Finding a good PC that suits you can be frustrating, especially if you aren’t super familiar with computers. For those of you looking for some advice on gaming computers for late 2018 or early 2019, I’ve got the goods for you right here.
Before we get to the list, some background info. The personal computer (PC) has some crucial components and you might want to familiarize yourself with. First off we have the motherboard, which is the core of the system. We have the central processing unit (CPU) which is the brains of the computer and graphics processing unit (GPU) which is a chip that renders images, animations and videos, these two are the most important parts of a gaming computer. The random access memory (RAM) is hardware that temporarily stores data, then we have the graphics card which improves the graphics settings of the PC. Lastly, we have the solid state drive (SSD) which is a storage device that is used in the hard disk and it is a huge help for storage. And now for the top five gaming computers to buy this Christmas.
1. Alienware Aurora R7
The Alienware Aurora R7 is a perfect PC for gamers. It costs $1,799.99 and it works as smooth as butter. It is really good for gaming because the graphics are off the charts. This PC includes Intel Core i5 – i7, a Nvidia Geforce graphics card that is 1050 – 1080 Ti which is the latest graphics card, a Radeon RX 580- Vega 64 Advanced Micro Devices or AMD for short, a RAM (random access memory) that has a memory of 8 – 64GB, 1 terabyte or 1TB for short and a 1TB NVMe SSD. However, when you turn on the computer, it sounds like you’re standing in the middle of an airport because of the noise that the machine is making but it’s worth due to how powerful it is. The Alienware Aurora R7 is a little heavy but with the handle on top of the PC, it’s easier to lift and carry around. The chassis is designed for upgradability. Games like Fortnite, Battlefield V, Overwatch, Dragonball Fighter Z and Monster Hunter World can run smoothly on this PC. Thanks to it’s 8th-Gen Core i7-8700K and 32GB of Ram, the Alienware Aurora R7 is a beast.
2. MSI Infinite A
If you’re looking for a high-powered PC that works perfectly with smooth frames for both gaming and Virtual Reality (VR), the MSI Infinite A is for you. The MSI Infinite A costs $2198.99 Cdn and has very high specs meaning a higher price. This PC is mostly focused on VR. It has a huge amount of memory which is great for gamers because some of the recent games take up quite a lot. The graphics card helps the games to run at high graphics with a decent amount of frames per second. It is remarkably light at 33 pounds (15 Kg). It has a couple of ports like the usual headphone and mic jacks, two USB jacks, an HDMI port, a VGA port and two PS/2 ports just in case if you are using an old keyboard or mouse. There are some cool customizable RGB lighting on the side of the PC and you can choose whatever colour you like. The performance on the MSI Infinite A is outstanding, the software or games loads faster than usual because of the SSD. The MSI Infinite A might have a few quirks but with all of the specifications, there’s not a whole lot to complain about.
3. Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900
The Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is a high-end pre-built gaming PC, selling for $1,998.00 Cdn. Unfortunately, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 no longer provides the 32GB of RAM meaning you’ll need to purchase the extra RAM on your own. The gaming performance is really cool because the amount of space is great, the 256GB SSD is decent and the 1080Ti graphics card is a big help for the gamers especially if they want to play the most recent games. The cooling system is quiet and it has a vented case, which does an incredible job preventing the PC from overheating. There is a button on top of the PC that could open the side panel where you can easily access the hardware. The design of the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is like a futuristic gaming pc. There is a lava red glowing logo at the front of the PC and it also has a shiny metal power button on top of the machine. My personal favourite about this design is that the logo on the GTX 1080 glows green and you can see it through a window on the side of the case. It’s really easy to switch or upgrade the parts inside because it’s arranged really neat and clean. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Y900 is a good PC for gamers or people who want to game at the highest settings, the design and the specs is wonderful. Overall, it’s a great PC.
4. MSI Aegis 3 2018
Costing $2,049.99 Cdn, the MSI Aegis 3 2018 is a great PC to start off with. As in the matter of fact, the MSI Aegis 3 does look like Clarke’s ominous helmet from Dead Space 2. So if you ever want a PC that looks like a piece from a game, the MSI Aegis 3 is for you. It is a pre-built PC, which means it is going to be a little hard to upgrade or insert hardware. This PC has a CPU 8th-generation Intel Core i5-i7, a Nvidia Geforce GTX 1080 graphics card which is good for gaming, a RAM of 8GB to 16GB (up to 64GB ), a storage that is up to 2TB HDD and a 256GB SSD. But unfortunately, the RTX (a platform for rendering graphics) is not included. It is optional whether If you want to get an RTX or just have the PC without it but if you want to get one, you’ll need one that can fit in the chassis. The Nvidia Turing RTX 2080 card would work, but it is a little pricey. The MSI Aegis 3 is capable enough to play new games with decent graphics at 1080p and with over 60 frames per second at high graphics. It is fast and responsive which is a huge help to booting up games and software quickly if you install the games into the SSD. Overall the MSI Aegis 3 is a PC for gaming and other software.
5. Corsair One Elite
The Corsair One Elite is a small but powerful PC. The gaming performance on this PC is excellent and it has a high-quality design. The Corsair One Elite has an Intel Core i7-8700K, a Nvidia Geforce graphics card that has 1080 Ti, a RAM of 16GB – 32GB, a storage of 480GB which isn’t really big, but it has another 2TB of SSD which helps increase the storage significantly. The price of the Corsair One Elite is $2,699.68 Cdn which has a higher price than the other gaming PC`s. It is made out of aircraft-grade aluminum which adds to its stunning look. The weight of this PC is 7.4KG which is pretty light for a gaming computer. The only problem with this PC is that it’s difficult to access and upgrade because it’s a bit fragile despite being indeed a powerful PC. There is a fan inside to prevent overheating and the great thing about the fan is that it doesn’t make too many noises while it’s running. There are two cores which make the Corsair One Elite a better performer in running applications, software and multitasking (meaning that you can open multiple applications or software at the same time). I’ve never seen such a small chassis that could provide so much power and performance.
Shopping for a gaming computer can be a bit daunting if you don’t know much about it, but don’t get discouraged. There are a lot of great machines out there and PCs can last for a long time if their strong and have the right components. What’s great about gaming computers is that there are so many different beautiful designs that could blow your mind. Whether you are buying one for yourself or the person on your Christmas shopping list, these PCs each have the wow factor that is sure to be a hit.
Cover Image: Pixabay / Stux
8forty.ca 
Pingback: Don’t play the Playstation, play the Xbox