The Cheap Desktop Computers We’d Buy, and How to Shop for One
In an era of ultrathin laptops, a big, boxy desktop can feel downright archaic. But a cheap desktop PC is a great option for anyone who needs to work from home, for kids who have to do remote learning and want to play games, or for entire families who want to share. For the price of a cheap laptop, it’s possible to get a desktop computer and a roomy monitor that perform just as well—and often a little better. And thanks to easier upgrades and repairs, desktops can last longer than laptops, too, delivering even more value over the long term.
There are too many variations to test. Instead, we’ve highlighted models from major, reputable manufacturers that we think will provide the best everyday performance for the lowest possible price. We go into more detail below, but right now, the following models all offer good everyday performance for around $500 (before you factor in the cost of a monitor):
For work or school
ModelProcessorMemoryStorageHP Slim Desktop S01-pF1025se
Quad-core Intel Core i3-10100
8 GB
128 GB SSD, 1 TB hard drive
Acer Aspire TC-875-UR13
Six-core Intel Core i5-10400
8 GB
512 GB SSD
Dell Inspiron Desktop 3880
Quad-core Intel Core i3-10100
8 GB
256 GB SSD
Those PCs will do just fine if you’re simply browsing the web, watching videos, or editing documents and spreadsheets. But if you want to play games that are more detailed and realistic-looking than Minecraft, you should spend a bit more on a computer with a dedicated graphics card, or GPU. For $700 to $900, all of the following PCs should be able to play games such as Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, or Microsoft Flight Simulator, if not always at the maximum detail settings:
For playing games
ModelProcessorGraphicsMemoryStorageHP Pavilion Gaming Desktop TG01-1070m
Six-core AMD Ryzen 5 4600G
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super
8 GB
512 GB SSD
Acer Nitro 50 N50-610-UR14
Six-core Intel Core i5-10400F
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650
8 GB
512 GB SSD
Dell G5 Gaming Desktop 5000
Six-core Intel Core i5-10400F
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Super
8 GB
256 GB SSD, 1 TB hard drive