Top 10 Best Home Computers
Sure, the greatest laptops are more portable, but that comes at the sacrifice of raw power and the ability to customize your display, speakers, and ... read more...accessories. Your mileage will, of course, vary depending on your process. Many creative sectors prefer Mac computers because of their superior built-in video and audio editing capabilities, although Windows PCs are more configurable in terms of construction options and offer better compatibility for gaming and graphic-intensive activities. Check out our Windows vs. MacOS comparison if you're not sure which operating system is right for you.
-
Because the quality of what you get in each PC here is incomparable, we chose the Dell XPS desktop series as our best home computers for 2021. The XPS is Dell's premium PC line, and all of the components utilized in each machine are of the highest quality. These PCs are well-made, attractive, and extremely user-friendly, and they operate practically silently all of the time. Furthermore, Dell's customer service is excellent, and you get a year of free support, antivirus protection, and lifetime access to Windows 10. You may customize your XPS desktop to your liking, and the pricing is reasonable for what you get. Although not the cheapest, it represents excellent value for money when compared to the quality.
The XPS range includes Intel 10th and 11th-generation processors, and while an i3 PC is affordable (starting at $649), we recommend upgrading to an i5 or i7 XPS, depending on your needs. An i5 CPU, 16GB RAM, a 256GB SSD with a 1TB HDD, and an Nvidia 1650 GPU are fine for web browsing and running basic apps. We recommend this configuration, which includes an i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD with a 1TB HDD and an Nvidia 1650 GPU. This is a great all-around option that usually costs less than $1000.
This i7 variant is ideal if you need something more powerful for video editing, gaming, or other more demanding jobs. For roughly $1400, you get an 11th-generation i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD and 1TB HDD, and an Nvidia 1660Ti graphics card. This variant, with 32GB of RAM and an i9 processor, is recommended if you're dealing with 4K footage.
All Dell XPS PCs come with a wide variety of fast connections with WiFi6 built-in, allowing you to connect to a wireless router and receive a strong signal. They're fantastic computers.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B099Z5TVW4? -
The new Apple iMac represents a significant step forward for Apple's home computer line, which has been neglected for years. Until now, that is. We like the iMac because it's elegant and tiny - it's a thin all-in-one computer that will fit into any desk or home office area because it's approximately the same size as a standard monitor. It's only 11.5mm thick. The negative is that it costs a lot of money and doesn't give you as much raw power as a Windows PC. Although Macs are more efficient than PCs, an iMac capable of extensive video editing would cost a lot of money. In general, Macs aren't meant to be used as gaming computers.
As a working computer, though, this is a remarkable gadget. All of the new iMacs have 24-inch screens and Apple's new M1 chip, and they will be available by the end of May. Prices range from $1299 for the lowest machine, which comes with a 256GB SSD and a standard keyboard and mouse, to $1699 for the top-of-the-line iMac, which has 512GB of storage. All three choices are available online, and they come in a variety of colors.
The latest iMacs are just unbeatable in terms of aesthetics. While they don't have the processing capacity of many PCs, they perform quietly and effectively. Each one includes built-in wireless technology as well as a variety of connectors for connecting various devices. Even though they're a touch smaller than some monitors, the 4.5K retina screens appear great. The paucity of storage space on the iMac itself is our one genuine concern; even 512GB isn't much, and you'll rapidly find yourself relying on iCloud and external hard drives to add more data and apps.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0932HVSYM?
-
You don't always want to spend $1000s on a new computer. That's where Dell's Inspiron line comes in: you still get Dell's quality and customer service, but you're paying less for a less-expensive machine that will still perform well in everyday chores. The Inspirons, unlike the XPS PCs at the top of our list, are excellent for basic internet browsing, word processing, and smaller apps that help you organize your daily life.
The Dell Inspiron line starts at $470, though discounts are available, and includes an i3 processor, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive. This is all you really need for low-power users, and while your PC won't load Windows super fast or run a bunch of programs at once, you'll have a cheap, reliable computer for simple tasks supported by a year of Dell service and a free copy of Windows 10.
