Cheap Desktop, PC vs. Laptop

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Cheap desktops aren't especially powerful, but systems with more memory (at least 4GB) run faster than budget models that skimp on memory. Be realistic about how much hard drive space you need.

Having said that, both of our picks for best cheap desktops, the Asus Essentio CM1630-05 (starting at $455, Amazon) and Gateway SX2851-41 (starting at $550, Amazon) feature hard drives larger than 500GB. The Gateway system also sports a nice Intel i3 CPU, 11 USB ports, even a built-in Wi-Fi card. The SX2851-41 barely makes our $550 budget limit, but that extra cash equals better performance and more features than most cheap PCs. Two other systems we like, the Dell Inspiron 580s (starting at $420, Amazon) and HP p6710f (starting at $500, Amazon), are both a cut above most cheap desktops even though they aren't exceptional in their own right. The Inspiron's Intel i3 CPU and low price tag are attractive, but the hard drive will be too small for some users. The HP p6710f has a much larger hard drive -- 1TB of storage -- than the Inspiron, but is otherwise a pretty average system. The Compaq Presario CQ5720F (starting at $360, Amazon) disappoints despite its super-low price: the CPU is relatively slow CPU, memory is limited, and there's no graphics card slot for a future video card upgrade. Another model that falls short on features and power, especially when compared to other cheap desktops, is the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150.

In the PC vs. laptop race, desktop computers have been outsold by laptops for a while now, but these so-last-century PCs have a lot going for them. They're easier to repair and upgrade than laptops, and dollar-for-dollar, desktop computers tend to be much more powerful than laptops. Laptop manufacturers use miniaturized parts and add a hefty, expensive battery to their systems, both of which increase the cost of the end product. Makers of cheap desktops have no such concerns and can install faster, larger components in comparably-priced systems. If you're looking for value, and portability isn't a priority, desktops are the better deal. Although many users will no doubt be tempted to choose sleek and sexy laptop PCs over boxy and mundane cheap desktop PCs, it's worth taking some time to weigh the pros and cons of each. The simple fact is you get more bang for your limited investment from a cheap desktop than from a laptop.

There are quite a few PC manufacturers around, but the big names in cheap desktop computers are ones you're likely familiar with already. Dell, HP, eMachines, Gateway, Acer, Asus, and Compaq are all major manufacturers that have been around for years.