• Valve releases Windows 11 drivers for the Steam Machine
• This means you can install Windows 11 on the console-like PC
• You probably shouldn't, though

Valve has released official Windows drivers which should mean anyone who wants to install Windows 11 on its Steam Machine compact PC will be able to do so.

However, I and many other PC gamers have been left wondering why you’d want to do that — and it’s not just because of a general dislike of Microsoft’s operating system.

Of course, Windows 11 does have its issues, with a worrying increase in bugs and performance-damaging problems. It’s also bloated, and filled with AI features that few people, especially gamers, seem to want.

So, installing it on a device designed to run a more lightweight Linux operating system is a baffling choice. Much has been made of Valve’s decisions (some of them taken because of the global memory shortage and high component prices) to fit the Steam Machine with rather underpowered hardware. There’s no dedicated GPU, just an integrated one that uses older AMD technology and 16GB of DDR5 single-channel RAM.

Those are pretty poor specs for a gaming PC, and while some of this is outside of Valve’s control, at least SteamOS, the Linux-based operating system that the Steam Machine runs on by default, is a lot more lightweight than Windows 11, and is streamlined to prioritize launching and playing games. This means it can offer better performance

Windows 11, on the other hand, is a much bigger, and some would say rather bloated, operating system that runs on a variety of different hardware, with people using it for different things, not just playing games. This means performance is often worse even if the same low-powered components are used.

So, putting Windows 11 on a Steam Machine means you’ll likely get poorer performance, and Windows 11’s interface isn’t designed to be used on a TV with a controller, unlike SteamOS’ Big Picture Mode interface. You can use Steam Big Picture Mode in Windows 11, of course, and Microsoft has been working on a similar console-like interface with its Xbox mode, but it’s not perfect.

Why would you do this?

So, why would anyone in their right mind installing Windows 11 on a Steam Machine, especially as it seems Valve hasn’t implemented dual-booting (so you can pick between Windows 11 and SteamOS when you turn the machine on, hopefully that comes later)?

Well, while SteamOS is designed for a console-like simplicity, for a lot of mainstream users, Windows 11 will be more user-friendly (if you’ve ever had to troubleshoot an issue with Linux, you’ll know it’s not for the faint of heart). If you’re planning to use the Steam Machine as a standard PC (which Valve says you can do), then installing Windows 11 kind of makes sense. Kind of.

SteamOS is also essentially Linux with the Steam store as the interface, and that makes playing and buying games through Steam very easy. But for playing games from other stores, such as Epic Games Store, GOG and even Xbox, it’s a bit more of a faff. You can install Linux or open source versions of those launchers and add them as non-Steam games, but it’s again fiddly and more complicated than with Windows 11.

Finally, if you play a lot of online multiplayer games, such as Fortnite, that use anti-cheat software, you might have no option but to play those games in Windows 11, as many anti-cheat tools don’t support Linux, and therefore can’t be played by default on the Steam Machine.

Why you shouldn’t do this

However, I still feel on the whole you just should do this, and not just because of Microsoft’s OS being unsuitable; Valve should take some blame as well.

As WCCFTech reports, because there’s currently no way to dual boot these operating systems, installing Windows 11 on the Steam Machine will overwrite SteamOS, so if you find Windows isn’t working well, it’s more of a pain to switch back to SteamOS.

As some commentators on WCCFTech’s article also point out, Valve doesn’t have a great reputation when it comes to supporting Windows drivers with its Steam devices, with the Steam Deck being a prime example. Valve’s handheld also runs SteamOS and you can install Windows 11 on it, but Valve has been pretty poor at updating its drivers, with one claiming people are still having to rely on graphics and sound drivers that are two years old.

Needless to say, playing with outdated drivers is not going to be enjoyable. In better news, Valve has also made having to use Windows 11 less necessary for a lot of games by continually updating its Proton compatibility layer, which allows you to run Windows 11 games in Linux, rather than having to wait for a Linux port of the game (which rarely comes due to the discrepancies in user numbers for the two platforms).

As Neowin reports, Valve has updated Proton to support even more games than ever. It’s a brilliant tool that means there’s less need to use Windows 11 with the Steam Machine or Steam Deck.

So, while I do applaud Valve for giving users the option, as it helps show how open the Steam Machine, and gaming PCs in general, can be, I think Valve has also made this option pretty pointless, for both good and bad reasons.

• Valve has posted a fix for the 'red line of death' problem
• A small number of bug reports have surfaced online
• Leaving the PC unplugged overnight seems to help

There's good news if your newly purchased Steam Machine has been hit by the 'red line of death' — where the PC displays a solid red indicator light and refuses to boot up (reminiscent of the old Xbox 'red ring of death').

A couple of reports about this problem have appeared in recent days, although it's not clear exactly how widespread this issue is. If you have been hit by the frustrating bug though, Valve now has some official advice for you.

In detailed troubleshooting instructions posted to Reddit, the official Steam hardware feedback account advises affected users to work through a series of steps that include unplugging the Steam Machine and forcing a full reboot.

It's worth saying that the Redditor who originally reported the issue was able to get their Steam Machine up and running again by leaving it unplugged overnight — so an effective fix might not require all of the official instructions.

Here's what to do

Well, the Steam Machine was pretty cool for the 20 minutes that it worked from r/steammachine

If you do find the 'red line of death' appearing on your Steam Machine, these are the troubleshooting steps to follow, as per Valve:

• Unplug the Machine, then press the power button a few times. This ensures any stored energy in the PSU gets discharged. You may see the power indicator LED blip a moment.
• Plug the Machine back in. Note if your power LED glows (breathing pattern) white or not. If yes, please submit a Steam Support ticket and tag me, or send me a chat request with the ID.
• Hold the power button down for ~6s. You should see the power indicator LED (dot) flash momentarily. Release the power button when you do.
• The power indicator LED will start to cycle some color codes. These are designed to allow you to select various options for recovery/troubleshooting purposes. When the LED turns green, short-press the power button. This should perform a full 'CMOS reset'.
• On the next boot, you should see the RGB bar as blue - it may take a bit longer to boot due to a memory re-training.

So there you have it — if your Steam Machine works again, the Steam support account requests that you tag it on Reddit. If not, the next step is to create a support ticket so the issue can be investigated further.

It might be that a number of users have already experienced this problem and resolved it without turning to Reddit or social media, but it's not something you want to see after paying a top price for the gaming PC.

• Valve shares open-source files for an e-paper screen for Steam Machine
• Anyone can download, edit, and share the files
• The screen can attach to the Steam Machine's body and show useful information

I have to admit, after Valve announced the $1,049 / £879 (around AU$1,500) price of the Steam Machine, my excitement for the compact gaming PC plummeted – but a recent move by the company has gone some way to restoring my faith.

As Brad Lynch pointed out on Twitter, Valve has shared the instructions, 3D print files, software and list of needed materials for people to build their own e-paper display that can be attached to the body of the Steam Machine, which can then be used to show information such as the temperatures and performance of the PC’s components.

Dubbed the ‘inkterface’, this second screen turns the Steam Machine into a retro-looking PC, and it’s a great reminder of why PC gaming can be so fun, as well as why, despite having its own issues, Valve continues to be one of the most interesting companies in the gaming industry.

This is what Valve suggests you need:

• 1 x Adafruit ESP32 Feather with 2MB PSRAM
• 1 x Adafruit eInk Breakout Friend
• 1 x Adafruit 5.83" Monochrome eInk Panel
• 13 x M2.5 x 5mm Pan Head Machine Screws
  • McMaster
  • Amazon
• 4 x 1/4" x 1/4" x 3/16" Stepped Magnet SB443-OUT

Do it yourself

The fact that Valve is sharing these files and instructions as open source is very commendable, as it means anyone can use them and change, update, and improve them without paying a penny – as long as you have the appropriate tools and materials.

I can’t imagine Sony or Nintendo supporting, let alone encouraging, their customers to modify their consoles. Valve’s embracing of open-source (see also its use of Linux for SteamOS) shows that while it’s taking a console-like approach in some areas with the Steam Machine, it hasn’t completely abandoned the openness and customizability of PC gaming.

Being able to build your own rig, tweaking and modding your PC, is one of the things I love the most about PC gaming, so it’s great to see that Valve hasn’t completely abandoned its PC roots. Offering ways to add weird, quirky, but also useful, parts to the Steam Machine suddenly makes it a lot more interesting.

Of course, I still think building your own compact gaming PC and installing SteamOS to make your own Steam Machine is a better-value (and more fun) way of doing things, and, again, it’s a testament to how open PC gaming can be.

Even if you don’t have the time, materials or inclination to build your own ‘inkterface’ display for your Steam Machine, you’ll still be able to benefit, as other builders, and even retailers, will be able to make their own and sell them.

The future success of the Steam Machine, then, could hinge on its hackability, which could also be the key to prolonging its lifespan. While I’m not entirely sold on it yet, this does go some way to making the high price a bit easier to swallow.

At long last, Valve has finally announced the Steam Machine price to the world, and it's upset a fair amount of people. Originally billed as a console-sized (and performing) rival, many prospective buyers were expecting an MSRP in line with the likes of what Microsoft and Sony had done. Given the ongoing RAM crisis, and the continued price hikes of key components, chiefly RAM and flash storage, things haven't quite panned out that way.

That's because the cheapest Steam Machine configuration available will cost you a staggering $1,049 / £879 for the 512GB configuration, and up to $1,349 / £1,149 for the 2TB variant. That's shipping just as is, meaning you don't get the new Steam Controller bundled in, and you can forget about a Valve-branded keyboard and mouse for that rate as well. It isn't controversial to say that it's overpriced given the specs inside, the projected performance, and the longevity, which is a far cry from the otherwise pro-consumer (and more cost-effective) Steam Deck / Steam Deck OLED.

Factoring in the price-to-performance of the incoming Steam Machine, things aren't looking too good for Valve's second crack at the home computing hardware market. I'm showing you how you can build a far more viable and capable computer, going over the expected performance capabilities and other considerations that you can make instead.

What are the Steam Machine specs?

The Steam Machine positions itself as a mid-range gaming PC that's wrapped up in a small form factor chassis. Specifically, the "cube" measures in at just six inches. The size comes at the cost of what you can actually put in the box, though. Valve has opted for a "semi-custom" approach, going all-in on AMD hardware, specifically, the previous-generation RDNA 3 architecture for its APU, which is, sadly, now outdated.

Here are the full Steam Machine specs that you need to know as our baseline here:

What could the Steam Deck performance realistically look like?

When the Steam Machine was first revealed, Valve confidently claimed that its little black cube could deliver 4K60 due to it having "six times the horsepower of the Steam Deck". If you go to the Steam Machine page in its current iteration, however, it's a different story. The new listing, which also includes a strict waitlist policy, now states "Up to 4k gaming with FSR 4.1". This is a far more realistic depiction of what the rig can actually do, and it sounds as though AMD's FSR will be doing the bulk of the heavy lifting to achieve those lofty claims.

It's the same technicality that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X have touted since they were both released nearly six years ago. Those systems are technically capable of outputting in 4K, sure, even if it is checkerboarded (dynamically scaled) and sent to your gaming TV or monitor through the HDMI 2.1 port. The same can be said of the Steam Machine.

Unless you're running an indie or a select AA game, you're very unlikely to achieve true 4K, let alone consistent 4K at 60FPS or above. An older AMD iGPU just can't deliver the same level of performance as the best graphics cards, and discrete GPUs will always be more capable due to the increased power draw, die size, advanced cooling, and faster VRAM, among other considerations.

Fundamentally, the Steam Machine is severely limited by having just 8GB of slower GDDR6 VRAM, even if it is bolstered by 16GB DDR5 RAM, the bare minimum in 2026. Recent benchmarking results, such as those conducted by Gamers Nexus, have confirmed as much. Sticking just to gaming, the PC appears to be CPU-hamstrung. Baldur's Gate 3 in 1080p and Low settings achieved an average of only 60fps stock. Black Myth: Wukong fared a little better with averages of 73FPS in 1080p and Low settings. Considering that Steam Machine Verified games only need to hit 1080p at 30FPS for the green tick, this is not massively surprising.

How to build a Steam Machine 512GB alternative for under $1,049

This is where things get tough. Building a viable Steam Machine alternative means taking a few considerations into account. Chiefly, opting for an AM4 build in combination with a newer GPU, to prioritise graphical performance without much bottleneck from the CPU side. I've outlined everything inside of this entry-level machine which should offer superior performance to what Valve's incoming computer can do for less.

How to build a Steam Machine 2TB alternative for $1,349

If you want a current-generation, no-compromises 2TB Steam Machine killer, you can get one for about the same price as Valve's black box. This build gets you the stellar Ryzen 5 9600X, a more powerful Be Quiet! Pure Rock LP air cooler, and superfast DDR5 memory that's ready for the future of PC gaming. Here's my full build below, along with the real-world street price, since the components are now available.

Alternative components to consider for your build

While I've outlined two viable build alternatives to the Steam Machine, the great thing about PC gaming is that you aren't limited to what you can put inside a rig, provided space (and cash) aren't a problem. If you're looking for some alternative hardware to slot into the build instead, these are some viable and cost-effective, combinations you can try as well.

GPUs:

CPUs:

CPU coolers:

• Be quiet! Pure Rock LP - $37.90
• Thermalright AXP120-X67 59 CFM - $32.50
• ID-Cooling IS-47-XT V2 - $29.99

Motherboards:

• MSI Pro H810I WiFi Mini ITX LGA 1851 DDR5 - $149.99
• ASRock A520M ITX AM4 A520 - $149.99

Cases:

• Gamedias Athena - $79.99
• Lian Li DAN A3 mATX - $89.99
• Corsair iCUE Link 2500X RGB - $98.87

Storage:

• Silicon Power 1TB UD90 - $165.97
• Acer Predator GM7 1TB - $184.99
• Crucial P310 1TB - $174.99
• Sabrent Rocket 4 Gen 4.0 2TB - $299.99
• Acer Predator M.2 GM7000 - $309.99

PSUs:

• Cooler Master V850 Small Form Factor - $139.98
• NZXT C850 Gold - $139.99

Performance expectations for these Steam Machine alternatives

The real-world performance difference between DDR4 and DDR5 for gaming, including a generational uptick in FPS from the CPU isn't going to be as big of a difference when comparing the two Steam Deck alternative builds. The largest deciding factor when looking at gaming performance is the RTX 5060 and 16GB RAM. If the Steam Machine Verified games only need to reach 1080p at 30fps for the green tick, then the hardware inside these builds will eclipse that and then some.

If we look at how the RTX 5060 performs with a similar configuration to this one, in the benchmarked games as previously mentioned, we can see how much better these SFF builds can do. We can see the instant performance increase natively, with Black Myth: Wukong running at an average of 65 FPS with High settings, rather than struggling in minimum settings (via Gamers Nexus).

Baldur's Gate 3 also sees a huge uplift in performance, averaging 121 FPS averages in 1080p and 87 FPS in 1440p. 4K, it falls just short at a still playable 46 FPS (via TechPowerUp). These are native numbers, so using Nvidia DLSS 4.5's Multi-Frame Generation will help get you those smoother frames. Either build is considerably more capable, and retains the compact nature that the console-friendly look of the Steam Machine is catering to.

• AMD is reportedly preparing a 10% price hike on graphics memory kits for Radeon GPUs
• This means retailers could increase prices of Radeon GPUs from the likes of Sapphire or Asus
• This case is yet another example of just how hard the RAM crisis is hitting the PC market

Gaming is becoming an expensive hobby for both console and PC gamers, and it's all because of the ongoing RAM crisis. Unfortunately, another manufacturer's GPU components may be the next victim of price hikes.

As reported by VideoCardz, AMD is planning a 10% price increase on graphics memory kits for its Radeon GPUs this July, according to a new post on a Board Channels forum. This means that AMD's AIB partners, such as Sapphire and Asus, will pay more for components, which might result in higher retail prices for Radeon GPUs.

The Board Channels post states that these price hikes are a result of 'tight global supply of graphics memory chips,' including the noticeable trend of 'continuously rising market prices'.

Of course, there's no confirmation from AMD on the matter just yet, but if true, it doesn't help AMD's position in the GPU market up against its fierce rival, Nvidia. Frankly, both are in a tough spot due to higher memory costs across the board, which is well established for effectively every PC manufacturer at this stage in 2026.

While most of Team Green's RTX GPUs are fairly expensive for consumers, the advantage of better upscaling technologies and raw performance when using ray tracing in games makes them more appealing, in comparison to newer Radeon GPUs.

While we await confirmation from AMD, consumers should start buying new hardware now. Both AMD and Nvidia GPUs are still expensive across several retailers, and it's a tough spot for any gamer to be in when searching for an upgrade.

However, if you don't own a gaming PC at all, it's worth keeping an eye out for several deals — and fortunately, Best Buy's 4th of July sale is already underway, and this iBuyPower Slate Intel Arc B570 gaming PC is only $899.99 on sale.

It also comes with 16GB of DDR5 RAM (which would be expensive to buy separately), and most importantly, it's using a GPU that's perfectly capable of great gaming performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.

When acknowledging the messy state of the PC hardware market and the prospect of more price hikes, it's hard to ignore a deal such as this, especially when Intel's XeSS upscaling has improved over the last few years — so if it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to purchase.

Remedy Entertainment has hit the nail on the head with making an engaging and addictive sequel to Control, with Control Resonant. Gameplay from the original concept has been taken into Resonant and dialled up to 11, and that's heavily supported by Nvidia's technologies, enhancing the visual experience.

In my two hours playing, it didn't take very long for me to become fully immersed in not only our new protagonist, Dylan, and his incredible maneuvers and special attacks, but most importantly, in this case, the fascinating environments indoors and outdoors — and yes, a lot of this is thanks to the heavy lifting of Nvidia's ray tracing active during the demo.

Simply put, Resonant is an absolutely pleasant sight to the eyes, making every interior and exterior fight encounter blossom for greater immersion. It's a very colorful game, where enemy designs or attacks can shine bright in red (which isn't a surprise since the Hiss is mostly red), and I was blown away by everything on display.

Resonant takes a strong shift away from the third-person action-shooter aspect and dives into third-person fast-paced action-role-playing game (RPG) elements, and while my time with it was short-lived, I can't wait to see how its PC port handles later this year.

Resonant's ray tracing is amazing, but slightly heavy to run

It shouldn't come as a big surprise, but Control Resonant uses Nvidia's ray tracing technology and DLSS Ray Reconstruction, and the former is a huge demand for any RTX GPU.

Using an RTX 5090 at 4K with DLSS 4.5 Performance enabled and ray tracing preset on high, Resonant felt smooth in most playable combat sections of the demo — and while there was no evident frame rate counter, I suspect it was mostly at or above 60 frames per second (fps).

I'm a massive fan of hack-and-slash games like Devil May Cry 5 and the original God of War trilogy, where 60 fps during combat is effectively a must, which Resonant is quite similar to; the point being, I can tell when frame rates dip under 60, and there were certainly a few occurrences where heavier dips below that figure were noticeable.

However, this is an early build of the game, which is bound to be more polished once released, and high ray tracing presets still give the most powerful graphics card on the market a run for its money in any game (including Cyberpunk 2077 and Resident Evil Requiem).

Fortunately, DLSS 4.5 works wonders as usual. Using Performance mode on previous DLSS models wasn't ideal, as ghosting and poor image quality were clear to see. DLSS 4.5's Performance mode, on the other hand, features really sharp image quality that essentially outshines DLSS 4's Quality mode and can be compared to DLSS 4.5's Quality mode.

The downside of DLSS 4.5 is the performance loss (compared to DLSS 4), particularly on RTX 3000 and 2000 series GPUs, but considering how impressive Resonant is visually using ray tracing, it's worth using DLSS 4.5 Performance where possible.

Bear in mind, this demo wasn't using DLSS Frame Generation, and based on early system requirements, Resonant should run great on a wide range of hardware. There will be some systems that can't handle ray tracing or full path tracing, which should be expected, but even without those elements, it's still a very impressive game visually.

There's still plenty left for me to see in Resonant, a sequel that has taken its environments and locations to new levels entirely.

With that being said, I'm anticipating even more highly detailed areas to explore and enjoy using a less powerful but capable RTX 4080 Super for high ray tracing or full path tracing — and I'll certainly be playing when it launches on September 24, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

• A number of Steam Machine clones are now out there
• The latest is the 'Steamroller' from Meta PCs in the US
• While it has strengths over and above Valve's PC, it misses out on some key aspects, notably around its suitability for the living room

As the Steam Machine is now officially shipping — at least to some gamers who have reservations placed and paid for — we're seeing more alternatives to the best gaming PCs for those who haven't been able to secure, or simply aren't tempted by, Valve's latest hardware.

The latest Steam Machine alternative is the Steamroller (nice name) from US-based Meta PCs. Tom's Hardware reports that the Steamroller is a prebuilt featuring an AMD Ryzen 9600X processor, backed with 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a Radeon RX 7600 graphics card (with 8GB of video RAM). There's a 1TB NVMe SSD for storage.

All this is packed into a micro-ATX case (the Jonsbo D32), with a 240mm AIO liquid cooler inside and a 650W power supply (gold rated).

Preorders are open now, with the Steamroller requiring you to part with $1,299 of your hard-earned cash, with units shipping from July 7 (that's about £980 / AU$1,900, although this particular machine is only available in the US).

This certainly looks like a respectable compact build for a gaming PC; however, like all of these Steam Machine alternatives or clones floating around right now, it misses the point of Valve's creation in a few key ways.

Let's look at those — and also, for balance and fairness, the strengths of the Steamroller and similar devices compared to the Steam Machine, because this isn't just a one-way street.

1. Living room suitability

To focus on the looks of a PC may seem superficial, but in the case of the Steam Machine, this is a big part of the appeal. It's an unobtrusive and inconspicuous little cube that sits on your TV stand (or elsewhere), blending in and not drawing attention to itself (or potentially annoying your partner, say, who maybe isn't as keen on gadgets and gaming as you are).

These alternative builds all fall down in terms of not being nearly as subtle as the Steam Machine. The Steamroller (or rather the Jonsbo D32 case) measures 207 x 395 x 314mm. Compare that to the dimensions of the Steam Machine, which are 156 x 152 x 162mm. The difference is a compact cube versus an admittedly small PC, but still, something heftier that looks like a computer rather than a slick gadget that happily nestles near your TV without drawing undue attention to itself.

I think Valve's achievement in keeping the size of the Steam Machine down to this level is pretty remarkable, in fact (albeit it has had an effect on performance, of course).

2. Hot hot heat

Something else Valve has thought a lot about is the thermals of the Steam Machine, again in light of that living room setting — by which I mean the device might be crammed onto a little shelf, or inside a cramped TV cabinet. Valve's engineers have considered this (as explained to Eurogamer), and ensured that the vents and cooling system are designed to mitigate potential issues around positioning.

The likes of micro-ATX cases haven't, of course, been subject to that kind of design thinking (although you could refer back to the above point — meaning they probably wouldn't fit in some of these spaces anyway).

3. Bring the noise

Coming hot on the heels (sorry) of thermals is the noise made by a PC when the graphics card is potentially running at toastier levels under more intense gaming demands. Just as with a console, you don't want your living room gaming PC to assault your eardrums with overly intrusive fan noise (especially if you have the TV volume on low, later at night).

Going by reviews, the Steam Machine is a commendably quiet device, and indeed even better than consoles in this regard (mentioning some names, I was not impressed with the PS4 Pro's noise levels; the PS5 Pro is much better, though). Obviously these alternative prebuilt PCs using desktop-class graphics cards are not going to be as quiet, and exactly what you'll get in terms of noise in taxing games could be, shall we say, undesirable.

4. Console-like experience

Speaking of consoles, another thing Valve has done with the Steam Machine is to ensure that the device provides a really slick living-room gaming experience. For one thing, that means instant sleep and wake functionality. On top of that, you also get HDMI CEC support that allows you to adjust the volume on the PC with your TV remote control (or have the TV set switch on or off automatically with the Steam Machine).

These are really convenient touches that make using the Steam Machine feel a lot more seamless, akin to the major consoles as noted. Of course, you won't get these kind of quality-of-life features with an alternative prebuilt PC. And they are invaluable, frankly, if you want to just jump on for a quick five-minute gaming session here and there.

