Best Gaming Desktops

Budget and luxury gaming systems

Gaming computers differ from mainstream computers in some key ways. These computers are meant to enhance the entire gaming experience, so they focus on the fastest frame rates at high resolutions for the smoothest, most realistic results. Higher-end gaming computers have two graphics cards, and some are overclocked by the manufacturer (and hence covered under warranty). Cooling systems are more sophisticated, and case designs are a lot flashier. Most gaming computers have some kind of internal lighting scheme -- also cosmetic, but still cool.

The consensus of reviewers is that the Falcon Northwest Mach V (starting at *est. $3,430 without monitor) is lightning fast. At the base price, it isn't close to operating that fast, but you still get a very respectable gaming computer. If you maximize all options, this machine will cost nearly $20,000. The configurations tested by reviewers are in the $8,000 to $10,000 price range and typically include an overclocked quad-core processor and two video cards. Windows Vista Ultimate is standard, but you can also choose to install XP Pro and boot up in that OS for games that continue to work better in that environment.

PC Magazine selects the Mach V gaming computer as an Editor's Choice. Reviewer Joel Santo Domingo raves about its "jaw-dropping speed," and he reports that "the Mach V rocked the gaming benchmark tests." Reviewers also say that the Mach V is quieter than some machines in its class. Editors at MaximumPC say that it's very stable for an overclocked quad-core computer, though an admittedly controversial test did cause problems. Appearance is also a selling point. You can opt for a plain, brushed aluminum case, but custom paint jobs can be ordered. Falcon Northwest provides a three-year parts and labor limited warranty, comprehensive printed documentation and in-house technical support, as well as custom rescue discs and full Windows CDs.

The Dell XPS 720 H2C (starting at *est. $6,000 with 24-inch LCD monitor) is another option in this price range. That system is the successor to the well received XPS 710 H2C, which is no longer offered ("H2C" is Dell's water-cooling system). The base model Dell XPS 720 H2C includes a factory-overclocked quad-core 3.46GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme QX6700 processor, two 160GB 10,000RPM hard drives, 2GB of RAM and dual NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX video cards with 768MB of RAM. PC Magazine is one of the first to review the new Dell XPS gaming computer. Though it fails to garner Editors' Choice recognition -- an honor its predecessor did capture -- Lloyd Case rates it highly and says that it's fast, quiet, and stable.

If $5,000 to $10,000 seems obscenely expensive, reviewers like several high-end gaming computers that are then merely very expensive. The Gateway FX530XT (starting at *est. $4,000 with 24-inch widescreen LCD monitor) receives more reviews than any other current model, but endorsements fall short of enthusiastic. The base Gateway FX530XT ships with Windows Vista Home Premium, an overclocked quad-core QX6700 CPU, 2GB of RAM, two 150GB 10,000RPM hard drives and two (Crossfire) ATI Radeon X1950XTX video cards.

Computer Shopper, Tom's Hardware Guide and PC World note that the Gateway FX530XT lacks much room for expandability. PC Magazine points out that Vista isn't ready for gaming, but reviewer Joel Santo Domingo says the Gateway is competitive with other systems. These review sources and others concur that the FX530XT is a good value, but other computers are better. The one-year limited warranty is a drawback.

Computer Shopper reviews the CyberPower Gamer Infinity 1950 (starting at *est. $3,825 with 19-inch monitor) in direct comparison with the Gateway FX530XT. The basic configuration is very similar, but the Gamer Infinity 1950 is cheaper, faster and has a three-year parts-and-labor warranty. It includes an efficient water-cooling system.

A variation is the CyberPower Gamer Infinity Ultimate (starting at *est. $4,000 with a 19-inch LCD monitor). The Ultimate has a higher-end motherboard than the less expensive CyberPower Gamer Infinity 1950, and it includes NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX-based video cards. Most reviewers who compare the two give the Gamer Infinity Ultimate a higher rating.

The Maingear F131 (starting at *est. $1,990) is selected as an Editor's Choice by [H]Consumer and CNet.com. It also receives high ratings from Maximum PC and Computer Power User. However, reviewed configurations range from $2,700 to $6,500. While those who report on the more expensive configurations rave about gaming performance, [H]Consumer thinks the biggest virtue is before-and-after-sale service from Maingear. The same person who takes your order also builds the computer and provides tech support.

Reviewers generally identify computers from $1,500 to $2,500 as mid-range gaming computers. The implication from reviews is that if you play at home, you'll be completely satisfied. If you compete against players with money-is-no-object computers at LAN parties, you may be somewhat handicapped.

[H]Consumer is the most demanding reviewer of computers, and it highly recommends the Velocity Micro Gamers' Edge PCX (starting at *est. $1,795). [H]Consumer reviewed the Gamers' Edge PCX with a $2,450 configuration. The base configuration includes a 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo dual-core processor, distinguishing it from the more expensive computers with quad core processors (you can upgrade to a quad core CPU). It also comes with 2GB of RAM and a single overclocked NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTS video card with 380MB of RAM.

[H]Consumer gives the Gamers' Edge PCX very high ratings in all categories. Reviewer Josh Norem says it's expensive, "but you're paying a premium here for the tech support, great construction, and warranty." The only flaw is that it's noisier than the average gaming computer. We've also seen reviews that highly rate Velocity Micro's similar Gamers' Edge DualX Custom Gaming Computer (starting at *est. $1,695). However, with an AMD dual-core CPU and an overclocked 320MB video card, it represents a significant drop in performance -- but only a small drop in price.

Although still viewed as a boutique brand, Velocity Micro is moving into the mainstream; several models are now sold through Best Buy. One plus is that Velocity Micro's customer support is based entirely in Virginia. Velocity Micro has a higher rating at ResellerRatings.com than CyberPower. Both brands have higher satisfaction than Apple and the major PC brands, but Puget Custom Computers rates highest of all with customers.

Paul Lilly at HardwareLogic.com reviewed a preconfigured version of the Puget Silent Gaming Computer (as reviewed, *est. $2,000 without monitor). It includes Vista Home Premium, a 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a single NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT video card with 256MB of RAM in an Antec P180 case. The base price has risen since HardwareLogic.com's review, but the review concludes, "We challenged Puget to build us a quiet mid range gaming rig capable of being upgraded with a budget of $1,600, and to put it simply, they nailed it."

If you have an even smaller budget, reviews point to the CyberPower Gamer Infinity 7500 (starting at *est. $945 with a 17" LCD monitor) as the best budget gaming computer. Hardware Logic considers it a steal. Paul Lilly says you would pay almost $500 more to buy the components separately and assemble it yourself. The core configuration includes a 2.33GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, an Asus P5N-E nForce 650i motherboard, NVIDIA GeForce 8600-based video card with 256MB of RAM, Vista Home Premium, six color options for the case and a three-year limited warranty. Lilly and other reviewers recommend that you upgrade the RAM from 1GB to 2GB and that you consider upgrading the default video card. All the reviewer-recommended upgrades only add about $300 to the base price.

In a review at PC World, Richard Baguley says the CyberPower Gamer Infinity 7500 beat the now discontinued Dell C521 they tested, which actually had more RAM. Baguley continues, "despite its sub-$1000 price, the Gamer Infinity 7500 ran only slightly more slowly than the much more costly Dell XPS 710 on a couple of tests."