The monoblock has a visual resemblance to a large monitor, the thickness of which is approximately 4 cm. In some cases, monoblocks are given the name All-in-One PC (all-in-one personal computer).
What it is
Considering the small dimensions of most apartments, an all-in-one computer can be an excellent option for anyone who cannot afford a separate workstation for installing a personal computer. Unlike laptops, all-in-one computers have fairly large screen sizes, making them much more convenient for home use.
Combining the powerful parameters of modern computers and at the same time fitting into a monitor case, one such universal device can easily replace many equipment:
- TV (thanks to the built-in TV tuner);
- personal computer system unit;
- widescreen monitor;
- means of communication using a webcam;
- multimedia center with multiple interfaces.
All this can be obtained in one monoblock, which will fit on any table, and, unlike a PC, will not take up much space, and will not become a dust collector with a large number of wires.
HDD or SSD
What is the best type of drive to choose for an all-in-one computer?
Hard disk (HDD) is a familiar storage device for many people on a computer, working thanks to hard (hence the name) magnetic disks inside. It is somewhat slow, but inexpensive. It is gradually being replaced by a solid-state drive (SSD) - a new generation version that has no moving elements inside and runs on flash memory.
Ideally, a monoblock should combine HDD and SSD. The first type of memory is quite cheap and common - it is ideal for storing large amounts of data that do not need to be constantly accessed during operation. For example, store work files, games and programs on it. An SSD allows you to receive a response from a file several times faster than a hard drive. But such a drive is expensive, and the volume is not very large.
Why are two types of drives needed? It's simple to differentiate the system:
- Install the operating system and several programs that are needed most often on the SSD. This will speed up your work with them, since the SSD has an increased response speed.
- Use the HDD as a storage for files (movies, music, games and other programs).
The size of each disk should be estimated individually. If you are going to work on a computer or take it for home use, and not store a lot of files on it, then a few hundred gigabytes on both drives are enough. If you are a professional designer or an experienced gamer, then it is better to purchase a HDD of at least 1 TB (or better, 2 or more), and an SSD of at least 256 GB.
DELL OptiPlex 7770
Large amount of built-in storage
This model comes with two pre-installed drives: a 256 GB SSD and a classic 1 TB HDD. Rating participant:
5 best gaming monoblocks
Advantages
Unlike laptops, the main advantage of an all-in-one is the screen matrix. With modern equipment, its quality can be comparable to an expensive and luxurious TV. If you are choosing a device that will be better for your home, then you should definitely think about buying an all-in-one.
The dimensions of this device are in no way comparable to mobile and portable devices. They reach from 15.5 to 27 inches, like modern monitors. In addition, unlike laptops, they are completely silent because they do not contain active cooling systems. And yet, almost no laptop is equipped with such a powerful speaker system and will not give you such sound quality.
If you are deciding which device is more suitable for your home and which is better, an all-in-one or a computer, then you should pay attention to several facts. As for the system units of personal devices, the advantages of compactness and the absence of wires are obvious. If we talk about the price of the issue, then it is almost the same for devices with identical characteristics.
As for savings, by using a “computer desk”, which, as a rule, is purchased and installed for a system unit, you can save not only space, but also extra money.
The best monoblock manufacturers
The main brands are Lenovo, HP, ASUS, Acer, Dell and MSI. Their products are similar in price and technical characteristics. Apple products stand out. It was its monoblocks that became an example in the field of AIO PC production. The luxury products of this brand combine a high-quality screen, beautiful design and very serious performance, which could not affect the cost. All current models of the American brand belong to the premium segment, and the price ranges from 70 for a 21.5" diagonal to 400 thousand rubles. for 27".
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any equipment, monoblocks have their advantages and disadvantages. The main advantages of purchasing such a device:
- compactness – the device can be placed anywhere;
- small size - it’s hard to believe, but all-in-one PCs take up much less space than tablets;
- no wires - using a wi-fi adapter, wireless keyboard and mouse, the only wire will be the power cable;
- widescreen screen with excellent resolution and wide viewing angle;
- good sound system included;
- touch screen that allows you to control the system with one movement;
- nice appearance of the case and design, compared to the system unit.
