The right technology can not only help you work faster but can also make the images that you create look amazing from start to finish. When we looked at the list of computers for graphic designers we recommended back in 2018, we knew that as time went on, the technology would get better.
With that in mind, we wanted to share our list of the best computers for graphic designers in 2020 so that you can have the best technology for your best year ever. Before we get started though, let’s make a shopping list for our next computer.
If you’re after a laptop instead, see our best laptops for designers post.
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Shopping list for your next Graphic Design Computer
When it came time to create a shopping list, there were many different areas that we could have focused on but every discussion we had kept coming back to these four that stood out from the rest.
CPU
If you’re doing graphic design work, most of the programs that you’re typically going to use are heavyweights and need a powerful processor to run correctly. An example of a powerful CPU us the Inter Core i7 processor that can handle all of the big graphic design programs. If you don’t use graphic design software as much in your work, you can choose something less expensive like and Intel Core i5.
RAM (Memory)
The bare minimum that you should have in your computer is 8GB and that should only be when you have to have a small amount. Otherwise, the minimum should be 16GB so that your computer can keep up with a lot of the tasks that you’re doing in your design work. If you do any kind of video or 3D work, you should look to have at least 32GB.
Storage
Solid State Drives (SSD) are preferred over Hard Disk Drives because of their speed and durability. This means that backing up your work will be a much quicker process and are stored safer than with an HDD. Having too much storage is never a bad thing but you should start with at least 1TB.
Resolution
With screen technology these days, having a display with anything less than 1080p is like living in the Dark Ages. Higher resolutions are better as they can increase the level of detail that’s visible in your work. If the display comes with touchscreen capabilities and is flexible can be great if you want to draw on the screen with a stylus.
Best Computers for Graphic Designers in 2020
- Apple iMac with Retina display (2019) – $1719
- Microsoft Surface Studio 2 – $2879
- Lenovo Yoga A940 – $3399
- HP Pavilion 590 – $499
- Apple Mac mini (2018) – $754
- Asus ProArt PA90 – $2225
- HP Envy 34-inch Curved All-in-One – $2145
- Acer Aspire S24-880 All In One – $719
- Apple iMac Pro – $3499
- Lenovo IdeaCentre 720 – $899
Best Computers for Graphic Design in 2020 Compared
Apple iMac with Retina display (2019)
The best computer for graphic design
CPU: 4-8 core Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 / i9 | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 570X / 580X / Vega 48 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Storage: 1-3TB
With the latest update to the iMac line of computers, both the 21.5 and 27-inch models now have 9th-generation Intel Core processors which offer up to eight processing cores. Both models have unbelievable color-accurate Retina displays as well as AMD Radeon Pro or Vega graphics chips for incredible performance. While the 21.5-inch model is a better value, neither is exactly cheap especially when you consider all of the extras that you can add on to the computer however it is still the best option available for graphic design.
Learn More – $1719
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 27-Inch (diagonal) 5120-by-2880 Retina 5K display
- Stunning 5-mm-thin design
- 6-Core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor
- Radeon Pro 570x, 575x, or 580x Graphics processor
- Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
Microsoft Surface Studio 2
An incredible Windows graphic design computer
CPU: Intel Core i7-7820HQ | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB -GTX 1070 8GB | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Storage: 1TB – 2TB SSD
The biggest thing going for the Surface Studio 2 from Microsoft is that it’s an all-in-one computer that does things the iMac can’t. The 28-inch display not only comes with a high resolution but it’s also touch-sensitive which means not only is it a powerful computer with it’s Intel Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card but it’s also a great choice for your graphic design work. With 2TB of storage and 32GB of RAM, this is one versatile computer that’s worth every penny.
Learn More – $2879
Latest Price on Amazon:
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product...
- Our most powerful Surface yet with Intel Core i7 processors, discrete NVIDIA GeForce GPU, and SSD storage
- The strikingly large 28" PixelSense Display is a stunning touchscreen with 13.5 million pixels of true-to-life color
- Tilt the display weightlessly to work at 20 degrees down in Studio Mode or upright in Desktop Mode
- Keep creativity flowing when you draw with the improved Surface Pen and use Surface Dial* for intuitive shortcuts
Lenovo Yoga A940
An all-in-one graphic design PC packed with value
CPU: 3.2GHz Intel Core i7-8700 | Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 560X (4GB GDDR5) | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 1TB SSD
This is what working on an all-in-one PC should be like. The Yoga A940 makes doing graphic design or illustrator artwork easier than it should be with its 4K touchscreen which you can change the angle of to use as a canvas. The Yoga comes with a stylus, digital creation dial plus a wireless charging mat for phones. All the things you would normally have to buy separately with most other computers. Even though the hardware inside the computer doesn’t have the same power as the iMac Pro or Surface Studio, the Yoga A940 handles tasks well which helps keep the machine reasonably priced.
Learn More – $3399
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Intel Core i5-8400T with TURBO BOOST to 3.30GHz
- 32 GB of RAM (ULTRA performance); up to 10GB graphics RAM
- 2 TB SSD (MASSIVE pure ssd); QI Wireless Charging;
- 27" Ultra HD 4K 10-point MULTI-TOUCH tilting screen with pen support, a content creation dial, and other innovative solutions engineered to provide the ultimate workspace for your creativity.
