Best PC Specs 2022

Best PC Specs 2021

The best gaming PC in 2022

Upgrade your home setup with one of the best gaming PCs this year.

Buying the best gaming PC in these silicon starved times is all about picking your battles. Once we would have been 100% behind starting from scratch and building your own, you would have learned a lot and maybe even saved a bit of cash. Today, however, you're unlikely to be able to find the parts, and even if you can you'll be paying far more for them than your average system builder does.

Official system builders like Corsair, Alienware, HP, and Lenovo have a much better chance to bag a specific CPU or GPU than we commoners do, however early you might get in line. As such, the prebuilt PCs we've tested below are likely your best option for buying a powerful, modern gaming PC in 2022, without waiting months for a single part, or handing exorbitant amounts of money to resellers.

The systems we've tested below offer specs that balance price and performance, each with their own quirks and plusses. Ideally, your gaming PC will have one of the best graphics cards and the best CPUs for gaming, but whether it's 4K gaming or a decent 1080p system for competitive gaming, there's something here for everyone.

To keep you up-to-date with the latest updates and products, we're constantly testing the newest gaming PCs from most major brands and builders to see whose is the fastest, offers the best build quality, and delivers the best service. We've even noted our favourite configurations on models that offer multiple SKUs.

1. Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition - The best AMD gaming PC

SPECIFICATIONS :

CPU: 

• AMD Ryzen 5 5600–5950X
• GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 Super–RTX 3090
• RAM: 8GB–64GB DDR4 3200MHz
• Storage: 1TB HDD–2TB HDD + 2TB SSD
• Warranty: 1 year (onsite)

REASONS TO BUY :

• +AMD CPU + Nvidia GPU combo
• +Quality Alienware/Dell design
• +After sales care

REASONS TO AVOID :

• -Sounds like it'll take off
• -Divisive case design

Our favourite Aurora Ryzen config:

Ryzen 9 5900X | RTX 3070 | 16GB DDR4-3200

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 is a great card for 1440p gaming and when paired with the absolute powerhouse that is the 12-core, 24-thread 5900X, it can turn its hand it pretty much anything you throw at it. 

The Aurora Ryzen Edition takes over the top spot from the Intel builds. The AMD Ryzen processors of the new generation are exemplary in terms of both performance and price. And with the potential for a 16-core, 32-thread chip inside your Alienware gaming PC, alongside an Nvidia RTX 3090, you're looking at something rather special.

But the lower end has something to offer too. The different configurations on offer mean that for £1,249 you can get a six-core machine with a GTX 1650 Super inside it that will handle 1080p gaming in that sleek Alienware chassis.

It does have to be said that there is an Alienware premium attached to whichever components you choose. However, the higher-than-average price provides you with reliable build quality, exceptional customer service, and solid warranties. The numerous pre-fab options offered by Alienware also help eliminate much of the guesswork associated with customizing your system. Some options provide better value for the parts used, but for hassle-free PC gaming out of the box, it's tough to beat the ease of use that Alienware provides.

The unconventional design of the case exploits every inch of its limited space but does initially feel a bit awkward to tinker with. However, the ability to access nearly every part of the PC without tools is a definite plus and expedites upgrades and maintenance. There's an obvious priority here on providing a convenient, premium product with some potential for upgrades, and the Aurora Ryzen Edition accomplishes that goal.

2. Alienware Aurora R13 - The best Intel gaming PC

SPECIFICATIONS :

• CPU: Up to Core i9 12900K
• GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650 Super–RTX 3090
• RAM: 8GB DDR5-4400 – 64GB DDR5
• Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe SSD + 2TB SATA HDD
• Warranty: 1 Year (onsite)

From :

• $1099.99

REASONS TO BUY : 

• +New chassis with window
• +Toolless access
• +Upgradeable
• +Solid after-sale support

REASONS TO AVOID :

• -Pricey higher end configs

Our favourite Aurora R13 config:

Core i5 12700KF | RTX 3070 | 16GB DDR5-4400

Pairing the impressive RTX 3070 with one of Intel's newest Alder Lake CPUs will give you a great gaming PC without an offensively exorbitant price tag. This config also comes with 16GB DDR5-4400—importantly configured in dual-channel mode—and a 512GB NVMe SSD.