The other side of the fence

I should clarify that I'm not having a pop at this Steam Machine alternative from Meta PCs. As noted, the Steamroller looks to be a solid build, and certainly a much better idea than, say, attempting to pick up a cheap clone from China (which is a very bad idea in my opinion, in case you were wondering). And it actually has a few advantages over the Steam Machine in certain areas, too.

For starters, the Steamroller offers considerably faster performance for your PC games, mainly due to the beefier (desktop-class) GPU. However, given the asking price, the RX 7600, while certainly an upgrade on the Steam Machine's (discrete but laptop-class) custom RDNA 3 graphics card, feels a touch stingy. Other Steam Machine alternatives have gone with meatier upgrades to the likes of the RX 9060 XT, which will obviously provide even higher frame rates.

The Steamroller is also more flexible in terms of upgrades. You can swap out the GPU in the future, for example, or indeed do anything you can with a typical PC. With the Steam Machine, you can only upgrade the RAM or storage (and even then, a memory upgrade is seemingly annoyingly fiddly).

Those are very real benefits for the Steamroller (and its ilk), obviously, especially the additional performance. But the real point of the Steam Machine is to be a system that takes over living-room gaming, and works in a seamless way in that environment — bringing your existing Steam games library to the big-screen TV, enabling you to play in a more relaxed and convenient couch-based setting. And in that respect, these Steam Machine clones are missing some big parts of the picture.

• Dbrand made a Companion Cube case for the Steam Machine
• It was a tribute to the Companion Cube from Portal, and a popular idea
• Unfortunately, Dbrand went ahead and made this product without any permission from Valve, and so had to withdraw it from sale today

Dbrand has announced that its fancy case for the Steam Machine that made Valve's gaming PC look like a Companion Cube from Portal has been pulled from sale.

Why? Because, rather unfathomably, as Dbrand explained on Reddit, it didn't ask permission from Valve to make and sell this creation.

Dbrand said: "We launched around 3am on Monday, June 22nd. Overnight, it [the Companion Cube case] became the second-fastest selling product in our 15-year history, behind only the Switch 2 Killswitch."

"Shortly after, Valve's legal team reached out. They stated that the Companion Cube is Valve intellectual property, for which Dbrand does not have a license. They requested we take down the product and launch film immediately. This was entirely within their rights, and they were direct, fair, and respectful throughout."

Dbrand complied, while launching an appeal to Valve to see if there was "any way to keep the project alive: properly licensed, with their blessing, on their terms".

The short response was no, although Dbrand concedes: "Given our backwards approach of building first and asking permission later, it was a fair answer."

And that is the story of a $130 hard-shell Steam Machine case ($99 for the 'poverty' version) that was never meant to be. Refunds are being issued today, June 29, 2026, for anyone who ordered a Companion Cube case.

Analysis: permission denied

This whole episode is suitably baffling considering that Dbrand apparently put over a thousand hours of engineering into making the Companion Cube, ensuring the Steam Machine fit into it perfectly, and developing 44 sets of injection-molding tools in the process. Not to mention hiring out a university campus as the set for the launch video.

Dbrand says: "By the end, we were losing money on every $99 Poverty Cube sold, but it didn't matter. This had turned into a passion project for the entire organization."

As you can imagine, there are a lot of bemused (or indeed amused) gamers on the Reddit thread calling Dbrand stupid, which the company freely admits is true. One Redditor says: "You had two jobs! Ask Valve, and make the thing."

Another asks: "How on Earth did you think you would be able to sell this thing without getting permission from Valve...???"

Well, yes. It's a good point. Some argue that Dbrand might have wanted to build up some publicity and show off all the pre-orders to persuade Valve to be more likely to say yes, but that theory falls apart because the company forgot to ask Valve – at all.

Amidst the (rightfully) withering criticisms are more than a few disappointed punters who are actually canceling their Steam Machine (they say) because they won't be able to put the gaming PC in Dbrand's enclosure.

Obviously that's a subjective matter, but I'm not seeing the appeal at all personally. The Companion Cube made the Steam Machine a good deal chunkier (when the idea is that it's a low-profile, unobtrusive living room PC), and while very nicely made by all accounts, it pushed the price up even further. And, despite ventilation obviously being considered in the design, I do wonder about the effect on the Steam Machine's cooling system on a hot day.

Still, those are all moot points now. Dbrand said this one is a "hard lesson to learn publicly," and, indeed, hopefully the company will take it to heart. It's not the first time that a Dbrand product has come off the rails like this, though. You might recall Sony sending a cease-and-desist letter, which canceled Dbrand's 'Darkplates' (faceplates for the PS5) because of the way they replicated a "protected product design". A Darkplates version 2.0 was launched with changes to address this, and it remains on sale today.

When the Darkplates were first revealed by Dbrand, it was with the prescient slogan 'Go ahead, sue us', so you've got to wonder whether this particular lesson taught by Valve is going to stick.

Alright, I'll just outright say it: if you're a manufacturer in 2026, and you decide to ship a product with single-channel memory, you do not care about your customer. I'm sorry, you just don't.

I've heard the excuses, I've had the pre-emptive PR emails telling me "oh well we did it in this product so you can double capacity later if you'd like", followed up with the inevitable "it only matters in some synthetic benchmarks anyway" nonsense, and I'm here to tell you that's the biggest steaming pile of the proverbial I've ever heard.

There's no justifiable way, in my head, that you can look at the paltry savings that you make there, and say "ahh yeah it'll be fine, they can deal with a 40% performance drop on iGPU tasks". You just can't. It doesn't matter if it's an SFF (small form factor) gaming PC or a gaming laptop, it's a disaster.

Take those integrated graphics cards as an example. Those commonly found in small form factor gaming PCs, or some laptops, and things along those lines. Now, the iGPU doesn't have this massive amount of physical PCB that it can inhabit. They're typically baked into the overall CPU chip design, and as a result, instead of utilising its own dedicated pool of VRAM, like an RTX 5080 would as an example, it has to rely on system memory or RAM instead. You know, the same thing that's used by your CPU to handle volatile memory tasks across your entire machine.

For those not in the know, the default assumption for many is that, well, it's fine, if you've got the capacity, it doesn't matter. If you have 32GB of RAM, a good portion of that can go to the system applications, the rest can be used by the iGPU. And although yes, that is technically true, it's not the capacity that's inherently the issue.

With memory, or RAM, you have effectively three (technically four with real-world latency) characteristics that you need to pay attention to, which determine performance.

The best analogy that we have for that is that it's like a motorway or a highway, right? You have speed, which is how fast the cars can travel on that road (data packets in our case). Capacity, how many cars you can fit on that road. And channels, how many lanes you have across each side of that road.

Your speed is MT/s (or MHz, depending on whether you like marketing hype or not). Your capacity is measured in GB, as we know, and bandwidth is a bit of a calculation that you do based off of memory speed and the number of channels that the memory kit has available to it on the platform you're using it on. The more channels, or lanes, the greater the number of cars that can move across it at any one time.

Now modern systems support dual-channel memory by default, with backwards compatibility for a single-channel solution if needed, or if a stick fails. To enable dual-channel, you need to install two individual sticks across two DDR slots in your machine. If you don't, your system will effectively be running single-channel only. For context, two sticks of 16GB DDR5 running at 5,600 MT/s will net you around 89.6 GB/s of theoretical max bandwidth. A single 32GB DDR5 stick running at that same speed halves that at 44.8 GB/s. That's a staggering drop.

Boosting your bandwidth

The issue is that when you have two pieces of hardware vying for the same memory, both trying to utilize that bandwidth (or the highway in our analogy) at the same time, inevitably, you're going to hit a bottleneck where data cannot be transferred fast enough across those channels. And as a result, it slows the entire system down.

In fact, it can be such a huge bottleneck that it can stifle iGPU performance and even some computational tasks by well up to 40% and above. That's average fps, time taken to render a file, compression speed. So many mission-critical applications and use-cases, just hammered by a manufacturer choosing to opt for a single-channel solution instead of dual-channel.

I've seen this too. Earlier this year, I was benchmarking two small iGPU-based gaming PCs, both with a Radeon 890M GPU, one dual channel, one single channel, and both with near-to-identical CPUs (the single-channel boy actually had a better processor with the Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 versus the dual-channel's AI 9 HX 370).

At 1080p in Cyberpunk 2077, the average fps scores were 22 fps on single-channel and 38 fps on the dual-channel machine. Same preset. Same frequency. Same drivers. The works. At higher frame rates, it got even worse: F1: 24, 86 fps on dual-channel, and 30 fps on the single-channel model. The dual-channel machine, too, was generally slower as well, average and max CPU and GPU frequencies were lower, and power draw and temps were practically identical.

The thing that frustrated me most about that particular situation (ignoring the performance) is that nowhere did the manufacturer in question list that it was a single-channel setup; not on the product page, not in the Amazon listing, or even the specs on the side of the box.

It just had the RAM listed as 32GB and called it a day. Even the big flashy product page with all the features and graphics lit up, had it down as 32GB DDR5, "high speed, expandable, with dual-channel support". Even the 3D renders and the exploded view showed off two DDR sticks. Like seriously, yeah, alright, that's technically all true. You're not lying. Congrats.

This isn't something that's isolated to one-off manufacturers either. I've seen it across big brands and names, and products well into the four-digit categories too. It's just staggering to me.

I get it; memory prices are through the roof, the AI onslaught is moving ever upwards, and memory manufacturers can't keep up with that just yet. But seriously, I can't stress enough just how important it is to do your research right now. To make sure the machine you're potentially considering buying has a dual-channel setup. And if it doesn't and you're reliant on that performance, I'm at the point where I'd genuinely recommend you go buy something else instead.

• Valve's Steam Machine has seemingly sold out straight away in Japan
• Reservations are going for up to $3,000 in the US on eBay
• If you're tempted to look at cheap alternatives from Asia given all this, be very cautious around that idea

Given the price of the Steam Machine (and some other wrinkles with the device) it's not surprising that many gamers are looking for alternatives, but you need to be careful in that regard – although you may find it difficult to believe that some people are willing to pay a lot more than the official MSRP for Valve's gaming PC.

Before we come onto the tale of how much scalpers are reselling Steam Machine reservations for, the cautionary development is the likes of what appear to be super-affordable Steam Machine clones being offered over in China.

A prime example posted on Reddit is a white Steam Machine copy which claims to be built around a Ryzen 5 5500 processor with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, alongside an AMD RX 6750 GRE graphics card with a 2TB SSD. This is selling for the equivalent of $688 in China, so compare that to what Valve's charging for the Steam Machine with 2TB of storage: $1,349 in the US.

So, on the face of it, you're looking at not far off half the price for the Chinese clone PC, but there are a fair few weighty caveats attached which I'll come back to in a moment.

Meanwhile, while there are those searching for a bargain alternative to the official Steam Machine, at the other end of the spectrum there are those willing to pay something like double the asking price to secure one of the initial Steam Machine models to roll off the production lines.

As TweakTown noticed, there are people trying to resell their reservations for a Steam Machine on eBay. In case you didn't realize, Valve offered the chance to reserve a spot to purchase its gaming PC (using a randomized lottery system, rather than first-come-first-served), and some successful folks are effectively selling their place in the line.

Some of these auction listings are up for sale at approaching $3,500 over in the US (for the 2TB model), and TweakTown notes there appears to be a confirmed sale at $2,800. It's difficult to believe someone would pay that much, but it's seemingly true (unless the seller is engaging in shenanigans somehow).

On top of that, Notebookcheck.net highlighted another apparent indication of the popularity of the Steam Machine as Valve readies to open pre-orders (for those with a reservation). In actual fact, the device is already on sale in the Asian market, and the PC has already sold out in Japan. Seemingly retailer Komodo Station put the Steam Machine straight onto its shelves (rather than using a reservation system), and the PCs didn't hang about for long before they vanished.

Analysis: reasons to be fearful

There's certainly a level of demand for the Steam Machine, then, although this could, and indeed I'd argue it's likely to be, a reflection of stock levels as much as it is demand. Nonetheless, there are disgruntled gamers over in Japan complaining on social media that they can't get a device.

This is also reflected in the apparent eBay prices for reservations in the US, although there's an important point to note here: most of these haven't sold (yet). In case you were mulling this route, bear in mind that you are placing a lot of trust in the seller to fulfil your order in the end. It's not an approach I'd recommend, and neither is buying a Steam Machine clone from Asia because it seems like a bargain and a half.

What are the dangers of the latter? Well, mainly that you don't really know what you'll be getting. If we take the highlighted example of the Chinese PC on Reddit above, there are some notable red flags with the listing, including that the Ryzen CPU is paired with DDR5 RAM that the platform it runs on (AM4) doesn't support.

On top of that, the RX 6750 GRE is a relatively chunky GPU, as several Redditors point out, and it seems highly unlikely that it'll fit in the chassis which is pictured for the device. What about the thermals, cooling solution, and fan noise, too? I'd be especially worried on those fronts.

Who knows: maybe you'll get a much larger box than the illustrated case, or components that are different to those advertised. I'm not saying this will necessarily be the case with the example product shown, but this is the concern with all of these kinds of offers from Asia, and it's why I'd take a hard pass on any such buying opportunity when it's being shipped outside of China.

Remember, there's the added cost of importing the PC to be considered as well, not to mention that if the device goes wrong or runs overly hot and unstable, then good luck with the returns process. There's also the potential security risks of a PC from an unknown vendor over in China that might be loaded with a dodgy version of SteamOS to trap the unwary.

In short, there are potential pitfalls aplenty, and if you want a more affordable alternative to the Steam Machine – or a living room PC with more performance and bang-for-buck like the so-called 'Stim Machine' – then buy something locally, and from a trusted (national) retailer.

Or just take the DIY path and build your own Steam Machine, which is the other option available to those who are unimpressed with Valve's pricing. Of course, you have to bear in mind that the RAM crisis – which forced up the price of the Steam Machine in the first place – will make this a much trickier endeavor than it would have been a year ago. There are also elements of Valve's PC that a DIY build won't be able to replicate, such as HDMI CEC support.

• Windows 11's Xbox mode uses less RAM than the standard desktop, but doesn't improve game performance
• That's the conclusion based on a battery of tests by a popular YouTube channel
• Gaming performance on Valve's SteamOS is still better, while Microsoft is trying to catch up

Microsoft's push to improve gaming on Windows 11 is still an ongoing process, particularly with its Xbox mode that provides a console-style user interface — but is seemingly not doing much to boost game performance.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, Windows 11's Xbox mode does result in decreased RAM usage compared to the standard desktop, but crucially it doesn't improve actual game performance — or that's the conclusion of recent testing by Linus Tech Tips (LTT).

When testing the likes of Forza Horizon 5 at 1080p with max graphics settings and no upscaling across two PCs with the same specifications, there was no difference in frame rates between the standard desktop and Xbox mode. The same was true at 1440p resolution, and with other games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Doom: The Dark Ages, where LTT found either the same frame rates or a negligible difference.

It's important to note that both PCs in LTT's tests show memory usage at lower levels when using the Xbox mode compared to the standard desktop, but this made no impact on performance.

I should point out that this is just one set of benchmarks, and results will, of course, likely vary depending on the exact tests and system configurations involved. However, LTT's testing here is a strong enough indication of a disappointing overall performance for Windows 11's Xbox mode as it stands.

It's no secret that Valve's SteamOS offers better game performance than Windows 11, with more optimal RAM usage, and it doesn't feature any of the unwanted bloatware that Windows 11 is loaded with. While SteamOS does have its own desktop mode, it's a Linux distro that is built for gaming at heart.

Something is amiss with Xbox mode, it seems, and Microsoft is struggling with optimization here. On top of that, the Xbox mode rollout isn't fully complete, acting as another pain point for Windows 11 users looking for an easy console-like gaming experience.

Frankly, the longer it takes for all users to gain access to Xbox mode, and for performance improvements to be realized, the harder it'll be for Microsoft to catch up with Valve.

While Windows remains by far the dominant OS for PC gamers, if anti-cheat support on Linux improves, that'll spell big trouble for Microsoft with more users likely migrating to SteamOS.

Handheld gaming PCs have come a long way since Valve's Steam Deck launched in 2022, back when the handheld market was still very much in a niche form.

The Steam Deck appealed to so many gamers simply because of its affordability and performance, running both indie and triple-A games with little difficulty (with reasonable graphics settings). The device provided gamers with an easy way to tackle their game libraries when away from their desks.

Unfortunately, the ongoing RAM crisis, combined with other difficult market conditions in 2026, has not only forced Valve to delay the launch of new hardware, but also drastically increased the price of the Steam Deck OLED. That handheld is now $789 / £649 / AU$1,199 and $949 / £779 / AU$1,429 for the 512GB and 1TB models respectively.

We're not focusing on the Steam Deck today, though. Instead, our attention has been grabbed by the new MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, coming straight out of Computex 2026 and delivering exceptional performance across several games we tested. And frankly, it may turn out to be the best handheld of 2026 in terms of raw power and performance, but there's one massive problem – the same one Valve faced with its Steam Deck OLED.

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ price is a joke

While I can happily admit that the Steam Deck OLED isn't worth its new price by a long shot, the cost of that device doesn't even come close to the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ in terms of absurdity.

The Claw 8 EX AI+ will be available at retailers and from the MSI Store priced at $1,799 (around £1,340 / AU$2,540). Yes, you read that right. MSI's new handheld is almost the same price as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 (going by the GPU's MSRP, that is), or to look at it another way, the Claw is the same price as an full desktop gaming PC.

There's no denying how great MSI's new handheld is, especially considering the claims of its Intel G3 Extreme processor being 44% faster at 1080p than the MSI Claw 8 AI+'s Intel Core Ultra 258V. On paper, the only benefit it seems to be missing compared to other upcoming handhelds like the OneXPlayer 3 is an OLED screen.

However, I suppose it's a good thing there's still no OLED panel with this new Claw handheld, as I can only imagine how much more expensive the device would be if that was included. And frankly, the $1,799 price still wouldn't be justified if an OLED panel was part of the picture.

Simply put, it's pretty difficult to imagine anyone who will be willing to spend so much for a device like this when, as noted, you can get a full-blown gaming rig for this money. Okay, it's a handheld packing a lot of power and top quality performance, so it's definitely going to cost more, sure — but pushing close to $2,000? Absolutely not.

It's fair to point out that the RAM crisis has definitely had a part to play in the obscene pricing here, as shortages have put the entire PC market in disarray. Regardless, even with the memory shortage and other problems with PC components, I don't think the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has any business being as costly as it is — and I believe MSI will find that out sooner rather than later.

I also fear that this won't be the only seriously overpriced gaming portable to be winging our way in the future.

• Valve's latest SteamOS beta offers improved compatibility with Intel platforms
• It also sees initial firmware added for incoming Intel G3 Extreme-powered handhelds
• Performance on SteamOS with Intel hardware should improve further with future updates

Handheld gaming is set to reach new heights in 2026 and beyond, with Intel's latest Panther Lake mobile processors providing more power for high-level performance — and Valve has just made life better for Intel-based handhelds.

Valve's SteamOS 3.8.8 beta includes improved hardware support for Intel platforms, additional controller support for MSI Claw devices, and initial firmware for upcoming Intel handhelds. That includes handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, OneXPlayer 3, and the Acer Predator Atlas 8, all of which will use the Intel G3 Extreme processor.

Intel-based handhelds running SteamOS (or Bazzite) aren't anything new. However, performance with Intel hardware on the operating system hasn't been great, with devices like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ delivering worse game performance than Windows 11 — but it's the complete opposite for AMD-powered handhelds on SteamOS compared to Windows 11.

The appeal of SteamOS, besides its ease of use and console-like user interface, is its optimization for gaming in terms of memory usage, which Windows 11 lacks (and still falls behind Valve's SteamOS even with the Xbox Mode).

With that in mind, switching from Windows 11 to SteamOS for worse performance doesn't make much sense, and that's what has kept some owners of Intel-powered handhelds away from the Linux-based operating system.

Full Steam ahead for Intel chips

Fortunately, it's now evident that this is being addressed by Valve, as handheld enthusiast ETA Prime highlights with the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and its fluid performance results in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Horizon.

Functions like sleep mode work as expected, which is great, but navigation and menu options still need updating, and the TDP (power consumption) can only be controlled via a Decky Loader plugin — plus the Steam menu button config needs to be added on Intel handhelds.

Regardless, this is a step in the right direction for these portables, and with more updates from Valve leading up to the launch of the new Intel-powered handhelds, this is definitely something to get excited about for those who don't have AMD-powered hardware.

Computex can always be relied on to deliver some truly inventive custom PC builds, and this year has been no exception.

One of the things I love about being a PC gamer is building my own desktop rig to play on, as the process enables me to optimize the specs to suit my needs and my budget, as well as giving me the chance to get creative. In the past, I've built a Star Wars-themed PC, a compact console-like PC housing an RTX 5090, and much more.

My attempts, however, pale in comparison to those of the professional PC builders and modders who are showing off their creations at Computex, and helping component makers display their products in eye-catching ways. Below I've picked out some of the coolest, and weirdest, custom PCs I've seen on the show floor this year.

Brass Wing Sentinel by Mark's Fabrications

Specs:

• RAM: KLEVV CRAS V RGB DDR5
• Motherboard: ASRock B650E PG-ITX WiFi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
• PSU: FSP Dagger Pro 850W

Entryopy-Core by AK

Specs:

• RAM: KLEVV CRAS V RGB DDR5
• Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
• GPU: Asus TUF Gaming Geforce RTX 5060 OC
• PSU: Lian Li SP0850P
• Water cooling: Bitspower

The Arm by Mark's Fabrications

Specs:

• RAM: Teamgroup XTREEM DDR5 16GB x 2
• Storage: Teamgroup T-FORCE GE PRO GEN5 2TB
• Motherboard: ASRock Phantom Gaming X870E Nova WiFi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
• GPU: Zotac Gaming GeForce RTX 5090 Articstorm AIO
• PSU: FSP MEGA TI MIT 1650W
• Water cooling: Bitspower

Mechanical Chameleon by Modding Cafe

Specs:

• RAM: G.Skill DDR5
• Storage: Lexar Play X 1TB
• Motherboard: Asus ROG Z890
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
• GPU: Palit GeForce RTX 5090 Gamerock
• PSU: FSP Dagger
• Water cooling: Bitspower and Deltamine

The Lab by SamCa Studios

Specs:

• RAM: PNY DDR5 ARGB 32GB
• Storage: PNY CS2340 M.2 Gen4 1TB
• Motherboard: ASRock X870 LiveMixer WiFi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7700
• GPU: PNY GeForce RTX 5060 16GB Limited Edition
• PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower PT 1000W
• Water cooling: Custom Thermaltake

Turbo D by MSCS

Specs:

• RAM: UD858 Dan Da Dan UDIMM
• Storage: AI828 Dan Da Dan
• Motherboard: MSI MEG Z890 Unify-X
• CPU: Intel Ultra 7 265KF

Untitled liquid nitrogen-cooled rocket PC by ShaggySVK

Specs:

• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5
• Motherboard: Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Apex
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
• GPU: PNY GeForce RTX 5060 16GB Limited Edition
• Cooling: ElmorLabs LN2 block prototype

Untitled Matrix-style PC by WMP

Specs:

• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 DDR5
• Motherboard: ASRock Z890I Nova WiFi
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
• GPU: Palit GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GamingPro
• PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower SFX 1000W - TT Premium Edition
• Cooling: Thermal Grizzly

Untitled shark-themed PC by Modding Cafe

Specs:

• RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Royal DDR5
• Storage: Lexar NM790 1TB
• Motherboard: Asus ROG Strix X870-I Gaming WiFi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 9800X3D
• GPU: Palit GeForce RTX 5080
• PSU: FSP Dagger Pro 850W
• Cooling: Bitspower

• Check out our Computex 2026 hub for all the latest news out of Taipei.

Handheld gaming continues to grow year on year, with new hardware entering the fray to improve performance results in games — and with Computex 2026 well underway, it's time for PC enthusiasts to get excited.

There have already been several hardware announcements from the likes of Asus, Acer, OneXPlayer, and more, which means there's plenty for consumers to consider when picking out their next device.

