Comparison Qbox I21xx I2176 vs Qbox I26xx I2655

The main manufacturers of processors today are Intel and AMD. In 2020, Apple introduced its CPU series M1 (with further development in the form of M1 Max and M1 Ultra), and a couple of years later, it launched the second series (M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra), the third (M3, M3 Ultra), and the fourth (M4, M4 Pro, M4 Max). Intel's current series includes Atom, Celeron, Pentium, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9, Core Ultra 9, and Xeon. For AMD, this list includes: AMD Athlon, AMD FX, Ryzen 3, Ryzen 5, Ryzen 7, Ryzen 9..., and Ryzen Threadripper.

In general, each series includes processors of different generations, similar in overall level and positioning. Here is a more detailed description of each of the variants mentioned above:

— Atom. Processors originally designed for mobile devices. They are compact, highly energy-efficient, and low in heat output, but do not "shine" with performance. They are well-suited for microcomputers (see "Type"), and are extremely rare in more "large-format" systems—mainly in the most modest configurations.

— Celeron. Budget-level processors, the simplest and cheapest consumer desktop chips from Intel, with corresponding characteristics.

— Pentium. A family of budget desktop processors from Intel, somewhat more advanced than Celeron, but inferior to models from the Core i* series.

— Core i3. The simplest and cheapest series among Intel's Core desktop chips, includes budget and low-end mid-range chips, which, nevertheless, surpass Celerons and Pentiums in terms of specifications.

— Core i5. A mid-range family among Intel Core processors; indeed, these chips are considered mid-level by desktop standards.

— Core i7. A series of high-performance processors that were long the top of the Core chips; it wasn't until 2017 that they ceded this position to the i9 family. However, having an i7 processor still means a rather powerful and advanced configuration; in particular, such CPUs are found in premium all-in-one computers and are quite popular in gaming systems.

— Core i9. The top series among Intel's general-purpose desktop chips, the most powerful in the Core lineup. In particular, even the most modest models have at least 6 cores. These chips are mainly used in gaming PCs.

— Xeon. High-end Intel processors that go beyond standard desktop chip capabilities. They are designed for specialized applications, appearing primarily in powerful workstations.

— AMD FX. A family of processors from AMD, positioned as high-performance yet affordable solutions — including for gaming systems. Interestingly, some models come with liquid cooling in the purchase package.

— Ryzen 3. AMD Ryzen chips (of all series) are promoted as high-class solutions for gamers, developers, graphic designers, and video editors. AMD was the first to use the Zen microarchitecture with simultaneous multithreading, significantly increasing the number of operations per clock at the same clock frequency. Ryzen 3 is the most affordable and modestly featured family among the Ryzens. These processors are manufactured using the same technology as the upper series, but Ryzen 3 has half of its compute cores deactivated. Nevertheless, this line includes fairly productive models designed for gaming configurations and workstations.

— Ryzen 5. A mid-level family among Ryzen processors. The second series on this architecture, released in April 2017 as a more affordable alternative to Ryzen 7 chips. Ryzen 5 chips have slightly less impressive working characteristics (in particular, lower clock frequencies and, for some models, less L3 cache). Otherwise, they are completely similar to the "sevens" and also qualify as high-performance chips for gaming and workstations.

— Ryzen 7. Historically the first series of AMD processors on the Zen microarchitecture (see "Ryzen 3" above for details). One of the senior families among the Ryzens, outperforming only the Threadripper line; many PCs based on these chips are gaming-oriented.

— Ryzen 9. AMD Ryzen 9 processors debuted on the Zen microarchitecture in 2019. This series became the top of all Ryzens, pushing Ryzen 7 from the pinnacle of honor. The first models of Ryzen 9 had 12 cores and 24 threads, with later ones increasing to 16 and 32 respectively. The processors in this line are traditionally used for professional tasks (design, video editing, 3D rendering), gaming, streaming, and other high-load applications.

