Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
January 16, 2026: With this update, we added the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) as our latest Best Midrange Windows Desktop. Also, we swapped in the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme, replacing the MSI Codex R2 as our Best Budget Gaming Desktop. Finally, we changed in the iBuyPower RDY Element Pro R07 in place of the Alienware Aurora (2025) as our Best Midrange Gaming Desktop. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability. Since our last update, we reviewed and evaluated four new desktops for potential inclusion in this roundup and our other desktop roundups. We currently have four more desktops in PC Labs for evaluation, from makers including Dell, HP, and Lenovo.
- Dual HDMI supports two monitors
- Antenna-free Wi-Fi 6E
- Front-panel card reader
- Good value
- Intrusive fan noise under heavy loads
- 512GB SSD fills up fast
- Boot POST takes longer than expected
Acer continues to dominate the budget zone with its Aspire desktop series, currently the most recommendable budget desktop PC for most people. The Aspire TC-1775-UR11 runs on 14th Gen Intel Core processing with the same 8GB of memory and 512GB SSD capacity as before. With this model, Acer’s Aspire TC continues to outshine every budget Windows tower we’ve tested. You can find it for far less than its $600 list price, which pays for decent power, space for upgrades, and modern amenities like a front USB-C port and card reader, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and dual HDMI ports for two monitors.
Budget-strapped shoppers: The Aspire TC-1775-UR11 is a smart PC choice for anyone on a tight budget seeking a high-value PC for their family or household—or anyone who just doesn’t want to spend a lot on an essential appliance. Its contemporary array of components continues to surpass what we see from most budget PCs, including features typically found in higher-end machines, and it has room for upgrades to maximize value.
A secondary or kid’s first PC: Thanks to its approachable price, the UR11 is also a fine PC to serve as a child’s first desktop. With its upgrade potential, the PC can grow with him or her for several years. Acer’s desktop is also priced and positioned well to function as a home theater PC or a public web server for small self-hosted projects.
Desktop Class
Mainstream
Processor
Intel Core i5-14400
Processor Speed
1.8 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
512 GB
Graphics Card
Intel UHD Graphics 730
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
Acer Aspire TC-1775-UR11 Review
- Highly customizable
- Potent review configuration
- Broad port selection
- Solidly built and reasonably sized
- Easy access to components
- Lowest- and highest-end configurations aren’t the best values
- Some quirky component combinations in Dell’s prebuilt configs
- Proprietary motherboard and power supply design
Dell’s latest mid-level desktop can fit a broad range of budgets and needs, starting right at the middle of what we’d call midrange pricing and expandable up to a dominant rig for a whole lot more. We gave the Tower Plus our Editors’ Choice award in the midrange category for its deep level of customization and potent performance in our review configuration for its price. It’s also a high-quality build with a premium chassis containing the latest in connectivity standards. It’s a capable desktop that can grow with you (within reason); all told, it’s an easy pick for a midrange desktop.
Amateur and hobbyist content creators: This is an excellent desktop for people who want a potent PC for editing their home photos or powering their content-creation hobby or side hustle. The Dell Tower Plus can work as a home media machine or configure up to a high-power editing and streaming rig with advanced cooling for more powerful parts.
Families with lots of different needs: This desktop works like a charm for families with members who have lots of varied needs, from paying the bills to playing the latest PC games. The Tower Plus features configurations that can address demanding computing needs in a mainstream-looking device, which helps it appeal to families buying their next shared desktop
Desktop Class
Mainstream, Tower
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070
Operating System
Windows 11
Learn More
Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) Review
- Excellent high-end performance for work and play in a small chassis
- More memory in base model for the same low price
- New space-saving design
- Storage capacity in base model is still scanty
- Fans can be noisy under load
- Internal memory and storage are not upgradable post-purchase
Skipping the M3 generation of processors proved well worth it for Apple’s smallest Mac. The latest Mac mini takes on Apple’s M4 processors to incredible effect, particularly in the M4 Pro we tested for our review. The M4 Pro Mac mini blew away like-configured mini desktops and challenged workstations several times its size in some tests. This is before even getting to Apple’s redesign, which introduced more ports and better cooling. Whether at its starting budget-priced configuration (which has 16GB of unified memory, twice as much as in the previous generation) or tricked out to get serious work done, the new Mac mini is a no-brainer.
Budget-strapped Mac users: At its starting configuration, the Mac mini is the best budget Mac—period. For just $600, this desktop presents the most power in its price range that we’ve seen since its release, featuring 16GB of unified memory and a 256GB SSD. Thanks to Apple’s pricing, the Mac mini delivers the ample M4 processor to more aspiring Mac users than ever in a solid block of slick aluminum.
Demanding Mac veterans: This version of the Mac mini can also satisfy power users. When equipped with the M4 Pro processor, as we reviewed it, the Mac mini becomes a high-power mini workstation or media production box for a still-decent price of $1,399 to start. This beefed-up version of the M4 model laps its entry-level counterpart, which is impressive given the starting model’s already peppy performance.
