How to buy a Cheap PC

Today’s name brand PC makers offer desktops for about $500. But not all cheap PCs are created equal.

When looking how to buy a cheap PC, keep a few general tips in mind. Focus on the whole system, and the type of parts used 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. 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.

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.

That price (slightly higher when compared with that of some of the cheap PC available) nets a more robust box; and 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.

In the long run, buying a cheap PC will cost you more than it saves you.

One of the downsides of a cheap 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.

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

If you're looking for a cheap PC, 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 cheap PCs 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 cheap PCs 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.

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.

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