Handles even the most demanding PC games Great performance for the price Powerful overclocking potential to 4.4 GHz and beyond Lower base clock speed than Core i7. Here are the best gaming CPUs for the money. These processors offer the best performance at their price and are suitable for overclocking. Building a desktop PC has never been easier. Buying a gaming laptops, on the other hand, has never been harder. Mobile gaming GPUs are now capable of playing. Don't Just Trade In. Trade Up. Trade in your old Alienware PC or gaming console to get up to $1000 credit toward the purchase of any new Alienware PC or gaming gear. Get The Best PC Gaming Keyboard. OK, so you’ve picked the best gaming mouse and you’ve got a good gaming mouse pad. But have you got a decent pc gaming keyboard.
![The Best Gaming Desktop Pc 2012 Belgrano The Best Gaming Desktop Pc 2012 Belgrano](http://www.aromaticfusion.com/gaming-pc-715.jpeg)
The Best Gaming Desktop Pc 2012 Games
PCWorld's editors pinpoint the top tech products of 2012, in categories ranging from PCs to productivity software. (SEE DESCRIPTION) ||Best PC Gaming Monitors 2013 | ASUS VX238H Monitor-Best Cheap PC Gaming Monitors 2013 Review|| Are you eagerly looking for BEST PC.
The best PC gaming processors. How we tested processors and others we tested. For the vast majority of games, features like additional CPU cores and hyper- threading make little difference to performance. They certainly affect non- gaming tasks like video encoding or applying filters in Photoshop, but they have a bigger impact on price than frames per second.
We’ve considered this when choosing the best CPUs for PC gaming. We’re not recommending the most expensive, high- end Extreme Edition CPU.
Sure, it’s the most powerful—but it’s also way more money than you need to spend. And those extra cores and that extra power don’t make a CPU like the $1. Intel i. 7 5. 96. X particularly better at gaming than a more mainstream model. Budgetary requirements are a major factor, as you’ll usually get better gaming performance from your PC by choosing a middle- of- the- road CPU and putting the saving into purchasing a better graphics card.
For this reason, our absolute favorite gaming CPU is Intel’s Core i. K, since it’s the perfect balance of value and performance. It usually retails for less than $2. Amazon and it carries some excellent specifications—it’s a quad- core processor that runs at 3. GHz, which means it’s more than capable of driving any graphics card it’s paired with, and never drags down gaming performance. You can even overclock it to well over 4 GHz to get even more performance.
The i. 5- 4. 69. 0K is the best CPU for most rigs, but we know some PC gamers are building on a budget, or want more performance out of the gate without overclocking. Here’s how we tested.
How we tested. Generally speaking, gaming performance is affected by multiple aspects of your computer’s CPU. Its technical efficiency is probably the biggest, as in how good it is at number crunching. A highly efficient processor running at just 2 GHz can easily outperform a less efficient processor running at a higher clock speed.
A great example is the Pentium 4 from ten years ago, which was easily beaten by AMD’s Athlon chips in gaming benchmarks, due its less efficient Netburst architecture. But given two CPUs based on the same architecture, the one that runs at a faster clock speed will nearly always win. Some games, but not all, will make use of multiple CPU cores and it’s also important to have a good amount of cache (per core) to ensure memory performance remains strong. It does depend on the individual game though, how it’s designed and coded. Some games will really benefit from a faster CPU, while others will see little difference, as they’re almost entirely reliant on the power of your GPU. For reference, here are a few late 2.
Far Cry 4: 2. 5. GHz i. S processor. Civilization: Beyond Earth: 1. GHz quad core processor. Dragon Age: Inquisition: 3.
GHz quad core processor. All the processors were tested in a PC with an Asus Z8. Pro motherboard, with 1. GB of 1. 60. 0 MHz Crucial DDR3 memory, running Windows 8. San. Disk Extreme Pro SSD.
This specification represents a fairly high- end modern gaming PC. It had an Nvidia Ge. Force GTX 9. 70, a highly capable graphics card that can really drive 3. D performance. We first used some quick- and- easy synthetic tests, including Geekbench and Unigine Heaven 4. Geekbench is a suite of CPU tests that measures processor speed when performing a variety of calculations that are likely to be used in day- to- day use of an operating system. It provides a score for performance when running a single process, which is akin to its raw speed, and another for multi- threaded software, which benefits greatly from additional CPU cores.