Desktop Class
Small Form Factor (SFF)
Processor
Apple M4 Pro (14-core)
RAM (as Tested)
48 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Apple M4 Pro (20-core)
Operating System
Apple macOS Sequoia
Learn More
Apple Mac mini (2024, M4 Pro) Review
- Impressive price-to-performance ratio
- Solid value for the component mix
- Sleek glass design
- Fans can get loud
- Power supply wattage may limit future upgrades
- Side glass panel is tricky to seat
CyberPowerPC’s latest budget-minded gaming rig manages an almost impossible configuration at its price through an exclusive listing at Costco; it’s such a lucrative deal you might want to sign up for a club card. The Xtreme has twice as much memory and storage as competing gaming PCs in its class, all tucked into a gorgeous glass-sided chassis with lots of lighting and cooling. Given the price of RAM and storage in 2026, it will be tough to match this configuration’s value story, likely for some time, so the Xtreme is our leading budget pick for PC gamers.
Cash-strapped PC gamers: Budget-conscious gamers should start their search at this gaming PC. While the Xtreme is a tad pricier than a three-digit wonder, you’ll be hard-pressed to find 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD paired with a current entry-level CPU and GPU at this cost. If you can manage another hundred bucks over a grand, you will not be disappointed.
A kid’s first gaming PC: This gaming PC is also a no-brainer for kids getting into the hobby. It’s a low-cost system that sacrifices nothing in the way of power, with resolution upscaling and frame generation techniques helping it keep pace in many popular games. That low price is key, too, when shopping for kids who can be fickle with their interest level.
Desktop Class
Gaming
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
Processor Speed
3.3 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
2 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme Review
- Excellent gaming performance
- Quality glass case
- Liquid cooling and Wi-Fi 7
- Generous warranty
- Decent included peripherals
- GPU ships separately
- Limited lighting customization
For a high-end gaming experience at a lower price (and a little less power), the iBuyPower RDY Element Pro R07 is easy to recommend. It brings a potent power level for 1440p play (or some 4K play at lower settings), thanks to its liquid-cooled Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU paired with a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. Topping it off is a gorgeous RGB rave of a case with the latest in connectivity and room for upgrades. Plus, iBuyPower includes surprisingly effective peripherals in the box. It all adds up to an Editors’ Choice-award-winning gaming rig for people with a little more scratch than the budget set.
PC gamers seeking consistent 1440p play: This is a top-notch gaming PC for play at 1440p and high settings. The Element Pro aced all our benchmarks at 1440p, even showing fortitude at 4K resolution in some games. iBuyPower gave this rig every modern convenience it could for the cost, too.
Style-first PC gamers: This gaming desktop is a no-brainer for shoppers who want a flashy rig for their space. This case has lots of customizable RGB lighting elements throughout that you can match to the colors of your desk or room using Asus’ Armoury Crate software. Want a rainbow generator in your gaming space? Check out this desktop.
Desktop Class
Gaming
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Processor Speed
4.7 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
2 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
iBuyPower RDY Element Pro R07 Review
- Competitively priced
- Ferocious gaming speeds
- Speedy productivity performance
- Ideally sized case
- Plenty of configuration options
- No Wi-Fi 7
- No-window case design may be off-putting for some shoppers
Among high-end gaming desktops, the Velocity Micro Raptor Z55a is one of the best deals around. You can get the ultimate set of components inside one of these sawed-down towers for much less than several competing models we’ve tested, sometimes saving as much as $1,500. With access to the most potent components available, the Z55a achieves viciously fast frame rates at all resolutions while also delivering superior project rendering and transcoding times. The Z55a accomplishes all of this in a chassis that is significantly shorter than a conventional tower, while promoting optimal airflow for enhanced performance.
Discerning PC gaming enthusiasts: This Velocity Micro gaming PC is ideal for sharp-eyed, fortunate gamers who still value quality at a reasonable price. Not every PC gamer is after the flashiest build possible; they just want the most power for the lowest price. The Raptor Z55a excels in this discipline, presenting top-end components for significantly less than many competitors in a still professionally built system.
Stealth PC gamers: Players looking for a “sleeper” or “stealth” gaming PC should start their search here. The Raptor Z55a comes in a build that could easily be mistaken for a high-power workstation, and while Velocity Micro sells those, too, this is explicitly a gaming rig in a subdued chassis. Velocity Micro does the low-key gaming PC build right while charging much less for the aesthetic.
Desktop Class
Gaming
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
RAM (as Tested)
64 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
2 TB
Graphics Card
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Learn More
Velocity Micro Raptor Z55a (2025) Review
- Powerful performance
- Impressive screen, with flexible stand adjustments
- Simplified port access
- Solid speakers
- Sharp webcam
- Wireless peripherals included
- No alternative mounting options
- Tops out at 16GB of RAM
- Touch screen is not standard on all models
Lenovo’s Yoga AIO 27 serves as a potent and visually appealing all-in-one that doesn’t sacrifice much in any area, presenting a well-rounded PC product with a decent starting price and reasonable scaling for component upgrades. This is a true “home hub” PC, featuring a gorgeous, flexible screen, simple port access, and even a wireless charging pad on its base. We also enjoyed its sharp webcam and wireless peripherals in the box, making this a truly complete AIO for the average family.
Family room PC owners: This Yoga AIO is ideal for most people looking for a new high-end computing experience without a substantial investment. With its kitchen-sink approach to features and design, the Yoga AIO 27 helps get a handle on your digital life with a complete feature set and potent output speeds. This PC can cater to the unique needs of each family member by utilizing Windows user profiles to silo their access to its powerful hardware.
