Top 10 Gaming Desktop PCs
These powerful desktops use overclocked CPUs, one or more ultra-high-end graphics cards, and gobs of high-speed storage to put performance above all else.
Danny Allen, PC World
Bottom Line:
This medusa of gaming systems will charm you with its good lucks, but be warned: it could be a trap!
PC World Rating:
73.0 (Good)
- CPU: 2.83-GHz Core 2 Quad Q9550
- Price When Reviewed: $2099
- Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9800S
- Total HD Size (GB): 640GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Fair
Bottom Line:
While not a world-beater, the Force Recon BT offers good performance at a reasonable price.
PC World Rating:
78.4 (Good)
- CPU: 3.2-GHz Core 2 Extreme X9770
- Price When Reviewed: $3399
- Graphics Adapter: (2) ATI Radeon HD-3870
- Monitor Model: Viewsonic VG2230WM
- Total HD Size (GB): 1800GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Good
Bottom Line:
The F131 gaming PC uses AMD's latest technology and provides room for tweaks and upgrades as your needs increase.
PC World Rating:
78.4 (Fair)
- CPU: 3.2-GHz Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
- Price When Reviewed: $2499
- Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4890
- Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster T220
- Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good
Bottom Line:
The Reactor is a speedy system, but a few of Überclok’s design decisions don’t make sense in a PC of this caliber.
PC World Rating:
78.6 (Fair)
- CPU: 2.83-GHz Core 2 Quad Q9550
- Price When Reviewed: $3693
- Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon HD4870 X2
- Monitor Model: Samsung 245BW
- Total HD Size (GB): 1300GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good
Bottom Line:
Impressive PC cools its parts by immersing them in oil, but more upgradable, cheaper, and faster (graphics-wise) PCs exist.
PC World Rating:
79.7 (Good)
- CPU: 3.2-GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9770
- Price When Reviewed: $10053
- Graphics Adapter: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280
- Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM
- Total HD Size (GB): 2240GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior
Bottom Line:
This rig sacrifices some graphical prowess to achieve blazing overclocked performance at a killer price.
PC World Rating:
81.9 (Good)
- CPU: 3.33-GHz Core 2 Duo E8600
- Price When Reviewed: $3184
- Graphics Adapter: (2) EVGA e-GeForce 9800 GTX
- Monitor Model: Samsung 2443BWX
- Total HD Size (GB): 600GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior
Bottom Line:
This gaming PC packs solid extras, but it lacks performance chops.
PC World Rating:
83.1 (Very Good)
- CPU: 2.93-GHz Core i7 940
- Price When Reviewed: $2199
- Graphics Adapter: PowerColor Radeon HD4870
- Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good
Bottom Line:
For the price, this system is a killer performer that falters a little in graphics, but still rivals top gaming PCs overall.
PC World Rating:
85.6 (Good)
- CPU: 2.66-GHz Core i7 920
- Price When Reviewed: $1840
- Graphics Adapter: eVGA e-GeForce GTX 285
- Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster 245BW
- Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior
Bottom Line:
The Mach V packs in the latest technologies--including Intel's new Core i7 CPU--for the pinnacle of powerful PC performance.
PC World Rating:
86.2 (Very Good)
- CPU: 3.2-GHz Core i7 Extreme 965
- Price When Reviewed: $7395
- Graphics Adapter: (2) AMD Radeon HD4870 X2
- Monitor Model: Samsung 2243BWX
- Total HD Size (GB): 1080GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior
Bottom Line:
Though not the best gaming PC around, the Black Pearl is solid, feature-packed, and attractively priced.
PC World Rating:
86.6 (Very Good)
- CPU: 3.2-GHz Core i7 Extreme 965
- Price When Reviewed: $3799
- Graphics Adapter: XFX GTX 280
- Monitor Model: Optiquest Q241wb
- Total HD Size (GB): 1300GB Hard Drive
- WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior
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