Choosing the Right Desktop PC
We sort through the types of desktop PC available, to help you choose one that suits your needs.
Desktop PC Buying Guide
How to choose the right type of desktop PC, configure it to suit your needs, and get a good deal.Today's modern desktop PCs offer a wealth of options: You can go for a PC with a fixed retail configuration, or you can customize your system by stepping through a sometimes dizzying array of choices from a configure-to-order vendor. The resulting array of components is no longer wrapped up in a beige box, but in a colorful shell of highly variable shape and size, differentiated by indecipherable naming conventions.
Presented with so many possibilities, you need to narrow the field by considering what you want to use your new desktop for. Are you an avid photographer looking for a speedy but cost-effective platform for editing high-resolution photos? If so, you'll benefit from buying a machine with extra RAM and a discrete graphics card. If you've acquired an extensive media collection, and want an inexpensive and compact way to pipe it to your HDTV, a compact PC tailored toward media sharing and playback may be your best bet.
Whatever your needs, you can find a desktop configuration to fit the bill.
Desktops fall into three major categories, each with its own range of price and performance: compact PCs, all-in-one PCs, and classic tower PCs (which we subdivide into budget, mainstream, and performance categories). Each style of machine has different strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the one that's best for you depends largely on how you plan to use it.
Once you've picked the appropriate desktop category, our guide to PC specifications will help you pick a machine that delivers the performance you need, while staying within your budget. And when you're ready to buy, check our shopping tips for advice on how to get the most from your investment.
Compact PCs tend to be equipped with notebook or netbook components, such as Intel Atom processors. This limits their usefulness in tasks that demand lots of processing power, but it makes for quiet, energy-efficient operation. Not all compact PCs are created equal, however, so pay attention to specifications when shopping. Some compact PCs are configured for as low a bottom-line price as possible; others are packed to the gills to deliver optimal performance in a compact system.
Acer Aspire Revo R3610Most compact PCs rely on integrated graphics. In some cases (depending on the CPU and the integrated graphics chipset), anything more complicated than a Flash-based browser game will be unplayable, but you will be able to eke out competent media streaming with Intel integrated graphics. A machine toting nVidia's Ion platform, like the Acer Aspire Revo R3610, usually fares much better. Gaming still isn't an option, but 1080p video is, whether you stream from a larger PC or over the Web.
When assessing smaller PCs, keep an eye on the ports. The smaller the footprint, the fewer features you can reasonably expect, and that includes fewer connectivity options. Though you'll get a VGA port and (on average) six USB 2.0 ports, many compact PCs also offer HDMI--an asset for home-theater setups. The typical hard drive size is 320GB, though 250GB is also common and we've seen compact system carrying up to 1TB (for a $100 upgrade premium). For a chart of recent high-ranking PCs in this category, see "Top 5 Compact PCs."
MSI Wind Top AE2010With their compact size and integrated displays, all-in-one PCs can generally be placed wherever you've got a spare power outlet. Some all-in-ones also offer a rather distinct perk: Touchscreens. With support for multitouch gestures worked into Microsoft's Windows 7, all-in-ones offer a clever way for users to interact with their media, while still getting a full-fledged PC.
Sony VAIO L117FX/BAll-in-one components vary from brand to brand, but you can expect to pay more for an all-in-one than for a similarly equipped desktop; again, some models target buyers on a tight budget, while others load up on performance-oriented system components (at a higher price, of course). For example, to low-priced machines like the MSI Wind Top AE2010 use notebook or netbook processors and integrated graphics. You'll get reduced performance to match the reduced price tag. If you have a larger budget, you can opt for a model like the Sony VAIO L117FX/B, which includes a quad-core processor (most often seen on full-size desktops), to deliver superior performance, and offers a large 24-inch screen. You'll be paying in the area of $2000 for those high-end specs, however.
Many all-in-one PCs come with a wireless keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth support, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This recuces cord clutter to a minimum--an important consideration in spaces where an attractive décor or efficient use of space is at a premium. For ranked charts of all-in-one PCs that we have tested in recent months, see "Best Big-Screen All-in-One PCs (Over 20 Inches)" and "Best Budget All-in-One PCs (20 Inches or Smaller)."
