The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2026

• RELATED:
• Best Budget Desktops
• Best All-in-One Desktops
• Best Business Desktops
• Best Mini Desktops

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Basic Windows Desktop for Most People

Acer Aspire TC-1775-UR11

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• 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 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.

Why We Picked It

Performance: You don't come to a desktop like the TC-1775 expecting it to blow the walls off of your home office, but its Intel Core i5-14400 processor in our configuration will see you through your basic at-home computing tasks. That includes web browsing, emailing, document management, and light graphics manipulations like photo editing, with 8GB of DDR5 memory and a 512GB SSD.

Connectivity: This Acer desktop's front panel includes a wide range of ports: an SD card reader, two 5Gbps USB 3.2 ports—one Type-C and one Type-A—and two 3.5mm audio jacks. Even more connections litter the rear panel: another USB-A 3.2 port, four USB 2.0 ports, two HDMI ports (one 1.4b; one 2.0), a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and three more 3.5mm plugs. The system also comes with Wi-Fi 6E for wireless internet access.

Upgradability: Acer maintained a decent amount of room for upgrades in its TC-1775 case, including an additional RAM slot for more memory (up to 32GB). The motherboard also has a full-length PCI Express x16 slot and a smaller PCIe x1 slot for expansion. However, you're limited in terms of graphics upgrades to just the 75W that the PCIe slot is capable of powering.

Value for money: This is essentially what the TC-1775 is all about. While this system won't blow anyone away with either its performance or appearance, it will see you through whatever basic computing needs you have for a manageable price. That's all you can ask for at this level of expense.

Who It's For

Budget-strapped shoppers: The Aspire TC-1775-UR11 is a smart PC choice if you're on a tight budget seeking a high-value PC for your family or household—or if you just don'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 child's first PC: Thanks to its affordable price, the UR11 is also a fine PC to serve as your kids' first desktop. With its upgrade potential, the PC can grow with them 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.

Who It's Not For

PC power users: Although its appearance and price tag should give this away, you shouldn't look to a PC like this if you need max-level performance. You'll have to pay much more for top-tier processing power, but at least those desktops usually come with additional features to sweeten the deal.

Specs & Configurations

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

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Intel UHD Graphics 730

Operating System Windows 11 Home

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$705 at Amazon $639 at Newegg $729 at Walmart

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Acer Aspire TC-1775-UR11 Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Mac Desktop for Most People

Apple Mac mini (2026, M6)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Dominant CPU and GPU performance
• Stays cool and quiet under load
• Still a simple, effective design
• Plenty of connectivity options

• Base model is much pricier than before
• Low starting storage for the price

While the 2026 Mac mini, with Apple's fresh, 2-nanometer M6 processor, has seen a considerable price hike versus the former M4 model's starting price, this updated model more than makes up for it with a substantial speed boost across the board. Whether in a new price band or simply reflecting the "budget Mac" goalposts' new position, the M6 Mac mini trounced mini PCs costing twice or even three times as much. Yes, scarce little else has changed about the product, and its starting-model storage hasn't gotten higher than 256GB, but its processor is just too hot to ignore, earning it our Editors' Choice award.

Why We Picked It

Performance: Apple's diminutive desktop continues to dominate on raw speed. The new M6 chip features a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU, and a 16-core Dual Neural Engine for AI processing. The system still starts with 16GB of memory, a baseline for basic AI experiences, but the M6 model can scale up to 32 GB. Apple includes a tiny 256GB solid-state drive to start, which can be upgraded to 2TB at checkout.

Connectivity: Apple's M6 Mac mini release changes nothing about its hardwired connection options. It still has two 10Gbps USB-C ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack up front. Around back, the Mac mini features a 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack (a minor upgrade from the 1Gbps of before; you can configure it to 10Gbps at time of purchase), an HDMI port, and three Thunderbolt 4 connections. For wireless connections, the Mac mini now has Apple's updated N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.

Upgradability: This is an area where the Macs always fall short, and nothing has changed about that this time. Every upgrade you'd want for the Mac mini must be done before you buy, in the Apple configurator. We strongly recommend configuring your Mac mini at checkout with what you think you'll need in the long run, especially storage, because upgrading after the fact ranges from difficult to impossible.

Value for money: While the price of the starting M6 Mac mini model has jumped a sobering $300 from the M4 model's original $599, the fact that its performance has increased by 20% to 30% in some scenarios helps ease the sting. Beating out systems three times as costly should put the Mac mini's increased price in a different perspective.

Who It's For

Mac users seeking a desktop on a budget: At the current price, you don't have many other affordable Mac desktop options. It's the only one available, and it earns a "budget" title only given its price relative to other Mac desktops. At least the M6 mini can scream through a range of tasks in exchange for the steeper price.

AI-focused Apple macOS users: Apple built the M6 chip expressly with AI in mind, doubling its Neural Engine coprocessor from 16 cores to 32 for even faster AI inference processing. While you'll probably want more than 16GB of memory for a smoother AI experience, the basic model should be more than enough for average AI use.

