What kind of desktop computer to buy

We also look at the accessories you need to complete your setup. Ready to buy? Check out the best desktop PCs from our tests. It's easy to get bogged down in numbers and specifications when looking at desktops, so if you know how much you want to spend and what sort of things you want to do on your machine, the specifications we recommend below should get you on the right track. If you're looking for a computer to use primarily at home or in the office, the choice will come down to either a traditional desktop PC or an all-in-one PC.

There are big differences between desktop PCs and all-in-ones to consider. Most obvious is the form factor. A desktop PC is what many consider to be the traditional 'tower' computer, where a big black or grey box is connected to a separate monitor screen, keyboard and mouse.

An all-in-one is essentially a large screen with the internal components of the computer sitting behind it. You'll still need to plug in a keyboard and mouse, though, but these are more often than not supplied in the box with an all-in-one. If you're regularly on the move, then you may wish to pick up a laptop.

Browse our laptop reviews to find the right model for you. You'll find that they come in various shapes and sizes, from large bulky hulks that need to sit under your desk, to more discreet and stylish models that can be tucked away. It has the lion's share of the market, with the widest range of programs available. Though Windows 7 is still popular on older PCs, new Windows computers will come with Windows 10 , which is designed to work across a wide range of devices, including tablets, and which comes with touchscreen support built-in.

Designed to work specifically with Apple hardware, providing tight integration that offers advantages in ease of use and consistency across programs. This will let you run Windows natively on the Mac hardware without any software emulation, to give you full performance. These programs let you install other operating systems such as Linux. Whether you use Boot Camp or a virtualisation program, you'll need to purchase the Windows operating system separately. It's generally free, as are most Linux programs, and it can run on a wide range of PCs as an alternative to Windows.

There are many flavours of Linux, with the most popular being Ubuntu. In some cases you may have to side with a particular system to use specific programs. Look into each alternative, and spend some time with each one before deciding, if you can. If a deal on a computer looks too good to be true, it probably is. Great savings can mean that components are lacking or outdated. If you're not an experienced user, stick with the bigger brand names that offer a choice of packaged systems so you know everything will work together.

It's usually worth spending a little more to ensure that a computer completely suits your needs. Does it come with a monitor? If so, what kind? If not, can you save money by doing a deal? The same can apply to other peripherals such as a printer or scanner. Don't underestimate how much you'll need! Ensure you have enough room on your hard drive for all your current programs and files, as well as the fast-growing collection of videos and music that most people now tend to accumulate.

Look for a 1TB HD as a starting point, but double that if you can. You must also take into account any peripherals you'll need, such as connector ports and optical drives. Here's an overview of factors to consider before you shop for a desktop computer. Information in this article applies broadly to all desktop computers, although it's more optimized for the Windows and Linux ecosystems instead of the Apple ecosystem.

Check individual product specifications before making a purchase. Ideal computer specifications are determined by your specific use case. For example, how fast your PC needs to be depends on what you plan to do with it.

For a gaming PC , a fast processor and sufficient RAM as well as a powerful graphics card prove important. If you plan to use your computer for browsing the web and simple productivity tasks, such as word processing, then a lower-tier budget desktop should suffice.

Intel processors generally offer better performance, but they are more expensive than AMD processors. However, the main difference between processors relates to the number of cores they offer and their relative speed.

Most manufacturers present a performance rating system for their desktop PCs, but comparing across brands isn't always easy. Your best bet is to look for PCs in your price range and then research the processors to make sure they are powerful enough for your needs. The higher the RAM, the better the performance. Experts recommend at least 8 gigabytes of memory, but 16 GB offers better performance.

For gaming and other power-computing uses, 16 GB is the minimum you should consider. When buying memory, try to buy as few DIMMs as possible to allow for future memory upgrades. Dual in-line memory modules contains one or several RAM chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect it to the motherboard. While some desktop computers still rely on hard disk drives , most newer PCs ship with solid-state drives for storing and caching data. There are two main elements to consider when shopping for hard drives: size and speed.

A modern desktop hard drive should have at least 1TB of storage space. Created specifically for engineering, data science, machine learning, 3D modeling, video editing, and more, the ThinkStation is the kind of PC that will find uses across many fields, aiding professionals in their daily tasks. Lenovo offers different configurations, but all of them have one feature in common — the absolute best processors AMD has to offer. These cards were designed specifically to support computer-aided design CAD , digital content creation, machine learning, and other challenging tasks.

If you need high-end compute, you should buy the ThinkStation P Read our full Lenovo ThinkStation P review. Picking the right desktop to serve your needs for the next few years can be an overwhelming decision given the large selection of models on store shelves and online. Some are more expensive than others, but the options are there. SSDs and graphics cards are premium upgrades that will be worth it to help keep your desktop running smoothly for a long time to come.

Instead, students on a budget can go with a dual-drive strategy, combining a more manageable and speedy SSD with enough capacity to store the OS and frequently used applications, while resorting to a less expensive and more expansive hard drive to house larger files. With more apps offloading some of the heavy lifting from the processor to the GPU, a good graphics card can help speed up some office tasks and web browsing where GPU acceleration is enabled.

Gamers who want the utmost performance will want an overclockable Intel Core iK found on most high-end systems, while creatives looking at juggling large media files will want something with more cores. However, it is even less common on desktops than plain old USB-C. Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day usually bring the steepest discounts on desktop computers, but the reality is that you can score a deal on a PC almost any time during the year.

Make sure to keep our roundup of the best desktop deals handy for when you want to upgrade. Choosing between a desktop and a laptop comes down to portability and comfort.