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When deciding your first PC purchase you have many factors

First Decide if you want it for:
- Gaming
- Video Editing
- Art
- Photography

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This video is by far the simplest guide to building a PC

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This video is by far the simplest guide to building a PC

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Find out whether building a custom gaming PC is right for you in this exploration of the key components that maximize your gaming performance.

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The key characteristic of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) is a general lack of funds and human resources compared to those available to enterprises. So when it comes to considering what computers SMBs should choose, issues surrounding budget and IT support will usually figure highly.

But while cost is an important factor in SMB buying decisions, that's not to say they should always head down-market: buying a fleet of bargain-basement PCs and then discovering a significant number of 'dead-on-arrival' systems, or a high failure rate requiring repeated interventions by IT staff or customer support will not deliver an optimal total cost of ownership (TCO).

SEE: 20 pro tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (free PDF)

Beyond product functionality, performance and cost, there are important ancillary issues such as the vendor's track record, product roadmap, warranty provisions, customer relations, user community and commitment to usability. All of these should feed into the buying process at some level.

With these general comments in mind, what are the key factors that should determine SMBs' choice of computer? Before going any further, it's worth stressing that by 'computer' we mean general-purpose productivity devices ranging from traditional desktops and workstations to tablet/laptop hybrids. We're not talking about smartphones (even though phones are becoming increasingly powerful and able to deliver desktop experiences) or servers.
What do you want to do with it?
The computer used by a traditional 'knowledge worker' at an office desk will be a different beast from the device in front of a 'first-line worker' in manufacturing, construction, retail, hospitality or transportation firms, for example, or in public sector organisations. Then there's all manner of 'power users' -- particularly in the scientific, financial and creative sectors -- who will need computers with a completely different level of functionality and performance.

Devices serving these broad user classes -- first-line workers, knowledge workers and power users -- will also need different levels of portability, ruggedness and security, depending on the requirements of, or demands on, the particular business sector.

All this may seem obvious, but without a clear picture of the workloads your computers will be running, and the circumstances under which they'll be running them, your chances of making an optimal selection are slim.

Generally speaking, the leading PC vendors have the broadest range of PC offerings at a wide variety of price points, and are most likely to be able to cope with unexpected economic headwinds such as those we're currently experiencing.

So unless they already have fruitful pre-existing relationships with second- or third-tier vendors, or have good reasons to seek out suppliers in the 'Others' category, most SMBs will be looking at what are often termed 'the usual suspects':

Data: IDC / Chart: ZDNet

Of course the top-tier vendors have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the traditional PC market (desktops, notebooks and workstations) seeing a 9.8% year-on-year decline in shipments in Q1 2020, following extended factory closures in February, according to analyst firm IDC. Apple saw the biggest decline at 20.7% compared to Q1 2019, because almost all of its manufacturing is based in China. HP, Acer and Lenovo saw declines of 13.8%, 9.9% and 4.3% respectively, while Dell's shipments actually rose slightly (1.1%) thanks to its strong relationships with the supply chain, IDC said.
What is your preferred platform?
Judged purely on worldwide market share, Windows is likely to be the first choice of operating system for SMBs: across all versions, Windows accounts for 88% of the market, according to NetMarketShare, with Windows 10 comprising over half (52%) and Windows 7 around a third (30.6%) -- even though support for the latter :

Data: NetMarketShare / Chart: ZDNet

Windows dominates the PC operating system market thanks to its long-time availability on a wide range of OEM (and more recently, Microsoft) hardware, which has resulted in a huge variety of software written for the platform. That's not to say that it's necessarily the 'best' operating system, but as an SMB you're probably going to need a good, specific, reason to overlook it in favour of Apple's macOS, which comprises around 9% of the market, Linux (1.8%) or Chrome OS (<1%).

For example, you might choose macOS for some employees in order to run creative software on premium hardware, or because Apple's ecosystem is already embraced company-wide. Linux might get the nod for its free, open-source and increasingly usable nature, or because it's less of a target for cybercriminals than Windows. And Chrome OS-based Chromebooks offer an affordable platform for web-based productivity apps or thin client software.
What form factor is most appropriate?
Computer form factors range from tablets and ultraportable laptops to large, powerful multi-monitor workstations, touching many points in between. Choosing between them is another 'what do you want to do with it?' question, and will involve trade-offs between computing power, portability, screen size, input methods and upgradability. This taxonomy of the main device classes may help to put them into perspective:

Image: Charles McLellan/ZDNet

There's currently a lot of activity and innovation in the space occupied by tablets, ultrabooks and 2-in-1 laptop/tablets, mainly because 'mainstream mobile productivity' is (or has been) an outpost of growth in a generally declining PC market. That's why Apple is seeking to make the iPad more 'computer'-like with add-on keyboards and trackpad support, and why there's much interest in forthcoming devices like Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Fold and Microsoft's dual-screen Windows 10X-based , as well as Intel's prototype Horseshoe Bend that unfolds from a clamshell to a large standalone 17.3-inch screen, and concept folding devices from Dell. However, products in this space will carry premium prices for some time, and will likely be out of the reckoning for the average SMB for the foreseeable future.

Specifications

Once you've settled on the workloads you'll be running, the OS you'll be running them on, and the form factor(s) you require, it's time to consider the specifications. The basic ones revolve around CPU, RAM and storage, GPU and connectivity. Here are some very broad recommendations.
CPU
Processors come in 'desktop' and 'mobile' variants, the former generally being more powerful but less power efficient than the latter for a given model number. If you want enterprise-grade security and manageability features built into the CPU, look for vPro (Intel) and PRO (AMD) models.
Memory & storage
For desktops and laptops, the more RAM and the more storage -- particularly fast SSD storage -- you can specify, the better. But if you have to choose between spending more on RAM or on storage, go for RAM. You can always store data on external media or in the cloud if need be, but more RAM will make any PC more responsive. If you see Optane Memory in a PC's specs, that's not RAM, but non-volatile memory used in fast SSDs or for 'intelligent system acceleration' -- speeding up access to data on legacy hard disk drives (HDDs), for example.

GPU
When it comes to graphics, the integrated GPUs in Intel's and some of AMD's processors will handle most SMB workloads just fine. Intel processors come with integrated HD or UHD Graphics, and Iris, Iris Pro or Iris Plus Graphics, while AMD processors come with integrated Radeon or Radeon Vega Graphics. Integrated GPUs share RAM with the main processor, which is another reason why it's always best to specify the most RAM you can afford.

For graphically demanding tasks, you'll need a system with a discrete desktop or mobile GPU, with its own dedicated video RAM (which can range between 2GB and 16GB). The main discrete GPU vendors are Nvidia (GeForce, Quadro, Titan, Tesla) and AMD (Radeon, Radeon Pro).

