Pre-built gaming PCs are a convenient alternative to building your own system. As long as you're OK with paying a premium for assembly and, in some cases, getting a system with proprietary or OEM parts, pre-built PCs offer a lot of convenience.
The team at Windows Central has used and tested all of the pre-built gaming PCs in this list, and we have reviews for all but the Maingear MG-1. It's a PC that I have personal experience with, and I'm comfortable suggesting it as a higher-end option for those who want to begin with a foundation that can be easily updated in the future.
However, the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is the best option for most PC gamers. It starts at a higher price than the Maingear MG-1 — models start about $2,050 — but brings Intel Core i9 and NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti performance, enough to handle any of the most demanding AAA titles out there.
There are plenty more options that we love, including budget and compact PCs, so let's get to it.
I've been building custom PCs for about 20 years, and I understand that not all gamers have the time or yearn to put something together themselves. That's where pre-built gaming PCs come in. These PCs that the Windows Central team, including myself, have tested and/or reviewed will get the job done as long as you don't mind paying a premium to have the assembly done for you.
The quick list
If you're in a hurry, check out my picks for the best pre-built gaming PC. Hit the links below to read a full breakdown of any options, with details of the pros and cons for each.
Best overall
The Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is available in many different configurations and has enough power for a comfortable 1440p or 4K gaming experience. It's relatively expensive compared to some other options in this list, but it will deliver a lot of power and some potential for future upgrades.
Best boutique
Maingear's MG-1 is the system I recommend for enthusiasts who want to configure everything right down to the cables. There are also a bunch of pre-built models from which you can choose depending on what sort of games and at what resolution you play.
Premium pick
The Omen 45L is a monster gaming PC with a proprietary Cryo Chamber on the top of the case to help keep the system cool. It's a great choice for 4K gaming, and HP uses a lot of non-OEM parts inside to make future upgrades much easier.
Best budget
Lenov's Legion LOQ Tower starts well below $1,000 and is a top choice if you want to game at 1080p. It's not as conducive to upgrades as other options in this list, but the asking price balances out any inconvenience. It's a perfect option for casual and younger gamers.
Best compact
Don't have a lot of space to set aside for a massive PC tower? The compact ASUS ROG G22CH packs in enough power for 1440p gaming, though you shouldn't expect to perform any sweeping upgrades due to how the internals are designed. It's pricey, but it sure is sharp.
Best mini PC
The ASUS ROG G22CH is compact, but the ROG NUC 970 is truly petite. It looks like a Wi-Fi router, but it manages to fit in up to an NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H mobile CPU. It's an AI PC with strong gaming potential, perfect for a mix of work and play.
Our favorite pre-built gaming PCs in 2024
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Below, you'll find complete breakdowns of why these choices have made my list of the best pre-built gaming PCs. The team at Windows Central has reviewed or personally tested all options, ensuring that you get a clear understanding of the pros and cons associated with each PC.
Best overall
Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is built to accommodate PC gamers who want a ton of power. Lenovo's pricing can be finicky, with frequent and long-lasting discounts, and at the time of writing an introductory model can be purchased for about $2,050. It includes a 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF processor (CPU), NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti SUPER graphics card (GPU), 32GB of DDR5-4000MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid-state drive (SSD).
Models climb all the way to an NVIDIA RTX 4090 GPU, though that's probably overkill for most people. If you want a system with that much power (and that costs so much), I strongly recommend you build something yourself or check in with a boutique builder like Maingear.
Windows Central's Zachary Boddy reviewed the Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) favorably, giving it a Best Award and a 90% overall score. On the subject up upgradeability, they stated:
"It's easy to access the internal compartment with no tools, just by loosening the glass side panel and sliding it off. From there, there's an easy-to-understand layout that makes it simple to access basically everything you might need to. Lenovo uses standard parts for the Legion Tower 7i rather than custom solutions (like with the Dell XPS Desktop), including an Intel Z790 motherboard that supports overclocking straight out of the box and features a solid number of expansion slots. Cable management is also fairly clean, considering the massive NVIDIA GPU cables."
The PC comes built into a stylized case with plenty of customizable RGB lighting on the logos and fans. Liquid CPU cooling is available, and the case otherwise has enough airflow to keep the components cool even when under load. The only major downsides Boddy saw in their review were a lack of USB-C port on the front of the case and relatively slow RAM speeds.