Fortunately, Intel has been hard at work on its Panther Lake processor lineup and has delivered the powerful Arc G3 Extreme, which uses 14 cores and 14 threads and 12 Xe GPU cores, delivering some of the best performance on any handheld gaming PC we've seen thus far. However, it's not all just about power and performance.

Several other manufacturers have taken the time to fine-tune the handheld gaming experience, to improve visual enjoyment, comfort, and more — and here, we'll look at the best handheld gaming PCs that have been unveiled at Computex 2026.

1. MSI Claw 8 EX AI+

MSI has gone back to the drawing board after releasing the Claw 8 AI+ and Claw 7 AI+, and now, unveiled the all-new, powerful handheld, the Claw 8 EX AI+. While the display is effectively untouched, the processor is now the Intel Arc G3 Extreme, a significant step up from the Claw 8 AI+'s Core Ultra 258V.

Intel claims the G3 Extreme is 44% faster than the Core Ultra 258V at 1080p with 2x upscaling (i.e., from 540p), at 35W, and, notably, 42% faster than one of its rival chips, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme.

As a bonus to a monumental performance leap coming from the Core Ultra 200V series is its XeSS 3 upscaling compatibility, alongside Multi-Frame Generation, and access to Windows 11's Xbox Mode. Intel is the latest competitor to join Nvidia in utilizing Multi-Frame Generation technology, as AMD has yet to roll this out for Radeon GPU users.

With XeSS 3 upscaling, Multi-Frame Generation, and an overall raw performance boost, accompanied by better ergonomics for comfort, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ may end up being the best of the bunch among handhelds this year — however, its price could make or break it, especially if the rumored $1,500 figure is legitimate.

2. OneXPlayer 3

One-Netbook certainly isn't a mainstream manufacturer like MSI, but its new OneXPlayer 3 handheld is definitely a strong competitor to the Claw 8 EX AI+, and, on paper, in some cases arguably better.

The OneXPlayer 3 is a 3-in-one handheld gaming PC that supports AI, gaming, and productivity, and features the same Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor found in the Claw 8 EX AI+. However, it outshines MSI's device with a bigger, more immersive 8.8-inch 144Hz OLED display that is both VRR and HDR enabled.

Users have two storage options via microSD and mini SSD, while its battery has a capacity of 85 Wh. That latter might mean the handheld ranks among those with the best and longest-lasting battery life, but we'll need to see how it performs in real-world testing.

Without a doubt, this is a device that will be able to tackle any game thrown at it and provide exceptional visual quality while doing so. There's no information on its launch date nor its price, and yet again, the latter will likely be the defining factor in its potential success.

3. Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20

Doubling down on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X's impressive features, Asus revealed the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 to celebrate the ROG brand's 20th anniversary. More importantly, the X20 comes with a larger 7.4-inch OLED display with 1,400 nits of peak brightness, bundled with the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses.

It's quite clear that Asus has prioritized visual improvements over performance or power, so it's hard to describe this as a 'mid-generation' upgrade, in the same way the Asus ROG Ally X was compared to its non-X counterpart.

The Xbox Ally X20 also features a rotatable D-pad, labeled a 'Transforming D-pad', which should cater to fighting game players when using the handheld, thanks to optimization for diagonal inputs.

The major downside is that Asus isn't currently selling this as a standalone device, and since the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses retail for $849, the bundle will likely be priced at or around $2,000.

4. Acer Predator Atlas 8

Just like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and the OneXPlayer 3, the Acer Predator Atlas 8 is powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme, with power-ready capabilities that can bolster performance in several games for users.

Its design takes after the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X (and the new ROG Xbox Ally X20), just as MSI has, with controller-like handles that cater to comfort for those long gaming sessions. The adjustable triggers on the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld are easily one of my favorite features for any handheld, and fortunately, that's included here with the Atlas 8.

The only missing element is an OLED display for greater immersion, so it sits in a very similar ballpark as the Claw 8 EX AI+, with the only difference being the latter's comfier design.

In the same vein as all of Computex's handheld announcements, the Atlas 8 hinges on its price tag, and based on the current market conditions, thanks to the RAM crisis, it looks like it may be priced well above $1,000. Acer has confirmed that this will launch in October 2026, so price information shouldn't be too far off.

• Asus has revealed the new ROG Xbox Ally X20 handheld at Computex 2026
• It features a bigger 7.4-inch screen and now has an OLED panel
• The handheld will come bundled with the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses

June has certainly kicked off with a bang for gamers, with Summer Game Fest 2026 imminent, and notably, several new hardware announcements at Computex 2026 — and we've spotted one of the best yet.

Asus just announced the new ROG Xbox Ally X20 handheld gaming PC at Computex 2026, serving as an upgrade to the ROG Xbox Ally X. This time, it features a bigger 7.4-inch display and, notably, an OLED panel, rivaling the Lenovo Legion Go 2.

Notably, the ROG XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses are bundled with the ROG Xbox Ally X20, allowing gamers to project their games onto a bigger, more immersive 171-inch micro-OLED 240Hz display with a 0.01ms response time.

The X20 possibly features one of the best displays in terms of brightness, with 1,400-nit peak HDR brightness, 0.2ms response time, and a VESA DisplayHDR 1000 rating. Combined with an anti-reflective coating, which reduces glare by 65%, gaming is made much easier when in bright environments.

Comment from r/Handhelds

Essentially, it sounds like Asus has landed a winner with this handheld, particularly in its specifications, and it has, unsurprisingly, left some consumers excited.

As noted on Reddit, with one user stating it's "almost the perfect handheld for many". However, there is one question among consumers that Asus hasn't answered yet: the ROG Xbox Ally X20's price.

The newly announced MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, using Intel's Arc G3 Extreme processor, is reportedly starting at $1,500 (around £1,120 / AU$2,100), but MSI has yet to confirm this. If the purported price is legitimate, it will effectively spoil any form of excitement built around the device ahead of its eventual launch, and the ROG Xbox Ally X20 could be placed in the same expensive category.

It's also worth noting that the XReal R1 Edition 20 gaming AR glasses already cost $849 / £749 / around AU$1,799 individually, so that likely pushes the bundle's price at or just under $2,000.

Prices for consoles, desktop PC components, and handhelds have skyrocketed to unaffordable levels in 2026 due to the RAM crisis, and the more feature-rich a handheld device sounds coming out of Computex 2026, the more expensive it will be — and the OLED addition for the Ally X20 sounds like the perfect case for a high price.

• The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ uses the new Intel Arc G3 APU, among the first gaming handhelds to use this chip, similarly to the recently unveiled Acer Predator Atlas 8
• This new Intel Arc B370-powered iGPU features support for Multi-Frame Generation through XeSS 3, allowing the hardware to reach higher framerates
• Ergonomically, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has taken cues from the Asus ROG Ally X with its new gamepad-style grips, featuring Hall Effect sticks and RGB lighting

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ has been announced at Computex 2026, billed as the "world's first gaming handheld" to be powered by the Intel Arc G3 processor. It is joined by recently announced competitors, such as the Acer Predator Atlas 8, in leading the charge for the next generation of mobile gaming hardware.

This third-generation MSI Claw gaming handheld features Intel XeSS 3 Multi-Frame Generation, enabled by the latest Intel Arc iGPU standard. Specifically, the Arc G3 is built on the B390 die, with 12 Xe cores, and up to a 30W TDP range.

No MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ pricing has been announced yet; however, it is expected to be a gaming handheld at the premium end of the spectrum. We can gauge a rough estimate by looking at the current-generation MSI Claw 8 AI+, with its cheapest 1TB variant retailing for $899 / £899 and its pricier option (doubling the storage) selling for $1,129 / £999. As such, we expect this new model to follow a similar pricing strategy.

The ergonomics have also drastically changed for the upcoming MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ when compared to the previous-generation MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw A1M. The Taiwanese company has taken notes from the Asus ROG Ally Xbox X with its new controller-style grips, Hall-effect sticks and triggers, as well as a revised D-pad, too.

Xbox Mode looks to be directly rivalling what's featured in its competition. Just as with the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ will feature quick resume functionality and on-the-fly adjustments with the press of a button, and it aims to be as unintrusive as possible when dialing in your settings.

Also new to the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is the addition of haptic motors for vibration when playing. It's described as a "high-end linear motor" that's said to simulate "tactical textures" in a similar vein to what the PS5's DualSense Wireless Controller can do. It appears to be a massive upgrade of the weaker rumble feature found in the two previous-generation models.

Instead of opting for the same usual black or gray colorway of its contemporaries, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ features a purple aesthetic, with red face buttons, RGB lighting around the sticks, and that same solid 120Hz 8-inch VRR display in the center. At a time when the best handheld gaming PCs are iterating on the same design trends from four years ago, it's good to see a degree of innovation implemented here.

How does the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ compare to its predecessors?

How could the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ fare in the 2026 handheld market?

The meteoric rise of Valve's Steam Deck four years ago set into motion a path that would see dozens of different, remarkably similar handhelds hit the market. The majority of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+'s competitors are using either the AMD Z2 Extreme or the older Z1 Extreme, with lesser-known brands going all in with Intel. We've seen this with the OneXPlayer X1 and AOKZOE A2 Ultra, both utilizing the older Intel Core 7 Ultra 155H, and 140V Arc integrated graphics.

As touched upon above, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ is among the first gaming handhelds to use the newly unveiled Intel Arc G3 chipset, although it's not the first to be announced to market.

The Acer Predator Atlas 8 appears to be similar to what's on offer from MSI. It features the same Intel Arc G3 processor, XeSS 3 Multi-Frame Generation, 80 Whr battery, 120Hz display, and Xbox controller-style ergonomics as well. It's never a bad thing to have too many options as a consumer, so time will tell which of these devices is superior and if they have what it takes to dethrone the Steam Deck or ROG Ally.

Fundamentally, the implementation of the vastly more capable B390 die ensures that your games will look better and play smoother than before. That's purely due to true MFG, and XeSS' upscaling tech has caught up massively to what AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS can do in the last two years, as the transition from Alchemist to Battlemage architecture has been truly night and day in terms of performance. We'll have more to share when we go hands-on with the device to deliver a proper verdict.

• Check out our Computex 2026 hub for all the latest news out of Taipei.

• PlayStation is ending single-player PC ports, according to Bloomberg and confirmed by PlayStation boss
• Ghost of Yotei and Saros were likely the next games to be ported onto PC
• Kena: Scars of Kosmora will still be on PS5 and PC, when it launches in 2026

PlayStation's presence on PC has gradually expanded over the years, with its exclusive single-player games arriving on the platform a year or so after launch — but that's now coming to an end.

As reported by VGC, PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst has confirmed that single-player PS5 exclusives won't be coming to PC anymore, according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. This comes after its initial report in March, which is now corroborated via Hulst's internal confirmation to staff.

The most recent exclusives, Ghost of Yotei and Saros, were heavily rumored and expected to be ported to PC, particularly the former, following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, which was released on PC three years after its console debut.

Unfortunately, that's not happening anymore, marking the end of an era when many of PlayStation's blockbuster titles were available on Steam and Epic Games. One title, Kena: Scars of Kosmora, is still scheduled for launch on PC in 2026, and that's only because Ember Lab isn't a first-party PlayStation studio, but Sony is responsible as its publisher.

Bloomberg also stated that PlayStation believes PC ports risk damaging the 'console's brand' and the sales of the PS5. However, it feels as though Sony has taken two steps backwards, as this hurts consumers more than it benefits them.

The staggered release system that would see exclusives arrive on PC at least one year later was good for consumers who were either exclusively on PC or owned a PS5 console, whilst also on PC, with the freedom of playing at launch or patiently waiting for a better version in terms of graphics and performance.

It's an understandable move from PlayStation in a financial aspect, especially since a continuation of PC releases would actually benefit Valve's upcoming Steam Machine — which is poised to be a direct rival in the console space as a console-like PC.

While this stance can change again in the future, it's highly unlikely at this rate, especially if the rumors of Project Helix (the next Xbox console) will be able to run Steam, effectively acting as a PC, as that would mean Sony would be lending its exclusives over to rivals in both Valve and Microsoft.

• A PC modder just built a room-sized gaming PC, fit with an air conditioner and a sauna
• The gaming PC has hardware components larger than a human
• The RAM sticks are props that are estimated to be 18,000GB of RAM each

Gaming PC builds come in all different shapes and sizes, either targeting improved airflow and temperatures or prioritizing desktop space — but this one takes the cake.

As reported by VideoCardz, a modder known as Soda Baka on Bilibili, has built a gaming PC the size of a room, with gigantic fans, a large GPU, CPU, and an AIO cooler. These are accompanied by an air conditioning unit to help control room temperatures and a literal 12,000W sauna with added water to help simulate the heat of a regular-sized gaming PC.

It's worth noting that the RAM sticks in this build are only props, and that's no surprise, since the estimated capacity based on their scale is 18,000GB of RAM each. That would already cost a fortune on its own, but we're in the middle of a RAM crisis, so I couldn't even imagine how costly each RAM stick would be.

Baka's project is easily one of the most ludicrous PC building projects out there, and has almost no real-world use case, as I struggle to imagine anybody has the resources readily available — or better yet, any reason to build a system like this, but it's great for aesthetics.

It's quite an amusing solution to summer heat (minus the sauna), with a significant amount of room for a gaming PC's operation and the addition of an air conditioning unit.

However, in a more practical and reasonable use case to help keep temperatures cool, it's best to simply invest in an AIO water cooler for the CPU, and look toward undervolting the GPU where possible. I've done exactly that with my main gaming PC build, and temperatures for both my RTX 4080 Super and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D — and both max out at 65 degrees Celsius.

That's easily achievable, without building a room-sized gaming PC, but again, it is a perfect themed environment for any gamer.

• Microsoft has finally begun its Xbox Mode rollout for Windows 11 desktop PC users
• Microsoft has also made Auto SR upscaling available for Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Xbox Insiders
• The rollout comes amid Valve's updates on SteamOS in preparation for the Steam Machine

Microsoft is only just getting started with its plans to revitalize gaming for both desktop PC and handheld users, with Windows project K2 set to improve the operating system — but that's not all.

Xbox Mode is now being rolled out on desktop PCs, as announced by Microsoft via Xbox Wire as of the latest April 30 Windows update. This is what some Windows 11 users may have been familiar with as Full Screen Experience, which has been available since November 2025 for Xbox Insiders.

It's also worth noting that Microsoft is also introducing its new Auto SR preview for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X Xbox Insiders, which is a new addition to Xbox Mode that can be enabled via Game Bar. Auto SR serves as Microsoft's version of upscaling (similar to Nvidia's DLSS or AMD's FSR), rendering games at lower internal resolutions to improve frame rates and upscaling them for sharper image quality.

More importantly, though, Xbox Mode is effectively Microsoft's SteamOS equivalent, allowing gamers to launch and play games in one menu, while disabling unnecessary background processes to provide more RAM for games. It's a handy version of Windows 11 that streamlines the gaming experience, while Microsoft continues with its effort to further optimize the operating system for gamers.

Once fully rolled out, users can enable Xbox Mode by entering Settings > Gaming > Full Screen Experience and setting the home app to 'Xbox', and this should enable Xbox Mode, which can be toggled via Game Bar or the Task View.

There's no word on Auto SR coming to desktop PCs just yet, specifically because it's designed for the docked play on the Ally X, but it's too early to rule out its chance of becoming a tool for desktop PC gamers.

It's the right time for Microsoft to make this move, since Valve's SteamOS is on the verge of seeing significant improvements for more desktop PCs via updates for the upcoming Steam Machine — and while there's still a long way to go for Xbox Mode to go in competing, it's ideal for users like myself who aren't quite ready to make the full switch to Linux.

I am a PC builder. There, I said it. I don't feel like one yet — but the facts are undeniable. I built a PC.

Okay, so I had some help along the way, but now that I've crafted my own gaming rig for the latest season of TechRadar's AI Planned It video series, I can hold my head high among the experienced builders on the team.

And make no mistake, building your first PC can be incredibly overwhelming; for me, a clutzy, anxious, and miserly gamer, the stress of it was tantamount to open-heart surgery.

The secret sauce in the equation to help me overcome my fears was ChatGPT, which, alongside Google's Gemini, helped me pick my components — as demonstrated in our previous video.

The more risky (and potentially costly) stage of the experiment, of course, was actually putting the thing together — and that process taught me a lot about both PCs and optimizing LLM usage.

So, here's how I did it, including the specific instructions ChatGPT gave me for my PC build, plus my thoughts on what worked and what did. Hopefully they'll be helpful to others — and please do share your thoughts in the comments below.

I-I-I hallucinate when you call my name

I've already shared the prompt I used to train up Gemini and ChatGPT for this project, so be sure to give that a read for some extra context.

As far as the building stage went, my principal concern with using ChatGPT was that it might hallucinate different parts or outdated configurations. My experiences in the first stage of the experiment, in which it shared outdated information on a couple of occasions, did nothing to reassure me.

So, at the very start, I doubled down and reminded it of my configuration via the below prompt:

The prompt: Simply copy and paste the full block of text into ChatGPT or Gemini, replacing my components with yours.

Ok, I've ordered my parts, and they're on their way. To confirm these are the products I purchased:

• AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (6-Core)
• Radeon RX 9070 XT (16GB)
• ASUS Prime B650M-A WiFi II
• 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30 EXPO
• 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
• Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black
• be quiet! Pure Power 13 M 750W
• Fractal Design North Charcoal (mesh side panels)

Can you now provide me with detailed, step-by-step building instructions as well as any tools I will need to do so. Please feel free to ask follow-up questions before providing your final list.

The first signs of trouble

Initially, ChatGPT took the word "detailed" and really rolled with it, presenting me with reams of instructions. In doing so, it made it pretty hard to follow as a first-timer, especially due to its excessive use of (often unnecessary) jargon.

While I had the benefit of building the PC alongside TechRadar's resident computing expert, Matt Hanson, I wanted as much as possible to emulate what someone trying this at home might experience. So, I reminded ChatGPT I was a beginner and it came back with the below instructions:

ChatGPT PC building instructions

[Note: Be warned — these are long, and while there are few total inaccuracies, they can be non-specific in nature. Proceed with caution if you plan to follow these steps!]

Step 1: Open the case

Take both side panels off the Fractal North case. Put the case to one side and find the little box or bag of screws that came with it.

Step 2: Put the motherboard on its box

Take the motherboard out and place it on top of its cardboard box. That gives you a safe surface to work on.

Step 3: Install the CPU

Find the large square area in the middle of the motherboard. That is where the CPU goes.You will see a small metal arm next to it.

Do this:

• Push the arm slightly down and away
• Lift it up
• A metal frame will open

Now take the CPU out of its box.

Important:

• Hold it by the edges
• Do not touch the bottom

Look for a tiny gold triangle on one corner of the CPU. Look for the matching triangle on the motherboard socket. Line those triangles up, then gently place the CPU into the socket. Do not press down.

If it is lined up properly, it will sit in place on its own.

Then, lower the metal frame and push the arm back down into place. That part can feel a bit stiff. That is normal.

Step 4: Install the SSD

The SSD is the slim storage stick. Find the SSD slot on the motherboard. It is a flat slot, usually with a small screw or cover.

Do this:

• Remove the small cover or screw if there is one
• Slide the SSD into the slot at a slight angle
• Push it in gently
• Press it down flat
• Put the screw back in, or close the latch if your board uses one

If there is a little heat cover with a soft pad underneath it, make sure any plastic film is removed before putting it back.

Step 5: Install the RAM

You have 2 RAM sticks. They go into the long slots next to the CPU.

For your board, use the second and fourth slots from the CPU.

Do this:

• Open the clips on those two slots
• Line up the notch on the RAM stick with the slot
• Press firmly straight down until it clicks in

You may need more force than you expect. If it is not fully clicked in, the PC may not start later.

Step 6: Install the cooler

Your cooler is the Thermalright Phantom Spirit. This is the hardest part for most beginners, so take it slowly.

First, look in the cooler box for the AM5 mounting parts. Use the cooler manual beside you while doing this step

The short version is:

• Remove the two black plastic brackets already around the CPU area on the motherboard
• Keep the metal plate on the back of the motherboard in place
• Attach the cooler’s own mounting pieces
• Put a small dot of thermal paste on the middle of the CPU if it is not already on the cooler
• Place the cooler on top
• Tighten the screws a little at a time, alternating sides

Important: Do not overtighten, the cooler fan should blow air toward the back of the case

Then plug the cooler fan cable into the motherboard header labeled CPU_FAN

That just means “CPU fan.”

Step 7: Put the motherboard into the case

Now move the case back onto the table. Check that the little metal screw posts inside the case line up with the holes in the motherboard.

Then:

• Lower the motherboard into the case
• Make sure the back ports fit through the rectangular hole at the back
• Screw the motherboard into place
• Tighten the screws until snug, not super hard.

Step 8: Install the power supply

The power supply goes at the bottom of the case.

Put it in with its fan facing toward the vented side of the case.

Then screw it in place from the back.

Now take out these cables from the PSU box:

• The big 24-pin motherboard cable
• The 8-pin CPU cable
• The graphics card power cable(s)

Step 9: Connect power to the motherboard

There are two main power plugs for the motherboard.

First one: The big wide connector on the right side of the motherboard. Plug the 24-pin cable into that.

Second one: Near the top-left of the motherboard. Plug the 8-pin CPU cable into that. Push both in until they click.

Step 10: Connect the case cables

This is the fiddly bit. The case has small cables coming from the front of it. These connect the front buttons and ports.

These include:

• Power button
• USB ports on the front
• Headphone jack on the front

Use the motherboard manual for the exact pin diagram.

For a beginner, the most important one is the power button cable. Without that, pressing the case button won’t do anything.

The tiny front-button cables are the most annoying part of the build. That is normal.

Step 11: Put in the graphics card

The graphics card is the biggest part after the motherboard.

Do this:

• Remove the metal slot covers at the back of the case where the card will stick out
• Find the top long slot on the motherboard
• Push the graphics card straight into that slot until it clicks
• Screw it to the case

If the card came with a support bracket, use it.

Step 12: Connect power to the graphics card

Your graphics card also needs power from the PSU.

Use the correct graphics card power cable from the PSU box and plug it firmly into the graphics card.

Make sure it is fully in. This is important.

Step 13: Tidy the cables

Before turning the PC on:

• Move loose cables away from fans
• Put extra cable length behind the motherboard tray if you can
• Use cable ties if needed

It does not need to look perfect. It just needs to be safe and not block fans.

Step 14: First startup

Now connect:

• Monitor to the graphics card
• Keyboard
• Power cable to the PC

Very important: Plug the monitor into the graphics card, not into the motherboard.

Then, turn the switch on at the back of the power supply and press the case power button

The PC may take a little time the first time it starts. That is normal.

What you should expect

A good first boot often looks like this:

• Fans start spinning
• Lights come on
• Screen stays black for a short while
• Then the motherboard logo appears

That first startup can be slower than later ones.

If it does not turn on

Check these first:

• Is the switch on at the back of the PSU turned on?
• Is the big 24-pin cable fully plugged in?
• Is the 8-pin CPU cable fully plugged in?
• Is the RAM fully clicked in?
• Is the monitor plugged into the graphics card?
• Is the graphics card power cable plugged in properly?

Step 15: Go into the BIOS

When it first starts, tap the Delete key on the keyboard again and again.

That opens the motherboard settings screen.

Once you are in there, check:

• CPU is showing up
• 32GB of RAM is showing up
• SSD is showing up

Step 16: Turn on EXPO

This is a simple setting that makes your RAM run at the speed you paid for.

Find the setting called EXPO and turn it on. Then save and restart.

You do not need to understand the deep details. Just know that this is a normal thing to enable for your RAM.

Step 17: Install Windows

You will need a USB stick with Windows on it.

Plug it in, restart the PC, and follow the instructions on screen.

Install Windows onto your 2TB SSD.

Step 18: Install drivers

Once Windows is running, install:

• AMD motherboard chipset drivers
• AMD graphics drivers
• Windows updates

This makes everything work properly.

Blimey... so how's your index finger after that scroll-fest?

IT'S ALIIIIIIIIIVE

For the full, unfiltered trauma I experienced when following these instructions, you'll have to watch the full episode on TechRadar's YouTube channel. The long and short of it, though, is that barring one or two missteps where ChatGPT encouraged us to do a step too early or wasn't clear enough on its instructions, the steps were broadly correct.

