So you‘ve noticed your current computer is showing its age. Programs crash unexpectedly. Games stutter. You can hear the fans spin up to full speed at random times. As tempting as finally upgrading to a brand new desktop PC may sound, you might want to reconsider. Modern laptops and pre-built desktops come with their own limitations users should recognize.
Let‘s examine six important factors to weigh as you decide whether to purchase a new desktop computer or pivot to a different option instead.
Overview – Key Reasons to Often Avoid Buying a New Desktop
Before diving into the nitty gritty details around each one, below is a high-level recap of notable disadvantages associated with new desktop systems:
| Reason | Summary |
|---|---|
| 1. Laptops Are More Powerful and Portable | Improved laptop capabilities and mobility reduces reliance on desktops |
| 2. Building Your Own Desktop is Complicated | Choosing parts and assembling custom desktops requires technical skill |
| 3. Pre-Built Desktops Lack Flexibility | Limited configuration and tricky upgrades with name brand all-in-one desktops |
| 4. Desktops Tie You to a Desk | Portable laptops facilitate working anywhere, not just one spot |
| 5. Desktops Often Cost More | For equivalent performance, desktops can be more expensive than portable laptops |
| 6. Desktops Consume More Power | From an electricity and environmental standpoint, laptops are more efficient |
Now let‘s explore the data and rationale around each factor in more detail…
1. Laptop Capabilities Keep Rising While Desktop Sales Decline
The core value proposition of desktop computers has historically centered on their superior performance, graphics capabilities, expandability, and bang-for-buck value. However, in recent years, laptops have eaten considerably into desktop PC territory by steadily improving across these key areas while also retaining their distinct portability advantage.
Let‘s examine some telling figures from market research firm Gartner:
| Worldwide Device Shipments | 2020 | 2021 | 2022* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop PCs | 103 million | 88 million | 78 million* |
| Laptops | 275 million | 314 million | 322 million* |
*Projected
As the sales trajectory shows, global desktop shipments have entered a downward spiral as laptop adoption continues gaining steam. In fact, the overall PC market likely would have shrunk if not for the meteoric rise of mobile computing devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones compensating for the desktop computer decline.
The crossover in capabilities between desktops and laptops relates directly to rapid advances in mobile computing components. Power efficient yet potent mobile CPUs from pioneers like ARM and Intel‘s Evo platform now enable lightweight laptops to handle demanding productivity software, creative tools, and even high fidelity gaming that previously required chunky desktop towers.
Nimble notebooks once solely suited for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing can now feasibly replace stationary desktops outright for many users. The portability factor afforded by NOT being physically tethered to a single workspace fuels further laptop purchases from consumers.
If the status quo persists, IDC projects global laptop shipments swelling to over 393 million units by 2025 while desktop volumes shrivel to just 63 million. That‘s over 6 laptops shipped for every 1 desktop!
Clearly, manufacturers and the market at large understand that portable computing is the way of the future while bulky traditional desktops languish as a legacy form factor. With laptops possessing outright better mobility AND reaching computing parity with desktops, buyers have compelling reasons to select sleek notebooks over conforming to outdated desktop paradigms.
2. Building Your Own Desktop PC is Complicated
Many PC experts hype up the prospect of building your own custom desktop computer rather than buying mass market pre-built systems. In theory, assembling all the individual components yourself allows creating a more powerful and cost effective machine tailored to your specific requirements.
However, the reality of piecing together a functional desktop PC from scratch is far more complicated for average users relative to just purchasing finished products. Let‘s inspect a few compatibility and assembly challenges that commonly frustrate first-time PC builders:
Picking Compatible Parts is Hard – Finding the right complementary mix of processor, motherboard, memory, storage, graphics card, power supply, cooling solution, case, etc is quite daunting for novice PC builders unfamiliar with technical specifications and bottlenecks. If the CPU chosen ends up severely bottlenecking the GPU for example, gaming performance could suffer despite investing in a stellar graphics card.
Assembly Requires Specialized Tools + Skills – Actually inserting components properly into a case chassis and hooking up all corresponding power and data cables is hardly straightforward either without watching tutorial videos. And most internal computer hardware is incredibly fragile with zero margin for error – accidentally bending CPU socket pins for instance could completely ruin an expensive processor. Tools like anti-static wristbands must be worn to avoid costly damage from wayward static discharges as well.