Read our in-depth Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) review
Best boutique
Maingear's PCs are easy recommendations if you'd like a gaming rig that feels like you put it together yourself. The company's MG-1 series starts at about $1,249 but has countless customization options available, right down to the cables, fans, and power supply unit (PSU).
I've personally used and tested Maingear's MG-1, coming out the other side with very positive impressions surrounding the build quality and ease of future upgrades. The only thing proprietary is the case — with a customizable front panel — but it has plenty of room inside for even the most powerful performance hardware.
In-house warranty and support means you don't have to bother with individual manufacturer returns should something go wrong, and in my experience, the team is knowledgeable and happy to help.
Maingear offers both Intel and AMD CPUs, as well as NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, and all parts are branded, non-OEM stuff that you can buy yourself in stores. I highly recommend this PC to any enthusiasts who no longer have time to source individual parts and personally put together a custom system.
Premium pick
The HP Omen 45L is larger than its predecessor, but that's mostly down to an innovative "Cryo Chamber" cooling solution. In an era where building your PC is so common, many manufacturers are trying to think outside the box with their desktop rigs, and HP certainly did that. Being external to the rest of the PC, temperatures can be up to 6 degrees lower thanks to the lack of heated air from inside the machine.
On the one hand, you might say the design is a little uninspiring, but to the PC gamer, this is a machine where function is the primary concern, and ease of access is paramount. You simply pull the glass side panel off, and you have free access to all internal components, all of which can be upgraded over time. It supports a full ATX motherboard, though out of the box, HP used a microATX, which limits both built-in functions a little and how much you can expand.
In Windows Central Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino's Omen 45L review, he stated:
"HP has been bucking this trend with its Omen desktop line for a few years. The Omen 45L is the most extreme version of that ethos, and I'm here for it. As someone in their 40s, the Omen 45L is a gamer PC, but it is also mature and professional looking. I also appreciate all the name-brand components being used, as I know the company isn't cutting corners. Cooler Master, HyperX, and Western Digital? A buyer can have confidence in these brands."
The Omen 45L boasts the latest high-end of the NVIDIA RTX GPU lineup with the RTX 4090 as the top-end solution, CPUs from Intel's 13th and 14th Gen desktop lineup, DDR5 RAM, SSD storage; it ticks all the boxes. Prices at the time of writing start at about $2,200 for a model with a 14th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and NVIDIA RTX 4080 SUPER GPU.
Literally, everything is replaceable, including the radiator in the Cryo Chamber, and the bottom line is that this is a PC any enthusiast would be happy with.
Read our in-depth Omen 45L review
Best budget
Lenovo's eighth- and ninth-gen LOQ Tower gaming desktops are practically the same besides an update to the Intel and NVIDIA performance hardware inside. The newer version offers up to a 14th Gen Intel Core i5-14400F CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4060 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD. However, spending about $680 at the time of writing will land you the same CPU with an RTX 3050 GPU.
This is clearly a pre-built PC made for 1080p gaming, especially if you're interested in low-impact titles like Minecraft, Fortnite, League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Valorant, Apex Legends, and so on.
Windows Central's Zachary Boddy reviewed the LOQ Tower (Gen 8), handing it a Recommended Award and a firm 90% score. They remarked:
"If you're in the market for a consistent, compact 1080p gaming machine, the Lenovo LOQ Tower is a quality option that won't disappoint. There's even some room to upgrade it should you want a little more power or to extend its life by a few more years."
Nevertheless, the LOQ Tower is best purchased and left alone to do its thing, aside from maybe some memory and storage upgrades. It's a cheap option for casual PC gamers, especially younger users who don't mind a system that doesn't promote easy upgradeability.
Read our in-depth Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 8) review
Best compact
Building a compact gaming PC can be a fun endeavor, but it also bumps the difficulty level way up. That's where the ASUS ROG G22CH comes in. Measuring just 12.72 x 11.3 x 4.53 inches, it packs a ton of power for even 1440p gaming into a tiny case. Upgrades beyond memory and storage might not be easy due to a proprietary motherboard design, but that's the big tradeoff with such a small form factor.
Windows Central Editor Rebecca Spear reviewed the ASUS ROG G22CH, giving it a Recommended Award and an overall 90% score. She remarked:
"If you want something ready to go when you get it and won't take up that much room, then the ASUS ROG G22CH-DB978 is an excellent choice. Its powerful CPU and GPU can handle any intensive gaming tasks you throw at it while producing high FPS and smooth gameplay. The fans run a bit loud, which also helps keep the system running efficiently."