The real beauty of Geekbench is that its cross platform, so can be used to compare the relative performance of a tablet, phone and PC, across Windows, Android, OS X and i. OS. Unigine Heaven is more gaming focused, as it draws a number of 3. D scenes that look very much like a fantasy game. It calculates framerate and provides a score at the end. We also ran a video encode of a three- hour long 1. Handbrake at its default settings, with the i. Pad preset. Video encoding is a tough job for any computer, as it has to process every frame in sequence, and will tax the CPU for hours at a time.
For gaming benchmarks, we used Tomb Raider, Metro Last Light and Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth. All the tests were done at 1.
From each game we got a figure for the average, minimum and maximum frame rates. The most important of these is the minimum, for a game may feature some quiet scenes with relatively few models, so it runs at a high frame rate, followed by action- packed sequences with all kinds of debris, particle effects and good old destruction. It’s here where a game may slow down, and the minimum frame rate represents the worst- case scenario in that sequence.
In the case of Beyond Earth, its predecessor was heavily dependent on CPU performance, especially during the late- game stages, with dozens of units on screen at once, so the results should be interesting with this follow- up, although this time there’s a multi- threaded rendering option, which we enabled. Finally, a hearty thanks to UK retailer. Scan Computers and Intel UK for loaning us the processors for testing. Competitors. Although Intel has dominated our CPU recommendations, this is due to their current strong position in the CPU market.
AMD’s competing processors are a fine platform, and won’t exactly perform badly in games, but the company remains a step behind Intel, unable to offer the same level of performance at the same price. If you take a look at the in- depth review of. AMD’s FX- 8. 37. E processor on Anandtech, the benchmark graphs show the Core i. K storming ahead of AMD in every test, while consuming less power.
We’ve already mentioned the Extreme Edition processors from Intel, and prior to writing this article, thought long and hard about including the Core i. X in our recommendations. But we ultimately decided against it.
Not only does that chip retail for a whopping. Amazon, it only runs at 3 GHz out of the box, which will mean slower graphics performance than you get from the 4. K or 4. 69. 0K, despite offering eight cores. There are few affordable X9. DDR4 memory, which does run considerably faster than DDR3, but also costs a lot more, and so increases the price of this platform.
Even opting for the more affordable six- core Core i. K processor is a costly proposition.
The only reason to choose the 5. K over the 4. 79. K is for a triple- GPU setup. In its defense, the Haswell- E processors are fairly easy to overclock. With an all- in- one closed- loop water cooler, such as Corsair’s H1. Hydro, the Core i. X should hit 4. 2 GHz, but even at this speed it’s still not a clear leap ahead of the Core i.
K in gaming. Future processors. Intel’s forthcoming Broadwell platform ushers forth a process shrink to 1. Haswell chips. But the platform is launching in stages, with the first chips being ultra low voltage models intended for mobile devices. The desktop updates will come last, for a projected summer 2. And in addition, there’s a brand new architecture officially scheduled for 2. Skylake. Little is known about these new processors, aside from a few planned updates to the chipset, including Thunderbolt 3. PCI- Express 4. 0.
Both of these new technologies will double the bandwidth of their respective predecessors. In the case of Thunderbolt 3. Gbit/sec, while PCI- Express 4. But given the 2. 01. Broadwell, it’s not currently clear whether Intel plans to push back the desktop Skylake launch or whether Broadwell will be a stop- gap technology. As the second- place runner for what seems like an eternity now in the race for top- end CPU performance, it’s AMD’s APU designs which are more in the spotlight for 2. According to an article on WCCFTech, the forthcoming Project Skybridge will shrink AMD’s APU to 2.
ARM support as well as x. Android to run natively on PC hardware. These chips could make a good alternative to an Intel processor for more affordable gaming PCs. AMD has already had a lot of success with its APU designs, with custom chips used in both the Xbox One and PS4, with strong rumours that it will also power the Wii U’s successor. But its worth pointing out that Intel isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to integrated graphics.
