Best Desktop Computers for Music Production

Let’s get you producing and mixing with the best desktop computers for music production in 2022.

Best Choices: the Apple 27-inch iMac is still a top choice for serious producers, giving you pretty much everything you need.
For Windows users Sweetwater Custom Computing CS400 4U is a custom computer that gives you everything you need..

If you’re on a budget, the Lenovo ThinkCentre also fulfills our criteria, all from a solid brand.

Music Production Nerds is supported by readers like you! If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn a small commission at no expense to you.

The truth is that the chances that today’s standard computer could be suitable for producing, editing, mixing and even mastering. But as mentioned in the Buying Guide, there are a few things you want to keep in mind when selecting for an ideal computer. These products listed below, regardless of price, will accomplish that for you.

Apple 27-inch iMac

Pros

• Nano texture screen
• Fast processor
• 1080p camera

Cons

• Expensive
• Uncomfortable keyboard

See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater

This is one of the Apple’s flagship desktop computers with a 27” Retina 5K display and a very powerful Intel i9 processor. The display offers you 1 billion colors and 500 nits of brightness.

Best features and specs

Apple 27-inch iMac’s 10-core Intel Core i9 processor is up to any task and can handle even the most intricate and complex music production and all of its power is complemented with very fast DDR4 memory.

User impressions

Users like that the Apple 27-inch iMac is fast, powerful, and reliable. Users add that the fact that Apple inserted SSDs instead of Fusion Drives gives you the best performance possible. Also, nano texture options will prove to be worthy as it reduce glare tremendously.

What we think

As with all of the Apple products, you either love or hate it. But it for sure wouldn’t leave you indifferent. That being said, 8GB of RAM is barely sufficient for modern music production.

Bottomline

Apple 27-inch iMac is a great choice for someone who is looking for an extremely stylish desktop computer perfectly tailored for any given media production. It should also be noted that it’s not a particularly cheap device.

Apple 24-inch iMac

Pros

• Sleek design
• Good audio and video capture

Cons

• Limited RAM and storage options
• Not enough ports
• Not that adjustable

See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater

A fresh Apple iMac iteration with an updated and simply stunning design and 4.5K Retina display. It also features a newly-released Apple M1 8-Core processor.

Best features and specs

Apple M1 has an integrated graphics processor with 8 cores and 8 GB of unified memory. What’s truly shocking is that the body is only 11.5 mm thin.

User impressions

Users like the Apple 24-inch iMac for its looks and excellent performance. Also, its compact size, excellent webcam, and microphones save you a lot of money, so you don’t have to invest in peripherals. Users add that having a PC with a 4.5K screen really helped them in doing their work flawlessly, without any eyestrain.

What we think

For someone who cares more about appearance than performance, this would be an ideal device. But considering that both CPU and GPU share a memory, you might struggle with large and intense audio projects.

Bottomline

Apple 24-inch iMac is a great choice for someone who is looking for an extremely stylish desktop computer that not only will improve the looks of your recording space but also would provide you with sufficient computing power for small to medium music production.

Apple 21.5-inch iMac

Pros

• Affordable
• Plenty of ports

Cons

• RAM isn’t upgradeable
• Weak graphic processor

See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater

At this point, this particular version of the Apple iMac is a classic. It features a 7th generation Intel 5-core processor with integrated graphics and a full-HD back lid display.

Best features and specs

This version of iMac features 8-GB of DDR4 memory and although the processor itself isn’t particularly fast, it features Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz.

User impressions

Users say that the Apple 21.5-inch iMac is a good choice for those who don’t have a lot of free space and aren’t picky for specs. Users note though those other computers proved to be more versatile and perform well while doing a lot of work.

What we think

Although this Apple iMac is a lot less powerful than its newer versions, it’s also much cheaper.  So it’s up to you what trade-off are you willing to make.

Bottomline

Apple 21.5-inch iMac is a great choice for someone who is looking for a very reliable and famously minimalistic iMac with a rather decent performance. But if your workflow largely consists of virtual instruments, you may consider other options.

Apple Mac mini

Pros

• Quiet operation
• Good performance
• Affordable
• Compact form factor

Cons

• Can’t be upgraded
• Few Thunderbolt ports

See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater

Apple Mac mini features a new 8-Core M1 processor and 512 Gb of very fast and responsive SSD storage. This is one of the fastest pre-built computing solutions for music production and media in general.

