Looking for the best computer for graphic design? Then you'll be looking at a model with a fast processor, so you can run software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop quickly and smoothly. You'll probably also want plenty of ports for peripherals, and if you're shopping for an all-in-one, you'll want a bright display with excellent colour reproduction.
To help you get the most for your money, our expert team of reviewers have personally tested and reviewed all the latest computers and laptops. And they've drawn on this experience to curate our list below, of the best computers for graphic design available today.
Here's our top pick. Apple has achieved something remarkable here, shrinking the mini's already compact design to just 127 x 127 x 50mm whilst improving performance across the board. Read more below
The RDY Y70 001 is being marketed as a gaming PC, but its high-end components and generous specifications are capable of handling every kind of resource-intensive creative software. Read more below
Limited on budget? The HP Victus 15L may be an entry-level gaming PC, but it's also got the specs to run graphic design and other creative software smoothly and efficiently. Read more below
Want an all-in-one? We recommend Apple's 2024 iMac: a refined iteration of their all-in-one formula, now more accessible with a lower starting price and increased base RAM. Read more below
With its M2 Max or Ultra chip, the Mac Studio is more than most people need for graphic design alone, but those with complex workflows will appreciate the speed and the ability to run up to eight displays. Read more below
Gaming computers also tend to be excellent graphic design computers. And here's a great example. The HP Omen 45L is a high-end gaming PC that doubles as a powerful workstation. Read more below
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Best computer for graphic design overall
(Image credit: Apple)
01. Mac mini (M4, 2024)
The best computer for graphic design overall
Specifications
CPU: M4 or M4 Pro
Graphics: 10-core GPU (M4) or 16-core GPU (M4 Pro)
RAM: 16-24GB
Storage: 256GB-512GB
Display: Supports up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz
Reasons to buy
+
Compact design
+
Exceptional performance
+
Front USB-C ports
Reasons to avoid
-
Awkward power button placement
-
Front USB-C ports slower than rear ones
Buy it if
✅ You want pro-level power for less: You get desktop-class M4 performance at a fraction of MacBook prices.
✅ You need a space-saving workstation: The new ultra-compact design (127 x 127 x 50mm) fits anywhere.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need a complete setup immediately: You'll need to factor in the cost of a display, keyboard, and mouse.
❌ You require portable working: Despite its tiny size, this is a desktop solution only.
The bottom line
🔎 Mac mini (M4, 2024) delivers exceptional value for graphic designers, combining powerful performance with a brilliantly compact design. ★★★★½
What you need to know: Apple has achieved something remarkable with the Mac mini (M4, 2024), shrinking its already compact design to just 127 x 127 x 50mm whilst improving performance across the board. The base model now comes with 16GB unified memory as standard (double that of its predecessor), making it perfectly suited to running multiple creative applications simultaneously.
Design: This is Apple's smallest computer ever. The new 127 x 127 x 50mm footprint represents a significant reduction from previous models, while adding convenient front USB-C ports. The only design niggle is the awkwardly placed power button underneath the unit. On the plus side, connection options are comprehensive, with Thunderbolt 4 ports (or Thunderbolt 5 on the Pro model) and HDMI supporting up to 8K at 60Hz or 4K at 240Hz, perfect for high-resolution design work.
Performance: Tests show that the new Mac mini is around 20% faster CPU performance compared to previous generations, with the neural engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second. The base model's 16GB unified memory (double the previous generation) means it will handle demanding creative workflows with ease, and stay virtually silent even under heavy loads, making it ideal for studio environments. The M4 Pro version offers additional graphics power for the most demanding tasks.
Value: Starting at £599 for the M4 model (£1,399 for M4 Pro), the Mac mini represents exceptional value in the professional desktop space. While you'll need to budget for peripherals, the performance-to-price ratio is outstanding.
✅ You use demanding creative software: The powerful CPU and GPU will run everything quickly and smoothly.
✅ You handle large design files: 32GB RAM and 2TB storage provide ample workspace.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a tight budget: This is a premium machine with a price tag to match
❌ You only need basic computer capabilities: All this power could be overkill for simple tasks.
The bottom line
🔎 RDY Y70 001 is a Windows powerhouse with quality components capable of dealing with the most demanding of graphic design and creative software. ★★★★½
What you need to know: When you're looking for a computer, many brands give you a reassuring glow of recognition: Dell, HP, Microsoft, Apple, and so on. We'll be honest, I Buy Power is not one of those brands. However, their RDY Y70 001, which runs Windows 11, is well worth investigating if you're looking for exceptional processing power at a reasonable price. Yes, it's being marketed as a gaming machine, but that's by no means all it's good for. Indeed, with its high-end components and generous specifications, this sophisticated computer will be capable of handling everything from complex vector illustrations to demanding 3D rendering tasks without breaking a sweat.
