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The Best Gaming PCs in 2026

Tom’s Hardware’s best gaming PC is the Corsair Vengeance a7500 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti). PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide both pick the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro, and the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme is the budget pick for 1080p.

By PickedTech Editorial TeamLast updated Prices & specs checked Oct 2026

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How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Tom’s Hardware’s best gaming PC is the Corsair Vengeance a7500 (Ryzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 Ti). PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide both pick the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro, and the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme is the budget pick for 1080p. Best overall: Corsair Vengeance a7500, $2,999. Best value high-end: iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro, $2,299.

Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (prices checked Oct 2026)
PickProductBest forPrice
Best overallCorsair Vengeance a7500most gamers with a big budgetAbout $2,999
Best value high-endiBuyPower RDY Element 9 Prohigh-end valueAbout $2,299 to $2,350
Best budgetCyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme1080p gaming on a budget$999.99 to $1,099
Best mid-rangeASUS ROG G700mid-range gaming$1,584
Best 4K valueVelocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026)4K gaming value$2,499
Best multipurposeDell Tower Plusa family PC that also games$1,149.99

Prebuilt prices change often, and memory and storage costs rose in 2026, so check the exact configuration before you buy.

Which should you buy? Our quick picks

Tom’s Hardware’s top pick
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best value high-end
iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro
PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide’s top pick
Check price (opens in a new tab)
1080p for about $1,000 to $1,100
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best mid-range
ASUS ROG G700
Liquid-cooled at a fair price
Check price (opens in a new tab)
PCMag Editors’ Choice
Check price (opens in a new tab)
Best multipurpose
Dell Tower Plus
For work and play
Check price (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

Gaming PCs compared (prices checked October 2026; configurations vary)
PCPrice seenWho picks itExample configurationBest for
Corsair Vengeance a7500About $2,999Tom’s Hardware best overall; PC Gamer best high-endRyzen 7 9800X3D, RTX 5070 TiMost gamers with a big budget
iBuyPower RDY Element 9 ProAbout $2,299 to $2,350PC Gamer and Tom’s Guide top pickRyzen 7 7800X3D, RX 9070 XTHigh-end value
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme$999.99 to $1,099Tom’s Hardware budget; PCMag budgetCore Ultra 5 225F, RTX 50601080p gaming on a budget
Asus ROG G700$1,584Tom’s Hardware mid-rangeCore Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070Mid-range gaming
Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026)$2,499PCMag best for 4KConfigurable4K gaming value
Alienware Area-51From about $4,349Tom’s Hardware, PC Gamer, Tom’s Guide premium pickConfigurableA full-size, quiet flagship
Maingear MG-1$7,199 to $9,869 as testedTom’s Hardware best configurable; PCMagUp to Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, RTX 5090A cost-no-object custom build
Dell Tower Plus$1,149.99PCMag; Tom’s Guide budgetConfigurableA family PC that also games

The picks in detail

Best overall

1. Corsair Vengeance a7500

Best for: most gamers with a big budget

Tom’s Hardware’s[1] best gaming PC, also on PC Gamer’s[2] list. Its Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5070 Ti deliver impressive gaming performance, it has a fast PCIe 5.0 SSD and a high-quality Corsair case with standard parts, and it comes with a two-year warranty. It’s pricey; Tom’s Hardware’s deal tracker showed about $2,999.

Price (Oct 2026): About $2,999 Source

Pros

  • Excellent performance
  • Quality case
  • Two-year warranty

Cons

  • Pricey
Check Corsair Vengeance a7500 price (opens in a new tab)
Best value high-end

2. iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro

Best for: high-end value

PC Gamer’s[2] and Tom’s Guide’s[4] top pick. PC Gamer’s configuration pairs a Ryzen 7 7800X3D with a Radeon RX 9070 XT for $2,350; it notes the power supply isn’t modular and the price has risen. Tom’s Guide saw about $2,299.

Price (Oct 2026): About $2,299 to $2,350 Source

Pros

  • Strong performance for the money

Cons

  • Non-modular power supply
  • Price has crept up
Check iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro price (opens in a new tab)
Best budget

3. CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme

Best for: 1080p gaming on a budget

The budget pick of both Tom’s Hardware[1] and PCMag[3]. Tom’s Hardware tested a Core Ultra 5 225F and RTX 5060 configuration at $1,099 and praised its build quality and lack of bloatware, but wants more dust protection and a faster SSD. PCMag likes its price-to-performance ratio but says the fans can get loud; it saw $999.99 at Costco ($1,499.99 list).