Best features and specs

If you’re familiar with M1 chips, you already know that it has integrated graphics with 8 cores of processing power and 16 GB of unified memory. It’s contained in an extremely compact and stylish body.

User impressions

Users like that the Apple Mac mini has a compact form factor and minimalistic design, as well as the fact that it is affordable. It’s powerful to a certain point, but if you need a more versatile and mighty computer that can easily perform and handle programs and processes without any issues, you probably should look elsewhere.

What we think

If you’re looking for the best desktop computers for music production, you may not look any further since this particular device is powerful enough for even the most intense and heavy audio projects.

Bottomline

Apple Mac mini is a great choice for someone who is looking for an ultra-compact computer with a very minimalistic and stylish design on top of immense computing power. And what’s more important, it’s very reasonably priced for a device that has so much recognition and a lot of respect.

Sweetwater Custom Computing CS400 4U

Pros

• Optimized system for audio production
• Versatile
• Performs well under load

Cons

• Pricey
• Unattractive design

See price @ Sweetwater

CS400 is a PC built specifically with modern audio production in mind. Its encased 4U rack-mountable body comes with pre-installed Windows 10 with a bunch of extremely useful software such as Audacity audio editor and Libre Office software suite.

Best features and specs

Sweetwater Custom Computing CS400 4U offers you a very powerful 10th generation core i7 processor with a boost up to 5.1 GHz and 32 GB of extremely fast DDR4 memory. And to accommodate all of its power, it has 1 TB of extremely fast M.2 SSD storage.

User impressions

Users agree that Sweetwater Custom Computing CS400 4U is a truly powerful and versatile machine that is capable of performing great under load. Also, it continues to perform well through the years and proves to be a perfect workhorse handling any amount of music production tasks.

What we think

This could easily be the best desktop computers for music production, especially considering that it’s fully upgradeable. Not that you’ll need upgrading any time soon since it’s as fast and as powerful as it gets.

Bottomline

Sweetwater Custom Computing CS400 4U is a great choice for someone who is looking for a PC built specifically for audio production and designed to accommodate even the boldest projects you can imagine. And all things considered, the price is more than fair.

Sweetwater Custom Computing CS250 2U

Pros

• Made specifically for audio production
• Versatile
• Powerful

Cons

• Unattractive design

See price @ Sweetwater

CS250 is a 2U rack-mountable professional audio production workstation with an acoustically treated case that reduces operational noise and more than plenty of very fast storage space. It also comes with a pre-installed 64-bit Windows 10 Home Edition.

Best features and specs

CS250 is equipped with a 6-Core Intel i5 processor of 10th generation that offers you a Max Turbo Boost of 4.8 GHz and integrated Intel UHD graphics. It has 16 GB of 3200 Hz DDR4 memory with the ability of expansion up to 128 GB.

User impressions

Users are quite impressed with Sweetwater Custom Computing CS250 2U as it has really great performance is super quiet and powerful. Users add that this workstation is sturdy and well-built and has just the right amount of USB ports. Users praise this workstation for being something they have been looking for a long time.

What we think

The difference between the previous entry on this list and this one is how much actual space they take on the rack. And if rack space isn’t very important to you, it would be extremely hard to choose between those two.   

Bottomline

Sweetwater Custom Computing CS250 2U is a great choice for someone who is looking for an extremely powerful and fast workstation designed specifically for audio and video production. It’s rather reasonably priced and considering that you wouldn’t have to upgrade it any time soon, it’s truly is a bargain.

Lenovo ThinkCentre Desktop

Pros

• Compact form factor
• Well-built
• Efficient performance
• Global sustainability standard

Cons

• None

See price @ Amazon

Lenovo ThinkCentre M70S is a perfect solution for any modern computing tasks including audio production. It comes with a pre-installed Windows 10 Pro and staggering 32 GB of 3200 Hz DDR4 memory.

Best features and specs

Lenovo ThinkCentre Intel i7 8-core processor with integrated Intel UHD graphics is complemented by 2 4K display ports, 1 HDMI port, and 1 TB of SSD storage to handle the most demanding tasks for years to come.

