The best computers give you enough power to handle both work and play, so on this list we’ve included systems suited to everything from remote work and school to photo and video editing, gaming and even virtual reality.
Whether you need the sleek design of an all-in-one computer, the compact length of a mini PC, or a gaming PC that can handle the newest titles with ease, we’ve got you covered. Whether Windows or Mac, those are the most productive desktop computers we’ve reviewed.
To help you find the right PC that meets your unique needs, we have formula recommendations that will fit your budget, whether you want a lot of punch for content creation or a more affordable formula for projects and education.
Alex Wawro is a veteran journalist who has spent more than a decade covering technology, games, and entertainment. He oversees Tom’s Guide’s IT department, which manages IT policy and checks several computers a year himself.
Hasty? Here’s a rundown of the computers on this list, along with links that take you directly to a preview of the PC that catches your eye.
The PC for Maximum People
Apple’s 24-inch iMac is our top recommendation for an entry-level PC, as the internal Apple M3 chip gives you plenty of power for work and play, while the 24-inch Retina model looks great in a family room or office. , the webcam is wonderful, and the speakers sound wonderful.
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Best Gaming PC
The Alienware Aurora R15 Ultimate Functionality Gaming Table is our most practical gaming PC tip because it looks great, runs quietly (sort of), and can be set up with the toughest gaming hardware you can afford. It’s also an excellent PC for playing VR games.
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Best Mini PC
If you need a computer and space is a concern, the mini PC we recommend most often is Apple’s Mac mini M2. The M2 chip gives it plenty of power for most tasks, and this pint-sized metal box runs whisper-quiet and fits into most desk setups.
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The Mac for forced users
If you need a Mac that can do more than the others on this list, investing in the new Mac Studio is expensive, but few desktop Macs are tougher than those tiny beasts. Sure, the M2 is older than the M3. powering the iMac, however, those two machines are still tied in terms of power.
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The best starter gaming PC
Looking to get you or someone you love a first gaming PC? We recommend the Acer Predator Orion 3000 because it’s affordable, quiet, easy to set up, and great for gaming at 1080p.
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Our opinion:
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 reach our most sensible spot on this list.
This slice of state-of-the-art Apple silicon gives the 24-inch iMac a much-needed boost, as the previous model was forced through the 2020 Apple M1 chip. This model is still good for entry-level work, but the M3 update offers the 2023. iMac has more power and more features than before, adding improved wireless connectivity, increased symbol processing, and support for trendy graphics technologies such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Add to that the iMac’s perfect speakers and beautiful 4. 5K demonstration, and you start to see why it’s so easy to introduce to families, students, and teachers.
Read our complete 24-inch Apple iMac.
Our opinion:
The Alienware Aurora R15 is an excellent gaming PC that can be configured to support a wide variety of value aspects, and its quiet functionality makes it one of our most sensible recommendations for those buying their first gaming PC.
If it can, Alienware will fill the Aurora R15 with high-end parts that will make it a top-tier gaming PC. At over $4,000, our evaluation unit is far from cheap, but it’s sturdy enough to play with the newer, larger ones. games for years to come.
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Read our full review of the Alienware Aurora R15.
Our expert review:
Apple has outdone itself with the M2 Mac mini ($599), a tiny power that’s less expensive and faster than its predecessor thanks to the fast M2 chip. The ability to upgrade it with an M2 Pro ($1299) sweetens the deal, making it a decent Mac for gaming or light photo and video editing.
Of course, you get a lot more than speed when you pay for Pro: the entry-level Mac mini with M2 Pro is just more powerful, it also has more memory and storage than the entry-level Mac mini, as well as more ports. . . It’s a wonderful mini PC for Mac fans, providing almost as much strength as the Mac Studio M2 in an even smaller chassis.
Read our full Mac mini M2 review.
Our opinion:
Apple’s M2 Mac Studio is the same as the original Mac Studio 2022, but if you look under the hood, you see an all-new set of Apple M2 chips that pack more punch than ever into the same chunky silver chassis.
