Top 5 Desktops You Need in 2025

The greatest desktop PCs survive, but the latest advancements in mobile computing receive all the attention. The best desktops still perform better, whether it’s for rendering intricate 3D scenes, playing intense video games, or processing spreadsheets with a lot of data. Since our founding in 1982, gadgetex has tested thousands of desktop computers, and our analysts and editors have over a century of experience in desktop testing and reviews. Utilizing established techniques, we evaluate each model’s design, usability, upgradeability, connectivity, and other aspects while comparing CPU and graphics performance to pertinent comparison PCs. We review workstations and business PCs, gaming PCs, all-in-ones, and even small PCs. Our current pick for the best mainstream desktop PC for most people is the 2024 Dell XPS Desktop for its budget-to-high-end configurations and expansive, high-style case. Below, see the rest of our always-shifting recommendations, followed by a deep-dive buying guide on everything to factor into your desktop purchase.

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Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 Desktops You Need in 2025

1.Dell XPS Desktop (8960, 2024)

Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

With the possible exception of the most frugal consumers, Dell’s XPS Desktop is adaptable enough for a wide range of users, from high-end gamers to family-room furnishers. With an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super graphics card and an Intel Core K-class processor, our deluxe model is capable of handling almost any task. It provides ample expansion room for future upgrades, and its understated yet professional design fits well in almost any setting. Our only real complaint is the loud fan in the air-cooled model, though quieter liquid cooling is available.

With its “prosumer” appearance, the XPS Desktop comes in platinum or graphite. Although it lacks the ostentatious design of gaming desktops, it looks more expensive than entry-level computers. Subtle XPS branding and airflow perforations on the front panel give away the internal performance.The metal construction of the system feels sturdy. This tower, which measures a sturdy 14.7 by 6.8 by 16.8 inches, is spacious within but smaller than the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 and the HP Omen 35L.

Three 5Gbps USB Type-A ports, a 10Gbps USB Type-C port, an audio jack, and an SD card reader are among the front-panel connections. With Dell’s PowerShare technology, devices can be charged via the USB-C port even when the tower is not in use.There are four USB Type-A ports on the back (two 5Gbps and two legacy 2.0), a 20Gbps USB Type-C port, a DisplayPort monitor output, and 7.1 surround audio jacks. Networking components include Gigabit Ethernet and a Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i wireless card with Bluetooth 5.3. An external Wi-Fi antenna box must be connected to the provided gold jacks, though I prefer antennas that are integrated into the chassis.

Dell includes a handy diagram on the side panel showing how to remove components. The 3.5-inch drive bays along the top panel and the graphics card can be removed without tools. Removing the two 120mm fans and the power supply requires only a Philips screwdriver. Although it’s unfortunate that the power supply is proprietary, it’s unlikely to need replacement. Our configuration features a 750-watt model, with a 1,000W PSU available. Dell even now offers power-supply replacements and upgrades for its XPS Desktop models from 2017 (which also used proprietary designs), so you can expect long-term support.

Three PCI Express slots, two M.2 storage drive slots, and two DIMM slots for DDR5-5600 memory are among the expansion options available on the proprietary motherboard. The fans can be readily removed, as previously mentioned, but the tower does not have detachable dust filters.

Premium support and a one-year warranty are included with the XPS Desktop. A one-year subscription to McAfee LiveSafe, Dell Update for system updates, and a MyDell app for downloading additional software that was purchased with the desktop are among the installed apps on its Windows 11 operating system. SupportAssist is a tool that provides product support. Since a simple USB keyboard and mouse are also included, a monitor will be the only additional item a novice needs to buy.

2.Acer Aspire TC-1780-UA92

Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Acer is skilled at producing high-quality low-cost desktop computers. This Aspire TC-1780-UA92 has a 13th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and a fast 512GB solid-state drive, which provide enough performance for the typical home user. To meet modern demands, this tower has USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 6E (the fastest widely available standard), and a media card reader. For dual monitor setups, it even features two HDMI ports. This Aspire easily won our Editors’ Choice award for low-cost home desktops because it offers a lot of PC for a small amount of money.