Price (Oct 2026): $999.99 to $1,099 Source

Pros

  • Great value
  • No bloatware

Cons

  • Slow SSD
  • Loud fans
Check CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme price (opens in a new tab)
Best mid-range

4. ASUS ROG G700

Best for: mid-range gaming

Tom’s Hardware’s[1] mid-range pick, with a Core Ultra 7 265KF, RTX 5070 and a liquid-cooled CPU for $1,584. Cons: outdated Wi-Fi 6, limited RGB control, no room for 2.5- or 3.5-inch drives, and memory XMP not enabled out of the box.

Price (Oct 2026): $1,584 Source

Pros

  • Solid performance
  • Liquid cooling at this price

Cons

  • Wi-Fi 6
  • No extra drive bays
Check ASUS ROG G700 price (opens in a new tab)
Best 4K value

5. Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026)

Best for: 4K gaming value

PCMag’s[3] best gaming desktop for 4K. It praises blistering performance, surprising value for a top-tier rig, ample airflow and no bloatware. There’s no PCIe 5.0 SSD option and few USB-C ports. $2,499 from Velocity Micro.

Price (Oct 2026): $2,499 Source

Pros

  • Blistering performance
  • No bloatware

Cons

  • No PCIe 5.0 SSD option
Check Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026) price (opens in a new tab)
Best for a full-size, quiet flagship

6. Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop

Best for: a full-size, quiet flagship

Picked by Tom’s Hardware[1], PC Gamer[2] and Tom’s Guide[4]. Tom’s Hardware likes its mostly standardized parts, quiet running and great ports, including Thunderbolt 4 (USB4 on AMD models). It’s expensive: Tom’s Hardware saw $4,349, and it can top $5,000; PC Gamer’s configuration was $5,600.

Price (Oct 2026): From about $4,349 Source

Pros

  • Quiet
  • Standard parts
  • Great ports

Cons

  • Expensive
Check Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop price (opens in a new tab)
Best for a cost-no-object custom build

7. Maingear MG-1

Best for: a cost-no-object custom build

Tom’s Hardware[1] likes its extremely clean build and huge range of configuration options; its test unit with a Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 and RTX 5090 cost $7,199. PCMag’s[3] MG-1 Mk. II test unit was $9,869. Tom’s Hardware wants more front-panel ports.

Price (Oct 2026): $7,199 as tested Source

Pros

  • Very clean build
  • Highly configurable

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Few front ports
Check Maingear MG-1 price (opens in a new tab)
Best multipurpose

8. Dell Tower Plus

Best for: a family PC that also games

PCMag’s[3] best multipurpose desktop and Tom’s Guide’s[4] budget pick. PCMag likes how customizable, well built and reasonably sized it is, with broad ports and easy access to components, but says the cheapest and priciest configurations aren’t the best values. $1,149.99.

Price (Oct 2026): $1,149.99 Source

Pros

  • Customizable
  • Easy to open up

Cons

  • Some configurations are poor value
Check Dell Tower Plus price (opens in a new tab)

Also considered

Valve Steam Machine: Valve’s console-style SteamOS PC starts at $1,049 with 512GB and no controller, per Engadget[5]; PCMag[3] calls it compact and quiet but expensive for its power, and saw it at $1,799 at Amazon.

Corsair One i500: Tom’s Hardware’s[1] best small PC (about $2,699), with wood paneling and only very expensive configurations.

ABS Cyclone Aqua: PC Gamer’s[2] budget pick, seen at about $1,040.

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme MA-01: PCMag’s 1440p pick ($2,229.99).

Framework Desktop: PC Gamer’s pick for local AI work.

Prebuilt or build your own?

Prebuilt PCs save time and come with a warranty. PC Gamer[2] notes the 2026 global memory shortage has pushed prices up, so a prebuilt with plenty of RAM can be good value. Building yourself lets you choose every part; start with our best CPUs and best graphics cards guides.

More guides

Who should skip this guide

Skip this list if you prefer building your own tower from parts, or you want a console-first living-room box. Prebuilts here are for buyers who want a warranty and a known GPU/CPU config at a published price.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best gaming PC?
Tom’s Hardware[1] picks the Corsair Vengeance a7500. PC Gamer[2] and Tom’s Guide[4] pick the iBuyPower RDY Element 9 Pro.
What is the best budget gaming PC?
Tom’s Hardware[1] and PCMag[3] both pick the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, at about $1,000 to $1,100 for 1080p gaming.
Is the Steam Machine worth it?
It starts at $1,049 with 512GB and no controller, per Engadget[5]. PCMag[3] likes its compact, quiet design but finds it expensive for its power.

