best computer for graphic design 2016
Best computer for graphic design 2021: top Mac and PC picks for graphic designers
Included in this guide:
If you're looking for the best computer for graphic design, now might just be the best time to buy. With new products released from companies like Apple, Microsoft and Intel, and the holiday sales just around the corner, there are desktop computers out there that will perfectly suit your needs in digital illustration, graphic design and more.
But what should you look for when buying a computer for graphic design in 2021? Look for a recently released multi-core processor (such as an 11th generation Intel or Ryzen 5000 series), and remember that the higher the numbers, the more powerful the CPU – for example, an Intel i9 will be far more capable than an Intel i5.
Graphics is surprisingly less important, but only in comparison to other jobs like video editing and 3D rendering. A dedicated GPU is preferable, especially if you have a 4K display, but many integrated graphics have improved substantially over the last few years.
Memory, also known as RAM is also important for running multiple programs at once or singular demanding applications. Aim for at least 16GB, but the more, the merrier. You'll also need plenty of storage to keep hold of your projects, so every device on this list comes with either a large hard drive some speedy SSDs.
The best computers for graphic design also come in all shapes and sizes, from traditional 'tower' desktop PCs, which are usually more affordable, to all-in-one PCs like the iMac. These place all the parts behind the screen, which offer you more space on your desk, though they can be more expensive and harder to upgrade. A great benefit however is that these AIO devices will save you from needing to buy a separate monitor, and many of our selections feature a high-resolution built-in display.
There's even some great compact PCs like the Mac mini, which offer plenty of power for graphic design tasks, despite their small size. If you need a fully portable option though, consider checking out our rundown of the best laptops for graphic design.
If you want to try and save yourself a bit of cash then consider bookmarking this page to reference our list during the Black Friday sales. There's no guarantee that the products we mentioned will be reduced, but your patience could be rewarded, and any money saved can be put towards other equipment to aid your graphic design, such as a graphics drawing tablet or a powerful 4K monitor.
The best computers for graphic design available now
01. iMac (27-inch, 2020)
This high-end choice is the best computer for graphic design right now
Specifications
CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9
Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300 - Radeon Pro 5700 XT
RAM: 8GB – 128GB 2666MHz DDR4
Storage: 256GB – 8TB SSD
Display: 27-inch (diagonal) 5120 x 2880 Retina 5K display
Reasons to buy
+Improved internals +Large 5K retina display +Can be configured to be very powerful
Reasons to avoid
-Design is looking a tad dated -Just two Thunderbolt ports -No M1 Pro chip
Apple's largest iMac packs powerful 10th generation Intel Core processors, with an option to go with a hugely powerful 10-core CPU from Intel, making this an incredibly accomplished PC for graphic design. With Apple having recently released the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, it's likely that this iconic all-in-one device will be getting its own refresh in the coming months, but even without shiny new components, this 27-inch beauty is still the 'Apple' of our eye.
The 2020 iMac comes with AMD Radeon Pro 5000 graphics card, which is perfect for powering demanding applications on that beautiful 5K retina display.
iMacs are incredibly popular PCs with graphic designers, and the macOS operating system offers you all the apps and tools you'll need. It's also got a gorgeous slimline all-in-one design that means it looks great on any desk, and doesn't require you to purchase a dedicated monitor and trailing cables all over the place.
See our in-depth iMac 2020 review for more details. Apple has also recently released the new 24-inch iMac (below), which is powered by its own M1 hardware, rather than Apple. It's a great device, but we still think the slightly older 27-inch model is a better PC for graphic design thanks to its larger screen and discrete graphics card.
02. iMac (24-inch, 2021)
The iMac gets a welcome redesign
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8‑core CPU
Graphics: Integrated 7-core – 8-core GPU
RAM: 8GB – 16GB unified memory
Screen: 24-inch 4.5K Retina display
Storage: up to 2TB
Reasons to buy
+Excellent 4.5K retina display +New, colorful design
Reasons to avoid
-Lack of ports -No discrete GPU -Smaller display
The 2021 24-inch iMac is a beautiful refresh for the series, featuring Apple's own Silicon M1 SoC (system-on-a-chip), an updated webcam, and of course, that beautiful, colorful redesign.
Those colors harken back to Apple's classic G3 all-in-one PCs, but there's nothing retro about what's inside. It may not have the raw power of its older 27-inch family member above, but It's a brilliant bit of hardware and runs pretty much any graphic design apps with ease. However, we should point out that it uses integrated graphics.
