Discount Desktops: How Low Can You Go?

Here's what you need to know to get the most desktop for your dollar at any price.

Michael Cahlin, special to PC World

Today, most top-tier PC makers offer desktops for less than $500. But not all budget-priced desktop computers are created equal.

When looking for a system, keep a few general tips in mind. Focus on the whole system, not just the processor speed; any processor can handle Internet browsing, as well as basic tasks like word processing and e-mail. If you have to choose, invest in more memory and storage. Get at least 256MB of RAM, though 512MB is better (and sometimes available as a free upgrade). Get an 80GB hard drive, and aim bigger if you plan to work with photos, music, and video. Whenever possible, get a combo CD or CD/DVD burner rather than a player.

Pay for Future-Proofing

So just how much should you expect to spend? If you're buying today, the current industry sweet spot--the magical intersection where price meets value--hovers between $600 and $800, says Charles Smulders, managing vice president, PC group, of technology research firm Gartner.

That price (slightly higher when compared with that of some of the cheapest PCs available) nets a more robust box; and, Smulders says, it will likely include more versatile components and extra slots on the motherboard to build in some future-proofing. This is critical, as consumers are now keeping their desktops longer than they have in the past--about four to five years is the average, he says.

In the long run, going cheaper costs more than it saves, Smulders says.

"One of the downsides of a cheap jack-of-all-trades PC is that it might not be able to do what you want it to a few months down the line, when you know more," he warns.

With that sage advice in hand, we offer this soup-to-nuts guide on buying the right-priced PC for you.

Note: All of the prices quoted are accurate as of publication time. Prices can change without notice, so you should always check PC World's Product Finder or vendor Web sites for the latest pricing and special deals and rebates. And for the latest PC reviews, specifications, and prices (in all categories), check out our Top 15 Desktop PCs chart.

Rock-Bottom Prices: $500 and Less

If you're looking for the cheapest PC possible, be prepared to make a few sacrifices. Budget boxes can handle basic activities like Web browsing, e-mail, and word processing, as well as a smorgasbord of low-energy tasks such as playing music, organizing digital photos, and running simple games. These machines are great for beginners or as a second PC, but they're certainly not for gamers or digital enthusiasts.

Generally, budget models come with a processor such as the Intel Celeron or the AMD Sempron. Though still current, these chips aren't as fast or as powerful as Intel's Pentium 4 processors and AMD's Athlon 64 chips, which you'll find in midrange and high-end systems.

Many budget systems cut corners in audio, graphics, and video performance, typically featuring integrated graphics and audio. Despite the advances of shared-memory integrated graphics, a system that features a graphics card with its own memory and graphics processor from NVidia or ATI will offer better performance.

Also, don't expect a multimedia keyboard, optical mouse, rewritable DVD drive, or fancy speakers from this bunch.

Dell and Gateway both offer Windows XP Home Edition desktop PCs--complete with monitors--for less than $500.

Dell's entry-level Dimension 2400 is priced at $349 and includes a 2.4-GHz Intel Celeron processor, 512MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a 48X CD-ROM drive, and a 17-inch CRT monitor. See Dell's Web site for more information.

Gateway's lowest-priced desktop PC is the 3200S. It sells for $499 (before a $100 rebate) and includes a 17-inch CRT monitor. It features a 2.66-GHz Intel Celeron D processor, 256MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and four USB 2.0 ports. Gateway's Web site offers more information.

IBM's budget desktop, the ThinkCentre A50, starts at $399. It features a 2.4-GHz Intel Celeron processor, Windows XP Home, and a 40GB hard drive. See IBM's Web site for more information.

But upgrading to 384MB of RAM (the base system includes only 128MB) and adding IBM's basic 17-inch CRT monitor ups the price to $607--and moves the system into our next category.

Hitting the Sweet Spot: PCs From $500 to $1000

When you go over the $500 mark, your range of component choices gets much broader. Look for faster Pentium 4 and AMD Athlon 64 processors, 512MB of memory, hard drives from 80GB to 200GB and greater, a rewritable DVD drive, improved software bundles, speakers with subwoofers, more-comprehensive warranties, and better technical support.

HP's Pavilion A700y PC is in this price range. It features Windows XP Home Edition, a 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, and a 17-inch CRT monitor for $840. HP's A750e offers comparable features, and an Athlon 64 processor, for about the same price. See HP's Web site for more information.

Gateway's 5200X desktop PC ups the storage capacity. Priced at $950, it features Windows XP Home, a 3-GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, a 160GB hard drive, and an 8X double-layer multiformat DVD drive (DVD±R/RW). For more information, visit Gateway's Web site.

Dell's Dimension 4700C is priced at $929 when configured with Windows XP Home, a 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 processor with hyperthreading, an 80GB hard drive, and a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive. Find more information on Dell's Web site.

Alienware, best known for its high-end gaming PCs, is offering a midrange price of $899 on its Area-51 desktop--though the price drops to that only after an astonishing $500 mail-in rebate. (The rebate code is MIR500MC.) The system features a 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 processor with hyperthreading, an ATI Radeon 9550SE graphics card, an 80GB SATA hard drive, and a 16X DVD-ROM drive. Find more information on Alienware's Web site.

Now you're ready to hit the stores. Before you go, print out our handy shopping checklist to bring along. Happy shopping!