That being said, it hit me a few times with a generic "just use the manual" tip. In an ideal world, it would search for those instructions and be a true assistive companion, but ultimately, for a fair chunk of this process, I ended up looking at the respective components' printed/online guidance.

I don't mind that too much, and should have probably guessed that'd be the case — particularly given that I'd asked ChatGPT to return such a long-form result. Setting aside the lofty ease-of-use promises made by AI evangelists in the years since LLM technology began its rapid ascent to mass adoption, ChatGPT itself advised that I should instead "message and I’ll guide you one stage at a time." Granted, that tip was at the end of its building instructions and I was by then elbow-deep in cables, but I do respect that it made the suggestion.

In the end, I did actually take it up on this offer, though not for the main building process; that would have been a nightmare while also trying to film, present and take notes on the day, which was hard enough by itself.

Instead, when I later had major issues troubleshooting a problematic bootable Windows drive, ChatGPT was there to help in real-time, both by message and through photos of the interface to help me navigate jargon-y menus.

You'll have to watch the full AI Planned It series to know exactly what went right and wrong in our experiment, but to cut to the chase, yes, the PC works and no fires were started in the process.

That said, I did have the aforementioned computing expert Matt Hanson on hand to fact-check and sanity-test ChatGPT's building instructions, which proved invaluable to stop us from making dumb rookie mistakes that the AI was ignorant of.

My big takeaway? If you try to place all the onus on AI, you're more likely to make a mistake than you are if you instead watch a few videos, read the documentation and learn for yourself.

However, it can be a fantastic companion for troubleshooting, researching and finding information written by experts; just moderate your usage if you care about its environmental impact, how its prosumer rollout leads to job losses, and perhaps most crucially, its impact on critical thinking.

Watch the full episode of TechRadar's AI Planned It below!

You can check out the top recommended builds for both ChatGPT and Gemini, and if you subscribe to our YouTube channel, you'll get so see what we let AI plan next.

I've been putting off building my first PC for years. Despite having grown up surrounded by home servers, custom builds, and more cable ties than any sane person could ever use, it's been a bucket list entry I've found so intimidating that I've happily procrastinated even making the first steps of researching how all of the pieces come together.

So when I was given the chance to build my own rig for our latest season of AI Planned It, I leapt at the chance, but the jury's still out on whether that was the best or worst choice I've made in my career so far. Three weeks, two chatbots and two 20-minute videos to produce; what could possibly go wrong.

Spoiler: everything.

How do you solve a problem like a RAM crisis?

In case you missed it, PC building hasn't been a particularly fun hobby for a few years now, especially if you're budget-conscious. Between chip shortages, RAM shortages and near-endless supply-demand issues, there are far more hurdles before you reach the promised land of lag-free AAA gaming.

If you're a first-timer like me, that can make the already-daunting task of learning what a PCIe slot is or which of the five million fan connectors your cooler needs to be connected to so much worse. Enter AI.

For this project, I turned to two of the most popular general-use LLMs, ChatGPT and Gemini, to find out how confidently I could use the tools to help my build my first PC. The first step was to set the scene with both chatbots, explaining their role in helping me upgrade my rig:

The prompt: Simply copy and paste the full block of text into ChatGPT or Gemini, and then respond to the queries each asks you. Your responses will naturally vary from mine, so scroll down to find the questionaire's I personally answered for each chatbot below.

You will be acting as an experienced computer technician to help first-time PC builders pick parts and build their own desktop gaming computer, using a combination of real-time market insight, cost vs. value, performance, compatibility and other general pros and cons. You will tailor your recommendations based around specific needs and use cases, asking follow-up questions if there is any ambiguity or in situations where several options present similar issues or benefits.

Here is a suggested workflow:

Begin by surveying user needs. This should include questions around practical considerations like budget and compatibility but also personal preferences; what kinds of games they enjoy and their expected benchmarks for those games, aesthetics and the like. Ask follow-up questions on areas that may lead to ambiguity in your reasoning, if necessary.

Provide three build options (the same components can appear in multiple configurations) including all of the key components (Motherboard, RAM, storage, CPU, GPU, cooling, power supply, case etc.) as well as a short justification behind your decisions.

These parts must all be compatible with others in the same build option

Factor in the lifespan of components and flag where a part may need replacing sooner than others.

Apply thorough reasoning to the cost and value of components – if a part is outdated or overpriced, it isn’t always the best option.

Where there’s a trade-off or a concession on a part to ensure balance between cost and benefits, explain that trade-off thoroughly.

Only suggest products that you can find in stock at reputable retailers.

Help the user choose a final option, and then discuss refinements where relevant.

Once the customer has received their parts you will give specific build instructions based on the components they are using.

Refine your search

In my personal experience, ChatGPT was the most effective at considering my needs from the get-go, and while its questionnaire included a couple more technical terms than I'd like to unpack as a first-timer, I found it covered most bases pretty well.

Gemini, on the other hand, asked me fewer questions but kept them more beginner-friendly; I'd be interested to know in the comments below if any readers found the same patterns between the two!

Below, I've shared the two questionnaires provided by the LLMs if you'd rather lift these for your own usage than get a fresh set.

ChatGPT PC building questionnaire: Simply copy and paste the full block of text, and then respond to the queries each asks you.

1. Your total budget – Please include your country too, since prices and stock vary a lot by region.

2. What’s included in that budget – Do you need just the tower, or also monitor, keyboard, mouse, headset, Windows license, etc.?

3. What games do you play most – Examples: Warzone, Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, Minecraft with shaders, Valorant, Elden Ring, Cities: Skylines II, modded Skyrim, etc.

4. Your target resolution and performance

• For example:
  • 1080p high refresh
  • 1440p high/ultra
  • 4K
  • target FPS like 60 / 120 / 144 / 240

5. Do you care about ray tracing, DLSS, FSR, or frame generation. This matters a lot for GPU choice.

6. Any non-gaming uses – Streaming, video editing, music production, coding, 3D work, AI workloads, school/work multitasking, etc.

7. Size and aesthetics preferences

• Examples:
  • black or white
  • RGB or no RGB
  • compact, mid-tower, or no size preference
  • quiet build vs max airflow
  • glass side panel or plain case

8. Connectivity needs – Do you need Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, lots of USB ports, front USB-C, specific audio needs, multiple SSD slots, etc.?

9. Upgrade philosophy – Would you rather maximize performance right now, even if upgrade path is weaker, keep a stronger platform for future CPU/GPU upgrades or split the difference

10. Any brands or parts you want or want to avoid – For example AMD vs Intel, NVIDIA vs AMD, air cooling vs liquid cooling.

11. Are you buying new only, or open to used/refurbished for some parts (Especially GPU, where used can change value a lot.)

Gemini PC building questionnaire: Simply copy and paste the full block of text, and then respond to the queries each asks you.

1. The Budget –What is your total budget for the tower itself? (Excluding monitor, keyboard, and mouse). Do you also need recommendations for peripherals? If so, let me know if those have a separate budget.

2. Performance Goals & Resolution – what resolution are you planning to play at? (1080p, 1440p, or 4K?), what is your target refresh rate? (e.g., "I want a steady 60 FPS in cinematic games" or "I need 240+ FPS for competitive shooters.")

3. Your "Gaming Library" – Which games do you play most? (e.g., Heavy AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or GTA VI; competitive titles like Valorant or Apex Legends; or simulation games like Microsoft Flight Simulator?)

4. Aesthetics & Form Factor – What do you want the PC to look like? (e.g., "All-black stealth," "Total RGB light show," or "Clean white build."). Size constraints? Do you want a standard Mid-Tower, or are you looking for something small (ITX) to fit on a cramped desk?

5. Beyond Gaming – Will you be using this for anything else? (e.g., Streaming on Twitch, 4K video editing, 3D rendering, or AI development?)

6. Location – What country are you shopping in? (Pricing and availability in the US vary significantly from the UK, EU, or Australia.)

Refine your search

If you're curious to know how Gemini and ChatGPT landed on their respective recommendations (which you can check out here), you can find below the answers I gave to ChatGPT. I sent both chatbots the same general responses, though I removed details that Gemini didn't ask me for in the name of science:

My responses: If you like the look of my new PC, here's what I told ChatGPT to get those top recommendations.

1. Total budget - £1500, shopping in the UK. I have some budget flexibility (+/- £200) but £1500 is my ideal.

2. What's included in that budget - no need to budget for peripherals or software.

3. What games do you play most - I mostly play AAA titles, with games like Baldur's Gate, Cyberpunk 2077 and Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 in current rotation. I'd like some degree of future-proofing for this class of games.

4. Target resolution and performance - ideally 4K but definitely 1440p with steady 60fps refresh rate.

5. Ray tracing / DLSS / FSR / Frame generation - I'd love these, but it's not an absolute deal-breaker due to budget constrictions.

6. Non-gaming use - I'd like to be able to use it for some creative tasks like video and photo editing but I don't often have heavy loads here.

7. Size and aesthetics preferences: My home aesthetic is industrial loft-style so something that has minimalism but also that svelte design language. I like the idea of having some lighting, but not overbearing. Smaller build would be preferable but is not a deal-breaker, I'd be happy with a standard mid-tower.

8. Connectivity needs - A good number of ports for peripherals (and a mix of USB-C and USB) and Wi-Fi. I will take your lead on if I need (and can afford...) multiple SSD slots.

9. Upgrade philosophy - split the difference

10. Any brands or parts you want or want to avoid - nope, just whatever works best for my budget and compatibility

11. Are you buying new only, or open to used/refurbished for some parts
Especially GPU, where used can change value a lot. - I’m open to used/refurbished

Can ChatGPT and Gemini build a good PC?

OK, so you know now what ChatGPT, Gemini and I discussed, but what about the results?

You'll have to watch the full AI Planned It series to know the ins and outs of our experiment, but to cut to the chase; yes, AI can help you build a PC... but it can't do it all for you, and the journey to get there is riddled with so much anxiety that you may well decide to can it altogether; I nearly did!

I worked with TechRadar's resident computing expert, Matt Hanson, to fact-check and sanity-test both ChatGPT and Gemini's instructions, and while we were pleased and impressed to see that all of the components selected were compatible with one another, the experience was marred by sycophantic shopping and terrible market knowledge.

It's fair to say I'm no AI evangelist; I believe in its usefulness in industries like tech and science to tackle complex research and analysis as well as to fill in some gaps in critical infrastructures. Its use cases at scale to improve our quality of life, health and wellbeing are phenomenal; but I'm still really uncomfortable with its environmental impact how its prosumer rollout leads to job losses, and perhaps most crucially, its impact on critical thinking.

Watch the full episode of TechRadar's AI Planned It below!

Besides all that, I think there are a lot of tasks where human interaction is far more valuable, and for me, that includes interests like PC building which are more tactile in nature. The cracks really began to show when I asked both chatbots to find live links and pricing estimation, and this is where I'd suggest you stop following my example. ChatGPT fared much better than Gemini (which linked me to a toupee?) but even then, neither LLM was capable of scraping the internet to find the absolute-best, live pricing.

Both struggled to stay on-task, and having realised they couldn't meet the originally quoted build price kept tweaking their responses without offering me the abundant clarity I would expect as a consumer, so I ended up having to do a lot of model name checking and searching of my own.

Perhaps that's no bad thing; I don't love the idea of a machine deciding where I spend my money, and it was hard enough to concede to ChatGPT and Gemini on what I should spend it on. That being said, I'm comforted, somewhat, by the fact that ultimately, I leaned far more on my friend and colleague for advice than AI, with a whole lot of legwork cut out by using it as a research tool.

You can check out the top recommended builds for both ChatGPT and Gemini, and if you subscribe to our YouTube channel you'll also find out in the next episode how well ChatGPT instructed us on building the PC itself.

ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000: TWO-MINUTE REVIEW

This is a larger-than-life PC with a price tag to match. Its 67-liter chassis, RGB fans, and bicep-testing weight give it a premium look and feel that is sure to turn heads. This also gives it a huge amount of room to circulate cold air and, thanks to the liquid-cooled radiator, the unlocked Intel CPU has enough headroom for extra performance without jet-like fan noise.

In our testing, the combination of the Nvidia RTX 5080 and Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF worked in tandem to handle everything we could throw at it: Cyberpunk 2077 looked completely movie-like with no framerate bottlenecks, while Crimson Desert’s megabudget effects were astonishing.

Likewise, it handled 4K video editing in Premiere Pro and complicated motion tracking in After Effects without slowdowns. If you’re looking for something for both work and play (depending on your job), this could well be a perfect fit.

A nice touch is the hot-swap NVME bay on top of the machine, which means you can expand the storage without opening up the case. But when you do feel the need to upgrade, there are a couple of unoccupied RAM slots ready and waiting.

It’s costly, but that is an inevitability in hardware at the moment. However, it’s one of the best ways to get an eye-boggling 4K gaming experience out of the box.

ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

• How much does it cost? Starts at £3,299 (UK), $4,999 (US), $6,999 (AU)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the UK, US, and Australia

Our review build retails at £3,299, but it stretches all the way up to a £5,299 version with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, 32GB RTX 5090, 64 GB DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD — which is starting to get into 8K gaming territory.

As well as the components, you’re also paying for a decent chassis. Acer has made the Orion 7000 feel cohesive while inviting upgrades — and although you might not need them for a little while, those extra RAM and SSD slots will come in handy when prices finally tumble in the year 2176.

The closest comparison that we’ve reviewed recently is the Corsair One i500, which packs similar liquid-cooled componentry and gaming performance into a wood-finished case. The Orion 7000 is a more conventional design, screaming for attention, while Corsair’s One i500 issues a more sophisticated invitation.

While there are lots of models available in the UK via Acer itself and Currys, in other countries the choice is more limited. In the USA, you can only get the Predator Orion 7000 direct from Acer for $4,999 – but this build packs an Ultra 9 285K processor and 64GB DDR5 RAM. In Australia, the RAM is pared back to 32GB and the price pumped up to $6,999 AU.

• Value: 4 / 5

ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000: SPECS

ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000: DESIGN

• A huge, heavy PC
• Tweakable aesthetics via software
• Handy NVME drive bay

You know you’re in for a good time when a PC is so heavy that it arrives in a wheeled crate. The reason for this back-breaking 40lb (18kg) weight? First up, the case, which has a solid build quality and thick, magnetically shielded glass panels. There’s none of the flex or lightness of cheaper chassis: it feels like you could stand and possibly even jump on it (not that we tried).

Within lurks a water-cooled CPU heatsink, a triple-fanned RTX card, and a 1200W PSU, none of which are known for their lightness. At 19.1 x 8.6 x 19.9 in (485 x 219 x 504.8 mm), it’s absolutely humongous, too, with the water-cooled radiator and its RGB fans adding a little extra to the height over the otherwise similar Orion 5000 Rob reviewed.

The Predator Orion 7000 matches its monolithic form factor with eye-catching looks. The glowing Predator “shield” on the front panel makes it look like Sauron’s shoebox, but from the side its aggregation of liquid-cooling pipes and LED fans give it a hydroponic feeling.

The colors of the fans (adjustable via Predatorsense software) can make the unit feel pumped-up and aggressive or calm and quiet, which speaks to a thoughtful design.

A neat little touch here is a hot-swap USB-C M.2 NVMe bay that pulls out of the top of the machine. Add an SSD, and you’ve got extra, portable storage for those 200GB-plus game installs – and computing has gone back to the cartridge days of the 90s. The top panel also includes headphone, mic, and USB ports for quick and easy access.

• Design: 4 / 5

ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000: PERFORMANCE

• Massive performance uplift
• Handles 4K gaming without problems
• Powers through draining creative tasks

While Rob described the Orion 5000 as “not outrageous,” the Orion 7000 pushes things very much into outrageous territory. The componentry shift only seems minor: from an Nvidia RTX 5070 to an RTX 5080, and from an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F to a 265KF. That’s a difference of 10 and an extra K.

But in the world of gaming, this is a huge leap in performance. 3D Mark’s Port Royal benchmark, which tests ray tracing abilities, delivered a 53% leap in performance. Cyberpunk 2077, in ultra settings (albeit at 1080p) went from 95fps on the 5000 to 161fps on the 7000. It’s proof that Nvidia really has put its money where its mouth is with the RTX 5080 — and the difference between gaming at 1440p and 4K.

That “K” in the CPU moniker stands for “unlocKed,” which means that Acer is able to push the Core Ultra 7’s further than stock settings, enabling higher clock rates and power draw. Add in the water-cooled heatsink, and you can eke out a lot more performance from Intel’s Arrow Lake chip: Geekbench 6’s score for intensive computing tasks increased by 50% over the Orion 5000, while Cinebench R23 multi-core scores saw a massive 60.5% uplift.

In reality, this means that the Orion 7000 can handle just about anything you can throw at it in 4K. Cyberpunk 2077 and Crimson Desert both looked utterly breathtaking in their intricate ray-traced details: the wind rushing through the trees, the atmospheric hazing on the horizon, the major globules of spilt blood. It also wasn’t phased at all by huge 4K Premiere Pro video editing tasks and motion tracking in After Effects, and that SSD drive is equally handy for large files.

The most pro of gamers may be put off by Acer’s PredatorSense software and system noise, but if you want your gaming big-scale, cinematic, and console-killing, this is the PC to go for.

• Performance: 5 / 5

SHOULD I BUY THE ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000?

Buy the Acer Predator Orion 7000 if...

Don’t buy the Acer Predator Orion 7000 if...

ALSO CONSIDER

HOW I TESTED THE ACER PREDATOR ORION 7000

I spent one full week testing the Orion 7000 as my primary workstation and gaming rig. I tested use cases ranging from 4K video editing in Premiere Pro to intensive 4K ray-traced gaming in Cyberpunk 2077. I used suites such as 3DMark and Cinebench R23 to verify clock speeds and see how it shaped up against other PCs.

First reviewed March 2026

• One Redditor built a PC chassis out of Lego bricks
• The computer houses a repurposed cryptocurrency mining rig
• It incorporates a monitor and built-in keyboard, too

Computing enthusiasts can be a creative bunch, with PC builders cooking up intriguing custom rigs built to all sorts of interesting specifications. But few have crafted a gaming desktop out of Lego pieces, as one intrepid Redditor did — and it could redefine what we understand by the term “Smart Bricks.”

Posting to Reddit, user OkDebate6649 documented their attempt at building a working gaming PC housed entirely inside a Lego brick chassis. The computer has been “designed in a modular way,” its creator explained, “so it can be used with monitors I made before” and includes a display and built-in keyboard.

The device is centered on an AMD BC-250 motherboard. These products were originally designed for cryptocurrency mining and feature what is essentially a cut-down PlayStation 5 APU that comprises six Zen 2 CPU cores, 24 RDNA2 Compute Units in the GPU, and 16GB of memory.

Its performance is roughly akin to that of an Nvidia GTX 1660 Ti graphics card, making it suitable for 1080p gaming at medium to high settings. “It’s not a very powerful PC,” OkDebate6649 conceded, before adding that “it runs stably at around 75°C (45°C idle).”

It’s far from the beefiest gaming PC around today. But when it looks as cool as this, I’m sure many people wouldn’t mind. Indeed, the Reddit comments are full of enthusiastic admirers, with people calling it “ridiculously wild” and an “absolutely sick build.” User Lorenzo_95 was effusive in their praise, saying: “I’m afraid you have to stop posting, you’re too cool, it’s unfair on the rest of us.”

Runs on Linux, looks like a Mac

Interestingly, if you want to use this motherboard in a computer as OkDebate6649 did, you need to run your system on Linux, as the board is not compatible with Windows 11. And it seems that the Redditor leaned into the anti-Windows direction by applying a Linux skin that apes Apple’s macOS operating system.

And they didn’t stop there. The entire Lego chassis has been crafted to resemble an old-school Macintosh of the type sold by Apple in the 1980s and 1990s. The computer itself sits in a cuboid Lego box with the monitor — whose casing is also made of Lego bricks — sitting on top. An old Apple logo and rainbow decal signal another link to the Cupertino firm.

Given that the BC-250 is a repurposed mining board, OkDebate6649 had to make some adjustments. Traditional CPU coolers wouldn’t fit, so the creator had to remove the motherboard’s heatsink and sit a 120mm fan on top instead. With the keyboard and monitor included, the entire system weighs 11kg, so it’s not particularly portable either.

If you’re wondering whether the Lego housing can withstand the heat of a fired-up gaming PC, OkDebate6649 is confident that it can. As they explained: “I’ve added protective measures in areas exposed to heat. If you look at the third photo, you can see that I applied protection where the motherboard backplate makes contact.”

With creative builds like this doing the rounds, there’s plenty of inspiration to be had if you’re interested in putting together your own custom PC. Combined with the recent “Superdome” Noctua computer, it’s a good time to be a fan of this kind of work.

• Lenovo has increased the price of its 2TB Legion Go 2 to $2,850
• The handheld now costs more than two Nvidia RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPUs
• Lenovo hasn't stated why there's been a price increase, but recent trends suggest the memory crisis is related

There's been a gradual calm to the currently raging storm that is the memory crisis and its impact on PC hardware, specifically with RAM kits slowly falling in price, but the chaos is far from over, and Lenovo just proved it.

As reported by Notebookcheck, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 Ryzen Z2 Extreme 2TB model now costs $2,850, listed on Lenovo's online store, a significant price hike from the original $1,480 retail price. This comes shortly after the cost of the 1TB model was increased by up to $2,000, which is $650 more than the original $1,350 price.

Notably, the 2TB model's $2,850 price makes the Windows-based handheld more expensive than two Nvidia RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPUs, which would cost $1,998, and more costly than a single RTX 5090, the most powerful desktop GPU currently available.

To say that the pricing here for handheld gaming devices is absurd would be an understatement. While the RAM crisis and unstable PC hardware market are likely to blame in this case, it's hard for any consumer to justify paying rent money for a device that isn't even the best in its own league.

There are handhelds such as the GPD Win 5 that cost less than the Legion Go 2 2TB, and offer gaming laptop-tier performance, using the AMD Ryzen Al Max+ 395. It's hard to see any world where gamers will choose the Lenovo Legion Go 2, frankly, over any product that's in the same price region of $2,000 or more.

Lenovo has yet to give any explanation on why the price increase has occurred, but if the recent trend of price hikes is anything to go by, it's due to the memory crisis. However, that's not an out for Lenovo, as a $2,000 for its 1TB model alone is unfeasible, and $2,850 feels like a late April Fools prank.

Unfortunately, price jumps such as these have been coming, and at this rate, it feels as though proceedings are only going to get worse as the crisis continues.

Handheld gaming has been in a great place for a few years, ever since Valve launched the Steam Deck in 2022, kicking off a raft of portable gaming PCs appearing in all manner of incarnations.

Since the Steam Deck muscled onto the scene, Lenovo, Asus, and Ayaneo have all been busy launching new handhelds, offering a wide variety of options from lower to higher-end devices. Some have struck a nicely affordable chord, although many have been criticized for being overpriced.

Valve's Steam Deck was (and arguably still is) the most popular among all the handheld gaming PCs on the market, giving gamers an easy way to dive into portable gaming for a reasonable price.

However, the situation with handhelds is swiftly changing, and not for the better. The AI boom has meant that prices for RAM and storage have skyrocketed, and the crisis is seemingly getting worse on a daily basis.

Notably, Ayaneo had its Next 2 handheld gaming PC poised to go sale, with pre-orders open and shipments scheduled for June 2026. Unfortunately, those pre-orders are no longer available, as the company has been forced to suspend sales for the new device due to rapidly rising component costs.

While Ayaneo is arguably a niche brand, one that pushes for higher specifications in a handheld that can provide gaming laptop-level performance, it's not the only company that has seen its line-up of handheld devices impacted by the ongoing memory chip crisis. And it doesn't look like it'll be the last, either.

The AI boom might destroy handheld gaming PCs

At this rate, handheld gaming PCs are in grave danger of gradually being phased out, at least as a mainstream force. We've reached a point where device manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the cost and lack of availability of RAM and storage, and consumers simply can't afford to pay entry-level desktop gaming PC prices for portable devices. All this is a direct result of the AI boom.

Ayaneo's case is a telling example here, with the company admitting that hardly any profit has been made from the Next 2 handheld pre-orders taken thus far, as the overall cost of production has risen so much.

