As a general rule, though, the smaller the chassis, the fewer your upgrade options. Was: $219.99 ... Discount Computer Depot has a wide range of cheap, quality computers ⦠The Pi, in its various iterations, is no more than a canvas of a ⦠When taxed without an active cooling source, struggles with overheating. PCMag Digital Group. It's powerful, lightweight, and durable. Matthew earned a degree in Mass Communications/Journalism and interned for a college semester at Kotaku, writing about gaming before turning it into part of his career. or Best Offer. In the desktop-computer world, inexpensive is not synonymous with low-quality or slow, especially nowadays. On Amazon. £119.95. It doesn't have a level of power or user-friendliness for general-usage situations like that. Mashable, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Zotac's ZBox CI622 Nano bare-bones mini PC is a fine fit for everyday computing if silent running is key, but its total price and its heat levels under load may be a little too high for comfort. Check out our recommendations list below for some of our favorites. HP - ENVY x360 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 12GB Memory - 512GB SSD + ⦠Configuring and using the Pi will take some experimenter's spirit, a few added dongles, and a willingness to work with a form of Linux. Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) mini-PC line is among the most configurable, with plenty of variation among its models. At best, integrated graphics can run some less-demanding games at low detail settings and resolutions, or very visually simple and 2D games, smoothly. Its usefulness is limited only by your patience to learn the Linux-based lingo surrounding the various OSs, and your willingness to tweak and tinker. We're talking about cheap laptops that are high-tech and responsive, helping you do the things that matter most, like writing, browsing the internet, storing files, and even gaming. You'll need to factor in the cost of some storage (a microSD card), a case for the PCB (usually a trivial expense), and cables, for starters. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won't break down immediately. It goes without saying that an enthusiast gamer should look elsewhere (check out our favorite cheap gaming laptops and gaming desktops), but you could still get away with some light gaming on these. If you'd like a more traditional tower and can swing the extra money, check out our overall top desktop picks or, alternately, our favorite cheap laptops. Poky productivity performance even versus other budget systems. FAST Lenovo USFF Desktop PC M83 Intel i5 Quad-Core 4GB 128GB SSD Windows 10 Pro. With configurable memory amounts, gigabit Ethernet, and dual-display output, the Raspberry Pi 4 is an excellent tiny desktop computer for tinkerers and programming enthusiasts. These apps can help. Note: Mini PCs may use mobile-grade processors instead of desktop ones, however. Cheap, Fast Lenovo ThinkCentre E72 SFF PC, i3, 4Gb, ⦠Beyond budget Windows desktops, of course, is the ultimate cheap DIY machine: the incredibly inexpensive Raspberry Pi. Using a TV as a monitor is also an option for a system with an HDMI-out port, if you're in a situation where you can display your PC onto a TV that's already set up. These remain some of our favorites for the money, as time-tested solutions to home computing. © 1996-2021 Ziff Davis, LLC. Youâll need to make some smart compromises â for example, most budget laptops include graphics hardware thatâs capable but not fast ⦠Still, if you need to invest in a panel, don't fret. The best budget laptop: Acer Swift 3. Intel is a big player, but not the only one, when it comes to small, inexpensive desktops. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-budget-desktop-computers. CyberPowerPC - Gamer Supreme Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 7 3700X - ⦠Despite their compact sizes, our favorite small models still offer a respectable number of ports. The computing sticks from Intel and its kind are resolutely not upgradable. Best current performance for the category. Your most likely upgrade options for these systems will come in the form of additional storage or memory. Silent running, thanks to passive cooling design, No support for M.2 drives (just 2.5-inch SATA), Gets quite hot when under CPU load for extended periods, Price isn't overly competitive, once all components and OS factored in, Best for Value-Minded Shoppers with Limited Desk Space, Best for General Home-Office Productivity, Best for Tinkerers, Space-Strapped Windows Power Users, Best for Basic Business Use in Cramped Spaces, Best for Value-Minded Shoppers, Mainstream Workloads, Best for Good Integrated Graphics at a Modest Price, Best for DIY-Minded Seekers of a Small, Quiet, Fanless PC. They can even run web-based games, should you have the need. Main Results. Whether you're replacing an older, flagging PC, setting up a digital signage solution, or equipping a new or temporary office that needs only simple computing, a budget or mini PC may do the job. Pay a bit more, though, and you can net 64GB or 128GB; give preference to models that call out their storage as solid-state drives (SSDs) versus eMMC. Mini-towers and the usual towers, though, can often take a hard drive or two in an empty internal 3.5-inch drive bay if you need bulk storage on the cheap. The larger towers, of course, provide a more comprehensive complement of ports, including some up-to-the-minute options like USB Type-C. That said, keep your expectations in check. But this series of flexible "hobby board" systems allows you to create whatever lightweight computer you need and are capable of assembling from simple beginnings. If you didnât think you could get a powerful gaming computer ⦠You'll also see an assortment of (impressively) small boxes, bare boards, microtowers, and even some stick-shaped PCs to choose among. Today's budget desktops offer a modest baseline for performance and decent flexibility, while lasting longer than they used to. Gaming models with dedicated graphics cards start at several hundred dollars higher than the $500 range, but a few are starting to creep in around budget pricing; one of our current favorites is the CyberPower Gamer Xtreme GXi11400CPG. At the very least, have an idea of the most strenuous tasks you'll throw at this machine to determine if a budget desktop can fit the bill. Shop 1000's of deals on PC Parts, Laptops, Motherboards, Drives, Memory, Barebones, and Systems! Why you should buy this: You want a fast, well-built laptop for ⦠Check out our top tested picks among conventional towers, compact PCs, and more. In this instance, though, the added cost hurts extra given you're trying to be thrifty. See them allâand learn how to look at the idea of speed ⦠Just nail the configuration you need up front—upgradability is limited. In a traditional case, you should expect to be able to remove the side panel and add more storage (like, as mentioned, an additional drive or two) and more memory. Cost of storage, memory, and (possibly) OS needs to be factored into overall cost. Fast Cheap Computer PC Desktop HP i5 3rd Gen 8GB 128GB SSD 500GB HDD Win 10 WiFi. It is one of our fastest computer system to date. It'll perform basic tasks without hurting your wallet, but some alternatives do it better at this price point. The designers of the Acer Swift 1 created a simple but pleasing-to-look-at laptop with some pretty impressive specs. In need of some personal tech that can adapt to an unpredictable way of life? Looking for a new Windows 10 laptop that won't break the bank? They come in a few different shapes and sizes, all tending to the small. Include a basic 4GB, though, the capable Raspberry Pi. ) PCs to in. Circuit board, as a general rule, though and mouse in the world..., you 'll still need a video card for leading-edge Gaming experiences or 3D applications, which make them depending. 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