User impressions

Users like Lenovo ThinkCentre Desktop for being compact and reliable PC that provides you with efficient performance. Having an SSD guarantees you more stability and workflow and lessens power consumption.

What we think

Although it’s not as quiet as the 2 previous entries on this list, it’s somewhat more compact. And within roughly the same price range it offers slightly more processing power.

Bottomline

Lenovo ThinkCentre Desktop is a great choice for someone who is looking for a very compact and extremely powerful PC that can easily handle even the heaviest audio production projects with a lot of virtual instruments and effects.

HP 27 All-in-One PC

Pros

• User-friendly design
• Touch screen
• Fast performance

Cons

• Isn’t easily adjustable

See price @ Amazon

HP 27 All-in-One PC is an extremely versatile computer with a full-HD touch screen and a very sleek and modern design. It comes with a pre-installed Windows 10 Home Edition.

Best features and specs

HP 27 All-in-One PC is equipped with a 4.7 GHz 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with integrated graphics and 16 GB of RAM.

User impressions

Users are quite impressed with HP 27 All-in-One PC because of its built quality and truly remarkable performance. Users add that this PC will handle every aspect of various creative tasks flawlessly.

What we think

Desktop PCs always were an Apple territory. And for some reason for years, no one would challenge them. Alongside Microsoft Surface devices, this is a very strong contender to move Apple for its pedestal.

Bottomline

HP 27 All-in-One PC is a great choice for someone who is looking for a very stylish and powerful desktop PC that could be a very strong alternative to Apple devices. So if you’re an avid Windows user, this one is for you.

Dell Inspiron Infinity Touch All in One Desktop

Pros

• Modern design
• HDMI port
• Touchscreen
• Affordable

Cons

• No Thunderbolt 3 ports

See price @ Amazon

Speaking of Apple rivals, Dell Inspiron 7000 is a 27” desktop PC with a Full-HD touchscreen and pre-installed Windows 10 Home Edition. It has a fresh and very futuristic design and incredible build quality.

Best features and specs

Its Intel-Core i7 with 2.8 GHz clock speed is complemented by 60 GB of RAM An both 1 TB HDD and 512 GB SSS storage drives. It also offers you a discreet GeForce MX 330 graphic card with 2 GB of RAM.

User impressions

Users like Dell Inspiron Infinity Touch All in One Desktop for being a really well-built PC that is packed with useful features and performs really well on every occasion.

What we think

Dell Inspiron 7000 stands out the most with its discreet graphics card. Since it reduces the load on the CPU and lets you get more benefit from the hardware accelerated applications.

Bottomline

Dell Inspiron Infinity Touch All in One Desktop is a great choice for someone who is looking for a desktop PC with a decent performance and a futuristic design.

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Music Production Desktop Computer Buying Guide

As you already know, a computer is essential if you want to do any production work. Particularly when it comes to music. Any music that you hear has, at some point, passed through someone’s DAW on their computer. There are different kinds of computers though, and many of these computers have different kinds of specifications, some which won’t be ideal for making music.

So in order to choose among the list of computers, we need to look into how to choose the best desktop PC for music production.

How to choose

When it comes to computers, you actually have two choices. There is Mac, and then there is Windows.

The fact is, you can go with either Mac or Windows. Both systems are reliable enough to produce, mix, and master any kind of music. But not all Macs, nor not all PCs will be fit to do the job. They both will require a base set of specifications to make them an ideal or essential part of your production process, especially if your looking for a music production computer for professional use.

Mac Vs PC

The reason why you’d choose a Mac, is because it is the industry standard for media production. This is slowly changing, though, but for now, that is the case. So if you plan on working a professional industry studio, and know that you have to exchange a lot of files with their system, you’d most likely need a Mac. Also, some DAWs (like Logic and Pro Tools) were created to work on a Macintosh system (Pro Tools recently enabled Windows support, but Mac still works best for them).

When it comes to Windows, you’d want a Windows computer for a few reasons. Either you want a cheap computer, you want a computer for gaming, you want a computer where you can easily update its internal components, or you are familiar with Windows, and you know that working on a Windows will not impede your professional opportunities in the industry some way or another.

