Published on : 18 June 20203 min reading time

The choice between a laptop or a desktop PC is often a difficult one. The two are equal with each having its advantages and disadvantages.

Autonomy

As far as battery life is concerned, the laptop has the advantage. Indeed its battery allows it a greater economy. Some laptop models can be on for up to 9 hours before needing to be recharged. Whereas most desktop computers need to be plugged into the mains to be started.

It is estimated that the average power consumption of a desktop PC is 250kWh, compared to 50kWh for its portable counterpart.

Even more, the energy autonomy would influence the longevity of a computer. A notebook PC is therefore more qualitative over time. Thus the autonomy is a criterion often forgotten but which has its importance when you have to choose between fixed or portable PC.

Scalability

The scalability of a computer reflects its ability to be improved with respect to its components. Here the advantage is given to desktop PCs. However, you can also change the components of a laptop but you are limited, and even more so if you use a Mac. Thus the desktop PC can always be at the cutting edge of technology by improving its components. For example, you can replace the current screen of your computer with a state of the art touch screen. You can also add more memory or storage space.

This ability to evolve is a popular criteria for gamers who want the best components to run their favorite games. This is especially important as today’s games are evolving and require increasingly complex configurations, resulting in higher performance processors and graphics cards.

Which one to take

In addition to these factors of autonomy and scalability, the criteria of budget and need are also taken into account. First of all, you should know that the larger your budget, the wider your range of choices.

In general, a desktop PC costs about 30% less than a laptop for equivalent levels of performance. But this price difference can be compensated for by the greater mobility a laptop offers. A laptop can be taken with you anywhere, unlike a desktop computer, and takes up much less space.

The desktop PC should have a space entirely dedicated to it, in the living room or in your office for example. However, there are variants such as the mini PC which, from an aesthetic point of view, is in harmony with your living room. The desktop PC also has the advantage that it can be connected to various peripherals such as a printer for example.

To conclude, the choice of your computer depends only on you and the functions you want to use it for.