Who It's Not For

Tinkerers and frequent upgraders: The Mac mini isn't for you if you're a fan of tweaking your system's internal components after purchase. That's not at all what the Mac mini is about, but with the M6 chip and enough memory, it can challenge some mighty PCs.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Small Form Factor (SFF)

Processor Apple M6

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested) 24 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Apple M6 (12-core)

Operating System Apple macOS 27 Golden Gate

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$879 at Amazon

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Apple Mac mini (2026, M6) Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best All-in-One Windows Desktop for Most People

Dell 24 All-in-One (2026)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Compelling value
• Capable everyday performance
• Colorful touch screen
• Wi-Fi 7/Bluetooth 6
• VESA-compatible stand
• Impactful speakers and webcam
• Bundled wireless peripherals

• No swivel or height adjustment
• Sharper screen is tied to Dell's 27-inch model
• Most ports are positioned behind the screen

As a middle-road desktop PC that should fit easily into most people’s lives, the Dell 24 All-in-One hits the mark with style. It’s a relatively affordable midrange system with a colorful touch screen, fast connectivity, full-sounding audio, and an effective webcam. Dell even includes a wireless mouse and keyboard in the box. If you’re looking to please everyone in the family with a den PC, start your search with the Dell 24 All-in-One.

Why We Picked It

Performance: As this is a midrange all-in-one, you should expect mid-level performance from the Dell 24, and that's exactly what our build's Intel Core Ultra 5 322 processor with 16GB of memory delivers. Your family's computing tasks will be well covered here, outside of jobs like intense photo editing and video editing.

Display: This AIO's 23.8-inch screen comes in at a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution with touch controls, powered by the processor's integrated Intel Graphics. Our tests show that it covers 100% of the sRGB color spectrum and reaches up to 337 nits of brightness, both decent for a midrange AIO.

Connectivity: Port placement is a heightened concern with AIO desktops versus on standard tower models, and the Dell 24 doesn't quite pass that test. However, it does include lots of connections, like a 10Gbps USB-C port, two 5Gbps USB-A connections, two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, a 3.5mm audio port, and dual HDMI ports (2.1 output and 1.4 input). Finally, the system houses Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 radios for wireless connections.

Upgradability: This is not a quality you look for in an AIO PC. Rather, it's all about the out-of-the-box experience and the ease of use that follows. With that, you'll want to configure the system as you'll want it a few years from now if the starting loadout isn't enough.

Value for money: Considering that you're getting an entire PC in the package—screen, accessories, and all—the Dell 24 offers a solid deal for the price. Yes, you could buy a comparable tower setup for about the same price, but it will require much more hooking up and fiddling than this one. For some of you, that might be valuable in itself.

Who It's For

Families wanting a shared PC: As the head of household responsible for buying the family’s next big computer, you want the process to be fuss-free. That’s exactly what the Dell 24 All-in-One is designed to address, with performance and features tailored to please as many people as possible.

Amateur photo editors: With a relatively potent processor and a colorful screen, the Dell 24 All-in-One can be an ideal desktop for your photography hobby. The chip will handle photo editing software just fine, and the panel's color coverage will help you achieve vibrant results.

Who It's Not For

DIY PC fans and builders: While it should go without saying, this is not the PC you want if you're into tweaking and upgrading your PC hardware after purchase. AIOs are essentially antithetical to that philosophy, making upgrades and tweaks anywhere from difficult to impossible.

PC power users: Likewise, you should look elsewhere if you need a high-performance PC for complex workloads like content creation, AI work, and gaming. Like most AIO PCs, this one is meant for families with basic computing needs.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class All-in-one, Mainstream

Processor Intel Core Ultra 5 322

Processor Speed 2.5 GHz

RAM (as Tested) 16 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size 23.8 inches

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution 1920 by 1080

All-in-One Screen Type Touch Screen

Graphics Card Intel Graphics

Operating System Windows 11 Home

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$1,299 at Dell $1,329 at Best Buy

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Dell 24 All-in-One (2026) Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Midrange Windows Desktop

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• 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 PC.

Why We Picked It

Performance: What we love about the Tower Plus is how scalable it is to the experience you want. Our configuration, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card paired with 32GB of DDR5 memory, will be ready for almost any task a home user will come up against. It's ready for gaming, content creation, and even AI work thanks to the combined compute power of its CPU and GPU.

Connectivity: Dell set out to make using the Tower Plus as easy as possible by placing four USB ports (three USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2), a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader on the front panel. Around back, the system includes six more USB-A ports (four USB2.0, two USB 3.2 Gen 1), one Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI 2.0 output, an RJ-45 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack, stereo audio line in/out ports, and an S/PDIF optical jack. For wireless connections, the Tower has Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 radios.

Upgradability: Dell's proprietary case design allows ample upgrading and expansion, with room for up to four storage drives and up to 64GB of memory across two DIMM slots on the motherboard. The board also includes one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot and two PCIe x4 slots, but keep in mind this mainstream system's limitations.

Value for money: With decent up-front pricing in the midrange and a fair amount of room for upgrades and expansions, the Dell Tower Plus presents plenty of value for you both at checkout and after purchase. Just look out for configurations at the extremes, as you might find better value in those price ranges from competing systems.

