The 9 best computers of 2017: the best PCs ranked

With AMD’s sights now set on budget processors featuring lots of cores and Microsoft’s affordable Windows headsets set to bring SteamVR support when they arrive this holiday, it’s understandable if you’re tempted to shell out for a new computer.

Though your old desktop tower might serve you just fine, it’s now cheaper than ever to buy a rig that will get you through your daily tasks more efficiently than a several year old dust collector. Not to mention the best PC would be an excellent addition to your entertainment center.

Yet, when it comes to choosing from one of the top PCs, there are all kinds of computers to choose from. From ATX mid-towers to mini PCs to all-in-ones and everything in between, below we’ve put in the lot to determine the best PC for your needs and allowance.

• Dell XPS Tower Special Edition
• Surface Studio
• Apple iMac with 5K Retina display
• Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)
• Apple Mac mini
• HP Pavilion Wave
• Dell XPS 27 AIO
• Intel Compute Stick (Core M)
• Asus VivoMini UN45

For lack of a better description, the Dell XPS Tower Special Edition is a master of disguise. Appearing as subtle as the PC your parents probably hide behind a cabinet, don’t be deceived by this hardy rig’s exterior. Inside you’ll find your choice of one of the latest high-end graphics card solutions from AMD and Nvidia in addition to a powerful Kaby Lake processor paired with plenty of hard drive – and/or SSD – storage.

Read the full review: Dell XPS Tower Special Edition

• This product is only available in the US. UK and Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Alienware Aurora R5.

Microsoft doesn’t seem to have a care in the world for what other hardware makers are doing, making the Surface Studio all the more glamorous as a result. Featuring Surface Pen support, it’s more than a basic productivity and entertainment machine. The PixelSense Display puts even most 4K screens to shame, while the fully-articulating stand makes it a versatile tool for work and play. All in all, the Surface Studio is an exceptional work of, and for, art.

Read the full review: Surface Studio

The iMac keeps it classy and, better yet, simple. Easy-to-use hardware combined with the famed accessibility of macOS makes for a nigh-perfect computing experience. A built-in screen, speakers and 802.11ac wireless networking are complemented by the fantastic Magic Keyboard and Magic Mouse 2. Of course, trumpeting that gorgeous 5K screen, the iMac is sleek and, best of all, only requires a single cable to get up and running.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 5K Retina display

When it comes to 21-inch screens, Apple knows that 4K is more than enough. That’s why the smaller rendition of the iMac sticks to a resolution of 4,096 x 2,304. Housed by a classic aluminum finish Mac lovers can’t live without, this all-in-one leaves plenty of room for trinkets and accessories. Like the 5K iMac, the Magic Mouse 2 (or Magic Trackpad 2 if you’re so inclined) is included along with the newest Magic Keyboard.

Read the full review: Apple iMac with 4K Retina display (21.5-inch, Late 2015)

The Mac mini exhibits the luxury of an Apple desktop without the extravagant price tag to match. Featuring an aluminum shell that’s both compact and simple, the Mac Mini is Apple at its most quintessential. And, while it hasn't been updated in quite some time on the hardware front, the Mac Mini's Haswell-based i5 processor still chugs along nicely. Combined with Iris Graphics onboard, the Mac Mini is arguably the best starting point for macOS newcomers.

Read the full review: Apple Mac mini

Though at first you might confuse it for a fabric-woven Mac Pro refresh, the HP Pavilion Wave is anything but. Powered by 6th-generation Intel Core processors, this uniquely cylindrical tower is defined less by its performance and more by its onboard Bang & Olufsen speaker setup. Radiating crisp sound through its uppermost blowhole, the HP Pavilion Wave is a gorgeous example of a Windows-based entertainment center done right.

Read the first look: HP Pavilion Wave

Resting atop an articulating stand, the Dell XPS 27 AIO comprises a massive 4K Ultra HD touchscreen display with a whopping sextet of ear-numbing speakers. Not only is it attractive, but it’s also top-notch when it comes to delivering powerful specs. Whether you’re making your own beats or vibing out to someone else’s; watching films or editing them yourself, the Dell XPS 27 should be at the top of your list when shopping around for a new PC. 

Read the full review: Dell XPS 27 AIO

No, this isn’t a USB thumb drive you’re looking at. The Intel Core Compute Stick might look like something you would store a PowerPoint presentation on shortly before misplacing it in some unbeknownst place, but in reality it’s a palm-sized personal computer that’s as suited for your living room TV’s HDMI port as it is for the one on the monitor sitting atop your desk. Better yet, the latest version can be configured with up to a notebook-class Intel Core m5 processor too.

Asus is a unique hardware maker in that it offers a wide range of computers for every type of user. The Asus VivoMini UN65 specifically is designed for those yearning to keep their desktop in the living room. Although it doesn’t include an SSD, RAM or an operating system (you’ll have to install Windows 10 by yourself), once you do get it up and running, it’s dead silent and just as capable as some desktop towers multiple times its size.

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

Contributer : Techradar - All the latest technology news http://ift.tt/1NDAkRR