Amateur content creators: Home video and photo editors who post their work on social media will appreciate the Yoga AIO 27’s advanced integrated graphics, which can power creative apps like Photoshop and Premiere from Adobe, yielding acceptable results for friends, family, or even fans online. Naturally, the 1440p screen with decent color coverage and brightness will help make those edits easier.
Desktop Class
All-in-one
Processor
Intel Core Ultra 7 255H
Processor Speed
2 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
16 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
All-in-One Screen Size
27 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
2560 by 1440
All-in-One Screen Type
Non-Touch Screen
Graphics Card
Intel Arc 140T
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Learn More
Lenovo Yoga AIO 27-Inch Review
- Impressive desktop-grade CPU performance
- Screen is a practical size and resolution
- Multiple stand options, including VESA
- Quiet cooling system, even under load
- Can also work as a monitor, independent of the PC inside
- Ports are inconveniently placed
- So-so webcam
Business-focused AIOs are few and far between, but Lenovo keeps the category vital with its ThinkCentre AIOs, and here with the award-winning ThinkCentre M90a. This AIO packs a desktop-grade processor into its chassis, which can be paired with sufficient memory and storage to complement it well. The decently sharp 1200p display can also be mounted and tilted, and it can even work as a monitor pass-through for another connected PC. With that many options, it will be hard to beat this AIO for the office.
Unique professional spaces: This PC is ideal for professional environments with specific space requirements, such as public-facing desks and offices. An AIO must be more versatile and powerful to be more cost-effective than a mini PC mounted to a monitor. The ThinkCentre M90a meets both criteria, featuring a deeply adjustable screen panel and a desktop-grade CPU. The monitor function can also extend the ThinkCentre’s useful life once the processor and other components inside have reached the end of their lifespan.
Offices that need easy PC deployments: Some businesses may prefer not to deal with multiple pieces of hardware per user when equipping their offices with desktop PCs. While an AIO PC admittedly combines a few failure points (namely, the screen and the system inside), the AIO arrangement simplifies fleet deployment for IT managers, at least when spinning up new departments or employees.
Desktop Class
Business
Processor
Intel Core i7-14700
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Optical Drive
DVD+/-RW
All-in-One Screen Size
23.8 inches
All-in-One Screen Native Resolution
1920 by 1080
All-in-One Screen Type
Non-Touch Screen
Graphics Card
Intel UHD Graphics
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Learn More
Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Gen 5 Review
- Excellent price
- Competitive productivity performance
- Lots of ports
- Compact design
- No front-facing USB-C ports
- Weak graphics
- Runs loud under heavy workloads
- Single configuration
Many mini PCs are designed to perform low-power tasks, such as managing a kiosk or operating digital signage, but some can also function as standard home desktops. The Geekom A6 Mini is capable of both, serving as a budget-priced, space-saving PC for anyone looking to accomplish essential tasks. However, importantly, its speed from such a small chassis is faster than expected, thanks to its AMD Ryzen 7 6800H chip. This model is one of the speediest mini PCs in the budget category, and it’s equipped with lots of ports. Our model contains 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage, making for a potent and well-priced mini PC.
Space-conscious PC users: For those with limited space in their computing setup, the Geekom A6 Mini is the ideal mini PC option. It takes up minimal space on any desk, with hardware for mounting behind monitors to leave even more room for additional items or a cleaner desk look. Even without a mount, this PC will blend into any desk it sits on with minimal fuss.
Windows fans with Mac envy: The A6 Mini is Geekom’s best impression of Apple’s famous Mac mini desktop, featuring a familiar all-metal shell with rounded corners and an overall hockey-puck-like shape. While not as potent as Apple’s dominant desktop, the A6 Mini is cheaper and has more ports, putting up a good fight against the mighty Mac mini.
Desktop Class
Small Form Factor (SFF)
Processor
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
RAM (as Tested)
32 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Graphics Card
AMD Radeon 680M
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Learn More
Geekom A6 Mini Review
- Excellent performance
- Core processors keep price down
- Highly expandable
- Offers ECC memory
- Loud cooling fans
- Proprietary power supply
While we tested it in a much more potent, upticked configuration, Dell’s Precision 3680 starts at a much more approachable price. This is an incredibly scalable workstation, as its case needs to accommodate all possible levels of performance. It features options for error-correcting code (ECC) memory, which is essential for work in industrial control environments, critical databases, and professional applications in which even minor data errors can be much more consequential than with consumer PCs.
High-demand businesses: The Precision 3680 is easy to recommend because it can fit into various tiers of professional computing work, from entry-level workstations to top-tier towers ready to handle intense rendering and AI workloads. The effectiveness and value of this desktop depend significantly on how you configure it for your computing needs before checkout, which puts a lot of decision power in your hands.
Data-sensitive offices: ECC memory support makes the Precision a go-to option for accuracy-critical corporate computing scenarios. When configured with ECC, this Precision should live up to its name with fewer errors in data-dense fields such as high-traffic web servers, database management, and industrial control applications.
Desktop Class
Workstation
Processor
Intel Core i9-14900K
Processor Speed
3.2 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
64 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
2 TB
Optical Drive
DVD+/-RW
Graphics Card
Nvidia RTX 6000 Ada Generation
Operating System
Windows 11 Pro
Learn More
Dell Precision 3680 Review
- Powerful performance for productivity, graphics, and workstation tasks.