Another prime example of the chaos being sown with handhelds is Valve's recent announcement that the Steam Deck OLED will be out of stock intermittently, and unsurprisingly, this is due to memory and storage supply issues.

The RAM crisis represents an increasingly difficult situation for Valve in particular, with the Steam Machine still in the pipeline for a launch in 2026 — and that has already faced a delay, once again, due to said crisis.

The affordability problems caused for both manufacturers and consumers are a recipe for disaster when it comes to handheld gaming PCs. The longer the AI boom continues, with data centers grabbing huge slabs of memory for AI tasks, the worse things will get for handheld production costs.

Ultimately, it all comes down to a nasty price to pay for consumers, who will be faced with ever more expensive price tags for handhelds that were already creeping into unaffordable territory even before the AI boom struck.

All this threatens to stall the progress that handheld gaming PCs have made since they grabbed their share of the limelight following the success of the Steam Deck. Previously this market was mostly dominated by niche brands like Ayaneo or Ayn, and those days could return — if the RAM crisis continues to make life miserable for handheld manufacturers, and consumer interest declines.

There are some tentative signs that the AI bubble could burst, notably with OpenAI putting the sword to Sora, and you never know what's around the next corner — it's not all doom and gloom.

However, I worry that even after the bubble eventually bursts — however long that may take — it could be some time before the supply of components normalizes. Predictions from analyst firms make that clear enough.

Hopefully, though, this component storm won't be raging for too long, and handheld gaming PCs will manage to weather it. That does, of course, remain to be seen, and unfortunately matters are looking pretty rocky right now.

• Crimson Desert will feature both AMD's FSR Redstone and Nvidia's DLSS 4
• Redstone's Ray Regeneration will also be available
• The open-world game is being optimized to run natively, with upscaling as a secondary consideration

Pearl Abyss is working diligently to refine Crimson Desert, ensuring the open-world action adventure performs optimally for both PC and console players ahead of its March 19 launch date – and that now includes FSR Redstone support.

As reported by VideoCardz, AMD's FSR Redstone will be available in Crimson Desert at launch for RDNA 4 GPU users, providing enhanced performance and image quality via upscaling. The game will also support FSR Ray Regeneration, another part of the Redstone package designed to boost ray-traced details in-game.

While Crimson Desert is an FSR Redstone game, it's worth noting that Nvidia's DLSS 4 will also be available at launch as well.

However, Pearl Abyss has made it clear that it's not optimizing the game with upscaling in mind, but rather the developer is focusing on running natively, as noted by PR director Will Powers. In other words, Pearl Abyss isn't relying on upscaling for good performance, but instead views upscaling tools as bonuses once the game's base optimization at native resolution is complete.

There's no denying the benefits of upscaling via FSR or DLSS, as it's often handy for lower-end hardware, but having a game optimized without using either is great news for everyone. And frankly, it's a positive sign that Crimson Desert will run well on both console and PC.

Digital Foundry previously observed that Crimson Desert was running at 4K native resolution seemingly at around 40 to 50fps on a Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU at CES 2026, and that was supposedly in an older build of the game. If that's anything to go by, we should be in for a treat in terms of performance.

It's all possible thanks to the BlackSpace Engine

Pearl Abyss wanted to build its own proprietary engine for a game like Crimson Desert, and its high level of detail in aspects such as the draw distance and weather cycle is only possible thanks to that BlackSpace Engine.

Will Powers reiterated this and highlighted how Crimson Desert wouldn't be able to run on Unreal Engine 5, considering how much depth and detail are included in the visuals. The fact that Pearl Abyss is focusing hard on native frame rate optimization is a big statement.

There's still no official information on performance targets for either PC or console, but the marketing so far all sounds very promising.

The proof will be in the actual playing of the game, of course, but I've got a hunch that we could be looking at a well-optimized title at launch – and that doesn't happen very often.

• Maingear Retro98 PC is the latest in its "nostalgic sleeper PC series"
• This limited-edition looks like a 90s beige PC, complete with trimmings like a Turbo button on the front
• It packs powerful hardware though, including up to an RTX 5090 GPU and Ryzen 9950X3D CPU – and this PC doesn't come cheap, as you might guess

Maingear just revealed a new prebuilt desktop computer that's perfect for nostalgia fans who long for a return to the 1990s, when tower PCs were unapologetically bland beige boxes.

The Retro98 is part of Maingear's "nostalgic sleeper PC series" and it's a limited-edition gaming PC. In fact, there will only be 32 of these computers made (plus six 'alpha units', not meaning prototypes, but these are the top-end PCs which are cooled by an Alphacool custom open loop).

As the name suggests, the Retro98 is built to resemble a tower PC from the late 90s, and it comes in a SilverStone FLP02 case.

You get an LED display on the front showing the fan speed, and – gasp – a Turbo button too, as well as 'ketchup-and-mustard' sleeved cable colorways, and, well, an entirely authentic 90s appearance.

However, as Maingear notes, don't let the boxy beige exterior fool you into thinking this is a pedestrian PC, because it definitely isn't. The base spec starts with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K and Nvidia RTX 5070 graphics card – priced at $2,499 in the US – going up to those Alphacool units with an AMD Ryzen 9950X3D plus RTX 5090, at $9,799.

Analysis: PCs that were all the beige

These are some seriously powerful PCs, with a very distinctive retro look as you can see. While the Retro98 won't be for everyone, by any means, those of us who do remember the 90s – and playing Quake clan matches over a dial-up modem (back when QuakeWorld was revolutionary for the pings of 56K modem players) – are going to be transported back in time in a good way.

The Retro98 sparked up an enjoyable conversation this afternoon in TechRadar's chat about long-forgotten PC makers (in the UK), bringing up some names I hadn't heard in a long time. (Like Viglen for instance, and Evesham, a firm I bought several PCs from back in the day).

Of course, these are seriously expensive rigs, but what price can you put on a slice of history? Albeit resurrected, reinvigorated history. That said, ten grand is kind of pushing it, and then some, for that top dog model, of which there are only six.

Still, Maingear reminds us that you'll get lifetime support with these limited-edition machines, which "aren't slapped-together beige boxes, they're built with purpose, reinforced for longevity, and tuned to get every last drop of performance."

Just don't forget to press the Turbo button.

• A new Decky Loader plugin for SteamOS has made it easier to play and install non-Steam games
• It allows for syncing multiple game libraries on SteamOS without needing to use other third-party launchers
• It's available for download now via GitHub

SteamOS users are likely well aware that playing games from other launchers like Epic Games involves tinkering, and that can be cumbersome. Game libraries can only be accessed after starting those launchers, and there are plenty of issues you might run into when attempting to install them.

That's why community-made tools like Decky Loader are very handy, which I've previously covered when it helped improve access to frame generation for games. Now there's a new plugin in town known as Unifideck and made by mubaraknuman, which is available on GitHub.

I've used it on my Lenovo Legion Go S handheld gaming PC, and it's nothing short of brilliant. Put simply, Unifideck removes the need to install other game launchers outside of Steam, and instead takes your game libraries from those third-party launchers, placing them in your Steam library within separate categories.

It has the easiest setup process compared to any of the previous auto-installers for game launchers that came early on in the Steam Deck's lifecycle.

As you would install any other Decky Loader plugin (before it's available on the main store), you simply download the Unifideck ZIP file from GitHub, go back into SteamOS game mode, ensure developer mode is enabled in Decky Loader's settings, and install the plugin from the ZIP file.

Currently, Unifideck only allows you to add your GOG, Epic Games, and Amazon Games libraries, but that's still a major benefit, especially when it comes to avoiding the much complained about Epic launcher.

That said, Unifideck has still got a way to go: download speeds are noticeably slower compared to downloads on Steam itself, and it's missing Battle.net and Rockstar Games Launcher, but I'd imagine those implementations will take a little more work.

However, it's a great start, and there isn't much to complain about. Unifideck makes not only handheld gaming so much easier, but it'll be ideal for any system running SteamOS – and in that respect, it's arrived at the perfect time.

Analysis: the Steam Machine may benefit from this massively

Valve's Steam Machine is on the horizon, set for launch in early 2026, and while the majority of the discourse surrounding the console-like PC is about its potential price tag, Decky Loader's Unifideck plugin is one of the many advantages that await Steam Machine buyers.

Unifideck will allow gamers moving over from consoles to PC to utilize more than just the Steam library, with access to GOG, Epic Games, Amazon Games, and potentially even more by the time the system launches.

And for current PC owners using Microsoft's Windows 11, having all game libraries easily accessible in one place will keep gaming experiences streamlined without the need to mess around using other launchers.

Really, the only major downside that remains for the Steam Machine is the lack of support for games using kernel-level anti-cheat on SteamOS. However, the hope is that the Steam Machine will encourage game developers to consider making these anti-cheat tools compatible with Linux. If that happens, SteamOS will take another significant step forward in terms of its potential to grab defectors from Windows 11.

• A Redditor has claimed that Monster Hunter Wilds runs poorly when less DLC is owned and enabled
• It appears to be due to the game's constant DLC presence checks, leading to a higher load on the CPU
• Capcom has multiple upcoming patches to further improve performance

Since its launch in early 2025, Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds has faced consistent criticism due to its poor performance on PC, particularly on lower-end hardware. Fortunately, it looks like the root of the issue may have been discovered, and it's quite comical.

Monster Hunter Wilds reportedly runs better on PC when more downloadable content (DLC) is owned and enabled, and much worse with less, as Redditor, u/de_Tylmarande, claims. Using the same hardware and game settings in both tests, the user highlighted a trend of 20 to 25 frames per second (fps) while in player hubs in-game with no DLC installed, and over 80 fps with a 'DLCPresenceFix' mod installed.

This indicates that the game's DLC checks are putting extra load onto the CPU, on top of all the CPU processes that are already needed for the game's content itself, and that's evident in the performance test video (available below), which shows less CPU usage and higher GPU usage once the mod is active.

The mod is a test from the user to essentially fool the game into believing all DLC is owned and installed, but in reality, it's just blocking the CPU-heavy process that appears to be constantly checking for DLC.

It's a truly bizarre discovery, and it would explain why the game suffers from poor performance, even on high-end hardware, without relying on frame generation technology – and may also add credence to some users' reports of fair performance on their configurations, as they may own more DLC.

The user has promised a release of the full mod if Capcom doesn't fix the issue itself, and highly recommends consumers avoid purchasing all DLC for Monster Hunter Wilds for better performance.

Given Capcom's stance on consistently using anti-tamper software, Denuvo, for a large majority of its recent games, there's no guarantee that it will oblige and address this bug. One thing is for sure: this isn't a good look for the developer, and while this likely is indeed a bug, it won't stop consumers from questioning whether it was intentional or not.

Analysis: if this is legitimate, Capcom needs to apologize to its consumers

Monster Hunter Wilds, unfortunately, isn't the first game to suffer from major performance issues, despite the RE Engine being popular for great frame rate stabilization and optimization, specifically in Resident Evil games.

Dragon's Dogma 2 shares very similar performance woes as a CPU-bound game, and still has significant frame rate drops in main cities with multiple non-player characters (NPCs), almost the equivalent of Monster Hunter Wilds' hubs. While patches have improved performance in both games, this DLC presence check discovery is enough to raise the question of whether DLC ownership in Dragon's Dogma 2 has any effect on performance.

If legitimate, it may easily damage the trust Capcom has earned from consumers over recent years, and rightly so.

It's worth noting that Capcom is releasing a new patch for Monster Hunter Wilds, set for January 27, which is intended to bring 'optimization improvements for Steam-specific processes and options to reduce processing load', and another performance update coming later on February 18.

Capcom may already be on top of the matter, but if this claim happens to be accurate, I doubt it's going to end well for the popular developer.

• Intel announced that there'll be a handheld gaming platform with the Panther Lake series
• Partnerships with MSI, Acer, GPD, and Microsoft mean a good few handhelds could be on the way
• These devices won't be here any time soon, but more details are expected later in 2026

Nothing much has been happening with handheld gaming PCs at CES 2026, but Intel has hinted at the potential for a raft of major new launches later in 2026.

As reported by Notebookcheck, Intel has promised that handhelds are coming which are built with its Panther Lake series of processors. This potentially includes partnerships with the likes of MSI, Acer, GPD, Microsoft, and Onexplayer, with further updates set to be revealed later this year.

With both Lenovo and Asus recently launching the Legion Go 2 and the ROG Xbox Ally X respectively, this leaves both of those manufacturers effectively out of the picture for a handheld refresh powered by these new Intel chips – new devices surely won't be coming for some time on those fronts.

Essentially, this leaves room open for one of the big players, namely MSI, to make a successor to the Claw AI+ handhelds that use Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V processor.

Based on Intel's performance claims for Panther Lake's Arc B390 integrated GPU, which is said to be 73% faster than AMD's Radeon 890M while running at a lower power usage, it's safe to say that Team Blue could give Team Red a run for its money in the handheld space here.

If it was built around a Panther Lake CPU, we could see a new MSI Claw device with significantly better performance than most of the current-gen mainstream handhelds. As Intel claims, this is supposed to be next-gen handheld gaming performance (see the graph above).

It also helps that XeSS 3 (supported by Panther Lake and older Xe integrated graphics) comes with the benefits of multi-frame generation, a technology that we've only seen Nvidia utilize for its RTX 5000 series GPUs (although it's also possible via Lossless Scaling on Steam).

More importantly, in the grand scheme of things, the battle between AMD and Intel in the handheld market is on.

Analysis: Intel is making a stronger name for itself in the gaming market

While AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU essentially provides gaming laptop-tier performance for the GPD Win 5 and other premium handhelds, Intel's Core Ultra 7 258V is still the most impressive chip overall for me.

It's the processor used in the MSI Claw AI+ handhelds, and the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is the best handheld I've used to date. Yes, the Claw's $899 price tag was a point of contention for me, but with Max+ 395 handhelds costing nearly $2,000, there's a clear winner in terms of value.

If Intel's generational performance leap claims are accurate, we'll be in for a far more powerful successor to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ with a Panther Lake chip as its engine. And Intel will further establish itself as more of a presence when it comes to hardware for gaming – especially since its upcoming Arc B770 discrete GPU has leaked, supposedly packed with 16GB of VRAM.

There's plenty to look forward to from both AMD and Intel, not only in the desktop GPU department, but also for SoCs and their powerful integrated graphics for handhelds. I'm pumped to see what happens in 2026.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we've seen.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Lenovo has revealed a new version of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2026
• The new handheld runs SteamOS and will launch in June 2026
• The starting price is $1,119, which is $100 more than the base MSRP of the Windows 11 version

We're deep into CES 2026 and we've finally got our first major announcement for a new handheld gaming PC launching later this year, although that's using a liberal definition of the word 'new' admittedly.

As reported by VideoCardz, Lenovo has unveiled a SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2 at CES 2026. This fresh spin on an existing handheld formula is set to launch in June 2026, starting at $1,119 (around £829 / AU$1,660). This is an addition to the Legion Go 2 models already available which are powered by Microsoft's Windows 11 (and follow in the footsteps of the Lenovo Legion Go S).

Of course, this launch is no real surprise as the move was already rumored, and it appears that the leaked image of the Legion Go 2 seemingly using SteamOS (before the Windows version even arrived) was indeed legitimate.

The same configurations will be available with this new SteamOS model, meaning you can run with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and an AMD Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme SoC. That's a hardware spec which is more than capable of providing great performance for most portable gaming scenarios.

However, Lenovo has unsurprisingly run into the same issue that it had when launching the Windows 11 models of the Legion Go 2, namely pricing.

While tariffs and the tough PC hardware market (due to the RAM crisis) are aspects to consider, it will be hard for most consumers to justify spending over $1,000 for a handheld device, and not a fully-fledged gaming PC instead.

For the Windows 11 version, the Legion Go 2 Z2's MSRP is $1,099 in the US, while the Z2 Extreme model is $1,349 (which comes close to the price of the most powerful handheld out there, the GPD Win 5).

This means Lenovo has increased the base starting price by $100 for the SteamOS model. That's a turnaround from the Legion Go S, where the Windows version was the more expensive option.

In that case, we can expect the Legion Go 2 with SteamOS using the Z2 Extreme chip to cost at least $1,449, and I don't think many gamers will even consider a handheld which costs that much, and doesn't offer much of a performance leap over much cheaper devices.

Analysis: all credit where it's due for supporting SteamOS, but that price stinks

As I have said numerous times, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, regardless of whether it's powered by Windows 11 or SteamOS, has no business costing over $1,000 (and the Ryzen Z2 Extreme models hit particularly ridiculous levels price-wise).

I'm well aware of the harsh component market conditions that are currently making it difficult to keep down the cost of PCs, and the premium hardware on board Lenovo's handheld such as the OLED display.

However, the processor used is hardly a significant improvement over its predecessor, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme, and if you just save a little more money, you can land a handheld built around the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 – the most powerful AMD APU in existence.

I've previously argued that prices like these for 'mainstream' handhelds effectively take them out of the mainstream and back into the niche category they resided in before Valve's Steam Deck arrived. Unfortunately, it seems like Lenovo and fellow manufacturers won't budge on this, and I don't see that changing.

TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything we've seen.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

• Retailers have increased pricing of Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs
• Prices are almost double the original retail pricing
• It appears to be a direct impact from the RAM crisis due to AI demand

We're officially in 2026, and last year's rumors regarding GPU price hikes on Nvidia and AMD GPUs (due to the ongoing RAM crisis) appear to be accurate, which may prove very unfortunate for PC gamers.

As reported by VideoCardz, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 prices have increased significantly above the original retail pricing, with models reaching up to $4,000 across multiple retailers. The GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition is still priced at $1,999 / £1,799 / AU$4,039, so the price hikes appear to be coming directly from retailers and private sellers.

RAM kits have become much pricier over the last few months, due to the current AI boom, and appear to be the reason behind these GPU price increases (since GPUs also use VRAM).

It's likely resulted in retailers seeking ways to get customers to pay more for PC hardware across the board due to higher demand, and the looming threat of potential price hikes directly from Team Green and AMD on RTX and Radeon GPUs, respectively.

A prime example is on Best Buy, with the Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090 now available for a staggering $3,610.78, almost double the Founders Edition's MSRP, and a significant chunk above the third-party GPU's standard pricing (around $2,799.99).

The same price jumps above MSRP have occurred with AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPUs long before the RAM crisis, and have continued – the XFX Mercury Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition on Best Buy is now at $849.99, up from its $599 retail price.

None of these price hikes come straight from Nvidia or AMD (yet...), and despite recent rumors suggesting that Team Green plans to raise the RTX 5090's MSRP to $5,000, there's no confirmation of that – and frankly, it's unlikely that we'll see such a ludicrously aggressive price increase.

If there is anything to blame, though, it's clearly the meteoric rise of AI technology. AI training and operation datacenters have increased the demand for RAM (and some other components) to unprecedented levels, which has ultimately trickled down to impact consumers, and it doesn't seem like it's slowing down any time soon.

Analysis: Nvidia isn't fully absolved from blame, but you should be more mad at AI

While Nvidia does have an indirect part to play in these price hikes due to its heavy involvement in the AI boom, it's not solely responsible; there's been a concerted push to develop and use AI from numerous companies around the globe, and they're all jointly at fault.

Desktop DDR4 and DDR5 RAM play a significant part in PC building, more so than GPUs; basically, you can build a PC without a discrete GPU, but with no RAM, good luck getting your PC to boot.

With the AI boom making RAM far more expensive than it should be for consumers, it's enough to leave worries that this could become the new normal in 2026 and beyond - effectively killing the custom PC gaming dream for all but the wealthiest gamers.

The heavy reliance on AI is becoming more noticeable as time goes on, and as it continues, I can certainly see prices for all PC hardware increasing from retailers and private sellers. It's an incredibly problematic situation, not only for high-end PC gaming, but also for those looking to dive into the PC gaming ecosystem for the first time. If you've been contemplating building your first gaming PC, I'd do it fast; these prices are likely to keep climbing, at least for now.

There are few things more exciting than booting up your brand new gaming PC for the first time. I remember my first build like it was yesterday – the frustration and choice words when hooking up power cables, and the eventual but incredibly sweet triumph of pressing the power button and watching it whirr to life.

If you just booted up your new PC for the first time, there are a few key things you should check to ensure everything runs smoothly.

I put this list together for beginners - you won't find BIOS-heavy, 1-2% performance increase tips here. Just quick, actionable advice that can make a huge difference in how your PC operates.

1. Check your monitor's resolution and refresh rate

If your new setup includes a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor, be sure to verify that the correct settings are enabled in Windows.

Otherwise, it'll probably be limited to 60Hz by default, and you don't want to be leaving performance on the table (literally).

Here's how to locate these settings and change them in Windows 11.

1. In an Nvidia-powered system (if you have an Nvidia graphics card), right-click your desktop. Click "Show more options." Then select "NVIDIA Control Panel."
2. On the left-side nav menu, choose "Change resolution" under the Display category.
3. Make sure the correct monitor is selected if you have multiple. Now you can check the display resolution, and click the "Refresh rate" drop-down menu to bump it to the highest setting.

If you don't have an NVIDIA graphics card, here's how to change display resolution and refresh rate directly in Windows.

1. Located at the bottom of the screen, open your taskbar's search menu.
2. Type "display" and click "Display settings."
3. Make sure the correct monitor is selected if you have multiple. You can click "Identify" to see which one is set as the primary display.
4. Scroll down to the "Display resolution" drop-down menu and make sure it's on the highest setting.
5. Scroll further to "Advanced display." The drop-down menu next to "Choose a refresh rate" will let you change your monitor's refresh rate in Windows 11.

A high refresh rate is key to gaining a competitive edge in FPS and esports titles, where every frame counts (such as Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, and Marvel Rivals).

Make sure you're getting the performance you paid for!

2. Get rid of bloatware

Windows 11, which likely came installed on your PC, is a solid operating system overall. But it's not without its faults.

One of the biggest pain points in Microsoft's latest OS is bloatware.

Bloatware is any application you did not choose to install that negatively impacts your computer's performance and storage space.

I wrote an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to find and remove bloatware from Windows 11, so be sure to check it out to free up gigabytes of storage and cut out programs that may bog down performance.

3. Install and update your drivers

Drivers are important for ensuring everything in your setup runs as it's meant to. The key drivers to check are graphics card and peripherals (accessories).

To access your graphics card, open your graphics software. If you're using an Nvidia GPU, you'll need the Nvidia app. It may come pre-installed on your system; otherwise, it's a quick download from the Nvidia website.

When you open the app for the first time, it may prompt you to choose between a "Game Ready Driver" and an "NVIDIA Studio Driver" installation. As you can probably guess, go with Game Ready drivers if you're mainly using your PC for gaming.

I would recommend you untick "Optimize games and creative applications" if prompted – while it's not the worst thing to leave on, it can mess with in-game settings in ways you don't want at times – you can always manually tweak options in specific games yourself, or enable Nvidia's optimization later.

Head to the Drivers section on the left-side nav menu and download the latest driver version. Your screen may go dark for a moment while it installs - this is completely normal.

Once the new drivers are set up, restart your PC to ensure everything runs smoothly.

For AMD Radeon-based GPUs, go to AMD's Drivers and Support for Processors and Graphics page. Download and run the Windows Drivers installer. It'll auto-detect your graphics card and present the latest driver version for you to download and install.

For peripherals such as your mouse, keyboard, and headphones, the drivers are located in the brand's customization app. For instance, if you have a Corsair mouse, download Corsair iCUE to install the latest drivers and firmware.

4. Familiarize yourself with Task Manager

Windows Task Manager isn't just for terminating stubborn apps - it's also a quick and easy way to check a number of important processes.

Right-click your taskbar, then click "Task Manager." The first page that shows up, Processes, will give you an overview of what's currently running and how many resources the app is using.

Tip: Click the three vertical lines at the top of the nav bar to see Task Manager page names.

Then, on the left-side nav bar, select the second option in the list that looks like a heartbeat monitor to get to the Performance section.

From this page, you can:

• Check your CPU utilization at idle and during use
• See how much total RAM you're using under Memory
• Identify which drives relate to which root directory (C:, D:, etc.)
• Make sure you're using your graphics card (instead of integrated graphics) and check its temperature

You can also use Task Manager to take care of my next suggestion, which is...