For example. If you plan on going to college to study sound engineering and music production, get a Mac. If you plan on taking some online courses and get into business for yourself, you can use a Windows.

Form Factor

Form factor refers to the shape and design of the physical system itself. There are a few form factors that you can choose from.

For the purposes of this guide, we’ll look at 3 PC form factors: Tower PC, desktop PC, and all-in-one PC. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages. You can assess which is right for you based on the the pros and cons for each.

#1 – The Tower PC

Tower cases are built with a vertical chassis. They generally take up a small floor space, so they can fit in a tighter spot on your studio floor or desk. Also they a more spacious inside, making them easier to get into if you want to upgrade their internal components.

The main disadvantage of a tower case computer, is that they don’t come with their own display unit. Also, you’d be giving up vertical space for the relatively narrow floor room they can fit in.

#2 – The Desktop PC

Like the name suggests, a desktop case is designed to be placed on your desk. Desktop computers are designed, then, with a horizontal chassis.

Just like a tower case, you’d find them beneficial for changing out internal components. Another great benefit of a desktop is the ability for it to be fit on your studio equipment rack.

The main disadvantage of a desktop is the amount of space they take up on a desk, as well as the lack of display unit.

#3 – The All-In-One PC

An all-in-one computer has everything built into one unit, which is designed around a monitor. The main advantage is that you get a monitor with your purchase. As a purchase, all-in-ones are the fastest and easiest to set up and get going right out of the box.

The main disadvantage is that an all-in-one computer makes changing internal components  difficult, as well as, if you have to change or upgrade something, you’d have to either ship the entire thing back to the manufacturer, leaving you without a computer, or get a brand new computer instead. This is because since everything is built into one unite. Hard drive, CPU, and monitor especially.

Basic requirements

In music production, there are some basic performance requirements needed to get the best out of your production experience. You’re working with plugins and software that are going to require some amount of power to manage. So having the right processor and RAM will prevent you from having too many glitches that will just ruin your ability to produce high quality music.

Also, you want enough storage space to organise and store all your sound files, system files, and libraries. I can tell you right now, that you are going to need quite a bit of space if you plan on working on songs, especially high quality song files. Space runs out fast on a 500GB hard drive.

The basic specs that you want are:

Processor

A processor with a speed 2.5 GHz and up. Ideally 3 GHz. Having duo, quad, or octa core is best, since the processor will be able to handle more multitasking (especially if you have your sound files stored on the same disk as your OS and plugins).

Intel Core i5 or an AMD equivalent are you base options.

Storage

A hard drive with at least 500 GB is acceptable if you plan on only mixing and mastering. You have enough space to save all your music, and you don’t have a large sample library to deal with if all you’re doing is mixing and mastering fully produced songs.

However, my suggestion is 1 TB. This is especially if you do beat-making, composing for film or game, songwriting, or any similar production work. Your library will grow more and more over time. So you’ll find that even 1 TB is not going to be enough. Telling you this from experience

You can also choose between a solid state drive and a hard drive disk. If you can, go for solid state drive (SSD). They are essentially flash drives with no moving parts. Meaning instantaneous loading of all your software and files.

Finally, in terms of storage, you have two options. You can have one hard drive for installing all your systems files plus music production content — the same drive that your OS and other programs are installed. Or, you can have two seperate drives: one drive for system files, and another drive for your sound libraries, samples, and instruments.

Some of the computers on this list come with two hard drives with this arrangement. The benefit is that you get a fast load time or your software, since your computer doesn’t have to do double duty searching for files on the hard drive to run the software, as well as load up samples and sound libraries from the same hard drive. This means a more streamlined PC performance.

Memory

A computer uses memory to quickly store and cache files so that it doesn’t have to keep referring to the main hard drive. This is called random-access memory (or RAM). Think of this as “instant recall.” The larger the memory, the better, especially when dealing with large libraries and sound files.

8 GB is your base requirement.

Ports & Drives

Since you’re getting a computer to produce and mix music, it’s pretty much essential your choice is one that has a DVD R/W drive.

A few options, unfortunately, won’t give you that. Namely, the Macintosh computer. This means you’d need to get an external DVD drive.