Who It's For

Amateur and hobbyist content creators: This is an excellent desktop for editing your home photos or powering your content-creation hobby or side hustle. The Dell Tower Plus can serve as a home media machine or be configured into a high-power editing and streaming rig with advanced cooling for more demanding parts.

Families with varied needs: This desktop will work like a charm for your family, from paying the bills to playing the latest PC games. The Tower Plus offers configurations that can meet demanding computing needs in a mainstream-looking device, making it an excellent shared desktop for Windows 11 user profiles.

Who It's Not For

Dedicated PC gamers: Despite this desktop's option for dedicated graphics, you should look elsewhere for a top-end gaming PC. Tailored gaming rigs unlock even more power from the same components, with enhanced cooling. They also generally look better and have even more room for expansion and upgrading.

Extreme power-user professionals: If you work in fields that require substantial computing hardware running 24/7, such as data science and AI product development, look upstream from a PC like this. Dell sells tower workstation-class desktops for that exact purpose; this model is more for consumers and home or small offices.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Mainstream, Tower

Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 265K

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested) 32 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Operating System Windows 11

GET IT NOW

$1,199 at Dell $2,849 at Dell Technologies Canada

Learn More

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Budget Gaming Desktop

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• 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 desktop is a terrific on-again/off-again configuration via Costco, with components that differ slightly from those in our initial review. The system comes tucked into a gorgeous glass-sided chassis with lots of lighting and cooling. RAM and storage price surges in 2026 have challenged our existing sense of "budget," so the Xtreme is our leading low-cost pick for PC gamers. These days, midrange models easily blow past $2,000, so this unit's $999-to-$1,500 pricing defines the new gaming desktop low end.

Why We Picked It

Performance: Remember, with a budget gaming PC, it's important to temper expectations. Still, the Intel Core Ultra 5 225F and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 can get up to some serious business with a 1080p monitor attached. The system's 32GB of RAM and 2TB SSD in our configuration will help smooth everything else out, particularly background tasks and game downloads.

Connectivity: This desktop's top panel offers two USB Type-A 3.1 ports, one USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a headphone jack for convenience. Around back, you'll find five more USB-A ports (2.0 and 3.1), an RJ-45 jack for Ethernet, and three audio ports, though your GPU of choice will define the available video connections. As for wireless connections, you get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 radios.

Upgradability: Our Gamer Xtreme configuration includes a well-equipped Asus B860M Max Gaming AX motherboard, which houses several PCI Express slots (including one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot), three M.2 storage slots, and four DIMM slots (two open, in our case) that can host up to 256GB of RAM if you use 64GB modules. However, note the power supply in our configuration before making upgrades, as you'll likely need to upgrade that if you kick up the graphics card significantly down the road.

Value for money: While its price fluctuates at Costco, this rig is a decent deal even at its full $1,499 price. It might be hard to find this specific combination of parts at the same price or at a lesser price outside of a shopping holiday. That's as good a testament to its value as any.

Who It's For

Cash-strapped PC gamers: If you're hard up but still want to game well, start your search with this rig. While the Xtreme is pricier at times than a three-digit wonder, you might struggle to find similar parts at this cost from other manufacturers. It could make getting a Costco membership worth it on its own.

A kid's first gaming PC: Buying this gaming PC for getting your kids into the hobby is a no-brainer. It's a relatively 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. Price is key when shopping for kids, who can be fickle about how long they stay interested in one thing, after all.

Who It's Not For

Well-funded PC gamers: If you have enough cash to buy yourself a rig with a more potent GPU and faster supporting components, look higher-end than the GeForce RTX 5060.

Specs & Configurations

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

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060

Operating System Windows 11 Home

GET IT NOW

$999 at Costco $1,309 at Cyber Power PC $1,579 at Amazon

Learn More

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Midrange Gaming Desktop

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme MA-01

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Attractive, fun case design
• Fast 1080p and 1440p gaming
• Speedy overall performance
• Highly configurable

• Even more potent GeForce RTX 5070 Ti systems aren't much pricier

CyberPowerPC isn't well known for its original case designs, but the brand is poised to change that with its Gamer Xtreme MA-01 gaming desktop. Using its new MA-01 case with wraparound glass and analog-knob-controlled RGB lighting, CyberPower can craft a consummate, attractive midrange gaming rig for slick 1440p play. That, plus the approachable price for an RTX 5070 GPU paired with 32GB of memory and an Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPU, is what won the Gamer Xtreme MA-01 our Editors' Choice award in the category.

Why We Picked It

Performance: The Gamer Xtreme MA-01 is ready for smooth 1440p play, thanks to an Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU in our review configuration. Paired with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, this rig is ready for lots of games onboard and multiple background tasks while gaming, like music or video streaming.

Connectivity: CyberPower's custom MA-01 case contains lots of helpful hardwired connections up front: two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 20Gbps USB-C connection, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The case's rear I/O depends largely on the motherboard, which includes nine various USB-A ports, one USB-C connection, three audio jacks, a DisplayPort slot, and an Ethernet jack. Wireless connections include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth radios built in.