— Ryzen Threadripper. High-end specialized processors designed for maximum performance. Installed mainly in gaming systems and workstations.

— Apple M1. A series of processors from Apple introduced in November 2020. They fall under mobile solutions (see "Type" above) and follow the system-on-chip scheme: a single module combines the CPU, graphics adapter, RAM (in the first models — 8 or 16 GB), a solid-state NVMe drive, and some other components (specifically, Thunderbolt 4 controllers). Among PCs, these chips are primarily used in compact net-tops. As for specifications, the initial M1 configurations are equipped with 8 cores — 4 performance and 4 energy-efficient; the latter, according to the creators, consume 10 times less energy than the former. Combined with a 5 nm process technology, this has achieved very high energy efficiency and performance at the same time.

— Apple M1 Max. An uncompromisingly powerful SoC aimed at ensuring maximum labor productivity for Apple's desktop computers when performing complex tasks. The Apple M1 Max lineup was introduced in the fall of 2021, debuting on Mac Studio computers. The Apple M1 Max consists of 10 cores: 8 performance and 2 energy-efficient. The maximum volume of built-in unified memory reaches 64 GB, with a bandwidth cap of 400 GB/s. The graphical performance of the Max-version of the single-chip system M1 is roughly twice that of the Apple M1 Pro. The chip contains over 57 billion transistors. Its design also incorporates an additional accelerator for the professional ProRes video codec, allowing multiple high-quality ProRes video streams in 4K and 8K resolutions to be easily reproduced.

— Apple M1 Ultra. Formally, the M1 Ultra chip consists of two Apple M1 Max processors on a single UltraFusion substrate, enabling data transfer speeds of up to 2.5 Tbps. In "dry" numerical terms, this bundle comprises 20 compute ARM cores (16 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient), a 64-core graphics subsystem, and a 32-core neural computing block. The system on a chip supports up to 128 GB of unified memory. The processor housing accommodates around 114 billion transistors. The main purpose of the Apple M1 Ultra is confident work with complex resource-intensive applications such as 8K video editing or 3D rendering. In practice< the processor can be found onboard Mac Studio desktop computers.

— Apple M2 / M2 Pro. The second edition of the M-series processors from Apple, released in early summer 2022. M2 chips are produced using an updated 5 nm process and house a quarter more transistors than the Apple M1 processor generation. Architecturally, their CPU block consists of four high-performance and four energy-efficient cores. The graphics accelerator has a 10-core structure. The Apple M2 uses a neural engine and also adds a powerful ProRes video engine for hardware acceleration of video encoding and decoding up to 8K resolution. External 6K display support is claimed for the M2 generation.

The M2 Pro SoC aims to scale the M2 architecture. It contains approximately 40 billion transistors and is built with 5-nanometer technology. The system features a 10- or 12-core central processor, up to 19 graphics cores, 16 or 32 GB of unified memory used as both operational and video memory. The graphics performance of the M2 Pro provides high-speed image processing and video rendering. These processors can be found in Apple Mac mini computers.

— Apple M2 Max / Ultra. High-performance SoCs for dealing with resource-intensive tasks, debuting in early summer 2023. The M2 Max chip systems have up to 12 central processor cores (8 performance and 4 energy-efficient compute cores), come with 30 graphics cores, and support up to 96 GB of unified memory with a bandwidth of up to 400 Gbps. They also include a fast 16-core neural engine, powerful multimedia engine, two video encoding modules, and two ProRes modules. The processor is manufactured using a 5-nanometer process and houses about 67 billion transistors. Desktop computers with Mac Studio on this SoC effortlessly handle resource-intensive projects that competing systems cannot even start. This is arguably one of the most powerful platforms for professional PCs focused on video rendering, animate graphic processing, and similar tasks.

