Best computers for college students: desktop PCs, iMacs and more for studying

Date:
Tue, 28 Dec 2021 11:30:45 +0000

Description:
The best desktop PCs for college students are powerful, space-saving, and
best of all, affordable. Here are our top picks below.

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College is synonymous with being on a tight budget, and when it comes to the best computers for college students, you dont have to spend a fortune to get
a good PC . Nor do you need to make too many compromises. It doesnt always make sense to get the cheapest desktop PC you could find just because you
have tuition, food, housing, and books to pay for, especially if you need
more power than what a budget one can offer.

Luckily, desktop computers have gotten cheaper over the years, particularly traditional desktop towers. That gives college students a lot more affordable choices, which is a good thing since some would need a PC with more robust innards, especially those studying graphic design , filmmaking , or engineering . Meanwhile, those who dont need a whole lot of power will still benefit from this as theyll easily manage to find a great value option for less.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a desktop PC for college, and these are almost non-negotiable. Before you hit buy, make sure that youre getting something space-saving and built like a tank. After all, youll be dealing with limited spaces and rowdy roommates and neighbors living in college dormitories.

Because different matriculating minds have different demands - not to
mention, different budgets - we gathered the best computers for college students right here, keeping in mind those aforementioned metrics. Whatever your need, budget, and preferences are, youll find the perfect machine to
keep you company during the best four years of your life. (Image credit:
Dell) 1. Dell XPS Desktop

Best computer for college students overall CPU: Up to 12th-gen Intel Core i9
| GPU: Up to Nvidia RTX 3090 or AMD RX 6900 XT | Memory: Up to 16GB |
Storage: Up to 2TB SSD + 2TB HDD | Size: 14.68 x 6.81x 16.80 in Plenty of power Very customizable Higher configurations are pricey

The Dell XPS Desktop might not be the cheapest out there, but its certainly among the best value computers for college students right now. Thats whether you want the latest one that boasts Intels latest Alder Lake chips or youre
ok with something from the 10th or 11th-generation models. These arent as gorgeous as the XPS laptops, but theyre just as excellent in delivering impressive performance. And, they arent just for studying and typing up papers. Upgrade yours to one with a discrete graphics card inside, and itll see you through all your graphically-demanding schoolwork as well. In other words, you can make this computer, especially the latest model, as affordable or as kitted out as you need it to be. Its also designed to stay quiet and keep things cool, both of which are useful when youre living in a dorm room with roommates.

Read our Dell XPS Desktop review (Image credit: HP) 2. HP Slim S01

Best space-saving PC those who dont need a lot of power CPU: Up to 10th-gen Intel Core i5 | GPU: Up to Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Memory: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 1TB HDD storage + 256GB SSD | Size: 11.93 x 3.74 x 10.63 in Thin and lightweight Budget price Not a lot of power

HPs Slim S01 computer wont likely see you through processor-intensive or graphically-demanding applications. However, its got more than enough power
to get you through your everyday schoolwork, studying, researching, and paper-writing needs - as well as your post-school entertainment, naturally. This desktop PC is meant for college students who would benefit more from a slim, space-saving tower or under $500 machine than a breathtakingly powerful one, especially with its 11.93 x 3.74 x 10.63 in size and now that its configurations are heavily discounted at HP. That sleek, rounded-edges, textured front panel design is a nice little bonus for those who care about their dorm-room aesthetic. (Image credit: Apple) 3. iMac 24-inch 2021

Best computer for art, film and photography students CPU: Apple M1 8-core CPU | GPU: Up to Integrated 8-core GPU | Memory: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 2TB
| Size: 21.5 x 5.8 x 18.1 in Slim, lightweight and gorgeous Lots of power inside Expensive for students

The M1-powered iMac 24-inch feels like a work of art, especially with its impossibly thin profile and surprisingly lightweight chassis. Of course,
thats probably on purpose considering that this all-in-one is a terrific tool for artists, content creators, and other creatives, which makes it perfect
for art, film, graphic design, and engineering students. Itll cost a bit more
all of Apples masterpieces do but its more than worth the splurge, especially with M1s 8-core CPU and up to 8-core GPU. There are things that Apple could have done better in terms of ergonomics, but the fact that its so thin and that its an AIO to begin with means youre saving a whole lot of
space on your dorm room desk. Oh, and did we mention it comes in seven different colorways?

Read our iMac 24-inch 2021 review 4. Dell Inspiron 3891

Best budget PC for college students CPU: Up to 10th-generation Intel Core i7
| GPU: Up to Nvidia GTX 1650 Super | Memory: Up to 12GB | Storage: 256GB SSD
+ 1TB HDD | Size: 12.77 x 6.06 x 11.54 in Very affordable Space-saving Not
for graphics-intensive tasks

True to the Dell Inspiron lines best value nature, the Dell Inspiron 3891 remains the price-to-performance king in the budget desktop PC realm. This line keeps things affordable without compromising on power and performance, which makes it the XPS PC for the budget-minded. Of course, its not for those who need graphical prowess (although you can upgrade to a modest GTX 1650 Super for decent 1080p gaming), but for the rest of the folks on campus, its
a wise choice. Its also designed to be space-efficient, so even those sharing a three-person dorm room would be able to find room for it. (Image credit: Apple) 5. Mac Mini M1

Best mini PC for dorm living CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8core CPU | GPU: Integrated 8-core GPU | Memory: Up to 16GB | Storage: Up to 2TB | Size: 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4 in Very good performance M1 hardware has potential Maximum of 16GB memory

If you really want a massive space-saver but youre not partial to an all-in-one, consider the M1-powered Mac Mini whose 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4-inch frame allows it to fit on just about any shelf on your dorm room desk. And, dont knock it for its size either. Tiny as it may be, it packs a punch more than enough to see you through your video and photo editing needs without costing you an arm and a leg. Not that its cheap, but it is surprisingly affordable, with the highest configuration costing less than $1,000/1,000. Best yet, its also portable so you can toss it into your backpack and bring it elsewhere if youre doing a group project or need your computer when doing lab work.

Read our Mac Mini M1 review These are the best laptops for students



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/best-computers-for-college-students/


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