Introduction
PC gaming is currently in better shape than it has been for years. Software sales are up, and developers now take both the platform and players more seriously.
The fantastic simplicity of services like Steam makes it as simple as can be to purchase PC games, and the PC's open nature gives you a great choice of hardware. Graphics cards, storage, processors and memory are interchangeable on the PC in a way that no other platform can compete with, and with a PC that has a really high specification, the visuals and resolutions it can manage are far superior to even the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
A great gaming computer doesn't come cheap though. You'll have to dig deep into your pocket for a PC that has the most powerful graphics card, a top-end 'Haswell' or 'Skylake' processor which has been overclocked by the PC vendor, and an ultrafast SSD. But if you love gaming, the considerable expense is absolutely worth it.
The single most important piece of advice for anyone shopping for a gaming PC is to get a good graphics card. With modern games, the graphics card affects the game's frame rate and visual detail more than any other component. But of course, you'll also want to make sure the rest of the computer cuts the mustard as well.
In this article, we've got 10 suggestions for a great gaming PC.
Also check out: 23 best PC games: the must-play titles you can't afford to miss
1. Chillblast Fusion Master
A beefy Skylake powerhouse, but it's expensive
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 | RAM: 16GB 3000MHz DDR4 | Storage: 512GB Samsung SM951 M.2 PCI-E SSD + 2TB SSHD | Features: 4.6GHz overclock, Cooler Master Nepton Cooler, Cooler Master chassis, 750W PSU
See more Chillblast Fusion Master deals
Heavily overclocked, water-cooled Skylake processor
High-end graphics card
Top performance comes at a high price
Skylake isn't much faster than last year's Devils Canyon quad-core chips
The Fusion Master has been built around Intel's brand new 14nm Skylake processor, the Core i7-6700K, which has been overclocked to 4.6GHz. Although this new chip offers only a relatively modest performance improvement over the previous Haswell generation, it's still the fastest gaming processor on the planet. With the help of the highly efficient Nepton all-in-one water cooler, Chillblast has managed to overclock it to 4.6GHz, which will improve its gaming performance.
Partnered with this is a GeForce GTX 980 graphics card, one of the fastest on the market, which comes with 4GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory. There's also a slimline PCI-Express SSD that is connected to the M.2 slot on the Asus Z170 Pro Gaming motherboard, and is capable of blistering transfer speeds of 2GB/sec.
It's housed in a spacious Cooler Master mid-tower chassis, which has been designed specifically for gamers, with the 750W power supply and SSHD isolated from the rest of the system components. It's a great gaming PC, although it certainly doesn't come cheap.
2. Alienware Area 51
A beautiful looking and well-designed gaming machine
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K (overclocked to 3.8GHz) |
Graphics: AMD Radeon R370 | RAM: 8GB DDR4 |
Storage: 2TB 7200rpm hard drive | Features: Custom Alienware Chassis, 850W PSU, 802.11ac wireless
See more Alienware Area 51 deals
Great-looking case
Liquid cooled and overclocked to 3.8GHz
High-end configuration is very expensive
No SSD in entry-level model
Looking at some of the gaming PCs in this article, it's clear that some manufacturers go to considerable lengths to present great looking custom chassis designs – but we think the Area 51, from Dell subsidiary Alienware, beats them all by a wide margin. A pentagon when viewed from the side, with a soft blue glow, the components are angled for easier access, and the entire design is incredibly funky.
With the entry-level model, you get a liquid cooled overclocked processor and AMD graphics, but configurations with dual Nvidia GeForce cards are an option, although you'll need to dig quite deep into your pocket to purchase them.
Read our hands-on review: Alienware Area 51
3. Lenovo Erazer X510 Gaming Desktop
A juggernaut PC with plenty of power
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770K |
Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 290 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 2TB SSHD | Features: 625W PSU, smart looking chassis
See more Lenovo Erazer X510 Gaming Desktop deals
High-end AMD graphics
Fast CPU performance
Slightly older technology
SSHD not as good as an SSD
Although it's a bit older than some of the other PCs in this list, the Lenovo Erazer X510 carries a great specification that will handle modern gaming with ease.
Compared with some systems, it's not the best value for money, but it's certain to be capable of 1080p gaming, and the chassis has a certain allure, with a look that resembles nothing less than a giant juggernaut of steel.
4. Acer Predator G3-605
A less powerful but more affordable gaming tower
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460T
| Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 255
| RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 1TB HDD
| Features: Integrated speakers, card reader
See more Acer Predator G3-605 deals
Good gaming performance
Affordable
Only a mid-range specification
Soon to be upgraded with newer technology
The Acer Predator G6 is right around the corner, with all the latest bells and whistles, including Intel's new Skylake processors. But this older model, the G3, can still be found for a very reasonable price.
It packs less power than some high-end gaming PCs, but it's still perfectly capable of running all games, and with this specification you should be able to enjoy 1080p gaming with details set to medium or high, and still get decent frame rates.
5. HP Envy Phoenix
HP has a good performer here, but the SSD is stingy
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790k | Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 380 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 128GB SSD + 2TB HDD | Features: Bang & Olufsen Audio, 802.11ac wireless
See more HP Envy Phoenix deals
Stylish metallic case
Powerful graphics card
No Skylake technology
Small SSD
HP never comes up with a bad looking design, even for a standard-sized PC tower. The Phoenix looks great, with a bright red light running vertically down the front, which also benefits from a metallic finish.
