Skip to main content
Tech Radar Tech Radar TechRadar The source for Tech Buying Advice
Subscribe
RSS
Asia
flag of Singapore
Singapore
Europe
flag of Danmark
Danmark
flag of Suomi
Suomi
flag of Norge
Norge
flag of Sverige
Sverige
flag of UK
UK
flag of Italia
Italia
flag of Nederland
Nederland
flag of België (Nederlands)
België (Nederlands)
flag of France
France
flag of Deutschland
Deutschland
flag of España
España
North America
flag of US (English)
US (English)
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of México
México
Australasia
flag of Australia
Australia
flag of New Zealand
New Zealand
Technology Magazines
Technology Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12.99
View
  • News
  • Best
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
  • How To
  • Deals
  • More
    • Versus
    • Appliances
    • Audiovisual
    • Cameras
    • Car Tech
    • Computing
    • Coupons
    • Downloads
    • Entertainment
    • Fitness
    • Laptops
    • Phones
    • Smart Home
    • Tablets
    • TVs
    • Wearables
    • About Us
Tech Radar Pro
Tech Radar Gaming
Trending
  • Memorial Day sales
  • iPhone 15
  • Google Pixel Fold
  • ChatGPT
  • Wordle hints
  • Best VPN

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Computing

Boutique PC builders' best work: the experts' top custom case builds

By Bill Thomas
published 7 October 2019

The best boutique PC builds on the internet

The coolest custom gaming PC cases from the best builders

The coolest custom gaming PC cases from the best builders

When it comes to the best gaming PCs, there are two approaches you can take. You can either pick up the best processor, best graphics card and others, and piece them together like high-tech Legos – or, you can buy a pre-built computer. While we generally prefer the former option, we can totally understand why you’d rather just buy the latter.

However, if you are going to fork over your hard-earned money for a pre-built machine, why not check out the case builds that the best boutique PC builders have to offer. While they might charge a premium (sometimes a very high premium) for their services, they offer fantastic build quality and custom PC cases that are simply awe-inspiring.

Beyond that, the best boutique PC builds are completely configurable. You can have a humble rig with modest performance, or you can pretend you’re Xzibit and pimp your PC up to obscene levels. 

However, because they’re all configurable, and this market can get really confusing to the casual consumer, it can be a bit confusing to find the right boutique build for your needs. 

Don’t worry though, in true TechRadar fashion, we did the heavy lifting for you, and found the best boutique PC builds on the market right now. From slick frag boxes to gigantic towers that look like an art installation, these boutique PC builds will give you the power you need to dominate the best PC games and they’ll look good while they do it.

Welcome to TechRadar's PC Gaming Week 2019. We're celebrating the most powerful gaming platform on Earth with in-depth articles, exclusive interviews and essential buying guides that showcase everything PC gaming has to offer. Visit our PC Gaming Week 2019 page to see all our coverage in one place.

First published June 2018

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Origin PC Chronos
Excellence in a small package

Origin PC Chronos

In 2018, small form-factor gaming PCs are becoming more and more popular, and the Origin PC Chronos is a perfect example of why. Small, rigid and beautiful, this mini-ITX machine is configurable with up to an Intel Core i9 processor and a Nvidia Titan V (not that you’ll actually need that for running games). It even has a reasonable price considering the build quality and components.

As for the actual case build, you can completely customize it. And, instead of just giving you a selection of colors and patterns, you can contact Origin PC and they’ll design it however you choose. You can customize it with any artwork or finish your heart desires. Just keep in mind: this option isn’t cheap.

How much does it cost, though? Well, it starts out around $1,490 (about £1,116, AU$1,970). That’ll get you an Intel Core i3-8100, 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti – not exactly shaking the walls with raw performance. However, you can go all in to make Xzibit proud, by packing this thing with an Intel Core i9-7900X, 64GB of RAM and an Nvidia Titan V for $6,928 (about £5,190, AU$9,153). It might not look like it now, but that’s actually the best value on this list.

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Falcon Northwest Tiki
Small. Powerful. Expensive.