Despite the number of technological advantages, there are also some disadvantages:
- complete lack of possibility to upgrade individual spare parts;
- cooling problems and the risk of overheating associated with the lack of active ventilation and the closeness of equipment to each other;
- there is no possibility of connecting an additional hard drive (only through external USB ports);
- problems with self-repair or replacement of devices (troubleshooting is only possible through a service center and is almost always expensive).
If you're a tech-savvy or an avid gamer, you might not want to buy an all-in-one PC. Because replacing parts will be too expensive.
At the same time, if you are looking for an excellent compact computer that will not take up much space, will fit perfectly into any design and will allow you to solve modern problems, then this device is for you.
All-in-One PC Review
Apple is considered one of the most famous creators of all-in-one PCs. Their devices have long surprised movie lovers with their compactness and speed. At a time when there were absolutely no monoblocks in the CIS countries, everyone knew them only under the name Macintosh.
Today there are quite a lot of manufacturers of such computers – all in one. But among all of them, ultra-modern models can be distinguished. Apple has many competitors, and the leader among them, as in mobile technologies, is Samsung. The prices for such devices are two times lower, and in some of their characteristics they are superior to well-promoted brands.
According to many reviews, the Samsung Series 7 AIO 27 is recognized as one of the best all-in-one PCs. The name speaks for itself. The equipment manufacturer is Samsung. The device size, one of the largest and most popular, is 27 inches.
As for aesthetics lovers, this powerful device, running Windows 8.1, containing 8 GB of DDR on board and an Intel Core i5 processor, is one of the most visually attractive.
The main differences of the model include a good screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 and a capacious 1 Terabyte drive. Of course, this is not the most powerful device in Samsung's range. However, it best combines good parameters that are perfect for work.
The dimensions of the device are only 638.8 x 383 x 39.6 mm. Among the additional, but important options, it is worth noting:
- two 10W stereo speakers combined with new Dolby Home Theater surround sound technology;
- built-in video adapter Radeon HD 7850;
- 2 HDMI connectors;
- presence of a DVD player;
- 2 USB 3.0 ports;
- support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections;
- built-in good Web camera.
Considering the Samsung Series 7 AIO 27, one cannot help but note the equipment:
- convenient wireless keyboard;
- remote control;
- Quite a sensitive mouse.
As for control using the touchscreen, it works perfectly. Supports up to ten simultaneous clicks and does not cause any problems. There is also support for remote gesture manipulation.
What is the difference between candy bar, nettop and barebone
There are several types of portable desktop computers:
- monoblock - we already talked about it above;
- nettop is a compact desktop computer. The main difference from a monoblock is that it does not have its own monitor. For full operation, you need to connect it to a monitor or TV. As a rule, a nettop computer is equipped with hardware with low power consumption and performance. The device's power is sufficient for surfing the Internet, watching movies in normal resolution and amateur photo editing. Some modern models are equipped with an improved graphics card, and they can play modern games at low settings. A nettop for home is designed primarily to save desk space. Some nettops can be mounted on the back cover of a stationary monitor, forming an improvised candy bar (VESA mount);
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3375 rub.
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Nettop Apple Mac mini 2021 (MXNG2)
from 3375 to 3657.3 rub.
Nettop, Intel Core i5-8500B, 3 GHz, RAM (GB) - 8, DDR4, hard drive (GB) - 512, Intel UHD Graphics 630, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Mac OS.
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- Barebone is the basis for self-assembling a computer of the desired configuration. It is a case in which the motherboard, power supply, disk drive, and card readers are already installed. The main goal of barebones is to make life easier for computer builders. They just need to install the necessary components: video card, processor, memory, etc. Barebones are available in all form factors and are used for assembling desktop PCs, laptops, nettops, servers, etc.
