Top 6 Best Desktop Computers of 2024

Even though entry-level PCs may manage workplace and web browsing duties, they may not be able to run the greatest PC games. You may soon run out of possibilities, especially if the maker employs a tiny chassis or a ridiculous motherboard. However, certain upgrades are conceivable.

You just need to get a computer that has a minimum of 16GB of RAM, a powerful multi-core CPU, and a graphics card capable of handling the games you want to play in order to enjoy the best of both worlds. We assure you that there are many suitable desktop PCs available.

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Top 6 Best Desktop Computers of 2024

1.Dell XPS 8960

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The Dell XPS 8960 appears to be a plain black box, yet it has all the features you need for the best desktop experience. With a massive 2TB SSD, a GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, and a 14th generation Intel Core i9 processor, the XPS 8960 will easily handle any task you put at it.

This PC crushes most AAA games thanks to its powerful graphics card and top-tier processor, especially if you’re using one of the greatest 1440p monitors. The good news is that Dell is using standard-sized components here as well, so you can upgrade this PC for years to come without worrying about compatibility—that is, aside from an unusual PSU connection.

The Dell XPS 8960 seems like a plain business computer, but it’s really a gaming PC in disguise.This boxy beige or black tower mixes nicely in with ’90s office decor, yet beneath the unassuming exterior you’ll discover the latest Intel Raptor Lake 13th Gen CPUs and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series GPUs. Although it’s not the best for 4K enthusiasts, our Dell XPS 8960 review unit arrived with some very potent components packed within, and it’s more than capable of playing the newest and best PC games at 1080p with outstanding performance.

While some may object to its flimsy packaging, I think the Dell XPS 8960 offers a fantastic gaming PC at a price that’s affordable.

Right now, you can buy the Dell XPS 8960 via Dell’s website as well as a few independent merchants. At the time of publication, it was $2,749, which gets you an XPS casing (Platinum or Graphite, white or black) with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU, a 13th generation Intel Core i7-13700 CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a copy of Windows 11 Home. Along with a Dell keyboard and corded mouse, it also includes an Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E wireless card that supports both Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth.

Better parts do, of course, come at a higher price. An XPS 8960 with a 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13900K CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics card, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and two 2TB SSDs (for a total of 4TB of storage) are available. You would have to pay about $4,929 before taxes for such a gadget.

If you still desire the option of having a physical disc drive on your PC, you may add an external DVD +/- RW optical drive to your machine for an extra $50. Keep in mind that this is not an inside component of the tower, but rather an external drive that connects to the PC.

This gaming PC doesn’t look the part, as the pictures in this Dell XPS 8960 review demonstrate. If you want subtle style, the straightforward rectangular tower case is perfect for your office park elegant look from the 1990s. I believe you will find the XPS 8960 to be quite inconspicuous and silent when it is positioned on your desk.

Although the XPS desktop doesn’t have as much visual appeal as other of the more ostentatious gaming PCs available, I still appreciate how it blends in with its surroundings. The XPS has a unique selling point because of this small difference from almost every other gaming PC we review here at Tom’s Guide.

measuresIt also fits easily into your current setup, measuring a manageable 16.8 x 14.6 x 6.8 inches (or little over a foot tall and over a foot and a half deep) and weighs, depending on configuration, between 19 and 25 pounds. I found that moving it back and forth between my bedroom workstation and the large 4K TV in my living room showed that it’s also not too difficult to maneuver.

2.MSI Aegis ZS

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The MSI Aegis ZS is the ideal gaming tower if you’re on a budget; nevertheless, the best gaming PCs are not cheap and includes a 1TB SSD in addition to a potent RTX 4060. This is an incredible price. While MSI does include some bloatware to partially offset the cost, you can quickly and simply remove it all in less than an hour by tinkering with the settings.

Thanks largely to the AMD Ryzen 7 7700’s eight cores, this machine is ideally balanced for both gaming and content creation. When paired with the RTX 4060, this device can easily handle any creative task, be it creating graphics for YouTube videos or up 3D mesh rigs in Blender.

The variety of options available when purchasing a gaming PC off the shelf can be a little intimidating. They’re all parts of a case when it comes down to it. However, the top gaming PCs really just need to fulfill two requirements: they must provide value for the parts they include and use a sufficient number of standard components to make upgrades simple.

Since the MSI Aegis ZS is mostly made of company-supplied parts, it may be upgraded much like a custom-built device. Furthermore, given that it sports a Radeon RX 6700 XT and AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X, it isn’t overly pricey.

However, despite its strengths, MSI’s CPU cooling system detracts from performance, particularly for users who also use this PC for multi-core productivity workloads. You can get superior performance if you spend a few hundred dollars more on a desktop with an RTX 3070 card.

