Best Mainstream Desktop PCs

Dell's XPS 8300 may be a bit older of a design but it also has some better pricing as a result. Still, the system doesn't suffer much from performance thanks to the Intel Core i7-2600 quad core processor and 8GB of DDR3 memory that it comes with. Performance is also helped out by the two 500GB hard drives that can be setup in a RAID 0 array for 1TB of storage performance but with improved performance over a single drive. The weakest aspect of the system is the graphics with its AMD Radeon HD 6450 graphics that isn't really suited for PC gaming. Thankfully, it can be upgraded thanks to the 460 Watt power supply. All of this for prices just around $800. For those that want a bit more graphics performance and also have a Blu-ray compatible drive, the Systemax SG-125 is available for $1000.

At $810, the Cyberpower Gamer Xtreme 1318 is one of the better overall values in this price segment. It doesn't sacrifice too many features in order to keeps its price very affordable. It features a quad core Intel Core i5-2400 processor with 8GB of DDR3 memory for more than enough performance for the average user. The 1TB hard drive and DVD burner is typical for PCs in this price range. It sets itself apart from most by having a more powerful GeForce GTX 550 graphics card that allows it to also be functional as a desktop gaming platform. The biggest downsides are the lack of USB 3.0 ports and just two memory slots that restrict upgrading it. For those that might want a Blu-ray drive and wireless networking but don't mind an AMD FX processor, than the HP Pavilion HPE h8z is an acceptable alternative starting around $800.

Gaming is very dependent upon the graphics system but it doesn't hurt to have a fast processor as well. Systemax's SG-125 offers a solid performing Intel Core i7-2600 quad core processor paired up with an NVIDIA GeForce GT 550Ti graphics card. This should allow more modern games to run up to the typical 1920x1080 resolution. It may not be able to run at high detail levels with filters but at least it has a 700W power supply for possible upgrades. Gamers with lots of peripherals will also be happy by the large number of USB ports that include two USB 3.0 ports. Pricing is on the higher end at $1000 but there are alternatives for those on a tighter budget. This includes the Cyberpower Gamer Xtreme 1318 priced just over $800 but uses a Core i5 processor and GTX 550 graphics card.

Photo and video editing are much more demanding on storage and processing than many other PC tasks. Because of this, it is important to have a system with a fast multiple core processor with lots of memory and a sizable hard drive. Zt Systems does a remarkable job of this for $950 via Costco ($1000 for non-members) with its Affinity 7658Mi. It's Intel Core i7-2600 quad core with hyperthreading support and 16GB of memory should allow it to power through video editing. It has an ample 2TB hard drive for storing the files and if that isn't enough, there is an easy access bay on the front for adding a second drive. Graphics are a bit more muted due to a lower end AMD Radeon HD 6570 graphics card but it can help accelerate non-3D applications. The 350 watt power supply will also limit upgrading of the graphics card. Of course, it is only available through Costco which can make it a hassle for non-members.