Optimization imperfections aside, PC gaming has never been in better shape. While top-end powerhouse builds, such as the cutting-edge HP Omen X, still have their audience, they’re no longer touted as the be-all and end-all when it comes to pushing pixels.

The streamlined, not to mention heavily-discounted, nature of digital storefronts such as Steam and Origin makes PC gaming more accessible than ever. Better yet, as components are all interchangeable on PC, choosing the right configuration within a budget can produce visuals far superior to anything on the latest consoles. 

A great gaming rig still doesn’t come cheap though. You’ll need to reach into the depths of your wallet for a PC donning the most powerful graphics card, a top-end Skylake (or, come CES, Kaby Lake) processor and ultra fast, highly capacious storage options.

However, if you prefer that your games run with the graphics and frame rates cranked all the way up to max, the lofty upfront cost may very well be justified. Ultimately, it all comes down to this: you can either build a PC that tailors to your own specific needs or effortlessly purchase one of what we think are 7 stellar gaming PCs that we’ve taken the time to recommend.

Overclockers Asteroid

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980Ti | RAM: 8GB DDR4 (3,866MHz) | Storage: 500GB Samsung 850 EVO SSD; 1TB Samsung 850 EVO SSD | Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet; Dual-band 802.11ac WiFi | Power supply: SuperFlower 1000W | Ports: 4 x USB 3, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, Optical S/PDIF, Gigabit Ethernet, 3 x audio

Insanely powerful

Compact design

Expensive

Lacks M.2 storage

The latest Overclockers machine is one of the best-designed gaming PCs we’ve ever seen, with bespoke water-cooling, a great color scheme and keen attention to detail. It marries its great design with top-notch performance in games and applications. Luckily it never gets too hot or too loud either. It is, however expensive and niche, with limited potential for upgrading. If you’re looking for an attractive and unique LAN-friendly gaming PC that can handle anything from 4K gaming to VR, the Asteroid is an out-of-this-world machine with a price tag that will bring you back down to earth.

[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.]

Read the full review: Overclockers Asteroid

Alienware Aurora R5

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K | 
 Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB PCIe SSD, 2TB HDD | Features: 850W PSU, uniquely futuristic chassis

Easy to upgrade

Distinct case design

PSU gets in the way of cooler

One of the few PCs on this list to earn a perfect score, the Alienware Aurora R5 combines design elements traditional to Dell’s famed luxury gaming brand with a handful of contemporary twists. The nigh-mini ITX computer bears resemblance to, say, the Area 51, but with a case that feels strikingly more native to our home planet. Of course, it simultaneously boasts top-of-the-line specs; an overclockable K-series Intel Core i7 CPU, a GeForce GTX 1080 and a massively capable 850W power supply are just a few of the Aurora R5’s redeeming qualities. Plus, even with the small chassis, there’s plenty of room for an unparalleled SLI configuration.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R5

Origin Millennium

CPU: Intel Core i7-6950X | Graphics: 2 x Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 256GB Samsung 950 Pro (NVMe M.2), 1TB HDD | Features: Six-bay hard drive cage, variable mounting support, 850W PSU, 802.11ac wireless

Immense power

Customizable RGB lighting

Immense price

Rattly plastic shell

Sure, for the price of an Origin Millennium PC, you could buy a halfway decent car. But why would you need to leave the house when you can play games in 4K at a buttery smooth 60 fps? That’s the question Origin hopes you’ll ask when you talk to your spouse about dropping six grand on a new gaming rig. Between its pair of EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition twins and the new Intel Broadwell-E Core i7-6950X processor, there is nothing the Origin Millennium can’t handle – and on the best of the best displays at that. Of course, it’s expensive; it’s like ten years worth of future-proof.

