5 Gaming PC build guide for 2018
5 Gaming PC build guide for 2018
1. Corsair Vengeance 5180
RGB and ready for ray tracing
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: 480GB M.2 SSD, 2TB HDD
+ Stylish RPG lighthing
+ Separate component chambers
+ RTX graphics
- CPU can't be overclocked
We haven't had the chance to test too many RTX-powered systems yet, but of the few we have, Corsair's Vengeance 5180 is our favorite. Unlike many chassis that opt for plexiglass or another type of clear paneling, the Vengeance 5180 has tempered glass along the side, front, and top, creating a modern-looking aesthetic and elegantly showing off the system's innards.
To help with both aesthetics and heat management, the case rocks a dual-chambered design that separates the power supply from the GPU, RAM, and motherboard. All the shiny, RGB components are displayed front and center, while the more modest parts are tucked away out of sight.
The main downside here is the Vengeance 5180 features a B360 chipset and non-K Intel CPU, which means the Core i7-8700 can't be overclocked. If cranking up the dials to squeeze out a bit of extra performance is your thing, this comes as disappointing news, I'm sure.
MSRP for this stylish and powerful system is $2,399.99, which is a reasonable price considering the cost of components separately. You’ll pay around the same amount to build it yourself compared to buying this pre-built PC, so it all depends on your budget, time, and if you care about overclocking. You may not be able to overclock the CPU, but for 1080p gaming on Ultra you won’t need it. It also comes standard with a two-year warranty that covers repairs on anything that doesn't involve swapping out components parts with your own. If you’re not an overclocking enthusiast, the Vengeance 5180 is worth picking up in 2019.
Read our review: Corsair Vengeance 5180
RGB and ready for ray tracing
2. Corsair One
Compact and quiet
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K - i7-8700K | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 - GTX 1080 Ti | RAM: 16GB - 32GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: up to 480GB SSD, 2TB HDD
+ Slim, minimalist footprint
+ Outstanding performance
- Upgradable, but tricky to access some components
Corsair has long been a trusted brand in the PC building world, but with the One it cements its place as a purveyor of quality prebuilt systems as well. The One is a slim triumph of clean design, measuring 7.9 x 6.9 x 14.9 inches while packing in an impressive cooling system featuring a 240mm radiator for each of the GPU and CPU, both cooled by a single 140mm maglev fan up top that pulls cold air in through the radiators and exhausts it out the top. The result is a well-cooled system with a minimal footprint that runs whisper quiet.
Like a number of the prebuilts on this list, the One can be customized across a range of different specs, all the way up to an extreme model featuring cutting edge CPU and GPU tech - a Core i9-9920X and one of Nvidia's brand new ray tracing enabled RTX 2080 Ti's, one of the most powerful graphic cards in existence. This gaming monstrosity, clocking in at nearly $5,000, also features 32GB of DD4 RAM and a 980 M.2 SSD, meaning it's not only ready to completely manhandle the current generation of 4K HDR gaming, but will be more than capable of running whatever the next several years yields.
Of course, if you're not interested in spending a bundle on a crazy future-proofed behemoth, more reasonably priced models are available, and they all come with the One's unique, powerful cooling solution and slender, low profile case, perfectly packed with components in a way that uses every available inch in an intelligent way without stuffing it with needless extras. The $3,000 option offers the same 32GB of RAM as the more expensive model, and still packs an impressive amount of horsepower into it's little chassis, with an RTX 2080 an overclockable Core i7-9700K under the hood, as well as a speedy 480GB M.2 SSD. It's a sleek, potent little package for anyone wrestling with space considerations or who want a powerful PC but don't want to listen to it groaning every time you stress it with a shiny new game.
Read the full review: Corsair One
Compact and quiet
3. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme
Excellent value for the budget concious
CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 | GPU: AMD RX 580 4GB | RAM: 8GB DDR4 | Storage:1TB HDD 7200RPM
+ Exceptional performance per dollar
+ Runs very cool out of the box
- No included SSD
If you want a fantastic value for a prebuilt gaming PC look no further than Cyberpower's Gamer Xtreme. Featuring an Intel Core i5-8400, AMD's RX 580 4GB and 8GB of DDR4 ram you would actually pay close to $700 when building the system yourself part for part. It's already great out of the box, but the Gamer Xtreme can be easily upgraded. This is something we'd recommend immediately to ditch booting from that clunky HDD inside.