Look, an Alienware Aurora with a side window. What a world. The new Aurora R13 uses the release of Intel's Alder Lake processors to deliver a slight redesign of its extraterrestrial chassis and offers a host of configurations, from the Core i5 12400F, thru the i5 12600KF and i7 12700KF, all the way up to the Core i9 12900KF.

They're paired with Nvidia GPUs from the GTX 1650 Super up to the unfeasibly expensive RTX 3090, or AMD Radeon cards from the RX 6600 XT up to the RX 6900 XT. That gives you a range of Alienware gaming machines from reasonably affordable 1080p gaming right up to blistering 4K workload-smashing performance, and the Alienware AIO cooling system will help keep the cozy interior of the case at a reasonable temperature too.

It has to be said that Alienware is being a bit stingy with its DDR5 memory here. In that only the Core i7 or i9 versions of the Aurora R13 are able to be configured with dual channel memory out of the box, or have more than 8GB of DDR5. It's also not the fastest either, with only DDR5-4400 available. 

I'll give it a break while DDR5 is expensive and hard to find, but it still stings and I'm not impressed.

The unconventional design of the case exploits every inch of its limited space but initially feels a bit awkward to tinker with. However, access to nearly every part of the PC without tools is a definite plus and expedites upgrades and maintenance. There's an obvious priority on providing a convenient, premium product with some potential for upgrades, and the Aurora design accomplishes that goal.

The issue with all gaming PCs and parts right now is availability. And that's currently hitting Alienware as hard as the rest. Picking up a new Aurora R13 rig today means you're not going actually to receive it for a month at least.

3. CyberPowerPC Infinity X109 Gaming PC - The best machine for 1440p gaming

SPECIFICATIONS :

CPU: 

• Intel Core i9 10850K
• GPU: MSI GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
• RAM: 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
• Storage: 500GB WD SN550 + 2TB Seagate HDD
• Warranty: 3 year

REASONS TO BUY :

• +Powerful and quiet running
• +Standout lighting and looks
• +Excellent for 1440p gaming

REASONS TO AVOID :

• -Can get a little noisy

Our favourite CyberPowerPC Infinity X109 config:

Core i9 10850K | RTX 3070 | 16GB DDR4-3200

This powerful build boasts one of Intel's top CPUs right now alongside the 1440p powerhouse that is the RTX 3070. This an impressively quiet gaming PC that also looks incredible thanks to a wealth of RGB-lit fans

When you buy a new PC, you're essentially looking for a powerful system that offers decent value for money from a reliable company. You want it to look good as well. Quiet running wouldn't hurt. Throw in a graphics card that you can't buy for love or money, and you have the Cyberpower Infinity X109 Gaming PC. A machine that has more lights than your average Christmas tree, more fans than the dome at the end of the Crystal Maze (ok, there are five case fans), packs the latest hardware, and yet is incredibly quiet in use. And all for a thoroughly good pile of cash. Consider us impressed.

For just over two grand, you get a powerful 10-core, 20-thread Intel Core i9 10850K, which, thanks to the Cooler Master MasterLiquid Lite 240 cooler, happily sits at 4.9GHz most of the time. You also get a GeForce RTX 3070, which is a solid mid-to-high-end card. It'll handle 1080p and 1440p gaming brilliantly—we saw 128fps in Division 2, 139fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and 110fps at 1080p. All silky smooth. 4K can be a bit of a stretch, but not outside the realms of possibility as well.

The rest of the spec is pretty much what you'd hope for at this price point, although the SSD is a little on the small side for my tastes. 500GB is fine, but I'd recommend upgrading to a 1TB model at order time for a bit of extra, to give you more space for your most played games. You do get a 2TB hard drive as standard too, so it's not like you're going to run out of space any time soon.

All of this is wrapped up in the Corsair 4000D mid-tower case, which manages to offer up excellent airflow while looking brilliant at the same time. The dust filters are easy to clean, and if you don't mind a bit of RGB lighting, you're going to be delighted. Overall, this is a quality system that will handle 1440p gaming for years to come. You can tweak pretty much every aspect of the system to your liking before you hit the buy button as well.  

