What's The Best Gaming PC For 2020?
Consoles are great, but for many gamers a PC is still the best way to play the latest games. They provide power, upgradability and, the ability to play with a mouse and keyboard. We've tested and ranked some of the best gaming PCs money can buy.
There's also the benefit of using them to get work or other tasks done, such as video editing, when you're not gaming. You really will be making use of the power available to you. Here's our top picks for gaming PCs and you can click through to read full reviews of each complete with more photos and benchmarks.
Best Gaming PCs 2020
1. PC Specialist Vulcan S2
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PC Specialist has built one of the best gaming PCs you can get thanks to a careful balance of price, specs and performance.
It doesn't come with the most exciting or versatile case and the same is true of the motherboard so upgrading later on isn't going to be the easiest thing. Everything is kept neat and tidy and cooling isn't an issue.
Importantly, the money is spent where it counts and the combination of a Core i7 and RTX 2070 at this price is excellent. This machine won't stretch to 4K at amazing framerates, but can handle 1080p and 1440p with ease. The processor is also great for mainstream office applications, too, so this machine is suitable for work and play.
For us, it's the most well-rounded system you can buy at the moment.
2. MSI Trident A (9th)
- $1,349
If you're looking for a great balance of things in a gaming PC then this effort from MSI really does fit the bill.
Available at just over £1,000 it won't break the bank like many rivals but has solid gaming performance from the RTX 2060 inside - and the Core i5 is a decent enough chip.
You'll be tempted if you need a compact system as that's the idea here, even if build quality is a little shaky in places. Otherwise you can find the same GPU in cheaper and larger systems.
3. AlphaBeta i5 RTX
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If you want gaming performance at an affordable price then look no further than AlphaBeta's machine.
Despite coming in at under £1,000, it packs an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super graphics card. This comes inside a stunning glass case, too, and the Core i5 chip is fairly decent - albeit not ideal for intense work purposes but this is a gaming focused PC.
Elsewhere things could be better such as the storage, ports and memory, but they don't hamper the machine enough to stop us recommending it - especially at this price.
4. PC Specalist Fnatic Gaming PC
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Once again, PC Specialist has built a gaming rig that's pretty easy to recommend, whether or not you're a Fnatic fan or otherwise.
This is a stylish and well-made gaming PC that's got a lot going for it. We find it impressive across many areas, namely the specs and speed across graphics and applications making it a good choice if it's for work as well as play compared to many rivals.
Our only real caveat is that you can get Nvidia systems with a few more frames per second for less money if those rigs appeal in other areas.
5. Chillblast Fusion Sorcerer
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There's a lot to like about the Chillblast Fusion Sorcerer including it's design and build along with decent 1080p and esports gaming performance.
However, there are rival systems out there from the likes of AlphaBeta that will get you a more powerful RTX 2060 Super or even 2070 Super if you want higher frame rates.
The Fusion Sorcerer does have some advantages that might swing it though, including its versatile AMD processor, speedy storage and excellent warranty.
6. Overclockers Hoplite
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The Hoplite will reach 100+ FPS in games at 1080p providing a smooth gaming experience for high refresh-rate monitors and will continue to do so for the next few years at the very least.
However, if you're looking to game at 4K resolution, this machine will struggle to reach a consistent 60FPS in the latest titles.
7. Yoyotech Warbird i7S
- £1,899
The Warbird i7S is a decent own-brand effort from GAME, mainly because it's made by Yoyotech. And this PC is a great mid-range all-rounder.
There's not much flair in terms of lighting and such but the case is solid and the system is well-built. What you're mainly getting here is a beefy overclocked Core i7 that can take on anything backed up by an RTX 2070 so you're setup for 4K gaming.
The Chillblast Fusion Juggernaut is worth a look to get the RTX 2080 if you can afford the price difference.
8. Asus ROG Strix GL10CS
- From $849
If you can't afford a more expensive gaming machine and simply want to plug-and-play without tinkering with what's inside then the Asus ROG Strix GL10CS is a reasonable option.
This machine will comfortably handle 1080p gaming and day-to-day computing tasks, too. Just be aware that build quality isn't great and the specs are nothing special when you look beyond the CPU and GPU.
It's also pretty noisy so there are downsides to buying a budget machine.
