PC Builds
How to plan a PC build around your workload
Start from your games, applications and display target, then check CPU support lists, BIOS versions, GPU clearance and PSU connectors before you buy.
7 min read
Topic
PC Builds
Plan a balanced system around a real workload and complete budget.
PC Builds guides
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Pick the graphics card for your monitor first; these six systems cover every tier from 1080p to 4K.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1,000
Under $1,000 the graphics card is the difference: an RTX 3060 12GB, an RTX 4060 or an RTX 3050.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Budget Prebuilt Gaming PCs
The cheapest listings cut the SSD or the GPU; see which trade-off fits your games.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $1,500
Up to $1,500 buys an RTX 5060 Ti and a newer CPU; decide whether 32GB of RAM matters more.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $2,000
This is where 12GB cards and 1440p gaming start; the CPU and cooling vary most.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best White Prebuilt Gaming PCs
White cases span every budget here; match the graphics card to your monitor first.
13 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5060 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
With the same GPU in each, the CPU, 32GB of RAM and a named PSU are what separate them.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5070 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Same 12GB card, different CPUs: pick an X3D chip for gaming or more cores for work.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5070 Ti Prebuilt Gaming PCs
All four pair a 16GB card with an X3D chip; storage and the named PSU decide it.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5080 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Every pick pairs an RTX 5080 with an X3D chip; cooling, PSU and warranty set them apart.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
At this level, memory, storage, the power supply and the warranty matter as much as the GPU.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $1,000 Gaming PCs
At the $1,000 line, VRAM and SSD size separate otherwise similar Ryzen 5 systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktop PCs Under $1,000
Sorted by VRAM: the RTX 3060 12GB leads a field of 8GB cards.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktops Under $1,000
Each of these sub-$1,000 desktops states its warranty terms.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under $1,000
Six sub-$1,000 PCs ordered by graphics and memory per dollar at the time of writing.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under 1,000 Dollars
Only listings that state PSU wattage, so you can judge upgrade room before buying.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Around $1,000
A $900 to $1,150 band where memory and platform split similar systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Great Gaming PCs Under $1,000
Three sub-$1,000 PCs where memory, not just the GPU, got attention.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Pre-Built Gaming PCs Under $1,000
Five sub-$1,000 pre-builts that name every core part, including SSD size.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Under $1,000
Three sub-$1,000 prebuilts that skip the RTX 3050 for an 8GB card.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs at or Under $1,000
Six systems that stay at or under $1,000, from RX 580 to RTX 5050.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Sub-$1,000 Gaming PCs
Sub-$1,000 PCs that spend more on the processor than the usual Ryzen 5 5500.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under $1,500
The $1,300 to $1,500 tier, where 16GB graphics cards start to appear.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Gaming PCs Under $1,500
Six sub-$1,500 PCs, each with a warranty stated by the maker.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under $600
Under $600, the honest options are mini PCs with Radeon integrated graphics.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Budget Gaming Rigs
Budget rigs ordered by how much graphics and memory each dollar buys.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Budget Prebuilt Gaming PC
The lowest-priced prebuilts with a current RTX 50-series card.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Cheap but Good Gaming PCs
Cheap systems that still carry 8GB or more of graphics memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Cheapest Gaming Desktops Worth Buying
The lowest-priced towers that still name every part, starting near $700.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Cheapest Gaming Desktop PCs, Compared
The cheapest desktops that still ship with a 1TB SSD.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Cheap
Cheap systems that list 32GB of RAM instead of the usual 16GB.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Affordable Gaming Desktops
The $1,000 to $1,300 range, ordered by graphics memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs on a Budget
Five budget PCs on the same Ryzen 5 5500, so the GPU decides.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Budget Gaming PCs
Budget systems that name their PSU, so upgrades are easier to plan.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Cheap Gaming PCs
Under $950: older cards with more VRAM versus newer ones with less.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Great Budget Gaming PCs
Budget systems on AM5, which leaves room for a CPU upgrade.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Budget PCs for PC Gamers
Intel-based budget systems, from Core i5 to Core i7.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for the Money
Ranked by graphics memory and RAM per dollar, up to about $2,200.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $500 Gaming PCs
At $500 the honest options are mini PCs with Radeon integrated graphics.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $500 Gaming PC Options
Ordered by RAM, since integrated graphics share system memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Cheap Gaming PCs Under $500
The lowest-priced mini PCs that still name every part.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for 500 Dollars
Three $500 mini PCs that keep a 1TB SSD.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Around $500
Just above $500, the Radeon 780M becomes available.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Below $500
Below $500 with Radeon 680M graphics on Ryzen 6000 chips.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under $500
Six sub-$500 mini PCs, ordered by memory for the money.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs Under 500 Dollars
Newer Radeon 760M and 780M graphics under $500.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $500