Intel's next move in the GPU space will be with its Xe architecture, which is expected to scale from mobile all the way up to high-performance computing (HPC) systems.

Connectivity
All computers, laptop or desktop, should come with wi-fi for wireless local area networking (WLAN) and Bluetooth for wireless personal area networking (WPAN). The latest 802.11ax ( Wi-Fi 6) standard will be supported on higher-end devices, but 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) is still widely used. Look for Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), in preference to older versions. Mobile broadband -- over 4G LTE and, in due course, 5G cellular networks -- is available on some high-end, mostly ultraportable, laptops: 4G or 5G wireless wide area networking (WWAN) will be useful for highly mobile professionals, but is an expensive option.

The variety of wired connections on a PC will vary widely depending on form factor and budget tier. Look for USB-C with Thunderbolt 3 support, as it's the most versatile single connection, capable of handling data, video and power delivery. USB-C is often accompanied by previous-generation USB 3.0 ports, while video connections include HDMI, DisplayPort and even legacy VGA on some systems. Ethernet (RJ-45) for wired network connection is available on most desktops and some laptops. On smaller laptops lacking an RJ-45 port, Ethernet can be added via a USB dongle, or on an external docking station along with other connections.

Other key factors
If you're choosing a laptop, and especially one destined for use away from a source of mains power for significant lengths of time, battery life will be extremely important. You'll want a device that offers 'all day' battery life (>8 hours), but be aware that manufacturers' claimed figures are often optimistic. Seek out reviews that test with realistic workloads and usage patterns. A removable battery is preferable but increasingly rare, especially on ultraportable systems.

Security should be front and centre on all business PCs. Key security/manageability features include Intel's vPro, Trusted Platform Module (TPM), UEFI firmware and , along with biometric authentication via fingerprint or facial recognition.

If you're going to be running demanding software on expensive high-end PCs or workstations, make sure the vendor has certifications from ISVs (Independent Software Vendors). This should ensure that mission-critical applications will run reliably on your chosen hardware platform.
SEE: Windows 10: How long will your next feature update take to install?
Some laptops used in vertical industries such as construction or field service need to be able to handle rough treatment and extreme environmental conditions. In such cases, you should be looking for rugged systems with IP ratings for dust and water resistance and military-grade MIL-STD 810G testing. You'll see various grades of ruggedness in manufacturers' descriptions -- ruggedised, semi-rugged, business rugged, fully rugged, ultra-rugged, and more. Check carefully to determine exactly what you're getting. Rugged laptops are available from top-tier vendors (Lenovo, HP, Dell), as well as specialists, including Panasonic, Getac, GRiD and DT Research.

Finally, an important feature you won't see on a spec sheet: ergonomics. Relevant areas include the adjustability and eye comfort of a screen or monitor, the feel and layout of a keyboard, and the location of ports, slots and webcams. On the latter point, the coronavirus lockdown and consequent explosion of video conferencing has provided plenty of opportunities to experience disturbing 'up-the-nose' camera angles and poor audio quality.

PC & Device as a Service

If you want to minimise the hassle surrounding the procurement, management and upgrading of your business PCs, the PC-as-a-Service (PCaaS) model is worth considering, along with broader Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings.

Available from tier-one PC vendors like Dell, and Lenovo, and others such as and third parties, PCaaS/DaaS lets businesses choose the PCs and devices they require and then, for a monthly subscription, have the service provider deploy, manage, maintain, secure, support and eventually replace those devices.

There are many benefits to the PCaaS/DaaS model, including minimal upfront costs, a single point of contact for IT staff (who will also be freed up for more creative tasks), and shorter device lifecycles, resulting in more up-to-date devices being on users' desks or in their hands. Downsides include vendor lock-in, and potential pushback from employees who appreciate the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) approach.

For more detail, check out this (HP-sponsored) .

Desktop as a Service & VDI

Easily confused with device-as-a-service because it shares the same DaaS acronym, desktop-as-a-service delivers user desktops -- usually Windows and/or Linux -- from the cloud to end-user devices over an internet connection. It's essentially a cloud-based version of traditional virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), where desktops are hosted by on-premises server infrastructure.

As with any cloud-based service, there are pros (e.g. pay-as-you-go pricing, flexibility, scalability, freedom from IT infrastructure management) and cons (e.g. software licensing issues, internet latency and outages, data security worries). Desktop as a service is a particularly good fit for SMBs, which are unlikely to be able to deploy on-premises VDI solutions.
RELATED CONTENT Best rugged laptops for business in 2020: Dell Latitude, Panasonic Toughbook, Lenovo ThinkPad, and more
The leading Desktop-as-a-service providers are VMware ( Horizon Cloud), Amazon (), Microsoft ( Windows Virtual Desktop on Azure ) and Citrix ( Citrix Managed Desktops).

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How to choose the right PC: Everything you need to know about picking the right computer for work

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The key characteristic of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) is a general lack of funds and human resources compared to those available to enterprises. So when it comes to considering what computers SMBs should choose, issues surrounding budget and IT support will usually figure highly.

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This article touches on the aspects of choosing a PC, even going into details around systems for general use with no greater purpose

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This article touches on the aspects of choosing a PC, even going into details around systems for general use with no greater purpose

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A second guide with extra detail in a few aspects

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A second guide with extra detail in a few aspects

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After a decade of fielding ho-hum FX-series processors, AMD's finally released its highly disruptive Ryzen chips, throwing down the gauntlet and challenging Intel's supremacy in high-end computing.

AMD's Ryzen chips include several CPUs, APUs, and CPU families of various levels of potency. What's more, Ryzen introduces a completely new motherboard platform, and the processors require different memory and coolers than their predecessors. There's a lot to sift through-so let's sift!

Here's everything you need to know about AMD's Ryzen.

Editor's note: This article is updated as new information about AMD Ryzen processors becomes available. The most recent update adds information from our Ryzen APU review in the next section. The 'What you need to upgrade' section now mentions BIOS updates that let existing motherboards support the APUs, as well as the new X400 chipset motherboards releasing with Ryzen+ chips in April.

Meet AMD's Ryzen CPUs

Let's begin with the stars of the show: the Ryzen chips themselves. We've got new info on the next generation, too.

AMD's mainstream Ryzen chips are split across three families. The top-of-the-line Ryzen 7 processors launched first, with 8 cores, 16 threads, and price points that undercut the comparable 8-core Intel Extreme Edition by a whopping $500. Sweet holy moly. The Ryzen 7 lineup consists of the $350 Ryzen 7 1800X, the $309 Ryzen 7 1700X, and the $299 Ryzen 7 1700 following permanent price cuts for many of AMD's CPUs at CES 2018.

The more affordable Ryzen 5 series launched on April 11 with more variation among processors than you'll find in the 7 series, then also received some price reductions at CES 2018.