Your Buying Guide For The Best Gaming PCs In 2020
While you can go straight to the list below and buy a PC in the exact specification reviewed, it's worth understanding what to look for as each supplier allows you to customise and configure your PC to tailor it for your needs. We have also tested the best gaming laptops, which might be a better option. These are the best gaming phones if you want to game anywhere.
Processor
Different games place different demands on your computer hardware, but choosing a gaming PC will involve a balancing act between CPU and graphics performance.
For gaming PCs we’re happy to allow system builders to overclock processors, which can significantly increase performance without having to stump up for the most expensive chips from Intel and AMD.
Overclocked processors place additional demands on the system’s power supply and also require better cooling, so expect to pay more for PCs with more extreme overclocking. You can overclock the processor yourself if you wish, but it can be a good idea to buy a pre-overclocked system that's covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Motherboard
There are several points to consider when choosing the right motherboard for your PC. If you’re not into technical details you may be tempted to overlook the motherboard and concentrate on the processor and graphics, but the motherboard is extremely important.
Not all motherboards support overclocking, and opting for a lower-cost motherboard can allow you to spend a little more on your graphics card, which can have a big impact on your final performance figures.
If you want the latest ports and connectors including USB 3.1 Gen 2 (which supports transfers at twice the speed of USB 3.0 - also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1) then make sure you check this before ordering. Also look out for USB-C and Thunderbolt support.
Graphics card
It’s usually the graphics card that will determine the overall quality of your gaming experience. This is why we suggest gamers go for a mid-range processor as the difference in price will almost certainly serve you better spent on the graphics card rather than on the CPU.
To ensure smooth gameplay, you generally want to achieve a minimum of 60 frames per second (fps) in your game. This is the limiting speed of most PC displays, so you won’t really need to go faster than this unless you have a high-speed gaming monitor that allows for faster refresh rates.
Any extra performance will then allow you to increase the quality settings in your game, making characters sharper, textures more realistic and graphical effects more immersive.
The most commonly found are from Nvidia and the latest range of RTX cards such as the 2070 Super. Cheaper options will include cards like the GTX 1660 Ti.
Virtual Reality
It's fairly niche, but you can buy an HTC Vive or Oculus Rift and play VR games on a PC. You can read our complete guide to VR for more in-depth information on the headsets, games and apps available.
If your PC struggles to play games at 1080p – the minimum is considered 30 frames per second – then it’s not going to cope with running an Oculus Rift or HTC Vive which both have a 2160x1200 screen, especially if you want 90fps, which is the ideal frame rate for a decent experience.
For more, see Nvidia's VR Ready site and AMD's Radeon VR Ready page.
Cases And Cooling
We've already talked about processor cooling, but gamers tend to like their PC tower system to look the part as well. Many come with fans that light up in various colours, but don't overlook the fact that the case needs to be practical. Internal cable management aids airflow, while fan controllers let you reduce noise or boost cooling as necessary.
Graphics cards can also come with various cooling systems, the more advanced of which can allow for faster clock speeds on the GPU and less noise when playing games.
Monitor
For more immersive gameplay, go for the largest display you can find and one with a good contrast ratio. TN-based monitors will cost less and provide most of these features, but IPS-based displays will give you better overall colour reproduction and wider viewing angles, although response times tend to be slower.
For a more responsive display, go for a gaming monitor with a high refresh rate of 120- or 144Hz, although you’ll need powerful graphics to supply frames at this speed. Check out our round-up of the best gaming monitors.
Peripherals
If you’re using your PC on a desk with a monitor, you’ll benefit from the improved responsiveness of wired rather than wireless devices. Look for high-resolution mice, and keyboards with programmable keys and backlighting.
High-grade mechanical switches in keyboards have a better ‘feel’ and provide longer life than cheap membrane switches. Here are the best gaming keyboards.
A gaming sound card can provide a more immersive experience by adding multiple sound effects, with improved audio fidelity. Also consider a gaming headset with a built-in mic.
Warranty
Warranty terms are crucial when it comes to gaming PCs and a key advantage of buying a pre-built overclocked PC is that all of the overclocking will be tested and covered by the vendor’s warranty. The longer the warranty the better, but also look for a collect-and-return rather than return-to-base option. Also pay attention to whether parts and labour are both covered and for how long.
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