Design: The Y70 doesn't just have premium components; it's keen to show them off via its rather lovely panoramic glass panels. We reckon it looks pretty great, with a cutting-edge design that avoids looking too "gamery" and conveys a professional aesthetic that, to our eyes, would fit nicely into an design studio.
Performance: The Intel i9-14900KF processor in this computer delivers exceptional multi-threading capabilities, perfect for running multiple design applications simultaneously. The RTX 4070 excels at GPU-accelerated tasks in applications like Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modelling software. The Y70 001 is also packing 32GB of DDR5-6000MHz RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking, while the 2TB NVMe SSD means you'll have quick access to large design files and fast application loading times.
Pricing: While this is an expensive purchase, we feel it offers excellent value for professional designers seeking a high-performance workstation. Overall, the inclusion of top-tier components and generous storage justifies the investment for those who need to run demanding graphic design software to earn a living.
✅ You need a dual-purpose machine: It's perfect for those who handle both design work and gaming.
✅ You're on a tighter budget: Offers good performance without breaking the bank.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need maximum upgradeability: The compact case limits future expansion options
❌ You work with demanding 3D applications: In this case, you should consider a more powerful workstation.
The bottom line
🔎 HP Victus 15L offers good value for graphic designers who need a capable machine that can handle both creative work and gaming, though with some compromises. ★★★★
What you need to know: Limited on budget? The HP Victus 15L may be an entry-level gaming PC, but it's also got the specs to run graphic design software smoothly and efficiently, and offers a good balance of performance and affordability overall. Its compact form factor makes it suitable for users with limited desk space. And while it makes some compromises in build quality and customisation options, that's reflected in the affordable price, and won't really be an issue for anyone looking for an entry-level machine.
Design: The compact form factor (155 x 297 x 337mm) makes efficient use of space, ideal for smaller workstations. The aesthetically pleasing white finish and illuminated 'V' logo add a professional touch. Port selection is generous, with multiple USB ports on both front and rear, though the case construction feels somewhat budget-oriented. The internal layout, while space-efficient, doesn't facilitate easy upgrades.
Performance: The Intel Core i5-12400 processor performs admirably in creative applications, offering particularly good single-core performance which benefits many design applications. The RTX 3060 graphics card provides enough power for most design tasks and can handle 3D applications at moderate settings. The 16GB DDR4 RAM is sufficient for most design workflows, though heavy multitaskers might want more. The 1TB SSD offers quick access to files and applications.
Pricing: The Victus 15L represents good value for those needing a capable design workstation that can also handle gaming. The inclusion of an RTX card at this price point is particularly noteworthy for designers working with GPU-accelerated tools.
✅ You want an all-in-one solution: Everything comes in the box, colour-matched and ready to go.
✅ Screen quality is paramount: The 4.5K Retina display is perfect for detailed design work.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You require extensive connectivity: Base model only offers two USB-C ports
❌ You need the absolute highest performance: Consider a Mac mini with M4 Pro/Max instead
The bottom line
🔎 iMac M4 combines stunning design with impressive performance in an elegant all-in-one package that's perfect for most graphic design workflows. ★★★★½
What you need to know: Apple's 2024 iMac represents a refined iteration of their all-in-one formula, now more accessible with a lower starting price and increased base RAM. The M4 chip provides ample power for graphic design tasks, while the 4.5K Retina display offers exceptional colour accuracy and clarity. The addition of nano-texture display option makes it more versatile for varying work environments.
Design: The impossibly thin profile (14.7cm) and vibrant colour options make this one of the most aesthetically pleasing computers available. The clean, minimalist design includes thoughtful touches like colour-matched accessories and cables. Port selection varies by model, with higher-end versions offering four Thunderbolt 4 ports. The built-in 12MP webcam with Centre Stage is excellent for client calls and remote collaboration.
Performance: The M4 chip delivers approximately 20% better CPU performance than its predecessor, with the Neural Engine capable of 38 trillion operations per second. This translates to smooth performance in professional design applications like Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, and Figma. The base 16GB RAM is a welcome upgrade that ensures better multitasking capabilities, though power users might want to opt for 32GB.
Pricing: Starting at £1,299 (£200 less than the previous generation), the iMac M4 offers excellent value for an all-in-one design workstation. While the nano-texture display adds £200 to the price, it's worth considering for studios with challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of colour-matched peripherals adds to the value.
