Are you looking for the best desktop computer?


This is an often asked question that doesn't always have a clear answer. Much of the answer depends on how you intend to use the computer.


Are do you play a log of 3D games that are very graphics intensive or do you perform the routine tasks like browse the web and send email? If you fall in the first camp then you will need a machine with a powerful processor and plenty of RAM. Most importantly, you will want a desktop computer with an advanced graphics card. The top rated cards are currently:

 

1. ATI Radeon HD 5870

2. ATI Radeon HD 5850

3. ATI Radeon HD 5970

4. Nvidia GeForce GTX 295

 

These cards have dedicated processors and plenty of onboard memory to handle the most taxing loads. However, these cards don't come cheap. You should expect to spend between $250-$350 as of this writing.

Most users will fall into the second category and do not require a sophisticated or powerful configuration. These user will generally find that a desktop computer with a 3Ghz CPU or less, 4G RAM, and 500G-1TB hard drive sufficient to accomplish normal tasks. These machines can be found at sites mentioned in our Cheap Desktop Computers article.