If we were buying Inspiron, we'd go with this configuration. You'll get an all-in-one PC, so you won't have to pay extra for a monitor or keyboard. It has a 27-inch Full HD screen, an 11th-generation Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a combo storage drive with a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD, and a combo storage drive with a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD. For less than $930, you can have it all. That may not appear to be a low-cost option, but you can buy everything you need for less than $1000, there are frequent reductions, and your PC is actually rather fast and versatile.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08B8ZH8GS?
-
So you're looking for a serious gaming rig? The Alienware series isn't cheap, and it's not as good value as constructing your own gaming PC if you know what you're doing. The Alienware series, on the other hand, is the best out there if you want a powerful, elegant pre-built gaming PC with quality components inside. While the quality of RAM and SSDs in typical home PCs don't matter all that much, the quality of a graphics card and all the other extra components needed to keep a gaming PC working efficiently matters, and this is what you pay for with Alienware. Cheaper gaming PCs are available, but the quality of the components within suffers as a result.
For $1100, the Aurora R12 series begins with the fairly meaningless i5 / 8GB RAM / 1TB HDD / Nvidia 1650 Super build. To be honest, that isn't a real gaming PC. For quality Full HD gaming, the R12 for $1929 with 16GB RAM, an i7 K-series processor, and a respectable 3060 Ti graphics card is a good place to start. With this, you may experiment with 4K gaming, but the most demanding games will require considerably more power.
If you want a genuine gaming spec from Alienware, the R12 with an i9 CPU, 32GB of 3200MHz RAM, a 1TB SSD and 1TB HDD, and an Nvidia 3080 graphics card can kill any game at 4K. But boy, do you pay for it, with a starting price of $3100. That's before you factor in a game-grade keyboard and mouse, which will cost another $200, and a decent 4K gaming display, which will most likely cost another $700 or more. So you're not getting much change out of $4000 here, but you're getting one of the most competent gaming machines around. Millionaire playboys may choose the $5129 mega-machine, which has an i9 KF-series processor, an Nvidia 3090, and a staggering 128GB of RAM.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Alienware-Aurora-R12-Escritorio-sobremesa/dp/B098SYRYH4/ref=sr_1_2? -
The Mac Mini, which was recently upgraded to contain the latest Apple M1 CPU, is available for as little as $800. To use it, you'll need to add a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and by adding options through the build-to-order website, you can spec yourself a pretty capable computer, as long as you don't require graphics processing speed - the Mini isn't going to be a gaming machine.
The Mac Mini, like the iMac, comes with Apple's MacOS operating system rather than Windows, though you may install Microsoft's OS if you want. Choosing between the two is essentially a question of preference, as there is no single major characteristic that one can perform that the other cannot.
The Mac Mini is at the bottom of Apple's lineup, and despite the build-to-order choices, it will never be the machine you want if you want to do 3D rendering or anything else that requires a GPU. The new M1 CPU, on the other hand, will breeze through picture editing and other CPU-intensive operations with ease. It's the ideal home office PC, but it also works well as a media center, connecting straight to a TV or storing your material on its massive, fast SSD and streaming it through a system like Plex. And because it is so little, you can easily store it in a cabinet.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Apple+Mac+Mini+M1+2021&ascsubtag=toptenreviews-row-2440923513298817000-20&geniuslink=true&tag=georiot-us-default-20
-
We're genuinely blown away by how much computing you get for your money with Acer. While the support and customer service choices aren't as good as Dell's, and the internal components are older and of inferior quality, you really receive more power for your money than with any other home computer maker. The Aspire TC series is at the core of Acer's bargain lineup, and we believe you couldn't do much worse than one of these simple, but strong, desktops.
The Intel i5 version, which comes with 8GB RAM and a 1TB HDD - more than enough for regular usage - starts at $479, which is a wonderful deal. If you'd prefer have an extremely fast SSD inside your PC instead of a hard drive (which we'd suggest regardless of user type), you can buy the same spec but with a 512GB SSD for a few dollars more at $549. These computers are frequently on sale, so don't be shocked if you pay less than $500 for it. This is a fantastic deal for what you're receiving.
Acer offers various desktop lines, like the PS4-looking Veriton computers, but the compact form here costs more, and you get less powerful PCs for your money. If you stick with the Aspire sub-brand, you'll get a nice PC for less money.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MMFTDC5? -
Now for something really different. While most home computers are pre-built with a few modification choices, Origin PC is a website that allows you to custom create your own desktop computer from the ground up.