The all-black exterior of the Aspire TC-1780 appears simple, but a closer look reveals more information. The plastic angled front panel features a reflective stripe and a delicately brushed design.to look more interesting. Acer’s logo here is the only branding. This desktop is on the small side for a mid-tower at 13.4 by 6.5 by 13.8 inches (HWD).A full-size SD card reader, 3.5mm universal audio and microphone jacks, a USB 3.2 Type-C port, and a USB 3.2 Type-A connection are all part of the extensive front port selection. The cutout suggests that some configurations may have an optical drive, although our review model does not.Around the back are two HDMI ports, three audio jacks, an Ethernet jack, and five additional USB Type-A ports (four legacy 2.0 and one version 3.2). On a low-cost desktop, having two video outputs is a plus. Additionally, this Aspire has Bluetooth 5.3 wireless and Wi-Fi 6E built in. There are no external protrusions because the antennas are integrated into the case.

The left door is fastened with two Phillips-head screws for servicing. The spartan interior won’t impress aftermarket builders, but this is a basic desktop, and all the essentials are here. The motherboard (about 11 by 7.75 inches) has two DDR4-3200 DIMM slots. Our single 8GB DIMM restricts the memory to single-channel performance, but you can upgrade to dual-channel RAM down the line.

Our unit has a 512GB SSD installed in the motherboard’s only M.2 2280 slot. Acer conveniently includes mounting hardware and SATA and power cables in the box so that two 3.5-inch drives can be installed. Additionally, there are two PCI Express x16 and x1 slots on the motherboard. You cannot add a powerful graphics card to the 300-watt proprietary power supply because it does not have a GPU power connector.

The fans in the power supply and the low-profile aluminum CPU cooler are examples of active cooling. Although those tasks wouldn’t normally be performed on this tower, the CPU fan was audible while running performance benchmarks and is distracting in a quiet room. Other than that, the noise level is under control.

Acer includes a basic USB keyboard and mouse and a one-year warranty. The Windows 11 installation has many unwanted apps, but they take only a few minutes to uninstall. The most useful included app is Acer Care Center, which provides system updates, recovery options, and support access. It also has a tune-up feature to delete junk files and manage startup applications. We run the same general productivity benchmarks across both mobile and desktop systems. Our first test is UL’s PCMark 10, which simulates a variety of real-world productivity and office workflows to measure overall system performance and also includes a storage subtest for the primary drive. Our other three benchmarks focus on the CPU, using all available cores and threads, to rate a PC’s suitability for processor-intensive workloads. Maxon’s Cinebench R23 uses that company’s Cinema 4D engine to render a complex scene, while Geekbench 5.4 Pro from Primate Labs simulates popular apps ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning. Third in line, we use the open-source video transcoder HandBrake 1.4 to convert a 12-minute video clip from 4K to 1080p resolution (lower times are better).

3.MSI Codex R2

Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

To help you begin your gaming adventure without breaking the bank, MSI created the Codex line of gaming PCs. The Codex R2 is a mid-tower chassis with a glass side panel, lots of RGBs, and respectable midrange hardware for a beginning gaming PC. It starts and is tested at . Ours had an Intel Core i5-14400F, 16GB of dual-channel DDR5 RAM, integrated Wi-Fi, and an Nvidia GForce RTX 4060 graphics card. It won’t break any frames-per-second (fps) records, but it is a competent 1080p/1440p gaming machine at a reasonable price.

The MSI Codex R2 is housed in an attractive mid-tower chassis with the RGB-forward design we expect from a gaming PC. It has a glass panel on the side, ample room inside for expansion, and multiple RGB fans with dust filters on the main ingress/egress points (top/bottom). It may not be the most elegant or fancy design, but it looks like a gaming machine through and through.

