Review Best desktop PCs to buy in 2013

Posted on 2 Jul 2013 at 15:49, by Kat Orphanides

Discover what PCs to buy in 2013 and read our in-depth PC reviews, as rated by our team of expert reviewers. Not sure if a computer is right for you? We've got something for everyone here, from compact computers to the overclocked gaming PCs and all-in-one PCs from all the major brands. Our always up-to-date list will help you make the right choice.

Chillblast Fusion Sprite

An excellent monitor, combined with a powerful processor and graphics card, makes this a brilliant all-round system

Our Expert Opinion This well-built PC has an excellent selection of components and peripherals, including a top-notch 23in Iiyama ProLite X2377HDS monitor, an AMD Radeon HD 7790 graphics card and an overclocked Intel Core i5-3570K processor. It's sensibly priced and a great all-rounder.

Read our full Chillblast Fusion Sprite review.

SPECS
CPU 4.5GHz Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM 8.00GB
STORAGE 1TB hard disk hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD 1GB AMD Radeon HD 7790
OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 23in widescreen IPS
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 426x181x460mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 49W idle, 151W active
WARRANTY two years collect and return
PART CODE Fusion Sprite
DETAILS www.chillblast.com

BUY IT FROM £699 from Chillblast.

Wired2Fire Velocity VX

Get a great all-round PC and excellent monitor for under £500

Our Expert Opinion This mid-price all-rounder put in a very reasonable performance in our 3D gaming tests as well as holding its own in desktop applications thanks the addition of a dedicated AMD Radeon HD 6760 graphics card to the versatile AMD A10-5800K processor. Its monitor, the AOC e2250Swda, is one of our budget favourites, too.

Read our full Wired2Fire Velocity VX review.

SPECS
CPU 3.8GHz AMD A10-5800K
RAM 8.00GB
STORAGE 1TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6670
OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 21.5in widescreen LCD
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 425x170x252mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 6W standby, 71W idle, 187W active
WARRANTY three years RTB
PART CODE Velocity VX
DETAILS www.wired2fire.co.uk

BUY IT FROM £489 from Wired2Fire.

Asus Transformer P1801

It's very unusual, but this combined all-in-one PC and tablet is nothing if not innovative

Our Expert Opinion: The P1801 is an unusual chimera of a PC. Its screen is a removable 18.4in tablet which, once undocked from the main unit, runs Android. However, its default remote desktop connection means that you can continue to control the computer's main Windows 8 desktop as long as you remain within range of your wireless network. Alternatively, it can run as a full-functional Android device thanks to its powerful Tegra 3 processor. The Windows part of the PC isn't lacking in power, either, thanks to a 3.7GHz Intel Core i5-3550P and Nvidia GeForce G730M GPU.

Read our full Asus Transformer P1801 review.

SPECS
CPU 3.7GHz Intel Core i5-3550P
RAM 4.00GB
STORAGE 1TB hard disk/SSD DELETE AS APPROPRIATE
GRAPHICS CARD 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 730M
OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 18.4in widescreen IPS touchscreen
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8/Android 4.1.1
DIMENSIONS 400x470x165mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 41W idle, 64W active
WARRANTY one year RTB
PART CODE P1801

BUY IT FROM £1,119 from Asus upon its release in mid-April.

Sony Vaio Tap 20

The Tap 20 is our favourite family all-in-one

Our Expert Opinion It looks like an oversized tablet but is in fact an ultra-slim all-in-one PC that works in both portrait and landscape modes, as well as when laid flat on a table. A battery means you can unplug it and move from room to room while its multi-touch display allows multiple users to share ideas and sketches. It lacks the 1080p screen and media centre PC features we're used to from some all-in-ones but it looks great and is brilliant fun to use.

Read our full Sony Vaio Tap 20 review.

SPECS
CPU 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
RAM 6.00GB
STORAGE 1TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD Intel HD Graphics 4000
OPTICAL DRIVE none
DISPLAY 20in LCD touchscreen
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 310x502x190mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 35W idle, 51W active
WARRANTY one year RTB
PART CODE SVJ2021V1EWI

BUY IT FROM £1,000 from Currys

Asus ET2220IUTI

Replace your TV and PC in one swoop with this capable all-in-one

Our Expert Opinion This 21.5in touchscreen all-in-one PC isn't the biggest, most attractive or most powerful on the market, but it'll play 3D games at reasonable quality if you drop the resolution and its Core i5-3330 processor has enough power to handle tasks such as image and video editing. It's a perfect family PC.