- Sleek, fits-any-desk design and whisper-quiet cooling
- Abundant connectivity, with Thunderbolt 5 and more
- AI integration with Apple Intelligence and macOS Sequoia
- Strong gaming performance
- Lack of internal upgradability
- Starts expensive, and skyrockets from there
- No Wi-Fi 7 connectivity
The latest Mac Studio with M4 Max inside is one of Apple’s most potent computers yet, able to handle the most intense graphics and data processing tasks you can throw at it. It’s also not much bigger than a Mac mini, so it’s seriously compact. While not internally upgradable after purchase, this is also one of the most upgrade-capacious Macs of all time, with room for as much as 512GB of unified memory and 16TB of solid-state storage. When putting the words “compact” and “workstation” together, the Mac Studio should immediately come to mind. And, if you must buy a PC-based workstation, this system should be the bar it’s held up to.
Top-level Mac users: This Mac is designed for the elite power user, whether you’re a contractor or a staff member at a computing or media production firm. With up to an impressive 80-core GPU onboard, Apple’s M4 Max-equipped Mac Studio system will rival the most powerful PC-based alternatives in specific visual rendering tasks that those fields rely on.
Cutting-edge AI work: With one of Apple’s top-level Neural Engine coprocessors on its M4 Max chip, the Mac Studio is also a beefy box for running local AI models and other related tasks. The system is capable of running full models locally, which can aid in client-side AI model research and testing, as well as direct development. The M4 Max model we’ve reviewed can do this, but the M3 Ultra version is especially effective at the task.
Desktop Class
Workstation
Processor
Apple M4 Max
RAM (as Tested)
128 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
1 TB
Graphics Card
Apple M4 Max (40‑core)
Operating System
Apple macOS Sequoia
Learn More
Apple Mac Studio (2025, M4 Max) Review
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The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2026
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Buying Guide: The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2026
To help you make the right decision in your search for the best desktop, we’ve compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions on the topic, as well as a few additional helpful facts to inform your choice.
How Do I Choose a Good Desktop Computer?
Based on our pick list, we’ve reviewed an impressive variety of the best desktops, right? We don’t deny that a laptop or tablet is a better choice for people who engage in business travel or whose computing consists mostly of basic surfing and typing from the living room couch. However, desktops are often the best choice and provide the best value for small offices, families, creative professionals, gamers, and tech enthusiasts.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While desktops don’t come in as many distinct forms as laptops, you’ll find lots of variation in computing power and room for upgrades and expansion. The key is to spend as little as possible to get exactly what you want from your next desktop computer, whether that’s a budget buy or a high-performance PC.
Which Brand of Computer Is the Most Reliable?
Reliability is a nebulous concept when it comes to computers: It could mean consistency of performance, or it could also mean the strength and support of its warranty, just to name two interpretations. Certain brands have developed reputations for reliability, notably computer makers such as Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. But no single brand can lay a blanket claim to any such title.
You can also check out our Readers’ Choice award winners for desktops, which show which computers PCMag readers prefer and why. Once you have winnowed down models based on other, more solid criteria, the wisdom of the crowd might help you develop an idea of the most reliable brands to count on in your search for the best PC for you.
Is It Still Worth Buying a Desktop Computer?
For many buyers, absolutely yes. One of the most alluring promises of the best desktops is the value they deliver. With desktop PCs and their components, your money simply goes further. Instead of buying a $700 laptop with a competent Intel Core i5 or Ultra 5 processor, you might get a $700 desktop with a more powerful Core i7 or Ultra 7 CPU and maybe even a dedicated graphics card.
You can find complete mini PCs for super light work and display-signage tasks for less than $400, and perfectly serviceable small towers for $300 to $600. Gaming desktops with dedicated graphics cards start at around $700. You can also find all-in-one desktops, with the display and all of the computing components built into a single device, starting at around $400.
The thing with desktops is that opting for a cheap one does not carry some of the same risks you’d face with a like-priced laptop. A $250 Black Friday special or a steeply discounted refurbished desktop could perform just fine for basic computing, and you wouldn’t need to worry about the wear and tear on cheap materials that you might with a laptop of a similar price. That inexpensive laptop would be subject to the vagaries of daily commuting and the occasional drop from a coffee table. The desktop, in contrast, would need to remain stationary and simply function.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
At the top end of the market are business workstations, tricked-out gaming rigs, and magnificently engineered all-in-one PCs that cost several thousand dollars. Not only will a $3,000 gaming tower provide immense computing power today, but it should also come with ample room for expansion and potential upgrades. And then, of course, there’s the world of custom PCs, complete with automotive-grade paint jobs, liquid cooling, and fanciful lighting and wiring.
IT-manageable, security-conscious business desktops—most of which are now manufactured by Dell, HP, and Lenovo—have their own pricing dynamics and tend to cost more. That’s because of their premium warranty or support plans, as well as the possible addition of enterprise-specific silicon focused on manageability or security. Sometimes, part of the cost premium of business desktops reflects the PC maker’s guarantee that it will stock replacement components and upgrades for that line of machines for a fixed future period. That allows IT pros to count on the ability to continue servicing a fleet of a given business machine over that period.
Windows vs. Mac: Settle on an Operating System
The Mac versus PC debate is one of the oldest in modern technology, and we won’t take sides or try to settle that here. But if you’re not wedded to one or the other by years of habit (or the peripherals and software you own) and are open to switching, here’s a quick rundown of your choices.