In turn, M2 Ultra consists formally of two Apple M2 Max chips on the UltraFusion substrate. The "Ultra" has 16 performance and 8 efficient compute cores, 60 or 76 GPU cores, 32 NPU cores. The chip series is built on the second-generation 5-nanometer architecture and contains over 134 billion transistors. As for the allowable amount of unified memory — it reaches 192 GB with a bandwidth of 800 GB/s. The Mac Studio desktop computer on the M2 Ultra chip is twice as powerful as the M2 Max version, which is also by no means weak, being one of the most powerful solutions for PCs. The "Ultra" is designed for confident work with the most resource-intensive applications, ultra-high definition video processing up to 8K, heavy 3D rendering of animated graphics, and so on.

— Apple M3 / M3 Pro. The world's first computer processors made with TSMC's 3 nm process technology. The Apple M3 series debuted in the fall of 2023. The base M3 chip contains 25 billion transistors. The chip includes an eight-core central processor with four high-performance and four energy-efficient cores, as well as a new Dynamic Caching graphics architecture that allocates memory in real-time. Along with this, the Apple M3 graphics processor features hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shaders — all of which improve the geometry rendering in games and applications, allowing for faster drawing of more complex scenes. The processor supports up to 24 GB of unified memory and one external display (in addition to the one built into the iMac). Altogether, these innovations make the M3 family about 10 – 20% faster than M2, and 45 – 65% more productive than the M1 generation.

In the Pro version, the system has a 12-core central processor with an equal number of performance and energy-efficient cores (6 each). It also employs an 18-core CPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and a new Dynamic Caching graphics architecture. Apple M3 Pro contains about 37 billion transistors, with configurations available with up to 36 GB of unified memory.

— Apple M4 / M4 Pro. M4 — the base processor from the SoC line from Apple, released in the spring of 2024. Belongs to mobile solutions, applied in flagship tablets, laptops, mini-PCs, and all-in-ones from Apple. The M4 processor is manufactured using TSMC's second-generation 3-nanometer technology, contains up to 10 CPU compute cores (4 performance + 6 energy-efficient) and up to 10 GPU cores with ray tracing support. Unified memory can be from 16 to 32 GB, with a bandwidth of 120 GB/s. Unified memory serves as operational and video memory. The processor also includes a 16-core neural engine with performance up to 38 TOPS (trillion operations per second). In addition to the aforementioned improvements, energy efficiency has been significantly increased in the Apple M4 (about 50% compared to the M2 chip).

Compared to the base M4 processor, the Pro modification stands out for twice the performance of the built-in graphics and high-speed RAM. The SoC foundation is based on the improved 3-nanometer TSMC process — N3E. The processor contains up to 14 CPU cores (10 high-performance and 4 energy-efficient in the maximum configuration), up to 20 GPU cores with ray tracing support, has a Neural Engine block to accelerate artificial intelligence operations, and implements support for Apple Intelligence AI functions. Moreover, the system supports up to 64 GB of high-speed unified memory with a bandwidth of 273 GB/s (can be used as operational and video memory). Additionally, Thunderbolt v5 interface support is noted with data exchange speeds of up to 120 Gbps. Apple M4 Pro processors provide excellent graphics processing and video rendering performance, increasingly found in Mac mini net-tops and MacBook Pro laptops.

In addition to the series described above, such processors can also be found in modern PCs:

— AMD Fusion A4. The entire Fusion processor family was originally created as devices with integrated graphics, combining a central processor and a video card in one chip; such chips are called APU — Accelerated Processing Unit. Series with the "A" index are equipped with the most powerful embedded graphics within the family, capable in some cases of competing on equal footing with low-cost discrete graphics cards. The higher the digit in the series index, the more advanced it is; A4 is the most modest series among Fusion A.

— AMD Fusion A6. A series of processors from the Fusion A line, relatively modest, but somewhat more advanced than the A4. For general features of all Fusion A, see "AMD Fusion A4" above.

— AMD Fusion A8. A fairly advanced series of Fusion A processors, a mid-range option between the comparatively modest A4 and A6 and the high-class A10 and A12. For general features of all Fusion A, see "AMD Fusion A4" above.

