7 Best Desktop Computers (2025): Gaming, Macs, Compact, and More

There are 2 main reasons to bargain a accepted operation desktop alternatively of a laptop. First, you tin execute show not imaginable connected a laptop. For PC gamers, AI developers, contented creators, and anyone other who uses the other power, desktop PCs are inactive unbeatable successful this regard. Even if you don't person a maxed-out strategy with an Nvidia RTX 5090, you'll inactive get much show for the wealth you spend. This remains existent connected prebuilt desktop PCs arsenic overmuch arsenic connected DIY systems that you physique yourself. However, with RAM prices escalating similar crazy, if you don't request thing peculiar successful presumption of performance, buying a laptop is simply a cheaper mode to go—at least, for now.

Secondly, radical bargain desktop PCs for their upgradeability. Not lone is it amusive to tinker with the technology, but it's besides a cost-saving measurement that lets you regenerate parts piecemeal. You tin take erstwhile to regenerate a circumstantial part, and there's a thriving aftermarket for aged parts. This payment lone partially applies to prebuilt systems, arsenic your quality to upgrade varies from strategy to system. Standard PC manufacturers usage a premix of proprietary and off-the-shelf parts, which affects the semipermanent lifespan of the PC. Meanwhile, much costly PCs built by boutique strategy integrators similar Falcon Northwest, Origin, oregon iBuyPower usage mostly off-the-shelf parts.

As a broadside note, immoderate smaller PC manufacturers and strategy builders, similar Minisforum and CyberPowerPC, person already started raising prices connected desktops owed to the representation shortage, But galore of the options we've listed beneath are inactive selling for mean prices, and based connected what we're hearing, prices connected each PCs successful 2026 are going to yet spell up. That makes it a uniquely bully clip to bargain a prebuilt.

These days, a desktop PC tin beryllium defined arsenic immoderate benignant of machine that doesn't person a battery. It's not meant to beryllium moved, and it can't beryllium utilized connected the go. Outside of that definition, desktop computers tin scope from tiny to massive, and they could adjacent see PCs with built-in displays, which are called “all-in-one” computers. Here's a breakdown of the options:

Full tower: The biggest desktop PC size, astir commonly for high-end gaming machines. There's nary standardized measurement, but they are typically implicit 22 inches gangly and deep. Most importantly, they are ample capable internally to enactment E-ATX motherboards and much extended cooling setups.

Mid tower: These days, this is the astir communal desktop PC size. Whether for gaming oregon work, it's the size with the astir versatility, with capable country to get immoderate decent show portion inactive allowing for easy upgradable parts. Most PCs you bargain volition usage a mid-tower case.

Small signifier origin (SFF): This size has grown successful popularity successful the DIY space, but it's inactive uncommon successful prebuilt PCs, though you'll find immoderate options retired there, specified arsenic the Corsair One oregon immoderate of the options listed below. These cases exclusively usage smaller Mini-ITX motherboards, designed to acceptable into these miniature cases, portion inactive allowing you to get successful and upgrade parts.

Mini PC: These are the smallest PCs you tin buy. They aren't designed to beryllium upgraded yourself, relying connected laptop components to acceptable into specified a tiny package. They're sometimes utilized successful surviving rooms oregon server rooms owed to their size.

All-in-one: These are desktop PCs that see the full bundle each successful one, including the display. Typically, they usage laptop components packed into either the show oregon the basal of the computer.

When radical typically deliberation of the operation “desktop computer,” they deliberation of the traditional, ample operation that sits connected your table (or connected your floor). That's surely an important conception of what's retired there, and if that's what you're buying for, the basal specs arsenic configured are important. Here are the important specs to consider.

• CPU
• GPU
• Memory (RAM)
• Storage
• CPU cooler
• Fans
• Motherboard
• Case size

If you're caller to the satellite of desktop PCs, that mightiness dependable similar a agelong database of specs to check. In the end, it each comes down to what your needs are. Most desktop PCs are utilized for gaming these days, which is wherefore truthful galore are oriented toward flashy lights and almighty GPUs. But careless of what you request your desktop PC for, you'll privation a minimum of 16 GB of RAM, though you mightiness privation to upgrade to 32 GB oregon 64 GB for gaming and contented instauration machines. The latest mentation of representation is DDR5.

Like each computers, what you're looking for successful a prebuilt desktop is simply a equilibrium of design, performance, and price. If you privation to game, you'd amended get yourself a decent graphics paper to commencement with and a strategy with immoderate coagulated cooling. But different truly important facet astir a desktop machine is its upgradability. How comfy are you with upgrading your PC yourself? It's worthy taking immoderate clip to ticker a fewer how-to videos and familiarize yourself with the components truthful you tin prevention wealth implicit time.

All the desktop PCs we've tested person been sent to america for review, but we adhere to strict morals and neutrality. When we get a desktop PC to test, we wage cautious attraction to the physique prime of the case, particularly successful however it's delivered. These are ample electronics with tons of movable parts that tin easy beryllium damaged during delivery. Prebuilts often person to usage interior brackets to support cardinal elements similar the GPU unchangeable for shipping. Some adjacent vessel with the graphics paper uninstalled.

Once we get the PC acceptable up, we instrumentality disconnected the broadside panels and statesman inspecting the interior setup. We instrumentality enactment of however casual it is to replace, wage attraction to however cleanly the cables are routed and organized, ensuring that each the components are connected correctly. From there, we commencement benchmarking show successful a assortment of tests, including 3DMark, Cinebench, Geekbench, and Pugetbench, arsenic good arsenic games similar Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong, Marvel Rivals, and more. Measuring show is much than conscionable astir reporting framework rates, too; observing CPU temperatures, frequency, and instrumentality sound carefully. The full constituent is to get a bully consciousness for however the desktop volition execute crossed a assortment of tasks.

Lastly, we see the upgrade way arsenic portion of our testing, seeing however casual it is to region the GPU and different important components. As noted above, astir radical bargain a prebuilt desktop with hopes of upgrading it successful the future, and that ever has to beryllium portion of our information erstwhile investigating a desktop.