First time PC builders often underestimate the specialized knowledge and risk tolerance needed to piece together desktop systems on their own. And unlike laptops or name brand desktops, DIY machines forfeit warranties, customer service and turnkey operation expectations.
Getting into the desktop PC building hobby to tinker can be immensely rewarding. But compiling compatible components and assembling everything cleanly does require extensive research and patience most typical users understandably lack. From plug and play usability standpoint, ready made machines have a substantial edge over the DIY approach.
3. Pre-Built Desktops Lack Flexibility
On the other hand, leaving the hardware assembly to professionals and purchasing household name desktops from major vendors seems convenient. Brands like HP, Dell and Lenovo mass produce a variety of all-in-one and tower PC options to pick from catering to different budgets and sensibilities.
However, inherent limitations with these pre-fabricated desktop machines restrict future upgradability and customization opportunities relative to user built systems. Some common hindrances include:
Proprietary Parts – To cut costs and tightly integrate chassis with internal parts, OEMs often utilize non-standard components making DIY upgrades impossible. Replacement parts availability is also worse for niche proprietary gear. Custom builders opt for commodity components adhering to universal standards instead.
Limited Configuration Options – Big vendors offer set configurations to choose from by necessity when managing sales logistics and inventory for hundreds of models. Buying particular CPU, GPU or SSD not on the list is out of the question. DIY desktops put you fully in charge of hand picking every single component.
Power Supply and Space Constraints – Pre-built desktops have carefully matched power supplies and physical space optimized by designers solely to accommodate included parts. Thus, adding substantially more powerful graphics cards or storage down the line risks running into cooling, fitment or electrical limitations. DIY desktop builders incorporate far more cooling and power headroom allowing robust expansions.
While ready made commercial PCs undoubtedly provide peace of mind for technology novices, they do trade away a certain degree of future-proofing flexibility and overall ownership freedom relative to purpose built desktops.
4. Desktops Tie You to a Desk While Laptops Enable Portable Computing
Another central yet often overlooked differentiator between laptops and desktop computers comes down to mobility and work style implications. Desktop PCs by definition remain stationary tools affixed to desks in single locations. This then intrinsically limits users to computing within that physical workspace since the machine cannot be moved.
Sure, one can always use extremely long cables and peripherals to project the desktop experience elsewhere. But clunky solutions like giant monitors on wheely carts just exemplify the lengths one must go to escape the inherent mobility constraints imposed by desktops.
Contrast this with streamlined notebooks and tablets permitting unfettered location agnostic operation. Thanks to built-in keyboards, displays and batteries, portable computers allow people to work comfortably from practically anywhere. Computing can thus better adapt to evolving personal circumstances rather than forcing rigid adherence to the desktop desk paradigm:
- Use laptop casually on couch or in bed
- Collaborate with colleagues by bringing laptops together in meetings
- Utilize notebooks during travels and transportation
- Shift workspace fluidly throughout home without needing dedicated office
WFH memoirs are already emerging about make shift laptop workstations moved dozens of times daily chasing sunlight or juggling personal and professional obligations under one roof. This flexibility remains largely impossible with unwieldy desktop computers.
As computing further interweaves with daily modern life in unpredictable ways, portable devices lead the charge while static desktops risk relegation as dinosaur relics mostly useful for specialized niche power users.