- Dolby Atmos Speaker System; 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, 1 x HDMI out/in, 3-in-1 Card Reader, 1 x LAN port RJ45, 1 x USB 3.1, 4 x USB 3.0, 1 x Intel Thunderbolt, 1MP web camera&mic, wireless...
HP Pavilion 590
The best graphic design PC for those on a budget
CPU: 4-8 cores AMD Ryzen 3 / 5 / 7, 4-6 cores Intel Core i3 / i7 | Graphics: Intel UHD / AMD Vega Pro / Radeon RX550 / Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti / 1060 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Storage: 128-256GB SSD, 16GB Intel Optane, 1-2TB HDD
When you just begin your graphic design career, being able to afford the best tech can be something you might only be able to dream about but finding a high-quality PC at an affordable price isn’t very easy. The Pavillion 590 from HP offers a solution to that problem with its well-built desktop PC. A choice between Intel and AMD Ryzen processors means that even at an affordable price, you won’t be making a compromise when it relates to its capabilities. Featuring a discrete AMD Vega Pro graphics card and 2TB HDD will let you know that this laptop means business.
Learn More – $499
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 【CPU】: AMD Ryzen 5 2400G (3.6 GHz base frequency, up to 3.8 GHz burst frequency, 4 MB cache, 4 cores)
- 【Storage】: 8 GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB), 1 TB 7200 rpm HDD drive, exactly Reach Your Expectation
- 【Graphics】: AMD Radeon Vega 11 Graphics
- 【Quality Ports and Slots】: 9 USB ports (6 USB 3.1, 2 USB 2.0 and 1 USB 3.1 Type-C) for ultra-fast data transfers
- 【Operating System】: Windows 10 Home 64 bit, support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1x1) and Bluetooth 4.2 combo, DVD-RW
Apple Mac mini (2018)
The little computer that could
CPU: 3.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i3 – 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 | Graphics: Intel HD 630 | RAM: 8GB – 64GB | Screen: Sold separately | Storage: 256GB – 2TB
It had been a while since Apple had given any real attention to the Mac mini but now the littlest Mac computer comes with a six-core Intel processor that can easily deliver great performance when using Photoshop or Lightroom. Even with its small stature, it doesn’t mean that it is in any way a budget option from Apple. While the versions with higher amounts of storage are really expensive, you can choose a smaller storage capacity and offset it by using an external hard drive plugged into it.
Learn More – $754
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Quad-core i3 8th-Generation Intel Core Processor
- Intel UHD Graphics 630
- 8GB 2666MHz DDR4
- Ultrafast SSD storage
- Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, one HDMI 2. 0 port, and two USB 3 ports
Asus ProArt PA90
A unique design with high-end tech inside
CPU: 6-8 core Intel Core i5 / i7 /i9 | Graphics: 8GB – 64GB | RAM: 8-64GB | Storage: 128-512GB SATA SSD, 256GB-512GB M.2 SSD, 1TB HDD
With a dark blue tower design, the ProArt PA90 is uniquely designed by the team at Asus but they have managed to squeeze enough high-end components to make this an exciting option. An Nvidia Quadro P4000 graphics card is powerful enough to display 4K video on six different displays. A 9th-gen Intel processor, 64GB of RAM as well as dual M.2 SSD plus a hard disk shows that this tower isn’t playing around. While it is compact, it does take a lot to power the computer as it uses two power sources. The big draw here though is its imaginative design that still provides an amazing graphics design workstation.
Learn More – $2225
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Asus ProArt PA90 PA90-M7021ZN features an Intel Core i7-9700k Processor with 16GB DDR4 Memory, 512GB M. 2 SSD + 1TB HHD, Bluetooth 5. 0, Gigabit LAN, Intel 802. 11AC Wi-Fi, and wireless keyboard Mouse
- Nvidia Quadro P4000 8GB GDDR5 Graphics supports up to 6x displays at 4K, up to 4x displays at 5K, or dual displays at 8K using DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3
- Connectivity for creative projects with dual Thunderbolt 3 ports, Bluetooth 5. 0, and USB 3. 1 Gen2 Type A ports
- Independent software vendors (ISV) Certified for use with modeling, rendering, and engineering software from Adobe, AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Maya and more
- Advanced cooling features CPU liquid-cooling system and adaptive air vent design provide superior thermal performance under full workloads
HP Envy 34-inch Curved All-in-One
The graphic design PC with a serious wow factor
CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-8700T (six cores) | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 | RAM: 16GB | Screen: 34-inch WHQD (3,440×1,440) curved IPS screen | Storage: 512GB SSD; 2TB HDD
There are displays and then there are displays. The 34-inch curved display on the HP Envy is sure to get people talking when they see it in the room. The ultra-wide Micro Edge display is like having a dual display on your desk but with less hardware. The HP Envy is more than just its monitor. The computer is loaded with a quad-core 7th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, plus an Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card and a 256GB SSB and 1TB HDD combination for storage. While everyone will see the display, you’ll know about the guts inside that make it one of the best PCs for graphic design.
