For prebuilt gaming desktops, a few companies are reliable and widely available. Dell's Alienware division produces solid if sometimes pricey PCs that have a fan following. Asus's Republic of Gamers line hits the midrange and high-end markets with good machines. Acer's Predator line is also good, and HP's Omen models have their adherents.

The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, and if you can't wait until Black Friday to upgrade your gaming desktop, you can save big now on brands like Alienware, HP Omen, and Lenovo.

What's better than spending time off during the holiday playing new video games? Two things. Not having to wait until and not having to pay top prices for the best hardware out there!