CPU: M2 Ultra (24-core CPU with 16 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores)
Graphics: 60-core GPU
RAM: 32GB – 192GB unified memory
Storage: Up to 8TB
Display: None
Reasons to buy
+
Exceptionally quick
+
Quiet even when under pressure
+
Compact design
Reasons to avoid
-
More than most people will need
Buy it if
✅ You use demanding software: The Mac Studio M2 Ultra is designed for handling massive graphic design projects, video editing, and 3D rendering with ease.
✅ You want cutting-edge performance in a small package: It’s compact enough to fit into any workspace.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You’re on a budget: With prices starting at £4,199, this is a significant investment best suited for professionals.
❌ You need portability: Despite its compact form, the Mac Studio is still a desktop solution, not a portable workstation.
The bottom line
🔎 Mac Studio (M2 Ultra, 2023) is the pinnacle of performance for creative pros, capable of tackling the most demanding tasks with ease. ★★★★★
What you need to know: The Apple Mac Studio M2 Ultra is one of the most powerful computers you can buy right now, and certainly Apple's most powerful. As you may expect, with great power comes a high price tag, and is not a price that's necessary to pay for most graphic design work. However, if you're also working in demanding high-resolution video editing or 3D work, you're likely to appreciate the additional grunt, and everyone will appreciate the increased speed of performance.
Design: At 7.7 x 7.7 inches and 3.7 inches tall, the Mac Studio maintains the same minimalist aluminium design as its predecessor. It’s compact enough to fit into tight workspaces yet heavy enough (7.9 pounds) to feel robust. Front-facing Thunderbolt 4 ports and an SDXC card slot add convenience for photographers and designers frequently working with external drives and SD cards. At the rear, the Mac Studio boasts four additional Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI, and Ethernet. The M2 Ultra can support up to eight 4K displays, six 6K displays or three 8K displays all running at 60Hz.
Performance: The M2 Ultra is Apple’s most powerful chip, fusing two M2 Max chips to deliver extraordinary processing power. With up to 192GB of unified memory and 800GB/s memory bandwidth, the Mac Studio excels in multitasking and handling graphically intensive tasks. Our reviewer found the M2 Ultra 128GB RAM configuration made light work of the most intense tasks and was exceptionally good when multitasking. She was able to work across multiple programs simultaneously without waiting for anything to load.
Pricing: While the price is steep—starting at £4,199 and exceeding £8,999 for the top-spec model—the Mac Studio is an investment that pays off in time saved and unparalleled performance. Its longevity ensures it remains a reliable workhorse for years to come.
✅ You need unparalleled power for graphic design and more: The Omen 45L handles the most demanding creative workflows effortlessly.
✅ You want a multi-functional powerhouse: It's perfect for rendering, video editing, 3D modelling, and gaming.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You need portability: Weighing 22.6kg and with large dimensions (20.4 x 47 x 55.5cm), this is a stationary solution.
❌ You're on a budget: Starting at nearly £4,000, the Omen 45L is best suited for those who needs its extreme specs.
The bottom line
🔎 HP Omen 45L is a beast of a machine that blurs the line between gaming and professional-grade workstations. While it’s expensive and energy-intensive, it delivers unparalleled performance. ★★★★
What you need to know: Gaming computers are far more abundant than family desktop towers these days, but because of the powerful components they pack, they also tend to be excellent graphic design computers. And here's a great example. The HP Omen 45L is a high-end gaming PC that doubles as a powerful workstation, making it ideal for both gamers and creatives.
Design: The machine's design is equally impressive, featuring a black monolithic case with customizable RGB lighting. A standout feature is the 'cryo-chamber' cooling system, which keeps the CPU running efficiently, even under heavy workloads. However, its large size (weighing 22.6kg) and significant power consumption do make it less portable and energy-efficient than your average computer. Connectivity options include a wide range of USB ports but lack USB 4 or Thunderbolt support.
Performance: With top-tier specs like an Intel Core i9-13900K processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and 3TB of storage (1TB SSD + 2TB HDD), this PC excels in demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming at 4K resolution. Our reviewer found the system performed exceptionally well in benchmarks, outpacing many competitors, including the Mac Studio in multi-core processing. Cooling was impressively quiet, even under heavy loads, and the system remainsedstable during demanding operations.
Pricing: At nearly £4,000, the HP Omen 45L is undeniably expensive. However, for professionals requiring extreme performance, it represents a worthwhile investment. Its ability to double as a gaming PC adds versatility, though the inclusion of a 2TB HDD alongside its SSD may feel out of place in such a high-end build.
