The best computers give you enough power for work and play, so in this list we’ve included systems suitable for everything from remote work and school to photo and video editing, gaming, and even virtual reality.
Whether you want the neat design of an all-in-one computer, the compact size of a mini PC, or a gaming desktop that can handle the latest titles with ease, we’ve got you covered. Whether Windows or Mac, these are the best desktop computers we’ve reviewed.
To help you choose the right PC to meet your unique needs, we have system recommendations that will fit your budget, whether you need plenty of power for content creation or a more affordable system for projects and education.
The quick list
In a hurry? Here’s a brief overview of the computers on this list, along with quick links that let you jump down the page directly to a review of any PC that catches your eye.
the best overall
The Apple iMac M3 looks a lot like its 2021 predecessor, but under the hood, this all-in-one is powered by the new Apple M3 chip that helps it achieve our top spot on this list.
That cutting-edge slice of Apple silicon gives the 24-inch iMac a much-needed shot in the arm, since the previous model was powered by the 2020 Apple M1 chip. That model is still fine for basic work, but the upgrade M3 gives the 2023 iMac more power and more features than before, including improved wireless connectivity, better image processing, and support for modern graphics technology like hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Add to that the iMac’s excellent speakers and beautiful 4.5K display, and you’ll begin to understand why it’s so easy to recommend to families, students, and teachers.
Read our full review of the 24-inch Apple iMac.
The best gaming PC
The Alienware Aurora R15 is a great gaming PC that can be configured to fit a wide price range, and its quiet performance makes it one of our top recommendations for those buying their first gaming PC.
If you can afford it, Alienware will pack the Aurora R15 with top-of-the-line components that will make it a top-tier gaming PC. At over $4,000, our review unit is far from cheap, but it’s powerful enough to play the latest and greatest games for years to come.
Be sure to check out our Dell coupons page to find the latest discounts!
Read our full Alienware Aurora R15 Review.
The best mini PC
Apple outdid itself with the Mac mini M2 ($599), a tiny powerhouse that’s cheaper and faster than its predecessor thanks to the speedy M2 chip. The option to upgrade it with a M2Pro ($1,299) sweetens the deal, making it a decent Mac for gaming or light photo and video editing.
Of course, you get more than just speed when you pay for the Pro: the base Mac mini with M2 Pro is not only more powerful, but it also has more memory and storage than the base Mac mini, as well as more ports. . It’s a great mini PC for Mac fans, offering almost as much power as the Mac Studio M2 in an even smaller chassis.
Read our full Mac mini M2 review.
The best Mac for advanced users
Apple’s Mac Studio M2 looks identical to the original Mac Studio 2022, but if you look under the hood, you’ll find an all-new set of Apple M2 chips that deliver more power than ever in the same squat, silver chassis.
Configurable with up to 192GB of RAM, up to 8TB of storage, and a top-tier M2 Ultra chip (20-core CPU, 64-core GPU), the Mac Studio M2 sets a new mark for power in Mac desktops. It has more than enough ports for most creative professionals, but beware: if you want the power of the M2 Ultra (which starts at $3,999), this tiny Mac gets expensive quickly.
Read our full Mac Studio M2 Review.
The best gaming PC for beginners
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 ($829 to start, $1,949 as reviewed) is a midsize gaming PC that’s attractive, (relatively) affordable, and great for playing 1080p to 1440p games.
However, it’s not a great option if you’re looking to play games in 4K (for that, go with something like the Aurora R15) and its integrated keyboard and mouse leave a lot to be desired. The Orion 3000 also fared slightly worse in our set of performance tests than some similarly priced gaming PCs, perhaps because our review unit arrived with just 16GB of RAM.
However, the case is well organized and easy to open, so it should be quite easy to upgrade this machine with more RAM when you need it. With its sub-$2,000 price tag, robust components, and stylish, affordable case, Acer’s Predator Orion 3000 is a great first gaming PC for someone looking to get into the hobby.
Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 Review.
How to choose the best computer for you
Finding the right computer is mostly about form and function: what do you want it to look like and what do you want it to do? In our roundup of the best desktop computers, we look at different free computer styles, each offering unique designs and tailored to specific use cases.
Standard PC Towers They are usually the most affordable desktop option, as well as the most basic. With simple designs and many configuration options, a basic desktop tower is still the best option for cost-effective computing power. And thanks to the flexibility of the design, you can equip these standard computers for everything from basic web browsing and media streaming to incredibly demanding uses like gaming and animation.
All-in-one desks, as the name suggests, provide a combination of PC and monitor in the same device. These all-in-one designs give you a powerful desktop computer without the bulk of a tower or the tangle of cables that come with a separate monitor. The best all-in-one computers range from budget systems to high-powered workstations, so check out our detailed reviews of the best all in one computers.
gaming desksGenerally, they use the traditional tower design, but are equipped with powerful components optimized for high-performance gaming. These high-octane systems are designed to support the latest discrete graphics cards, powerful processors, high-volume storage, and all the cooling needed for a high-performance machine. There are several options to play with, be it your choice of hardware or the stylized design that suits your tastes. Check out our detailed reviews of all the best gaming PCs.
Mini PC take a very different approach, taking advantage of the small components used in laptops and tablets to provide a desktop experience that fits in the palm of your hand or a pocket. These pint-sized or smaller desktop computers can easily be hidden out of sight or incorporated into less traditional arrangements, such as in a home theater system for streaming movies. Whether it’s a small box on your desk or a laptop PC in your pocket, our reviews outline the features and performance of the best mini pc.
Once you know what type of computer you want to purchase, it’s a matter of what you want to do with it. While any of the systems on the list above can be used for web browsing and basic productivity uses, such as writing documents or preparing a PowerPoint presentation, different use cases have slightly different demands.
The best gaming desktop will feature graphics cards designed for gaming performance, while systems for video editing or animation can use equally powerful GPUs, but with models that focus on reliable performance and certification for different applications. . A great kids’ desktop computer will keep things pretty basic, focusing on fast web browsing and streaming capabilities, with less emphasis on raw power.
How we test these computers
As we evaluate and review all types of computers, we perform a series of standardized tests to measure how each machine performs, what uses it is best suited for, and what kind of capability you get for the price.
These standard tests include generalized performance benchmarks such as Geekbench 4 and 5 (for processor performance), 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra (for graphics), and a custom file transfer test to measure hard drive performance.
Gaming-oriented benchmarks test the performance of systems running current games, measuring the frame rates each desktop computer will produce in games like Tomb Raider, Far Cry: New Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Middle-earth : Shadow of War. We’ll also conduct inpidual game testing and the SteamVR performance test to assess how well suited they are to the unique demands of virtual reality.
Most importantly, we spend a lot of time simply using each desktop computer for daily activities. We watch movies, work, play games, and blast music from speakers, all to get a better idea of which ones are worth your money.
