Best Buy Dell Computer Tower
Despite their compact sizes, our favorite small models still offer a respectable number of ports. The best of these boxes offer plenty of physical connectivity and expansion options, which make them versatile depending on the deployment. If you need to connect displays and peripherals or add storage, there's an option here for you. The larger towers, of course, provide a more comprehensive complement of ports, including some up-to-the-minute options like USB-C ports.
best buy dell computer tower
Mini-towers and the usual towers, though, can often take a hard drive or two in an empty internal 3.5-inch drive bay if you need bulk storage on the cheap. We've even seen isolated mini-tower models preconfigured with a small SSD as the boot drive, plus a mass-storage hard drive. This is the best of both worlds in a budget config, but you'll have to shop around to find one. (Usually, you get just one or the other.)
That's not always the right move. Desktops aren't facing extinction, and they're doing anything but standing still. For consumers and businesses alike, these are the most cost-effective and customizable desktop computers for 2023, as shown by our favorite examples from recent reviews. Check them out, then read on to learn everything you need to know about finding the best desktop for you.
Macs and Windows PCs are available in all three of the major desktop form factors: mini PCs that can fit on a bookshelf, sleek all-in-ones with built-in (and usually high-resolution) displays, and traditional desktop towers that are bulky but offer room for more or less easy expansion. These three forms each have strengths and weaknesses, and none of them is an obvious best choice for everyone. You'll have to choose based on what you plan to do with your desktop and where you plan to put it.
For truly cramped quarters or light workloads, as well as for people who love the efficient use of space, a mini PC could be the best choice. They come in sizes ranging from tiny sticks not much larger than a USB thumb drive to small-form-factor (SFF) towers that may be nearly a foot tall but have compact footprints. The very smallest sizes have the benefit of disappearing behind an HDMI-equipped monitor or TV, and they contain a processor, memory, storage, and ports to hook up keyboards and mice. They're economical and power-efficient, and can serve as adequate web browsing or multimedia viewing platforms. But know that the models at the truly tiny end of the scale offer no room for adding extra internal components, and their preinstalled parts are usually difficult or impossible to upgrade.
For most people in the market for an inexpensive desktop tower, there's no single best time to buy. While traditional sale holidays such as Black Friday can net you the odd bargain, when you find a system whose features, price, and performance match what you're looking for, take it home.
A desktop computer is generally going to come in the form of either a tower or an all-in-one (with an integrated screen), though there are smaller designs (sometimes called "small form factor PCs") like the Mac Mini for tighter spaces.
Unless otherwise indicated, the products listed below don't include a monitor, keyboard, mouse or webcam. You'll need to bring your own or buy them separately. We'll update this best desktop computer list periodically.
The Mac Pro has long been the top dog in Apple's computer lineup, but the current version is an aging Intel model that starts at a whopping $5,000. By comparison, the new-for-2022 Mac Studio is powered by the latest, greatest Apple silicon chips -- the M1 Max or M1 Ultra -- and starts at less than half that price. It's basically a Mac Mini on steroids, and -- for anyone who doesn't want to wait for the eventual Mac Pro revision -- it's your best bet for running creative-centric Mac apps, including animation, graphics, video-editing and audio-editing software.
If you're looking to buy a new computer sometime soon, you may well wonder how to properly time your purchase to get the best deal. Are there certain times of the year that are better for buying a new computer?
For much of the early 2020s, the best time to buy a desktop computer, laptop or whatever electronic device you wanted was immediately. If you were in need, and you found one with a good price, you were advised to get it, then and there.
When shopping for a new computer, prioritize what you're looking for: Do you want the best price or the newest product? While you can find discounts for desktop and laptop computers during the holidays for all brands, you may want to buy an Apple computer at a different time if the goal is to get the lowest price. In other words, if a new Apple product comes out, you'll want to look at what the new desktop or laptop replaced. You may want to buy an older version, which is likely to be offered at a steep discount.
A great space-saving high performer is the all-in-one computer, usually a large monitor housing at least a dual-core processor and 4GB of RAM. The Apple iMac is the classic example of an all-in-one, although there are plenty of Windows options as well. If you want something eco-friendly with the ability to do basic tasks, mini PCs and the Mac Mini feature energy-efficient Intel CPUs, integrated graphics and miniaturized components that fit within an ultra-compact case you can set up virtually anywhere. The conventional desktop is a tower, a versatile machine that can do anything (depending on the specs), while offering easy access for upgrading components.
While the best laptops (opens in new tab) are more portable, with a computer you generally get better performance and power, as well as a big monitor which is ideal for gaming, watching content and viewing or editing photos.
While we've reviewed most of the home computers below, we're still in the process of reviewing some. For these models, we've provided a summary of user reviews to help you make the best decision for you and your home office.
If you get an All-in-One computer, like an iMac, you don't need any extras to get started. However, if you're buying a desktop tower - like most of the PCs on our list - then you'll need extra equipment.
Webcam - While some All-in-One computers come with built-in webcams, and some monitors have them, you'll likely need a separate camera if you want to take part in video calls, or record yourself. Again, we have a guide to the best webcams (opens in new tab), and they really aren't all that expensive.
In our search to find the best gaming PC, we run every model we review through a standardized gauntlet of real-world and benchmark tests, in order to measure how each desktop stacks up as both a gaming machine and as an everyday computer.
Ready-made budget desktop computers are the most straightforward option for picking up an affordable PC. Whether you're setting up an office area for working at home, building a creative space, or needing something for the whole family to share, I've found the best picks to fit a tighter spending limit.
Intel Core i3-1215U 8GB DDR4-3200 512GB PCIe SSD (opens in new tab)HP provides everything you need for a desktop computer right out of the box with this 21.5" FHD panel containing all the components. Save on desk space by skipping a tower altogether.
All-in-one computers are a fantastic solution to picking up a straightforward budget desktop with minimal fuss since everything is built directly into the screen. HP offers a 21.5" panel with very similar specifications to our picks of PC towers, including a 12th Gen Intel Core processor and a high-speed SSD for storage. Throw in an 88-degree FHD webcam with a beautiful wide-angle shutter alongside a mouse and keyboard, and there's nothing else you'll immediately need.
A tight budget can make finding a desktop computer that isn't a potential dud particularly difficult, especially if you don't know where to look for the best options. The Dell Inspiron 3910 has remained my top recommendation for a while now, and there are no signs of it dropping off soon. Intel may have moved on to its 13th Gen Core processor family, but the 12th Gen chips don't hold these budget machines back.
Even the Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i offers plenty of flexibility for upgrades, thanks to its relatively standard tower design, albeit in a compact form. Any of the best external solid-state drives can provide extra storage if 256GB is too much of a squeeze on the Dell Inspiron, too. The only downside to the top picks is the lack of a monitor, something the HP all-in-one range solves by keeping everything built into its 21.5" screen. Consider your needs and desk space, and pick a cheap desktop PC that's perfect for you. 041b061a72