The $219 Ryzen 5 1600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor capable of boosting to 4GHz, the same max speed as the Ryzen 7 1800X. The $189 Ryzen 5 1600 is a 6-core, 12-thread chip that tops out at 3.6GHz. The rest of the Ryzen 5 lineup consists of quad-core, 8-thread CPUs, with the $174 Ryzen 5 1500X hitting 3.7GHz with boost and the $169 Ryzen 5 1400 hanging between 3.2GHz and 3.4GHz.

Moving down to the mainstream Ryzen 3 lineup, the $109 Ryzen 3 1200 and $125 Ryzen 3 1300X are true quad-core 65W chips without hyperthreading, designed to battle Intel's dual-core (but hyperthread-enabled) Core i3 processors.

The Ryzen 3 1200's clock speeds hover between 3.1GHz and 3.4GHz, while the Ryzen 3 1300X hits 3.5GHz to 3.7GHz, and both come with AMD's Wraith Stealth cooler.

Nearly a year after Ryzen launched, AMD is preparing a new generation of chips. APUs that mix Ryzen CPU cores with Radeon Vega graphics cores hit February 12, 2018. The Ryzen 5 2400G ($169 on Amazon) packs four cores running at 3.6GHz to 3.9GHz with simultaneous multi-threading enabled, paired with 11 Vega compute units. The Ryzen 3 2200G ($99 on Amazon) has four cores without SMT, running at 3.5GHz to 3.7GHz, along with eight Vega compute units.

These chips game surprisingly well too, as PCWorld's Ryzen APU review shows. They're a solid option for PC gamers on a budget.

That's just the appetizer, though. A refined "Zen+" series of chips will launch in April, using a new 12nm manufacturing process rather than the current 14nm. The new chips will clock higher than Ryzen's first incarnation, and feature the newer Precision Boost 2 frequency control as well as an improved XFR2 clockspeed booster. Cache and memory improvements are also on tap.

These next-gen Ryzen APUs and CPUs will work with existing AM4 motherboards after a BIOS update, as well as new motherboards based on a fresh X400 chipset.

Looking for even more oomph? AMD launched ferocious new Ryzen Threadripper CPUs for high-end desktop (HEDT) builds. There are three models, each offering 64 PCI-E lanes and an abundance of CPU cores and threads:

The $999 16-core, 32-thread 3.4-GHz Threadripper 1950X

The $799 12-core, 24-thread 3.5-GHz Threadripper 1920X

The $449 8-core, 16-thread 3.8GHz Threadripper 1900X

Threadripper's designed to battle Intel's powerful new Core i9 chips, which top out at 18-core models-but AMD's HEDT processors severely undercut Intel's Core i9 pricing. Check out PCWorld's Threadripper and Core i9 reviews to see what happens when two titans clash. Second-gen Threadripper chips are expected to release in the second half of 2018, AMD said at CES 2018.

Ryzen Mobile laptops started appearing in the third quarter in APU form, marrying Ryzen CPU cores with cutting-edge Radeon Vega graphics cores on a single chip.

Ryzen technologies

AMD imbued Ryzen chips with SenseMI technology consisting of separate parts: Pure Power, Precision Boost, Extended Frequency Range (XFR), Neural Net Prediction, and Smart Prefetch.

Pure Power measures hundreds of on-chip sensors to optimize temperatures and power use while maintaining performance.

On the flip side, Precision Boost offers fine-grained, automated frequency control that can nudge performance up by 25MHz increments (versus 100MHz for Intel) to boost performance without consuming more power.

Extended Frequency Range (XFR) can nudge clocks speeds past their official maximum if Ryzen detects advanced CPU cooling, such as liquid-cooling or liquid nitrogen, for your chip. At Ryzen's launch XFR only adds a paltry 100MHz overclock in chips.

Neural Net Prediction examines your usage and "primes your processor to tackle your app workload more efficiently."

Smart Prefetch works hand-in-hand with Neural Net Prediction, identifying how your applications behave and preloading data that it expects you to need for faster performance.

Every AMD Ryzen processor can also be overclocked with a compatible motherboard. Chips with an "X" designation at the end support SenseMI's Extended Frequency Range technology more than the others. The Ryzen 1600X, 1700X, and 1800X can boost an extra 100MHz and the Ryzen 5 1500X can add 200MHz to its top speed, while non-X CPUs have the potential for a mere 50MHz boost.

Brad Chacos

The pinnacle of AMD PC performance: the Ryzen 7 1800X and Radeon Fury X.

Ryzen performance

So how does it all work in practice? Well. Damned well.

PCWorld's exhaustive AMD Ryzen 7 review compared the $500 Ryzen 7 1800X and $330 Ryzen 7 1700 against their FX predecessors and Intel's latest, greatest chips. AMD's chips went blow-for-blow or outright bested the $1,050 Core i7-6900K-Intel's cheapest 8-core, 16-thread processor at the time-in every content-creation and productivity task we threw at them, giving Ryzen downright outrageous price-to-performance value for folks who need more cores.

The 6-core Ryzen 5 1600X usurps Intel's unlocked Core i5 as the new mainstream computing champion, as PCWorld's Ryzen 5 review shows. Intel responded by releasing 8th-gen Core processors with six cores, and it's a beast, too.

Gaming performance is a bit more complicated. Benchmarks revealed that while Ryzen isn't bad at gaming whatsoever, it definitely lags behind Intel processors- even older ones -in raw frames per second in some games. That disparity's most pronounced when you're using modest graphics cards at 1080p resolution, or on a monitor with an especially high refresh rate.

That said, the CPU gaming performance gap is felt less if you toss in more potent GPUs and crank the graphics and resolution to higher levels, since that effectively moves the system's gaming bottleneck from the processor to your graphics card. Ryzen 5's raw gaming performance is much closer to Intel's Core i5 gaming performance, as well. The disparity's mostly felt when comparing Ryzen 7 chips against Intel's flagship quad-core, the speedy Core i7-8700K.

AMD says gaming performance " will only get better" over time as more game developers optimize their titles for Ryzen. Not-so-coincidentally, AMD also announced a partnership with Bethesda the same week Ryzen launched, designed to implement the low-level Vulkan graphics API in multiple game. Early Ryzen-specific game optimizations have indeed greatly boosted performance, and AMD's seeded hundreds of developers with Ryzen kits. Games released going forward seem more likely to account for Ryzen's architecture out of the gate.

The Ryzen APUs with Radeon Vega graphics deliver shockingly good gaming on a budget.

Overclocking Ryzen chips can also provide significant performance increases in gaming. AMD's even released a powerful, yet easy to use overclocking tool for the new chips. Check out PCWorld's guide to Ryzen Master to dive into the performance-boosting, heat-increasing world of overclocking.

Streamers and YouTubers will no doubt appreciate Ryzen's extra cores, as well. Ryzen 7's major niche is productivity and content creation tasks.