Read our full Asus ET2220IUTI review.

SPECS
CPU 3GHz Intel Core i5-3330
RAM 6.00GB
STORAGE 2TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD Nvidia GeForce 610M
OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 21.5in widescreen LCD touchscreen
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 390x552x230mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 54W idle, 85W active
WARRANTY one year RTB
PART CODE ET2220IUTI-B018K

BUY IT FROM £835 from LambdaTek.

HP Z1 Workstation

The massive Z1 clearly means serious business

Our Expert Opinion Final proof that an all-in-one PC needn't be underpowered comes in the form of this highly upgradeable professional system. Built with designers and digital artists in mind, the Z1 has a business-grade specification and a price to match, with 8GB of ultra-stable ECC memory, a 3.5GHz Intel Xeon E3-1280 processor and a 2GB Nvidia Quadro 1000M graphics card, ideal for use with CAD applications, although you shouldn't hold out much hope of skiving off and using it to play 3D games. The system's crowning glory is its 27in widescreen IPS LED panel with a stunning 2,560x1,440 resolution.

Read our full HP Z1 Workstation review.

SPECS
CPU 3.5GHz Intel Xeon E3-1280
RAM 8.00GB
STORAGE 1TB hard disk/SSD DELETE AS APPROPRIATE
GRAPHICS CARD 2GB Nvidia Quadro 1000M
OPTICAL DRIVE DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 27in widescreen LCD
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
DIMENSIONS 552x660x360mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 126W idle, 194W active
WARRANTY three years onsite
PART CODE WM429EA

BUY IT FROM £1,834 from Laptops Direct.

Chillblast Fusion Blaze

A powerful system with an excellent 23in monitor

Our Expert Opinion This powerful and well-built Windows 8 system lacks an SSD, but it has everything you need for fantastic gaming and desktop performance, including an overclocked Intel Core i5-3570K processor, 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 OC graphics card and an 23in Iiyama X2377HDS monitor

Read our full Chillblast Fusion Blaze review.

SPECS
CPU 4.5GHz Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM 8.00GB
STORAGE 2TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 OC
OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL
DISPLAY 23in widescreen LCD
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 420x182x470mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 2W standby, 65W idle, 200W active
WARRANTY two years collect and return
PART CODE Fusion Blaze

BUY IT FROM £799 from Chillblast.

Palicomp Alpha Inferno

An overlocked PC tailor-made for gaming

Our Expert Opinion This is a fantastically well-specified machine, with an Intel Core i5-3570K processor that's been overclocked to 4.7GHz, an overclocked XFX AMD Radeon HD 7950 with 3GB of memory and 16GB of super-fast 2,133MHz Patriot memory occupying all four memory slots. With a 120GB SSD, 2TB HDD and Blu-ray drive, it's not wanting for storage, either.

Read our full Palicomp Alpha Inferno review.

SPECS
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU 4.7GHz Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM 16.00GB
STORAGE 120GB SSD + 2TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD 3GB AMD Radeon HD 7950
OPTICAL DRIVE BD-ROM, DVD+/-RW +/-DL
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 420x172x480mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 3W standby, 91W idle, 280W active
WARRANTY three years RTB
PART CODE IVY9

BUY IT FROM £850 from Palicomp.

Dino PC Microraptor GTX 660 Ti

Replace your console with a compact gaming PC

Our Expert Opinion The popular PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles are getting a bit long in the tooth now and it particularly shows when it comes to graphical quality. If you want the quality of a PC gaming experience in your sitting room, then a compact gaming PC is the way to go. Compact gaming systems aren't cheap, but if you want keep your costs below £1,000 then this is a great buy, with 8GB of memory, a fast graphics card, plenty of processor power and a compact, quiet case.

Read our full Dino PC Microraptor GTX 660 Ti review.

SPECS
CPU 3.8GHz Intel Core i5-3570K
RAM 8.00GB
STORAGE 120GB SSD + 2TB hard disk
GRAPHICS CARD 2GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti
OPTICAL DRIVE BD-RE, DVD+/-RW +/-DL
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows 8
DIMENSIONS 176x222x276mm
POWER CONSUMPTION 1W standby, 52W idle, 205W active
WARRANTY Three years RTB
PART CODE Microraptor GTX 660 Ti

BUY IT FROM £999 from Dino PC.

For more details about purchasing this feature and/or images for editorial usage, please contact Jasmine Samra on pictures@dennis.co.uk

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