5. Check Windows startup apps

Startup apps, as the name suggests, are applications that run immediately upon logging into your PC.

While this can be helpful for apps you want to use just about every day, like Steam or Battle.net, it can also be incredibly annoying when apps that you don't want to use pop up (looking at you, Copilot).

So, to edit your startup apps in Windows 11, you have two options:

1. Edit them directly from the Startup apps page of the Task Manager, which is discussed in the previous section. Simply right-click the app you want to edit and choose Enable or Disable.
2. Change startup apps from Windows settings. Open your taskbar's search menu and type "startup," then click "Startup Apps." From this page, toggle the apps on or off.

If there are a bunch of apps you don't need enabled on startup, disabling them can drastically reduce the time it takes for your PC to become responsive after booting up.

6. Set your default audio devices

Default audio device settings is something Windows has pretty much always been funky about.

You'll be using the same headphones for months, then Windows will decide to change your default audio device to the VR headset your friend brought over one time, leaving you wondering why your headphones are on but playing no sound.

You're just going to have to get used to it, so it's a good idea to learn about it right from the beginning.

In your taskbar's search menu, type "manage output" and select "Manage output sound devices." Here you can see all of the audio devices your PC recognizes. Choose the audio device you'll be using most often, like your gaming headset, and make sure it says "Default device."

If it doesn't, click on the arrow next to it's name. Here, next to "set as default sound device," select "Use as default for audio."

Next, head back to the Sound page from the options at the top of the window. If you have a standalone microphone, or a mic attached to your headset, make sure it's the default audio input device using the same method.

If your sound stops working seemingly at random one day, there's a good chance Windows switching around your active devices is the reason why.

7. Run some benchmarks

With everything else set up and out of the way, the last thing you should do with your new Windows gaming PC is run some benchmarks.

This will give you an idea of how your system performs in resource-heavy programs, and a baseline for how to tweak your in-game graphics settings.

Check out Matt Hanson's tutorial on how to benchmark your graphics card for in-game metrics, and our roundup of the best benchmark software for all-in-one benchmarks, CPU-specific tests, and more.

Lastly, check the settings menus for any games you download in the future. Some will have dedicated benchmarking options for you to run.

Memory prices have absolutely skyrocketed in the past few months, leaving many manufacturers looking for ways to keep prebuilt PC costs at reasonable levels. This problem has created a worrying trend, though – particularly when it comes to budget gaming PCs.

Browse retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, and you'll find that a decent number of systems come kitted with DDR4 RAM instead of DDR5. On the surface, this may seem like a reasonable compromise in performance for the benefit of a lower barrier to entry.

But in reality, you're the one left holding the bag.

There goes your upgradeability

The biggest issue with swapping DDR5 kits for outdated DDR4 memory is how it impacts upgradeability.

One of the most attractive aspects of building a PC, as opposed to buying a console, is the incremental upgrades you can make to keep your system relevant. If you need more storage, you toss in a new, faster SSD. If you haven't upgraded your CPU in a few years, you find a current-gen processor on sale and get a major performance boost without having to buy an entirely new system.

But if you have DDR4 RAM, this isn't the case.

DDR4 memory is only compatible with outdated motherboards and, in nearly all cases, outdated CPUs. You may come across an affordable prebuilt PC that boasts modern Nvidia graphics, 32GB of RAM, and a relatively recent Intel CPU. An enticing offer in today's market.

What that tempting offer isn't telling you, though, is that there's almost no opportunity to upgrade down the line.

DDR4-compatible motherboards are not compatible with DDR5 memory. If you want faster memory in the future, you now have to upgrade not just the RAM, but also the motherboard.

Not to mention, most modern gaming CPUs support DDR5 memory exclusively. All AM5 processors (Zen 4 and Zen 5 CPUs like the Ryzen 5 7600X and Ryzen 7 9800X3D) are incompatible with DDR4 memory, meaning you're locked into the AM4 chipset if you buy one of these DDR4 systems. The same applies to Intel Core Ultra series chips, which are also DDR5-dependent.

So, if you want to upgrade your memory, you must also upgrade your motherboard. If you want a newer CPU, you have to upgrade your motherboard and your RAM.

DDR4 performance woes

Upgradeability aside, DDR4 is also significantly less performant than current DDR5 kits.

DDR4 speeds typically top out at just 3600MHz (with overclocked kits touching 4000MHz), whereas DDR5 RAM reaches up to 6400MHz (and even 7000MHz+ when overclocked).

Yes, the CAS latency of DDR4 RAM is technically lower than that of DDR5. But that comes at the cost of far lower bandwidth, eliminating any practical advantages that lower CL would provide.

This is especially prevalent in low FPS scenarios. If you have DDR4 RAM, you may notice far more stuttering and frame tearing in resource-intensive areas of your game, where DDR5 would pull through with smaller FPS drops rather than full-on stutters.

Plus, as discussed in the previous section, DDR4 memory locks you into older CPU generations. Your GPU doesn't care what type of RAM you have - you could be rocking a 5000-series Nvidia graphics card with DDR4 RAM - but your CPU does.

If you try to pair a modern GPU with an outdated CPU and RAM, you're going to face major bottlenecks, especially in CPU-heavy games like Sid Meier's Civilization and Minecraft.

Should you buy a gaming PC with DDR4 RAM?

In my opinion, no, you shouldn't buy a prebuilt PC with DDR4 RAM – even with the lower asking price. It severely stunts upgradeability and locks you into lower performance.

So, what should you do instead?

Well, you have a few options. You could bite the bullet and get a prebuilt PC with DDR5 RAM. This will be the best move in the long run, as you preserve your ability to modernize your system and keep up with rising performance demands.

Or, if you don't have the extra capital to meet the current asking prices, you could opt for a handheld gaming PC.

These handhelds, like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X, provide a far better cost-value proposition than gaming laptops nowadays. And while you won't get 4K 60+ FPS at Ultra settings with ray tracing enabled in Cyberpunk 2077, you will get to play just about any game you want at reasonable settings.

You can even hook a handheld gaming PC up to a monitor, mouse, and keyboard (by attaching a USB adapter) and have yourself a decent entry-level rig for a fraction of the cost of current prebuilt PCs.

The last option I'd recommend is the toughest, but may make the most sense in the long run: just wait.

We've seen RAM prices skyrocket in the past, and who can forget the chip shortage that ravaged GPU prices during lockdown? What these price hikes taught us is this: it may take time, but PC component prices eventually return to normal.

Oh, my poor PS4. How lonely you must feel now, nestled untouched beneath a layer of dust under my TV stand, originally consigned to work as a glorified streaming box after I finally kicked my Destiny habit and completed my slow shift to exclusively gaming on PC. When I upgraded my ageing plasma screen to a shiny new smart TV, even that duty fell from you, leaving you to wallow in inactivity outside the rare occasion I have house guests who want to play Jackbox.

I’ve all but given up on ‘living room gaming’ these days, even after a childhood spent playing on almost every home console since the Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast, even after, uh… oh man, how many hours spent in Destiny 2? Oh dear. Let’s not talk about that.

Yes, I’m a true-blue PC gamer now - while I’ve always played games on PC, it wasn’t until I started working for Maximum PC magazine back in 2018 that I built my own proper gaming PC and started to gradually phase out my time spent on my PS3 and PS4. I’m on my third custom desktop now, packing an RTX 5070 (though for anyone wondering, I’d actually recommend the far superior RTX 5070 Ti), and with a fancy gaming desk and comfy throne courtesy of Noblechairs, I didn’t ever see myself going back to the couch for anything other than watching TV and playing party games.

Going mobile…

And yet, Asus might have changed my mind. I got the original ROG Ally when it first came out back in 2023, and it’s seen plenty of use in my household. Not just by me, either; my partner has been trying and failing to get into PC gaming for a while, but the Ally has streamlined that whole process for him, and now we’ve got 200+ hours in a Stardew Valley co-op save file. In fact, he probably uses the Ally even more than I do - I’ve been unceremoniously banished to my desktop more than once when we both want to play different games at the same time.

But in the two years I’ve been enjoying my time with the ROG Ally, at no point did I ever think of using it as anything other than a handheld. That’s even sillier now, in retrospect, considering that I already own a Nintendo Switch and have spent plenty of time playing on it in both the handheld and docked modes.

So when an Asus ROG Bulwark Dock dropped into my lap this December (in the very pleasant way that hardware sometimes does when you’re a tech journalist), I knew I had to at least give it a chance. Who knows, I thought to myself. Maybe I’ll even like it more than playing in handheld mode?

…and not so mobile

Turns out, I liked it a lot. I already owned one of the best PC controllers (the excellent GameSir Tarantula Pro), and setting the ROG Bulwark up with my TV was a breeze. Within minutes, my Ally was streaming to the big screen, and I was putting my feet up on the couch to settle in for some Death’s Door.

If you’ll allow me a brief tangent: Death’s Door is absolutely bloody amazing, and I can’t recommend it enough. Seriously, go play it.

Back to the matter at hand, though. I was pretty impressed at how well the Ally was able to simulate the experience of a home console - at least, once I was actually in-game and not fumbling around in Windows 11. Even on my older Z1 Extreme model, I was getting smooth performance (albeit only at 1080p) across a range of games, with the Ally transitioning back to handheld mode in a snap when I decided it was time to crawl into bed rather than turn up the thermostat.

It made me realise that I actually rather miss the good old days of gaming on the living room TV, though it’s hard to put my finger on why exactly that is. Perhaps gaming just doesn’t quite hit the same when you’re trying to play games on the same device you sit and work at for 8 hours a day? Being able to kick back and relax on the couch certainly brings a different vibe to the gaming experience; I was even able to relive the glory days of couch co-op with my partner in Split Fiction.

So while I suspect my home console days are over and my PS4 is likely to continue gathering dust (sorry, Destiny - it's not me, it's you), I’ve got a new appreciation for my gaming handheld - and I think it’s finally time to separate my work and gaming spaces. Plus, with the current soaring prices of computer components thanks to AI, I don’t think I’ll be doing any major upgrades to my desktop PC anytime soon - so why not settle in for some cozy couch gaming?

RAM prices have risen to ridiculous heights over the past 6 months. It's to the point where you may well be better off purchasing a prebuilt PC than trying to source the parts at reasonable prices yourself.

And with a looming GPU shortage coming in 2026, it's only going to get worse for prospective PC builders.

So I decided to take a look at the 20 most popular PC games of the year (by player count) to determine how much RAM you actually need in your gaming rig. If the games on this list are available in your library and you meet at least the minimum recommended RAM, I'd strongly suggest holding off on any purchases until prices settle back down.

But if you just can't wait to build or upgrade your PC (I know how exciting it is!), let this list act as a guide to your RAM purchasing needs.

Not a gamer? Skip ahead to the how much RAM do I need on my laptop section.

RAM requirements for the top 20 most popular PC games

Note: Statistics for this list were pulled from Steam's "Top 100 played games by Daily Players" list and estimates from activeplayer.io's "Top 15 Most Popular PC Games of 2025" list. They are not sorted by total player count. RAM requirements were collected from the system requirements sections.

As you can see from the table above, 8GB is by no small margin the most common minimum RAM requirement for modern games.

In the past, I'd recommend a minimum of 16GB of DDR5 - and that's still what I ultimately think you should aim for, and what shows up most prevalently in the Recommended category - but with memory prices the way they are now, you may be able to skate by with half that. At least until RAM prices stabilize again and you can think about upgrading.

Unfortunately, only a few games list a "max" configuration requirement, but those that do all specify 16GB.

It's also important to note that if you run other programs, such as Chrome and Discord, for music and comms while you game, you'll need to factor that RAM usage into your setup.

Google Chrome sucks up a ton of free memory - of course, some browsers are better optimized - but you may run into bogged-down performance if you're running a resource-intensive game at high settings with these other programs in the background.

There are also a few exceptions I'd like to highlight from the list, namely Minecraft and Roblox. Both of these games are essentially playgrounds for mods, and if you're playing a particularly impressive Roblox game or one of Minecraft's many massive modpacks, you're going to need more RAM than just 1 or 2GB.

How much RAM do I need on my laptop?

If you're not a gamer and mainly use a laptop for work and media, my recommendations remain the same as they have for the past few years.

8GB is a solid minimum to shoot for - unless you're using a Chromebook, in which case 4GB is sufficient thanks to ChromeOS optimizations. 16GB is better if you push the limit on open Chrome tabs or run heavier programs like Photoshop. You may need 24GB if your job involves video editing or working with LLMs.

Anything more than that is a superfluous cherry on top.

How much RAM do I have?

If you want to find out how much RAM you currently have in your system, it's quick and easy - here's how.

• For Windows 10 and 11, open the Windows Start menu from your taskbar (or by clicking the Windows button on your keyboard). Then, type in "About your PC." Your RAM is shown under "Installed Memory."
• For macOS, click the Apple icon at the top left of your screen, then select "About this Mac." Your RAM is displayed by "Memory."

This is also where you can see your CPU, GPU, device model, and operating system version.

To see how much of your RAM is currently in use on a Windows machine, open Task Manager (right-click the taskbar and select "Task Manager"), then go to the Performance tab (second option in the left-side navigation).

On macOS, open the Spotlight search bar (Command + Space), then type in "Activity Monitor." Click the Memory tab in the top navigation bar to view your current RAM usage.

This is a good way to see if your usage habits bump into the higher end of your total installed memory, which is an indication that it may be time for an upgrade.

• The MSI Claw A8 has been spotted on Newegg in the US for $1,149
• No stock suggests the price may have been a placeholder
• If legitimate, the MSI Claw A8 could join other mainstream handhelds that cost over $1,000

Mainstream handheld manufacturers have recently priced new devices within unaffordable price regions, well above the template Valve set with its Steam Deck – and unfortunately, it seems that trend isn't stopping any time soon.

As reported by VideoCardz, the MSI Claw A8 Ryzen Z2 Extreme handheld has been spotted on Newegg, listed for $1,149, without any sign of stock. The handheld has had a staggered launch in other regions, notably Asia, and it's currently available in the UK for £849, but it hasn't seen a launch in the US for months.

It's important to note that the $1,149 may be a placeholder, but we've seen cases of early listings before, and that's enough to suggest that this price tag may be legitimate once stock is available.

This could be the third mainstream handheld gaming PC to cost over $1,000 in the US if this current price tag sticks, making the MSI Claw A8 join the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and Asus ROG Xbox Ally X as arguably overpriced handhelds. The prices for these devices in particular are major points of contention, since the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor isn't a big leap from its Ryzen Z1 Extreme predecessor in power and performance.

There's no doubt that both tariffs and RAM price hikes have played their part if this is the real price tag. However, similar pricing for handheld hardware was still present before the current crisis, and frankly, consumers likely won't be happy regardless of the reasons.

The Steam Deck's affordable price template is seemingly becoming a thing of the past, and while Valve's earnings from the Steam storefront made Steam Deck sales at a loss possible, handheld manufacturers should be looking to stick close to that template. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that will be the case, even after this RAM price crisis eventually ends.

Analysis: The only thing that will change high handheld prices is a drop in sales

Besides a fall in DRAM pricing via an eventual collapse of the current AI boom, the only way ludicrous pricing of handhelds will come to an end is if sales fall significantly, which means consumers need to stop paying unreasonable prices for handhelds.

I've argued that there are handheld gaming PCs that do warrant prices at or just over $1,000, but these aren't from mainstream manufacturers, and the devices are equipped with processors that quite literally challenge laptop GPUs, notably the AMD Ryzen AI Max + 395.

The Ryzen Z2 Extreme that powers both the Legion Go 2 and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X doesn't warrant the high price tags they have, and the same applies to the MSI Claw A8, if the Newegg price remains.

As long as sales stay within a decent range for the likes of MSI, Asus, and Lenovo, we will continue to see cases of overpriced devices – and that's unfortunate, as I don't believe consumers feel strongly enough to resist purchasing new devices.

• Razer has new competition, with UGreen launching the new Linkstation eGPU dock
• UGreen's Linkstation comes with an Oculink port and an 850W built-in power supply
• It costs $325 based on Chinese currency conversion

With portable experiences becoming an integral aspect of gaming thanks to the resurgence of handheld gaming PCs and more powerful laptops, eGPUs have become vital for better performance – and a reputable manufacturer has joined the market.

As reported by VideoCardz, UGreen has launched a new eGPU Linkstation dock in China for around $325 (based on a conversion from the China price), featuring Oculink and USB 4 ports, and, most importantly, a built-in 850W power supply.

This is a big move from UGreen, which is better known for manufacturing docks (non-eGPU), chargers, and USB hubs, but now it's diving into docks built for GPU connections on portable hardware like handheld gaming PCs, mini PCs, or laptops.

While there's no current indication of a launch in other regions, its price is within the ballpark of Razer's Core X V2 eGPU dock, which is $350 / £329 (around AU$530), so with taxes included, the UGreen Linkstation shouldn't be much more expensive.

The two biggest advantages of UGreen's Linkstation dock are the 850W power supply, alongside the USB 4 and Oculink connection options, with the latter providing 64Gbps connection speeds.

The Razer Core X V2 does not ship with a power supply or an Oculink port, which was a dealbreaker for many consumers when Razer unveiled the dock.

The chassis takes on a desktop PC-like design, with what appears to be a mid-tower case, but with the GPU mounted vertically. It supports graphics cards up to 370mm, and the 850W power supply should be enough to power a wide range of GPUs, especially because this is solely for a GPU, not an entire PC configuration.

Analysis: The UGreen Linkstation eGPU dock looks great, but I'd still choose the Razer dock

There are plenty of eGPU docks available on the market, from popular manufacturers and smaller brands alike, that ship with built-in power supplies. However, the Razer Core X V2, despite not coming with one, still has one big advantage in terms of design.

I've mentioned this before, but I'd much rather not have my GPU exposed to any potential fall damage or accidents, and the Core X V2 (as well as the previous Razer Core X) is designed to prevent that. This is especially the case if you plan on using your eGPU dock setup with your handheld gaming PC or laptop in-hand, as any accidental wire pulls could lead to some serious damage.

While UGreen's design is better than other eGPU builds, the LinkStation dock is still somewhat exposed, and Razer is the only manufacturer I've seen so far to build a full chassis enclosure for the desktop GPUs, in the same manner that any desktop PC case would house a GPU.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not writing off the new UGreen option, but since I luckily have a few spare power supplies hanging around, the fact that Razer's Core X V2 dock doesn't have one isn't a big deal for me – I doubt that would be the case for most consumers though.

• FSR Redstone launches today via a new AMD GPU driver
• It features new FSR Frame Generation, Ray Regeneration, Radiance Caching and upscaling tech
• Ray Regeneration is available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and will come to other games later

Nvidia is heavily focused on AI these days, having distanced itself from gaming, recently telling us that it's no longer (primarily) a gaming graphics card company – and now, with AMD's FSR Redstone launch finally happening, Team Green has a reason to be worried about losing its GeForce GPU market domination.

AMD's FSR Redstone update is now available via the latest AMD Adrenalin 25.12.1 driver, and it includes new FSR Frame Generation, Ray Regeneration, and Radiance Caching, alongside FSR Upscaling (formerly known as FSR 4). All this is exclusive to RDNA 4 hardware, namely the Radeon RX 9060 XT and Radeon RX 9070 XT (and RX 9070) GPUs.

While Nvidia's DLSS 4 upscaling tech – bolstered by its impressive Frame Generation, Super Resolution (via the new transformer model), and Ray Reconstruction capabilities – has been available throughout 2025, AMD's FSR Redstone aims to close the gap with an improved level of quality.

Part of this new recipe will be AMD's FSR Ray Regeneration, the equivalent to Nvidia's Ray Reconstruction, which promises to deliver improved and realistic ray tracing and path tracing effects via a neural network-based denoiser. This is one I'm pumped to try, and it's already available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, while being set to arrive in more games in the future.

That's not all, though. Obviously AMD is keen on pushing ahead with FSR Upscaling to improve image quality levels, and get nearer to native rendering when upscaling from a lower resolution. Team Red supplied some comparative screenshots of Redstone upscaling versus FSR 3.1, and it's a big leap in quality, but it's not clear how much difference there is with FSR 4 as it existed before this Redstone update.

In 2026, FSR Radiance Caching will become available in several titles, and this is poised to benefit ray tracing in games, improving performance around lighting effects. This and the FSR Redstone SDK are available on GPUOpen, making FSR implementation for games much easier via simple upgradable DLLs.

Analysis: FSR Redstone should make Nvidia sweat, but a lack of backwards compatibility is still an issue

It's arguable how much Nvidia might be worried about the prospect of losing its crown as the leading force in desktop graphics cards, given its heavy focus on AI these days, but I'm sure Team Green won't want to give up this dominance in a hurry.

But there's certainly a threat here from AMD FSR Redstone, which should be a major push towards closing the quality gap in upscaling and frame rate boosting technologies with Team Green's DLSS 4.

The main concern I have is that Redstone won't be available on non-RDNA 4 GPUs, and whether older graphics cards are going to be left out in the cold more as AMD treads this new upscaling path. Especially given that Nvidia's DLSS 4 is compatible with all RTX cards (albeit not with every feature).

If Team Green doesn't have anything up its sleeve in the near future, more specifically at CES 2026, I could see the spotlight starting to shift to AMD for PC gamers – it just depends on how well FSR Redstone is realized, and how well it's received by RDNA 4 GPU owners.

• Dell and Lenovo are expected to increase pricing for PC hardware
• The purported price hikes are a result of increased demand for memory
• These changes are slated for mid-December and early 2026

With the AI boom sparking a trend of significant price hikes on memory (specifically RAM kits) and, eventually, SSDs, there are plenty of reasons for PC users and gamers to be concerned – and two major brands are the latest to be impacted.

As reported by TrendForce, Dell and Lenovo will reportedly deliver price hikes on PC hardware; it's stated to be a 15 to 20% increase from mid-December for Dell, and unknown increase from early 2026 for Lenovo. This is a result of increased demand for memory for AI servers and issues with supply chains globally, which has ultimately led to increased DRAM (and VRAM) pricing.

We're already seeing similar signs on both Nvidia's and AMD's end; both are reportedly considering discontinuing budget graphics cards due to rising VRAM costs, and other rumors suggest Team Red is gearing up to increase its Radeon GPU prices.

Dell and Lenovo are responsible for a wide variety of pre-built desktop gaming PCs and laptops, while the latter has multiple handheld gaming PCs on the market. While the purported 15 to 20% price hike estimate is specific to Dell, it wouldn't be a surprise to see a very similar increase for Lenovo's products.

Considering how expensive RAM kits are, with some costing almost $1,000, it's not looking very good for PC (and even console) hardware at this stage, leading into 2026.

Analysis: If you thought handhelds were too expensive, it's only going to get worse

I have been very critical of manufacturers and brands setting obscene prices for handheld gaming PCs, notably Microsoft and Lenovo for the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Legion Go 2, respectively. If you share the same sentiment, I'm afraid that matters are only going to get worse.

While SSD price hikes haven't been ushered in just yet, they're expected to eventually rise at a similar rate to RAM price increases, which have already spiralled out of control.

Fortunately, I haven't yet spotted a major impact for RAM on pre-built PCs or handhelds' prices yet, but I worry that the recommendation to push for 32GB of RAM for gaming is where consumers may find issues.

When you combine both SSD and RAM price hikes, it's a duo that could lead to dark times for PC consumers. This goes for upcoming and current handhelds, as well as Valve's Steam Machine, which many gamers are already disregarding due to suggestions of an entry-level gaming PC price, and this will only worsen with RAM complications.

At this point, the only hope to reverse these price hikes will be a pop to the current AI bubble, which is seemingly impacting every region of technology. Will that happen though? At this stage, I don't think so.

Starforge Systems Frieren PC: Two-minute review

It's not every day I get to review a PC that looks this good. PC-building brand Starforge Systems makes some excellent pre-built systems worthy of standing among the best computers, but it's the company's collaboration builds that really stand out - and I've been lucky enough to get Starforge's latest themed PC, which is a collab with the popular new anime Frieren: Beyond Journey's End.

Starforge has previously run collabs for novel PC builds with popular media from across anime and gaming, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Path of Exile, and even Old School Runescape. Why am I reviewing this one specifically? 'Cos Frieren slaps, that's why. Chronicling the misadventures of an ancient and powerful (but also frequently goofy) elven mage, it features near the top of our best anime shows list for good reason, and season 2 is out in January - so if you haven't watched it already, get a move on!