Finally, all Ryzen chips also support business-grade ECC memory out of the box-though it hasn't been validated on the initial wave of consumer motherboards.
Next page: What you need to upgrade to Ryzen, performance tips and tweaks

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Ryzen CPUs explained: Everything you need to know about AMD's disruptive multicore chips

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After a decade of fielding ho-hum FX-series processors, AMD's finally released its highly disruptive Ryzen chips, throwing down the gauntlet and challenging Intel's supremacy in high-end computing. AMD's Ryzen chips include several CPUs, APUs, and CPU families of various levels of potency.

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This article explains what a CPU is, their prices, measurements, and which levels of CPUs pertain to which type of PC use

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This article explains what a CPU is, their prices, measurements, and which levels of CPUs pertain to which type of PC use

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So, you're in the market for a new computer but aren't exactly sure what device you want or need? What follows in this guide will help you have a strong understanding of what pre-built desktop PCs can offer you, as well as the multiple variations of these products.
Prices and availability of products discussed were accurate at time of publication, but are subject to change.
Why a Desktop PC?

If you can live without the portability of a laptop or tablet, desktop PCs can provide you with more power as well as a different form of convenience. Compared to laptops, most pre-built PCs are more upgradable. Sure you can swap out hard drives, SSDs, and memory sticks on some laptops, but their CPUs and graphics are often soldered in, so your processing and graphics power will stay the same until your next purchase.

Depending on the manufacturer, pre-built PCs can swap out most, if not all, components, including the graphics card, motherboard, and CPU. You do need to make sure to check back on your specifications though, whenever you're changing out components.

Another great thing about desktops? You don't need to worry about charging a battery. Just plug it into a viable outlet and you're good to go. Fortunately, since you're going with a pre-built instead of do-it-yourself, you also don't initially have to worry about compatibility issues or making sure your PSU can handle your components. Down the line when you do decide to upgrade, you can use Newegg's power-supply calculator to ensure your system has the right amount of power.

Operating System

Without an operating system, desktop PCs would just be immense paperweights with limited computing functions. A computer's operating system is the overarching software that connects physical hardware and software applications together.
Windows
Made by Microsoft, Windows is one of the world's most popular operating systems with the most current version being Windows 10. If you're a hardcore gamer, Windows should be your operating system of choice due to the fact that most of the latest PC games are only available on Windows.

Like the majority of their releases, Microsoft's Windows 10 comes in a and edition. The main difference between these versions is that Pro comes with enterprise business features such as group policy management, remote desktop and other IT-related business support. It's best to use the latest version of the OS but, but as of writing, the Windows 7 operating system is the minimum requirement for games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or video-editing applications like Adobe Premiere.
Mac
The other major entry at the forefront of popular operating systems for desktop PCs is Apple's macOS. As of writing the most current version of Apple's flagship operating system is macOS Mojave. The Mac platform houses a fair amount of support for the latest games, but not enough to be useful to hardcore PC gamers. Whereas Windows can be considered an open environment when it comes to modding or developing components and software, Apple's system is closed.

You have to abide by Apple's rules, but the protection and privacy options you get with your Mac is top-notch. But this also means upgrades or self-repairs cannot be as easily executed on your Mac system. Nevertheless, millions of users love the features of macOS and Apple's computers have become known as the machines of choice for artists and designers. Though prices may be high, the power and lifespan of the latest products generally match the initial investment.
Chrome OS
A fairly new competitor, Google's Chrome OS is an operating system based off Linux. Similar to their Android-based mobile operating systems, the latest Chrome OS desktop PCs utilize the Google Play Store for getting apps like Microsoft Office programs or streaming services like Netflix or YouTube. Chrome OS desktop PCs can be highly cost-effective and useful for simple home entertainment, student work or small- to mid-sized businesses.
Linux
Though Newegg only caries a few Linux-powered systems, this free, open-source operating system is highly efficient and effective for those interested in running server or large mainframe systems. Currently, one of the most-used distributions (distros) of Linux is called Ubuntu, but the beautiful thing about Linux is that users can choose from a number of publicly shared distributions and decide whichever one best fits their purposes.

Form Factors

Desktops come in many shapes and sizes. Called form factors, the outer physical dimensions and properties of your desktop PC's case (or chassis) can help determine its level of functionality.

Traditional Desktops

Let's start by talking about the classic that received its name for its tendency to have itself and its users work on a desk. Traditional desktop PCs have evolved over the years to play different roles due to the evolution of form factors.

These are the forms most commonly seen out in the wild-whether at work or a friend's house. From full-sized towers to micro-sized towers, the difference between these form factors lies within the amount of components that can be packed within as well as overall price of the system. These system sizes are most commonly used by gamers, graphic-design artists, video editors-basically anyone who needs high system performance.
Small/Slim Form Factors
For those looking to save on work-space and are not worried about having the latest, full-sized, high-powered components, these smaller form factor desktop PCs can provide effective ergonomics and functionality. Both large to small-sized businesses benefit from implementing a fleet of small/slim form factor desktops so long as they are able to run the necessary business applications like documents, spreadsheets and IT software.

Budget gamers also benefit from the small/slim form factor that house just the right size and power of components that can run low to medium settings on the latest games, all while saving space for their gaming battlestations and being as mobile as a desktop PC can be.

We'll go into more detail later but, the majority of desktop PCs need a monitor or other display to work properly. The exception to this rule? An all-in-one desktop PC. As the name implies, all-in-one desktops house every necessary computer component into a single chassis that includes an integrated display screen in front.

From iMacs to Windows all-in-ones, component power and screen size determine the product's final price. The bigger the screen and the newer the components, the higher the price. Because of this variation, all-in-one desktop PCs can be used at a variety of levels from simple browsing machines to high-powered graphics workstations.
Computer/Compute Sticks
Technically, these aren't your everyday desktop PCs that come to mind, but they certainly deserve a shout out for their impressive functionality in such a small size. You're not going to get a gaming powerhouse with these sticks, but if you just need something to stream videos or browse the Internet, these products get the job done and are virtually non-existent in your work or home-entertainment space.

Components to Consider

Now, what's actually inside a desktop PC is what you should be looking out for. Knowing the hardware specifications of any desktop computer will help determine the product's final price. The latest and greatest components will cost you a pretty penny, but will provide you with the best power and computing capabilities on the market. On the other hand, being cost-effective will save you money but may limit what you can get done with your machine.

The brains of the entire operation, central processing units (otherwise known as CPUs or processors) carry out the instructions needed to properly run a computer, as well as the input commands a user (you) provides. The desktop-processor brands you'll see in the market come down to two main companies, Intel and AMD.

When it comes to processors, what you should first be looking out for is the amount of cores. Cores in a CPU determine the amount of processes that can be run at the same time.

CPU clock speeds can also be important to look at before your purchase, but can ultimately be altered down the line if you decide to overclock.