— AMD Fusion A9. Another advanced series from the Fusion A family, inferior only to the A10 and A12 series. For general features of all Fusion A, see "AMD Fusion A4" above.

— AMD Fusion A10. One of the top series in the Fusion A lineup. For general features of this line, see "AMD Fusion A4" above.

— AMD Fusion A12. The top series in the APU Fusion A lineup, introduced in 2015; positioned as professional-level processors with enhanced (even by APU standards) graphics capabilities. For general features of the Fusion A line, see "AMD Fusion A4" above.

— AMD E-Series. This series of processors is related to APU, like the Fusion A described above, but fundamentally differs in specialization: the main application field of the E-Series is compact devices, mainly net-tops in PCs (see "Type"). Accordingly, these processors are characterized by compactness, low heat generation, and power consumption, but their computing power is also low.

— Athlon X4. A series of budget consumer-level processors, initially released in 2015 as relatively inexpensive yet comparatively productive solutions for the FM+ socket.

— AMD G. A family of ultra-compact and energy-efficient processors from AMD, made under the "system on crystal" (SoC) principle. Unlike many similar chips, it uses the x86 architecture, not ARM. It is positioned as a solution for devices with a focus on graphics, particularly gaming. However, we are not talking about gaming PCs; like most processors of similar "weight categories," the AMD G mainly appears in thin clients (see "Type").

— VIA. Processors from the company of the same name, mainly related to energy-efficient "mobile" solutions—in particular, many VIA models are directly compared to Intel's Atom. However, despite the modest performance, such CPUs are even found among desktop systems; in the future, the company plans to create full-fledged desktop chips to compete with AMD and Intel.

— ARM Cortex-A. A group of processors from ARM, the creator of the architecture of the same name and the largest manufacturer of chips based on it. The distinguishing feature of this microarchitecture compared to the classic x86 is the so-called reduced instruction set (RISC): the processor works with a simplified instruction set. This slightly limits functionality but allows the production of more compact, "cool" yet still high-performance chips. For several reasons, the ARM architecture is mainly used in "mobile" processors designed for smartphones, tablets, etc. This is also true for the ARM Cortex-A series; such CPUs are rarely installed in PCs and are usually part of a compact, modest device like a "thin client" (see "Type").

— nVidia Tegra. Originally, these processors were created for portable devices but have recently started being installed in PCs, primarily all-in-ones. They are "system-on-chip" devices, using the "mobile" ARM architecture rather than the "desktop" x86, requiring appropriate operating systems; Android is most often used (see "Pre-installed OS").

— Armada. Another type of processor on the ARM architecture, positioned as high-performance solutions for "cloud" computing and home servers, including NAS. It is found in single models of "thin clients" (see "Type").

— Tera. A specialized family of processors designed specifically for "thin clients" (see "Type") and fundamentally different from classical CPUs (both full-sized and compact). Systems based on Tera usually represent complete "zero clients," absolutely incapable of autonomous operation. In other words, they are devices intended for creating a "virtual desktop": the user operates with the terminal interface and equipment (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.), but all operations occur on the server. This ensures increased security when working with confidential data. However, in more traditional PCs, Tera processors are practically never used.

Of the obsolete series of processors still in use (but not sold), one can mention Sempron, Phenom II, and Athlon II from AMD, as well as Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo from Intel.

It should be noted that configurations without a processor can be found on sale — expecting the user to select one independently; however, this is a rather rare option.

The amount of random access memory (RAM, or RAM) that came with your computer.