Windows 11 is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s operating system. Most people typically rely on desktops that use it and previous versions of the OS, so you’ll be assured of the best compatibility and the widest selection of third-party software. Desktops running Windows are also readily available for less than $500, making them an attractive option for casual users, families seeking a second PC, and budget-conscious shoppers.
(Credit: Jose Ruiz)
Macs are an excellent choice if you’re already in an Apple-centric household since macOS is seamlessly compatible with iPads and iPhones. You can also send and receive messages on any device connected to your iCloud account. However, the cost of entry will be higher than with the least expensive PCs.
Google’s ChromeOS is a viable alternative to Windows and macOS, but desktops running it (called Chromeboxes) are rare and best suited for niche uses, such as powering a restaurant menu display. A fourth option is to purchase a desktop with no operating system and install an open-source one of your choice, such as Ubuntu Linux. We don’t recommend going this route unless you’re technically savvy, willing to experiment, and OK with fixing software compatibility issues and other quirks.
What Desktop Form Factor Do I Need?
Macs and Windows PCs are available in all three major desktop form factors: mini PCs that can fit on a bookshelf, sleek all-in-ones with built-in (and usually high-resolution) displays, and traditional desktop towers that are bulky but provide more expansion space. These three forms each have strengths and weaknesses, and none of them is an obvious best choice for everyone. You’ll need to choose based on what you plan to do with your desktop and where you intend to place it.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For truly cramped quarters, light workloads, and anyone who appreciates an efficient use of space, a mini PC may be the ideal choice. They come in sizes ranging from tiny sticks not much larger than a USB thumb drive to small-form-factor (SFF) towers that may be nearly a foot tall but have compact footprints. The smallest sizes have the benefit of disappearing behind an HDMI-equipped monitor or TV, and they contain a processor, memory, storage, and ports to hook up keyboards and mice. They’re economical and power-efficient, and they can serve as adequate web browsing or multimedia viewing platforms. However, most models have no room for adding extra internal components, and their preinstalled parts can be difficult or impossible to upgrade.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Regardless, you can find a fair mix of mini PCs that can be customized or upgraded with better components. They’re bigger than the “stick”-style PCs but much more flexible and expandable.
Traditional tower desktops are capable of even more flexibility, but they also bring a lot more bulk. Nowadays, the differences between midsize and full-size towers are less well-defined, and some of the new PC case designs—from cubes to glass boxes—defy easy categorization. Still, nearly all desktop towers have generous amounts of interior space and full-size (a.k.a. ATX) motherboards, so you can install one or more (sometimes, many more) secondary storage drives, more RAM in empty slots on the motherboard, a video card if one isn’t installed, and in some remote cases, even a second graphics card for extreme gaming or graphics-accelerated tasks. (Note that not all desktop mini-towers and towers can accommodate a graphics upgrade. That is where reviews come in.)
An all-in-one (AIO) desktop is quite a different animal from both of these form factors. An AIO can save you some space since the display is built in. An AIO’s value proposition comes down to space saving and whether you are shopping for a desktop display simultaneously. Although you can find budget AIOs with basic feature sets, lower resolutions, and non-touch screens, many new models include touch-enabled screens, and some AIO panels have exceptionally high native resolutions of 4K (3,840 by 2,160 pixels) or even 5K (5,120 by 2,880 pixels). Touch displays make them excellent choices for watching movies or serving as a multimedia hub in the kitchen or other public areas of your home, but the absolute highest resolutions are typically targeted at content creators rather than consumers.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
With a few exceptions for business-oriented models, you will give up a lot of room for expansion in an AIO versus a traditional desktop tower. Cracking open an AIO for an upgrade or fix, while not impossible, is a bigger deal than opening the side of a desktop tower. Apple’s recent iMacs are particularly impervious to opening up.
How Much Processing Power Is Enough?
One of the main benefits of a desktop tower is that it will use a desktop-grade CPU. That may sound obvious, but it’s a key distinction.
AMD and Intel, the two largest manufacturers of PC processors, provide desktop-class and laptop-class chips to system manufacturers; however, the CPU model names are often similar and can be tricky to distinguish. For example, you will see versions of Intel’s Core i7 or Core Ultra 7 in laptops and desktops, but having a “true” desktop CPU versus one made for a mobile device makes a big performance difference.
A desktop CPU gives you more power for complex content-creation work, PC gaming, or math and scientific projects. Faster processors with eight, 16, or even more cores will benefit software written to utilize the extra cores. The desktop version of a given CPU will consume more power and generate more heat than versions designed for laptops; laptop chips are incorporated into environments that have less thermal and power-delivery leeway. A desktop CPU also has greater flexibility to incorporate a key feature, multithreading, which allows each of the CPU’s cores to address two processing threads simultaneously instead of just one. When engaged with suitably equipped software, multithreading (which Intel refers to as “Hyper-Threading”) can deliver a significant performance boost. However, this technology has fallen out of favor in Intel’s latest chips.
(Credit: Michael Justin Allen Sexton)
AMD’s and Intel’s highest-end desktop chips (the Core i9, Core Ultra 9, and Ryzen 9 classes) may require liquid cooling systems, limiting their use to larger towers with ample interior space; however, exceptions exist. Processors in these families are specialized and expensive, and you’ll only want them if you have specific software needs that you know, explicitly, can leverage their higher base and peak clock rates, as well as all of their addressable cores and threads. These are not casual purchases.
