While a large proportion of the PC Gaming community remain die-hard advocates of building your own desktop, there's no denying that there are some excellent pre-built options too. This is particularly true in the current parts shortage, as individuals are finding it hard to pick up the latest components. Right now the quickest route to a high-tier Nvidia 3000 series graphics card is through a pre-built PC, making them an attractive choice for first time buyers or those looking to upgrade.
Although pre-built systems come at a higher price point, they do offer a simpler, stress-free route to a powerful gaming PC. After-sale support is another feature that pre-built buyers can rely on, with most manufacturers offering 24/7 support and long-term warranties. So for those buyers looking to skip the hazards of building their own, here's our selection of the best gaming desktops in 2021 so far.
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With over two decades of experience, Alienware is Dell's high-end gaming manufacturer. Building on that legacy in 2021 is the Alienware Aurora R11, a compact and configurable desktop boasting the very latest in technology. Buyers can pick from five different configurations based on Intel's latest Comet Lake CPU line, ranging from the i5 10400F to the i9 10900.
These CPUs are paired with a wide range of Nvidia graphics cards, ranging from the relatively-budget GTX 1650 Super up to the top-of-the-line 3090. This range of options allows buyers to build anything from a modest 1080p machine all the way up to a future-proofed 4k beast. However, whichever configuration buyers go for they will find themselves paying an Alienware premium, though this higher price point comes with a guarantee on build quality, customer service, and attractive warranties.
For consumers more interested in AMD CPUs over Intel, there's also the Aurora R10. While much of the design is similar, the R10 combines AMD's excellent new range of CPUs with the same Nvidia GPUs as the R11. However, it's worth pointing out that the GPU choices aren't as wide, with the 3080 being the highest-tier available.
For those buyers looking for a compact PC that still packs a punch, the Corsair One i164 is a great pick. While it may not have the configurability of the Alienware models, the One i164 offers four CPUs from Intel's 9th and 10th generations, as well as a choice between the Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Super or 2080 TI. While Nvidia's 3000 series isn't currently available for Corsair's desktop, it's only a matter of time before it's included.
Although the Corsair One i164 only has a single fan, it's CPU and GPU both have independent liquid cooling systems. These help the tower to stay cool despite its compact design. This combination of compact size, good cooling, and high specs comes a cost however, with the lowest-spec configuration for the i164 coming in at $2,499.
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When shopping for a gaming desktop on a budget, it's all about maximizing performance per dollar. One desktop option that offers a very attractive ratio is the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop. While Dell's Alienware series may be the landmark for their gaming PCs, their budget systems can't be written off either. The G5 starts at just $679, an attractive price point for a 10th generation Intel CPU and AMD Radeon RX 5300 graphics card.
For those with a little more to spend, the G5 is highly configurable, with options all the way up to the high-end CPU and GPUs offered in the Alienware range. However, at higher price points Dell buyers may find the Alienware's superior cooling and build quality more appealing.
A solid mid-range option, the HP Omen Obelisk is the latest offering from veteran PC-manufacturers Hewlett Packard. Utilizing a fairly compact tower, the Obelisk offers a wide range of components for different price points. What's impressive is that the higher tier configurations are available at a lower price than their competitors.
HP have achieved this by cutting out a lot of the frills that have come to be associated with PC gaming. There's no intricate liquid cooling, case fins, or RGB here, only a smooth, solid tower with a reliable fan-cooling system. It's this no-frill design that allows the HP Omen Obelisk to offer superior components at a highly competitive price-point.