Level Up Your PC Gaming Setup in 2025
If you are planning to upgrade your gaming rig or finally build that dream setup, 2025 is packed with powerful hardware and some surprisingly good deals. The team at PC Gamer has spent countless hours benchmarking and abusing this gear so you do not have to. Here is a friendly breakdown of their favorite tested components and peripherals to help you shop smart.
This guide focuses on what really matters to PC gamers: performance, comfort, and value. Whether you are chasing high frame rates, smoother visuals, or just a more comfortable place to sit during long sessions, there is something here for you.
Core Gaming Power: PCs, GPUs, CPUs and More
Your core components decide how well your games run, how smooth they feel, and how future proof your system is. These picks are aimed at delivering strong performance without forcing you to overspend where it does not matter.
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Best gaming PC: HP Omen 35L
Prebuilt systems make a lot of sense in the current market and the HP Omen 35L really stands out. In testing, the RTX 4080 Super version delivered excellent performance, but the newer RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti configurations are the smarter choice now, thanks to Nvidia DLSS 4 and its frame generation. You get a clean design, strong specs, and a solid discount that makes it very competitive compared to building from scratch.
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Best graphics card: AMD Radeon RX 9070
The RX 9070 has become the sweet spot GPU for most gamers. It comes very close to the more expensive RX 9070 XT, and can even beat Nvidia’s RTX 5070 in many scenarios. With a current discount dropping the price and saving you around 80 dollars, it is one of the strongest value choices if you want high frame rates at 1440p and very capable 4K performance without going into ultra premium territory.
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Best gaming CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
AMD’s X3D chips have dominated gaming benchmarks for several generations, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D continues that streak. Thanks to its stacked cache design it delivers outstanding frame rates in modern games, often ahead of more expensive CPUs. The only real competitor is AMD’s own Ryzen 9 9950X3D, which targets heavy content creators, so for pure gaming the 9800X3D is the sensible high end choice.
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Best motherboard: MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk WiFi
Most new builds are going with AMD’s AM5 platform, and the MSI MAG X870 Tomahawk is an easy recommendation. You get Wi Fi 7, an impressive 21 USB ports, and a very friendly layout for building and upgrading. If you are on Intel’s Arrow Lake platform, the Asus ROG Maximus Z890 Hero fills a similar high end role with huge storage support and strong cooling.
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Best RAM for gaming: G.Skill Trident Z5 RGB DDR5
Memory prices are painful right now, especially high speed DDR5. PC Gamer previously crowned the 32 GB DDR5 7200 kit as the best for gaming, but with current pricing well above 460 dollars the smarter pick is the more affordable 6000 MHz version. You still get fast, responsive memory for demanding titles without going completely overboard on cost.
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Best SSD for gaming: WD Black SN7100
The WD Black SN7100 continues the strong reputation of its predecessor. It shines in 4K random read performance which really matters for game loading and asset streaming. It also stays cool under sustained load, which is great for long gaming sessions and next gen titles that hammer storage.
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Best external SSD: Adata SD810
If you are running out of space or want portable game storage, the Adata SD810 is a rugged and fast option. With capacities from 500 GB up to 4 TB and IP68 dust and water protection, it is built to survive being tossed into a bag. Gaming directly from it still delivers quick load times in testing.
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Best CPU cooler: Arctic Liquid Freezer III A RGB
For keeping modern CPUs under control, the Arctic Liquid Freezer III all in one cooler stands out. The 360 mm version tested delivered excellent temperatures and includes a VRM fan to keep the surrounding components cool too. Despite its performance it is priced very competitively. If you prefer air cooling, the Noctua NH D15 G2 remains the premium pick.
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Best PC fan: Noctua NF A12x25 G2
Noctua fans may not match every aesthetic but they deliver unmatched airflow at low noise levels. In extensive testing the NF A12x25 G2 simply outperformed all alternatives, making it a great choice if you care about both cooling and quiet operation.
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Best PC case: Havn HS 420
The Havn HS 420 mid tower has become a favorite for its looks and practicality. It supports everything from mini ITX through full size E ATX boards, shows off your components with a large clear view, and offers tidy cable management plus modular flexibility. It is an ideal base for a showcase build.
