Next-generation gaming PCs put to the test - CNET

The verdict is that these new cards, part of the first wave of PC components at least partly designed with VR in mind, offer amazing performance. A single Nvidia 1080 card is expensive, yes, but not outrageously so. And the pair of dual-card systems we tested showed a big boost in our tests as well, but keep in mind, you can always add a second card later on if your PC case has room for it.

Of course, none of this will come cheap. While the least-expensive VR-ready desktops are available from around $999 in the US (roughly £716 or AU$1,390), that covers only the minimum system requirements -- an Intel Core i5 CPU and Nvidia 970 GPU -- a setup that already feels dated. In contrast, the newer desktops tested here were configured to cost from $2,200 to more than $6,000.

Nvidia GeForce 1080 gaming desktop roundup...

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One especially exciting highlight is the inclusion of two versions of a new all-in-one gaming desktop. Both Origin PC and Digital Storm have versions of this chassis, which features a 34-inch curved display. Behind the back of that display is enough room for desktop-level CPU and GPU components, making this a rare VR-ready all-in-one, and one that's upgradable down the road, thanks to easy component access.

Note that most of these are build-to-order PCs, and exact prices and available components can shift over time. These prices are all in US dollars and are current as of this week. We'll be updating this feature in the near future with more new Nvidia 1080 desktops and new test results (including just-arrived entries from Falcon Northwest and Acer).

Alienware Aurora

$2,279

This new design from Alienware sits between the giant Area-51 and the smaller Alpha. It's also got the easiest-to-open case I've seen on an Alienware desktop in years, plus room inside for a new Nvidia 1080 GPU and three hard drives. Our unit had a few upgrades, but the Aurora starts at $799, and configs with the Nvidia 1080 start under $2,000. Read our hands-on coverage of the Alienware Aurora here.

Velocity Micro Raptor Z55

$2,794

We reviewed a version of this system with the Nvidia 980Ti graphics card for our initial VR-ready PC roundup. Now, the same understated, buttoned-down look has a new GeForce 1080 card, and for about the same price. This is a great built-to-order PC if you want something that fades into the background, with a subtle black brushed-metal finish and minimal branding.

Origin PC Omni

$3,380

One of two versions of this curved-screen all-in-one PC we're currently testing. Boutique PC makers such as Origin PC take these chassis and customize them, adding their own components and testing and tweaking for maximum performance. The highlight is the 3,440x1,440-pixel, 34-inch curved display, but there's also a Core i7 CPU and an overclocked Nvidia GeForce 1080 card around the back. Read our initial hands-on with the Origin PC Omni here.

Digital Storm Aura

$3,419

Another take on the same general idea, this time from Digital Storm. Both of these all-in-one gaming PCs had roughly similar configurations, cost around the same, and offered similar performance. Plus, thanks to the inclusion of desktop components (most all-in-one PCs use mobile parts), they work with VR headsets. My only reservation about these all-in-one systems is that some games don't work well, or require extra tweaking, when played at the native 3,440x1,440 21:9 resolution.

Origin PC Millennium

$6,050

One of our favorite midsize desktops (which is an odd term for something to gigantic), this desktop uses a custom chassis that can be configured with the access window on the left or right side, and the motherboard can be rotated 90 degrees for better airflow. This is one of our dual-1080 systems, which is why it's so expensive (and it's the only system we've tested so far with Intel's Core i7-6950X Broadwell-E processor). Plus, both the CPU and GPUs have been expertly hand-overclocked, which is why it's our overall performance leader.

Digital Storm Velox