Which is better, an all-in-one PC or a desktop PC?
The advantages and disadvantages of all-in-one PCs and desktop PCs depend on specific needs: all-in-one PCs excel in space saving and aesthetic design, suitable for daily office work and home entertainment; desktop PCs, on the other hand, excel in performance, expandability, and cost-effectiveness, making them more suitable for gamers and professional creators. There is no absolute superiority or inferiority between the two; a comprehensive judgment should be made based on the usage scenario, budget, and long-term needs.
Key Differences Comparison
An all-in-one PC integrates the host and monitor, requiring only one power cord; a desktop PC consists of a separate host, monitor, and peripherals. The following is a comparative analysis of key dimensions:
Space Occupancy and Aesthetics
Advantages of all-in-one PCs: Compact design (usually less than 20mm thick), wall-mountable, saving over 60% of desktop space, fewer cables, high visual cleanliness, suitable for small apartments or office environments.
Limitations of desktop PCs: Requires separate placement of the host and monitor, more cables, and occupies more space, but this can be partially alleviated by mini-cases (e.g., 3.9L volume). Performance and Expandability
Desktop Advantages: Ample cooling space, supports high-performance CPUs (such as i9), dedicated graphics cards (such as RTX 4070), and multiple hard drive expansion; game frame rates are over 40% higher than all-in-one PCs in the same price range; video rendering speed is 35% faster; hardware can be freely upgraded.
All-in-One Limitations: Often uses laptop-grade hardware (such as low-power CPUs), limiting heat dissipation; prone to overheating and frequency throttling under high load; memory and hard drives are usually soldered, making upgrades difficult; only suitable for light tasks such as daily office work and multimedia.
Price and Cost-Effectiveness
Desktops are more economical: 10%-20% cheaper for the same configuration; for example, a 5000 RMB price range can include an i5 processor and dedicated graphics card, while all-in-one PCs mostly use integrated graphics; standardized hardware reduces repair costs.
All-in-Ones are more expensive: Integrated design leads to higher mold customization costs; high-end models (such as the Apple iMac) can cost up to 1.5 times more than a desktop PC with the same performance; repairs often require sending the entire machine for repair, resulting in longer turnaround times. Portability and Maintenance
All-in-one units are easier to move: lightweight (approximately 5-10kg), easily moved by a single person; ready to use out of the box, suitable for renters or users who frequently move.
Desktop units offer more flexible maintenance: standardized components allow for self-replacement or upgrades; however, disassembly and reassembly are required for transport, making them less convenient to move.
