10 Desktop PCs to Serve Those High-End Office, Home Applications

By Don Reisinger

Apple’s Mac Pro is one of the smallest desktops on the market and arguably comes with the best design. The high-end OS X computer starts at $3,000 for a 3.7GHz quad-core Intel Xeon E5 version, and goes up to $4,000 for a higher-end processor. The Mac Pro is Apple’s most powerful computer and the best option for those who want a high-end Mac experience.

The Lenovo C260 Touch has a touch-screen for its 19.5-inch display. The device has USB 3.0 for fast transferring of data and is just 6 inches deep, making it one of the thinnest all-in-one desktops on the market. The Lenovo desktop runs on Windows 8.1, which will be updated to Windows 10 when that operating system launches.

Like Apple’s Mac Pro, the HP Z840 Workstation is one of the more expensive computers on the market. The computer starts at $2,399 and comes with an Intel Xeon processor. Customers can customize the Z840 in several ways, including choosing a processor with up to 36 cores. The device also has up to 2TB of memory and Thunderbolt. It’s a really nice, high-powered Windows desktop.

The Dell XPS 18 is another solid all-in-one that customers who don’t need a ton of power should consider. The computer has a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor and 18.4-inch LED backlit touch display to help it take on Lenovo’s C260. There’s 8GB of memory in the device, and it runs on Windows 8.1. It’s a fine option for those who don’t need as much power as what they’d find in the Mac Pro or HP Z840.

When it comes to power, it’s hard to find any computer that can match the Falcon Northwest Mach V. This Windows model has an Intel Core i7 Haswell processor, Nvidia three-way SLI support, six internal hard-drive bays and 64GB of memory. Its design is also customizable, so users can create any look they desire. While all of that sounds nice, be aware that the Mach V starts at $3,000 for a high-end model with the Intel x99 chipset version.

One of the nice things about the ThinkCenter M83 from Lenovo is that it combines the value of enterprise computing with cost-effectiveness. The computer, which costs as little as $600 for a solidly built model, runs on Windows 8.1 and is a minitower, so it takes up less space under the desk. The computer also has support for up to three monitors, Lenovo’s highest-grade security and encryption, and more. It’s a great option for corporate customers seeking the ultimate in security.

Acer’s Predator G is technically a gaming PC, but it actually comes with a lot of features that enterprise customers would like. The attractive computer has Intel Core i7 built-in, as well as support for 3D and full HD. The computer has four hard-drive bays and a total of 12TB of storage. There’s also USB 3.0 built-in, which ensures fast data transfers.

Like the Lenovo ThinkCenter M, the computer is another minitower PC. The computer, unlike the others in this roundup, actually comes built-in with Windows 7. The ProDesk has 4GB of on-board RAM, an Intel Pentium processor and 500GB of on-board storage. One other important tidbit: the computer comes with eight USB ports.

What good would a desktop roundup be without mentioning Google’s Chrome OS, an operating system that the search giant has pushed to the enterprise. The Asus Chromebox is surprisingly powerful, running on Intel processors and supporting two displays at once. The Chromebox also has four USB 3.0 ports, a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) port for viewing content on a television, and a slot for an SD card. Corporate customers seeking Chrome OS should look at the Asus Chromebox.

The 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K is the all-in-one PC for anyone who wants the best visual experience. At 5K, the computer has more pixels than a standard 1080p display and a 4K screen. The computer is also impossibly thin, comes with Intel Core processors and runs on OS X. However, it’s a little on the pricey side at $2,499.