Upgradability: As a custom case from a boutique PC builder, the MA-01 has many considerations for gamers within, particularly around expansion. The case can accommodate a graphics card up to 16.5 inches (420mm) long, and it provides plenty of room for upgrades with support for both ATX-type motherboards as well as smaller ones.

Value for money: CyberPower's MA-01 PC options appear laser-focused on value, with our midrange configuration providing quite a lot both up front and for the long term for the price. Not only is this gaming rig ready for substantial 1440p play, but it's ready to level up with you as new, more capable silicon is released.

Who It's For

PC gamers seeking consistent 1440p play: If you're looking for a new gaming rig to pair with a 1440p monitor, start with this CyberPowerPC MA-01 rig. It's well-equipped for the price and comes in a case with plenty of room for upgrades and replacements.

Style-first PC gamers: This model is built into CyberPowerPC's most attractive, functional case, the MA-01, making it a build worth showing off in your gaming room or den. That glow you see in the pictures is not a photography glitch; you control it via knobs on the case.

Who It's Not For

PC gamers with limited space: The MA-01 case isn't exactly monstrous, but it's not tiny, either. Gaming PCs generally require large cases to fit a big GPU, lots of cooling, and all of that pixel-pushing, but if you're already low on space, you'll want to look smaller-footprint.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Gaming

Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested) 32 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Operating System Windows 11

GET IT NOW

$2,229 at Best Buy

Learn More

CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme MA-01 Review

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Best High-End Gaming Desktop

Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026)

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Blistering performance
• Surprising value for a top-tier gaming rig
• Ample airflow
• Highly customizable
• No bloatware

• No options for a PCI Express 5.0 SSD
• Limited USB-C ports

Velocity Micro returns to this list, this time with the Intel-based Raptor Z55i for 2026. Once again, the Raptor Z55 line delivers top-end performance at some of the lowest pricing we've seen, getting you into a GeForce RTX 5090 system for as much as $1,500 less than competing builds. It achieves this with a low-glitz case and a smaller-than-tower design. The Raptor Z55i is the ultimate sleeper gaming PC, earning our Editors' Choice award in the high-end category.

Why We Picked It

Performance: Our top-end Raptor Z55i configuration delivers close to the utmost gaming power currently available, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, which is impressive for the case's size. With a generous 64GB of memory and a capacious 2TB SSD, this rig could likely handle an entire game livestreaming operation.

Connectivity: The Raptor Z55i comes with front-panel connections: two 5Gbps USB-A ports, one 5Gbps USB-C port, and two 3.5mm audio jacks. The rear I/O on our review unit features one USB4 port and nine USB-A ports: one 10Gbps, four 5Gbps, and four 480Mbps. The I/O selection concludes with a 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and three additional audio connections. For wireless internet, the system includes a Wi-Fi 7 radio.

Upgradability: Despite its small confines, the Raptor Z55i has lots of opportunity for upgrades and expansions. In addition to a smartly built case, our review unit's motherboard had one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot, two PCIe 4.0 x16 slots, four DDR5 RAM slots, three M.2 SSD slots (one PCIe 5.0, two PCIe 4.0), and four SATA connectors. The case is also long enough for most GeForce RTX 5090 cards, plus a bit of clearance.

Value for money: You might expect the Raptor Z55i to cost a relative fortune for what's inside, but Velocity Micro serves all that up for hundreds (and sometimes up to $1,000 less) than competing machines with similar component loadouts. You can thank, in part, the no-nonsense, flair-free build for that.

Who It's For

Discerning PC gaming enthusiasts: You'll save the most cash possible for top-end performance with the Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i. It's far from the flashiest system out there, but that's not the point. It's all about enabling the fastest speeds in a small package.

Stealth PC gamers: If you're a PC gamer but don't necessarily want to shout that from the rooftops, the Raptor Z55i has you covered. It's a top-end rig with little flash and a lot of power—all for less than much of the competition.

Who It's Not For

Ostentatious PC gamers: Don't bother with this gaming rig if you want something that makes a statement. You won't find much flash or glitz with this PC—just raw performance in a well-optimized box.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Gaming

Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested) 64 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090

Operating System Windows 11

GET IT NOW

$2,499 at Velocity Micro

Learn More

Velocity Micro Raptor Z55i (2026) Review

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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Mini Desktop

Asus NUC 16 Pro Mini

4.5 Outstanding

Pros & Cons

• Compact chassis design, with deep complement of ports
• Punchy CPU performance given chassis size, in tested Core Ultra X7 configuration
• Fast DDR5 memory in test model amps up graphics performance
• Quiet under load
• Easy to upgrade storage and (in lower-end models) RAM

• Expensive as configured
• Models without Ultra X7 and X9 processors use slower SO-DIMM memory

Whether you work from home or the office, the Asus NUC 16 Pro Mini delivers impressive performance, especially in our review configuration. It earned our Editors' Choice award for appealing broadly to at-home and professional audiences with approachable, bare-bones pricing and potent configuration options. It's also relatively easy to upgrade among models in its mini PC class, and it runs quietly under load—all hallmarks of a quality mini desktop.

