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Desktop Computer Reviews, PC Reviews

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Desktop Computer Performance

A cheap PC may not boast the same high performance as expensive desktops with the latest and greatest hardware, but desktop computer reviews clearly indicate that buyers of cheap PCs still expect good performance. For the most part, users' PC reviews report that entry-level desktops meet their expectations.

And while cheap PCs may not be ideal for games or other software that places heavy demands on the hardware, desktop computer reviews say cheap desktops are quite capable of handling common tasks with ease. In fact, many users are impressed with how well their new, inexpensive systems operate.

Cheap PCs General Performance.

Most people who buy a cheap PC use that system for the basics: web surfing, emailing, photo and video editing, listening to music, watching YouTube videos, and so on. Based on desktops reviews posted online by buyers and experts alike, it's clear that most discount PCs are easily up to these tasks.

We found many desktop computer reviews in which users and experts praise the performance of their low-cost computers. For example, the Asus Essentio CM1630 earned an Editor's Choice award from PCmag.com, which commends the absence of bloatware and points to several good features, including readily accessible USB ports and media card reader, as well as an HDMI port. And, you get strong performance for the price; desktop computer reviews on Best Buy, for example, report no problems keeping several programs up and running at the same time. The Gateway SX2851-41wins kudos from CNET for its quick processing of mundane tasks and high-def video delivery, and from users posting on Amazon for its fast, quiet operation. Desktopreview.com lauds the combination of bargain price and impressive performance of the Dell Inspiron 580s, which the desktop review attributes to the presence of Intel's Core i3 CPU. This review does, however, hedge just a bit when it comes to graphics, particularly for gaming and certain software apps, although several users commenting on Walmart seem well satisfied with its gaming prowess. Users' PC reviews at Staples say the HP p6710f is an excellent value and easy to use; they also like the system's power and storage capacity. The Compaq Presario CQ5720F finds favor with consumers who want a basic, affordable, user-friendly desktop PC, according to desktop computer reviews posted on Walmart, although we read a bit of grousing on Amazon about its speed.

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Not surprisingly, users and experts willingly share less-than-glowing assessments of some of the cheap PCs we researched. In a desktop computer review on PC World, the 320GB hard drive on the Dell Inspiron 580s is described as "paltry" compared to other budget PCs, and the absence of a DVI connection for a monitor is also noted. This review site also criticizes the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150, terming its performance lackluster and four USB ports too few in number; users posting PC reviews on Amazon, however, mostly like the little IdeaCentre and consider it just right for the living room or as a multimedia PC. About.com says the performance of the older AMD Athlon II CPU in the Compaq Presario CQ5720F can't compare to that of Intel's i3 CPUs or AMD's Phenom CPUs. Moreover, this desktop review continues, the system's 3GB memory means it can't run in dual-channel mode, which would otherwise improve performance. Another dig at the Presario CQ5720F: it doesn't have a PCI-Express graphics card slot, so you can't upgrade its graphics capabilities, as you can on most cheap PCs.

Desktop PCs Multimedia.

Emailing and Web surfing may be the most popular PC activities, but users also love to use their budget systems for basic multimedia tasks, such as listening to music or working with photos and video. Some frugal consumers also use inexpensive PCs for light gaming even though these PCs are not ideally equipped for that purpose. A user who posted a desktop review on Best Buy, for example, says he's able to play simple downloadable games without any trouble on his Asus Essentio CM1630. Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q150 takes a few dings for being slow, but PC reviews on Amazon consider it a swell media PC when dedicated to managing music, photos, and video.

Still, cheap PCs aren't without their multimedia weaknesses. Both PC World and PC Mag say the integrated graphics on the Dell Inspiron 580s aren't suitable for 3D games, although they note this isn't unusual in the budget PC sphere. The Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 can't handle high-def Netflix streaming, according to desktop computer reviews on Newegg, and its four USB ports just aren't sufficient. And finally, both the IdeaCentre Q150 and Compaq Presario CQ5720F lack a media card reader, something that's common on budget PCs.

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Best Cheap Desktops

Asus Essentio CM1630-05
Gold Medal

Asus Essentio CM1630-05

 This popular Best Buy-exclusive runs well and boasts a large hard drive and plenty of USB ports. Users praise its multitasking abilities and PC Mag liked it enough to give it an Editor's Choice award -- and we can see why. Read more »
Desktops Deals
Gateway SX2851-41
Gold Medal

Gateway SX2851-41

 Gateway's SX2851-41 just hits our price ceiling, but you get a lot of PC for your money, including an Intel i3-550 CPU, a huge 1TB hard drive, and 11 USB ports. Read more »
Desktops Deals

Good Cheap Desktops

Dell Inspiron 580s
Gold Medal

Dell Inspiron 580s

 The Dell Inspiron 580s is a little light on some features but is still a pretty good value overall. The star of this system is the Intel i3-530 CPU but the 320GB hard drive is small compared to most budget PCs. Its six USB ports and 4GB of RAM are pretty standard for desktops in this price range. Read more »
Desktops Deals
HP p6710f
Gold Medal

HP p6710f

In most respects the HP p6710f is an average PC, but this system does sport an ATI Radeon 4200 integrated graphics chip, which is better than what you'll find in most budget desktops. It also has a beefy 1TB hard drive for those who never seem to have enough storage room. Read more »
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Don't Bother Cheap Desktops

Compaq Presario CQ5720F

The cheapest PC in our group, the Presario CQ5720F is a decent choice if you're looking for a rock-bottom priced PC that can still carry out simple PC tasks. But note that the system's CPU is relatively slow, and it has less memory than the competition. It also lacks a PCI-Express graphics card slot, so if you're planning to buy a budget PC and upgrade its graphics, this system is definitely not for you. Read more »

Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150

Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q150 falls into the "nettop" category of desktop PCs, meaning it's designed to be a tiny, tiny system that can still perform basic PC tasks. Whether this system is a good deal for you depends on how you want to use it. The IdeaCentre Q150 is at its best as a living room media PC, or perhaps as a backup. It simply doesn't have the power or features of other affordable systems. Read more »

 
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