When it comes to choosing which computer is best for graphic design, there are several key things you'll want to look for, and these are the pillars that also inform which devices we have included in the list above.
For starters, you'll need enough power to run the best graphic design software without stuttering. Ideally, you'll want a CPU with four, six or more cores to run creative software as well as 16GB memory if not more. A dedicated graphics card isn't a must-have unless you're also doing more demanding tasks like motion design or 3D rendering. For static design, the GPU sees little use and you can probably get away without a dedicated card. You'll also want enough storage space to be able to cope with your workflow. How much will depend on the type of files you work with and whether you also use external or cloud-based storage.
Finally, you'll need to decide what kind of setup you prefer. Some PCs for graphic design included in our list above are integrated, all-in-one devices that have their own monitor, keyboard and mouse. That can work out cheaper, it makes buying easier and it reduces desk clutter. However, if you want to be able to choose your monitor and peripherals or work across a multiple-monitor setup, you may prefer to buy a computer alone. Budget is obviously another concern, and we have aimed to include options at different price points.
Creative Bloq's team of hardware experts bring with them many years of experience using, testing and benchmarking computers with a focus on running creative applications. All the computers in this guide have been tested either by using graphic design software or benchmarked to ensure the CPU and GPU is capable of the most intensive graphic design tasks. We run different benchmark tests on each device depending on its intended use by its maker, but the benchmarks we've run all the computers in this guide through include the following:
• Cinebench R23/2024 - this assesses the performance of a computer's CPU and GPU using real-world 3D rendering tasks
• Geekbench 5/6 - this tests the CPU's processing power, both by using a single core for a single task at a time as well as all the CPU's core to see its ability to multitask
• 3DMark - this assesses a computer's ability to run 3D graphic rendering tasks
But perhaps more importantly than benchmarking, we evaluate machines in real-world scenarios, pushing them to the limit with multiple applications running to see how they perform in project-like conditions. Power, speed, flexibility, and what a computer looks and feels like to use are all criteria in our reviewing process. We do much more than simply unpack a test unit, run some benchmarks and then pack it up again; we have lived and worked with all of the above computers, running them in real-life scenarios and completed projects relevant to the subject of this guide, otherwise, we wouldn't recommend these models to you. For more details, see our article on How we test.
Should I buy a desktop computer or laptop for graphic design?
Desktop computers may have fallen out of favour 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 great laptops for graphic design out there that can help with your graphic design work, desktop computers can still provide more bang for buck.
Desktop PCs can usually be configured according to your needs, and tend to be more affordable than a laptop with comparable specifications. Windows desktop PCs for graphic design also have the advantage of being customisable, so you can replace and upgrade components as needed.
What specs does a desktop computer need to run graphic design software?
Ideally, you'll want a CPU with four, six or more cores to run creative software as well. A dedicated graphics card isn't needed for static design but is worth considering if you also do motion design.
One thing a PC for graphic design definitely does need is memory, or RAM. If you're working on designs that feature a lot of layers or effects, you may find your RAM allocation getting eaten up quickly. We recommend at least 16GB, but 32GB RAM is ideal.
As for storage, you'll want a speedy SSD with enough space to handle the types of files that you'll be working with. Vector design files can be quite large, and we would generally recommend around 1TB of storage unless you're routinely storing your files in cloud storage or external SSDs.
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 its 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.
Windows PCs are typically much cheaper than Apple alternatives, and desktop towers are usually easy to upgrade, which can greatly prolong the lifespan of a machine. For an especially beefy build, you can 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. You also have the option of touchscreen all-in-ones.
Apple devices on the other hand, while more expensive in some regions, are known for being high-quality and are well-optimised for creative work. They have 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. Both operating systems are well-optimised to support the hardware and software needs of graphic designers. Ultimately, the preference is largely subjective, and many people tend to prefer to stick with the operating system that they are most familiar with.
With the new M3 iMac now out, the previous M1 all-in-one is seeing solid discounts, making it excellent value. It still provides enough power for programs like Illustrator and a great webcam. Read more below
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Adam is the Content Director of Subscriptions and Services at Future, meaning that he oversees many of the articles the publisher produces about antivirus software, VPN, TV streaming, broadband and mobile phone contracts - from buying guides and deals news, to industry interest pieces and reviews. Leading and developing a great team, Adam can still be seen dusting his keyboard off to write articles for the likes of TechRadar, T3 and Tom's Guide, having started his career at consumer champions Which?.