If you’re looking to stay under two grand (and this PC did fall to a lower sale price during our testing), the Aegis is one to keep an eye on, even if it’s a bit barebones.

MSI constructed a PC in the MPG Gungnir 110R using one of its own stable of cases for the Aegis ZS. This mid-tower chassis is composed of tempered glass and black aluminum, with a feature that splits the design in the middle. Since the three RGB fans are hidden by the metal portion of the front cover, I’m not the biggest fan. It’s a strange design decision, and in my opinion, MSI ought to have taken a different approach.

The remainder of the design is not as bold. A black tempered glass window on the left side of the case allows you to observe the colorful illumination coming from the CPU cooler and fans inside. All of the cable management is hidden on the metal right side. All of this will be recognizable to you if you have seen nearly any mid-tower PC chassis.

In front of the case, behind a dust filter, are three 120mm intake fans. The exhaust and radiator cooling functions of the all-in-one liquid cooler are provided by a 120mm fan located at the back. At the top of the chassis, there is sufficient space for a 240 mm cooler and even a fan dust filter.

3.iBuyPower Y60

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Though it may sound strange and like a lesser-known Marvel villain, iBuyPower has been producing some of the top gaming PCs for many years.

The iBuyPower Y60 sports an exquisite tempered glass chassis that mimics an exotic fish tank, showcasing its amazing components. However, the 14th-generation Core i9 processor and RTX 4070 make it a PC game colossus, so its attractiveness is more than just surface level. This gaming PC can comfortably handle any game or production workload you throw at it, unless you’re dead bent on using one of the top 4K monitors.

The iBuyPower Y60 also has RGB lights, so you can be sure that wherever you place it, it will be the focal point of the space.

The elegant and exquisite iBuyPower Y60 ($2,399 as reviewed) is a gaming PC that is perfect for people who prefer an unobstructed view of the inside components.

Our evaluation unit, the Hyte Y60, is a mid-tower case from iBuyPower’s sibling business that resembles a massive fish tank due to its virtually all tempered glass on two sides. It is packed with some strong components. Once the case is in place, it’s pretty roomy and comfortable to work in, despite being a little hefty and awkward to move. However, our review unit generates a lot of heat when you start gaming aggressively.

However, that is the purpose of this PC, and after using it for a few weeks, I’m sure that the iBuyPower Y60 is one of the best gaming PCs on the market right now. Our review unit is one of iBuyPower’s “Gaming RDY” pre-built ready-to-ship systems. It delivers good performance for the price, but if the specs leave you wanting more you can always pay iBuyPower to build you a custom PC with the parts you want.

More than anything, the Y60 case our review device received in looks like a fish tank. The Y60 is available for purchase individually on Hyte’s website. It is quite large, measuring 18.2 x 17.95 x 11.2 inches. However, if you enjoy showcasing the internals of your computer, you’ll value the roomy view provided by the Y60, which features a distinctive trio of glass panels along the left and front that allow you to look inside without having any bothersome corner pillars obstructing your view.

One security screw on the rear of the case secures each side panel, which must be removed in order to enter. The removal of the tempered glass side panel was a little challenging for me, as I’ll discuss later in this review, but after I worked out the secret, it was easy to do again.

Naturally, anything you place inside the case will have a big impact on how much heat and noise it produces, but during a prolonged gaming session, I found that our review unit produced more heat than I had anticipated. But since I don’t usually wear headphones, I like that it didn’t get overly loud.

To provide you with a rough sense of comparison, I used the iBuyPower Y60 in the same way and at the same location as the Alienware Aurora R13 that I recently reviewed. When playing the same games in nearly identical conditions, the iBuyPower Y60 made the room much hotter but stayed quieter than the Aurora R13. If it worries you, there are things you may do to lessen these problems, including installing additional cooling solutions to relocating the PC to a room with better heat dispersion.

4.HP Pavilion 27

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Even if all-in-one (AIO) computers are quite difficult to upgrade, you should nevertheless invest your time in them. Simply glance at the HP Pavilion 27: It has a 27-inch 1080p touchscreen display, discrete GeForce graphics, and a desktop 13th generation Core i7 CPU running at full speed. For something that is just a monitor with a computer built into it, that is a lot of power.

With its 1080p webcam and surprisingly good speakers, this is the closest thing to an iMac you can get while using Windows, making it the ideal partner for both work and play.