The overall performance of the PC directly depends on this parameter: ceteris paribus, more RAM speeds up work, allows you to cope with more resource-intensive tasks, and facilitates the simultaneous execution of numerous processes. As for specific numbers, the minimum volume required for the stable operation of a general-purpose PC nowadays is 4 GB. Smaller amounts are enough for microcomputers and thin clients, and at least 8 GB is installed in gaming systems, on the contrary. 16 GB and even more so 32 GB are already very solid volumes, and in the most powerful and performant systems there are values \u200b\u200bof 64 GB and even more. Also on the market you can find configurations without RAM at all — for such a device, the user can choose the amount of memory at his discretion; for a number of reasons, this configuration is especially popular in nettops.

Note that many modern PCs allow for an increase in the amount of RAM, so it does not always make sense to purchase an expensive device with a large amount of "RAM" — sometimes it is more reasonable to start with a simpler model and expand it if necessary. The possibility of upgrading in such cases should be clarified separately.

Объем основного накопителя, поставляемого в комплекте с ПК. Для моделей с комбинированными хранилищами (например, HDD+SSD, см. «Тип накопителя») основным в данном случае считается более емкий жесткий диск; а если в комплекте два HDD, то они обычно имеют одинаковую вместимость.

С чисто практической стороны чем больше данных вмещает накопитель — тем лучше. Так что выбор по данному показателю упирается в основном в цену: большая емкость неизбежно означает и более высокую стоимость. Кроме того, напомним, что SSD-модули в пересчете на гигабайт емкости обходятся заметно дороже жестких дисков; так что сравнивать по сочетанию объема и стоимости можно только носители одного типа.

Что касается конкретной вместимости, то объем в 250 ГБ и менее в современных ПК можно встретить основном среди SSD. Жесткие диски такого объема практически не встречаются, для них емкость от 250 до 500 ГБ все еще считается довольно скромной. 501 – 750 ГБ является довольно неплохим значением для SSD и среди них же в основном и используется. 751 ГБ – 1 ТБ — внушительный показатель для SSD и средний уровень для жестких дисков, 1,5 – 2 ТБ является весьма солидной емкостью даже для HDD. А очень высокая вместимость — более чем в 2 ТБ — как ни парадоксально, встречается даже среди чистых SSD: такие...накопители устанавливаются в высококлассные рабочие станции, где скорость работы не менее важна, чем вместимость.

The presence of a mini-Jack connector (3.5 mm) on the front panel of the PC. More precisely, in ordinary desktop PCs, gaming systems and monoblocks (see "Type") there are most often two such connectors: one plays the role of an output for headphones, speakers, etc., the second plays the role of a microphone input. But in compact devices like some mini-Jack nettops, there can be only one — a universal port, in which you can turn on both headphones / speakers and a headset with one common plug for a microphone and “ears”.

Anyway, such connectors are closer to the user and are more convenient to connect than similar sound card outputs on the rear panel of the case.

The number of full size USB 2.0 connectors provided on the front of the PC.

USB is the most popular modern interface for connecting peripherals. And the number of connectors is, accordingly, the number of devices that can be simultaneously connected to the front panel without the use of splitters. Specifically, version 2.0 was the most popular some time ago, but now it is considered obsolete, it is gradually being replaced by more advanced standards like USB 3.0 (3.1 gen1). However, USB 2.0 capabilities (data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps) are still sufficient for many peripheral devices, from keyboards and mice to printers. So this standard is still far from completely disappearing, and some PCs may have several of these ports on the front panel at once.

Separately, it is worth noting that similar connectors are most often available on the back of the case. However, the front panel is closer to the user, and the sockets on it are optimal for peripherals that need to be connected and disconnected frequently, such as flash drives.

Audio format supported by the PC sound card. Specified depending on the device type. For classic PCs (see "Type"), the sound format corresponds to the largest number of channels that a computer can output through analogue outputs — the possibility of using one or another set of acoustics directly depends on this. And for devices with built-in speakers, primarily monoblocks (see "Type"), this paragraph usually specifies the format of the built-in acoustics.

