What you need to know when buying a desktop PC
James O’Connor
STACK Writer
Whether it's a tower or an all-in-one unit, a dedicated desktop PC will typically give you more power for less outlay than a laptop. Before you shop, it's important to understand the different types and specification jargon. Let’s break it all down.
What's the difference between an all-in-one desktop PC and a tower PC?
An all-in-one is exactly what it sounds like – a single unit that contains all the internal components within the same chassis as the screen, generally with a mouse and keyboard included. An all-in-one is ready to go right out of the box.
These PCs are all about convenience. There are fewer cables, no need to purchase a separate monitor, and they are more portable than a tower.
A PC tower, on the other hand, is a vertical, tower-like case that holds all the PC parts and connects to an external monitor via a HDMI cable.
The biggest advantage of a tower PC is that it's upgradeable. Perhaps in a few years time you'll want to upgrade the graphics card: if there's room in your case, you can switch your card out. It's easier to update storage, too, and individual parts can be removed for later use.
As a general rule, a tower is a safer bet should you want to future-proof your PC. But an all-in-one is, again, more convenient and can be a good choice if you're using your PC primarily for work or play in a home office.
Which specs and features should I pay attention to?
CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the brain of a PC. Figuring out all the stats around it can be intimidating, but as a general rule it's worth looking at the number of cores.
Four to six will give you good performance for most use cases; if the number is eight or higher, then you're looking at a more advanced CPU. The higher the number, the more future-proof your system will be.
SSD
Most PCs now contain a Solid State Drive (SSD), which is much faster than a hard drive, but also more expensive.
Check the size, especially if the PC will be used for gaming – file sizes on games have crossed the 100GB mark. But if you have fast internet at home, needing to delete and re-download large files is not necessarily a huge hassle.
RAM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is essentially your computer's short-term memory, and the higher the RAM, the better your PC will perform.
16GB of RAM is plenty for most PC use cases, although mileage may vary depending on what you want to use the PC for. Always check minimum requirements for any software you intend to use.
GPU
The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) determines not only how your PC will handle games, but also other graphically-intensive programs.
Someone using architectural software, for instance, will want a stronger GPU than someone who works with spreadsheets.
The power of a GPU is a little harder to track just by looking at the numbers, so it's important to do some research.
Display resolution
For both an all-in-one and tower desktop PC, a good quality screen is a must. A Full HD 1080p display or monitor is generally more than adequate for web browsing and most everyday work.
But If you're looking to use your PC for media or games, or art and design, it might be worth looking at a WQHD (Wide Quad High Definition), which delivers a bigger and sharper image than FHD, or a 4K (Ultra High Definition) panel for even more detailed visuals.
What makes a desktop PC good for gaming?
If you want a PC that will play the latest big games to a high standard, it's important to pay even closer attention to what you're buying. Games on a PC can be finicky, and new and emerging technologies mean that standards shift often.
For a big recent game, the minimum specs will typically require at least 12-16GB of RAM and 100GB of space on the SSD.
The graphics cards and CPU are more difficult to quantify, but a good general rule is that a PC with 32GB of RAM or above is going to have everything necessary to run modern games to at least recommended specs.
If there's a specific game you want to play, check its recommended specs before buying your PC and cross-reference them, but be aware that to really get the ultimate experience – to play new games with ray tracing turned on and uncapped frame rates – you'll need a hefty system, and the cost will be greater.
A desktop tower will usually be better equipped to run games than an equivalently priced all-in-one. Being able to upgrade the system over time will make it much easier to keep up with new tech without needing to shell out for a whole new PC.
Better still, if you’re a hardcore gamer with deep pockets, a dedicated gaming desktop with high-powered Intel or AMD Ryzen processors and superb NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics is definitely the way to go!
What else should I look out for?
Check how many ports the unit has, especially USB – don’t assume it will have enough for what you need to connect.
It's also worth knowing what grade of Wi-Fi the system supports. Your new Wi-Fi 6 modem might not be able to reach its full potential if the system doesn’t support Wi-Fi 6, for example.
Generally speaking, the best way to buy a desktop PC is to determine what you need from it and work backwards.
If you're looking for a desktop for WFH days that can browse the web and run Zoom calls and word processing, basically any all-in-one unit with the feature set you need will suffice.
A desktop tower is a little less convenient, but the best choice if you need more power or an upgradeable system. Again, it really comes down to how you intend to use your desktop PC.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
