Unlike consoles which are available in just a handful of different models, PCs are available in a huge variety of configurations. This is a strength, in that you have a lot of choice over things such as performance, appearance and budget, but having so many choices can seem overwhelming. This guide highlights the main things you need to consider, broken down into three main topics, by the end of which you’ll know how to pick the perfect gaming PC.
There are multiple brands of gaming PCs available in the market, and it’s an important decision to get right to make sure you receive a professionally assembled system. One that is built from high quality branded components, is competitively priced, and is covered by excellent customer service in case you need support.
Scan is an NVIDIA Elite Partner awarded for our GPU-accelerated systems expertise.
Our gaming PCs and workstations are used by a host of leading game developers and esports teams.
Our PCs have won hundreds of awards in the media
Our experienced technical support engineers are available seven days a week.
3XS Systems include a three-year warranty offering complete peace of mind.
It’s fair to say there are thousands of possible combinations of components to make up a gaming PC, but to save you scouring through them, we’ve created five distinct ranges of gaming PC - 3XS Fluid, 3XS Premium, 3XS Edge, Scan Performance and Scan Gamer, each designed to appeal at different price points. The below table compares these ranges so you can choose the best option for your needs.
| 3XS FLUID | 3XS PREMIUM | 3XS EDGE | SCAN PERFORMANCE | SCAN GAMER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXPERIENCE | ULTIMATE | PREMIUM | DELUXE | BETTER | GOOD |
| PRICE POINT | £££££ | ££££ | £££ | ££ | £ |
| COOLING | WATER-COOLED | PREMIUM HYDRO-COOLER | HYDRO-COOLER | PREMIUM AIR COOLER | AIR-COOLED |
| RGB LIGHTING | |||||
| NOISE | VERY LOW | LOW | LOW | LOW | MEDIUM |
| WARRANTY | 3 YEARS | 3 YEARS | 3 YEARS | 2 YEARS | 2 YEARS |
Explore the range of 3XS gaming PCs in more detail in the tabs below.
3XS Fluid PCs are the ultimate gaming PCs, featuring state-of-the-art water-cooling for the CPU and graphics card, and premium components. Fluid Gaming PCs provide the ultimate user experience, with custom fan profiles and finely tuned overclocks for maximum performance.
The ultimate cooling system for a gaming PC.
Built from the finest components for a refined gaming experience.
The CPU and graphics card tuned for maximum performance.
AURA programmable RGB lighting illuminates your PC.
If anything goes faulty we'll repair or replace it.
Our premium 3XS gaming PC range includes several models, Vengeance, Lignum, Flux, Lucid, featuring best-in-class components that are overclocked for superior performance, and quiet hydrocoolers for the CPU.
Quiet and stylish cooling for your gaming PC.
Built from the finest components for a refined gaming experience.
The CPU and graphics card tuned for maximum performance.
AURA programmable RGB lighting illuminates your PC.
If anything goes faulty we'll repair or replace it.
3XS Edge PCs are competitively priced gaming PCs, featuring high quality components such as a hydrocooler for the processor. 3XS Edge PCs are available in two styles, the standard models which are built in aluminium cases with a side window and RGB lighting, and the iCUE models which are built in glass cases and have even more RGB lighting for a more distinctive look.
Quiet and stylish cooling for your gaming PC.
Built from the finest components for a refined gaming experience.
AURA programmable RGB lighting illuminates your PC.
If anything goes faulty we’ll repair or replace it.
Scan Performance PCs are a real crowd pleaser, providing a step up from our entry-level Scan Gamer PCs with even more RGB lighting and higher-grade components such as quieter coolers.
Quiet and stylish cooling for your gaming PC.
Built from the finest components for a refined gaming experience.
AURA programmable RGB lighting illuminates your PC.
If anything goes faulty we’ll repair or replace it.
Scan Gamer PCs provide a cost-effective entry in the world of PC gaming. These gaming PCs are built using branded components and have a two year warranty.
Quiet and stylish cooling for your gaming PC.
Built from the finest components for a refined gaming experience.
AURA programmable RGB lighting illuminates your PC.
If anything goes faulty we’ll repair or replace it.
While every component in a PC has an important role to play, the GPU or graphics card is by far the most critical. This is because the graphics card does all the heavy lifting when it comes to gaming, with more powerful models delivering smoother frame rates for a better gaming experience. More capable graphics cards will also enable you to increase the quality settings and up the resolution for greater fidelity. The graphics card is also the most expensive component, so it has the biggest effect on the cost of a gaming PC.
Alongside the GPU, the CPU or processor is also key, as all other tasks outside of graphics will be taken care of by the CPU. Higher clock speeds and more cores will result in a better overall experience and it is common for GPU and CPU to be matched. This doesn’t mean they have to be the same brand but it would be unwise to spec a high-end GPU with an entry-level CPU. Explore the four tabs below to understand more about GPU and CPU choice.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs are the market leading range of GPUs for gaming PCs, offering a wide range of performance and price points. The table below compares them, highlighting capabilities and optimum gaming resolutions.
| RTX 5090 | RTX 5080 | RTX 5070 Ti | RTX 5070 | RTX 5060 Ti | RTX 5060 | RTX 5050 | RTX 4060 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERFORMANCE |
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| ARCHITECTURE | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Blackwell | Ada Lovelace | |||
| RAY TRACING | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| VR READY | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| OPTIMUM RESOLUTION | 8K / 4K / UW-QHD | 4K / UW-QHD | 1440p | 1440p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | |||
| VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | ||||
For more information on GPU specifications read our NVIDIA GAMING GPU BUYERS GUIDE.
AMD Radeon RX GPUs are a popular alternative to NVIDIA GPUs and they similarly offer a wide range of performance and price points. The table below compares them highlighting, capabilities and optimum gaming resolutions.
| RX 9070 XT | RX 9070 | RX 7900 XTX | RX 7800 XT | RX 7700 XT | RX 9060 XT | RX 7600 XT | RX 7600 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PERFORMANCE |
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| ARCHITECTURE | RNDA 4 | RNDA 4 | RNDA 3 | RNDA 3 | RNDA 3 | RDNA 4 | RNDA 3 | RNDA 3 | |
| RAY TRACING | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| VR READY | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| OPTIMUM RESOLUTION | 4K / UW-QHD | 4K / UW-QHD | 4K / UW-QHD | 1440p | 1440p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | |
| VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | ||
For more information on GPU specifications read our AMD GAMING GPU BUYERS GUIDE.
Intel Core Ultra CPUs are designed for gaming PCs. The table below compares them, highlighting their relative capabilities.
| Core Ultra 9 | Core Ultra 7 | Core Ultra 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMING | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| STREAMING | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| CONTENT CREATION | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| MULTITASKING | ✓ | X | X |
| VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > |
For more information on GPU specifications read our INTEL DESKTOP CPU BUYERS GUIDE.
AMD Ryzen CPUs are designed gaming PCs. The table below compares them, highlighting their relative capabilities.
| Ryzen 9 | Ryzen 7 | Ryzen 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMING | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| STREAMING | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| CONTENT CREATION | ✓ | ✓ | X |
| MULTITASKING | ✓ | X | X |
| VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > | VIEW PCs > |
For more information on GPU specifications read our AMD DESKTOP CPU BUYERS GUIDE.
If you can’t find the perfect PC from among our range of pre-built systems we also offer a custom build service where you pick the components and we’ll build your perfect PC. Go to our 3XS GAMING PC CONFIGURATOR to discover more.