If you're looking for a machine to get you into the exciting (and ever expanding world of VR) quickly and cheaply, the Gamer Xtreme is an excellent introductory option. It's specced to be VR ready right away, and the ease with which it can be upgraded means it can be modified to suit the headsets and hardware demands of the future (assuming all the manufacturers don't follow in the footsteps of Oculus' Go and Quest standalone offerings).
The Xtreme is also great for anyone looking for a PC to match the capabilities of current gen consoles, something that will bridge the gap between the PS4 and Xbox One era of games and the next console generation. Since, for better or worse, consoles largely dictate how much stress triple-A developers are willing to put on hardware when designing their games, having a PC that's specced in line with consoles means you'll be able to keep pace with the current crop of games at least until another console refresh appears on the horizon. And the Gamer Xtreme is also modular and upgradeable enough to allow you to quickly adapt when specs for the next generation are finally, properly announced.
Excellent value for the budget concious
4. HP Omen Obelisk
Amazing power for less than $2,000
CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: 256GB M.2 SSD, 2TB HDD
Powerful components
Designed to remove needless frills and keep costs low
Minimalist design might not appeal to some
Hewlett Packard has existed since before the advent of the second World War, and that long history and expertise is evident in the design and construction of the Omen Obelisk, their new gaming desktop model. The Obelisk packs powerful components, including an RTX 2080 and an 8th Gen Core i7-8700, so you'll be well ahead of the curve in terms of the next generation of PC gaming, and ready for the moment when ray tracing stops being a buzzword and starts being an essential part of graphics rendering.
Perhaps the most impressive part of the Obelisk offering is the price tag. Despite a new, high-end RTX card and that rock solid CPU (as well as 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and 2TB HDD), the Obelisks comes in just under $2,000. This is largely due to HP trimming off all the non-essential frills that tend to pad out the price of a number of similarly specced machines from other manufacturers. You won't find an over-elaborate liquid cooling system or a massive suite of spectacular RGB lighting; the Obelisk is an appropriately named dense black block of computing power, which isn't to imply it's unattractive. As someone who values smooth lines and compact design over the flash and spectacle of RGB, I appreciate the dark, slightly brooding aesthetic of the Obelisk, and it does have a clear side panel to let you see the red-lit interior of the machine.
It's similarly configured to the slightly more expensive Corsair Vengeance, but it comes in a much smaller frame, which is a double edged sword. While on the one hand, there's less space to muck around in the case if you do decide in the future to upgrade, the Obelisk can slip easily into much smaller spaces than larger cases and is easier to transport. It's the epitome of function over form and available at a nearly unbeatable price point.
Amazing power for less than $2,000
Powerful components
Designed to remove needless frills and keep costs low
Minimalist design might not appeal to some
5. Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
Minimalist prebuilt with impressive performance
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 | GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | RAM: 8GB DDR4-2666 | Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD + 2TB 7200 RPM HDD
Sleek minimal look
SD reader + USB Type-C on front panel
Locked processor
Like most of Dell's (and their subsidiary Alienware's) prebuilt PCs, the XPS Tower Special Edition can be configured in multiple ways depending on your needs and budget. But even the lowest config, which starts at a mere $949.99, is a VR ready PC with enough horsepower to see you through to the next generation of gaming, after which point it's upgrade-ready and can be modified to keep pace. This lowest spec features a Core i5-8400 and a GTX 1050 Ti, not a staggering amount of power but enough to handle most modern games at medium to high settings in 1080p. The XPS Special Edition is not only great for gaming but for productivity as well. It features an SD card reader on the front panel as well as a Type-C USB 3.1 port. If you want a gaming PC with a simple minimalistic look, the XPS Special Edition is definitely our top choice.
It's a great choice if you want a cheap PC to play Fortnite or PUBG on or want something to play PC exclusives but don't want to get too deep into the PC gaming rabbit hole. It's also got a cool, understated look that won't embarrass you with a rainbow spectrum of RGB lighting, and if you decide you do have a little more in the budget to allocate to a new machine, you can select some higher end components before purchase to bulk the XPS up a bit.
Minimalist prebuilt with impressive performance
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