The front panel I/O sits atop the case, yielding easy access to those ports. The Codex R2 has power and reset buttons (the former shaped like the MSI Dragon Shield) on the right, along with power and HDD activity LEDs. To the left are two 3.5 mm jacks for audio (microphone and headphones), a USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) Type-A port, and a fast USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) Type-C port. On the left side is an RGB button with 60 distinct lighting effects. You can also control them through MSI’s Mystic Light software when you press and hold the front panel button. Additionally, it has a magnetic dust filter on top and bottom of the case to prevent some particulates from entering.

The Codex has MSI Center installed and operational, just like the flagship MSI Vision Elite RS that we recently reviewed. Mystic Light (RGB control), Frozr AI cooling (links system fans to vary by temperature), and other useful apps are available for download here. For those who prefer to keep an eye on specifics like voltage and temperature, it even features a thorough hardware monitoring section. The User Scenario applet will assist you if you enjoy tinkering and overclocking it. Apart from that, the Windows installation is clean and free of bloatware, and the MSI Center application should be useful to a variety of users.

4.Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 (2024)

Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Lenovo’s top gaming desktop, the Legion Tower 7i Gen 8, was redesigned last year and upgraded this year with 14th Gen Intel CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX Super graphics cards. Built for 4K gaming, this beast has an enormous liquid cooling system and an abundance of RGB lighting. The relative value equation of this specific Legion model is difficult to beat, even though the boutique Origin Genesis may offer even more luxury. For mainstream gaming desktops, it receives our Editors’ Choice award.

This Legion is identified as a pure gaming machine by its tempered glass and blacked-out casing. There is enough RGB lighting to light up a tiny space. Three lighting profiles are available in the included Lenovo Vantage app, which also allows you to customize patterns and brightness across seven lighting zones.

This Legion is not quite on the scale of an all-out monolith like the Origin Genesis, but it is larger than many mid-towers, including the Alienware Aurora R16, at 19.4 by 8.3 by 18.3 inches. It can easily fit a 360mm CPU liquid cooling solution for its Core i9-14900KF processor and an extra-long GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super graphics card.Two 10Gbps USB Type-A ports (an upgrade from the 5Gbps ports available when this desktop first came out with 13th Gen Core processors), two vintage USB 2.0 ports, and separate 3.5mm headphone and microphone ports are all located on the top front panel. Regretfully, there is still no front USB Type-C port on the case. On the right is the power button.

The motherboard backplane features six audio jacks, including optical-out (S/PDIF), a 2.5Gbps Ethernet jack, four additional 10Gbps USB-A ports, a 20Gbps USB-C port, and another USB 2.0 pair. Due to the Core i9-14900KF’s lack of integrated graphics, the motherboard does not have any monitor outputs; however, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super card does provide the anticipated three DisplayPort and one HDMI monitor outputs. Instead of the most recent Wi-Fi 7 standard, the internal wireless card supports Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E.

Before removing the tempered-glass side panel, which is fastened with two retainer-style thumbscrews, the tower should be placed on its side, according to a sticker. The roomy interior has a clean layout. The majority of the cables are tied off or hidden, demonstrating good, if not exceptional, cable management.The triple-slot, triple-fan GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super dominates the view. Its dual-zone RGB lighting is intricate even by aftermarket standards. One PCI Express x1 slot is available below it.

Based on the Intel Z790 chipset, the ATX (9.6-by-12-inch) motherboard features a blackout design with numerous heatsinks. 128GB of RAM can be installed in its four DIMM slots; the two 16GB modules that are currently installed here appear generic in this otherwise ostentatious interior. Additionally, it features two M.2 Type-2280 storage drive slots.Three 120mm fans on the liquid-cooling radiator circulate air, and two 120mm top and one 120mm rear fans handle exhaust. Although the fan noise on this desktop is not silent, it blends in with the background and only slightly increased during our benchmark tests.The 850-watt power supply, which is surprisingly modular, is located in the bottom compartment. Two toolless 3.5-inch drive bays with pre-run power and SATA cables for easy storage expansion are ahead of it.