In addition to the drives, are the connections and ports you’ll need to have. Since you’re plugging in MIDI devices into your computer, it goes without saying that having a good amount of USB ports will do you some good. Aim to at least 6 USB ports.

Computer noise

You may not realize this, but your computer makes a sound. The fan and hard drive produces sounds that can be loud or soft, or give subtle hum. If you are recording anything, and you have a simple studio set up with your microphone on your desk, you need an ultra quiet system.

Even when mixing music, the sound of your computer can interfere with what you’re hearing.

All the computers in this list are considered either extremely quiet, or relatively quiet.

Budget

The final consideration is how much you are willing to spend. In the area of computers, you can be a little bit more flexible than with your other studio gear. A lot of computers can surprisingly handle the workload, even some basic consumer PCs. More professional PCs will cost you in the thousands of dollars, while you can get some budget machines for under 500.

The benefit of an advanced computer is simply storage and power. Instant loading of programs, files, and seamless production, with the ability to render high quality audio without a taxing your system.

A lower budget computer will struggle a little bit with loading softwares and plugins. And they may hang a little longer when you try to load a VST plugin into your DAW. If you know you work on a timely basis (such as with clients), this may eat a little into your studio time while waiting on patches to load. But if you’re simply getting started and doing your own productions on your own time, the budget PC is the way to go.

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FAQs

How to optimize your computer for music production?

• Optimize your computer for music production with these simple steps:-
• Change the power option to high performance
• Disable the system sounds; you don’t want any computer sounds interfering with the recordings
• Change the processor scheduling to background service
• Disable updates
• Turn off animated windows
• Disable Anti-Virus apps and Firewall apps
• Update network adapter driver

How to set up my computer for music production?

Setting up your computer for music production is actually quite simple. Following are the basic essentials required for the setup:-

• Headphones and Speakers – Invest in some high-quality speakers and headphones. Studio monitors (powered speakers) deliver a neutral sound to perfectly mix and accurately detect the quality of recording.
• Stands and Cable – You’ll need a cable to connect the microphone to the audio interface along with some auxiliary cables to connect the audio interface to the speakers. A mic stand for microphone is a must for easy recording experience.
• Audio Interface – One of the most important hardware items required as it’s the central unit that acts as an interface between the computer, the microphone and the speakers. You can purchase an audio interface depending on your recording requirements and budget. Find the right ones here.
• Microphone – There are basically two options to connect the microphone with your computer. You can purchase a USB microphone, or record through an audio interface.
• Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) / Recording Software – The type of software depends on the kind of recording you are planning to do. If it’s an undemanding record and edit, the Audacity Recording Software (free software) will do. An alternate software could be the Reaper (60 day free trial), which is the complete package when looking for a DAW. You can take a look at some of the other best options I recommend.
• MIDI Keyboard Controller – If you make music straight through a mic, then the need for a MIDI Keyboard Controller doesn’t arise. However, if you wish to create your own music sheet and work with virtual instruments, then the controller is a must.  You can simply connect it to your computer via a USB cable. Take a look at the top choices.

How to upgrade your computer for music production?

Outdated hardware and software affects the performance of the desktop. Below are some tips to upgrade your computer by tweaking the software and hardware respectively

• Opt for a Solid State Hard Drive
• Get more RAM space
• Get a 64-bit software (if you’re currently using a 32-bit)
• Clear the clutter on a regular basis (games, movies, apps, etc.)
• Upgrade the CPU (Hard drive and RAM)

Is a desktop or laptop better for music production?

Desktops – These are generally the popular choice among people who are producing music at home. This is because it offers a more reliable performance and value for money. Additionally, desktops are comparatively easy to upgrade, which is an important point to remember for future proofing your home studio.

Laptops – If you travel frequently for gigs, then a laptop is the ideal option for you. Some would say a laptop may not be able to match the performance levels of a desktop when it comes to music production. But many newer models are able to handle even the most strenuous music production tasks. Take a look at some of the ones recommended here.

Is a gaming computer good for music production?

PC’s that are specially built for intense gaming can actually be quite effective for music production. It is better to go for an i7 instead of an i5 processor because unlike gaming that mainly depends on the graphic card for a high end performance, all the major elements of a music production like plugins, VST instruments, libraries, etc. rely on the CPU for effective functioning.

What is the best computer processor for music production?