Read the full review: Origin Millennium

Lenovo Ideacentre Y900

CPU: 4GHz Intel Core i7-6700K (quad-core, up to 4.2GHz, 8MB cache) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 (4GB GDDR5 RAM) | RAM: 16GB DDR4 (2,133 MHz) | Storage: 2TB + 8GB SSHD with 256GB SSD | Connectivity: 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.0 | Ports: 6 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, DVI, 7.1 analog audio out, optical audio out, headphone jack, microphone jack, PS/2 combo, 7-in-1 card reader

Tool-less design

Expansive

Inaccessible cabling

A tad pricey

This gaming desktop might come wrapped in a designer case, but don’t be fooled – it’s significantly more accessible and easy to upgrade than your average pre-built system short of a boutique. The arrival of the Y900, among a few other machines on this very list, herald a eureka moment in the major vendors’ approach to PC gaming: give the people exactly what they want. A tool-less internal design will help soften the blow of sub-par cable management. Meanwhile, the device has plenty of room for expansions and upgrades. If you want the lowest friction possible getting into PC gaming, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is a fine place to start.

Read the full review: Lenovo Ideacentre Y900

StormForce Tornado

CPU: 2.7GHz Intel Core-i5 6400 | Graphics: KFA2 GeForce GTX 1070 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 (2,400MHz) | Storage: 1TB SATA | Power supply: 500w | Ports: 1 x PS/2 keyboard/mouse port, 2 x USB 3.0 ports (front), 1 x USB 2.0 port (front), 2 x USB 2.0 ports (rear), 4 x USB 3.1 ports (rear), 4 x USB 3.1 ports (rear), 1 x HDMI, 1 x VGA, 1 x DVI-D, 1 x LAN (RJ45), 3 x audio jacks

1440p and 4K gaming power

Plenty of drive bays

Hard disk increases wait times

Can’t turn blue lighting off

Interested in Ultra HD gaming without spending a fortune? Enter the StormForce Tornado, a GTX 1070-equipped rig with the outward appearance of a spaceship and five drive bays for nearly limitless internal storage potential. If you don’t mind the extensive wait times of a hard drive (as opposed to a PCIe or M.2 SSD), the StormForce Tornado is a no-brainer. Starting at a mere £899 (about $1,180/AUS$1,540), the StormForce Tornado makes 1440p gaming (and even 4K, to an extent) affordable, and who doesn’t want that?

[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.] 

Read the full review: StormForce Tornado

Overclockers Titan Virtual Force

CPU: 3.5GHz Intel Core i5-6600K | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980Ti | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Connectivity: Ethernet | Ports: (Rear) 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0; (Top) 2 x USB 3.0, DisplayPort, DVI, VGA, HDMI, microphone and headphone jack

Good value

Handily-located ports

Uninspired case

While the Titan Virtual Force is neither tastefully designed nor particularly subtle, it’s glitzy and self-indulgent, illuminating a green ooze reminiscent of the Manhattan sewers (cowabunga!). At the same time, of course, Overclockers was less concerned about making a fashion statement and more obsessed with crafting one of the most capable pre-built computers money can buy. Complete with a 4K-capable GTX 980 Ti, an overclockable Intel 6600K and 8GB of RAM at the entry level, the Titan Virtual Force serves as an excellent shortcut to buttery smooth VR, or UltraHD, gaming on the high end.

[Editor’s Note: This product is only available in the UK and other European territories.]  

Read the full review: Overclockers Titan Virtual Force

HP Omen X Desktop

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 (2,133MHz) | Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD; 2TB HDD (7,200 rpm) | Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2×2); Bluetooth 4.0 | Power supply: 600W Silver efficiency | Ports: 8 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB-C 3.1, Ethernet, SD card reader, 2 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort, microphone jack, headphone jack, optical audio out

Unique and minimalistic styling

Immense upgradeability

Larger than life presence

Costs a pretty penny and then some

Though you might mistake it for a Rubik’s Cube at first glance, the HP Omen X’s quirky design is all part of its charm. Don’t confuse eccentric casing with limited upgradeability, however, as the HP Omen X is more than just a pretty face. Complete with three chambers for components, including one with four hard drive bays, this desktop leaves plenty of room for expansion later down the line. Upgrades can be performed nearly without tools altogether, requiring not much more than a basic Allen wrench to lift up the panel. Perhaps the most practical aspect of the Omen X, though, is its ability to change the color of its lighting based on which components are sweating the most.

Read the full review: HP Omen X Desktop

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article