Displays, Laptops and Compact PCs
Visual quality and form factor make a huge difference to your gaming experience. Here are the standout picks for screens and mobile style setups.
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Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 16 (2025)
The 2025 Razer Blade 16 is a premium laptop aimed at gamers who want desktop class performance in a slim chassis. It is one of the rare notebooks that can actually game decently on battery power. It is expensive, but if you want a sleek design with top tier performance, it lands right at the top of the charts. For tighter budgets the Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 is highlighted as a much more affordable alternative.
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Best gaming monitor and best OLED monitor: MSI MPG 321URX QD OLED
The MSI MPG 321URX QD OLED is so strong that it tops two separate lists: overall best gaming monitor and best OLED panel. You get a gorgeous 32 inch QD OLED display with a 240 Hz refresh rate, giving you deep blacks, vivid colors, and super smooth motion. Thanks to current sales it is also surprisingly affordable for a high end 4K OLED panel. If you want an ultrawide budget OLED, the Alienware 34 inch QD OLED is also recommended.
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Best mini PC: Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT
The Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT proves that mini PCs can still game properly. It includes a discrete GPU, and at 1080p it comfortably beats other small form factor systems in benchmarks. It is not ideal if you are aiming for high frame rate 1440p, but as a compact living room or desk side gaming box it is very impressive for the price and size.
Peripherals and Quality of Life Upgrades
Great peripherals can completely change how your setup feels day to day. From chairs and desks to input devices and audio, these recommendations focus on comfort and responsiveness.
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Best gaming chair: Secretlab Titan Evo
Long sessions demand a comfortable seat, and the Secretlab Titan Evo is the go to choice. It comes in several sizes, offers plenty of adjustability, and uses magnetic cushions and covers for easy tweaks. PC Gamer’s review unit has survived nearly four years of office abuse and still looks and feels fresh which says a lot about its durability.
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Best gaming desk: Secretlab Magnus Pro XL
The Magnus Pro XL is a large motorized desk built with gamers in mind. It supports up to 265 pounds including the desk itself, has excellent cable management, and gives you tons of room for multiple monitors and peripherals. It is not cheap but sits squarely in the premium territory for people who want a clean, organized battle station.
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Best gaming mouse: Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro
This mouse continues the legendary DeathAdder line with a 45,000 DPI sensor, an incredibly low weight of just 55 grams, and polling up to 8,000 Hz. The shape remains comfortable and understated, and its performance makes it one of the best options for competitive play. For budget minded gamers, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is highlighted as a strong alternative.
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Best gaming keyboard: Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
This compact 96 percent layout keyboard offers hot swappable switches, smooth key feel, and relatively quiet operation for a mechanical board. You can choose between linear NX Snow or heavier tactile NX Storm switches. With a solid discount applied, it hits a really nice balance between feature set and price.
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Best gaming headset and earbuds
For headsets, the Razer BlackShark V3 takes the crown with low latency, strong audio quality, and a lightweight design at a very reasonable price. If you prefer something smaller, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds earbuds shine with excellent sound, active noise cancelling, long battery life, and wireless charging, rivaling or beating many full size headsets in audio performance.
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Best microphone and webcam
For streamers and regular voice chat, the Shure MV6 USB mic offers clean vocals with very little setup and strong noise rejection thanks to its dynamic capsule and onboard processing. Paired with the Elgato Facecam MK 2 webcam, which delivers sharp 1080p60 video and an HDR mode that handles tricky lighting, you get a great starting point for content creation or work calls.
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Best gaming router: TP Link Archer GE800
Online play lives or dies on your connection. The TP Link Archer GE800 is a Wi Fi 7 gaming router that can actually beat gigabit Ethernet at its peak speeds and outperforms rival routers in testing. If you want to future proof your network and reduce latency spikes in online games, it is a very capable option.
All of the gear in this roundup has been put through intensive testing, not just glanced at on a spec sheet. Whether you are upgrading piece by piece or planning a full new build, these recommendations give you a solid, battle tested starting point for a powerful and comfortable PC gaming setup in 2025.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/the-pc-gamer-gift-guide-our-favorite-hardware/