The processor for music production should be able to reduce spikes and protect the DAW from crashing. One of the best processors in the market today for music production is the Intel Core i7 5960x (scoring a notable 15991 on the cpubenchmark.net test). This processor offers a super smooth production experience with its 8 hyper-threaded cores along with a core speed of 3.0 GHz featuring 3.5 GHz turbo boost.

How to connect a studio microphone to a computer?

Typically all computers come with a microphone port that can connect a dynamic microphone using an appropriate jack. However, this method doesn’t deliver the sound quality that professional music recorders look for. For that high-quality professional recording experience, here are two effective ways to connect the studio microphone to your computer:-

USB Microphones: It is a high-quality microphone that directly plugs into the USB port, making it a simple and ideal option. Simply plug the USB cable of the microphone to the USB port on your desktop or laptop and the device is ready to use.

USB Audio Interface: If you require more than one microphone unit, you can opt for a USB Audio interface that is designed to connect multiple microphones along with other instruments. The audio interface comes equipped with the necessary software and preamps to offer a high-quality recording experience.

How do you connect studio monitors to computer?

One of the easiest ways to connect studio monitors to a computer is through an audio interface. However, it is important to note that you have the right cables; so look at the back of your studio monitor and the audio interface to match up the right cable. Here are three easy steps to connect your studio monitor to the computer via audio interface.

Take a look at this video for more info:

How to record studio-quality vocals on your computer?

To record studio-quality vocals on your computer, you need the following three basic equipment:

• An audio Interface that connects a microphone to the PC via USB, and powers it thorough 48v ‘phantom power’
• A microphone, preferably a large diaphragm condenser mic
• Music software or DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

The next step is to ensure that all these elements are connected to your PC in a proper manner with correct wiring. Your system should be able to recognize your audio interface and you can tag your microphone from the “Audio Input” option in the “Preferences” menu. All that’s left to do is hit the “Record” button, and if everything is connected properly, you’ll able to see the software recording the sound going into the microphone. If there’s no sound, make sure that the phantom power is turned on and the gain volume is turned up. Lastly, check your program settings or preferences, and make sure the audio input is set to audio interface.

How to connect synthesizer to computer FL studio?

The best way to connect a synthesizer to a computer FL studio is via an audio interface. It is simple and effectively syncs your synthesizer with your desktop. Here’s how you can go about it:-

• Connect the audio interface to the computer via USB cable
• Again, connect the synthesizer and audio interface using a standard USB cable
• Plug in one end of the TSR cable into the ‘line input’ of the synthesizer and the other end into the input of audio interface.
• Now, go to FL studio, click on “Live”, and then select “Preference” and click on “Audio”.
• In the Audio section, click on the “Audio Input Device” and select your audio interface.
• Further click on the “Audio Output Device” below and again select your audio interface.
• All your devices are now synced and ready to create music.

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Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you would’ve found the best one for your studio.

By the end of this guide, you not only would have found the perfect computer, you also would’ve learned how to choose the right computer. You may not have realized the several form factors that exist (even though I’m certain you were aware of them). But more importantly, you now learned how each form factor should influence your buying decision.

Not only that, you got an understanding of the basic requirements of a good music production computer. And because there are so many computers on the market, you now have a list of only ten to choose from.

How do you choose?

You simply figured out how much money you wanted to spend, if it was a Mac or PC, and what form factor was important for your setup. That’s simply it!

What say you? What do you think is the best desktop computer for music production? Do you have any suggestions? Or what computer do you use?

Leave a comment below for your thoughts, recommendations, and questions if you need more clarification.

Otherwise, please share this with your friends, or anyone you think would find this post useful.

And remember to check out my home studio equipment guide for more of the best gear to buy.

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How we came to these results

This is the result of hours and days of searching through Amazon and other computer stores on the internet to find the computers on the market now that fit the above requirements. Our sources were mainly Amazon, other pro audio outlets, as well as forums such as Gearslutz.com to assess what producers consider the best requirements for a computer.

The choices for this list were factored based on specifications, design, brand reliability, and user reviews on Amazon. Also, being a producer myself, I utilized my own experience with computers over the years to make the choices I would make when I buy the best desktop computer for music production, in whatever price bracket.