pretty hard to keep those core temperatures down.
- Read more: Alienware Aurora R13 review
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)Alienware's Aurora R12 is leading Alienware into the next generation of gaming; as well as 10th-gen Intel processors and the possibility of liquid-cooled graphics cards, it offers a variety of builds to suit most budgets. If you want to get into PC gaming for the first time or would like to upgrade your existing setup - perhaps in preparation for ray tracing games - this is the most cost-effective way to do it.
Ranging from affordable starter rigs to pimped-out super PCs, the Aurora R12 strikes a good balance of choice. Better still, these desktops can be easily opened and upgraded with different parts as and when you see fit. Want more RAM or a larger SSD? No problem. Because the power supply unit swings out on a metal arm, you get more room to fiddle with the PC's insides.
The R12's design is of a similar form for the last few years and is attractive enough - and unique if nothing else. Although it sticks with the distinctive case and scooped-out front of its predecessor, this update enriches that formula with new lighting around the central strip in some cases. It's an addition that turns heads and makes the design feel even more futuristic than it did before.
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is our top pick for the best gaming PC that you can get your hands on for under £1,100, and this is because of a few key factors. Firstly, the latest line of machines are running not only RTX 30-series GPUs, but also 12th gen Intel Core CPUs, and DDR5 RAM. It's rare to find competitively priced machines utilizing the latest in PCIe 5.0 technology, and yet such Lenovo Legion Tower 5i configurations are starting from just £1,049.99.
You're keeping the price competitive here by running a modest Ampere video card instead of the likes of RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, meaning that 4K isn't really on the cards. However, for the money, you're getting a very powerful machine that's native video output should be more than sharp enough for anything you throw at it even in QHD.
Perhaps the greatest strength of these machines is the increased bandwidth afforded by PCIe 5.0 architecture, as even the cheapest Lenovo Legion Tower 5i models are running 16GB DDR5 clocked at 4800MHz. This means that you can be sure that your gaming PC is ready for the latest games as there's nothing to bottleneck your system, especially if you're gaming in 1080p and 1440p.
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)It might be prohibitively expensive but the Corsair One i300 is, without a doubt, an absolute monster when it comes to the best gaming PCs. An Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti and Intel Core i9-12900K ensure that 4K ultra gaming at 60+ fps is achievable for virtually any game you could care to name, backed up with two terabytes of super-fast fourth-generation SSD storage and a massive 64GB of cutting-edge DDR5 RAM.
Its intelligent internal design and brilliantly small footprint are even more impressive considering that it can put many of the best gaming PCs to shame with its performance
Corsair One i300 review
All that powerhouse performance is tucked away into a sleek all-metal case with a footprint that's not much bigger than a coaster, easy to fit onto or beneath any desk. It’s quiet, too; the dark grey side panels are perforated to allow for optimal airflow as a single case fan draws air in and expels it through the top of the case.
The compact design does mean that the i300 can get pretty hot, but rarely enough to impact performance. It also precludes you from making the kind of piecemeal upgrades that are straightforward in more conventional pre-built PCs, but the components on offer here won’t need replacing any time soon. Ultimately, however, these are pretty minor concerns in the face of the One i300’s incredible performance and aesthetic, so we feel very comfortable recommending it.
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)The Aurora Ryzen R10 series is a Ryzen-build entry into the Aurora series, all AMD's processors at the heart instead of the Intel. The former has massively closed the gap on the latter in recent years (arguably surpassing team blue until recently), so it's no real surprise to see an Alienware PC range specifically offering that kind of chipset at the heart.
Focused around that Ryzen CPU, though, you can fully customize your Aurora R10 however you want, which means that whether you're a console gamer looking to break into PC gaming or a die-hard veteran who wants the ultimate build, you'll find it here. In our testing, we found that this machine made short work of all of our usual benchmarking titles, with respectable performance in 1440p. Given that many configurations are available, though, you can push into 4K easily enough depending on your budget.
