Do You Need a Multimedia PC?

Increasingly, people are using their computers to manage and edit their media, including video, digital photos, and music. Looking to convert all your VHS home videos to DVD?  Compiling a multimedia library? 

Multimedia computers will serve you best in the following tasks:

  • Editing Video: Editing, adding effects, animating or converting file types with programs like PowerDirector, ShowBiz or Ulead VideoStudio.
  • Audio Editing: Creating music mixes, recording Internet radio, converting file types or restoring music with programs like Dexter Audio Editor, GoldWave Digital Audio or Blaze Media Pro.
  • Photo Editing: Editing images, creating slide shows or photo galleries with programs like Adobe Photoshop Elements, PhotoImpact or Digital Image Suite.
  • Burning DVDs: Creating/copying slides shows, burning backup DVDs, restoring or converting/compressing files with programs like DVD Cloner, 1Click DVD Copy or Clone DVD.
  • Organizing Photos: Organize, archive, or share your family’s digital photo album with programs like Adobe Photoshop Album, Digital Image or Corel Photo Album.
  • Recording Television/Music: Recording programs utilizing software like Genuine Windows XP Media Center 2005.
  • If you are primarily interested in watching or storing DVDs, recording TV, listening to Internet radio or managing your music files, you may want to consider a Media Center PC, which is more like an entertainment center component than a desktop.
In this site, you’ll find articles related to multimedia computers, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side–by–side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which computer is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS — We do the research so you don’t have to.™ What to Look for in a Multimedia Computer

Multimedia computers require higher quality components than general use computers. We looked at several different systems from a variety of providers, and then compared their ability to handle media applications. We selected products with a retail price of under $2500 and were marketed as “multimedia” computers.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate multimedia computers:

  • Processor: The processor should run at a minimum of 3.0GHz, with a front bus speed of 800MHz. Those that offer dual or quad-core processors are better at running multiple applications and thus, rated better.
  • Memory: Multimedia requires a large amount of memory. The best computers offer at least a 500GB hard drive and 2GB of RAM.
  • Graphics Card: An exceptional graphics card is required for playing and recording DVDs, TV, digital video and games successfully. The best multimedia PCs come with at least a 256MB card.
  • Multimedia Features: Systems configured for multimedia should include a DVD burner/reader, surround sound, and inputs for connecting video, peripherals and other media devices.
  • Accessories: Accessories include keyboard, mouse, software, monitor or other devices. Software can be costly, so it is nice if the system comes ready to run with an operating system and the ability to burn DVDs and edit videos, photos or audio.
  • Value/Price: Cost effective computers offer above average features at a below average price.
  • Customer Service: Setting up a system can get complicated, so it is useful if the manufacturer offers helpful customer service by telephone, email and chat. Some companies may publish a comprehensive online FAQ or tutorial, as well as offer driver and software downloads.

 

 
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Multimedia Computer Review

High Velocity Media Management

Be the cinematographer, director, editor, and star in your own home studio with a fast processing multimedia computer. 

Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
Apple IMac Hewlett Packard Pavilion A1710n HP Touchsmart IQ504 Sony Vaio VGC-IS 25E Hewlett Packard Pavilion A1730n HP Pavilion M7750n H P Pavilion A1330n Hewlett Packard Z558 Hp Touchsmart Iq770 Sony Vaio VGX-XL2
Apple IMac Hewlett Packard Pavilion A1710n HP Touchsmart IQ504 Sony Vaio VGC-IS 25E Hewlett Packard Pavilion A1730n HP Pavilion M7750n H P Pavilion A1330n Hewlett Packard Z558 Hp Touchsmart Iq770 Sony Vaio VGX-XL2
Reviewer Comments Read Review
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Lowest Price Buy Apple IMac iMac
$1,399.00
N/A Buy HP Touchsmart IQ504 IQ504
$751.00
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
 
Overall Rating Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good
Ratings
Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good
Expert Reviews Excellent Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor Poor
User Reviews Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots           
Features
Hard Drive 500 GB 320 GB 320 GB 250 GB 300 GB 400 GB 250 GB 300 GB 1 x320 GB - Standard - Serial ATA - 7200 rpm 320 GB
Memory 2 GB 1 GB 4 GB 2 GB / 2 GB(max) 2 GB 2 GB 1 GB 1 GB 2 GB 1 GB
Audio Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated AC97 Audio Codec Integrated Integrated Integrated
Optical Drive DVD-RW DVD-RAM DVD-RW DVD DVD-RW Dual Layer DVD-RAM DVD-RW Dual Layer DVD-RW Dual Layer DVD DVD-RW Dual Layer
Video Card ATI Radio HD 2600 Pro NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE   NVIDIA GeForce 7400 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE ATI RADEON Xpress 200 NVIDIA GeForce 6600 NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT NVIDIA GeForce 6600GT
Video Memory 256 MB 128 MB 128 MB 256 MB 128 MB 128 MB 256 MB 128 MB 256 MB 128 MB
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year Limited warranty - 1 year - On-site, Technical support - Pho 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year
Networking Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz 2.2 GHz   1.83 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.6 GHz 2.4 GHz 3.2 GHz 1.6 GHz 2.8 GHz
2nd Optical Drive        16x (DVD)    
Depth 7.44 in. 17 in.   7.4 in 17 in. 16.54 in. 17 in. 16.6 in. 11.4 in 19.5 in.
Height 20 in. 15 in.   14.1 in 15 in. 15.16 in. 15 in. 4.4 in. 18.9 in 13.8 in.
Operating System Mac OS X Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows XP Media Center Windows XP Media Center Windows Vista Windows XP Media Center
Weight 25 lb. 24 lb.   15 lbs 24 lb. 27 lb. 24 lb. 24.5 lb. 38.1 lbs 86 lb.
Width 21.77 in. 7.17 in. 21.8 in 20.9 in 7.17 in. 7.6 in. 7.17 in. 17 in. 21.8 in 17 in.
 
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Lowest Price Buy Apple IMac iMac
$1,399.00
N/A Buy HP Touchsmart IQ504 IQ504
$751.00
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
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