The best gaming PCs of 2025: Expert tested

Why we like it: The Alienware Aurora R16 is the latest gaming PC offering from Dell, equipped with up to a 14th-generation Intel Core i9 processor, up to 64GB of RAM, up to 8TB of storage, and your choice of either an Nvidia or AMD graphics card. It also features both DisplayPort and HDMI connectivity for up to four displays, letting you set up the ultimate battle station or streaming rig. 

Read also: The best gaming GPUs (and how much you should spend)

Who it’s for: The Alienware Aurora is a pricey gaming PC, but the high cost gets you access to some premium components like an Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card, up to 8TB of storage, and a powerful Intel Core i9 processor. It’s a perfect build for content creators and competitive gamers who need a high-end rig to keep up with the latest triple-A titles.

Who should look elsewhere: The Aurora is a pretty expensive gaming computer, often retailing for well over $2,000. So if you’re in the market for something a little more budget-friendly, there are other options on the market from reputable brands like HP, Lenovo, and more.

Alienware Aurora R16 specs: CPU: Up to 14th-gen Intel Core i9 | RAM: Up to 64GB | Storage: Up to 8TB SSD | Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX | Power supply: Up to 1,000W Platinum | Tower type: Mid-Tower   

Why we like it: After testing the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 8, it convinced me to make the switch from my AMD-based, custom-built gaming PC. It’s built with an Intel Core i7-13700F CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, making it one of the more powerful gaming PCs on the market. The combination of the 13th-gen Intel Core processor and RTX 40 series GPU meant that I was able to not only multitask writing, editing photos, and doing research for work, but I was also able to play some of the most graphically and processor-bandwidth-hungry games. 

Read more: What graphics card do I have? How do check your GPU and drivers

Who it’s for: The Legion Tower 5i Gen 8 could handle ARMA III with a ridiculously immense mod pack almost flawlessly since my frame rate issues were more likely due to my internet connection rather than the PC itself. The glass side panel of the tower gives you a nice view of the RGB lighting, which you can customize within the Lenovo Vantage desktop app. The tower also has plenty of USB ports as well as HDMI and DisplayPort inputs for connecting up to four displays, though there is only one USB-C port. This makes it an almost perfect choice for most gamers who just need a solid rig that can keep up with popular games and has plenty of connectivity options.

Who should look elsewhere: While the Legion Tower 5i is much more affordable than the Alienware Aurora, retailing for around $1,500, it can still stretch a modest budget for upgrading your rig. If you’re working with an exceptionally small budget, HP has your back with some incredibly affordable Intel and AMD-based builds.

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Gen 8 tech specs: CPU: Up to Intel Core i7-13700F| GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | RAM: 16GB | Power supply: 500W | Storage: 1TB SSD | Cooling system: Air 

Why we like it: HP has released a new entry-level gaming rig, the Omen 16L. Unlike the Victus 15L, the Omen 16L is only available with Intel-based builds. It still offers plenty of growing room with three M.2 SSD slots for expanding storage and support for up to 32GB of RAM if you need more power down the line.

Read more: AMD vs Intel: Which desktop processor is right for you?

Who it’s for: An Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card gives you plenty of power for running popular games like Fortnite and even more graphically intensive titles like the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake. Support for Wi-Fi 6 gives you faster and more reliable wireless internet connectivity for online matches, while Bluetooth 5.4 allows you to set up wireless peripherals like speakers, headsets, and controllers. And with a starting price around $500, it’s a great choice for a first gaming PC for kids and teens or an entry-level build for adults looking to play a few games with friends after work.

Who should look elsewhere: While you can get a decent build for well under $1,000 from HP, there are a few limitations if you’re looking to stick to a smaller budget. If you need more RAM or storage, you can always drop in upgrades down the line, or you can check out a few other modestly-priced builds from other manufacturers.

HP Omen 16L specs: CPU: 14th-gen Intel Core i5 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: Up to 32GB | Power supply: 400W 80 Plus Bronze | Storage: 512GB SSD | Cooling system: Air

Why we like it: Whether you’re an AMD loyalist or looking for an alternative to pricier Intel-based gaming rigs, the HP Omen 25L is the best AMD-based gaming rig you can buy. It’s built with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600G CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and you can configure it with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card. 

Read more: How to identify your motherboard quickly and easily

Who it’s for: The 1TB SSD will give your current game library and any new games you purchase plenty of room. The HP Omen 25L supports Wi-Fi 6 connectivity for faster wireless internet speeds, as well as Bluetooth 5.2 for more reliable connections to wireless peripherals like headsets and mice. It also features a more compact design than its other Omen counterparts, making it great for smaller gaming spaces and desks. 

Who should look elsewhere: The Omen 25L isn’t officially sold on HP’s website anymore, but can be found at authorized retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. But since it’s no longer in production, that means you’ll have a harder time with customer service requests like warranty claims, returns, or even troubleshooting.