That means it'll run Adobe Photoshop with very little fuss, and the 4.5K retina display is well suited to digital illustration and graphic design applications, but if you're going to be doing more intensive work like 3D rendering, then you may want a PC with a dedicated graphics card. This means while the 24-inch iMac is a very good PC for graphic design, we still think the 27-inch iMac beats it for its ability to really sink its teeth into tasks.
Check out our full hands-on review for the M1 iMac (2021) here.
03. Microsoft Surface Studio 2
An incredible Windows PC for graphic design
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i7-7820HQ
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB -GTX 1070 8GB
RAM: 16GB - 32GB
Storage: 1TB - 2TB SSD
Reasons to buy
+Touch-sensitive, Surface Pen support +Vertical hinge to adjust the viewing angle +Powerful graphics
Reasons to avoid
-No option of up-to-date Intel processor -Expensive for a Windows PC
Apple has long dominated the creative market thanks to having fantastic optimization for many graphic design and creative industry applications, but what if you're more of a PC person? Enter the Microsoft Surface Studio 2, an excellent all-in-one alternative to rival products like the Apple iMac.
It might also be an all-in-one, but it's packing a few great features that the iMac crowd doesn't have. For a start, its high-resolution 28-inch display (4,500 x 3,000) is touch-sensitive, which means it can be used as a giant graphics tablet (with support for the Microsoft Surface Pen) when you lay it down flat using the hinge at the back, which will save you some cash on buying a dedicated drawing tablet if you're on a tight budget and need the best of both worlds.
There are a few caveats that mean Apple has won our hearts though, as the Surface Studio 2 is still using an older quad-core processor from Intel, and despite more capable discreet GPUs being available, it's still rocking with either a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or 1070.
However, they should still offer plenty of power for your graphical design work, and you can configure the Surface Studio 2 to come with up to 2TB of SSD storage and 32GB of RAM as well.
You can read our full hands-on review for the Microsoft Surface Studio 2 here.
04. Mac mini (M1, 2020)
A brilliant compact PC for graphic design
Specifications
CPU: Apple M1 chip with 8-core
Graphics: Integrated 8-core
RAM: 8GB – 64GB unified memory
Storage: 256GB – 2TB SSD
Reasons to buy
+Same lovely design +Very good performance +New M1 hardware has potential
Reasons to avoid
-Can't use eGPUs -Very little upgradability
If you want the performance of an M1 MacBook, but with the ability to choose your own display and peripherals then Apple has a pint-sized secret weapon. The compact Mac mini has been updated to feature an M1 chip that features in the 24-inch iMac. In fact, the performance between the two is almost identical, even though the Mac mini is quite a bit cheaper.
This means it's an incredibly versatile PC for graphic design that can handle pretty much any task you throw at it, and it's a far more affordable option than the iMac above. It runs macOS, just like Apple's other computers, which means any graphic design app you can use on the iMac, you can use on the Mac mini.
Sure, you need to buy a monitor for it (or use one you already own), so it's not quite as neat and tidy on a desk as an all-in-one, but that gives you some freedom to buy a graphic-design optimized display to further improve your projects.
The base model features the Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine with 256GB SSD, and there are four expansion ports at the back for either USB or Thunderbolt external storage, plus HDMI 2.0 to simultaneously support two displays.
You can read our full hands-on review for the M1 Mac mini here.
05. Dell XPS Desktop
Affordability and customization
Specifications
CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 - RTX 3070 Super
RAM: 8GB - 16GB DDR4 2933Mhz
Storage: 256GB - 1TB M.2 PCIe NVME SSD + 2TB SATA 7200RPM HDD
Reasons to buy
+Great price for the specs +A lot of power +Plenty of available configurations
Reasons to avoid
-Only one USB-C port -Design isn't very flashy
The Dell XPS line of desktop PCs is often underlooked when compared to the Apple-favored market, but the raw power and configuration options that it can provide are nothing to be snubbed.
In fact, while many of the Apple products on this list are well optimized for graphic design applications, opting for a Windows-based PC is likely to grant you more freedom to customize your components, on top of usually being a far cheaper option when you compare performance to affordability.
Even the lowest spec model still packs a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 so those without a tonne of cash to splash on something like an iMac can get a powerful and capable machine for significantly less. Better yet, if you do have some cash to burn then you can opt for the 11th generation Intel i9 processor and an RTX 3070 graphics card.
Outside of being budget-friendly and flexible to your needs, other benefits include having a good selection of ports across the front of the tower (which means you won't have to fuss around with the rear of the machine), a built-in SD card slot and the fact that Dell offers plenty of corporate discounts, so you might be able to save even more cash through your employer.
