Desktop computing used to be confined to ugly, hulking towers and bulky CRT monitors, but not any more. The market is more diverse – and more exciting – than ever.
There are plenty of options if you’re looking for a new PC, so take a look at our guide to the year’s top machines. Systems of every stripe are here, from high-performance towers and touchscreen all-in-ones to passive media PCs and even the groundbreaking Raspberry Pi.
HP Z1
The HP Z1 combines the best attributes of all-in-ones and tower systems to create one of the most innovative workstations we’ve ever seen.
Its 27in IPS screen offers quality rarely seen outside of high-end professional monitors. What’s more the whole thing can be tilted to a horizontal position with the front panel lifting up like a car bonnet – giving easy access to the interior.
Most of the parts can be removed, replaced or upgraded, and there’s a huge amount of power already included, with an Intel Xeon processor and Nvidia Quadro graphics.
Read our full HP Z1 review
Raspberry Pi
It’s been a big year for the tiny computer from Cambridge. The Raspberry Pi costs less than £30, and is a system stripped back to the bare essentials: a minuscule motherboard with an ARM-based chip. Its low price and home-brew ethos has made it hugely successful – it’s a tinkerer’s delight, and a bargain for anyone interested in programming.
Read our full Raspberry Pi (Model B) review
Follow our step-by-step tutorial to create your own Raspberry Pi game
Read our feature: can the Raspberry Pi save computing?
Apple iMac 21.5in
The Apple iMac has long been the best-looking all-in-one around, and this year’s version is better than ever. Apple has borrowed manufacturing techniques from the aerospace industry to create a 5mm-thin edge around the iMac’s aluminium frame.
It’s been given a boost on the inside, too: the new Fusion Drive combines SSD and hard disk to make the OS, apps and files more responsive, and current-generation Intel and Nvidia hardware gives it plenty of grunt.
Read our full Apple iMac 21.5in review
PC Specialist Vortex Destroyer
The Vortex Destroyer costs a pretty penny, but it ticks every box when it comes to high-end desktop PCs. An overclocked Intel Sandy Bridge-E processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 graphics card and high-end SSD are strapped into a stunning chassis and deliver superb benchmark results. The 27in, 1080p monitor is also top-notch, 5.1 speakers deliver great sound, and the Razer keyboard and mouse will satisfy the most demanding of gamers.
Read our full PC Specialist Vortex Destroyer review
Tranquil PC MMC-12
PCs don’t have to be confined to the bedroom or office – Tranquil’s MMC-12 is perfect for the living room. It’s 40mm thick, milled from a single block of aluminium, and totally silent. Despite this, there’s plenty of power – easily enough to handle 1080p video playback, and it boots directly into Windows Media Centre. It looks the part underneath your TV and, while it isn’t cheap, we think it’s a premium worth paying.
Read our full Tranquil PC MMC-12 review
Sony VAIO Tap 20
The launch of Windows 8 has been accompanied by a raft of all-in-one systems hitting the Labs, but few have made first impressions like the touchscreen Sony VAIO Tap 20.
That’s because it has a 3,500mAh rechargeable battery that allows it to be used as a giant Windows 8 tablet – something that we tried on the streets of London.
Read our full Sony VAIO Tap 20 review
Scan 3XS Z77 FT03 Nanu
Scan is well known for delivering high-quality desktops, but its latest system pushes the boundaries of small form-factor systems. The Nanu is tall, narrow, has a Blu-ray drive, an Nvidia GeForce 660 Ti graphics card, Intel Core i5-3570K CPU and an SSD – in short, enough power to handle work, gaming and movies without breaking much of a sweat. We’ve never seen so much inside such a small chassis – Scan’s machine could keep you going for years.
Read our full Scan 3XS Z77 FT03 Nanu review
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