Why We Picked It

Performance: In our review configuration, the NUC 16 Pro Mini powered through both our traditional benchmark suite and additional gaming testing. (The Intel Core Ultra X7 358H processor and Intel Arc B390 integrated graphics are a robust combination.) The 64GB of onboard memory certainly helps with that, and the system is rounded out with a roomy 2TB solid-state drive.

Connectivity: This NUC comes decently well-connected for a mini PC: Up front, it has a 10Gbps USB-C port and two 10Gbps USB-A connections; on the back, you get two more USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, two Thunderbolt 4 connections, two HDMI 2.1 ports, two RJ-45 Ethernet jacks, and a DC-in power port. The system includes an Intel BE211 wireless card with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0.

Upgradability: As a NUC, this mini PC is more upgradable than most mini PCs, though the extent depends on the specific configuration. NUC models with Intel X7 and X9 processors have the memory soldered down; lesser ones rely on SO-DIMM memory you can install. (All models give you access to the M.2 storage slot and the M.2 Wi-Fi card.) Whatever the particulars, the case is dead-simple to open and access the internals for upgrades. That's key for business deployments.

Value for money: While our review configuration is quite pricey, the NUC's starting price of under $600 is quite reasonable. Of course, it requires you to bring a bunch of components to the party (RAM, SSD, OS), but at least you can control your own spending from that point on. Prebuilt versions might be less price-attractive, but those models, especially the X7- and X9-based ones, have a lot of power to justify the price.

Who It's For

PC fans who like to build: If you love buying a PC case and building your rig from scratch, you'll love doing that in miniature with the NUC 16 Pro Mini (if you buy a configure-it-yourself model). It's an affordable, bare-bones system that you can assemble, allowing you to control your costs as much as possible.

Space-starved power users: This is an excellent choice of mini PC if you're looking for as much power as possible from a mini system short of a workstation. The Asus NUC's prebuilt options come with punchy processing and graphics, enough for some complex workflows.

Who It's Not For

Power users with ample space: If you consider yourself a top-level PC user with a spacious area for your work (or play), take advantage of that space with an even more powerful rig. You'll quickly reach this system's limits if you expect tower-grade performance.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Small Form Factor (SFF)

Processor Intel Core Ultra X7 358H

Processor Speed

RAM (as Tested) 64 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Intel Arc B390

Operating System Windows 11

GET IT NOW

$559 at Amazon $559 at Asus

Learn More

Asus NUC 16 Pro Mini Review

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best All-in-One Business Desktop

Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 (27-Inch)

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Excellent productivity performance
• Sharp, bright, and flexible IPS display
• Three M.2 SSD slots for storage expansion
• Premium build, with lots of ports
• Extensive configuration options

• Review configuration is light on storage
• No option for a touch screen
• Some ports are inconveniently placed
• Audio is just OK

Work-focused AIOs are rare, but Lenovo keeps the genre vital with its ThinkCentre desktops. Exhibit one: An excellent Gen 6 sequel to last year's award-winning ThinkCentre M90a. Just as before, this model has a desktop-class processor, ample memory, and a decent amount of storage in our review configuration. Lenovo upgraded the display to 1440p resolution, and it still supports mounting and tilting. The M90a Gen 6 also has room for up to three SSDs and plenty of ports to support a complete working environment. Lenovo continues to rule the office-AIO market with its business-centric AIO machines.

Why We Picked It

Performance: With an Intel Core Ultra 7 265 desktop-grade processor and 32GB of DDR5 memory, the ThinkCentre M90a in our review configuration delivers potent productivity performance. This chip has Intel vPro support for extra business-level security, which is a must for many IT fleet managers. For digital professionals with low-impact compute needs, the M90a will more than suffice.

Display: Unlike many all-in-ones for consumers, this business-grade model doesn't include a touch screen. Instead, you get a crisp-looking 2,560-by-1,440-pixel, 27-inch panel with 100% sRGB color coverage and a maximum brightness of 442 nits. This provides plenty of screen space without sacrificing sharpness.

Connectivity: Ports are not an AIO's strong suit, but the M90a goes all out for pros. The side has one Thunderbolt 4 port, one 10Gbps USB-C connection, a 10Gbps USB-A port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The rear houses four USB-A ports (two 10Gbps and two 5Gbps), DisplayPort 1.4 output, HDMI 2.1 output, and an RJ-45 Ethernet jack. Lenovo also offers three wireless radio options, ranging from Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.

Upgradability: AIOs are obviously not known for their upgrade capacity, but Lenovo did what it could here. With that in mind, the M90a houses three M.2 SSD slots for storage expansion, which at least helps accommodate the needs of various professionals who handle large volumes of digital assets.

Value for money: The M90a is tough to pin in terms of value because of its business positioning, but it looks positive overall. The system is likely available at negotiated pricing for IT fleet managers buying in bulk. The individual unit prices for this model look fair, so pricing might only get more attractive from there.