Uh, anyway. Enough about the show. Let's actually talk about the PC Starforge has built: because it also slaps. A premium mid-tower gaming desktop with high-end components, it's fundamentally similar to the Voyager III system, with the most notable change being that it features an AMD graphics card rather than an Nvidia one (and that it has the cast of Frieren plastered all over it, obviously).

As far as PC builds go, it's nothing particularly wild outside the anime-themed aesthetics. I'll get more into the nitty-gritty of the internals down in the Design section, but the guts of this build should look largely familiar to anyone familiar with the art of custom PC building. It's exceptionally colorful when switched on, too; I played around a bit with the RGB settings and was easily able to set up a very pleasing white-and-green light scheme that matched the design of the case.

Thankfully, the performance is solid: this system can comfortably handle 1080p and 1440p gaming, and run all but the most demanding titles at 4K - though you might want to turn on AMD's FSR 3 upscaling for that, especially in ray-traced games like Cyberpunk 2077. If you want a gaming PC that can also pull double duty as a workstation for professional or hobbyist creative work, this system can get the job done.

The main downside for me here - other than the lack of an Nvidia RTX GPU, which does lock users out from using Nvidia's best-in-class upscaling and frame-generation tech - is the price. I'll do a full breakdown in the next section, but the cost is $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760).

That's not a terrible price, for sure; I took some time to sit down on PCPartPicker and tried to replicate this build as accurately as possible, and even opting for some cheaper components in the same performance bracket (like more budget-conscious RAM and storage), I landed at a price just barely south of $2,300.

The fancy backlit display panel and general extra design features here will be worth that extra two hundred bucks for some people, and the skyrocketing price of RAM will no doubt be pushing some people away from DIY-ing their next PC. Oh, and of course, if you buy from Starforge, you don't have to go through the pain of actually building the damn thing.

Starforge notably does bundle this PC with a large desk mat and acrylic wall art panel matching the Frieren aesthetic, too - which, when purchased individually, would run you an extra $110. Still, you're definitely paying a premium for the Frieren theme, so it's probably a PC you should only pick if you're a serious anime lover.

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Price & Availability

• Fixed price of $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760)
• Available now in the US, ships to UK and Australia
• Only one configuration available

There's only one model of the Frieren PC available, and it'll run you a total of $2,499.99 (around £1,870 / AU$3,760). As I noted above, that's only marginally above the price you're likely to pay to build your own similar system at the time of writing, though you'd obviously be missing out on the exclusive design starring everyone's favorite tiny but overpowered elf and her pals, plus the bundled artwork and desk mat.

It should also be noted for British and Australian shoppers that those GBP and AUD conversions don't include regional tax (VAT and GST, respectively), so you will actually end up paying a bit more once you factor in that and shipping fees. Americans, you already know the drill when it comes to sales tax.

So while the Starforge Systems Frieren PC is undeniably a rather expensive purchase, I can't knock it too hard for that; it's a niche collab targeting the crossover between PC gamers and a relatively new TV show fanbase, and the bundled extras soften the blow of the asking price.

The Frieren PC is already available to purchase directly from Starforge's website, with shipping to anywhere in the US, Europe, and Australia. All of Starforge's PCs come with a 2-year warranty, too.

• Value: 4 / 5

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Specs

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Design

• Clean, well-assembled internals
• Fantastic aesthetic with swappable platelights
• Potentially bigger than it really needs to be

I'll say this right out of the gate: even for a mid-tower system, this is a pretty chunky desktop PC. The specially-customized Lian Li O11 Dynamic case used for the Frieren PC is large, and there's quite a bit of negative space inside the case - this isn't the PC to buy if you're working with limited real estate on your desk.

Still, that extra room does mean that the Frieren PC has a lot of upgrade potential. Removing the glass side panel to root around inside the guts of this system is as easy as pie, and there's ample space for a bigger GPU if so desired in the future, too. Or, you know, an anime figurine...

Size aside, this is obviously one really good-looking system. The art quality is excellent, and the anime-themed print doesn't just extend to the glass panels; there's a separate piece of artwork depicting Frieren's previous adventuring party (shown in flashbacks in the show, which form an important part of her narrative development- okay, I'll shut up now) printed on the metal opposite side panel, as well as a large sigil on the top grille. It's also decked out with plenty of fully customizable RGB lighting, including two slim lightbars that run along the top and bottom edges of the panelling. There's also the usual abundance of ports on the back you'd expect from a gaming PC, and a pretty standard front I/O featuring USB-A, USB-C, and an audio jack.

I also feel compelled to say that this is one of the tidiest and most well-assembled pre-built PCs I've seen in years, rivalling many of the best gaming PCs. I'm not saying that most reputable PC-builders are messy with their builds, but Starforge's work here is clearly top-class, with masterful cable management. Even the space hidden beneath the vertical PSU shroud is tidy (an area I'm personally accustomed to using as the 'just stuff it out of sight' space in my own PC builds).

In addition to the Frieren-themed extras, you also get a pack containing all the additional bits and pieces that weren't used in the build - drive brackets from the case, spare screws, unused modular cables from the PSU, all that good stuff. Not all PC-builders include this superfluous kit, but it's highly useful if you choose to upgrade your system further down the line.

One particularly nice inclusion here - also seen in some of Starforge Systems' other premium pre-built PCs - is the 'platelight'. That's the tall, thin acrylic art strip with LED backlighting you can see in some of the photos I've taken; pop off the other side panel, and you can easily slide it out and replace it with a different piece of illuminated artwork. Starforge sells a variety of these on its site (there are four other Frieren ones besides the default one included here), which range from other collabs to striking original artwork. You could even theoretically make your own, since it's just artwork printed on a rectangular slab of translucent acrylic.

• Design: 5 / 5

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Performance

• Strong gaming and creative performance
• CPU performance is okay, but not spectacular for the price
• Fans are impressively quiet even under load

Powered by the excellent AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card, the Frieren PC has no issues running the latest PC games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, and can easily spring to 4K without dropping below 60 frames per second in many titles too. If you're willing to switch on upscaling with FSR 3 (and you really should be at this point, as upscaling tech has come a long way in recent years), 4K gaming is comfortably within reach here.

I got stable framerates at 1440p and 4K in all the listed games (plus Black Myth: Wukong, which I'm currently playing through) except Cyberpunk 2077, which struggled a little once ray tracing was turned on. If you're willing to do a very small amount of fiddling in the graphical settings, though, virtually any game should be playable at 4K on this PC.

Considering the synthetic test results too, it's safe to say that this PC is also able to comfortably handle creative workloads such as video editing and 3D rendering. If you're a creative professional who also happens to be an anime fan, this might actually be the perfect computer for you.

CPU performance is a little less impressive, though still good. Although the Intel Core i5-14600K chip inside the Frieren PC is fast, as an i5 CPU, it's fundamentally just not a high-end processor. That has the potential to create minor bottlenecks in CPU-heavy programs, particularly single-core workloads. It's perfectly sufficient for 99% of use cases, but there will potentially be some users who want to do a lot of stuff beyond gaming on their PC, and this should be an important consideration if you're one of those people.

That i5 chip lacks a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) for handling AI workloads, but that doesn't matter in the slightest, since the far more powerful Radeon GPU can handle locally-run AI tasks to a good degree. This is a fairly niche application, though, so unless you already know you're going to be running AI software locally (or you're planning on building your own LLM) it shouldn't be a major concern.

Lastly, I'd like to note that despite its hefty size and six case fans (plus two on the GPU), it's surprisingly quiet in operation. Airflow overall seems good, with vertical pressure venting heat efficiently (I saw no significant component temperature spikes during my tests). Sure, you can hear the fans, but considering how much whine some PCs put out when running a demanding game or program, I have to say I was impressed at how little noise this system produces.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Starforge Systems Frieren PC?

Buy the Starforge Systems Frieren PC if...

Don't buy it if...

Starforge Systems Frieren PC review: Also Consider

How I tested the Starforge Systems Frieren PC

• Tested for two weeks
• Used for work, video calls, and general internet use
• Replaced my usual desktop for gaming

I tested the Starforge Systems Frieren PC for a set period of two weeks, during which it replaced my usual home office desktop (a similarly beefy system). I naturally used it for everyday work from home, which usually involves straightforward tasks like word processing, emailing, and web research, but also image editing using GIMP.

As usual with PC reviews, I ran the Frieren PC through our usual suite of benchmarking tests, which includes both in-game and synthetic benchmarks, as well as using it daily for my own gaming activities - it ran Black Myth: Wukong and Doom: The Dark Ages great (and Stardew Valley, but that could run on a lemon clock). Aside from gaming, I also used it for a few other online activities; I'm rewatching Twin Peaks, and on two occasions, it played host to my regular virtual TTRPG session.

I've been reviewing PC hardware for more than seven years and have been a PC gamer for more than twice that time, with so many laptop and desktop reviews under my belt at numerous different publications that I genuinely can't even count them. This was my first time reviewing a system from Starforge, and needless to say, I came away from the experience impressed (and quite frankly, frustrated that I couldn't keep it).

• First reviewed: December 2025
• Read more about how we test

• Two major boutique PC makers are warning about memory-driven price increases
• Maingear's CEO tells us to consider buying now, as RAM 'prices will continue to rise'
• CyberPowerPC says the prices of its gaming PCs are going up from December 7 due to the RAM price hikes

If you want more evidence that Black Friday might be the best time to buy a new PC, then we've just been treated to another couple of nuggets (among other recent warnings).

This isn't just about new PCs, mind, but specifically the price of memory rising sharply – so system RAM is now suddenly very expensive, as is storage (a different kind of memory, of course). The combined rise in the cost of RAM and SSDs means pressure is being put on the price of new desktop computers with these components inside. (GPUs are another casualty here, too, as these boards use video RAM, compounding the difficulties for PC manufacturers).

The first nugget comes from Wccftech interviewing the CEO of PC maker Maingear, Wallace Santos, asking what advice he'd give to consumers who are building, or upgrading, a PC, given the possibility analysts have raised that memory shortages might continue into 2027.

Santos observed: "We’ve already seen DRAM prices skyrocket due to the shortages and are holding off those price changes for our customers as long as we can. For consumers that are interested in getting a new PC or upgrading their current system’s GPU, SSD or RAM, they should consider shopping now and looking for offerings that have not seen price increases yet."

On top of that, VideoCardz flagged that CyberPowerPC, another supplier of prebuilt computers, has announced on X that the prices of its gaming PCs will be going up as of December 7 due to unfavorable market conditions, namely those memory price hikes.

CyberPowerPC says that RAM prices have surged by 500% and that SSD prices have doubled, and that this obviously has a direct impact on the cost of its gaming PCs, an effect that has been felt since the start of October.

Analysis: RAM raisers

CyberPowerPC is correct when it notes that October was when RAM prices really shot up, after several months of warnings that this was going to happen. Although nobody predicted the magnitude of these rises (which actually started late in September, based on what I've seen, but that's nit-picking really – the gist is it's a recent development).

Has the price of memory increased sixfold, though, over the past two months? Well, no, not for consumers anyway. RAM kits have doubled in cost, or in worst-case scenarios come close to trebling – which is still a nightmarish rise, of course.

CyberPowerPC notes in the replies on the highlighted thread on X that its "price increases will be temporary" and they will "adjust back accordingly when market conditions change". The PC maker mentions that its current projected increase in price is in the order of $80 for a PC with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, and $160 for a gaming rig with 32GB and a 2TB SSD.

So, if you are thinking of buying a new PC, a Black Friday deal is likely your best bet for possibly quite some time. Because firstly, you'll likely be able to find some kind of a discount, and secondly, you're getting in before these price hikes really start to be felt.

As Maingear's CEO notes, the PCs it's selling now were sheltered from the price hikes, as the components were bought a while back. But that won't be the case for much longer, and indeed Santos makes it clear that the situation is going to get worse, saying: "I anticipate that the prices will continue to rise and then we will eventually have to increase our lead times as stock and allocation becomes constrained."

While CyberPowerPC talks about 'temporary' prices rises, don't let that give you the impression that they will be short-lived – it just means they won't be permanent. As to how temporary these hikes might be, the overall buzz is suggesting that 2026 is going to be a bad year for memory pricing, and maybe we might witness an actual RAM drought.

Attach the usual caveat about not having a crystal ball, but it's getting to the point where it's difficult to believe that this memory shortage isn't going to be a full-blown crisis throughout much, if not all, of next year, and perhaps on into 2027. And if you're looking at PC components, it's kind of too late for RAM, but a Black Friday deal on an SSD or particularly a graphics card could be a smart move, too. We also have the best Black Friday laptop deals if you want to go that route as well.

Finding the best gaming PC for you in 2026 can be tricky, as the ideal rig for your personal needs will vary greatly depending on your budget, desktop setup, and what games you want to play.

Unfortunately, we're also in the middle of a worldwide RAM shortage, which is battering the PC-building space with sky-high prices on not just RAM, but also SSDs and graphics cards. The good (if slightly strange) news here is that pre-built systems haven't been quite so badly affected just yet, turning my age-old advice on it's head: gone is the recommendation to build your own PC from scratch to save money, now pre-built machines are the way to go.

So, finding the best gaming PC in 2026 is harder than ever, but it's not impossible, and that's where this guide comes in. I've picked the top desktop PCs for gaming from some of the most trustworthy PC builders on the market, and I've not just limited this guide to ultra-expensive, high-end rigs either – there are PCs for all kinds of budgets and favored game genres. After all, if you just want to play indie games or (whisper it) emulate some classic titles, a PC with a monster GPU would be a waste of money.

On the other hand, if your go-to library consists of immersive, graphically demanding adventures like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2, you may want all the bells and whistles that top-tier graphics can get you.

Each gaming PC on this page has been thoroughly tested by TechRadar's computing team, and I've hand-picked each one to ensure that we're only suggesting the best of the best, so read on for our latest buying advice and independant reviews on the top gaming PCs you can buy right now, and make sure to check out our guides on the best budget gaming PCs, and best gaming laptops as well.

The best gaming PC in 2026

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the gaming PCs I've carefully hand-selected. This list isn't in a specific ranked order, but rather broken down by manufacturer, and since each PC is configurable, it's a little different from our normal buying guides. So if you see a PC you like, rest assured that we've thoroughly tested it and are confident recommending it for your setup.

The best Alienware Gaming PC

I'm kicking this list off with one of the best looking gaming PCs I've ever seen. The Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop is as much of a joy to look at as it is to play on.

It's also a great option if you're short on desk space thanks to its compact form factor. That does make it a bit more difficult to upgrade down the line, but far from impossible. And it does come with the added benefits of saving space and being easier to transport.

But what's under the hood? The entry-level configuration starts at $1,499.99 and offers an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. That's a fantastic 1080p gaming machine, perfect for the esports titles I mentioned earlier like Counter-Strike.

On the other end of the spectrum, you can get a Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 4TB SSD. There are 11 total configurations, so you can find a deal that fits the level of performance you need.

Read our full Alienware Aurora Gaming Desktop review

The best Corsair Gaming PC

The Corsair One i500 gaming PC is a remarkable product, bringing fantastic gaming performance and design together into a single, small-form-factor PC that fits as easily into your living room's decor as it does with your existing PC gaming setup.

Featuring an eye-catching wooden front panel with fabric side panels reminiscent of a stereo speaker, this showpiece gaming PC is a perfect fit if you're not into flashy RGB and see-through side panels. Starting at $2,299.99/£2,599.99, this isn't the most budget-friendly option on the list, but it is easily one of the best designs. Corsair has configurations ranging from an Nvidia RTX 4070 Super at the most affordable end to the RTX 5080 at the most premium.

While you can upgrade the RAM and SSD easily enough by removing a few screws, upgrading the CPU and GPU is going to be a much taller order, so this is really only for those who want a one-and-done PC gaming solution that they won't need to tinker with for many years to come.

Read our full Corsair One i500 review

Before making your final choice, check out our latest Corsair promo codes to save on Corsair products.

The best Dell gaming PC

The Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a very interesting machine. On the outside, it looks like a normal office PC - and if you choose the most affordable models, that's what you get. But if you check out the other configurations, you'll quickly find some hidden gems.

Since you're after a gaming PC, I'd stay away from the base configuration here, which features integrated graphics and only 512GB of storage. One tier up, though, gets you to a solid entry-level gaming desktop equipped with an RTX 5060, Intel Core Ultra 7 265, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for just $1,449.99 (and it frequently goes on sale - it's down to just $1,049.99 at the time of writing this update).

With 15 different specs on offer here, there's something for everyone. As long as you like the "sleeper build" look, the Dell Tower Plus is a fantastic option for gaming.

There are also plenty of ports for your peripherals, and there's a ton of room for upgradeability here if you want to add more RAM, get a new SSD, or replace your graphics card.

Read our full Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) review

The best Quoted gaming PC

The Quoted Tech Shield stands out as an affordable gaming PC that delivers impressive 1080p frame rates and maintains playable 1440p performance. Its appeal is immediate for buyers who want strong gaming results without overspending.

Getting started with the Shield is simple, and even those new to desktop setups will find the process approachable. Our hands-on experience confirmed that setup takes just a few minutes, with clear instructions and no surprises along the way.

Design-wise, the Shield keeps things straightforward. The compact, all-black case blends in easily, and opening the chassis for upgrades or cleaning is easy. Day-to-day usability is helped by a practical selection of ports, including several USB-A and 3.5mm audio jacks on the top panel. However, you won’t find any USB-C ports, which may limit compatibility with the latest accessories.

The main drawback comes down to build quality. The case is noticeably more fragile than many rivals, with thinner paneling that could raise concerns for those moving it around often or aiming for long-term use. Compared to the Alienware Aurora and Corsair One i500, the Quoted Tech Shield trades away some customization and high-end design for better value and reliable mid-tier performance.

Against the Lenovo Legion Tower 5, the Shield remains the more budget-friendly pick, offering solid performance but conceding on sturdiness. For a full breakdown of benchmarks, upgrade paths, and thermal results, check out our full review.

Read our full Quoted Tech Shield review

The best Lenovo gaming PC

The Lenovo Legion Tower is configurable like the rest of the options on this list are, but you're going to find more higher-end builds here with fewer entry-level specs.

That's because this machine is made to be a good looking workhorse, routinely pumping out triple-digit FPS numbers in AAA games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and F1 2024 on the highest settings at 1080p.

If you move your PC relatively often (to and from a friend's or parents' houses), this may not be the best choice for you because of its heavy case. But the flipside is that it offers outstanding durability for at-home use.

Our Reviews Writer Lewis Maddison praised the Legion Tower for staying cool and quiet while playing resource-intensive games, which is one of the best things you can say about a prebuilt rig in my mind. No one wants a space heater PC that ends up turning your FPS into a slide show due to thermal throttling - you won't have to worry about that here.

Read our full Lenovo Legion Tower 5 review

The best NZXT gaming PC

The NZXT Player PC line is the most customizable on this list, offering just under 20 different configurations to match your needs and budget.

The NZXT Player One and One Prime lineup starts you off at entry-level builds, while the Player Three and Player Three Prime models start at high-end rigs and prices.

Our review unit was the Player One PC (5070 Intel edition) and offered a great blend of the three main gaming PC checkboxes: performance, budget, and design.

Not only is the mid-tower ATX case nice and airy for efficient cooling, but it also features solid cable management options, a sleek design, and plenty of ports for your gaming keyboard, mouse, headphones, and any other accessories that help you play at your best.

Our contributor James Holland was able to hit a consistent 70 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 (at 1080p Ultra settings) and 182 FPS in Total War: Warhammer III (Ultra, 1080p), meaning there's some fantastic performance on offer here.

Read our full NZXT Player PC (5070 Intel Edition) review

The best mini gaming PC

I couldn't complete this list without a mini PC option, and one came to mind immediately. The Asus ROG NUC is tiny but mighty, packing Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics and a Core Ultra processor into an incredibly svelte form factor.

Since it's a mini PC, you're not going to have the best luck with upgradability here - you can only swap out the RAM and SSD - but you do reap the reward of a high-powered gaming PC that you can slip in a backpack and take on the go.

At just 11.1 x 7.4 x 2.2in / 28.2cm x 18.8cm x 5.7cm, you may be surprised to hear that the ROG NUC (2025) still provides all the essential ports you need for gaming, including 6x USB-A 3.2, 2x USB-C, 2x HDMI 2.1, and 2x DisplayPort 2.1. That's more than you'll find on most tower desktops!

And of course, with the fantastic high-end components carefully assembled inside, you're going to see some eye-watering FPS numbers. Our Computing Editor Christian Guyton was able to reach a stable 148 FPS average in Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra settings) - seriously impressive numbers for a machine this tiny.

Read our full Asus ROG NUC (2025) review

The best gaming PC: FAQs

How to choose the best gaming PC for you

Since building a gaming PC from scratch can be pricey and a bit of a hassle, buying the best gaming PC you can afford makes the whole process easier. And with some recent offerings from companies like HP and Dell, you don't even necessarily have to spend a fortune either. Still, it's always good to go in knowing what you're looking for within your budget.

Whether you’re playing the best PC games or the best free games to save a bit of coin, your priority should be choosing something that manages to be within your budget without compromising on performance or scrimping on vital features like a healthy port selection and appealing RGB lighting.

That could very well mean the very best prebuilt gaming PC that will see you through 4K gaming at high frame rates, or one of the best budget gaming PCs that will give you a smooth 1080p gaming experience at an accessible price point. Don’t worry so much about the frills and the design unless your budget is flexible or you’ve got deep pockets.

Once you’ve decided on your budget, you should pick a computer with the best GPU you can afford. You’ll want at least an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 (or RX 7800 XT) or better if you plan on gaming in 4K while an RTX 4060 Ti can handle 1440p gaming. While you want a CPU that can keep up like Intel Core i5 or i7, pre-built PCs won’t come with underperforming CPUs. AMD also offer the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 CPUs which suit mid-range systems well.

You should also make sure you have enough speedy RAM and fast storage capable of keeping up. These days, 16GB DDR4 memory is the bare minimum, I recommend at least 16GB of DDR5 if you can stretch to it. Plenty of SSD storage is ideal as well, since many top titles take up a lot of space, although you can always get an additional drive later down the line. Now, it's far more common to find much faster DDR5 kits (even at the budget end of the scale) so opt for the fast memory if you can.

Finally, make sure you have enough money for quality peripherals as well. After all, a gaming PC is only as good as its peripherals. Only when coupled with the best gaming monitor and the best gaming keyboards will your gaming setup be fully complete. You won't want to skimp on the audio either; that's where the best computer speakers come into play, as some displays lack inbuilt options, and they don't sound all too good when compared to the best gaming TVs.

How we tested out best gaming PC picks

A gaming PC is a big purchase that shouldn’t be taken lightly, which is why we don’t take our testing lightly either. Testing gaming PCs is always a comprehensive undertaking for us, using them to play not only the latest or hottest games but also older yet still demanding titles as well, noting things like performance – especially in gaming – as well as noise and thermal efficiency. We also run synthetic benchmarks like PCMark 10, 3DMark, and Geekbench 6.

Furthermore, we take a look at its design: things like the number of available ports, expandability and upgradability, RGB lighting, and accessibility that its chassis offers. Build quality is an important factor in the best prebuilt gaming PC, so we also look at a PC's price and if any piece of hardware feels cheap or flimsy in an expensive product, it's going to get marked down.

For good measure, we’ll also check how it does with daily tasks because most of us don’t only use our gaming PCs for gaming; it serves as our everyday computer as well. We then take everything we’ve learned about the gaming PC and compare it to its price – whether or not its performance and features are worth that price tag, and whether or not it offers the best value to customers.

For more information about our process, see how we test.

• Microsoft's Xbox Full Screen Experience is coming to all Windows 11 handhelds
• This is happening from today, at least for major vendors
• More minor players in the Windows 11 handheld market might take more time to roll it out, but in the meantime, support can be fudged

If you've been jealously eyeing the Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) that came with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, then here's some great news – it's now available for all handhelds.

As VideoCardz reports, during its Xbox Partner Preview broadcast, Microsoft revealed a bunch of new games, and also brought the news that the FSE is "generally available" from today, November 21, across "all gaming handhelds currently in market".