Ready-to-run mini PCs under $500, with integrated graphics stated plainly.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Gaming PCs Under $500
Sub-$500 mini PCs chosen for memory, which integrated graphics rely on.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Great Gaming PCs Under $500
Sub-$500 mini PCs weighed on storage as well as graphics.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Pre-Built Gaming PCs Under $500
Five pre-built mini PCs under $500 that name every part.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Compact Gaming Desktops
Mini-ITX towers and mini PCs, with the GPU type stated for each.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Compact Gaming Desktop PCs
From a $1,000 mini case to a Mini-ITX RTX 5080 build.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Compact Gaming PCs
Compact PCs with desktop-class graphics only.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Mini Desktops
Four mini desktops with a dedicated NVIDIA GPU, labelled by class.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Mini PC Gaming Desktops
Dedicated-GPU mini PCs, plus one integrated-graphics alternative.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Mini PCs for Gaming
The strongest integrated-graphics mini PCs, Radeon 780M and 890M.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Portable Gaming Desktops
Carry-sized mini PCs with Radeon 780M or 890M graphics.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktops
Four Aurora configurations, from RTX 5070 to RTX 5080.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Alienware Desktop Gaming Computers
Aurora and Area-51 systems ordered by graphics memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Alienware Desktop Gaming PCs
Three Alienware desktops ranked by memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Alienware Gaming Desktops
Four Alienware desktops below the flagship RTX 5090 build.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Dell Gaming Desktops
Dell Tower, Tower Plus and Alienware systems, lowest price first.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Dell Gaming Desktop PCs
Six Dell and Alienware desktops below $4,000.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best CyberPower Gaming Desktops
CyberPowerPC's lower-priced RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best CyberPower Gaming PCs
CyberPowerPC systems ordered by graphics memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best CyberPower PC Gaming Desktops
Three CyberPowerPC desktops with 2TB SSDs.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best CyberPowerPC Gaming Desktops
Six CyberPowerPC desktops, from the Ryzen 9 build down.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best iBUYPOWER Gaming Desktops
iBUYPOWER's lower-priced Element, Slate and Scale systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best iBUYPOWER Gaming Desktop PCs
iBUYPOWER's Y40 and Element systems ranked by graphics memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best MSI Gaming Desktops
MSI's Aegis, Codex and Vision systems, lowest price first.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best MSI Gaming Desktop PCs
Three MSI desktops ordered by graphics memory, up to the RTX 5090.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Skytech Gaming Desktops
Six Skytech systems ranked by graphics and memory for the price.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best All-White Gaming PCs
The pricier white builds, with white coolers and cards.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best White Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced white builds that name every part.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best White Pre-Built Gaming PCs
White pre-builts ranked by graphics memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best White Prebuilt Gaming PC
White prebuilts that state their power supply wattage.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RGB Gaming PCs
Systems whose listings name RGB memory or fans.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Liquid-Cooled Gaming PCs
Systems that name an AIO or liquid CPU cooler.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen 7 5700X Gaming PCs
Eight-core AM4 systems from RTX 3050 to RTX 5070.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced 7800X3D systems, from RTX 5060 Ti to RX 9070 XT.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Gaming PCs
Six 9800X3D systems, RTX 5070 to RTX 5070 Ti.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen 7 Gaming PCs
Ryzen 7 systems on AM5 with DDR5 memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Gaming PCs
16-core 9950X3D systems for gaming plus heavy work.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best AMD Ryzen Gaming Desktops
All-AMD desktops: Ryzen CPUs with Radeon graphics.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Ryzen 7 7700X Gaming PCs
7700X systems that all use an RTX 5070, split by memory and case.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Ryzen 7 7800X3D Gaming PCs
7800X3D systems with 16GB graphics cards.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Ryzen 7 9800X3D Gaming PCs
9800X3D systems that state their power supply wattage.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Ryzen 7 Gaming PCs
Lower-priced Ryzen 7 systems on AM4 and AM5.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Intel Core i5 Gaming Desktops
The lowest-priced Core i5 desktops.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Intel i5 Gaming Desktops
Core i5 desktops ranked by graphics memory, up to the RTX 5070.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs With an Intel i5
Core i5 systems with a warranty.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Gaming PCs With an Intel Core i5, Compared
Core i5 and Core Ultra 5 systems with 1TB or more of storage.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Intel Core i7 Gaming PCs
Core i7 systems ranked by graphics memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Intel i7 Gaming PCs
The lower-priced Core i7 systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced RTX 5080 systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best NVIDIA RTX 5070 Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced RTX 5070 systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced RTX 5070 Ti systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5070 Gaming PCs
RTX 5070 systems with 32GB of RAM, compared.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PCs
The upper end of RTX 5070 Ti systems.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5080 Gaming PCs
RTX 5080 systems with a named 850W or larger PSU.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best 4K Gaming Desktop PCs
RTX 5080 and 5090 desktops for 4K screens.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for 4K Resolution
The lowest-priced systems with a 16GB card suited to 4K with upscaling.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for 4K
