Best computer 2021: the best PCs we've tested

Date:
Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:42:26 +0000

Description:
It might be time to get yourself one of the best computers of 2021,
handpicked by our PC experts.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Getting the best computer 2021 has to offer is a bit more complicated than just choosing the most expensive PC in your budget. Not only are there many unique types of devices to pick from but there are quite a few things to keep in mind when choosing a computer and that can make picking something out a
bit more difficult.

For instance, you might want to skip buying a gaming PC if youre in the
market for the best computer for work. Sure, it will have more than enough power to get the job done but it might not look appropriate in a workplace. And, if you want to dig into the latest games, youll have to make sure whatever computer you want to get has enough power. You cant go with any PC and hope to meet your gaming needs. Maybe space is a factor, as well. In that case, getting a mini PC or an all-in-one (AIO) PC instead of a large desktop might be the best way to go.

Whatever youre looking for in a computer, we can help you find the perfect machine. To do that, weve compiled the best computers by category, from the best overall down to the best stick PC and budget PCs . Fortunately, the
newer processors and graphics cards coming out are getting cheaper as well as more powerful, making everything on this list a bit more accessible to most budgets.

Want to stay portable? Our best laptops list offers quite a selection, from cheaper Chromebooks or trendy 2-in-1s . Get one of the best gaming keyboard for your PC. Need a webcam? These are the best Logitech webcams (Image
credit: Dell) Best PC: Dell XPS Desktop Special Edition

Performance meets beauty and affordability CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5
i9 | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Super | RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4 2933Mhz | Storage: Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVME SSD + 2TB SATA 7200RPM HDD Great price A lot of power Beautiful white chassis Only one USB-C port

Dells XPS laptop line may have gone premium, price-wise, but its desktop line is still going for the trifecta offering affordability without sacrificing performance and aesthetics. The Dell XPS Desktop Special Edition might not be a budget offering, but it remains within most peoples budgets, especially at its low- and mid-range configurations fitted with the latest innards. In
fact, an Intel Core i7, RTX 3060 Ti configuration will set you back a whole lot less than its 21.5inch iMac equivalent while touting newer specs. Plus, itll look just as good in your office as it will at home.

Read the full review: Dell XPS Desktop Special Edition See more like this: the best all-in-one PCs (Image credit: Alienware) Best gaming PC: Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10

Powerful gaming for all budgets CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950X | Graphics: Up
to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 | RAM: Up to 128GB 3200MHz DDR4 | Storage: Up to 2TB SSD + 2TB HDD Powerful specs Affordable Stunning design Still very expensive at highest configurations

With AMDs solid campaign to win the CPU and GPU markets, its no surprise that many of the best PCs are switching over Team Reds cause. Our favorite Alienware Aurora gaming desktop PC line is among them, fitting its R10 models with AMDs powerful yet affordable Ryzen CPUs. Not only do these deliver brute strength when it comes to gaming, but they also tout affordability, giving budget gamers to partake in what those with souped up rigs experience
everyday without burning a hole in their pockets.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 (Image credit: Apple) Best all-in-one PC: iMac (24-inch, 2021)

The iMac gets a welcome redesign CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 7-core 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB 16GB unified memory | Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display | Storage: up to 2TB Excellent screen Striking new design Fantastic webcam Lack of ports remains Mac mini may offer better value for some

If you think that the new iMacs couldnt possibly be as good as they look,
youd be wrong. They are not just an improvement over their 21.5-inch predecessor externally, touting a fresh new face that comes in several different colors. Youll also be happy to know that youre getting great value here, as youre getting the Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse included in matching colors, we might add. They also come with fresh new specs, rocking Apples new M1 chip that makes it much more powerful than the previous Intel iMacs. As far as the best computers go, the new iMac (24-inch, 2021) is the best all-in-one PC hands down.

Read the full review: iMac (24-inch, 2021) See more like this: the best gaming PCs (Image credit: Dell) Best budget gaming PC: Dell G5 Gaming Desktop

Budget PC gaming at its best CPU: Up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9-10900KF | Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER | RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4 2933Mhz
| Storage: Up to 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD Affordable VR-ready configurations Base models wont get you through the most demanding games

A unique chassis coupled with a price to beat, Dells latest in its G series gaming PCs is a solid contender in budget gaming. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidias most powerful gaming GTX and
RTX graphics cards, starting with an i3 processor and the GTX 1650 to handle many powerful games without burning a whole in your pocket. Of course, if youve got more case to spare, its VR ready configurations are also on hand, though even those are absolutely affordable. (Image credit: Intel) Best mini PC: Intel Ghost Canyon NUC

Small, but dangerous CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i5 i9 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 8GB 64B DDR4 | Storage: 128GB SSD 2TB + 2TB Affordable at its low configurations Highly upgradeable Great performance Can get pretty pricey at the highest configurations

Intels NUC has come a long way from its humble beginnings. For example, while the previous Hades Canyon didnt come with a RAM or storage, the newer Ghost Canyon has both. In fact, not only does it have more offerings now in terms
of specs, but its also highly configurable so you can personalize it to your liking before hitting that buy button. With 9th-generation Intel Core chips, up to 64GB of memory and up to 4TB dual storage, were all for it. The only catch is that it's pricier now as well. The lower configurations are still quite affordable, and a terrific option for the budget-conscious. However,
you may want to stay away from the highest configurations. (Image credit: Lenovo) Best mid-range gaming PC: Lenovo Legion Tower 5i