Conversely, many AIO desktops and mini PCs use the same efficient, cooler-running types of CPUs that you’ll find in laptops. Intel typically labels these mobile-first chip designs with a CPU name containing “U” or “H,” whereas most desktop chips instead have a “T” or a “K” or just a zero at the end of their model numbers. A mobile CPU might have the same number of processor cores as its desktop counterpart, but its maximum power consumption will often be far lower. Also, the typical base and boost clock speeds may be lower, and the chip may not support multithreading. Nevertheless, some desktop PC buyers will be satisfied with these lower-powered CPUs for everyday tasks and a bit more. (Many mini PCs and AIO PCs tend to use mobile versions of Intel and AMD CPUs.)
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For a typical tower using a true desktop-grade CPU, mainstream users should look for an Intel Core i5, Core Ultra 5, or AMD Ryzen 5; the Core i7, Core Ultra 7, and Ryzen 7 are also excellent, powerful choices, but overkill for most folks who aren’t serious PC gamers, intense multitaskers, or prosumer video or image manipulators. If CPU power is critically important, though, these should suffice. The Core i9, Core Ultra 9, Ryzen 9, and AMD’s hyper-powerful Ryzen Threadripper are worthwhile only if you know that having too few cores or threads is holding back your workflow, or you have extreme needs in terms of internal storage (for which the Threadripper can help with expanding access to internal resources, or “lanes”). For a deeper understanding, refer to our in-depth analysis of desktop CPUs.
As Intel’s “Arrow Lake” Core Ultra processors proliferate in desktops following their launch in late 2024, look out for new designations such as the Core Ultra 9 285K. (Intel dropped the familiar small “i” with its latest desktop CPUs.) These are the first Intel desktop chips to feature neural processing units for dedicated AI processing.
Do I Need a Powerful Graphics Card?
All computers have a CPU, but most laptops and many budget desktops lack a dedicated graphics processor, also known as a GPU. Instead, their display output comes from a portion of the CPU, a slice of silicon known as an integrated graphics processor (IGP). An IGP is suitable for basic tasks, such as checking email, browsing the web, or streaming videos. Doing productivity work on an IGP is completely within bounds. Indeed, most business desktops rely on IGPs.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
In any case, an IGP is not the answer for anyone who wants to run intense 3D games, render architectural simulations, or perhaps train an artificial intelligence algorithm. Times like these call for a graphics card, which will bring its own GPU to the game, and the most powerful of these are found in the best PCs for gaming.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Choosing a graphics card is a complex affair. Gamers should consider the capabilities of their monitor first. A 4K monitor or one with a high refresh rate (144Hz or greater) will require a profoundly powerful GPU to display games at the monitor’s maximum potential. If you’re just looking to do some middle-of-the-road gaming on a 1080p monitor (and not looking to win any professional esports crowns), a mainstream card will do just fine.
Meanwhile, creative professionals and other power users should consider the graphics-acceleration recommendations of the apps they plan to run, using the software maker’s system requirements as a guide. Graphics-accelerated video rendering and AI programs can benefit from the same types of GPUs as those used in intensive 3D games. Professionals eyeing workstations will want to consider Nvidia’s RTX A series lineup or AMD’s Radeon Pro models.
Check out our deep-dive guide to graphics cards for much more on the nuances of today’s video cards. Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 50 series is the current leading edge, with RTX 5080- and 5090-class cards comprising the latest top end. (Cards of the RTX 5060 to 5070 class are Nvidia’s budget and midrange classes, respectively.) Rival AMD is currently in contention with the Radeon RX 9060 XT and 9070 series as its midrange offerings, and the older Radeon RX 7800 and 7900 series cards as its highest-end selections for consumers.
How Much Storage and Memory Should My Desktop Have?
While powerful CPUs and GPUs are mostly relegated to desktop towers, nearly every desktop form factor can handle copious amounts of storage and memory. This is thanks to the advent of higher-capacity memory modules, especially solid-state drives (SSDs), which occupy vastly less space than the spinning hard drives of the past.
It’s still possible to find desktops with only spinning hard drives, but we recommend avoiding these and opting for an SSD as the primary boot drive whenever possible. Some desktops feature a single-drive combination of an SSD and a hard drive. A “true” SSD is the only way to go as a boot drive today, though, considering how far prices have dropped in the last couple of years.
A single 500GB or 512GB SSD is fine for most basic use. A 250GB or 256GB SSD is also a common size for a boot drive in budget machines, but may be too small if you store a lot of data locally. Anyone with large media and game collections will want to consider several terabytes of storage across multiple drives. Consider choosing a fast SSD as the boot drive and one or more large-capacity but slower hard drives for bulk storage of capacity-sapping video or games. A typical configuration in this case is one 512GB SSD and one or more hard drives with at least 1TB of space on each. Such a setup can be more affordable than you might think—an SSD plus one hard drive is sometimes seen on under-$1,000 desktop towers.