Who It's For

Unique professional spaces: You should buy this desktop for workers in specific roles that beg for an all-in-one solution, such as public-facing desk work. The M90a Gen 6 works particularly well in front-desk secretary and public kiosk scenarios that are space-limited but require quick, reliable performance.

Offices requiring simple PC deployments: If you run or buy equipment for a business that's less concerned with avoiding multiple potential failure points and more with creating an easy ramp to productivity, then look to this ThinkCentre device. As a complete system, top to bottom, the M90a Gen 6 delivers exactly that.

Who It's Not For

Professional power users: This is not the desktop to buy for software engineers, AI developers, or even high-end content creators. Those pros will broadly need dedicated graphics and possibly an even larger or sharper screen to accomplish their complex work.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class All-in-one

Processor Intel Core Ultra 7 265

Processor Speed 2.4 GHz

RAM (as Tested) 32 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 512 GB

Secondary Drive Type

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested)

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 Graphics

Operating System Windows 11

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$2,990 at Amazon $1,427 at Lenovo $2,204 at CDW

Learn More

Lenovo ThinkCentre M90a Pro Gen 6 (27-Inch) Review

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Mainstream Business Workstation Desktop

Dell Pro Max Tower T2

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Reasonable starting price for a premium desktop workstation
• Highly scalable performance
• Generous connectivity mix
• Quiet cooling system
• Easy serviceability

• No CPU liquid cooling or options for AMD CPUs
• Proprietary mainboard design

Our reasons for picking the Dell Pro Max Tower T2 largely come down to pricing and configurations. The Tower T2 starts at an approachable sub-$2,000 price and can scale up to meet the needs of deeper-pocketed organizations and contractors. Likewise, this desktop can bring the heat when needed (and as configured), runs relatively quietly under load, and has plenty of connections to serve as a work hub. Finally, the PC is also deeply serviceable, which IT administrators and at-home troubleshooters will appreciate.

Why We Picked It

Performance: What's amazing about the Pro Max Tower T2 is how scalable it is, starting at around $1,400 and costing more than $14,000 in our testing. That version pairs an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and a massive 128GB of error-correcting memory with a substantial Nvidia RTX 6000 Blackwell graphics card and gobs of solid-state storage. The system drives class-leading performance as a result.

Connectivity: This desktop comes with ample connections, including two USB-C (10Gbps and 20Gbps) ports, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a headset jack, and an optional SD card reader on the front panel. The rear panel houses four USB-A ports (two 10Gbps, two USB 2.0), two Thunderbolt 4 connections, two USB-C (10Gbps and 20Gbps) ports, and a serial connection. In addition to other optional ports, the system includes four DisplayPort connections via the GPU and Wi-Fi 7 for wireless internet access.

Upgradability: As a workstation, the Pro Max Tower T2 has a serviceable internal layout and room for expansion and updates. Dell's proprietary motherboard is nearly EATX in scale, with four DIMM slots, two M.2 drive slots, and a primary PCIe slot for the GPU. In our configuration, you can include a 3.5-inch bay and also set up the front bay for either storage or, in our case, a 9.5mm DVD writer.

Value for money: Any business or independent contractor buying one or more of these systems, you know what you're getting into and the price of admission for access to this level of power for your work. While you'll likely see more favorable negotiated pricing while buying in bulk, this can be a pricey system. At least it starts reasonably for its class.

Who It's For

Offices seeking scalability: The Dell Pro Max Tower T2 is excellent if your business wants to invest minimally in new technology while retaining the option to scale up when needed. This desktop can do that without issue, with our configured model flying past the $14,000 mark.

Businesses that want quiet offices: If you're trying to promote a quiet office environment for your employees conducive to getting work done, the Pro Max Tower T2 is a shoo-in for that role. The Tower T2 operates with little noise, whether at idle or crunching on a task, thanks to an advanced cooling system.

Who It's Not For

Basic digital professionals: If you work in an office or from home and don't do much more than email, Slack, and create slide decks, you do not need a system like this. The Tower T2 is meant to support high memory and GPU levels for pro scientific or AI work.

PC gamers: Yes, the Pro Max Tower T2 has an amazing GPU inside, but it's not for gaming. Pro-grade GPUs are not tuned for PC gaming but rather for data science and AI tool development. They'll work for games, sure, but premium-cost systems like this are for professional uses like 3D animation and AI development, not improving your kill-streak record.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class Workstation

Processor Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Processor Speed 3.7 GHz

RAM (as Tested) 128 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 TB

Secondary Drive Type SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 2 TB

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card Nvidia RTX 6000 Blackwell

Operating System Windows 11 Pro

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$1,903 at Dell

Learn More

Dell Pro Max Tower T2 Review

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Best Compact Business Workstation Desktop

HP Z2 Mini G1a

4.0 Excellent

Pros & Cons

• Powerful Ryzen AI Max+ processor
• Enough memory for local-model AI development
• Compact and mountable
• Plentiful connectivity for its size

• Fans can get loud under load
• Memory, while generously apportioned, is not upgradable

HP’s Z2 Mini G1a small-form-factor desktop workstation is a diminutive dynamo, with ample power for workstation-level operations and AI model development. That's thanks to a top-end AMD Ryzen AI Max+ chip and 128GB of unified memory on board. We found its performance to be on par with a powered-up Mac mini with an M4 Pro processor, and far beyond the other mini PCs we compared it to. This generation's Z2 Mini also has plenty of ports for its size, and it's mountable behind a display, making it a possibly smart buy for your business trying to keep up with the AI craze while hedging its bets.