The AMD Radeon 380 in this configuration can deliver great gaming performance to match Nvidia's GeForce graphics cards. And there's a Haswell Core i7-4970k chip on board as well, which is a great gaming CPU.
There's everything else you need for a good modern gaming experience too: an SSD and a hard disk plus 16GB of memory. There's no Skylake chip to be seen here, but we expect HP will follow with a new configuration soon.
6. MSI Nightblade Mini Gaming PC Phoenix
This compact PC offers solid no-frills performance
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790k | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 2TB HDD | Features: Micro-ATX case, red lighting
See more MSI Nightblade Mini Gaming PC Phoenix deals
Small size
Reasonable value
Not as powerful as some gaming PCs
No overclock
We've had large PC cases, PC cases with a wacky design, and PC cases that fit both those descriptions. How about small PC cases? The MSI Nightblade comes in a MicroATX chassis, which adds a degree of portability, useful if you regularly take your PC to LAN parties. It looks pretty good too with red illumination underneath the front.
Although beefier configurations are available, this one only comes with a GeForce GTX 960. Intel's venerable 4.4GHz Core i7-4790k is used as the processor and this machine still offers a lot of gaming performance in a small box.
7. Cyberpower Trinity 300
A holy Trinity of cool design, graphics grunt and processing performance
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 250GB SSD + 2TB HDD | Features: Funky chassis design, Cooler Master liquid cooling
See more Cyberpower Trinity 300 deals
Six-core processor
High-end graphics card
Need to manually add the 20% overclock in customisation page
Case design may not appeal to everyone
If you've looked at some of the other machines in this article, you may like the idea of having top-end gaming performance with a six-core Haswell E processor for non-gaming tasks as well. What if you really like the look of the custom chassis designs here too?
The Cyberpower Trinity 300 gives you all three. The chassis, a DeepCool Tristellar Gaming Case, places the components into a three-winged chassis with a striking appearance.
And there's a lot of performance on offer too, with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 video card alongside an Intel Core i7-5820K processor. Oddly, the standard configuration on Cyberpower's website doesn't seem to offer an overclocked processor, but this can be added to the overall build for a small additional outlay.
8. Scan 3XS Vengeance
A very speedy PC which can cope with demanding gaming
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Storage: 256GB Samsung SM951 M.2 PCI-E SSD + 2TB HDD | Features: 4.6GHz overclock, Be quiet! Dark Rock 3 CPU cooler, Corsair Obsidian 450D chassis, 750W PSU
See more Scan 3XS Vengeance deals
Fast overclocked Skylake processor performance
High-end graphics card
Not a cheap machine
Skylake isn't much quicker than previous Intel CPUs
Scan's 3XS Vengeance gaming computer very closely matches that of Chillblast's Fusion Master, with an overclocked Skylake processor for the fastest possible gaming performance and a powerful GeForce GTX 980 graphics card. This sort of setup will cope with any game up to 1440p resolution in maximum detail.
The gap in price between the two systems can be attributed to small differences – a slightly smaller Samsung M.2 PCI Express SSD and less memory in Scan's default configuration.
Whatever, the combination of Skylake and a GeForce GTX 980 will result in a very fast gaming PC.
9. Overclockers UK Titan Riptide
A six-core Haswell-E driven all-rounder
CPU: Intel Core i7-5820K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 | RAM: 16GB DDR4 | Storage: 120GB SSD + 2TB HDD | Features: 4.6GHz overclock, six core CPU, white LED strip, Phanteks Enthoo Case, 650W PSU
See more Overclockers UK Titan Riptide deals
Great value
Six-core processor means improved performance in non-gaming tasks
Skylake quad-core processor is a (slightly) better choice for games
Could do with a larger SSD
Overclockers suggested the Titan Riptide to us for a few reasons, and one of those was because it has a six-core Haswell-E processor rather than a quad-core Skylake processor. While it's a slightly less powerful gaming PC than alternative systems, it can still render 3D visuals and virtual worlds brilliantly, and those additional CPU cores will make a big difference in non-gaming tasks. Video encoding, 3D design and complex edits in Photoshop will all run faster.
In its default configuration, it's also considerably less expensive. Bear in mind though, it has a GeForce GTX 970 rather than a 980 and if you want Windows 10, you'll need to add an extra £80 to the price.
But it's still running at a fast 4.2GHz clock speed, which means great CPU performance, particularly since it has two extra CPU cores.
10. Asus Republic Of Gamers G20AJ
A powerful PC with a smart looking case and customisable lights
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 | RAM: 12GB DDR3 | Storage: 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD | Features: 802.11ac wireless, six-core CPU, customisable lighting effects
See more Asus Republic Of Gamers G20AJ deals
Great looking red and black chassis
Powerful graphics card
Less memory than other gaming systems of this price
Small SSD
If you want a tower PC that looks like it means business, the Republic Of Gamers G20AJ looks like it could be the best choice. Not only does it carry the Republic Of Gamers branding, reserved only for the top-end gaming products from Asus – all of which boast this signature red and black design – it also has a specification to match.
We're talking a high-end GeForce graphics card, fast Intel Core i7 Haswell processor and both an SSD and hard disk, with built-in 802.11ac wireless. And call us immature, but we always love coloured lights on a gaming rig. Asus also used IFA 2015 to show off special edition of the machine that can squeeze in a Titan X for massive power.
The post Buying guide: 10 of the best gaming PCs you can buy in 2015 appeared first on Andys Roms.