Using Intel’s graphics once meant utterly dire gaming performance, if a game ran at all. But starting a few generations ago, more of the CPU die was dedicated to an integrated GPU. With Haswell, Intel’s graphics have become reasonably competent at running modern games, albeit in modest detail settings and resolutions. Broadwell and Skylake will no doubt continue this trend and see even better integrated GPU performance. Still, we'll always recommend buying a dedicated GPU, even for a budget gaming rig. And with the move to ARM compatibility, it’s impossible not to see the blurring of the lines between mobile and PCs. As once pointed out by Anandtech, today’s battle is not for performance or clock frequency, but for performance per watt of energy consumed.
In desktop gaming PCs, this means new CPUs have to offer better performance without consuming more power than before, while in mobile it means getting better performance without affecting battery life.
The best gaming laptops - PC Gamer. How we test gaming laptops and others we tested. To narrow the field of gaming laptops, I needed to divide gaming laptops into three categories.
Desktop replacements like the Asus Ro. G G7. 51. JY- DH7. DTRs are really designed for use plugged into a wall where their high- end components can shine. These machines tend to be bulky, heavy, and consequently awkward to lug around. But they’re typically fast. And expensive. Nevertheless, desktop replacements are popular for a reason: they can play your favorite games at high resolutions and maxed out detail settings, while still being more portable than a true desktop. Thin- and- light notebooks are less common in gaming circles, since svelte little shells aren’t exactly ideal for housing power- hungry processors.
They do exist, though. Laptops sporting attractive dimensions and competent internals are marvels of mechanical engineering, so expect to pay a premium. If you prioritize true mobility, you’ll find the extra investment worthwhile, even if it means taking a performance hit compared to behemoth DTRs.
Of course, I can’t ignore that variable obliquely referred to as value. Gaming- oriented hardware is often expensive, and it’s easy to fall in lust with the best of the best. Is it possible to play first- person shooters at their most taxing settings for cheap? Let’s be honest: not really, no. But can you still get an enjoyable experience without breaking the bank? Absolutely. The real challenge this category presents is defining its price ceiling. As you’ll see, I think the best gaming notebook has to deliver performance without hitting an astronomical price.
Gaming laptop benchmarks. I ran each gaming laptop through a barrage of tests to gauge performance in GPU and CPU demanding game benchmarks.
Check out the charts below for their scores. Testing gaming laptops. Reaching my decision wasn’t easy.
It involved weeks of benchmarking, hands- on feedback from several enthusiasts, and a fair bit of digging around under the hood of each system. I began my quest by reaching out to the biggest hardware players in this space, offering each a chance to submit models for consideration. I didn't test every gaming laptop configuration on the market—there are hundreds of them—but the best representatives from laptop makers that I know make great gaming systems. Each sample was loaded with a gaming benchmark suite, including Unigine Valley, 3. DMark, Metro Last Light, Tomb Raider, GRID 2, and Thief. After extensive testing, both plugged in to the wall and on battery power, I took each notebook apart to inspect its innards. A handful of non- technical users were invited into our lab to go hands- on and convey their impressions of the keyboards, trackpads, and displays.
Finally, I compared the prices of these systems to determine their comparative value. Competitors. All of the notebooks submitted for today’s round- up were tested thoroughly to best guide my recommendations.
And although you’d think the opposite to be true, poring over the raw data made some of these decisions more difficult. For example, Gigabyte sent over the $2. P3. 7X- CF2, which you can configure and order through Xotic. PC. It straddles a few different segments. At less than an inch thick and weighing 6. However, a 1. 7. 3” display and flagship- class specs qualify it as a desktop replacement as well. You get the best of both worlds—brilliant, right?
Asus has the more solidly- built DTR priced similarly though, while. MSI’s GS6. 0 is even more compact for $5. There’s no doubt that Gigabyte has an exceptional product on its hands, so perhaps I need another recommendation to properly recognize models in between conventional categories. FALCON NORTHWEST TLX. Falcon Northwest submitted another gem in its. TLX, the most stunning- looking notebook I've seen.
