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.

It’s mid-November now, and that means Black Friday and Cyber Monday are right around the corner. I have vivid memories of my mom going out on Thanksgiving night after dinner so she could be at the local Walmart,