4. Corsair One - The best compact high-end gaming PC

SPECIFICATIONS

• CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | Intel Core i9 11900K
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
• RAM: 32GB DDR4-3200
• Storage: Up to 2TB NVMe SSD
• Warranty: 2 year

REASONS TO BUY :

• +Slim, minimalist footprint
• +Incredible looks
• +Outstanding performance

REASONS TO AVOID :

• -Hard to access interior

Our favorite Corsair One config:

Ryzen 9 5900X | RTX 3080 | 32GB DDR4-3200

Finding powerful, small form factor gaming PCs is tough going, but the Corsair One design has big Mac Pro energy, and this beastly mini machine sports both the finest AMD processor you can buy as well as Nvidia's best 30-series graphics card. And don't come at me with your overpriced RTX 3080 Ti...

One of our highest-rated pre-built gaming PCs is back in an updated model, the Corsair One i164. It's still the same small form factor PC, but with a revamped internal layout and a few other slight changes. The case design still looks like something straight out of Tron. The CPU and GPU both use independent liquid cooling solutions, and all the hot air is pumped out by a single 140mm maglev fan. The PSU now sits below the motherboard, and some of the USB ports have been re-positioned on the front of the case, but that's the extent of the non-component changes. 

Like a number of the pre-built systems on this list, the Corsair One i164 isn't the only configuration the One comes in. In fact, with an Intel Core i9 9900K and an RTX 2080 Ti, the i164 is the mid-range model. Yes, you read that right, the mid-range model. The lower model comes with a Core i7 9700K and an RTX 2080, while the Corsair One Pro workstation model comes with a Core i9 9920X and an RTX 2080 Ti. 

There's still no word on Nvidia RTX 30-series cards yet, although we would expect that to be corrected before long. Likely, Corsair will also have to invest in more PSU capacity for the change too.

The price varies based on the specs, of course, so if £3,600 for the i164 is a little too rich for your blood, the i145 is £1,200 less at £2,400, which is £100 less than the a100 with a 3900X CPU. If you are in the market for a compact workstation, the i200 will zap £4,700 from your bank account. All models come with 32GB of RAM, so you won't need to worry about upgrading that aspect of the One for years to come.

Regardless of the configuration, the Corsair One is a sleek, potent little machine designed for anyone wrestling with space considerations or for those who want a powerful PC but don't want to listen to it whine every time it's stressed with a graphically intensive game.

Read Also : Best Computer Parts For Gaming 2021

5. HP Omen - The best gaming PC for under £1,000

SPECIFICATIONS :

• CPU: Intel Core i5 10400F
• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
• RAM: 16GB HyperX DDR4-2666
• Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD, 1TB HDD
• Warranty: 1 year

REASONS TO BUY

• +Powerful components 
• +Sober thrill-free designed 
• +Easy to upgrade

Our favorite HP Omen config:

Ryzen 7 3700X | RTX 3060 Ti | 16GB DDR4-3200

The updated HP Omen desktop machine comes with a shinier chassis and can be configured to house an RTX 3060 Ti for under £1,400. It's worth upgrading the 256GB SSD at the time of purchase through, as that's a bit pokey by modern standards.

Hewlett Packard has been around since before the Second World War, and that historical expertise is evident in the design and construction of its Omen 25L and 30L desktop PCs. The Omen 25L is highly customizable, starting with an RTX 2060 and Core i5 10400F and going up to a Core i9 and RTX 2080 Super.

Perhaps the most impressive part of the Omen 25L is the price tag. Despite the presence of an RTX card and that rock-solid CPU (as well as 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and 2TB HDD), it comes in at just £999. This is primarily due to HP trimming off all the non-essential frills that tend to pad out the price of several similarly specced machines. 

You won't find an over-elaborated liquid cooling system or a massive suite of spectacular RGB lighting; this machine is a dense black block of computing power. If you value smooth lines and compact design over the flash and spectacle of RGB, you'll appreciate the dark, slightly brooding aesthetic of the Obelisk. 

You can find similar specs from plenty of retailers, but it comes in a much smaller frame. While on the one hand, there's less space to muck around in the case if you do decide to upgrade in the future, it can slip easily into much tighter spaces than a more significant case and is easier to transport. It's the epitome of function over form and is available at a great price.

There's no word on RTX 30-series or AMD RX 6000-series GPUs just yet but watch this space. Hopefully, we'll see movement from HP before long.

source:pcgamer