Sources

Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.

  1. Tom’s Hardware: The best gaming PCs (October 2026) (tomshardware.com)
  2. PC Gamer: The best gaming PC (October 2026) (pcgamer.com)
  3. PCMag: The best gaming PCs (updated September 25, 2026) (pcmag.com)
  4. Tom’s Guide: The best gaming PCs (October 2026) (tomsguide.com)
  5. Engadget: Valve’s Steam Machine starts at $1,049 (engadget.com)
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The Best PC Game Controllers in 2026

Wirecutter’s best PC controller is Microsoft’s $49 Xbox Wireless Controller, which has built-in Windows support. Tom’s Guide’s best overall is Valve’s $99 Steam Controller, though it only works with SteamOS.

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The Best Sim Racing Wheels in 2026

PC Gamer’s best racing wheel is the 11 Nm Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel (about $1,000, pedals extra). For less, the Moza R5 Bundle is its best budget direct-drive wheel (about $460), and the Thrustmaster T128 is its best budget pick (about $200).

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The Best Gaming Chairs in 2026

The Secretlab Titan Evo is Wirecutter’s top pick and a PCMag Editors’ Choice: three sizes, adjustable lumbar support and a 165° recline. On a budget, Wirecutter’s pick is the GTPlayer Ace Pro, and PCMag’s affordable pick is the AndaSeat Novis.

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The Best PC Cases in 2026

Tom’s Hardware’s best-looking case, the Fractal Design North ($139.99), also has exceptional thermals. On a budget, the Montech TG3 ($56.90) comes with four fans; for a big showpiece build, the NZXT H9 Flow (2025) fits the largest GPUs.

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The Best Power Supplies in 2026

For a mainstream gaming PC, Tom’s Hardware’s picks start with the be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 650W (about $100). Running a big graphics card? The Cooler Master MWE Gold 850 V3 ($109.99) is the value 850W choice, and the Corsair SF750 (2024) is for small builds.

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The Best RAM for Gaming in 2026

Tom’s Hardware’s best 32GB DDR5 kit for performance is the G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5-6000 C30. But memory prices have soared: Tom’s reported in July 2026 that you can’t buy 32GB of DDR5 for less than $379, so check prices before you plan a build.

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The Best Motherboards in 2026

For most AMD Ryzen builds, Tom’s Hardware’s B850 pick, the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk Wifi II ($229.99), has all the essentials. Intel Core Ultra builders on a budget should look at the Asus Prime Z890-P Wifi ($199.99). Pick the socket first: AM5 for current Ryzen chips, LGA 1851 for Intel Core Ultra 200S.

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The Best Internal SSDs in 2026

Tom’s Hardware’s best overall SSD is the Samsung 990 Pro. It’s the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive the site has tested and has a five-year warranty. For a PCIe 5.0 desktop, look at the Corsair MP700 Pro XT or the WD Black SN8100, PCMag’s best PCIe 5.0 drive. For laptops, Tom’s Hardware picks the WD Black SN7100.

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The Best CPUs for Gaming in 2026

Both Tom’s Hardware and PC Gamer name the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (about $444 to $479) the best gaming CPU. For mid-range builds, both like Intel’s Core Ultra 5 250K Plus ($219), and the Ryzen 5 7600X ($139) is Tom’s Hardware’s budget pick.

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The Best Graphics Cards for Gaming in 2026

Tom’s Hardware ranks the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti first and AMD’s RX 9070 XT second, but memory shortages mean most cards sell far above MSRP. On October 26 the 5070 Ti’s best US price was $1,229 against a $749 MSRP.

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Best Gaming Laptops of 2026

The MSI Katana 15 HX is the $1,000 starting point. The Razer Blade 18 with an RTX 5090 is the fastest pick here, but it starts at $3,999.99.

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Best Gaming Monitors

A 4K OLED is the best gaming monitor if you can afford one. A 1440p OLED is the premium sweet spot, and a $150–$330 LCD still gets you a big upgrade over 1080p.

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The Best Gaming Consoles in 2026

Every major console got more expensive in 2026. Wirecutter’s picks are the PlayStation 5 (now $649.99), the Xbox Series X ($799.99) and, if you want to play on the go, the Nintendo Switch 2 ($499.99). The Switch Lite ($229) is the cheapest way into current games.

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The Best Mouse in 2026

Wirecutter’s best mouse for most people is the $33 Logitech M720 Triathlon, which pairs with three devices. If you spend all day at a desk, the Logitech MX Master 4 ($120) is the pick of both Wirecutter and PCMag.