All-in-Ones, except from Apple’s vibrant 24-inch iMac, are ordinary and practical products purchased more for practicality and affordability than for aesthetics or performance. Past Windows All-in-Ones that we’ve examined include the C24 from Acer and the AM241 from MSI. These are flawlessly functional workhorses, but they’re afflicted with cheap screens and speakers and are completely lacking in inspiration: Nothing more than call center filler.

The new All-in-One 27 from HP, also known as the cr0014na, is superior to the devices from Acer and MSI. It’s not quite as capable and desirable as an iMac, but it still feels, looks, and works like something you could buy for yourself instead of having to put up with because the IT department got a nice deal from the manufacturer.

With its all-white livery and silver stand, the HP 27 is a sight to behold by the standards of Windows All-in-Ones. Upon closer inspection, the body exhibits a flecked surface reminiscent to Philips’ recently released Evnia gaming monitors. We think it’s a really nice look.

It is significantly thicker than the iMac at 32mm in the middle, but the bottom chin is not overly thick at 24mm, and the top and side bezels are only 7mm thick. It feels really well constructed overall, and moving it around isn’t too tough at 6.72 kg.

The stand is attached to the PC via a custom quick-release bracket; however, the body cannot be attached to a VESA mount; you will need to purchase an adapter of this kind. The stand only allows for 100mm of height adjustment and a tilt range of -5 to +20°; it cannot rotate or pivot. Felt covers the top of the remarkably compact base, preventing items from sliding off and providing a comfortable surface for placing your phone screen down on.

With one Type-C, two Type-A ports that handle 5 Gbps data, and two more Type-A ports that operate at v2.0 speeds, the HP has a large number of ports. What the Type-C port does not support video output, for that, you must rely on the HDMI 1.4 output. A 3.5mm audio jack and a Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet port round things out. The only control on the cabinet is a small on/off button in the bottom right corner of the back.

5.CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

You’re up against it if you don’t think this computer is a gaming PC—but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Though it may seem limited to gamers due to its 14th-generation Intel CPU and RTX 4060 Ti, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR is fantastic for almost any computer task.

But you get more than just a fantastic performance. Like its name implies, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme is completely wrapped in RGB lighting, which will make this setup really stand out on your desk. The main issue is that, particularly if you want to really push the system, the case fans leave a lot to be desired. Purchasing some of the top PC fans to enhance this system will really take it to the next level, though.

The greatest gaming PCs cover the entire spectrum, with pre-built systems that can be purchased to accommodate any player’s budget. While everyone wants the newest, fastest hardware from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel, those on a tight budget are searching for the best value for their gaming money. In light of this, CyberPowerPC provides a number of affordably priced desktop gaming setups that are simple in design yet deliver strong gaming performance.

One such machine is the CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme (GXi11140CPGV15), which retails for a fair $1,200 and includes an Intel Core i7-14600KF processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 4060 Ti graphics card. This gear is housed in a stylish casing,, complete with multiple 120mm RGB fans and an AIO cooler for the CPU. And the whole system is backed by a three-year warranty.

Utilizing its own Kira II 241V mid-tower chassis, CyberPowerPC places three 120mm RGB fans behind the plain front panel. The chassis has a fourth 120 mm RGB fan installed at the back, while the fifth and last RGB spinner is situated on the radiator of the 120 mm CPU cooler with the CyberPowerPC trademark. The entire RGB allotment of the Gamer Xtreme is compromised by the five fans and the RGB-lit “CP” emblem on the water block (the installed Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Eagle 8G is devoid of RGB embellishments). The ARGB button on the front of the case allows you to cycle among preset color patterns.

At this price, the removable and washable dust grilles on the top and bottom of the chassis are a welcome bonus. The top grille is magnetic. The chassis is reasonably well-built, yet the white plastic front panel seems a little flimsy and has noticeable molding marks all around it. Nonetheless, the panel can be removed with no effort if you need access to clean or replace the three 120 mm RGB fans up front. I almost dropped the case while lifting it up from the bottom, so I learned this lesson the hard way. The plastic retaining pins slid when my hand approached the lower edge of the front panel, causing the panel to come away from the rest of the chassis. Luckily, I had only lifted the computer a few inches off the ground when this happened, or it could have been a disaster.

rest of the chassis. Luckily, I had only lifted the computer a few inches off the ground when this happened, or it could have been a disaster.

6.Asus ROG G22CH DS766

Last update on 2024-08-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Despite its small stature, the Asus ROG G22CH gaming PC is equipped with more than enough hardware to tackle almost any workload.

The 13th-generation Core i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 are featured in the ROG G22CH. Even though these parts are blatantly last-generation, they nevertheless have more than enough power to run the most demanding games available right now, especially in 1080p.