There's no doubting the machine's performance, however, so you can't really go wrong with this gaming PC from a capability perspective
Aurora Ryzen R10 review
The Alienware brand name comes with the usual price premium that most Alienware products have, but if you can overcome that, and want the respective premium quality that also comes with the name, then the spaceship-inspired R10 design is for you, especially since the Alienware Command Center is a useful bit of kit packed in. It's worth noting that when testing we found that the PC was quite loud.
Our favorite configuration:
(opens in new tab)We originally tested a different model of this rig but it has since been discontinued. However, this doesn't stop other iterations of this machine from being an amazing budget option for those who want to play high-end titles but not break the bank.
Priced at £1,200 the Acer Predator Orion 3000 may be one of the best value-for-money gaming PCs on the market at the moment. Given the prowess of the Ampere series of video cards, we're now experiencing performance that would not have been possible a couple of years ago. In our testing, we found that this rig played best at 1440p (and entry-level 4K), easily chewing through the latest titles with minimal messing around.
While we found that the Acer Predator Orion 3000 isn't the most compact gaming PC you can get your hands, owing to the level of components inside, there's actually a handle on top making it easy to transport from place to place despite the considerable weight. It's in the aesthetics themselves that we can see what keeps that price tag so competitive, the case is made of plastic and the CPU is air-cooled instead of opting for an AIO. However, we still found this machine to handle intensive games and demanding software without putting up too much of a fight in both 1440p and 2160p.
Acer has done a great job when it comes to matching the internal components at play in this PC. No one part of this build is going to bottleneck you, or hold you back when you’re contemplating upgrades a few years down the road.
Acer Predator Orion 3000 review
There's a fair amount of storage under the hood too for that asking price, our review unit came equipped with the respectable WD SN530 SSD as an OS boot and a standard 1TB HDD. While not quite a SATA III SSD model, this drive appeared to do the trick all the same. In short, the Acer Predator Orion 3000 represents stellar value for money at a time when graphics cards themselves are challenging to get your hands on. While some parts of the case feel a little less durable, this is a quality build for what you're paying.
Best gaming PCs - frequently asked questions
What is the best PC for gaming?
There are many great gaming PC brands out there in the prebuilt space including Asus, HP, Corsair, and Alienware. In terms of the best of them, that is going to depend on the end-user, as many different PC gamers have different requirements. We've found that Acer and HP make the best mid-range models, with Alienware and Corsair cornering the high-end market.
What is the price of a good gaming PC?
Generally, a good gaming PC can start as cheap as £800 depending on what you want to do with it. If you're after one of the best gaming PCs on a budget for 1080p, then it's entirely possible to get a rig in this price range. Things become more complicated when you add 1440p and 4K gaming into the mix, generally hanging around the £1,500 mark depending on the manufacturer.
Is it cheaper to build your own computer?
A couple of years ago it genuinely was cheaper to build your own system with your chosen components instead of opting for a premium prebuild. However, pre-built machines may be the cheaper option in the coming weeks, now that a new 40 series of GPUs is being released. As new machines with those 40 series graphics cards are assembled by manufacturers, it's much more likely that our current picks for best gaming PC that house 30 series cards will drop down in price.
How we test gaming PCs
Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.
While we've outlined how we test gaming PCs in our full hardware policy, it's worth giving the rundown here, too. We treat each gaming PC both as the sum of its parts and the unit together. This means that we're analyzing specific components, such as the speed of the processor, the prowess of the graphics card, the effectiveness of the RAM, and the sequential performance of the storage drives.
Any gaming PC that we have in for the review period generally replaces that of our daily driver unit, meaning that we test them thoroughly, sure, but also use them as PC gamers ourselves. This means that benchmarking is conducted as are regular play sessions, meaning you get a thorough, but also a faithful write-up of models we've had personal experience with.
For our personal testing experience with each machine be sure to check out the review where we summarise exactly how we used to the rig at the bottom of the page. This can be helpful to understand how each machine will work with certain games you might be hoping to run.
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