Falcon Northwest Tiki

Falcon Northwest has made a name for itself over its nearly 30 years of existence for making amazing desktop PCs, and it rocks the micro PC game as well. With the Tiki, Falcon Northwest crammed as much power as physically possible into the smallest package it could. Just like the Chronos listed above, this tiny behemoth can be configured with the most powerful CPU you can imagine, but where it sets itself apart is the fact that you can configure it with Nvidia Quadro graphics. This transforms the Tiki from one of the best gaming PCs into a workstation that you can hide behind your monitor so that you can focus on the work you need to do. 

Not that you’d want to hide it, though. With Falcon Northwest’s Exotix paint jobs, the Tiki looks absolutely gorgeous. It’s probably the most expensive micro PC you can buy today, but once you take it out of the packaging and behold it with your own two eyes, It’s totally worth it.

This small, powerful and costly machine starts at around $2,402 (around £1,799, AU$3,175) and includes an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, 16GB of RAM and an Nvidia GTX 1060. Then, if you really beef it up, you can configure it with an Intel Core i9-7980XE, 64GB of RAM and an Nvidia Quadro P6000 for the most beautiful workstation that you’ve ever seen. We just wouldn’t recommend that particular GPU for gaming.

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Xotic PC G34 Phantom
The all-in-one to rule them all

Xotic PC G34 Phantom

Maybe you don’t want a PC case at all. Perhaps you’d like something that resembles an iMac on steroids. The Xotic PC G34 Phantom is a gaming all-in-one that will make you wonder why everyone isn’t using one. All-in-one Windows PCs have got a bit of a bad reputation over the last couple decades – usually being shoddily constructed computers that your parents would buy. The G34 Phantom, however, is able to pack the latest high-end components into the back of a monitor, so you can have a space-saving desktop without having to give up on Core i9 processors and workstation-class graphics.

As far as exterior customization goes, you can not only pick the color of exterior paint, but you can also add interior colors to really make the internals stand out, even though no one would likely see inside of this particular machine. What’s more, you can also add graphic and textured wraps to really bling out your rig.

Starting out at the low, low price of $2,199 (haha) – or about £1,647 or AU$2,900 – the G34 Phantom starts off with a modest build – featuring an AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, 8GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. Kind of expensive for those specs, but you’re paying for the WQHD (3,440 x 1,440) screen as well.  When you max this thing out for $10,247 (about £7,675, AU$13,540), you get an Intel Core i9-7980XE, 64GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan V. Believe it or not, that’s actually a better deal than the entry model.

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Maingear R2 Razer Edition
Master of the gaming aesthetic

Maingear R2 Razer Edition

This thing looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. And, because it’s Razer-branded, everything is green. That might sway you one way or the other, but Razer has essentially mastered the ‘gamer aesthetic’ over the last few years – and it shows. Maingear has taken this partnership with Razer to an amazing place with the Maingear R2 Razer Edition. Configurable with up to the latest Skylake X chips and a Titan V, the R2 Razer Edition backs up its gamer swag with gaming performance that will knock your socks off.

There isn’t much you can do to customize the way this computer looks, but it’s safe to assume you signed up for this look. With its liquid cooling pipes and tempered glass side panels, the Maingear R2 Razer Edition will leave your jaw slack every time you look at it.

This particularly “gamer-y” build starts out at $1,079 (about £809, AU$1,425), and that’ll get you a Ryzen 3 1200, 8GB of RAM and a GTX 1050 Ti. When you consider the pro-level watercooling that’s packed into this rig, that’s not a bad price at all. However, when you max it out with a Intel Core i9-7980XE, 64GB of RAM and a Nvidia Titan V, you’re looking at a $11,659 (around £8,734, AU$15,122) investment. Who needs a car when you have a tricked-out, Razer-themed gaming PC?

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Digital Storm Aventum
Remember the titan

Digital Storm Aventum

Enough of those tiny PCs. What about the gigantic rigs with four of the best graphics cards and room for all the expansion you could ever want? Well, we saved the biggest for last with the Digital Storm Aventum. The best word we could think to describe the Aventum is ‘titanic’. Measuring 28 x 25.7 x 10 inches (H x L x W), this PC will take center stage in whatever room you place it. And, with the amount of performance you can configure into this PC, it honestly deserves to be the center of attention.

