The 6 Best $400 to $1,000 Desktop PCs in 2021

Best Overall: Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro

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With a huge range of PCs spanning from full-featured powerhouse laptops all the way to gaming desktop tanks, there really is something for everyone in Dell’s desktop line. The Optiplex range gets our nod here for versatility, slim profile, and all those features dovetailing under a pretty impressive price point.

This 7000 configuration gives you a lot for a sub-$1000 PC. There’s an 9th gen 2GHz Intel i5 chipset that’ll serve you well for most tasks (and because it works well in the chassis, it most likely won’t give you any throttling trouble). The machine can accommodate up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM to support your temporary storage needs, and there’s an internal solid state drive with 128GB of headroom for amazingly fast boot speeds. The Intel UHD Graphics 630 card provides good visual support, though it’s important to note that it shares its RAM needs with the computer’s central memory (although, with the aforementioned 64GB available, you’ll probably be good to go).

The Optiplex 7070 has 6 USB ports with a combination of 2.0, 3.1 and type C options, plus dual Display Port connections to cover a pretty decent swath of the I/O expectations for most use cases. And with the 64-bit Windows 10 loaded on, you’ll be ready to roll right out of the box.

Best Budget: Lenovo IdeaCentre 5i

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Finding the right combination of price and performance in a budget desktop is no easy task. You’re likely to find items that are too cheap and underpowered or overpowered and too expensive. Fortunately, the Lenovo Ideacentre 5i is a fantastic combination that meets right in the middle of performance, price and brand name reliability. Powered by a 10th generation Intel i5 4.3GHz processor, 8GB RAM, and a 1TB hard drive, it has more than enough computing power for everyday tasks, all at a wallet-friendly price.

The desktop feels perfect for either the home or office, with plenty of storage and memory all at a value price. Unfortunately, at budget pricing levels you don’t always get as much room for expansion in the future in terms of additional RAM or extra hard drives. What it lacks in expansion, it more than makes up for with daily use that is perfect for the budget category.

Best for Offices: HP Pavilion Desktop 2020

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HP’s latest Pavilion desktop might not look like much, but when it comes to office work, it’s a must own. It offers an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 2TB hard drive. You’ll typically find plenty of space available in computers that fit in the office desktop world, but the 2TB hard drive offers ample space for the inevitable buildup of files, documents and PowerPoints that will accrue over the years. Beyond the hard drive, there’s a DVD burner, multi-display support for both HDMI and VA output as well as two USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports.

Sizing up at 6 x 13 x 12 inches, the 15-pound Pavilion is no lightweight, but it’s small enough to fit underneath a desktop and be completely out of sight. The inclusion of 802.11ac offers a higher-speed connection, which is ideal for computers in an office environment where faster speeds are essential for downloading and uploading large files.

Best Gaming: Dell G5 2020

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Dell isn’t often the first choice for gaming computers, but you’d be making a big mistake to overlook this Inspiron model. And for right around $700, this gaming PC delivers quite a bit of processing power.

This particular configuration offers a 9th gen Intel processor with up to 4.7GHz of speeds, an extended frequency range to optimize cooling for intense gaming sessions, and even a Pure Power mode to streamline your draw. It has up to 32GB of internal memory, 1TB of hard drive space to store your installed games, and the option to include a solid state drive for faster data recall.

If you're going for full gaming immersion, you'll appreciate the option to connect a pretty intense surround speaker system with the dynamic audio setting. Dell has even optimized the system to ensure quiet operation, so this tank won’t disrupt your environment even when you’re doing quiet work instead of gaming. The whole thing comes in a well-designed chassis with blue accents to complement your gaming station.

Best AIO: Acer Aspire C27

4.2

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With a striking chrome design, Acer’s latest model is a testament to why mid-range prices can equal high-end appearances. With an Intel Core i5-1035G1, it might not be the most powerful desktop on the market, but the 12GB of RAM is still significant, and it differentiates itself with a super-slim, futuristic design.

While its insides are pretty mainstream for the price bracket — although the Qi built-in charging pad is a nice surprise — the outside matters quite a bit, too. The 27-inch full HD display measures a slim 0.3 inches, creating a statement piece for your home or office, though 4K and touchscreen options are not available. The bezel is equally thin at 0.12 inches, resulting in a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, and the display can tilt between -5 and 25 degrees. Though its UHD graphics are best just for casual use, Acer has included features like Acer ExaColor to increase color saturation and Bluelight Shield to diminish blue light at night.