Rather than working on a cramped 15-inch laptop display, desktop PCs allow you to stretch your workload across multiple screens 27 inches across or larger. Additionally, a desktop can be upgraded with relative ease, whereas most portable devices offer very limited upgradeability or lack any customization potential. We researched and tested some of the top options from well-known brands. Here are the best desktop PCs. The hardware is capable, with an 11th generation Core-i7 processor, a solid NVidia GeForce RTX 3080 Super GPU, 64GB of RAM, and two SSDs for a combined total of 3TB. That means you can store basically anything and access it very quickly. Put all that under a load, and this computer will spit out quite a bit of heat and fan noise, but that’s consistent with a lot of gaming PCs. It’s important to make sure this PC is in a place with good ventilation and airflow. But overall, this computer will happily take on any demands you care to throw at it. CPU: Intel Core i7-11700F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: 64GB | Storage: 1TB SSD, 2TB SSD Gamers, in particular, may look to upgrade their machines someday down the road, and fortunately, the HP Omen 30L makes that easy with an accessible case design that’s great to work in. It’s also clear, so you can see all the hardware inside, with built-in LED lights to show it off. Overall, the HP Omen 30L is a top-notch gaming PC. CPU: Intel Core i9-10850K | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD, 1TB HDD A flashy-looking case contains all this capability. The build quality is a cut above the typical office PC tower. The only downside worth mentioning is that it gets pretty loud when playing particularly demanding games, but overall you’re getting a lot of power in a well-built package at an attractive price point. CPU: Intel Core i7-11700F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD, 2TB HDD This affordable PC also looks fantastic with a spacious, built-in 21.5-inch screen that offers a wide range of potential adjustments. One downside is that it only features about as many ports as you’d expect to find on a laptop. Considering the scope of Chrome OS and what you’re likely to use it for, this isn’t so much a problem. CPU: Intel Pentium Gold G6405U | GPU: Integrated | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB SSD The Mac mini is a great minimalist PC if you prefer Apple’s operating system. It’ll fit just about anywhere and isn’t huge and intrusive like so many desktop machines. It’s also relatively affordable for a Mac, but it’s worth spending more at the outset for a more capable configuration because you won’t be able to upgrade it down the road. CPU: Apple M1 | GPU: Integrated 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD With it, you get reasonably powerful components that can handle graphic design or other demanding tasks you may encounter during your education. On the downside, this PC doesn’t come with a ton of storage. However, its solid-state storage offers a serious speed boost over a hard drive. Plus, adding an internal or external hard drive won’t set you back that much if you need extra storage. CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD Under the hood is a powerful, modern processor and a reasonably powerful graphics card, as well as plenty of RAM. This combination is the perfect recipe for a content creation machine. However, it is a little pricey, and it, unfortunately, does not have a touchscreen. However, considering how much a high-resolution display on its own will set you back, this HP all-in-one is an ideal desktop PC for creating amazing things. CPU: Intel Core i7-11700 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1TB SSD Either way, the unique streamlined design of the R14 makes it instantly stand out from the crowd of glass-paneled RGB lighted towers out there. Unlike previous generations of Alienware’s Aurora PCs, the R14’s interior is worth showing off with a transparent side panel and higher quality components. It can also be outfitted with all the latest and greatest hardware, at a price. CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 TI | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512TB SSD
RAM
It’s important to have enough Random Access Memory (RAM) on your PC. Typically, you want to have at least 8GB unless you’re considering a low-power Chrome OS device. If you’re going to do more multitasking, content creation, or gaming, then you want a minimum of 16GB.
Storage
Make sure you get a PC with enough storage space to hold everything you want to store on it. Most people will want at least 512GB. Ensure the primary storage is solid-state (SSD) rather than a hard drive (HDD), as an SSD is much faster than an HDD. You can always add more internal drives if your PC has the space for them, and if not, then external hard drives or Network Attached Storage (NAS) is an option. However, be aware that external storage is much slower.
About Our Trusted Experts
Andy Zahn has written extensively about computers and other tech for Digital Trends, Lifewire, The Balance, and Investopedia, among other publications. He has reviewed numerous laptops and PCs, and has been building gaming PCs of his own since 2013. Andy utilizes his home-built desktop PC to edit videos for his Youtube Channel. Adam Doud has been writing in the technology space for almost a decade. When he’s not hosting the Benefit of the Doud podcast, he’s playing with the latest phones, tablets, and laptops. When not working, he’s a cyclist, geocacher, and spends as much time outside as he can. Jeremy Laukkonen’s obsession with technology tempted him away from the automotive industry to become a full-time ghostwriter for several major tech trade publications and a product tester for Lifewire. He tested the MacBook Air with the M1 chip, praising its excellent performance and long-lasting battery. Erika Rawes has written for Digital Trends, USA Today, Cheatsheet.com, and more. She tested the Alienware Aurora R11 and particularly liked its clean, elegant design.