Intel have long been known for their highly efficient and immensely powerful processors that come at a bit of a higher cost. Considering high ROI (return on investment), Intel fans have been content to pay the price for these processors' long-term efficiency and functionality. In recent years though, Intel have expanded their lineup in the desktop PC market to include more budget-friendly processors without sacrificing too much on power.

Over the years, generations of Intel Core processors continue to be released, but it's easy to note the hierarchy of power from the starter-class i3 to the super-powered i9 series

Higher-end Intel-powered desktops are well-equipped to run intensive programs such as games like Respawn Entertainment's Apex Legends or video-editing software such as Adobe Premiere. As, we'll cover later, the power of your graphics card is also an important factor in determining if you can run these software programs. Fortunately, buying a pre-built desktop above can guarantee your graphics card will be at the same level as the CPU that's included.

For years, AMD have been known as the manufacturer that provides effective processors at a lower price than their competitor Intel. At times, this meant that the computing power of these processors came as second-best, but with the introduction of their Ryzen series processors, AMD have raised the bar, changing how they're seen in the CPU market's landscape.

Before releasing Ryzen, AMD marked their CPU-power and generational differences within the thousands. For example, certain AMD FX processors split their 4-, 6- and 8-core processor classes with the naming convention of FX-4120, FX-6120 and FX-8120 respectively. Following that, the upgraded generation of these processors were named: FX-4300, FX-6300 and FX-8300. As of writing things are a bit clearer, as we are currently in the 2 nd generation of Ryzen processors.

Higher-end AMD Ryzen and FX-powered desktops will be generally be capable of running your games and productivity software of choice. As we said before, the power of your graphics card will also determine what software you can run, but pre-built systems generally include GPUs that are around the same performance tier as the included CPUs.

Integrated Graphics & Graphics Cards

Now that we've covered the most important component in a desktop PC, it's time to move on to the next important unit: GPUs (graphics processing units)! Similar to CPUs, GPUs are components dedicated to accelerating the manipulation and creation of computer graphics and visual images.

Before we get into desktop systems that use a dedicated graphics card, we'll look at PCs that utilize integrated graphics. Integrated graphics refer to GPUs that exist on the CPU and allow for video output when no graphics card is installed. Intel started it off with Intel HD and Iris graphics, while AMD coined the term APU (accelerated processing unit) to market their CPUs that came loaded with integrated graphics.

When shopping for systems with integrated graphics, you'll notice that these systems are a bit more affordable than the systems that come with dedicated graphics cards. Of course, a less expensive system usually means fewer high-tier games/applications you can run.

Systems with graphics cards

Alright, now we can move on to the heavy hitters: pre-built desktops that come with dedicated graphics cards. Just like the CPU market, graphics processing units are designed by two dominant forces: NVIDIA and AMD.

If you see GeForce in your desktop's product title or specs chart, the graphics are from NVIDIA.

If you see Radeon on your item's page, you've got yourself AMD-powered graphics.

Though there are many series of graphics cards, we can generally break it down to two categories: desktop GPUs vs. workstation GPUs. Both types of cards can be found in either a traditional or all-in-one desktop-PC chassis. The main difference between these two categories of graphics cards is their function. Desktop GPUs are generally used for gaming, video/photo editing, and streaming, while workstation GPUs are used for running professional high-level programs like 3D-modeling and computer-graphic image creation and manipulation.

Simply put, a gamer will use a desktop GPU, while the game developer that makes the game they're playing will utilize a workstation GPU to create and edit assets like in-game 3D character models.

RAM

Random-access memory (otherwise known as RAM or desktop memory) helps speed up your computing experience by storing system info for in-the-moment and follow-up functions you request. As software like games and applications become more advanced, the need for larger-sized desktop memory is needed in order to efficiently run your PC. As of writing, you'll need at least 8GB of memory to run video-editing software like Adobe Premiere. The latest games currently vary from a 2GB-8GB RAM minimum, but the safest current bet is to go with 8GB. Of course, if you're just trying to run Microsoft Office programs, 2GB will work just fine.

For most manufacturers' pre-built desktop PCs, desktop memory is one of the components that can easily be changed out down the line. But you have to be wary of maintaining both type and speed.

Type refers to the data-rate standard of each module. Following DDR3, today's current standard is DDR4 (double data rate 4). Desktop-memory speed, similar to a CPU's clock speed, is measured in megahertz (MHz) and works within the parameters of a clock cycle and CAS (column access strobe) latency to determine how quickly systems instructions can be carried out.

Systems with DDR4 are the right choice if you're interested in future-proofing your home system. If you're running older programs and games, or just want to stream entertainment media, going with DDR3 may be a more cost-efficient option.

Storage

Main storage for pre-built desktop PCs comes down to internal hard-disk drives (HDD) and the newer format of internal solid-state drives (SSD). Following standards that determine product price and efficiency, the current way most users utilize desktop-PC storage goes as follows:

Use a large-capacity HDD to store your large collection of media files such as movies, music, pictures, important documents, etc.

Use a small to medium-sized SSD to house your operating system (OS) and essential programs.

This common, useful configuration involves both an SSD and an HDD in a single system, though options with only HDDs or only SSDs are both available as well, depending on your needs.

The amount of storage you want for your SSD is between 120GB-240GB. This gives you plenty of space to store your key operating-system files as well as ample room to keep your other most-used files and/or applications. Because HDDs are becoming more and more affordable every day, the standard size you'll be looking at getting should be between 500GB-2TB.

Ports

Internal storage devices aren't the only way to store or access files. Like any computer, desktop PCs come with a plethora of ports that provide you with plenty of expansive options, including external storage.

USB

Having been the standard since 1996, USB (universal serial bus) ports power the majority of connected devices that use wires. To name a few products, desktop-PC USB slots can power printers, external hard drives, keyboards, mice and webcams-all from virtually every brand.

Back in the day, computer users would have to use the included CD in their specific product box that contained drivers (code that helps the computer recognize physical input commands) to have their systems recognize and properly utilize their device. Granted, many manufacturers still provide a driver CD, but if you're running the latest operating system like Windows 10 or macOS Mojave, all you have to do is plug in your USB device and the computer system will find and install the best driver for the job.

Of course, like any technology, the USB protocol has evolved over time. As of writing, USB 4 has just been announced and will be released before the end of 2019. What this means for you? Nothing, unless you're looking to re-vamp your current line of devices (smartphones, audio cards, etc.) Desktop PCs come standard with USB 3.1 and USB 2.0 Type-A ports (the larger rectangular slot-shape) and both are backwards compatible, giving users ultimate compatibility for using newer as well as legacy peripherals.

