Here at MegaGames, we love building PCs. From slotting in RAM, to gently cradling your new GPU as it makes its way onto your new motherboard, every part of carefully putting together your very own gaming rig is a moment to be savoured. And that includes the inevitable frustration when you realise you forgot to plug in a component properly, which means it won’t work until you dive back in again.
But those of us who love to tinker with PC parts forget that everyone is like that, and if that’s you, whether you’re worried about doing something wrong, or simply can’t be bothered, there’s still an option for you. Prebuilt gaming PCs are just as good as those you build yourself, and come with the handy bonus that you get them, plug them in, and they’re good to go.
Here are the best prebuilt gaming PCs of 2023.
Best overall pick: Acer Predator Orion 7000
Our best overall pick has to go to the PC that brings the top performance you can get. The Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a top-tier gaming PC, and it looks like it too, with a very gamer-friendly RGB tower and included keyboard and mouse. The fans are big and beefy, which does mean it’s a loud runner when it’s pushing pixels, but given the hardware tucked into the innards, that’s forgivable.
As you might expect, performance is key here, and that’s reflected in the specs. You’ll get to choose the exact model of the Orion 7000 based on your particular budget, but you’ll be picking between the 13th generation Intel Core i7 and i9 processors, and the choice of either the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, 3090, or 4090. You’ll also get 32GB of GDDR5 RAM, Intel Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and a 1TB SSD and a 2TB HDD as well. It’s a strong package regardless of the tier you pick, and our best overall pick.
The downside? It’s cost, of course. The variant of the Orion 7000 with an RTX 3080 and Core i7 processor will set you back around $2,000, with the top tiers rising to over $4,000. That’s a big outlay, and keep in mind you’ll only get the most out of this rig if you’re often playing games in 4K at higher refresh rates. While you can play Stardew Valley on it, we wouldn’t recommend buying this computer just for that game, as you might be better suited buying something below.
Best midrange pick: HP Omen 30L
If you’re looking to spend a little less money but still want an excellent prebuilt gaming PC, then check out the HP Omen 30L. It’s not as showy as the Acer Predator Orion 7000 above, omitting the strong RGB lighting in favor of a sleek, subtle black case.
It’s still strong where the specs are concerned, and while you won’t get the latest hardware, it won’t let you down. Processor options run up to the 10 generation Intel Core i9 processor, options up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 for the GPU, and up to 64GB of GDDR4 RAM. There’s also a 1TB SSD.
As mentioned, it’s not the latest hardware, but it does come at a more reasonable price, with costs starting below $2,000.
Best budget pick: Lenovo Legion Tower 5i
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a gaming PC, but thankfully, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Gaming at 1080p resolutions is more than possible on lower-powered and cheaper equipment, and the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is ideal for that.
There’s a powerful processor inside, with options up to the Intel Core i7-13700, backed up by a similarly powerful GPU: If budget permits, you can go as high as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, though paying that much does undercut the “budget” part of this pick a little.
It looks the part too, with a clear window and plenty of RGB lighting. Keep in mind that while this PC will handle 1080p just fine, anything like ray tracing isn’t going to be possible. Also, since it’s Lenovo, some amount of bloatware is expected. Still, with prices starting from just over $1,000, it’s a fantastic pick.
Best small pick: Corsair One i300
Sometimes you need a PC that’ll fit into as small a space as possible, and that’s where compact PCs come in handy. Of them all, the Corsair One i300 stands apart as simply a great choice if you’re looking to play some games, but don’t have a huge space to do it in.
It’s a tiny titan too. Processing power comes from an Intel Core i9-12900K paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, and there’s 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD as well. That’s enough power to keep on ticking for years and years worth of games.
The size is, of course, a double-edged sword. The case being so small means it can be tough to find new components when it comes to upgrade time, and cooling will always be an issue in a package this small too. Also, it’s very expensive, and you shouldn’t expect to pay less than $3,000 for it.
Best handheld: Asus ROG Ally
It’s nice to be able to add a new category to PC roundups, and this is certainly big enough to now warrant its own niche. While the Steam Deck may be the most well known of the handheld PCs, it’s the Asus ROG Ally that takes its place as the best handheld, at least as far we’re concerned.
It’s the higher end version we’re specifically referring to here, as it’s a real beast. A 7-inch 1080p display sits in front of the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, backed up by AMD’s graphics. The processor is capable of up to 5.10 GHz, with the GPU being capable of up to 2.7 GHZ and 8.6 Teraflops. In short, it’s powerful, despite its size, and while it won’t match the PCs up here, well, it doesn’t need to.
Its size is the real advantage here. Play your favorite PC games on the bus, on the sofa, or anywhere you want to. And when needed, it’s also a fully fledged Windows PC, too — though you’ll need separate accessories like a mouse and keyboard to really unlock that part of it. Not bad at all for just $800.