If you think you’ll add storage later, consider how many expansion bays your desktop has. A combination of two or more 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch bays should be enough, as these can accommodate any type of traditional SSD or hard drive. You’ll also want to ensure your desktop has at least one M.2 slot to accept a PCI Express SSD as the primary boot drive, as this will enable the fastest throughput speeds. (The boot drive will come as an M.2 drive in almost all new desktop systems nowadays.) These drives are quite small, the size and thickness of a stick of gum.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
While a desktop’s SSD stores your data, its system memory (or RAM) works in conjunction with the CPU to run applications and helps define its capacity to multitask. Memory capacities of 8GB or 16GB are fine for most users, and these are the most common configurations on entry-level or midrange desktops of all forms and sizes.
Few people will see much benefit from memory amounts above 16GB, but you’ll find exceptions. Quality gaming PCs should have at least 16GB of RAM, and 32GB is a prudent upgrade for esports enthusiasts who want to play, edit, and stream in-game footage simultaneously.
Finally, assuming your professional software can handle higher memory amounts, professional workstations should have at least 32GB of memory with error-correcting code (ECC) capabilities to ensure everything runs smoothly. In that case, you’ll want to follow the software maker’s guidance.
What Wired and Wireless Connectivity Does My PC Need?
You might be able to excuse a relative lack of input and output ports on a sleek AIO. The screen and speakers are built-in, and you’ll likely use a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway. However, mini PCs and desktop towers require a suitable selection of ports. At a minimum, they’ll have to connect to a display, speakers or headphones, and a power source.
On all but the absolute tiniest mini PCs, look for at least three USB 3.0 (or higher) ports, with at least one being the newer, oval-shaped Type-C variety, if you have any compatible peripherals that plug directly into this type of port. Future-proofers will want to seek out USB4 or Thunderbolt 4 options, which both use the Type-C standard with increased speeds and bandwidth. Expect to see the even faster Thunderbolt 5 standard appear more frequently in the future, as Apple’s Macs have already adopted it in their desktops featuring M4 Pro or M4 Max chips.
You’ll also typically find an HDMI output (and perhaps another video output or two, such as DisplayPort or VGA), a 3.5mm audio jack, a connector for an external Wi-Fi antenna, and a receptacle for a physical lock. Note that some mini PCs use scaled-down “mini” versions of HDMI or DisplayPort, which require a different kind of input cable or a dongle. Ensure the machine’s video outputs are compatible with your display and its corresponding cabling.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Larger tower PCs will have many more ports, providing support for pretty much any peripheral you need to connect. Expect six or more USB ports, for starters. On larger towers, one or two of these should support Thunderbolt over USB-C. Also, a given: an Ethernet jack for wired networking and multiple DisplayPort and HDMI jacks on the dedicated GPU for connecting one or more external monitors. A tower with a graphics card may also have video outputs that originate from the motherboard; however, you should only use the video outputs on the GPU.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Many towers will also have multiple audio ports, including possibly an optical output and ports for individual speaker channels in a surround-sound setup. Ensure that these match up with any existing gear you may have; the number of surround-sound jacks can vary depending on the PC and its motherboard. Note that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, while reliably present on even the cheapest laptops and many smaller desktops, are not a given on larger towers.
High-end workstations and gaming desktops often feature a second Ethernet port, allowing for doubled network bandwidth or always-connected redundancy. In contrast, business desktops may include legacy connectors such as VGA video outputs, PS/2 peripheral ports, or serial ports. The throwback-style ports are included for individuals who still require them to use older, specialized hardware, such as point-of-sale scanners or industrial equipment. Of course, you can purchase dongles and adapters to meet these special port needs, but the possibility of having them built in is a key benefit of choosing a desktop over a laptop.
When evaluating a desktop, also consider the ports’ location. Are they easily accessible? Towers tend to have a few commonly used ports on the top or front (usually a headphone jack and a few USB ports). Some AIOs, in contrast, have some of their key ports hidden behind the stand in hard-to-reach places.
Screen Size, Expansion Bays, and More
Some buying concerns apply only to certain types of desktops. For instance, deciding on a screen size and type is crucial for shoppers considering AIO desktops. A touch-enabled display with support for in-plane switching (IPS) to widen viewing angles is welcome for an AIO that serves as the family’s calendar or photo album. Touch support is not available on Apple’s iMac AIOs.
Give some thought to the screen resolution, regardless of the panel size. A 4K or even 5K resolution makes for a breathtaking screen, especially one that’s 27 inches or larger, but such resolutions often add significantly to the price. As a result, you may want to settle for a screen with a full HD or 1080p (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) native resolution and spend money to upgrade other components instead. Screens larger than 27 inches tend to only come in higher-than-1080p resolutions, though, and that is appropriate; at those sizes, 1080p would appear coarse.
Additionally, if needed, consider multiple cameras, one facing the rear, which could make an AIO a smart choice, for example, for an ID-card printing station. (Most AIOs have just one camera, facing the user on the display side.) Fan noise is also a consideration with AIOs since their computing components will be on your desk instead of hidden underneath it.
Then you have expansion to consider; desktop towers have many idiosyncrasies. Enthusiasts who like to tinker with components but aren’t interested in building their own PCs from scratch will need to pay special attention to the number and type of expansion bays and free PCI Express slots, as well as how easily they can access power and data cables to feed devices like graphics cards and hard drives.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Make sure to check the maximum wattage rating of the power supply unit (PSU) and ensure the case has sufficient clearance for larger coolers (or the mounting points for liquid cooling gear) if you plan to add a more powerful CPU later on. A low-wattage PSU, such as a 300-watt model used in a desktop with integrated graphics, may preclude adding a graphics card later on without upgrading the PSU as well. Some ultra-budget desktop PCs use low-wattage, custom-designed PSUs that can’t support a graphics card and are also difficult to upgrade due to their use of non-standard connectors on the motherboard side. Again, this is where a careful reading of reviews comes in.
