Best Desktops under £600 for programming and development

Best Pick

ASUS NUC 15 Pro Tall Barebone Kit

34 Developers Score
Intel Core 3 Series 1 0 0 Intel Graphics Mini

Best Desktops under £1,000 for programming and development

Best Pick

ASUS V500 V500 Home & Business

67.5 Developers Score
4.9 GHz core_i7 16GB RAM 1TB Intel UHD Graphics Tower
Why we recommend this

Its 10-core Intel Core i7-13620H processor provides strong multi-threaded performance for demanding workloads, supported by fast DDR5 RAM and PCIe SSD storage. The desktop offers excellent connectivity with seven USB ports and dual-monitor support, coming ready with a wired keyboard and mouse. This tower is best for developers compiling code or business users running multiple virtual machines and productivity applications.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

ASUS ExpertCenter PN54 Mini Barebone

67.2 Developers Score
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 32GB RAM 0 AMD Radeon 860 Desktop
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.55kg chassis houses an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor and supports up to 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM, making it a powerful yet space-efficient unit. The inclusion of WiFi 7 and a discrete AMD Radeon 860 GPU provides excellent connectivity and solid graphical output for a business desktop. This system is best for business users and developers who need a reliable, high-performance mini PC for office applications and coding environments.

Read Full Review

ASUS Mini PC NUC 13 Pro Slim Barebone Kit

60.4 Developers Score
Intel Core i7 13620H 64GB RAM 0 Intel Iris Xe Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics deliver solid performance within a 0.51kg chassis that supports dual storage drives. The system's extensive connectivity, including Thunderbolt 4 and 2.5G Ethernet, is notable for such a compact form factor. This barebone kit is best for IT departments or home office users building reliable, space-efficient workstations for general productivity and digital signage.

ASUS NUC 15 Pro+ NUC 15 Pro+ Barebone Kit

51.6 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 5 225H 0 0 Intel Arc Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.59kg chassis houses a 14-core Intel Ultra 5 processor and integrated Intel Arc graphics with 16GB of dedicated VRAM, making it a uniquely powerful mini PC. The system offers excellent future-proofing with PCIe 5.0 storage, DDR5 memory slots, and modern connectivity like WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt. This barebone kit is best for professionals seeking a highly portable, modular workstation for business applications and light creative tasks, not gaming.

Read Full Review

Best Desktops under £2,000 for programming and development

Best Pick

ASUS Mini PC NUC 15 Pro Plus

79 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 7 32GB RAM 1TB Intel Arc Graphics Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 0.60kg form factor houses a capable 16-core Intel 255H processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, making it a powerful yet space-efficient desktop. The inclusion of Thunderbolt and WiFi 7 connectivity provides excellent future-proofing for high-speed peripherals and networks. This mini PC is best for developers and home office users who need substantial processing power in a minimal footprint, but not for graphics-intensive tasks.

Read Full Review

Best Desktops under £3,000 for programming and development

Best Pick

ASUS ROG NUC Gaming 2025

83.4 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 16GB RAM 1TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Mini
Why we recommend this

Its compact 3-liter chassis houses a 24-core Intel 275HX CPU and a discrete NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti GPU, delivering desktop-class gaming power in a mini PC form factor. The system's triple-fan QuietFlow cooling keeps noise down during intense sessions, while its tool-free design makes memory and storage upgrades straightforward. This machine is best for gamers with limited desk space who still demand high frame rates and ray tracing performance in modern titles.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

ASUS ExpertCenter PN54 Mini

69.1 Developers Score
AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 16GB RAM 1TB AMD Radeon 860 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 8-core CPU and integrated Radeon 860M graphics provide solid performance for office tasks in a remarkably compact 0.55kg chassis. The inclusion of WiFi 7 and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD ensures fast connectivity and storage for modern workflows. This mini PC is best for home office users and small businesses needing a powerful, space-saving desktop for productivity and video conferencing.

Read Full Review

Premium Desktops for programming and development

Best Pick

ASUS ROG NUC Gaming 2025

91.5 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 32GB RAM 2TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 24-core Intel 275HX CPU and discrete NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU deliver desktop-class gaming performance in a compact 3L chassis. The system's QuietFlow cooling and tool-free upgrade design make it both quiet and user-serviceable. This mini PC is best for gamers who need maximum power in a small footprint for high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K gaming.

Read Full Review

Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

ASUS Republic of Gamers NUC Republic of Gamers NUC NUC15JNK Mini

87.1 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX 32GB RAM 1TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Mini
Why we recommend this

Its 24-core Intel Ultra 9 275HX CPU and discrete NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics deliver exceptional performance for gaming and demanding tasks within a compact 3.12kg chassis. The system is further bolstered by its 32GB of fast DDR5 RAM and comprehensive connectivity, including Thunderbolt and WiFi 7. This mini desktop is best for competitive gamers and software developers who need maximum power in a minimal footprint.

Read Full Review

ASUS ROG Strix G700

85 Developers Score
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K 128GB RAM 4TB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Tower
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the massive 192GB of DDR5 RAM paired with a 24-core Intel 285K CPU, providing extreme multitasking capability. The build is a powerful tower workstation with extensive connectivity, including Wi-Fi 6E and numerous rear ports for multiple monitors and peripherals. This desktop is best for developers running heavy virtual machines or data scientists processing large in-memory datasets.

Read Full Review