5.Corsair One i500

Last update on 2025-01-25 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Since its initial release in 2017, we have reviewed multiple iterations of the original pillar-shaped Corsair One desktop. With the One i500, Corsair presents its largest reimagining of the One concept, transforming it into a somewhat conventionally shaped gaming tower with a natural wood front panel that is still incredibly small. Even the base model of this PC is designed to be a high-end purchase for Corsair enthusiasts, but we have to admit that even our more expensive review model is reasonably priced given the components and high-end configuration. In our benchmark tests, the liquid-cooled 14th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU outperformed larger and more costly systems. It can even be upgraded after purchase, excluding the GPU. The Corsair One i500 merits an Editors’ Choice award among compact high-end gaming desktops for performance and design, particularly considering its outsize power.

The Corsair One i500 takes a very different approach from the majority of the high-end pre-built gaming PCs we review, which impress you with their glass side panels and elegant interior lighting. This system’s appearance is much more conservative and conventional, in addition to its small size, which I’ll discuss in more detail.The real-wood front panel, which has a unique grain on each system, must be my first choice. I wouldn’t be shocked to learn that it’s not everyone’s thing; most cases have a sleeker, contemporary glass design that’s popular for a reason, but this one might remind you of your parents’ wood-paneled basement. Another version with a silver chassis and lighter wood is also an option, as is one with a metal front in place of wood.

The Fractal Design North case (and its XL version) has garnered a lot of attention and money in recent years, so whether or not you like the wooden paneling, it stands out, is well-made, and is not alone in the arboreal revolution. I like the idea so much that I even built my own PC into the white version of that case. I can still appreciate how disappointing it is to be unable to see inside such a sophisticated system, but if you want to see inside, you have a lot of options. Unlike the modern flash, this tower aims for something different.

However, there is a secret trick up the tower’s sleeve. The thin black strip that extends up the panel’s front isn’t t just for show—it’s a touch-enabled input that lets you alter built-in chassis lighting. The lighting is pretty subtle on this tower (you’ll notice an RGB strip on each side of the front panel and some underlighting), and it can only be controlled in this way. Unusually, it isn’t controllable via Corsair’s iCUE software, meant to stand as its own original and simple feature for this tower.

How does it work? The bottom half of the strip, beneath the Corsair logo (and power button), is for changing the lighting effect, while the top half is for color. Holding and releasing the bottom segment changes among static, breathing, strobing, color cycle, rainbow, and starry night effects. If it’s set to static mode (since the other effects change colors on their own), sliding your finger through the top half of the strip gradually switches through colors. Additionally, you can turn all the case lighting off by holding the bottom strip for five seconds and sliding your finger across the bottom strip, lowering and raising the brightness.

 The Best PCs (Desktop Computers) for 2025

To assist you in choosing the best desktop, we have compiled a list of the most common questions about the subject, along with some additional uninvited but useful information to help choose. A shortened version of the aforementioned suggestions for simpler spec comparisons can be found below that.

How Do I Choose a Good Desktop Computer?

You do realize we’ve covered a wide range of the top desktops above? For those who rely on business travel or whose computing consists primarily of typing and browsing from the couch in the living room, we do not dispute that a laptop or tablet is a better option. However, for small offices, families, creative professionals, gamers, and tech tinkerers, desktops are frequently the best option and the best value.

Which Brand of Computer Is the Most Reliable?

Reliability is a nebulous concept when it comes to computers: It could mean consistency of performance, or it could also mean the strength and support of its warranty, just to name two interpretations. Certain brands have developed reputations for reliability, namely computer makers like Apple, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. But no single brand can lay a blanket claim to any such title.

Since that might not be the most satisfying answer to such a question, we also have our Readers’ Choice coverage of the desktops category, which polls readers like you to determine widely held opinions on the various desktop options out there. Following the selection of models based on additional, more reliable criteria, the general consensus may assist you in creating an idea of the most reliable brands to count on in your search for the best PC for you.