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 Main Image
 

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 HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t Dell Studio XPS 9000 HP Touchsmart 600t HP Pavilion Elite HPE-170t Sony Vaio JS Series Dell Studio One 19 Gateway LX-6810-01 HP Touchsmart 300z HP Pavilion Elite HPE-150t
Apple iMac HP Pavilion Elite HPE-180t Dell Studio XPS 9000 HP Touchsmart 600t HP Pavilion Elite HPE-170t Sony Vaio JS Series Dell Studio One 19 Gateway LX-6810-01 HP Touchsmart 300z HP Pavilion Elite HPE-150t
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Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Ratings
Features Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Very Good Excellent
Expert Reviews Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Poor
User Reviews Excellent Excellent Very Good Good Excellent Very Good Good Good Excellent Excellent
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots        View Dell Studio One 19 screenshots    
Features
Hard Drive 500 GB 750 GB 640 GB 750 GB 640 GB 500 GB 500 GB 640 GB 320 GB 500 GB
Memory 4 GB 8 GB 4 GB 4 GB 6 GB 4 GB 3 GB 8 GB 2 GB 4 GB
Audio Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated Integrated
Optical Drive DVD-RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD Burner DVD RW
Video Card NVIDIA GeForce 9400M ATI Radeon HD 4650 NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 NVIDIA GeForce G200 ATI Radeon HD 5450 NVIDIA GeForce 9300M NVIDIA GeForce 9400 NVIDIA GeForce GT120 ATI Radeon HD 3200 ATI Radeon HD 4350
Video Memory 256 MB 1 GB 1 GB 320MB 1 GB 256 MB 1 GB 1 GB 256 MB 512 MB
Warranty 1 Year 2 Year 2 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 2 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 3.06GHz 2.66GHz 2.66GHz 2.1GHz 2.8Ghz 2.70GHz 2.93GHz 2.33GHz 2.70GHz 2.66GHz
Depth 7.44 in. 16.9 in 20.9 in 2.8 in 16.9 in 6.2 in 3.2 in 19.0 in 20.5 in 16.9 in
Height 20 in. 15.8 in 19.4 in 17.8 in 15.8 in 16.1 in 15.5 in 17.7 in 16.2 in 15.8 in
Operating System Mac OS X Windows 7 Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre Windows Vista Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre Windows Vista Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre Windows 7 Home Pre
Weight 25 lb. 28 lbs 40 lbs 35.3 lbs 28 lbs 18.7 lbs 22.7 lbs 37.2 lbs 24 lbs 28 lbs
Width 21.77 in. 7.1 in 7.8 in 23.0 in 7.1 in 19.2 in 21.9 in 7.5 in 4.7 in 7.1 in
 
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