Due to its compact size, the ROG G22CH must be positioned upright in order for air to circulate through the system and cool the internal parts. However, you shouldn’t worry too much about alignment because it has LEDs that gently point you in the correct direction. Moreover, since this device makes use of an off-the-shelf Asus motherboard, you can easily slot in upgrades as time goes on.

Just like other mini PCs with powerful components, this machine can get a bit noisy, but because you have a full liquid-cooled gaming rig in such a tiny box, it’s easy to get used to..

Some gaming desktop PCs, such as the Asus ROG G22CH, go in a different direction from the majority, which come in massive chassis. With a 13th generation Intel Core i9 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series graphics, this small gaming PC packs a lot of performance into less than half the space of a standard ATX case. As a result, the system is more costly and performs worse than larger setups made with comparable components, such as the iBuyPower Gaming RDY Y40BG202 or the NZXT Player: Three. Nevertheless, the Asus ROG G22CH offers a reasonably powerful gaming and work platform that can fit into small spaces, ideal for desk or home theater environments with limited space.

Despite its diminutive size, the Asus ROG G22CH is not without variety. There are several possible configurations, and the product is priced at $1,399 in the beginning. Although all available models have Intel’s 13th generation processors, from the Core i5-13400F to the Core i9-13900KF (the iGPU-less variant of the Intel Core i9-13900K), the integrated graphics card can actually go back a generation, with the lowest end model being the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050. A dual-fan Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 that can be powered by a single 8-pin connector is part of the maximum configuration. 8GB to 32GB of DDR5 memory can be found (on SO-DIMMs, not full-size memory modules) and 512GB or 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSDs are available for storage.

With a volume of about 10 liters, the Asus ROG G22CH is an incredibly small gaming PC. It measures just less than one foot in height, 4.5 inches in width, and 12.75 inches from front to back. It barely occupies more space than a few desktop speakers. It weighs 18.5 pounds, which is quite substantial for such a little piece of gaming technology.

Its sleek aluminum casing has a black plastic panel concealing the CPU on top and mesh ventilation on one side. In order to allow the graphics card’s fans to draw in fresh air from outside the casing, the system configuration places the CPU and graphics card on different sides of the B760 motherboard and links them via a unique circuit board. The majority of the air drawn into the case by the loud fans of the tiny radiator at the top comes directly from the graphics card’s exhaust.

How to pick the best desktop PC

Selecting an upgradeable desktop PC is often advised when purchasing one for gaming purposes. Many desktop computers are readily openable and modifiable, and with new SSDs and graphics cards being released year, you don’t want to be restricted to outdated hardware.

Additionally, you want to search for a desktop computer that has the newest CPUs and graphics. You’re probably looking for a computer that will last you a few years, even if there are dozens of PCs being offered with hardware that is years old. Nobody wants to spend $1,000 on a desktop computer only to discover that, once it is taken out of the box, it is no longer relevant.

Furthermore crucial is cooling. As a general rule, desktop PCs are way better at cooling their components than the best laptops are, but you should keep your eye out for a system with proper ventilation, both in the front and the rear of the system.

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Desktop?

There is no one ideal moment to buy for the majority of consumers looking to get a cheap desktop tower. Although you might discover a good deal on a system on classic sale holidays like Black Friday, you should buy the system if its features, cost, and performance meet your needs.

On the other hand, those who require massive amounts of CPU or GPU power (and who know exactly what hardware makes a difference in performance for the apps they use) ought to keep an eye on PC component release cycles. New desktop CPU generations from Intel are typically announced once a year, with the chips appearing in PCs either in the fall or early in the holiday shopping season. (This has fluctuated considerably in the last few years.)

Fresh graphics card releases are less frequent and depend on the vagaries of technical advances—Nvidia’s highly successful GeForce GTX 1000 series, for example, was the cutting edge for several years before the first GeForce RTX cards were announced.

Where Should I Buy a Desktop?

Handling the desktop and testing out its build quality in the store before you bring it home is less necessary because you won’t be carrying it around nearly as much as you would a laptop. Still, typing a few lines and dragging the mouse about the store can be useful if the desktop comes with peripherals installed. Compared to a standard tower desktop or little PC, it’s more important to look at an all-in-one desktop. The screen is a crucial component of the product you are purchasing, so spending time staring at it will pay off, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the distinctions between, say, a 24-inch and a 27-inch panel or a 1080p screen and a 4K one.

If you restrict yourself to the options available,at your local electronics outlet, though, you’ll miss out on many excellent desktops. Some configurations, such as Best Buy, Costco, or Walmart, can be exclusive to a single reseller. Other merchants, such as Micro Center, frequently have in-store-only deals that aren’t available anywhere online.