Audio In/Out

If you're using wired headphones or headsets with microphones, these 8mm jacks found on the front and/or back of your desktop PC are what you need to plug into. Usually the front I/O panel has these 8mm jacks differentiated by a microphone icon (audio in/mic in) and headphones icon (audio out/headphone jack)

Video (VGA, DVI, HDMI and DP)

On the back side of your desktop PC case is where you'll find the standard video connections: VGA, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort (DP). As to which is better...well, it's not as easy as saying "this is better than the others." VGA is indeed older and can have trouble converting its analog signal to digital signal, but DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort generally come down to what ports are on the back or side panel of your output source (TV or monitor). For gaming use, both HDMI and DisplayPort have their advantages, and the right choice for you depends on your graphics card, monitor, and other aspects of your setup.

When connecting a display to your desktop PC, you will need to take note of whether or not your system has a dedicated graphics card or is running off your CPU's integrated graphics. Knowing this will help you determine whether you need to plug into the motherboard (the larger panel, that usually stands vertical) or if you need to plug into the graphics card (a horizontal panel that just has the aforementioned video ports).

PS/2

Like VGA, the PS/2 ports on your desktop's motherboard panel can now be considered a legacy port. Since 1987, the light-green port has been used for computer mice while the light-purple port is for keyboards. Nowadays, the port has been split in half, allowing for only one or the other. Nevertheless, unless you're somehow stuck with an older keyboard or mouse, you'll be using a USB or Bluetooth-compatible input device.

Ethernet/RJ45

Using the RJ45 (otherwise known as Ethernet) port is the fastest and most reliable way to connect to the Internet. As long as you have a router or range extender that works properly and has an Ethernet port, all you have to do is plug both ends of an Ethernet cable from the network device to the back of your desktop PC. It does need to be noted that not every Ethernet cable is built the same though. Wired Internet speed can depend on the category (for example, Cat 5 versus Cat 6) as well as the physical length of your cable (shorter = faster).

Networking

Continuing from the previous section, networking for a desktop PC can come in the form of a physical Ethernet-cable connection. So, the question arises, what about wireless WiFi networking? Unless it's an all-in-one desktop computer, the majority of pre-built desktop systems do not come with integrated WiFi connectivity. Fear not though, adding a WiFi card can be as easy as connecting two Lego pieces, by connecting it to the expandable PCI-E slot inside of your desktop PC.

Peripherals/Accessories to Consider

Monitors are the standard output video source for desktop PCs. Whether you're gaming, working on graphic design, or need multiple monitors for running an efficient multi-tasking workload, you should note not all monitors are built the same. Generally speaking, if you're looking to do some high-end gaming, you'll need a monitor that has a high refresh rate (for example, 240Hz) and a low response time (1ms). Graphic designers will need a monitor that shoots for a 99% sRGB color-reproduction value to ensure their works look great across any other monitor.

As mentioned before, the standard ports on your pre-built desktop computers that connect to the latest monitors are DVI, DisplayPort and HDMI (unless you have an older monitor that only uses a VGA port).

Similar to needing a monitor, you'll probably find it difficult to use your desktop computer without a keyboard and mouse. Going wired is easy: just plug in your keyboard and mouse then you're ready to compute. If you want to utilize a wireless keyboard and mouse, you'll need to check whether it's RF (radio frequency) or Bluetooth-enabled.

RF keyboards and mice come with a USB dongle that plugs into your desktop PC and provides a signal that's specific to the keyboard and/or mouse, giving your devices wireless functionality.

Getting Bluetooth devices to function on your desktop PC is similar to using an RF dongle in that you will have a PCI-E Bluetooth card or USB Bluetooth adapter plugged in to your system. The benefit of getting a PCI-E card or USB Bluetooth dongle set up is that you can use any of your Bluetooth-compatible devices with it-as compared to the RF receiver that's only compatible with the devices it came packaged with.

Any Bluetooth or RF audio devices will need to be set up as described in the previous section. If you have a wired headset or headphones, simply plug them in to their respective ports on the front or back of your desktop computer. The front panel will have relatable icons for your mic or headphones while the back panel may have a pink-colored 8mm jack for microphones and a lime-green jack for headphones.

If you want to raise the bar, internal and external sound cards may be the route to take. Providing higher-quality sound and physical controls for volume as well ¼" input/output-jack options, sound cards can be what you need to get professional-sounding quality. Similar to the devices we mentioned before, sound cards can either be installed externally via USB or internally via PCI-E.

Video Tech

From simple webcams to high-quality video-capturing tools, your processor and graphics card will help determine the type of device you can utilize along with the editing software you need to complement your work. Simply put, if you're running a system that was made in the last five years, you can just plug your new video device to your computer's USB port.

For streamers though, the standards and setup needs can be a bit different. If you're only looking to capture your gameplay for later edits to upload to sites like YouTube, a capture card can serve you well. Alternatively, if you want to livestream your gameplay along with a live cam of yourself, a two-PC setup may best suit your needs.

Like it sounds, a two-PC streaming setup works as follows:

One desktop computer is the gaming computer that is stocked with components that will run your game at your preferred settings.

The other desktop PC houses video-editing friendly components and any peripherals needed for livestreaming and capturing the gameplay from the gaming PC.

Choose the system that's right for you

Technology is always advancing, so make sure to check back frequently for the latest updates on pre-built desktop PCs. As you can see, there are a variety of flavors when it comes to these systems, so if you need a little push in determining what kind of system you need, you can start by browsing three main categories: gaming desktops, business desktops, and student desktops.

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How to choose a desktop PC - Newegg Insider

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So, you're in the market for a new computer but aren't exactly sure what device you want or need? What follows in this guide will help you have a strong understanding of what pre-built desktop PCs can offer you, as well as the multiple variations of these products.

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If you're buying or building a gaming PC, the graphics card is even more important than the CPU. Unfortunately, the process of figuring out how to buy a GPU can be intimidating. There's so much to consider, from the type of monitor you're using (for recommendations, see our Best Gaming Monitors page) to the size of your PC case to the game settings you plan to play at.

Below are list of things you need to keep in mind when shopping for your next GPU. For specific recommendations, see our best graphics cards list of the current options, as well as the GPU Performance Hierarchy to see how today's cards compare to older cards that you might be looking to upgrade and replace.

Quick tips

Match your monitor resolution. Many mainstream cards are sufficient for gaming at 1080p resolutions at between 30-60 fps, but you'll need a high-end card for resolutions at or near 4K resolution with high in-game settings on the most demanding titles.

Consider your refresh rate. If your monitor has triple-digit refresh rates, you'll need a powerful card and processor to reach its full potential. Alternatively, if your monitor tops out at 60Hz and 1080p, there's no point in paying extra for a powerful card that pushes pixels faster than your display can keep up with.

Do you have enough power and space? Make sure your case has enough room for the card you're considering, and that your power supply has enough watts to spare, along with the correct type of power connectors (up to two 8-pin PCIe, depending on the card).