Plenty of power for the price CPU: up to 10th-gen Intel Core i7 | Graphics:
Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super | RAM: Up to 16 GB DDR4 2933MHz |
Storage: Up to 2 TB HDD + 1 TB SSD Great design Not a lot of bloat No USB Type-C among front ports

A well-powered machine with an affordable price might be what you need if
your gaming appetite isnt approaching the competitive sphere. Many gamers
dont really need the priciest and mightiest gaming rig, and the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i proves this, delivering plenty of power without forcing you to go broke. Nothing especially stands out with this gaming desktop, but it also offers a great gaming experience with the latest AAA titles right out of the box, which is really all that matters.

Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Image credit: Apple) Best Mac: Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Small, but with big ambitions CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU | Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU | RAM: 8GB 64GB unified memory | Storage: 256GB 2TB SSD Same lovely design Very good performance New M1 hardware has potential Can't use eGPUs

One of Apples biggest surprises of the year is the update to its smallest
Mac. The brand-new Mac mini now touts Apples M1 chip, while keeping things
the same in its much-loved design. Its more powerful than ever with more
than decent video editing performance, even at 8K, and can now run iOS apps and games, thanks to this new chip, but it still keeps its title as the cheapest Mac ever terrific news for budget-minded Apple fans looking for the best computer.

Read the full review: Mac mini (M1, 2020) See more like this: the best Macs of 2021 (Image credit: Intel) Best stick PC: Intel Compute Stick

The tiny computer that can CPU: Intel Atom Intel Core m5 | Graphics: : Intel HD Graphics Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 1GB 4GB | Storage: 8GB-64GB eMMC Wide CPU choices Extremely portable design Limited fan cooling Limited RAM
and storage

Some people have issues with desktop PCs, as theyre often rather bulky. The Intel Core Compute Stick has made that irrelevant. Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor with an HDMI input. Its base starts with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor running Linux, but can be configured up to an Intel Core m5 processor. This
is one of the best PCs, but one that you can literally slip in your pocket, whether you need to get some work done during your daily commute or squeeze
in some PC time while youre traveling. (Image credit: Lenovo) Best in features: Lenovo Yoga A940

Thoughtful design, innovative features CPU: 8th-generation Intel Core i7-8700 | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 560 4GB | RAM: 32GB | Storage: 1 TB 5400 RPM + 256 GB PCIe SSD | Screen: 27" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS Multi-touch 100% Adobe RGB Good price Some nice features Older components

As a designer, if you dont fall in love with Lenovo Yoga A940s thoughtful design, then we dont know what will. This innovative all-in-one desktop
boasts a stunning 27-inch 4K UHD display with up to 25-degree tilt, pen support and a rotating hinge for stability. Its full of impressive features
as well, like the Lenovo Precision Dial that you can attach on the left or right side of the hinge, whatever feels most comfortable for you and your process. And, unlike the best Macs, it offers 100% Adobe RGB support, an LED light at the bottom of the screen and even wireless smartphone charging. If youre a content creator or designer, and youre looking for an AIO that allows you a truly seamless workflow, this is the best computer for you.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga A940 (Image credit: Apple) Best for
content creators: iMac Pro

Raw power CPU: 8 to 18-core Intel Xeon W | Graphics: Radeon Pro Vega 56 - Radeon Pro Vega 64 | RAM: 32GB 256GB DDR4 ECC | Storage: 1TB 4TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Screen: 27-inch 5K (5,120 x 2,880) Retina display (P3 wide color) Most powerful Mac ever Excellent design Keeps cool Very expensive Non user-upgradable

Unfortunately, what does hold Lenovo Yoga A940 back are its less powerful, slightly aging internals. If you want an all-in-one powerhouse that
absolutely blows you away in terms of performance, then the iMac Pro is the best computer for you. This AIO designed specifically for professionals and creatives may not be super rich in features, but its got a lot to offer where it truly counts. That includes its vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, mind-blowing Radeon Pro Vega graphics, and plenty of memory for all your exacting workloads. Just be prepared to shell out a bunch of cash,
as this doesnt come cheap.

Read the full review: iMac Pro (Image credit: Raspberry Pi) Best
single-board computer: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Small yet mighty CPU: Broadcom BCM2711, Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) | Graphics: OpenGL ES 3.0 | RAM: 1GB, 2GB or 4GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM More
powerful CPU for a smoother user experience The 4GB RAM model is almost a desktop replacement Even at idle the CPU gets rather too warm

Despite its tiny size its so small, it doesnt even have its own chassis, the Raspberry Pi boards have proven themselves to be utterly capable little machines, surprisingly capable of handling everyday productivity tasks like word processing and spreadsheets. And, with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, we
see this powerful computer getting the fantastic update it rightly deserves. Finally, the Raspberry Pi line gives you a desktop computer and a platform to experiment and create.

Read the full review: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

Image Credits: TechRadar While youre at it, weve also found the best gaming desktop PC you can buy



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/computing/pc/10-of-the-best-desktop-pcs-of-2015 -1304391/


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