RTX 5080 and 5090 systems with X3D processors for 4K.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best High-End Gaming Desktops
The most expensive complete systems, led by RTX 5090 builds.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best High-End Gaming Desktop PCs
High-end systems ranked by memory.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best High-Performance Gaming Desktops
16GB-card systems under $4,000.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Super Expensive Gaming PCs
RTX 5090 flagships and what the extra money buys.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktops for Sale
Mid-range desktops with the most hardware for the price.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Desktop Gaming Rigs
Rigs from $1,800 to $3,000 with 12GB and 16GB cards.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Desktop Gaming Towers
Towers with a named 750W or larger PSU.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktop Computers
Desktops from $900 to $1,500 ranked by graphics memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktops, Compared
The lowest-priced desktops with 32GB of RAM.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktop PCs for Sale
Desktops from $1,000 to $2,000 with a warranty.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming Desktops
The lowest-priced prebuilts with an X3D processor.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Gaming Desktop Recommendations by Budget
One desktop per budget step from about $900 to $3,000.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming Desktop Tower PCs
Towers with 2TB of storage under $2,600.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Gaming Desktops Worth Buying
Balanced desktops from $1,200 to $2,200.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
Good Gaming Desktop Computers, Compared
Six affordable desktops ranked by hardware for the price.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best PC Desktop Gaming Computers
Intel desktops from $1,500 to $2,500.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Pre-Built Desktop Gaming PCs
Pre-builts from $1,100 to $1,700, favoring more memory.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Pre-Built Gaming PCs
White pre-built systems from $1,300 to $2,300.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Desktop Gaming PCs
The lowest-priced prebuilts with a 16GB graphics card.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PC Picks
Prebuilts from $1,000 to $2,000, favoring hardware for the price.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
What's a Good Gaming Desktop? Our Picks
The lowest-priced desktops with a 12GB or larger graphics card.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Streaming
RTX systems with 32GB of RAM for gaming and streaming at once.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for a Golf Simulator
RTX systems for driving golf simulator software and a projector.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for GTA 5 RP on FiveM
32GB systems for asset-heavy FiveM roleplay servers.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt PCs for Streaming and Gaming
Five systems between $1,400 and $2,400 with 32GB of RAM and 16GB graphics cards for playing and streaming at once.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PC
A prebuilt gaming PC saves the build but should name every part in its listing.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Small Form Factor PC
A small form factor PC fits a desk or TV stand where a tower will not.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Compact Mini PC
A compact mini PC takes almost no desk space.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best CyberPowerPC Gaming PCs
CyberPowerPC sells prebuilt systems from RTX 5060 entry builds upward.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $500
Under $500, most gaming PCs are mini PCs with integrated or laptop-class graphics rather than towers with a desktop card.
11 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $800
Under $800, a prebuilt gaming PC targets 1080p.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $1,200 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Around $1,200, prebuilt towers pair RTX 5060-class cards with mid-range CPUs.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $1,500 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Around $1,500, prebuilt towers reach 12GB and 16GB graphics cards for 1440p.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best $2,000 Prebuilt Gaming PCs
Around $2,000, prebuilt towers step up to RTX 5070-class cards and faster CPUs.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs $5,000 and Up
At $5,000 and above, prebuilt systems use flagship graphics cards, top CPUs and large SSDs.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PC for Esports
Esports titles run at high frame rates on mid-range hardware, so the budget is better spent on a fast monitor.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PC for Streaming
NVIDIA RTX cards include a hardware encoder that streaming apps can use, which frees the CPU.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Blender Rendering
Blender's Cycles renderer uses the GPU and its VRAM, so large scenes need 16GB or more.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Stable Diffusion
Local image generation leans on VRAM, and most tools are tuned for NVIDIA cards.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PCs for Flight Simulator
Flight simulators load both the CPU and the GPU heavily, especially in busy airports and with VR.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Gaming PC for Console Emulation
Emulating newer consoles leans on single-thread CPU speed more than on the graphics card.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best PCs for Video Editing
Video editing leans on RAM for long timelines and on the GPU for effects and exports.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best RTX 5060 Ti Prebuilt Gaming PCs
An RTX 5060 Ti prebuilt targets 1080p and 1440p gaming, and the 16GB version gives more room for textures.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best PCs for 4K Video Editing
4K editing leans on RAM for long timelines and on a strong GPU for effects and encoding.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Prebuilt Gaming PCs Under $3,000
Between $2,400 and $3,000 prebuilts move to RTX 5080-class graphics and fast X3D processors.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Skytech Gaming PCs
Skytech builds prebuilt gaming PCs across budgets with mainstream parts.
12 min read
PC Builds · Buying Guide
The Best Liquid-Cooled Gaming PCs
A liquid cooler keeps hot CPUs quieter under load.
12 min read
What to check first
- 01
Define applications, games and display target.
- 02
Budget for all required parts and software.
- 03
Verify platform, power and physical fit.