Why We Picked It

Performance: The Z2 Mini G1a packs about as much power as you possibly can into a mini PC, with a top-end AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ Pro 395 processor and AMD Radeon 8060S integrated graphics paired with 128GB of unified memory in our review configuration. It's a blistering box with capacity for AI model development handled securely in a local environment.

Connectivity: This mini PC packs plenty of ports for its size. The side panel houses a 20Gbps USB-A port, a 10Gbps USB-C port, and an audio jack. Around back, the system has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, two 10Gbps USB-A ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and 2.5Gbps Ethernet. Furthermore, the case has two optional port bays for various specific connection options, and it includes a MediaTek MT7925 wireless card with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 radios.

Upgradability: Beyond the aforementioned expansion port bays in the back of the system, the Z2 Mini doesn't have much more to say on the topic. This is a tailor-made system for specific business use cases, particularly AI development, so don't come to this mini PC expecting too much upgrade potential. The memory is soldered down, but you can access the two PCI Express 4.0 M.2 slots.

Value for money: With AI the hottest computing development going, it can be tough to put a price on technology like this, especially as prices keep rising. Regardless, it's about as expensive as other AI development boxes on the market, so it's not out of step with the base cost expectations for such products.

Who It's For

AI-curious offices: This is an excellent mini workstation for your business that's trying to keep up with AI in the workplace or catch up quickly. As configured in our test model, the Z2 Mini G1a can handle full AI model development using its massive memory stores and a fiery processor capable of up to 50 trillion AI operations per second (TOPS).

Demanding businesses with limited space: Even if you don't need cutting-edge AI hardware, the Z2 Mini works just as well as a traditional workstation desktop for tasks that don't require dedicated graphics. You'll find lots of workstation-level apps that don't rely on extreme GPUs, and this Ryzen chip's integrated graphics soar with 96GB of that memory available to visual processing. It won't top a tower with an Nvidia RTX Pro GPU, but it's a lot smaller and likely cheaper.

Who It's Not For

General professional audiences: This is not the system to buy if you're an average digital professional, slinging emails and generating slide decks for leadership presentations. Even if you work with AI on the regular, if you're not actually developing new AI products or working on complex multi-agent workflows, this PC will be overkill.

Specs & Configurations

Desktop Class

Processor AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ Pro 395

Processor Speed 3 GHz

RAM (as Tested) 128 GB

Boot Drive Type SSD

Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB

Secondary Drive Type SSD

Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) 1 TB

All-in-One Screen Size

All-in-One Screen Native Resolution

All-in-One Screen Type

Graphics Card AMD Radeon 8060S

Operating System Windows 11 Pro

GET IT NOW

$1,899 at Amazon $4,899 at HP $4,115 at Amazon

Learn More

HP Z2 Mini G1a Review

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 if you travel for business or if your 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.

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 Computer Brand 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. However, 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 models based on other, more solid criteria, the wisdom of the crowd might help you identify 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 of you, 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 an $800 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 $400 to $700. Gaming desktops with dedicated graphics cards start at around $900. You can also find all-in-one desktops, with the display and all of the computing components built into a single device, starting for roughly $600.

The thing with desktops is that opting for a cheap one doesn't carry the same risks you'd face with a similarly priced laptop. A $300 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 similarly priced laptop. 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.

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. Then, of course, you have 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, a business desktop's cost reflects the PC maker's guarantee to stock replacement components and upgrades for that line of machines for a fixed future period. That allows IT pros 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. 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 of you rely on desktops that use it and previous versions of the OS, so you can 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. 

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 Windows 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. Each of these three forms has strengths and weaknesses, and none 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.

For truly cramped quarters, light workloads, and those of you who appreciate an efficient use of space, a mini PC may be the top 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 include a processor, memory, storage, and ports for connecting 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.

Regardless, you can find a fair mix of mini PCs that are customizable or upgradable with better components. They're bigger than the "stick"-style PCs but much more flexible and expandable.

Traditional tower desktops offer even greater flexibility, but they also add a lot more bulk. Nowadays, the differences between mid-size 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 at the same time. 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 highest resolutions are typically aimed at content creators rather than consumers.

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 difficult to open.

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- and laptop-class chips to system manufacturers. However, the CPU model names are often similar, making them 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 that utilizes them. The desktop version of a given CPU will consume more power and generate more heat than the laptop version; laptop chips are designed for environments with less thermal and power-delivery headroom. A desktop CPU also provides greater flexibility to incorporate a key feature, multithreading, which allows each CPU core 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.

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 ending in "U" or "H," whereas most desktop chips have a "T," a "K," or a zero at the end of their model numbers.

