These are the best pre-built desktop PCs for VR

Alienware Aurora R9

Alienware Aurora R9

Source: Dell

Best Desktop PCs for VR Windows Central 2019

To fully enjoy a PC-based VR experience, you need a computer that has particular hardware that can meet specific performance requirements. If you don’t want to go through the hassle of building an entirely new PC to get there, we’ve rounded up some tremendous pre-built desktop PCs, like the Alienware Aurora R9, which is built from the ground up with performance and unique design in mind, making it your best bet for an ultimate VR desktop.

Best Overall: Alienware Aurora R9

Alienware Aurora R9

Alienware Aurora R9

Source: Dell

There are quite a few configuration options available for the Aurora R9, with a high-end model sporting up to an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super graphics cards (GPU), a 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K processor (CPU), 64GB of HyperX DDR4-2933MHz RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) coupled with a 2TB hard-disk drive (HDD). A Wi-Fi 6 adapter can be added for blazing wireless speeds, and you can even add water cooling with an 850W PSU. This is no doubt some serious overkill, even for a stellar VR experience, and a mid-range option is in your best interest.

Spending about $1,686 will get you a PC with 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700 CPU, NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super GPU (about the equivalent of a GTX 1080) with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM, 16GB of dual-channel DDR4-2933MHz RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD coupled with a 1TB SATA HDD. That’s significantly cheaper than the high-end model, and you’re still going to get a killer VR experience for Vive, Rift, Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), and Valve Index platforms.

The hardware is all contained in a sleek case that has seen a redesign since the R8 model. It’s available in two colors, it still has a PSU swing arm to allow easy access for upgrades and tinkering, and there’s a boatload of ports for easy connectivity. On the front are three USB-A 3.1, USB-C 3.1, and 3.5mm headphone and microphone jacks. The rear has plenty more, including giving USB-A 2.0, USB-C 3.1, four USB-A 3.1, RJ45 Ethernet, and many audio inputs and outputs for setting up surround sound. Customizable lighting on the outside of the case accents the lines and gives you some extra style to boot.

Pros:

  • Powerful configurations available
  • Tool-less access
  • Has the right ports for VR
  • Programmable lighting
  • Sturdy, unique chassis

Cons:

  • Can find cheaper alternatives

Best Overall

Alienware Aurora R9

Style, power, and ports

There plenty of configuration options that will handle VR content, and no matter what you choose inside, it all comes in an attractive case.

Runner-up: HP Omen Obelisk

HP Omen Obelisk

HP Omen Obelisk

Source: HP

You’ll often pay more the luxury of having your PC built for you, but in the case of HP’s Omen Obelisk, it’s no doubt a close call. This specific model has inside a 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K CPU with eight cores and a 3.60GHz base clock speed. This is backed up by an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. Considering these two pieces of hardware purchased alone cost about $1,300, you can see why this PC is popular. Rounding out the specs is 32GB of HyperX DDR4-2666MHz RAM and a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD with fast read and write speeds.

The case it’s all contained in isn’t quite as exciting as Alienware’s Aurora R9, but many people will no doubt prefer the understated look. It’s primarily covered in a black finish with red highlights, with a glass side panel that allows you to show off the internal hardware. The internal RGB lighting can be customized to match your other accessories. Everything is upgradeable, allowing you to keep the PC relevant long into the future.

The front of the case includes a 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo, and two USB-A 3.1, while the rear has a USB-C 3.1, four USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1), and a USB-A 3.1 (Gen 2). Altogether, this PC should have no issues handling Rift, Vive, WMR, and Index VR platforms.

Pros

  • Superb performance at a great price
  • Understated design with custom RGB lighting
  • Lots of ports, including USB-C
  • Toolless entry for easy upgrades
  • Can be overclocked

Cons

  • May be overkill for your needs
  • No Wi-Fi 6 option

Runner-up

HP Omen Obelisk

High-end performance without overspending

With 9th Gen Intel Core i9-9900K and NVIDIA RTX 2080 Super GPU running the show, you should have an amazing VR experience.

Mid-range pick: iBUYPOWER Trace 9230

For the asking price of about $1,500, iBUYPOWER’s Trace 9230 has a lot to offer. It’s powered by a 9th Gen Intel Core i7-9700K eight-core CPU with a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, coupled with an NVIDIA RTX 2070 GPU with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. These together will deliver a stellar VR experience on all platforms, and as a bonus this PC is water-cooled. It’s all shown off inside a case with a full glass side panel and customizable RGB lighting on the fans.

There’s a 1TB SATA HDD for bulk storage coupled with a 240GB SSD for fast startups, and it has 16GB of DDR4-2666MHz RAM. All parts can be upgraded after purchase to keep the PC relevant longer. Two M.2 slots give you the ability to quickly and easily add blazing storage if the stock options aren’t enough. A decent selection of ports — including two USB-A 3.1 and 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks on the front, as well as two USB-A 2.0, two USB-A 3.1, RJ45 Ethernet, and the stock ports from the RTX 2070 on the back — gives you plenty of connectivity for your accessories. Included in the price is a keyboard and mouse.

Pros

  • Water-cooled Core i7-9700K CPU
  • Excellent VR performance
  • Slick case with RGB fans
  • Lots of ports

Cons

  • Might be overkill for your needs

Mid-range pick

iBUYPOWER Trace 9230

Lots of power at a reasonable price

This water-cooled PC has the performance to power your VR experience, and its price makes it accessible to more people.

Best Customization: Origin Chronos

Customization screen

Customization screen

Source: Origin

If you’d rather not buy parts separately and put together your own VR PC at home, Origin is a great place to turn to. You start by picking color and lighting for a case, then move along and pick every single part that goes into it, including motherboard, power supply, cooling, and OS, as well as the more common bits like CPU, RAM, GPU, and storage.

Despite the relatively compact size of the case, you can pack quite a bit of performance; spec one up with an AMD or Intel CPU (up to Ryzen 9 3900X or 9th Gen Core i9-9900K), up to an NVIDIA RTX Titan GPU with 24GB of VRAM, and up to a 4TB SSD.

This definitely isn’t the cheapest entry into VR, and prices do climb quickly once you get into high-end hardware, but this will undoubtedly be your PC when it arrives.

Pros

  • Plenty of performance hardware available
  • Can choose lighting and colors
  • Has the ports needed for VR
  • Feels like you built it yourself
  • Relatively compact case

Cons

  • PCs get expensive quickly

Best Customization

Origin Chronos

A pre-built PC that feels like you built it

Origin will build you a desktop PC capable of VR from a vast range of options that fit both your budget and your desires.

Bottom line

When it comes to getting the perfect PC for VR, sometimes you don’t want to have to build a new one from scratch. Luckily, there are plenty of pre-built PCs on the market that can handle the power of VR. You generally need a PC with a powerful graphics card, a mid-range processor, at least 8GB of RAM, and enough ports to handle the headset and any sensors.

The Alienware Aurora R9 has plenty of VR-ready configuration options up for offer, all contained in a stylish chassis with enough ports for all your headsets and sensors. You get a sturdy warranty, and support is available if needed.

There is a budget option available for well less than $1,000 that will get VR off the ground, but for a much smoother experience, we recommend a mid-range configuration. In any case, you’ll be able to upgrade the PC to keep it relevant long into the future thanks to easy-access case and unique PSU swing arm that leaves plenty of room for tinkering. It’s all contained in a redesigned chassis that is sleek and undoubtedly unique.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

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