The 5 best gaming PCs of 2022

CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 5900 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: 32GB | Power supply: 850W | Storage: 1TB SSD and 2TB HDD | Cooling system: Liquid 

The Alienware Aurora R14 Ryzen Edition is the best gaming PC you can buy right now. It's built with an AMD Ryzen 9 5900 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card for all the power you need to play the hottest triple-A titles and most graphically demanding games. And with dual storage drives, you'll have plenty of space for your entire game library plus room to grow. A liquid cooling system works with the pre-installed fans to draw waste heat away from components, keeping everything running at optimal temperatures for better performance and power efficiency. The chassis also sports a unique, rounded design to stand out from the rest of the box-style, midsize towers on the market. And with tool-less access, it's easy to open up the tower to clean out fans, reroute cables, or upgrade components.

Pros:

• Liquid cooling
• GeForce RTX 3080 GPU
• Dual storage drives

Cons:

• On the expensive side
• Design might not be appealing to everyone

CPU: Intel Core i5-11400 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super | RAM: 8GB | Power supply: 400W | Storage: 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD | Cooling system: Air 

At just under $1,000, the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is one of the more affordable prebuilt gaming PCs on the market. And just because it's more budget-friendly, that doesn't mean you sacrifice quality and performance. It's built with an 11th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super graphics card, a 256GB SSD, and 1TB HDD. This configuration is great for PC gaming newcomers, since it gives you plenty of power and storage for both new and classic game titles, and the lower price means you can save money to upgrade components later on when you need better performance. The minimalist design is great for gaming spaces that double as home offices, using more understated RGB components to reduce distractions for co-workers. It also comes packaged with a keyboard and a mouse so you can get started playing your favorite games right out of the box.

Pros:

• Under $1,000
• Keyboard and mouse included
• Great CPU
• Dual storage drives

Cons:

CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: 32GB | Power supply: 750W | Storage: 2TB SSD | Cooling system: Air 

If you need a powerful gaming PC but don't have a ton of space, the Corsair ONE i300 is a great option for a compact tower. With a footprint of just 54 square inches, it takes up less than a quarter of the space of a full-size tower, making it perfect for tucking away on the corner of your desk or even under it if you need more space for peripherals like mice and keyboards. And even though its a compact build, it's packed with premium-grade components like a 12th generation Intel Core i9 CPU, GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, 2TB SSD, and 32GB of RAM. The front panel features dual RGB LED light strips, so you can sync with other RGB peripherals or show off your personal style. And all of the ports are designed with modern gaming in mind, giving you access to multiple USB 3.2, Thunderbolt 4, and USB-C slots for faster data transfer and more reliable connections to peripherals and external storage devices. 

Pros:

• Very compact footprint
• Top-tier components
• Plenty of connection ports

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Compact size makes upgrading difficult

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700F | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: 16GB | Power supply: 800W | Storage: 1TB SSD and 2TB SSD | Cooling system: Air 

As game download files get larger and larger, PC gamers need tons of storage space for their libraries. The Acer Predator Orion 5000 is built with a 1TB SSD and 2TB HDD, which is more than enough to handle games like Red Dead Redemption II and Call of Duty, but if you need even more space, you can add a second 1TB SSD and up to two 3TB HDDs. It also has more than enough power to handle even the most graphically demanding games with a 12th generation Intel Core i7 CPU and GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. You also get the best sound possible for gaming with support for DTS: X Ultra audio processing and blazing fast wireless internet speeds with WiFi 6E support.

Pros:

• Dual storage drives
• Supports up to 2 SSDs and 2 HDDs
• RTX 30 series GPU
• DTS: X Ultra audio

Cons:

• Expensive
• Limited USB-C ports

CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti | RAM: 32GB | Power supply: 650W | Storage: Up to 4TB SSD and 2TB HDD | Cooling system: Air 

Twitch streamers and YouTube let's players need PCs [What does this mean, “players need PCs”?] that can not only handle the hottest triple-A games, but also professional-grade photo and video editing software and live-streaming apps. The MSI MEG Trident X is an almost perfect choice for content creators, featuring a 12th generation Intel Core i7 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti graphics card, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. There are configurations that give you up to two SSDs as well as a traditional hard disk drive, but be prepared to fork over a hefty wad of cash to get it. However, full-time content creators will appreciate the investment, since the premium configurations will give them all the power and storage they'll need for years to come. The Trident X also has an incredibly compact footprint, making it easy to tuck away on a shelf or a desk corner or to mount on a wall to stay out of the way while you record or edit videos. The hinged side door makes accessing fans and components fast and easy, while the front of the tower features USB 3.2, USB-C and audio inputs for quicker set up of external memory storage, peripherals, and audio equipment.

Pros:

• Premium-grade components
• Tons of configuration options
• Compact footprint
• Quick-access hinged door

Cons:

• Very expensive, especially at higher configurations
• Compact size makes upgrading components difficult