Also note that digital interfaces like SP / DIF (see "Connectors") can provide more channels, but such a signal cannot be directly output to the speakers — you need an audio receiver or other additional converter. So the main parameter is considered to be the number of "analogue" channels or speakers. The options here might be:

— 2.0. Traditional stereo is the most modest format that can provide the effect of surround sound. Of course, such a sound cannot be compared in terms of “presence effect” with advanced standards like 5.1 and 7.1, but in many cases even it is more than enough. Note that the 2.0 format is most often provided for in monoblocks — it means the presence of a pair of built-in speakers; it can be difficult to provide more extensive acoustics in such PCs.

— 2.1. Two-channel stereo sound (see above) with a subwoofer to enhance the bass sound. For a number of reasons, it has not received much distribution, it...is found, again, mainly in monoblocks — in such devices two ordinary speakers and a “sub” are installed.

— 2.2. Extended version of the 2.1 format with two subwoofers. Theoretically capable of delivering more powerful and authentic bass, but at a higher cost, these benefits are rarely seen in fact. Therefore, it is used even less frequently than 2.1 — again, mainly in monoblocks.

— 4.0. Theoretically, 4.0 is a surround sound format with two front and two rear channels. At the same time, in a PC this format is found exclusively among monoblocks and usually means the presence of two additional speakers, in addition to the standard stereo speakers. The effect of "sound from all directions" on such a system cannot be achieved, but the sound is still better and more reliable than with 2.0 systems. However, the price also comes out higher, despite the fact that the difference in sound is not fundamental for everyone. Therefore, this format has not received distribution.

— 4.2. An extended version of the 4.0 described above, where a pair of subwoofers has been added to an improved 4-speaker stereo system. Due to this, the quality of the bass improves, but the dimensions and cost of acoustics increase even more, and therefore such systems are even rarer.

— 5.1. The classic format of full-fledged surround sound ("from all sides"): two front channels, one centre, two rear and a subwoofer. A lot of content has been released under this sound, and games often provide compatibility with 5.1 systems. At the same time, support for this format in its pure form is relatively rare among modern PCs. 7.1 audio cards are used much more often: having more advanced features, they almost do not differ in price and are quite capable of working with 5.1 as well.

— 7.1. Further, after 5.1, improvement of the idea of surround sound. Such systems have 5 traditional sound channels (2 to the front, 1 front centre and 2 rear), and 2 additional channels can be placed in different ways — as side, as "add-ons" above the front or rear, etc. In any In this case, the 7.1 format allows you to achieve a more reliable sound than 5.1, and its support in modern sound cards is very inexpensive.

— 10.2. A specific audio format used in some high-end multimedia monoblocks. The 10 main speakers in such devices are combined into a soundbar under the screen and provide as authentic surround sound as possible in systems without rear channels. In addition, such acoustics are often made multiband — that is, they include specialized speakers optimized for a specific frequency band and reproducing only it. This further improves the sound quality. And two subwoofers, in turn, allow you to achieve the corresponding bass characteristics. At the same time, this option is extremely rare — both because of the high cost and because it is easier to achieve the desired sound quality on separately selected acoustics.

The operating system that the PC comes with. Its presence is not mandatory — many configurations are sold without a pre-installed OS, in the hope that the user can choose the system at his discretion. However, in many cases it is easier to buy a PC with an operating system on board: this allows you to at least use it right out of the box (with a few exceptions, see below).

Most often nowadays, computers use Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux or macOS. More details about them and other OS:

— Windows 10. Among the main innovations of the "dozens" are the built-in voice assistant Cortana, the Edge browser, support for multiple desktops, updated Start menu and notification centre, a major update of standard pre-installed programs, etc. It is available in several editions, in this case, the basic version is meant — Windows 10 Home, designed for home use and small organizations.

— Windows 10 Pro. The professional edition of Windows 10 described above, designed for the business sector, as well as professionals and IT enthusiasts. In addition to the functionality of Windows 10 Home, it offers a number of advanced features — such as Active Directory, remote desktop, BitLocker encryption tool and a tool for working with Hyper V virtual machines. Note that a...n even more advanced edition of Pro For Workstations is being released for powerful workstations, however it is practically not used as a preinstalled system — it is assumed that it is more convenient for the user to choose whether he needs such an edition or not.