Based on a 1. 5. 6” platform, my sample came with a potent Core i. MQ host processor, Ge. Force GTX 9. 80. M 8. GB, 8. GB of DDR3. L- 1. 60. 0, a 1.
TB Samsung 8. 40 EVO SSD, and an Intel wireless networking adapter. But killer specs aren’t even this system’s differentiating feature.
Rather, each TLX comes standard with the automotive finish of your choice. As you might expect, bespoke hardware is expensive—this red- candy- over- a- coarse- silver base- colored sample landed just under $4.
That kind of configuration appeals to a specific niche with the means to splurge. If you count yourself lucky enough to consider a TLX, this one- of- a- kind notebook ships with a custom Falcon- branded backpack, an eight- ounce bag of ground coffee, a Falcon mug, a t- shirt, and a mouse pad. MSI GT8. 0 TITAN.
Larger still. MSI’s GT8. Titan SLI- 0. 01 broke all of our performance records.
Why, then, is it not the desktop replacement champion? I’m a staunch believer in buying the right amount of hardware to get a job done.
Asus’ G7. 51. JY is well- equipped at $2. The GT8. 0 Titan SLI is overkill for an additional $8. That premium buys you a Core i. HQ CPU, two Ge. Force GTX 9. Ms (each with 8. GB of GDDR5) in SLI, 1. GB of system memory, two 1. GB SSDs in RAID 0, a 1.
TB hard drive, and a gorgeous 1. PLS panel with a native resolution of 1. Yes, it nearly averages 1. FPS in Metro Last Light’s built- in benchmark at Very High detail.
It exceeds 2. 00 FPS in Tomb Raider’s own test at the Ultra preset. But then, on battery power, it can’t even sustain 3. FPS in certain titles. I agree with MSI that gamers aren’t going to use a notebook like this away from a wall socket. In that case, though, why not just build a small mini- ITX- based machine with desktop- class components for less money? Indeed, Digital Storm seems to have taken some inspiration from the desktop. Its. Harker (Model S: 9.
Core i. 7- 4. 79. K “Devil’s Canyon” processor mated to Nvidia’s Ge. Force GTX 9. 80. M with 8. GB of GDDR5. You also get 1. GB of memory, a 2.
GB Samsung 8. 50 EVO SSD, a 7. GB hard drive, and a 1. That’s a lot of great hardware for just north of $2. The Harker is heavy though, nearing nine pounds without its AC adapter. And although it’s covered in a fingerprint- resistant soft- touch material, the Clevo chassis design looks dated. The TN- based Chi Mei FHD panel isn’t my favorite, either. And then there’s the.
MSI GE6. 2 Apache- 0. This one bears mention because its predecessor was our former budget gaming recommendation. Priced at $1. 30. Core i. 7- 4. 72. HQ and Ge. Force GTX 9. I was sure MSI’s updated model would secure the same title. In 2. 01. 5, though, it’s difficult to bless a storage subsystem lacking a solid- state component.
The GE6. 2’s responsiveness suffers due to its reliance on a 1. TB mechanical disk.
We aren’t fans of the textured track pad either. Following the grain, vertical movement is easy. Navigating side to side is far courser. And any non- linear gestures just feel weird. The deal- breaker was when adhesive holding the bottom bezel to the display panel started separating on its own. We’re all about value, but won’t allow lapses in quality.
Future testing. The Asus Ro. G G7. 51. JY- DH7. It's the best laptop I've tested, and it's received universally positive reviews elsewhere. Likewise, we're confident the other two laptops listed in this guide are great mobile gaming rigs.
Of course, I'm only scratching the surface of this year’s newest gaming systems. Alienware is gearing up to send a system in, and I'm working on getting some Lenovo hardware as well. If you’d like to see us review a specific model or add a category, leave a comment or shoot us an email with what you'd like to see. As promised, we'll be checking out budget laptops to find the best cheap portable gaming notebook around.
Look for more standalone laptop reviews, and updates to this guide, in the next few months. A note on affiliates: some of our stories, like this one, include affiliate links to stores like Amazon. These online stores share a small amount of revenue with us if you buy something through one of these links, which helps support our work evaluating PC components.