5. Desktops Often Cost More Than Laptops When Comparing Actual Performance
Evaluating computer costs on paper often proves deceptive for shoppers. At first glance, desktop components seem cheaper than laptop equivalents thanks to less R&D spending on compact integration and battery technology. However, the analysis shifts once you normalize cost by actual performance delivered…
Let‘s tally up a realistic suggested bundle for a desktop PC versus laptop to inspect pricing:
| Sample Mid-Tier Desktop PC Bundle | ||
|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i5 CPU | $200 | Cheaper processors common in desktops |
| AMD RX 6600 GPU | $250 | Powerful desktop graphics add lots of cost |
| 16GB DDR4 RAM | $50 | Similar memory configurations |
| 512GB SSD | $40 | Comparable solid state storage |
| 750W Power Supply | $100 | Overkill for most laptops |
| ATX Tower Case | $100 | Laptop frames tailored to parts |
| Windows License | $100 | Identical Windows OS fee |
| Monitor + Peripherals | $250 | Built into laptops |
| Total Cost | $1090 |
| Sample Mid-Tier Laptop Bundle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core i7 Laptop | $950 | More expensive yet efficient mobile chip | |
| 16GB LPDDR4 RAM | — | Same memory amount | |
| 512GB SSD | — | Identical capacity | |
| 15.6" 1080p Display | — | Builtin higher res screen | |
| Gaming Mouse + Backpack | $100 | Useful accessories offset | |
| Total Cost | $1050 |
Despite desktop components appearing cheaper individually, once you gather all the ancillary equipment like monitors, keyboards, etc needed for a complete desktop experience, laptops prove more economical overall. You essentially pay extra simply for the desktop form factor – smaller components discounted in laptops cost less when bundled together.
This cost efficiency gets amplified further when evaluating raw computing power side by side… That desktop equipped merely with a low tier RX 6600 GPU gets easily trounced in graphics performance by potent mobile RTX cards found even in sub $1000 multimedia laptops these days. Similar mismatches occur with gaming FPS benchmarks between desktop and mobile variants of processors.
So quite often, desktop computers actually deliver inferior value relative to notebooks when honestly comparing price against meaningful speed metrics rather than misleading individual component prices. Combined with more flexible form factors, laptops make financial sense over desktops for many shoppers after dispelling these common misperceptions.
6. From Environmental Standpoint, Laptops Prove More Energy Efficient
One final difference to consider that perhaps appeals more to environmental consciousness rather than practical factors is energy efficiency. All else being equal, desktop computers inherently consume substantially more electricity than laptop counterparts – largely from power hungry discrete desktop GPUs versus integrated mobile graphics.
Evaluating two hypothetical but representative cases of mid-tier laptop versus a desktop PC:
| Machine | Average Idle Power (Watts) | Average Load Power (Watts) | Yearly kWH Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 Gaming Desktop | 90 W | 380 W | 1600 kWH |
| RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop | 15 W | 95 W | 215 kWH |
As the projections illustrate, a common mainstream gaming desktop with dedicated graphics eats up nearly 8 times more energy than comparable laptop! And this gap only widens further when considering top-end desktop PC configurations sporting multiple beefy graphics cards.
To quantify the resulting environmental impact, we can analyze typical CO2 emissions:
| Machine | Yearly CO2 Emissions |
|---|---|
| RTX 3060 Gaming Desktop | ~1120 Kg |
| RTX 3060 Gaming Laptop | ~150 Kg |
Over a mere 3 year ownership period, just a single power hungry desktop spews out nearly 2 extra tons of greenhouse gases relative to choosing a greener laptop instead!
So even setting aside the substantial mobility advantages, compelling performance-value economics, and general technology trends all favoring laptops, ecological factors alone might persuade certain desktop buyers to think twice. Integrated efforts (like efficient mobile hardware) adding up can make all the difference reigning in dangerous climate changes.
As discussed through several lenses of analysis, desktop PCs face mounting disadvantages today across a variety of practical vectors spanning capability, pricing, flexibility, mobility and sustainability compared to rising notebook alternatives preferred by most users.
Market data unambiguously chronicles the meteoric ascendance of laptops steadily supplanting desktop systems for common computing needs once dutifully served by humble tower machines. Major tech companies have certainly acknowledged the shifting winds by allocating R&D resources toward developing innovative mobile solutions rather than just iterating on dated desktop paradigms.
Now this is not to contend traditional desktops have no purpose or value whatsoever in the modern context. They obviously still dominate gaming and professional workstations requiring maximum computing muscle. Legacy critical business software certifications also perpetuate enterprise holdouts preventing full desktop extinction anytime soon.
However, for general home office and even advanced creative / multimedia applications, versatile laptops usually suffice at lower costs today thanks to tremendous technological advancements bridging the portable performance gap. And couch computing comfort weighs equally highly for consumers!
So before pulling the trigger on pricey new tower just out familiarity, carefully reflect whether 80% of functionality at 50% of cost makes sense for your actual needs…