Desktop towers and mini PCs also require separate speakers or headphones to deliver audio. If you don’t already have them, you’ll have to spend extra money to buy some, and in the case of dedicated speakers, they’ll occupy space on your desk. For people who don’t care as much about audio quality and just want loud enough audio to hear family members on the other end of a Zoom call, the built-in speakers of an AIO should be sufficient.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Desktop?
There is no single best time to buy for most people in the market for an inexpensive desktop tower. While traditional sale holidays, such as Black Friday, can net you the occasional bargain, when you find a system whose features, price, and performance match what you’re looking for, take it home.
However, people who need copious amounts of CPU or GPU muscle (and who have a clear idea of what hardware moves the performance needle with the apps they use) should pay attention to PC-component release cycles. Traditionally, Intel has announced new desktop CPU generations once a year, with the new chips appearing in PCs in the fall or early in the holiday shopping season. (This has shown more variance in recent years, though, so don’t always count on it.)
New graphics card releases are less frequent and depend on the vagaries of technical advances—Nvidia’s highly successful GeForce RTX 40 series, for example, was the cutting edge for several years before the first GeForce RTX 50 series cards came to market.
Keeping track of PC component release cycles helps you become aware of what’s new before you buy, as well as what is going off-market. For shoppers seeking maximum value or those on a tight budget, opting for a desktop based on a discounted last-generation (but still powerful) CPU or GPU can be a cost-effective solution.
Meanwhile, shoppers looking for an all-in-one PC should pay attention to Apple’s announcements. Many other manufacturers copy—and, sometimes, improve upon—the field-leading designs of the Apple iMac.
Where Should I Buy a Desktop?
Since you won’t be lugging a desktop around nearly as much as you would a laptop, it’s less important to handle the chassis and test-drive its build quality in the store before you bring it home. Still, if the desktop comes with peripherals included, it can be helpful to type a few lines and move the mouse around in the store. Setting eyes on an all-in-one desktop is more crucial than with a typical tower desktop or mini PC. The screen is an integral part of what you are buying, and eyes-on time matters, especially if you’re not well-versed, say, in the differences between a 24-inch and 27-inch panel or a 1080p screen versus a 4K one.
If you limit yourself only to the selection at your local electronics outlet, though, you’ll miss out on many excellent desktops. Some configurations can be exclusive to a single reseller, such as Best Buy, Costco, or Walmart. Other merchants, such as Micro Center, frequently have in-store-only deals that aren’t available anywhere online.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
This is where return policies come in handy. If you find the best desktop for you online but can’t test drive it locally, a seller with a liberal return policy is your best friend. Just make sure you’ve got adequate time to return it if it doesn’t work out.
How Long a Warranty Does My Desktop Need?
Most desktop manufacturers provide one-year warranties on parts and labor, with optional extensions available for up to five years at an additional cost. Before you pay to extend the warranty, though, check your credit card account benefits guide—your issuer might cover mishaps for a short period after you buy a new product and possibly extend the manufacturer’s warranty, too. (For example, many MasterCard accounts include a doubling of the standard warranty period, up to one year.)
If your card issuer doesn’t cover you and you plan on keeping your desktop for several years, look into the cost of added coverage. Some manufacturers and resellers offer a wide range of extended warranties; expect to spend $100 to $300 for one of these options. Our rule of thumb is that if a warranty costs more than 15% of the desktop’s purchase price, you’re better off spending the money on backup drives or services that minimize downtime and protect precious data that you can’t replace.
Should I Buy a Refurbished Desktop?
Many people considering desktops in the $200-to-$500 range should also consider a refurbished machine. In certain circumstances, they can be excellent values.
Large corporations lease fleets of desktops for a few years at a time, after which third parties refurbish them and resell them on eBay and through retailers such as Best Buy, Newegg, and TigerDirect. To find these systems, search or filter the product category pages for “off-lease” or refurbished systems.
Refurbished PCs are often affordable, and you can usually find desktop towers, making them easy to upgrade or service if a component fails. They do come with drawbacks. Their components are usually several years behind the cutting edge, they may be in imperfect cosmetic condition (some refurbishers grade condition on an A-B-C scale), and different refurbishers can have varying levels of attention to detail.
Still, refurbs can be a good option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly desktop. Just be sure to buy from a seller with a reasonable return policy in case you get a dud.
Ready to Buy the Best Desktop for You?
Armed with all of the knowledge and decision points, you’re almost ready to shop. The final consideration is how well a desktop PC performs. We review dozens of PCs every year, evaluating their features and testing their performance against peers in their respective categories. That way, you’ll know which are best suited for gaming, which is our favorite general-purpose all-in-one, and which is the best if all you need is a small, powerful system you can get up and running quickly.
Still can’t find anything that looks right for you? Check out the full feed of all of our latest desktop reviews, as well as our narrower-focused guides to our favorite all-in-one PCs, business desktops, and gaming desktops.