— Windows 11. The first major system update from Microsoft in the last six years since the release of "ten". The OS has redrawn most of the icons of standard programs and window controls, the lion's share of actions is accompanied by new animation. The main thing in the redesign is the Start menu button that has moved to a place in the centre of the lower part of the screen. Together with the operating system, Android applications debuted in the Microsoft Store. In general, the system can be considered as a big update of Windows 10 with a serious redesign of the interface, rather than a radically new OS.

As before, Windows 11 is divided into two large camps: Home and Pro. More narrowly focused versions of this operating system (Education, Enterprise, Mixed Reality, etc.) are also being released.

— Windows 11 Home. The basic version of the system for use on a home computer or laptop. Supports only one processor, which can have less than 64 cores, recognizes up to 128 GB of RAM. For the initial setup of the system, it is necessary to have an active Internet connection.

— Windows 11 Pro. The Pro version of Windows 11 contains a number of advanced features compared to the home edition of the OS. In particular, it has Hyper-V hardware virtualization tools, an isolated environment for the safe execution of Sandbox computer programs, advanced cyber protection functions (BitLocker, WIP), an Active Directory service for connecting to a single network with other devices (printers, servers, other computers). The system can be set up with a local account directly for your PC.

Separately, it is worth noting that earlier versions of Windows — Windows 8 (8.1) and Windows 7 — are considered completely obsolete, are extremely rare, and even in such cases they usually offer the possibility of a free upgrade to the latest editions of the OS from Microsoft.

— Linux. An operating system developed and maintained by a community of programmers around the world. Unlike Windows, it is free, but in many ways it is not inferior to it: it has its own graphical interface and a fairly extensive set of software for solving various tasks (including work ones). If you're not used to it, Linux can be somewhat difficult to learn for an inexperienced user, especially one who has dealt mainly with Windows; however, quite "friendly" and simple versions are usually used as pre-installed ones. At the same time, open source gives experienced enthusiasts ample opportunity to customize the system and write their own software. The unequivocal disadvantage of Linux is that fewer games and specialized professional “software” are available for this OS than for Windows.

— macOS. Apple's proprietary operating system, used only on Mac computers. It is considered more reliable and stable than Windows, but the reason for this is rather specific: macOS is used on a relatively limited number of devices, and it is much easier to optimize it for a specific hardware. It is also worth noting that system updates are released regularly and are available free of charge for all Macs that meet the system requirements. MacOS is well suited for "general professional" applications, including tasks like layout, design, and video editing. In addition, in recent years, the system has been increasingly integrated with the iOS mobile operating system, in particular, making it easy to transfer work tasks from a PC to a smartphone / tablet and vice versa. However, there are relatively few highly specialized software and games for macOS.

— DOS. An operating system with basic functionality, without a graphical interface and controlled via the command line. In fact, it is used only for a general check of the PC's performance and for launching installers with a full-fledged OS; it actually makes no sense to use DOS for other tasks.

More specific options for pre-installed operating systems in modern PCs include, in particular:

— Android. A system originally designed for mobile devices and optimized primarily for touch screen operation. Thus, it is rarely used in a PC, and in a rather unusual variety of devices — monoblocks (see "Type"), which are reminiscent of enlarged tablets in design (up to the possibility of holding such a device on your lap while working). However, the main reason for the low popularity is not even these technical features, but the fact that in general Android is designed more for entertainment use and is rather poorly suited for business, educational and other similar tasks.

— Windows Embedded Standard 7E 32. A specialized edition of Windows 7 (see below), used, in particular, in thin clients (see "Type"); not designed for traditional PCs.

— HP Smart Zero Technology. Another OS for thin clients — in this case, developed by HP and installed mainly in computers of this brand.