Plus, this case definitely looks the part. While it may not offer as much customization as some of the other PCs on this list, its attractive red paint job and optional laser engraving really make this beast pleasant to look at. You can, however, customise what it looks like inside (which you can peer into from a tempered glass side panel) – and with all the RGB lighting and clear tubing, its guts are gorgeous.

The Digital Storm Aventum starts out at the steep price of $3,669 (about £2750, AU$4,750), which will get you a Ryzen 7 2700X, 32GB of RAM, a 500GB NVMe SSD and a GTX 1060. Not exactly what we’d call a ‘low-end build,’ but wait until you see what it’s like when  maxed out. When you crank up all the knobs to 11, you get an AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1950X, 128GB of RAM, 4TB of NVMe storage, four Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan Xps for more performance than you’ll theoretically ever need. It all comes in at $16,485 (about £12,350, AU$21,774). So, the way we look at it, you can either put a down payment on a house, or have one of the best gaming PCs ever created – choice is yours.

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas
Social Links Navigation

Bill Thomas (Twitter) is TechRadar's computing editor. They are fat, queer and extremely online. Computers are the devil, but they just happen to be a satanist. If you need to know anything about computing components, PC gaming or the best laptop on the market, don't be afraid to drop them a line on Twitter or through email.

See more Computing news
More about computing
Wordpress brand logo on computer screen. Man typing on the keyboard.

Up to 1.5 million WordPress sites could be hit by this security flaw - so patch up now

best free email services

Barracuda warns users about possible email compromise attacks - here's what you need to know

Latest
New MoviePass subscription

MoviePass is back, better, and maybe more confusing than before

See more latest ►
Most Popular
Every announcement at Sony's PlayStation Showcase

By Cat BussellMay 25, 2023

Keeper can now automatically change up your passwords

By Lewis MaddisonMay 25, 2023

Bitwarden adds passkey support to give you one less thing to worry about

By Lewis MaddisonMay 25, 2023

5 macOS Ventura features that will supercharge your productivity

By Michelle Rae UyMay 25, 2023

Data breach at US debt collector exposes over a million users

By Sead FadilpašićMay 25, 2023

OLED TV prices are set to fall a lot, but maybe not this year

By Henry St LegerMay 25, 2023

The latest iPhone 15 charging rumor sounds very un-Apple

By Axel MetzMay 25, 2023

16K displays are already here to bring future Nvidia and AMD GPUs to their knees

By Desire AthowMay 25, 2023

New Max streaming service angers writers and directors with big crediting error

By Tom PowerMay 25, 2023

You'll soon be able to create all kinds of documents in Google Docs - here's how

By Mike MooreMay 25, 2023

The Leica Q3 is here – and it’s definitely the Leica I’d buy if I was rich

By Timothy ColemanMay 25, 2023

  1. A screen shot of the Live TV tab on Android TV
    1
    Android TVs are getting 800 free channels in a great free update
  2. 2
    I’ve waited years for Dyson's new robot vacuum – and it doesn't disappoint
  3. 3
    Netflix's global password crackdown is off to a terrible start
  4. 4
    Use this AirTag battery-replacement trick and you'll feel like a magician
  5. 5
    Netflix announces all its summer 2023 movies – here are 4 you shouldn't miss
  1. Darth Vader in The Force Unleashed
    1
    Ubisoft has hinted at the release window for its new Star Wars title
  2. 2
    I’ve waited years for Dyson's new robot vacuum – and it doesn't disappoint
  3. 3
    Netflix's global password crackdown is off to a terrible start
  4. 4
    These 5 hidden iOS tricks will help you navigate your iPhone faster
  5. 5
    Use this AirTag battery-replacement trick and you'll feel like a magician
Technology Magazines
  • ●
Technology Magazines
  • The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews
From$12.99
View

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.