AMD or Nvidia?

There are hundreds of graphics cards from dozens of manufacturers, but only two companies actually make the GPUs that power these components: Nvidia and AMD-although Intel's Xe Graphics should arrive soon. AMD has competitive upper-mid-range and budget GPUs, and the latest Navi-based RX 5000-series cards have mostly caught up with Nvidia on the power consumption front. But on the very high-end of the market, Nvidia is uncontested as nothing from AMD can outperform the company's faster RTX cards today. That may change once so-called "Big Navi" cards arrive, but the Nvidia Ampere GPUs are also coming.

Unless you need the level of performance you'll get from something like an RTX 2080 Ti, the best reason to choose one company over the other is whether your monitor supports AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync. Both of these technologies synchronize the refresh rate between the video card and the display to eliminate tearing. If your monitor supports neither technology, then you can go with either GPU brand. But even this decision is more complicated lately, with Nvidia now certifying an increasing number of FreeSync monitors to variable refresh using Nvidia cards.

For more on these subjects, see our recent AMD vs Nvidia: Who Makes the Best GPUs? and FreeSync vs. G-Sync 2020: Which Variable Refresh Tech Is Best Today? features.

How Much Can You Spend?

The price of video cards varies greatly, with super low-end cards starting under $100 (£100) and high-end models going for more than $1,200 (£1,400)-or $2,500 (£2,350) if you count the Titan RTX. Unless you're on a super tight budget, expect to spend at least a $200 for a good mainstream card, several hundred for a mid-range model and $700 (£650) or more for an extreme performance card.

Which GPUs are budget, mid-range and high-end?

Here's a breakdown of the major current GPUs and where they stand, grouped roughly by price and performance. (For example, note that the GTX 1070 is with the 'mid-range' now, since it's about as fast as a 1660 Super.) Remember that not all cards with a given GPU will perform exactly the same. For more detail, check out the GPU Performance Hierarchy page.

Graphics card memory amount: Critical. Get a card with at least 4GB, and preferably 6GB or more for gaming at 1080p. You'll need more memory if you play with all the settings turned up or you install high-resolution texture packs. And if you're gaming at very high resolutions such as 4K, 8GB or more is ideal.

CUDA Cores / Stream Processors: Somewhat important, like clock speed, as it only gives you part of what you need to know when trying to determine the approximate performance level of a GPU. Comparing core counts within the same architecture is more meaningful than comparing different architectures. So looking at Nvidia Turing vs. Pascal CUDA cores (or Streaming Multiprocessors) isn't as useful as looking at just Turing. The same goes for AMD, where comparing Navi and Vega or Polaris Stream Processors (or Compute Unit) isn't particularly helpful. Comparing AMD and Nvidia architectures based purely on core counts is even less useful.

TFLOPS / GFLOPS: Important. TFLOPS, or trillions of floating-point operations per second, is an indication of the maximum theoretical performance of a GPU. (It may also be expressed as GFLOPS, or billions of FLOPS.) Core count multiplied by the clock speed, multiplied by two (for FMA, or Fused Multiply Add instructions), will give you the TFLOPS for a GPU. Comparing within the same architecture, TFLOPS generally tells you how much faster on chip is compared to another. Comparing across architectures (e.g., AMD Navi 10 vs. Nvidia Turing TU106, or AMD Navi 10 vs. AMD Vega 10) is less useful.

Memory speed / bandwidth: Somewhat important. Like higher clock speed, faster memory can make one card faster than another. The GTX 1650 GDDR6 for example is about 15% faster than the GTX 1650 GDDR5, all thanks to the increased memory bandwidth.

RT / Tensor Cores: Not that important-for now at least. Ray tracing-focused RT cores and machine-learning oriented Tensor Cores made their consumer-focused debut with Nvidia's RTX 20-series cards. Both technologies hold potential. But as of this writing they only exist on cards priced at $300 (£280) and up (starting with the GeForce RTX 2060), and game support is improving but still lacking. Plus, rumors indicate the second generation ray tracing cards may leave the first gen cards sucking wind. While these features are nice in a future-looking sense, they shouldn't be a primary reason for you to buy a card for playing today's games. That could change in late 2020 when the next-gen consoles launch with ray tracing support.

Form factor: Very important. You need to make sure you have room in your case for your card. Look at the length, height, and thickness. Graphics cards can come in half-height (slim), single-slot, dual-slot, and even triple-slot flavors. Most gaming-focused cards will be full-height and occupy two expansion slots. Even if a card technically only takes up one or two slots in your case, if it has a big heatsink and fan shroud, it can block an adjacent slot. If you have a tiny Mini-ITX motherboard, look for a 'mini' card, which is generally 8 inches (205mm) long or less. However, some cards that carry this moniker are longer, so check the specs.

TDP: Important. Thermal Design Power or TDP is a measurement of heat dissipation, but it also gives you an estimate of how many watts you'll need to run your card at stock settings. So if you're running a 400-watt power supply unit (PSU) with an overclocked 95-watt CPU and you want to add a GTX 1080 Ti (which has a 250-watt TDP) you're almost certainly going to need a PSU upgrade. Generally speaking, a 600W PSU will handle all but the most powerful graphics cards, and 800W is enough for any single GPU even with overclocking.

Nvidia GeForce GT 1030; AMD Radeon RX 550

Super cheap

Only buy these if you don't game (or you don't game much) and your CPU doesn't have integrated graphics.

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super, Nvidia GTX 1650; AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB/8GB. Older: Nvidia GTX 1060, GTX 1050 Ti and GTX 1050; AMD RX 590, RX 580, RX 570, RX 560

Budget cards

Decent for playing games at 1080p or lower res at medium-to-low settings

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, GTX 1660 Super, GTX 1660; AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. Older: Nvidia GTX 1070 Ti, GTX 1070; AMD RX Vega 56

Mid-range cards

Good for 1080p gaming, compatible with VR headsets

Nvidia RTX 2070 Super, RTX 2070, RTX 2060 Super, RTX 2060; AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT, RX 5700. Older: Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1080; AMD Radeon VII, RX Vega 64

High-end

Good for VR headsets and gaming at resolutions at 1440p or high-refresh 1080p monitors.

Nvidia RTX 2080 Ti, RTX 2080 Super, Titan RTX. Older: Nvidia Titan V, Titan Xp

Premium / Extreme

These are best for 4K, and the RTX cards support new ray-tracing and A.I. tech.

How to buy a GPU: Which specs matter and which don't?

Can it support VR?

If you want to use one of the two leading PC VR platforms, HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, you need at least a mid-range card, with optimal performance coming from a card like the Nvidia RTX 2060 Super/AMD RX 5700 or higher. The lowest-end cards you can use with these headsets are the AMD Radeon RX 570 and Nvidia GTX 1060. And the card requirements of course increase with newer, higher-resolution headsets like the HTC Vive Pro or Pimax headsets.