However, this guidance is not 100% ironclad today. Some newer laptop-class Core and Core Ultra Series 3 chips don't have any suffix, though they're decidedly not desktop-class, socketed chips. So, this guidance may vary for the newest Intel CPUs. Checking Intel's Ark processor database should clear up any confusion regarding what's a desktop-class chip versus a mobile one.

Why does this matter? 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 of you will be satisfied with these lower-powered CPUs for everyday tasks and a bit more. Note that mini PCs and AIO PCs tend to use mobile versions of Intel and AMD CPUs.

For a typical tower using a true desktop-grade CPU, mainstream users should look for an Intel Core i5, Core 5, Core Ultra 5, or AMD Ryzen 5; the Core i7, Core 7, Core Ultra 7, and Ryzen 7 are also excellent, powerful choices, but overkill if you aren’t a serious PC gamer, an intense multitasker, or a prosumer video or image manipulator. If CPU power is critically important, though, these should suffice. The Core i9, Core Ultra 9, Ryzen 9, and AMD's hyper-powerful, workstation-class 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.

The "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 200S processors are Intel's current desktop CPU family, with Core Ultra 200S Plus chips the very latest releases. These chips, starting with the PCMag-award-winning Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, provide significant improvements in both mainstream gaming performance and pricing.

AMD has yet to respond in kind to Intel's 200S Plus chips at their price points, but it has doubled down on its 3D V-Cache on-chip memory-stacking technique, most recently with the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition. These processors use additional on-chip cache to speed up certain task types, especially 3D rendering and media editing in applications like Photoshop.

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.

In any case, an IGP is not the answer if you want to run intense 3D games, render architectural simulations, or perhaps train an artificial intelligence algorithm. Times like these call for a graphics card that brings its own GPU to the game, and the most powerful of these are found in the best PCs for gaming.

Choosing a graphics card is a complex affair. Gamers should consider their monitor's capabilities first. A 4K monitor or one with a high refresh rate (144Hz or higher) will require a very powerful GPU to display games at the monitor's full 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 5050, 5060, and 5070 classes are Nvidia's budget to midrange cards.) 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 ample storage. This is thanks to the advent of 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. (These will be refurbished or used models, at this point.) Avoid these and insist on an SSD as the primary boot drive; the difference in boot times and overall performance feel is no comparison. A scattering of current gaming desktops feature a single-drive combination of an SSD as the boot drive and a hard drive for secondary storage. A "true" SSD is the only way to go as a boot drive today.

Note that RAM and storage prices are rising these days due to the ongoing memory shortage, driven by relentless demand from the AI cloud giants. Simply put, expect to spend a lot more this year for systems with the same amount of RAM and SSD capacity as before.

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 that's 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, each with at least 4TB of storage. Such a setup can be more affordable than you might think.

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 host a PCI Express SSD as the primary boot drive, as this will enable the fastest throughput. (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.

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 of you 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 if you're an esports enthusiast who wants to play 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) support to ensure everything runs smoothly. Some pro applications and usage cases call for ECC; in that case, you'll want to follow the software maker's guidance.

For more information on the topic, we have a guide on how much RAM you really need for a variety of use cases.

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, both of which 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 since the previous generation.

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, though the trend is toward DisplayPort over USB-C. Ensure the machine's video outputs are compatible with your display and its corresponding cabling.

Larger tower PCs will have many more ports, supporting 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 outputs 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 use only the GPU's video outputs. 

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.

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High-end workstations and gaming desktops often feature a second Ethernet port, enabling double the network bandwidth or always-on 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 in case you 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 location of the ports. 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.

Other Key Factors: AIO 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 if you're considering an AIO desktop. 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.

Consider the screen resolution regardless of panel size. A 4K or even 5K resolution makes for a breathtaking screen, especially on a 27-inch or larger display, 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 starts to 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 you on the display side.) Fan noise is also a consideration with AIOs, since their components will be on your desk rather than in a tower tucked beneath it.

Then you have expansion to consider; desktop towers have many idiosyncrasies. If you like to tinker with components, but aren't interested in building your own PC from scratch, pay special attention to the number and type of expansion bays and free PCI Express slots. You should also note how easily you can access power and data cables to feed devices like new graphics cards and hard drives.

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 budget desktop PCs use low-wattage, custom-designed PSUs that can't support a graphics card and are also difficult to upgrade because they use non-standard connectors on the motherboard side and may have proprietary form factors you can only source from the manufacturer. Again, this is where a careful reading of reviews comes in. Proprietary power supplies and motherboards aren't exclusive to cheap desktops.

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 them, and dedicated speakers will take up space on your desk. If you 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?

You will not find a single best time to buy 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, if you need copious amounts of CPU or GPU muscle (and you have a clear idea of what hardware moves the performance needle with the apps you use), then you 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. If you're seeking maximum value or are on a tight budget, opting for a desktop with a discounted last-generation (but still powerful) CPU or GPU can be a cost-effective solution.

Meanwhile, if you want an all-in-one PC, then 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.

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 include a one-year warranty 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 to keep your desktop for several years, look into the cost of adding coverage. Some manufacturers and resellers sell 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?

If you're considering desktops in the $300-to-$500 range, then you 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 and Newegg. 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.