Configurable with up to 192GB of RAM, up to 8TB of storage, and a leading M2 Ultra chip (20-core CPU, 64-core GPU), the Mac Studio M2 sets a new standard for power in Mac desktops. It has enough ports For the more artistic professionals, but be warned: If you like the M2 Ultra (which starts at $3,999), this tiny Mac temporarily becomes expensive.
Read our full Mac Studio M2 review.
Our opinion:
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 ($829 to start, $1,949 according to the review) is a mid-sized gaming PC that’s attractive, (relatively) affordable, and ideal for gambling with a resolution of 1080p to 1440p.
It’s not a smart choice, although if you’re looking to play games in 4K (for that, choose something like the Aurora R15) and its built-in keyboard and mouse leave a lot to be desired. The Orion 3000 also scored slightly worse. in our series of functionality tests that some priced gaming PCs, perhaps because our test unit came with only 16GB of RAM.
The case is well-organized and easy to open, so it will be quite simple to upgrade this device with more RAM whenever you want. Worth less than $2,000, rugged components, and a sleek, available body, the Acer Predator Orion 3000 is a wonderful first gaming PC for someone looking to pursue the hobby.
Read our full Acer Predator Orion 3000 review.
Finding the right PC is all about form and function – what look do you need and what do you need to do?In our roundup of the most productive desktops, we take a look at other PC styles available, which offer exclusives. designed and adapted to express use cases.
Standard PC towers are the most affordable desktop option, as well as the most fundamental. With undeniable designs and plenty of configuration options, a basic office tower remains the most productive option for cost-effective computing power. And thanks to the flexibility of the design, you can equip those popular computers for everything from basic internet browsing and media streaming to incredibly difficult uses, such as gaming and animation.
All-in-one desktops, as the call suggests, offer a combination of PC and monitor on the same device. These all-in-one designs give you a rugged desktop without the clutter of a tower or the tangle of cables that come with a separate monitor. All-in-one computers range from budget-friendly systems to high-powered workstations, so check out our in-depth reviews of all-in-one computers.
Gaming desktops, by and large, use the traditional tower design, but are outfitted with powerful components optimized for high performance gaming. These high octane systems are built to accommodate the latest discrete graphics cards, potent processors, large volume storage, and all of the cooling necessary for a high performance machine. There are several options for gaming, whether it’s your choice of hardware, or the stylized design that fits your taste. check out our in-depth reviews for all of the best gaming PCs.
Mini PCs take a very different approach, taking advantage of the small parts used in computers and tablets to deliver tabletop pleasure that fits in the palm of your hand or in a pocket. These small or smaller tables can be seamlessly stowed out of sight. or incorporated into less classical arrangements, such as in a home theater formula for streaming movies. Whether it’s a small box on your table or a computer in your pocket, our reviews showcase the features and functionalities of the most productive mini PCs.
Once you know what kind of computer you need, it’s a matter of what you should do with it. While any of the systems in the list above can be used for browsing the internet and for fundamental productivity uses, such as entering documents or creating a PowerPoint presentation, other instances of use have other requirements.
The best desktop for gaming will feature graphics cards built for gaming performance, while systems for video editing or animation may use equally powerful GPUs, but with models that focus on reliable performance and certification for different applications. A great desktop for kids will keep things fairly basic, focusing on speedy web browsing and streaming capability, with less of an emphasis on raw horsepower.
When we compare and review all types of computers, we perform a series of standardized tests to measure how well the device performs, what uses it is most productive for, and what kind of features you get for the price.
These standard tests include generalized performance benchmark tests, like 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-focused benchmarks verify the functionality of systems running existing games, measuring the frame rates the PC will produce in games like Tomb Raider, Far Cry: New Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War. We will also carry out individual game checks and testing of SteamVR functionality to assess their suitability for the unique needs of virtual reality.
Most importantly, we spend a lot of time on each desktop computer for our daily activities. We watch movies, work, play games, and play music on speakers, all to get a better idea of which ones are worth your money. .
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom’s Guide.
Alex Wawro has been a lifelong fan of the generation and games, with over a decade of experience in media outlets such as Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. A lifelong PC builder, he’s currently the editor-in-chief of Tom’s Guide covers everything from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice.
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