06. Mac Pro (2019)
An incredibly powerful PC for graphic design
Specifications
CPU: up to 28-Core Intel Xeon W
Graphics: up to AMD Radeon Pro Vega II Duo
RAM: up to 1.5TB
Storage: up to 8TB SSD
Communications: 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 2x 10Gb Ethernet,
Dimensions (W x D x H): 21.8 x 45.0 x 52.9 cm
Reasons to buy
+Incredibly modular and upgradable +The most powerful Apple device available +Sturdy build
Reasons to avoid
-Very expensive -Not a very attractive design
If you're after an absolute powerhouse of a computer for doing your graphic design work on, and you're willing to invest a lot of money, then the Apple Mac Pro is definitely worth considering.
You probably already recognize the iconic 'cheesegrater' design, and along with a truly eyewatering price tag, it's reasonable that this won't be for everyone. However, if you need a computer that can handle extremely taxing workloads and you insist on having a macOS device, then consider the Mac Pro.
There's pretty much nothing in the world of graphic design and other creative demands that the Mac Pro can't handle, and this device offers some rare upgradability for an Apple product. So, in many cases, the Apple Mac Pro is a wise investment that can end up covering its own costs - and more.
And, while it is very powerful and very expensive, there are plenty of configuration options, which let you pick the specs that best suit your needs and budget. It's also got a modular design, which means unlike Apple's other devices, like the iMac, it's easy to upgrade parts of the system later on. This means it can be future-proofed for years to come.
07. Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10
A powerhouse of a PC
Specifications
CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Graphics: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
RAM: Up to 128GB 3200MHz DDR4
Storage: Up to 2TB SSD + 2TB HDD
Reasons to buy
+Powerful components +Plenty of specifications to choose from +Stunning design
Reasons to avoid
-Very expensive at the highest configurations
The Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 is a gaming PC first, something made painfully apparent but its flashy design and marketing, but because of the powerful components inside, it means they are excellent graphic design PCs as well. This is also a great option for anyone who wanted an AMD-powered desktop over an Intel device, which is becoming more popular in recent years thanks to AMD's phoenix-like rise from the ashes.
The Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 comes with AMD's latest and greatest processors, and it also features Nvidia's latest RTX 3000 series graphics cards as well. This makes it an incredible performer when it comes to graphic design. Best of all, it comes in a range of configurations, so you can easily pick a model that best suits your needs and budget.
Alienware products usually tend to be quite expensive, but the Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition R10 is very reasonably priced, and it has a brilliant build quality and design. This computer for graphic design is well worth the investment.
8. Lenovo Yoga AIO 7
A great iMac or Surface Studio alternative
Specifications
CPU: Up to AMD Ryzen 7 4800H
Graphics: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060
RAM: 32 GB DDR4
Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 SSD + 2TB HDD
Display: 27" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) IPS, DCI-P3 99%, Adobe RGB 99%
Reasons to buy
+Good price for the features and specs +4K display can rotate to portrait mode +Optional 99% Adobe RGB coverage
Reasons to avoid
-Components are slightly outdated -Pricey for a non-Apple AIO
The 27-inch Yoga AIO is an AMD-powered All-in-One Windows PC that's perfect for creative professionals and hobbyists who want a product optimized for graphic design, but don't want to hurt their wallets with an Apple pricetag.
The 4K display comes with an optional 99% Adobe RGB color gamut and DCI-P3 99% color space which is useful for anyone who needs color accuracy optimization, the screen can be fully rotated to portrait mode with just a push of a finger if you need a different angle.
You're also getting up to 1TB of SSD storage and the option for a 2TB HDD. Hard drives might be outdated on gaming devices, but their affordable capacity gives you plenty of space to save projects. For especially demanding applications, the 27-inch Yoga AIO's 32GB of RAM will make running just about any application in the Adobe Creative Suite a breeze.
09. Dell Inspiron 27 7000
Edge-to-edge display in a more affordable all-in-one
Specifications
CPU: Intel Core i5-i7 / AMD Ryzen
Graphics: AMD Radeon 580 8GB / Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 4TB
RAM: 8GB - 32GB
Screen: 27-inch 3840x2160 IPS display
Storage: 1TB HDD; 256GB SSD
Reasons to buy
+Edge-to-edge 4K 27" display +Tilting adjustable stand +HDMI input
Reasons to avoid
-Uses an underpowered laptop CPU -No Thunderbolt 3 port
The Dell Inspiron 27 7000 is yet another brilliant, affordable all-in-one PC that doesn't skimp on performance. Dell already made some fantastic desktop solutions across the gaming and professional markets, so its no surprise that this AIO packs some Impressive features that should appeal to creatives.
