The All in One, has for years been competing for head to head to reign in the digital home. Its impeccable aesthetic and easy configuration are some of its strengths.
Personal computers have long divided into two families: those used in a fixed location and which can carry around anywhere. In the second category, notebooks and Ultrabooks are by permission of the tablets, the undisputed kings, while the first can choose between traditional tower accompanied by a monitor (desktop), the mini-PCs or bet in place by the teams AIO, hiding behind the screen all components and thus achieve an unparalleled aesthetic harmony. To place in the bedroom, in the living room or an office facing the public in most cases simply plug one cord to supply current, while keyboard and mouse are wireless (and matching chassis).
But not all advantages, because although they are well powerful, their expansion possibilities are limited and lose here against the versatility of a typical desktop. In the best case, we can expand the RAM and hard drive, but we are hardly allowed to add new components. In this sense, they are more like laptops, with which they also share a range of dedicated graphics cards (smaller than those of desktop and usually also less powerful).
However, current configurations offer spare capacity, latest batch processors and large amounts of memory and storage gigabytes no need to resort to external hard drives. Moreover, since the arrival of first AIO market, its evolution has not experienced spectacular jumps (beyond some models with a touchscreen or three – dimensional vision), which seems to Cambria with Windows 8 in terms of new design concepts. Let’s see what we should look to acquire ‘All in One’.
Buying Tips
First, and as with other computers, we attend to the type of processor included. The third revision of the Intel Core processors (Ivy Bridge) is now the most common, offering a level of performance to match expectations. We may find less recent models that are committed by the previous generation (Sandy Bridge), whose power is also satisfactory and enable us to save valuable dollars without compromising in any way the end result.
Of course, however, the GPU integrated (Intel HD Graphics 3000) is well below the new Intel HD Graphics 4000, which is more like the cards dedicated input range. In the case of the processor for business use vCore, it is usually a graphic Intel HD Graphics 2500, halfway between the two.
However, most manufacturers assembled in their own card configurations AMD or NVIDIA, which usually justify the disbursement and add a plus for video games or multimedia. In this case, you can consult the comparative performance of each with the 3DMark 11 benchmark, one of a complete respects.
As for RAM, the minimum acceptable should be 4 Gbytes to avoid problems with Windows 7 or Windows 8, and most recommended bet for 8 Gbytes to forget enlargements, most modern operating at speeds of 1600 MHz and exhibit superior to 1333 MHz, with still live performance.
If we focus on the display type included, we have much choice. The most affordable models usually from 21.5″, while the top end reaches 27″, perfect if our interest is to watch movies directly in the All in One. The market average, however, is 23″ or 24″, sufficient for most applications. In all resolution should be at least HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) to enjoy a satisfactory manner, the more inches more resolution we still desirable.
And depending on our needs, or especially if we take full advantage of new capabilities of Windows 8, betting on a touch screen can be interesting. The most complete contribute 10 points of simultaneous pressure to support multitouch gestures advanced. As a bonus, but not yet definitely off (as with TVs new batch), we have the 3D technology, which increases considerably the product and spend more on a whim than by an undeniable benefit.
Special relevance charges tilt base if we opted for a tactile model because the more options we have more comfortable positioning we will use it with your hands. Typically in any All in One is that at least about 45° incline, while others are completely able to lie down and reach 180°, adopting a fully horizontal position.
To honor his name “all in one”, including TV tuner is another area of interest, in which case also will have a remote control to conveniently control all the multimedia features of the machine. So, play videos and music becomes an identical experience to that of the appliances until recently ubiquitous in any home. And, in line with this aspect, we also recommend testing the integrated speakers before purchase to see if the sound pleases us.
Connectivity and storage
Another feature that should be set is the arrangement of the cables. As we advance, the AiO opt for wireless, both to connect to the network to interact with the keyboard and mouse (thanks to infrared, Bluetooth or WiFi), which simply plug into an electrical outlet and ready. In this case, if the transformer is integrated into the chassis, it will be all the cleaner and tidy.
In terms of connectivity, it is now essential the presence of at least one pair of USB 3.0 ports, much faster than type 2.0 and fully compatible and have some of them on one side of the screen and not everyone in the rear (with what we find it easier to connect USB drives and other peripherals in a timely manner, without having to seek entry blind). In some cases, moreover, outputs or video inputs with which to replicate the screen or even get to use the monitor with another computer independently incorporated.
Finally, traditional hard drives are still the predominant choice, although there are manufacturers that combined with small solid state drives (SSD) for the operating system to run more smoothly. 1 terabyte is a good starting point to store files without falling short, while in the case of incorporating SSD, 32 GB is the minimum with which complement it. Unlike with the most advanced laptops and Ultrabooks, it is still rare to find models that are committed exclusively to the Flash storage.