Origin PC offers a wide assortment of components from a variety of manufacturers, so you should be able to design the ideal desktop PC for your needs. The website's major concentration is on gaming PCs, but you can also design workstations suitable for professionals working from home.
The amount of customisation available on websites like Origin PC distinguishes them from the competition. You may select an Intel or AMD CPU, how much RAM you require, whether you want an Nvidia or AMD graphics card, and even fancier choices such as water cooling.
However, with choice comes a certain level of understanding. If you're going to choose your own spec to this level, you'll need to know a little bit about computers, and Origin doesn't really handle low end components - the cheapest PCs it sells are still over $1000, so they will be overkill for casual users.Check Price: https://www.originpc.com/gaming/desktops/
-
Saving money on a gaming system is, to put it mildly, difficult. You truly get what you pay for, therefore the more money you invest in a gaming computer, the more power you will receive. However, if you're ready to invest in AMD processors, which are comparable to and even better than Intel's CPUs in some ways, you may save a few hundred dollars on the cost of your gaming PC.
So, because this is our budget choice, we'll direct you to the AMD Aurora PC's lowest configuration, which features a Ryzen 5 processor, an AMD Radeon RX5300 GPU, and 8GB RAM - that's more power than the comparable Intel-based Alienware PC, and a tiny savings at $1080, but it's minimal. It's a nice deal for what you get, but you won't be able to play 1080p games at high settings. However, we prefer the mid-range Ryzen 7 5800 model, which includes 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD for quicker gaming loading, and a cool Nvidia 3060 Ti graphics card. For $1820, that's a powerful computer.
You can go all the way up to a Ryzen 9 configuration with an Nvidia 3080 graphics card for $2769... which is really fair value. If you do decide to invest the extra money, we strongly advise you to buy an extra 16GB of RAM to future-proof your system, as well as a second storage drive for mass storage, since the 1TB SSD that comes with it will rapidly fill up if you're running Windows, programs, and games off it.
Check Price: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/gaming-and-games/alienware-aurora-ryzen-edition-r10-gaming-desktop/spd/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/wdryzr10v11h
-
Although the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is a few years old, it still offers one of the greatest displays on the market - wallow in the majesty of its 28-inch 4,500 x 3,000 pixel screen. If you're a creative individual who does digital design work on a regular basis and favors Windows devices, this is the greatest alternative available.
The machine itself is magnificent as well; you will not be ashamed to have this gem on your desk. The stand includes a double hinge that allows you to switch between upright and shallow angles based on your needs.
However, as previously said, the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 is a few years old, and it shows in the components. The CPU is still a good model, although there are plenty of cheaper and quicker ones available these days. It's the same thing with the GPUs that are now accessible; they're perfectly suited to running creative applications, but they're no longer cutting-edge. You're paying a lot of money for that gorgeous screen, with pricing starting at $3,499, but what a screen it is.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Studio-Intel-Core/dp/B07HZMVTLH
-
Sometimes all you need is a decent PC that looks nice and performs well. While the HP Pavilion series may not outperform its competition in any way, you are still receiving a decent everyday work PC from a very renowned company. If that seems like squeaky-clean praise, it is. However, we've reviewed the HP Pavilion PCs and found them to be excellent computers, so if you come across a great offer on a Pavilion, we strongly advise you to consider purchasing one.
It has all of the ports and connectors you might want, it looks nice, and it operates very quietly. You don't get the same high-quality, new components as the Dell XPS series, but this helps to keep the price down for anyone looking for a high-spec workhorse PC but doesn't want to pay Dell's rates. At $549, the cheapest Pavilion provides excellent value, with a good AMD CPU, 8GB RAM, a 1TB HDD / 256GB SSD, and a DVD writer tossed in.
HP Pavilion offers several great all-in-ones across the spectrum, but if you're going to buy one of them, we recommend going over the base spec to give your PC more space to age gracefully. This i5 model with a 24-inch screen is a terrific buy at $799 and is frequently on sale. You can obtain higher specs, but stock at HP changes a lot, so you could have trouble finding them.
Check Price: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GYNKKVP?