This article has been updated – Best Desktop Computers 2024
For the ultimate in workplace speed and gaming performance, the choice of champs and office warriors alike is a desktop computer. The best desktop computers feature top-of-the-line processors, tons of RAM, and the fastest video cards on the planet.
From Battlefield to Fortnite and from AutoCAD to the Adobe Suite, these PCs will help keep your scores high and your workflows fast and easy.
What do you need in a desktop PC?
Most high-end desktop PCs are aimed at the gamer market. Fortunately, many of the same features fought over by gamers are also coveted by video editors, photographers, designers, data scientists, and other professional PC users.
Extra RAM, for instance, helps avoid slowdowns when you’re running lots of programs at once, or while you’ve got 100 tabs open while web-browsing in Chrome.
A fast video card is a juicy mod for a gaming desktop, but it also makes quick work of video editing and rendering. A speedy CPU makes everything run smoothly. This includes opening programs more quickly, making your computing life a joy.
All our picks run Microsoft Windows 10. We haven’t chosen any Macs running Apple’s Mac OS operating system. The best desktop computers here also aren’t all-in-one PCs, so they require a separate monitor.
1. Best overall desktop computer
MSI MEG Trident X 10TD-1282US
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The MSI MEG Trident X 10TD-1282US packs an incredible amount of power into a slim, not-quite-mini form factor. It offers an extremely fast Intel Core i7-10700K processor, backed by a sky-high 32GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU. That powerful card should let you run any game or app at any resolution you want, with all the settings maxed—including ray tracing.
On the storage side, the Trident X delivers a 1TB M.2 NVMe so games and files will load lightning-fast. It provides your choice of WiFi and ethernet for web connectivity, as well as USB-C and Thunderbolt ports for your accessories. Plus, the HDMI and DisplayPort options allow you to easily connect to your monitor or TV.
2. Best mid-range desktop computer
iBUYPOWER Trace4MR 165i
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If you can’t afford a Ferrari, there’s nothing wrong with a BMW instead. The iBUYPOWER Trace4MR 165i has the same Intel Core i7-10700F processor as the MSI but dials the memory and GPU back slightly, with 16GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon RX580 graphics card.
Will you get the frame rates of the best gaming PCs? Perhaps not, but the final score will be close and for far less money.
Storage is actually a step up, with a 480GB solid-state drive (SSD) and a 1TB hard disk drive (HDD), so you can store your Blender or Autodesk files to the fast-loading SSD. You’ll also have plenty of room for photos, videos, or music on the larger but slower hard drive.
3. Best budget desktop computer
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme
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You can still get a powerhouse office or gaming PC even on a budget. The CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme has an Intel Core i5-9600KF and 8GB of RAM, backed up by an NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030. These specs are all a step or two down from the higher-end models, but are still enough to run any modern game at respectable frame rates.
The 500GB PCI-E NVMe SSD is enough space to store plenty of gaming titles, or productivity software if you’re into that kind of thing for your home office.
4. Best desktop PC for AMD fans
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master
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If Intel isn’t your thing or you want to save a little money, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master combines the powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU. You’ll be able to run Call of Duty: Warzone at razor-sharp resolutions and smooth frame rates, but you don’t have to shell out mega cash for an Intel processor.
5. Best desktop PC for VR
MSI Codex R 10SI-026US
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For the added requirements of VR, check out the MSI Codex R 10SI-026US. It packs an Intel Core i5-10400F paired with 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. All you need to add is an Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, or any other VR headset. Your virtual worlds await with these desktop computers!