For a start, you're getting a stunning 'Infinity Edge' 4K display that makes the 27-inch iMac's screen, with its thick surrounding bezels, feel positively dated. The tilting stand is also particularly useful for adjusting your viewing angles and really helps to enforce the high build quality of this device.
Specs-wise, you've got plenty of options, as with other Dell machines, which means you can get a configuration that offers you exactly what you need. With 8-core AMD processors and beefy GPUs, this is a brilliant affordable iMac alternative that doesn't compromise on quality.
10. Dell G5 Gaming Desktop
An affordable and powerful PC for graphic design
Specifications
CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i3-9100 – i9 9900K
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 – RTX 2070
RAM: 8GB – 64GB
Storage: 1TBSSD – 1TB SSD + 2TB HDD
Reasons to buy
+Affordable +Powerful
Reasons to avoid
-Brash design -More suited to gamers
If you're looking on the budget-friendly end of the dell gaming PC market then look no further than the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop, offering a much better value proposition than Alienware devices, eschewing flash design for a straightforward look.
It's not slathered in RGB lighting or aggressive 'gamer' aesthetics, but that's actually one of the reasons that this is a great choice for artists looking for a classier gaming system. You get a choice of graphics cards that not only help you play the latest AAA titles, but it's also great for graphic design professionals as well as those GPUs can help create, edit and render complex designs.
Best of all, as far as gaming machines go, the Dell G5 is impressively affordable, which makes it a great choice for graphic designers looking for a powerful PC that won't cost huge amounts of money. The gaming perk is a nice bonus, but ultimately you're getting a very capable graphic design machine that can offer you the best of both worlds.
What makes a computer good for graphic design?
Desktop computers may have fallen out of favor with general home and office users over recent years, but they still play an important role in industries and markets that require a lot of power. While there are some great laptops for graphic design out there that can help with your graphic design work, they generally can't offer the same level of performance as desktop computers due to them needing to be thin, light and portable.
Desktop PCs don't have to worry about that, and you can usually configure them more easily to accommodate your needs. They can also be more affordable than a laptop with comparable specifications, but because the best computers for graphic design need powerful components like cutting-edge processors graphics cards, don't expect any of these PCs to be particularly cheap.
A desktop with a processor (CPU) that has four, six or more cores will run apps like Photoshop or Illustrator with ease, while at least 8GB of memory, 256GB of SSD storage and fast memory will help you work on multi-layered, high-resolution documents, without your system slowing you down.
A dedicated graphics card is also advantageous, but most graphic design applications won't be as demanding on your system as tasks like 3D rendering. Opting for a gaming PC that's packing a beefy Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU will certainly help (and enable you to use ray tracing-boosted features), but integrated graphics will do at a push.
Many of our models here have displays built-in – these are called all-in-one computers, often abbreviated to AIO's – the iMac is a great example, with everything is inside one box. Increasingly PCs have also moved to this form factor, but one drawback is that these are not as upgradeable as a standard, tower desktop PC, so that's still the best option for flexibility and overall performance.
Is Mac or PC better for graphic design?
The battle between Apple and PC fans has been raging for decades, but as far as which brand is 'best' at graphic design, each has their respective strengths. There are very capable Mac and PC solutions for a range of demanding requirements across the market, but what brand you align yourself with will ultimately boil down to a few personal preferences.
Microsoft PCs are typically much cheaper than Apple alternatives, and desktop towers are usually easy to upgrade which can greatly prolong the lifespan of your machine. For an especially beefy build, you can even opt for a gaming PC as they usually pack a powerful graphics card, more memory (RAM) and a capable processor from either Intel or AMD.
Apple devices on the other hand, while more expensive in some regions, are known for being high-quality and having a simple, easy-to-use operating system. Historically, many graphic designers have used iMac and Mac products because of the Apple ecosystem and simply because it was considered the industry standard for several years.
These days, there's no clear winner (despite our choices on this top ten list) because both operating systems are well optimized to support your hardware and software needs. It's easy to find a product to suit your needs across either OS so we recommend that if you have plenty of experience using either PC or Mac, stick to what you know unless you're looking to diversify your skills across both brands.
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best computer for graphic design 2016
Source: https://www.creativebloq.com/features/best-computers-for-graphic-design
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