As noted, initially this streamlined interface, which makes the UI much friendlier for a gaming device with a small screen, was showcased only on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally when it first emerged.

Soon after, though, it was brought to the MSI Claw (in preview), but now we're getting it across all Windows 11 handhelds as a full release.

Microsoft further notes: "Plus, we're expanding FSE to more Windows 11 PC form factors through the Xbox and Windows Insider programs soon."

That's been taken as a hint that the rumored next-gen Xbox PC will be built on the FSE, which would be an obvious route for Microsoft to take, of course.

Analysis: FSE for all – well, almost, but some fudging may still be required for now

While you can fudge it so that an unsupported Windows 11 handheld runs the FSE, obviously it's much better to have the officially delivered version on your portable, and that's the case for everyone from today. Microsoft appears to be nicely ahead of schedule here, as it was initially believed that some gaming handhelds wouldn't get the FSE until early 2026.

That's great news because the FSE isn't just about the streamlined interface that's easier to navigate with a controller, but it also saves on system resources (freeing up RAM), which is a huge bonus for handhelds in terms of games running more smoothly and granting them better battery life.

While I said that everyone gets the FSE now, that may not be the case quite yet for some gamers. While owners of a device from the major handheld manufacturers, which includes Asus, MSI and Lenovo, should benefit from the FSE right now (or imminently), it's not clear when this feature might debut with some of the more obscure brands out there – at least in terms of the general public – such as Ayaneo or GPD.

That depends on how quick those vendors are with their respective rollouts, and we'll just have to see, but for now, more enthusiast gamers (the typical buyers of these models) have been fudging support, anyway.

It's worth noting that the FSE is not a panacea for all the hitches that you'll run into using Windows 11 on a handheld, but it's nonetheless a sizeable step forward in terms of catching up with SteamOS.

It's no secret by now that Valve's reveal of the Steam Machine was a huge surprise for everyone, considering its silence (albeit warranted) after the Steam Deck OLED's launch in 2023 on any potential new PC gaming hardware.

While we're not quite there yet with a Steam Deck successor to possibly join the ranks of the best handheld game consoles, we're receiving a powerhouse gaming system (in comparison to Valve's handheld) that has briefly shaken up the console gaming space, based on initial reception.

It's very early days, as we don't have a full picture of what pricing or game performance will look like, but Valve has done enough to perhaps make Sony and Microsoft quake in their boots with a system that looks poised to provide more value in gaming than ever before. If it sticks to the Steam Deck's pricing template, and the 4K 60fps claims from Valve are accurate, it could reshape gaming forever.

However, we've already touched on what it means for console gaming, specifically Sony and Microsoft's PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S, respectively. Now, the question is, what exactly will the Steam Machine change for PC gamers?

1. PC couch gaming is about to blossom

PC gaming from the couch on a huge TV isn't unheard of. Matter of fact, it's something that I do frequently for games or movies when I need a break from sitting at my desktop after working, but not everyone has a long enough HDMI cable to facilitate that (the one I bought wasn't cheap either).

Custom gaming PCs and their chassis are not usually designed to fit under or on TV units, and while small PC builds and mini-PCs exist, they're not very mainstream.

The Steam Machine completely changes that narrative, entering the console-like gaming sphere with a design that's specifically made for TV and couch gaming, thanks to its small chassis, which is so small that gamers are lauding it as the 'Gabecube' (honestly, thank you Gabe Newell), striking a very familiar look to Nintendo's Gamecube.

PC couch gaming will likely now become a normality for a wider range of PC gamers, whether that's by buying a Steam Machine, or building a small form factor custom PC with SteamOS (likely Bazzite) installed.

2. Potential influx of console players

I've noticed a lot of gamers who are console-only suggest a potential move over to the PC ecosystem over the last few years. However, the limiting factor has always been the worry of unfamiliarity with PC components, maintenance, and configurations.

With the Steam Machine, that's no longer an obstacle for gamers looking to make the shift, as there will be no need to worry about building the system from scratch, nor will there be any concern about replacing the CPU or GPU, as both are soldered onto the Steam Machine's motherboard.

As far as we know, the only interchangeable components are the system's SSD and RAM, with the former being no different from a game console's basic teardown, and the latter being slightly more involved.

Acknowledging this, I have zero doubts that we will see an influx of console gamers making their way over to PC. Since this is SteamOS we're talking about, this opens up so many doors, specifically regarding Steam Families, as sharing games with close family or friends will be easier for individuals who may have been solo (like me) on PC before the Steam Machine's arrival.

3. Extra developer pressure for better PC ports and optimization

If there's one thing I've noticed that plays an integral part in why PC players usually get the short end of the stick with game ports compared to console players, it's the wide variety of PC configurations that exist. That's not to excuse poor game optimization, but rather to highlight why it's such a common issue, and the introduction of the Steam Machine could change that.

With one mainstream configuration, just like a Sony or Microsoft console, game developers may be pressured to ensure their games are up to standard performance-wise before launching on the Steam Machine. Since it's also seen as an entry-level gaming PC, that should have a knock-on effect for a wider range of low-end gaming PC configurations, receiving PC ports that arrive with better polish.

This would be helped further if the Steam Machine manages to become a massive hit in the market, and if Valve uses the Deck Verified category for Steam Machine games as something along the lines of 'Machine Verified' (and that's exactly what I'm expecting it to do).

4. Third-party manufacturers create similar builds

In the event that consumers buy the Steam Machine when it launches in 2026, and they're not pleased with its performance capabilities, it seems likely that Valve is opening the door for third-party manufacturers to build similar mini hybrid PC consoles that use SteamOS, with more powerful hardware.

This was highlighted by our friends at PC Gamer, and with the likes of Framework, which manufactures modular laptops, it wouldn't be a shock to see if we get third-party models from other OEMs like MSI, Lenovo, Asus, who decide to introduce more powerful offerings later down the line.

Now, it's not like mini-PCs with more powerful processors don't exist, as there's plenty already available. The difference is if Valve specifically chooses to expand SteamOS official compatibility and licenses for these mini-PCs, and the Steam Machine gives it the ideal opportunity to make it happen.

For now, Valve's motto seems to be ensuring gaming performance is at an acceptable standard with the demanding modern-day titles we're getting, while also not including expensive hardware that will ultimately spoil the appeal of affordability – and I'm here for it.

The console gaming market has included a big three for decades, with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo dominating the space by providing powerful consoles to fuel great couch gaming experiences. Sony's PlayStation 5 is the latest to outperform its rival, with sales that have surpassed every Xbox console.

Now, there's a new contestant in town. Valve recently announced the Steam Machine, which is virtually its second attempt at a hybrid PC console experience, powered by a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6-core processor and an RDNA 3 28CU (compute units) GPU.

Its small form factor, alongside its console-like connectivity (via HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4) and operating system, automatically places this in the same conversation as the aforementioned console big hitters.

Instead of console gamers being limited to PlayStation or Xbox exclusives (mostly the former), the Steam Machine bridges the gap by offering a couch-TV gaming setup, with a wider range of games to play via Steam – many of which were once PlayStation exclusives.

Whether many want to admit it or not, the Steam Machine poses a major threat to both Sony and Microsoft and their PS5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles, respectively, especially since the latter is entering a phase of identity crisis as a console brand.

If Valve manages to strike an appealing price point for the Steam Machine and showcase performance that isn't too far off from its new competition, then yes, Sony and Microsoft should absolutely be worried.

However, I must stress that I do have concerns about a few minor and maybe some potential major issues regarding whether Valve will be able to make Xbox and PlayStation look over their shoulder.

1. Only 8GB of VRAM is a concern in 2025

Perhaps the biggest concern of all is that the Steam Machine's 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM for games is something I've vehemently opposed across all systems, whether it's a gaming laptop or desktop GPU, as it's often a limitation on performance in demanding games.

I've recently been testing a review unit of an RTX 5070 gaming laptop using 8GB of VRAM, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at how capable it was at 1080p and 1440p resolutions while using upscaling methods. So, I wouldn't exactly say 8GB of VRAM is completely useless – I mean, based on Steam's hardware surveys, 1080p is still the most common resolution used.

However, the concern from myself and others is valid when looking at the system's longevity, and how modern games are very much indeed VRAM-hungry, but I also think it's worth noting that the move for only 8GB of VRAM is likely done on Valve's part to ensure the Steam Machine's price isn't out of whack.

Tools like frame generation will matter more when playing at lower resolutions like 1080p (where VRAM usage is far lower than it is at 4K), and super-resolution upscaling will be ideal when gaming at 4K, as it will ultimately decrease VRAM usage.

Regardless, I still worry that either aggressive upscaling will be involved, such as using FSR 3 performance mode, or users will have to lower graphics settings significantly to avoid maxing out the 8GB of VRAM and achieve the 60fps at 4K that Valve claims.

Overall, I'm sure it will be game-dependent, and more worrisome for gamers playing titles that are poorly optimized, and I suspect the best middle ground would be playing at 1440p, but let's wait to see performance tests once it launches.

2. Pricing could make or break the Steam Machine

Let's get one thing straight here: I completely trust Valve to make the Steam Machine as affordable as possible, as it has done with the Steam Deck. The problem is, I'm worried that pricing might not be as affordable and accessible as many of us are expecting.

That's not on Valve either, but rather the market regarding SSDs and RAM. NAND flash prices are on another sudden rise due to a shortage and high demand from AI data centers, and the same applies to RAM sticks, which are currently facing a significant price hike on the consumer end in the US.

The only hope here is that Valve feels that a low and affordable price for the Steam Machine won't be a major loss (due to increased SSD and RAM prices) from manufacturing costs, especially because Valve already has plenty of financial success from its Steam storefront.

What gives me even more faith is that Valve launched the Steam Deck during the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the demand for SSDs, and frankly, all things electronics, was in high demand with increased pricing.

If the price isn't right for the Steam Machine, it's not going to do Valve many favors, so hopefully it hits a sweet spot – and personally, I'm expecting something around $650 / £500 / AU$1,000.

3. Valve may only sell on the Steam storefront

I completely stand by this principle Valve has set with selling its products, notably the Steam Deck, on its Steam storefront exclusively, because it's proven to do a great job at limiting scalpers from spoiling the fun for genuine consumers. It also implemented measures that only allowed one Steam Deck per Steam account, making it harder for scalping overall.

So what's the problem in regard to the Steam Machine then? If Valve is intent on competing with Sony and Microsoft's current-gen gaming consoles, then I have no doubts that selling this new hybrid PC console on Steam only will impact sales.

To be clear, there will more than likely be a significant amount of gamers who are unfamiliar with Steam coming from consoles, or those diving into gaming for the first time, and I would assume Valve would also implement the one per account method.

Not every consumer will be willing to sign up to Steam via multiple accounts to buy the system for themselves or others, and again, Steam alone can't outshine the pull that Amazon, Best Buy, Argos (UK), Newegg, or any other major retailer has for consumers buying new products.

I just hope that if the Steam Machine does stay exclusive to the Steam storefront, it doesn't limit its reach and potential to give the PS5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles a run for their money.

Valve has sent waves of excitement across the gaming world with the unveiling of its new mini gaming PC, the Steam Machine, which runs SteamOS and surprised gamers across both the PC and console ecosystems. Valve seems intent on providing a console gaming experience while maintaining a large slice of its PC gaming identity.

With hardware that may just about challenge both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, we're looking at a potential serious contender within the console gaming market space. While the Steam Machine isn't an outright gaming console, it's essentially placed within a hybrid PC console space, which (on paper, according to specifications) looks like it could get close to the Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo consoles.

For now, though, that's not the focus. For current PC gamers, the Steam Machine has the potential to introduce many solutions to gaming on SteamOS, and a variety of them are improvements we're actively seeing (specifically for handhelds).

However, two potential huge impacts stand out that the Steam Machine could have on PC gamers on Linux – whether that be those currently using the Fedora-based Linux distro, Bazzite, or any other SteamOS clone, with the hopes of moving away from Microsoft's Windows 11 for good.

The Steam Machine could force better anti-cheat support for Linux

I've covered this topic before, with very little hope that any changes would come from it; publishers such as EA and Activision are seemingly very stubborn with their anti-cheat systems. While the aim is to eliminate cheaters in multiplayer games, anti-cheat is already frowned upon since it doesn't completely work, and poses some potential security vulnerabilities.

Perhaps the bigger issue, though, is that these anti-cheat systems are not designed to work on Linux, as they require kernel access that can easily be bypassed there, meaning SteamOS gamers miss out on big titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6.

These games can run on SteamOS, but until publishers and developers decide to alter their anti-cheat systems to work on Linux, nothing can be done to solve it.

That's exactly where the Steam Machine is a big player; if this new hybrid gaming PC console can manage to perform well in the gaming market, and make the likes of Sony and Microsoft sweat a little, then it increases the chances of EA, Activision, and many other game developers and publishers having their hands forced to make their anti-cheat run on Linux.

It's been done already with games like Splitgate 2, where the developer updated its anti-cheat system to work on SteamOS using Proton. This is arguably the biggest reason why gamers like me are reluctant to move away from Windows 11 – and once that changes, so will my main operating system.

Valve may consider full SteamOS desktop PC support

While I absolutely love SteamOS and what it has to offer for handheld gaming PCs, there's not so much luck when it comes to desktop gaming PCs.

Valve currently doesn't offer official SteamOS support for desktop PCs, and yes, Bazzite exists exactly for this – however, that's still in beta with major caveats for Nvidia GPU users, and official SteamOS support from Valve itself is more reliable than an unofficial alternative.

I'm not suggesting Bazzite is bad, far from it, but Valve's support could open the door for the likes of the Epic Games Launcher or Rockstar Games Launcher coming to the OS with official versions. Game launchers might be a far fetch, but what isn't is a better Discord version for Linux that can be used in SteamOS game mode, without streaming issues or random crashes.

With the Steam Machine, that potential reality is made possible, as this is essentially the first time Valve has created a mini PC (outside of the Steam Deck) that is using the latest and arguably the best version of SteamOS.

It wouldn't be a surprise, then, if we saw an official announcement where support is offered for a wider range of PC setups, especially since this is already the case with the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld.

Ultimately, these factors would put the final nail in the coffin for me with Windows 11, making gaming on PC much easier and simpler, without the frustrations of highly frequent bugs or bloatware.

• The once Sunday Dragon 3D One prototype handheld is now launching mid-November as the abxylute 3D One
• The company claims it will be the 'world's first' glasses-free 3D handheld gaming PC
• Its retail price will be $1,799, costing nearly as much as GPD Win 5, which is the most powerful handheld gaming PC

The handheld gaming PC market is seeing new additions in quick succession, with the recent launch of the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally devices – and this new, ambitious one might just be the most ludicrous yet.

As reported by Notebookcheck, the abxylute 3D One handheld is launching on Kickstarter (a crowdfunding platform), with an estimated November 13 release date. Retail pricing is $1,799, while early-bird pricing is $1,499 for a limited time.

The abxylute 3D One handheld has a 10.95-inch screen, possibly the biggest handheld gaming PC screen we've seen yet, with a 2560x1600 display resolution, using Intel's impressive Lunar Lake Core Ultra 7 258V (also found in the MSI Claw 8 AI+) – and abxylute also claims this is the 'world's first' glasses-free 3D PC handheld.

This device might ring a bell if you tuned into CES 2025 coverage, as there was a handheld called the Sunday Dragon 3D One in its prototype phase from Tencent – and there was a chance that it wouldn't have even seen the light of day, but here we are, with the abxylute 3D One based on the concept.

It certainly isn't the world's first glasses-free 3D handheld gaming device, given the Nintendo 3DS. Still, it can technically be the world's first glasses-free 3D handheld gaming PC if it launches before the DigiEra HoloMax laptop-handheld hybrid PC, which appears possible, as the latter hasn't launched yet.

If it wasn't obvious already, I think this is quite ludicrous, just as I first thought when the prototype was revealed earlier this January, alongside the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 (priced at $1,099). Both of these handhelds have a ridiculously oversized 11-inch screen, which disregards any idea of portability (mind you, that's one of the most important aspects of a handheld), but what makes the abxylute 3D One arguably the worst offender is the $1,799 retail price.

There's already plenty of criticism from consumers (and me) about handheld prices, and this manages to cost almost as much as the most powerful handheld on the market, the GPD Win 5 (using AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395), without meeting the same performance capabilities.

Many may feel that the glasses-free 3D capability isn't warranted, and especially not the 11-inch display size, which pushes a handheld into the territory of a gaming laptop. It's another clear reminder of why Valve's Steam Deck has been so successful, sticking to affordability, with a reasonable display size, and a processor that does more than enough for handheld gaming.

There's no doubt that there will be an audience for an 11-inch handheld, but as I mentioned before, let's hope this is the limit for handheld devices, because it's not a great look as it stands.

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Two-minute review

When the rebooted Alienware Aurora R16 launched some years ago, we praised it as a capable pre-built gaming desktop that balanced a unique design with capable performance.

This time around, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) brings the same distinctive and compact design that feels more office-friendly, yet still has that Alienware flair, thanks to its sleek aesthetic.

Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40, the Aurora delivers solid performance across the configuration stack, though higher-spec configurations will obviously see the best performance. It also features some really clever ventilation alongside easy access to its internals, though the interior is rather uninspiring.

For many, the proprietary motherboard and limited upgradability, once configured, are also slightly problematic.

All that said, one thing that just might make this the best gaming PC around is the wide variety of configurations on offer, split between RTX 5060, RTX 5060 Ti, RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080 GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra 7 and Core Ultra 9 CPUs, with lots of options for storage and memory.

My $2,049.99 / £2,148.98 / AU$3,699.30 review build came packed with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF, Nvidia RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. That’s just enough for 1440p gaming at respectable frame rates, though our benchmarks showed that there hasn’t been much of a framerate gain in many games over the Aurora R16 from 2023.

However, the latest models can play more recently released games like Doom: The Dark Ages and Black Myth: Wukong at good frame rates if settings expectations are managed.

On the other hand, a game like Cyberpunk 2077, which was already fairly old back in 2023, doesn’t gain significant FPS with the 50-series GPU either, unless you use multi-frame generation, which can sometimes introduce a distracting input latency under heavy load.

That said, the new RTX GPUs do feature better AI upscaling through DLSS 4, and the Alienware Command Center app does help a bit when attempting to fine-tune performance.

Other customization options, such as the various RGB lighting settings for the power button, light ring, and other lights, can be managed through the app, too.

Right now, the Aurora R16 remains a striking desktop that blends futuristic design with solid performance, but its limited, post-purchase upgradability and plain interior may disappoint enthusiasts. And while the new 50-series GPUs bring improved AI upscaling and reliable 1440p gameplay, raw framerate gains over the previous generation are modest.

However, for gamers who prioritize style, customization, and dependable out-of-the-box performance, the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250) still stands as one of the best pre-built options on the market.

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Price & availability

• How much does it cost? Starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40
• When is it available? It is on sale now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The Alienware Aurora (ACT1250) gaming PC is available now in the US, UK, and Australia, starting at $1,399.99 / £1,699 / AU$2,798.40.

My review configuration costs $2,099.99 / £2,198.98 / AU$3,749.30, and is built for solid 1440p performance, though there are cheaper and more expensive builds available that target 1080p and 4K gaming.

The cheapest option for US buyers is a rig featuring an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD for some quality 1080p gaming, while those looking for a more maxed-out gaming desktop can get an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Nvidia RTX 5080, 64GB, and up to 8TB (2x4TB) SSD storage.

My review configuration is actually cheaper than the 2023 Aurora gaming desktop that featured the mid-tiered 40-series of Nvidia’s GPU by around $100, so the price of the Aurora desktop hasn't really gone up.

Despite the new CPU and GPU, though, benchmarks aren’t necessarily better, which means users could find a mid-tier 40-series version of the gaming desktop somewhere for cheaper and get roughly the same native performance, so the biggest draw here is the multi-frame generation.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Specs

With a wide array of configuration options on offer with the latest Nvidia RTX 50-series and Intel Core Ultra 200-series chips, you won't have any trouble configuring a system to your specific performance needs.

The lack of easy upgradability once you have the system in hand, though, does take away from the overall package, but for a prebuilt system, it's hard to beat.

• Specs: 4 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Design

• No major design changes from last year's model
• Plenty of ventilation and easy access to internals
• Rather boring internals make the glass panel less appealing

The 2025 refresh of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop carries forward the Alienware Aurora R16’s familiar strengths and weaknesses, setting the stage for its enhanced cooling and port design.

This includes the extensive cooling and ventilation system, which combines a side hexagonal array, top exhaust, and front stadium intake. According to Alienware, this makes the desktop around 20 percent quieter and about seven percent cooler than the Alienware Aurora R15.

Beyond the looks is a rig that also offers plenty of ports in both the front and rear, which should serve users of all kinds, from content curators to the most serious gaming enthusiasts.

The front ports include a global 3.5mm headset jack, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) with PowerShare technology. In the rear, there’s a line-in and line-out port, optical audio port, two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, and a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet port. Unfortunately, there’s no six-channel 3.5mm audio connection for those who want surround sound set-ups.

It doesn’t help that the cramped space inside will make it difficult for anyone who wants to add something like a sound card into the mix. That extends to how hard it’ll be to upgrade to bigger GPUs in the future as well. At least access to the inside is made easy through one simple screw and latch.

All together, the latest Aurora gaming desktop keeps the sleek, futuristic look of its predecessor while delivering improved cooling, quieter operation, and a wide range of ports. However, limited internal space and upgrade challenges remain its biggest drawbacks, making it best suited for gamers who prioritize style and ready-made performance over long-term expandability.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Alienware Aurora (ACT1250): Performance

• 1440p performance doesn’t significantly improve over the 40-series edition
• Alienware Command Center can help fine-tune performance
• Higher-spec or base-spec configurations provide a better value

When looking at the performance of the latest iteration of the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop, the 1440p performance of my review unit looks and feels very impressive, but if you look back to the 2023 benchmarks on this system's predecessor, the refreshed CPU and GPU pairing doesn’t translate into a dramatic leap in raw power.

For instance, Cyberpunk 2077, which remains one of the most demanding titles despite its 2020 release, manages only about 16fps at native 4K on the older build, and with the new Core Ultra 7 and RTX 5070 combo, performance nudges only slightly higher to 17fps. That makes DLSS upscaling essential, though even then, don’t expect substantial gains in titles from the past couple of years.

In more recent tests, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II averaged below 30fps at 1440p max settings (rising to roughly 40-50fps with DLSS), while Doom: The Dark Ages delivered 40-50fps with path tracing enabled.

Meanwhile, Forza Motorsport (2023) held a steady 60fps at 1440p with ray tracing on, maintaining the same level with DLSS active. One great thing about the 50-series is that DLSS 4 does a much better job at preventing (or at least greatly reducing) the ghosting effect that has plagued upscaling tech since the beginning.

One factor that can boost CPU performance is the option to choose between air or liquid cooling, which not only supports higher frame rates but also helps extend the overall lifespan of the components.

Another way to boost frame rates is through the Alienware Command Center app that comes pre-installed. Here, users can customize settings for games, change performance settings, and customize the RGB lighting too.

Outside of gaming, the Aurora R16 handles creative tasks with ease. It smoothly manages Adobe Photoshop projects with multiple high-resolution layers with no slowdown, while 10-minute 1080p videos in Premiere Pro render and export in seconds, and 4K projects finish within just a few minutes.

This makes it a reliable option not only for gamers but also for content creators who need a system that balances performance across both worlds.

Though the Alienware Aurora ACT1250 may not deliver a massive performance leap over past generations, it refines the experience with smarter cooling, better DLSS support, and versatile software controls.

For gamers and creators alike, it remains a sleek, capable desktop that balances style with reliable all-around performance.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

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How I tested the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop (ACT1250)

• I tested it using games like Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
• I ran TechRadar's standard suite of PC benchmarks
• I used creative software like Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro for long stretches

Outside of the standard PC benchmarks I run for my reviews, including built-in gaming benchmarks in titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, I also tested modern games, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Ninja Gaiden Black II, Forza Motorsport (2023), and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for their real-world gaming performance.

For day-to-day tasks, I used it as my day-to-day work PC for about two weeks, including extensive creative work through Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro.

Read more about how we test

• First reviewed October 2025