Learn More – $2145
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The perfect home computer: with the world's widest curved all-in-one and Amazon Alexa built in, you can experience immersive entertainment and control your smart home without touching a mouse
- Amazon Alexa: just ask and Alexa can check your calendar, create lists, answer questions, play music, control your smart home and much more
- 8th Generation intel(r) Processor: 8th Generation intel(r) core(tm) i7-8700T Processor, 6-Core, 2.40GHz
- Beautiful graphics: nvidia(r) geforce(r) GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated memory). power everything from the latest games to visually demanding design work with fewer slowdowns
- Integrated monitor and audio: 34" Curved diagonal widescreen Ultra wide QHD (3440 x 1440) LED backlit micro-edge monitor and rich audio with quad speakers and dual passive radiators with bang &...
Acer Aspire S24-880 All In One
An affordable all-in-one with power to match
CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U (four cores) | Graphics: Intel UHD 620 | RAM: 8GB-32GB | Screen: 23.8-inch Full HD (1920×1080) | Storage: 256GB SSD; 1TB HDD
With an 8th-generation Intel quad-core processor, the beautiful looking Aspire S24-880 can handle the day to day rigors of graphic design work. The display has a 1080p FullHD resolution that may leave some wanting more, especially with 4K becoming the norm more and more. With the more affordable price tag that the Aspire comes with, not only is it a great, affordable choice but unlike many other PCs, it comes with everything a graphic designer will need to get started right away.
Learn More – $719
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Processor 1.6GHz (Up to 3.4GHz)
- 23.8" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen Edge-to-Edge LED Back-lit IPS Display
- 12GB DDR4 2400MHz Memory & 1TB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
- Qi Wireless Charging Base (Output Power 15W)
- Windows 10 Home
Apple iMac Pro
The best high-end computer – with a price to match
CPU: Intel Xeon W (8,10,14, 18 cores, 2.3 GHz-3.2GHz) | Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 or Vega 64 | RAM: 32-128GB | Screen: Retina 5K (5,120×2,880) | Storage: 1TB-4TB SSD
When it comes to the iMac from Apple, the Pro version is the top of the heap. For many graphic designers out there, owning the iMac Pro simply isn’t necessary to get work done. The power that this computer can use is only for those select few who need it, and the price indicates that as well.
With a 27-inch 5K Retina display, Apple says that it can display more than 1 billion colors with its P3 color support. Combined with either 8 or 16 HMB2 AMD Vega graphics, the images you’ll display on this computer will look as close to lifelike as possible. If the work you do doesn’t involve huge file sizes or 3D rendering, you might want to look past the iMac Pro. If it does, you will be getting an incredible piece of technology.
Learn More– $3499
Latest Price on Amazon:
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product...
- 3.2GHz 8-core Intel Xeon W processor w/Turbo Boost up to 4.2GHz
- 32GB 2666MHz ECC memory
- 1TB SSD storage, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports, 10GB Ethernet
- Radeon Pro Vega 56 with 8GB HBM2 memory
Lenovo IdeaCentre 720
A Graphic Design PC with Excellent Value
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700 | Graphics: GeForce GTX 1050Ti | RAM: 12GB | Screen: 27” 1920 x 1080 display | Storage: 1TB HDD; 128GB SSD
Built with a fast quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, the IdeaCentre 720 from Lenovo comes packed with 12GB of RAM and dual storage options thanks to the 1TB HDD and128GB SSD built-in. The Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics card with help everything you make in just about any program look incredible. The 27-inch 1080p display comes with a flexible mount that you can adjust the position between 5 and 90 degrees so it is in the best position for your work.
Learn More – $899
Latest Price on Amazon:
- POWERFUL PROCESSOR: The IdeaCentre 720 desktop is equipped with a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor delivering increased performance and responsiveness, improved graphics, and revamped internet...
- DISCRETE GRAPHICS: With NVIDIA GTX 1050Ti discrete graphics, boost your CPU performance while editing video or performing other graphically intensive tasks to ensure a smooth visual experience. Plus,...
- MAXIMUM CONNECTIVITY: This PC connects to almost any device or accessory — alone or all at once; Now your monitor, keyboard, external hard drive, camera and favorite speakers don’t need to vie for...
- SLEEK DESIGN: This home PC is constructed of brushed metal casing for a sleek, contemporary and stylish design that can be discreetly stowed away or pridefully positioned on you desk.
- SLIDING COVER: No tools required with this desktop; the IdeaCentre 720 has a rear cover you can slide off by hand whenever you need to add/replace the processor, memory, storage or graphics card.
Best Computers for Graphic Designers in 2020
For you to work faster and produce the best possible work that you can, you need to buy the right machine. That means that doing your research and finding what works best for you is a much better option than just dropping money on the counter and walking out.
We hope our list of the Best Computers for Graphic Design in 2020 helped you start your research process or if you have been researching computers, maybe we threw a new candidate into the mix. Either way, we hope we helped!
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