Meet tests conducted by PCLab
To compare all these All in One with each other as accurately as possible and homogenization, the first thing we did was to download and install all updates available system at that time, covering both Windows patches as the latest drivers.
As for benchmarks used, we have resorted to the usual Laboratory Current PC: PCMark 7, 3DMark 11, SiSoft Sandra 2012 and the values reflected in section Windows experience, including operating systems from Microsoft since the advent of Windows Vista. With them, we have known numerically the overall performance of the machine, its graphics power and the components present in each configuration in detail.
The most important of them all is PCMark 7, one of the most widely used tests to measure the overall performance of the team with common tasks, from office automation to Web browsing, image editing or video playback, among many others. Specifically, in executing real scenarios that recreate those conditions reliably, testing the performance of the processor, RAM, hard drive and other internal components are generated.
At the end, a global value, the higher you get, the higher performance means. This time, despite being already prepared to run under Windows 8, we could not complete the test equipment Sony, since there are still some incompatibilities with the new operating system that will be working out in successive weeks, related to certain drivers Intel.
With experience in Windows, much more generic scores are shown and coming to guide us “on paper”, using the database of Microsoft to score from 0 to 7.9 different sections: processor, memory, graphics, graphics games and primary hard drive. The lowest value obtained in any of them is shown in the general field. Here, with the AiO from Dell, it was not possible to know such data, a communication problem with the hard drive.
Graphics and component tests
Hand PCMark going 3DMark 11, also the work of Futuremark and charge in this case of measuring the graphics capability and its use with video games and renderings. It is fully compatible with both dedicated graphics with DirectX 11 and with the integrated GPU processors Sandy and Ivy Bridge (Intel HD Graphics 2500, 3000 and 4000). With all the computers we have implemented in Performance mode, focused on recording the performance under balanced with average values. The final score equals more power.
Finally, with the classic SiSoft Sandra 2012, we have a valuable tool to analyze each component and its behavior in isolation. In this case, we selected a series of tests related to the processor (computing power and multimedia performance CPU), the transfer speed of the hard disk and bandwidth RAM.
And focused on the design and construction of the team, when scoring each machine in our analysis we have also assessed that the screen was touch or not, which would include dedicated graphics, the presence of TV tuner and the ability of the base to lean, among other factors.
Capable in all scenarios
The main claim of the All in One, as it says its name, is to have everything you need on a single computer, although the appearance of the tablets and excellent supplementation smartphones and laptops is an interesting and versatile alternative. When you need to move the tandem of the latter three products to earn a desktop or AiO while at home every time we spend more time hooked to them and can seamlessly connect to a TV or external monitor, without going any further.
That said, the inclusion of Core processors third generation of Intel, Ivy Bridge, is a significant boost in performance for any computer, and All in One is no exception. We can clearly see by comparing the five teams analyzed that incorporated against the model of MSI (still based on Sandy Bridge ): although the latter is more affordable, global power is a lower third and if we do not need TV tuner or graphics dedicated to playing video games, for about 200 dollars more we can get the best performance obtained in our comparison: the Dell OptiPlex 9010 AiO , PC excellent design, quality and reliability, which although is specially designed for use in companies you can also have its place in our home (sacrificing graphics capability, yes).
But if there is a product that has caught our attention, that has been the VAIO Tap 20 from Sony : original, portable and even convertible tablet, it is a perfect solution for use as a computer to use with keyboard and mouse in a room and easily move to the living room to watch a movie at any time. And this, entire how could it be otherwise, taking advantage of the new possibilities that come with Windows 8.
Satisfactory performance
Meanwhile, those looking for All in One at destined to become the heart of our digital home, a immanence to bet on the proposed use Acer, Asus, and HP. Machines are impeccable, with the latest components and assembly quality spare, in addition to all with huge screens 27″.
Differences filed at if we want to watch TV in them or not and whether we will need your control are touch, something interesting to take advantage of the new operating system from Microsoft.
As for what we can do with them, practically may face trouble any current scenario, and although it is true that more than the price, sacrificing expandability of these and also with a lower capacity. What’s more, if the past in our comparison of month Ultrabooks some of those portable new – fangled (incredibly light and dazzling designs) exceeded 5,000 points in PCMark 7, in this case, and with a similar disbursement, the cap has been in 3,800.
Best: Exquisite Design
In those places where we want to optimize space or look for a team that fits well with the public, the All in One are virtually unbeatable: do without the traditional tower next to the screen, simply connect a cable (or, failing that, an external transformer) and offer large screens.
The worst: Closed Settings
Failing to extend little more than the RAM and hard drive (at best) can be frustrating, especially if you intend to amortize the investment beyond the three to four years early life, but also be added with one or two terabytes of storage and 8 Gbytes of memory, is not a particular concern.