Criterias of choice
Since there are quite a lot of models and manufacturers of all-in-one PCs, before choosing a device for yourself, you need to decide for what purpose you are buying it: for home or office, for gaming or performing other tasks.
Screen
If you are choosing the best all-in-one PC for your home in order to watch movies in good quality, and perhaps also use it instead of a TV, pay attention to larger screens.
It is worth considering that the price of the device depends on the size of the matrix. Therefore, if funds for purchase are limited, think about what you can sacrifice: the characteristics of the device or its size.
If you are choosing an all-in-one PC for office work, you should not chase the characteristics. Far from a top-end model can handle the basic tasks of a manager’s job.
You can also save money on the screen. If you plan to work with documents, a screen size of 21.5 inches will be sufficient, while for processing graphics in design programs or making presentations, you will need a larger screen.
Touchscreen
Windows 8.1, installed on many devices, is great for touchscreen control and makes it quite comfortable. However, a large device is not very convenient to operate from an arm’s length, especially since not everyone can hold their hand suspended.
At the same time, the touchscreen is an energy-intensive technology, which means it generates heat and adds additional problems with cooling the device. In general, if it is possible to sacrifice this option, you can do it without regret.
However, the touchscreen is very convenient for visual presentations and training programs.
Performance
Whatever company you choose, whatever operating system you prefer, the main criterion for purchasing any computer is performance.
Most modern all-in-one PCs are equipped with 8GB of RAM or support its expansion up to 8.
The basis of performance, as we know, is the central and graphics processors. If you are choosing a gaming computer, pay attention to a good video card, preferably not integrated. Also, it is important to have a modern processor, for example, Intel I7.
However, with such characteristics, cooling will be a problem for you. Therefore, he will have to pay special attention to the material and type of case. It is advisable to choose a more expensive device with a metal body in order to avoid overheating.
Hardware capabilities
To save space, all-in-one PCs use mobile technologies. But not everywhere. Therefore, if you achieve maximum performance and are concerned about heat dissipation, you can try replacing a regular hard drive with an SSD device.
This solution can give a little less noise and a lower heating temperature, while increasing the speed. By lowering the internal temperature, you can install a more powerful video card.
No matter how fast your monoblock turns out to be, the hardware capabilities of a computer of the same cost will be much higher. This is explained by the use of a mobile graphics processor, which is currently being improved very quickly, reaching new speeds, but does not yet reach a full-fledged video card.
Video card
Which video card is better to choose when buying a monoblock?
A video card is a component that is responsible for displaying images on the screen. It is logical that the better it is, the more complex the image can be simulated, for example, when working with 3D graphics or during leisure time with computer games. But this is an expensive component, and its modernity will seriously affect the final price of the all-in-one.
Video card options can easily be divided into three standard categories:
- For a computer for study or work that does not involve frequent work with graphics or watching movies, an integrated Intel HD Graphics card, which is found in almost all models of Intel processors, is sufficient.
- Monoblocks for home use (for example, multimedia) must have at least an average-power video card. Integrated will not work - it is best to focus on discrete options in the mid-price category.
- It is better to buy gaming and professional monoblocks if they have a video card of the latest (or at least the penultimate) generation installed. In this case, there will definitely be no problems with graphics. But the price will also increase significantly. For games it is worth taking top-level video cards.
An important nuance: all-in-one PCs use so-called mobile video cards. Therefore, their performance is somewhat lower than that of similar “full-size” ones. And when choosing, this should be taken into account.
Media center or computer?
Having carefully considered all the advantages and disadvantages of multifunctional computer devices, you can choose the device according to your desire.
If you need an ergonomic, small-sized, productive device for entertainment and work, you should opt for all-in-one PCs.
Just imagine how much space all the equipment a modern person needs, such as:
- TV;
- computer and monitor;
- special table;
- media center
And all this is replaceable with one monoblock, which can be hung on the wall or placed on any shelf.
If you want to improve the characteristics of your device, like to work with raster, vector graphics and video processing, and also play new games at maximum settings, you only need a system unit with a powerful video adapter.