What about ray tracing and AI?

Nvidia made a big deal of its stand-out new features with the launch of its Turing-based RTX cards, including RT cores for real-time ray tracing, and Tensor cores that aid in AI-assisted super sampling. We've discussed the potential of these features at length here -and there is plenty of potential to be sure. But these features (and games that support them) are still arguably in the toddler stage.

It's tough to tell how many future games will support a given feature. Plenty of promising graphics tech has failed to gain widespread adoption in the past (see Nvidia's 3D Vision and PhysX). You should make your buying decisions based primarily on the performance and features a card can deliver to you today, but it never hurts to be future-proof especially when you're spending several hundred dollars (or more) on a high-end card. Plus, as noted above, the next-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles will support ray tracing, meaning it's likely to see a lot more use in 2021 and beyond.

Reference Card or Third Party Design?

Even after you decide what GPU you're after (say, for example, an RTX 2060 Super like the cards in the image above), you'll usually be faced with plenty of options in terms of cooler design and brand or manufacturer. Nvidia makes and sells its own cards under the Founders Edition moniker for higher end models, while AMD licenses its reference design to other manufacturers. Both companies' GPUs appear in third-party cards from several different vendors.

More expensive third-party cards will have elaborate coolers, extra fans, and often higher clock speeds, but they can also be more expensive than the reference card. And overclocking gains are often minimal (with gains of just a few FPS, particularly at higher resolutions). That said, beefier cooling can often translate to cooler, quieter operation, which can be important given that high-end graphics cards are usually the noisiest, most heat-generating parts in a PC build. For much more on this discussion, see our Graphics Card Face-Off: Founders Edition or Reference GPUs vs 3rd-Party Design feature.

Card Recommendations by Resolution / Use Case

Once you've considered all the above and are ready to narrow down your choices, you can head to our GPU Performance Hierarchy page and our Graphics Card Best Picks page to help finalize your buying decision. Here we include a condensed version of our current favorite cards for common resolutions and gaming scenarios below. Keep in mind that there are third-party options for all of these cards, so you may want to use these picks as a jumping off point to finding, say, the best AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT model for your particular 1080p gaming build.

Best Budget Pick: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super

While AMD's RX 570 4GB is still available for $120, Nvidia's GTX 1650 Super is about 30% faster, but that's only a small part of the upgrades. It also uses substantially less power, plus it includes Nvidia's latest NVENC hardware to help with video encoding and decoding. You don't actually need a ton of CPU power to livestream your gameplay, as the 1650 Super is more than capable of doing the dirty work all on its own.

Even if price is your driving concern, saving $40 to end up with an older and less efficient architecture doesn't really make sense. More performance, better efficiency, and better video support make the 1650 Super an easy recommendation.

Best for 1080p (FHD): Nvidia GTX 1660 Super

The GTX 1660 Super is 15% faster in our testing than the regular 1660, nearly 20% faster than the RX 5500 XT 8GB, and over 30% faster than the 1650 Super budget pick. We've looked at the GTX 1660 vs. RX 5500 XT and declared the Nvidia card the winner, but we also think the GTX 1660 Super is better than the GTX 1660 for just $20 more.

Despite Nvidia's Turing GPUs still using TSMC 12nm FinFET, actual power use is basically identical to AMD's Navi 14 chips made using TSMC 7nm FinFET. The fact that Nvidia is faster and the same power while using the older manufacturing node says a lot. For $230, the GTX 1660 Super basically gets you the same level of performance as the older GTX 1070 in a more efficient design. It also comes with the enhanced Turing NVENC that makes it a great choice for streaming video.

Best For 1440p (QHD): AMD RX 5700 XT

AMD's current fastest GPU is the RX 5700 XT, and while it's technically 4-5% slower than the RTX 2070 Super, it also costs over $100 less. That nets AMD the win, though if you want ray tracing support the RTX 2060 Super and RTX 2070 Super are worth a look. Power use is also dramatically improved over the previous generation Vega cards, mostly closing the gap with Nvidia.
MORE:Best Graphics Cards MORE:Desktop GPU Performance Hierarchy Table MORE:All Graphics Content MORE: How to Sell Your Used PC Components
AMD's Navi architecture made a host of improvements over the previous AMD GPUs, and combined with TSMC's 7nm lithography, it ends up as a capable gaming GPU for 1440p. There are a few games where you may need to tweak settings a bit, but you can lock in 60 fps at ultra settings in most games, and break 100 fps at medium to high settings in all but a handful of games.

Best for VR: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super

Enthusiasts with VR headsets need to achieve a certain level of performance to avoid jarring artifacts. An Nvidia GeForce GTX 2070 Super is fast enough to keep up with the 90 Hz refresh rates of most modern head-mounted displays (HMDs). Moreover, it includes a VirtualLink port for connecting next-generation headsets with a single cable. That's not really a useful feature today, but it will likely come in handy the next time you consider upgrading your VR headset.

Previously, we recommended the GeForce RTX 2070 in this position. But the 2070 Super's introduction gives you almost 13%-faster average frame rates across our benchmark suite. What's more, Nvidia's own implementation of the 2070 Super is no longer saddled by a so-called "Founders Edition tax." You can now find it for $500. More performance at a lower price? Sign us up.

Best For 4K: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

If you're looking for the no-holds-barred champion of graphics cards, right now it's the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. It's capable of maxing out all the graphics settings at 4K in most games, so if that's what you're after, this is the card to get. It's mostly overkill for 1080p and even 1440p gaming, where the RTX 2080 Super is often sufficient for a much lower price. However, enabling all the ray tracing effects in games like Minecraft RTX performance can bring even the 2080 Ti to its knees.

Nvidia's Turing architecture is at the heart of the RTX 2080 Ti, boosting performance even if you don't enable ray tracing or DLSS. It's around 45% faster than AMD's RX 5700 XT when playing games at 4K, for example. Concurrent floating-point and integer execution is part of what helps the 2080 Ti excel, and future ray tracing games are likely to be even more demanding. Provided you're not worried about cost, or the impending Nvidia Ampere GPUs, this is as fast as current GPUs get.

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How to Buy the Right Graphics Card: A GPU Guide for 2020

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If you're buying or building a gaming PC, the graphics card is even more important than the CPU. Unfortunately, the process of figuring out how to buy a GPU can be intimidating. There's so much to consider, from the type of monitor you're using (for recommendations, see our Best Gaming Monitors page) to the size of your PC case to the game settings you plan to play at.

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This article will go in depth of the different parts of a PC, and what aspect of PC use they effect

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This article will go in depth of the different parts of a PC, and what aspect of PC use they effect

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This article will explain graphics card levels, price points, and need for which types of PC use

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This article will explain graphics card levels, price points, and need for which types of PC use

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