HP Omen 25L tech specs: CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 | RAM: 8GB | Power supply: 600W | Storage: Up to 1TB SSD | Cooling system: Air 

Why we like it: If you’re an established Twitch streamer or gaming content creator, the Corsair Vengeance i7400 is a great option for a gaming rig upgrade. It can be configured with a 14th-generation Intel Core or Intel Ultra processor, up to 64GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card. This configuration gives you plenty of power for rendering video files, editing thumbnails, and multitasking with streaming and gaming programs. It also gives you plenty of storage for raw and edited files, as well as your game library. 

Read more: The best external hard drives you can buy: Expert tested

Who it’s for: The Vengeance i7500 also features a liquid cooling system to help better dissipate waste heat and keep your components running at optimal temperatures, especially if you like to overclock your CPU. And the mid-size tower design means it’s more compact, making it perfect for smaller desks or home offices that double as gaming spaces.

Who should look elsewhere: The Corsair Vengeance i7500 is a very high-end PC with a price tag to match. And even though the high asking price gets you some incredibly powerful components, such a powerful rig is often out-of-reach for typical gamers who just want a build that can handle their favorite titles, or double as a work PC.

Corsair Vengeance i7500 tech specs: CPU: 14th-generation Intel Core or Intel Ultra | GPU: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 | RAM: Up to 64GB | Power supply: 850W | Storage: 2TB SSD | Cooling system: Liquid 

Yes, you can absolutely find a budget-friendly, sub-$1,000 gaming computer with the storage space and processing power for just about any game. Read here for my top selections of budget gaming PCs. You can also save money on a prebuilt or custom build by opting for an older GPU. While these aren’t the newest, shiniest tech, budget gaming PCs still have plenty of juice to run a lot of triple-A titles at decent settings. 

You can also save by choosing a configuration with less RAM and storage, since you can often swap them out later; this lets you take advantage of component sales that work with your overall budget. Just be sure to check that your gaming laptop doesn’t have a RAM stick that can’t be removed or replaced. 

8GB – 16GB of RAM is plenty to provide a smooth gaming experience. You can also find configurations with upwards of 128GB of RAM, and while this would certainly give you more system memory for very technically and graphically demanding games, this amount of RAM is geared towards animators and professional content creators.

Read also: The 5 best RAM: Top memory upgrades for your PC, Mac or server 

Yes, it can be. Gaming PCs are one of those things that you can spend as little or as much on as you want. Prebuilt gaming desktops and laptops are great for anyone who doesn’t have time or isn’t comfortable building a gaming computer. They’re also more expeditious since you don’t have to wait for individual components to ship (and hopefully not get damaged in transit).

Read more: SSD vs HDD: What’s the difference, and which should you buy? 

Liquid cooling your PC can be overkill unless you have high-end, power-hungry components like the new RTX 4090 graphics card. However, a liquid cooling system is more efficient at drawing away waste heat than traditional, air-cooling fan systems. With the advent of all-in-one cooling systems, first-time builders can liquid-cool their gaming rigs without the fear of leaks; but the AIO systems are meant to focus on single components like CPUs or graphics cards. 

If you want to liquid cool your entire rig, you’ll need a custom cooling system, including a radiator, plenty of tubing, coolant pumps, and an exhaust fan. DIY PC pros can set up intricate liquid cooling systems to maintain optimal temperatures while showing off their personal style with colored coolant, RGB lights, and copper tubing.

Power supply ratings are divided into six categories: white, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and titanium. A white rating means that the PSU has the lowest power efficiency, while a titanium rating indicates the very best power efficiency. While it’s tempting to spring for a white-rated PSU, you may end up spending a lot more in the long run since it will be more prone to failure and might require frequent replacing. 

Read amore: Choosing the right PSU for your PC

But this doesn’t mean you have to spring for the ultra-expensive titanium rating. An 80-plus gold rating is more than enough power efficiency for most gaming PCs, but if you’re a content creator, you may want to consider a platinum or titanium-rated PSU to protect high-end components like graphics cards and processors against power fluctuations.

The word “VTuber” is a portmanteau/abbreviation of the phrase “Virtual YouTuber,” and it refers to content creators that use either a 2D or 3D avatar rather than a live feed of their real selves when streaming. Some creators choose to use an avatar in order to create a fun character to play on their channel, creating a backstory and incorporating ideas and inside jokes from their audience into their channel lore. Others see it as a way to maintain better anonymity, adding another layer of security over their real identities to keep personal data safer from bad-faith actors. 

Becoming a VTuber does have a bit of a steep learning curve, as well as a high-priced entry point if you’re not particularly skilled with animation and modeling software. However, with programs like VSeeFace and VRoid Studio, you can quickly create and animate a basic model to get you started.