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Presented with so many possibilities, you need to narrow the field by considering what you want to use your new desktop for. Are you an avid photographer looking for a speedy but cost-effective platform for editing high-resolution photos? If so, you'll benefit from buying a machine with extra RAM and a discrete graphics card. If you've acquired an extensive media collection, and want an inexpensive and compact way to pipe it to your HDTV, a compact PC tailored toward media sharing and playback may be your best bet.
Whatever your needs, you can find a desktop configuration to fit the bill.
Desktops fall into three major categories, each with its own range of price and performance: compact PCs, all-in-one PCs, and classic tower PCs (which we subdivide into budget, mainstream, and performance categories). Each style of machine has different strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the one that's best for you depends largely on how you plan to use it.
Once you've picked the appropriate desktop category, our guide to PC specifications will help you pick a machine that delivers the performance you need, while staying within your budget. And when you're ready to buy, check our shopping tips for advice on how to get the most from your investment.
Compact PCs
As the smallest members of the desktop computer family, compact PCs often omit features to deliver computing power in a space-saving package. The combination of energy-efficient components, quiet operation, and small size makes compact PCs ideal for people who want a nonintrusive machine. A typical compact PC costs between $300 and $600, though the price goes up as you add upgrade options.Compact PCs tend to be equipped with notebook or netbook components, such as Intel Atom processors. This limits their usefulness in tasks that demand lots of processing power, but it makes for quiet, energy-efficient operation. Not all compact PCs are created equal, however, so pay attention to specifications when shopping. Some compact PCs are configured for as low a bottom-line price as possible; others are packed to the gills to deliver optimal performance in a compact system.
Acer Aspire Revo R3610Most compact PCs rely on integrated graphics. In some cases (depending on the CPU and the integrated graphics chipset), anything more complicated than a Flash-based browser game will be unplayable, but you will be able to eke out competent media streaming with Intel integrated graphics. A machine toting nVidia's Ion platform, like the Acer Aspire Revo R3610, usually fares much better. Gaming still isn't an option, but 1080p video is, whether you stream from a larger PC or over the Web.When assessing smaller PCs, keep an eye on the ports. The smaller the footprint, the fewer features you can reasonably expect, and that includes fewer connectivity options. Though you'll get a VGA port and (on average) six USB 2.0 ports, many compact PCs also offer HDMI--an asset for home-theater setups. The typical hard drive size is 320GB, though 250GB is also common and we've seen compact system carrying up to 1TB (for a $100 upgrade premium). For a chart of recent high-ranking PCs in this category, see "Top 5 Compact PCs."
All-in-One Desktops
All-in-One PCs are self-contained: components are mounted behind a display, with screen sizes ranging between 18- and 27-inches. With no cords to manage or peripherals to juggle, setting up your new all-in-one PC can be as simple as pulling the machine out of the box and plugging it in.MSI Wind Top AE2010With their compact size and integrated displays, all-in-one PCs can generally be placed wherever you've got a spare power outlet. Some all-in-ones also offer a rather distinct perk: Touchscreens. With support for multitouch gestures worked into Microsoft's Windows 7, all-in-ones offer a clever way for users to interact with their media, while still getting a full-fledged PC.Sony VAIO L117FX/BAll-in-one components vary from brand to brand, but you can expect to pay more for an all-in-one than for a similarly equipped desktop; again, some models target buyers on a tight budget, while others load up on performance-oriented system components (at a higher price, of course). For example, to low-priced machines like the MSI Wind Top AE2010 use notebook or netbook processors and integrated graphics. You'll get reduced performance to match the reduced price tag. If you have a larger budget, you can opt for a model like the Sony VAIO L117FX/B, which includes a quad-core processor (most often seen on full-size desktops), to deliver superior performance, and offers a large 24-inch screen. You'll be paying in the area of $2000 for those high-end specs, however.Many all-in-one PCs come with a wireless keyboard and mouse, Bluetooth support, and Wi-Fi connectivity. This recuces cord clutter to a minimum--an important consideration in spaces where an attractive décor or efficient use of space is at a premium. For ranked charts of all-in-one PCs that we have tested in recent months, see "Best Big-Screen All-in-One PCs (Over 20 Inches)" and "Best Budget All-in-One PCs (20 Inches or Smaller)."
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