The G22CH comes in a few different configurations, but the one I recommend for 1440p gaming includes a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900KF CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It usually costs about $2,499.99, but at the time of writing it's down to $1,899.99.
Other highlights beyond the solid performance include customizable RGB case lighting and a wide selection of ports for connecting your favorite gaming accessories.
Read our in-depth ASUS ROG G22CH (DB978) review
Best mini PC
The ASUS ROG G22CH might be compact, but the ROG NUC 970 is truly a mini AI PC with gaming capabilities. That's thanks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, NVIDIA RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 32GB of upgradeable DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD that can also be upgraded.
Yes, it's using laptop hardware, but that's understandable when the case isn't much larger than a Wi-Fi router. It's currently our favorite small gaming PC, perfect for anyone with limited space. Windows Central's Rebecca Spear reviewed the ASUS ROG NUC 970, noting:
"The ASUS ROG NUC 970 is a very impressive mini PC with powerful performance and a very convenient range of ports. However, the high cost makes it a bit of a niche device. I like it a lot, but it's hard to recommend unless you are really limited on space and need a very small gaming computer. As it is, there are laptop and desktop alternatives on the market that don't cost this much."
The tiny pre-built supports up to four external gaming monitors, it has built-in Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, and it comes with a stand to be used vertically. You can usually expect to pay about $2,200, but at the time of writing B&H has a $300 coupon available.
Read our in-depth ASUS ROG NUC 970 review
Choosing the best pre-built gaming PC for you
Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) is an impressive pre-built gaming PC that should appeal to plenty of people. It's available with the most powerful Intel and NVIDIA hardware, it has a stylized case with plenty of customizable RGB lighting, and you can upgrade all the major components without much fuss. However, with prices starting at about $2,050 even when on sale, you might not need as much PC power for your favorite games.
My personal favorite in this collection is Maingear's MG-1. It's a pre-built PC that I've personally used and tested, and it's the closest thing I've seen to a build that I put together myself. Not only is great attention paid to the building process, you also have the opportunity to configure on Maingear's website every component, right down to the cabling. Models start at about $1,249, and that's with enough power to run just about any game at 1080p or 1440p. This is the PC I recommend if you want to avoid proprietary parts that get in the way of future upgrades.
As for the other picks, they'll undoubtedly find a home with specific users. The HP Omen 45L is a monster of a gaming PC available with the best performance hardware out there, but it takes up a lot of space and doesn't come cheap. Then there's the Lenovo LOQ Tower at the other end of the spectrum, delivering 1080p performance for far less than $1,000.
If you're short on space, I recommend having a look at the ASUS ROG G22CH or ASUS ROG NUC 970. Both are much smaller than your average gaming desktop, yet they can handle all modern titles with ease.
Should you build your own gaming PC?
Building your own PC will, in most cases, save you money. That's because PC builders charge a premium for the assembly process and extra warranty, which is fair. However, PC builders often use proprietary parts in their builds while also cutting corners to reduce costs.
If you'd like to avoid those issues, I recommend building your own PC. It's a fun and rewarding process, and it can teach you a lot about how the individual components work together. Our PC build section has plenty of resources to help you along the way, with recommendations for great GPUs, CPUs, motherboards, RAM, and storage.
How much RAM and storage should you get in your PC?
For gaming purposes, I don't recommend any system with less than 16GB of RAM. If you're multitasking or streaming, 32GB or even 64GB is better. Even DDR5 RAM keeps dropping in price, and I recommend, if possible, to buy less RAM from the factory and buy it separately. This will save you money and will no doubt help you land the right memory speed for your needs.
As for storage, I recommend an M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD rather than a SATA HDD. M.2 drives are much faster and take up less space; just be sure your PC has the right slots for upgrades. Getting at least 512GB is recommended, but 1TB and beyond is even better. Game files keep increasing in size, and there's nothing worse than having to delete other games to make room for a new title.
How we test pre-built gaming PCs
We do our best to focus our guides on devices we have tested in-house. When that isn't possible, we use reviews from sister sites, consensus, and forums to research any known issues with the computers we are looking at. Luckily, all of the PCs I've included in this guide have been personally used and tested by Windows Central Staff.
Feel free to check out the articles 'How we test and review on Windows Central' and 'How we test and review laptops and computers at Windows Central' for more information.
