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

There are a ton of great PC games coming out this year, from frantic shooters, like Rage 2, to story-rich RPGs, like Outer Worlds. That’s not even mentioning all the great 2019 PC games that are already here like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the Division 2. So, if you want to prepare yourself for the onslaught of awesome games, you should arm yourself with one of the best gaming PCs. No matter which games are on your personal list, having one of the best PCs can take your experience to the next level.

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 took a break from the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X and got an opportunity to find the best gaming PCs you can buy today, all of which we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves. From popular manufacturers like Alienware to more exotic brands like Origin, the best gaming PCs cover a wide gamut of use cases. These are the 10 best gaming PCs you can buy right now, and they’ll all be able to handle every PC game you throw at them.

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

The Alienware Aurora R7 is a feat of engineering, managing to pack full-sized PC components into a chassis much more compact than your typical mid-tower PC case. At the same time, it remains easy to upgrade, and looks damn good. When you’re spending this much money on a gaming PC, you’d expect at least one of these things to be true, but the Alienware Aurora R7 nails them both. It’s not hard to see why this is one of the best gaming PCs on the market right now.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

When you pick up a new computer from Origin, it’s almost like you’ve built it yourself. You have to be familiar enough with PC components to decide for yourself what goes into the rig and how much cash you’re willing to drop. So, of course, our only real criticism of the Origin Millennium is that you can build a similar gaming PC yourself and save hundreds of dollars. However, because of its svelte design and flexible specs, we bet you don’t even 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.

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

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.

Read the full review: MSI Trident X

• Image Credits: TechRadar

Bill Thomas, Joe Osborne and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

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