Think you have to bust your budget for a peppy new desktop PC? Think again. Sure, you can mortgage the farm for a fancy $4000 gaming rig; but if your needs are modest, you can buy a decent, stylish system for a whole lot less. For this review we started with two basic assumptions: Each system had to cost less than $1000, and the price had to cover both the PC and a monitor.
Now let's be real. You won't get Corvette performance at a subcompact price. Similarly, you won't obtain tip-top computing performance from a low-cost machine. But that doesn't mean that you have to settle for junk or that you can't prepare for the future: All but one of our cheap PCs is rated by its maker as Vista-capable (see "Can Cheap PCs Handle Microsoft's Windows Vista?").
Our tests show that most of these low-end machines provide acceptable performance--they're fine for business or home, so long as you keep your expectations reasonable. Don't expect to be able to play high-end games on these systems--few did well on our graphics tests. In spite of their poor graphics performance, though, most earned a PCW Rating of Good or better, because in our rating system, performance is just one of four major factors that affect the overall rating (the others are price, features, and design).
That said, a clear winner emerged in our roundup: The Micro Express MicroFlex 66B ($999) delivered performance scores we expect from much costlier systems. Our number two pick, Dell's attractive and uncommonly narrow Dimension C521, turned in relatively modest performance scores and for that reason is far more typical of the systems in this price range than the powerful MicroFlex 66B--but it also costs a whopping $270 less.
The PC World Test Center evaluated each system on our WorldBench 5 test suite, which times how long various common tasks in popular applications take. The results plotted a dramatic arc, ranging from the laggardly score of 66 for the Ajump Prive 336 ($499) to the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B's stunning 148.
We also ran an informal multitasking test to see how these PCs behaved when asked to go beyond single-tasking basics. The multitasking test consisted of playing back a DVD movie while encoding an MP3 file in the background--a two-pronged operation that can stress systems costing far more than $1000. To our surprise and delight, only three machines choked on this test, all of them models that were equipped with slower, single-core processors: the Dell Dimension E521 ($489), which carries a 1.8-GHz AMD Sempron 3400+ processor; the Shuttle XPC X100 ($749), which packs a 1.6-GHz Intel Celeron; and the Ajump, another 1.6-GHz Intel Celeron unit. These three PCs were unable to play the test DVD movie smoothly while encoding the music file. (The Ajump system couldn't perform this test at all because its MP3-encoding software crashed repeatedly.)
Sticking to a BudgetAll of the PCs we reviewed are configured not to exceed a budget of $1000--not including mail-in rebates, but including any point-of-sale instant savings that were available at the time of our review.
At this price ceiling, you'll usually get a machine equipped with a medium or low-end processor from Intel or AMD. Such CPUs run slower and have smaller caches than their higher-end cousins do. A typical sub-$1000 computer doesn't provide much memory, either: Six of the systems we tested came with just 512MB of memory, an amount that results in a noticeable performance hit when you run more than one program at once.
How much difference can a faster processor and increased memory make in performance? A lot, in our experience.
Take the Shuttle XPC X100: We tested this model in two configurations that were identical except as regards its CPU and memory. The $749, 1.6-GHz Celeron M 420-based system equipped with 512MB of memory earned a WorldBench 5 score of 79; the $1323, 1.6-GHz Core Duo 2050-based model with 1GB of memory posted a 92--over 16 percent higher.
Inexpensive desktops usually offer modest-size hard drives. Most of the units we tested had 80GB or 160GB drives, which can fill up quickly when required to store digital images, video, or music files. But four of our models had 250GB drives: the CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500SE ($999), the Dell Dimension E520 ($989), the top-ranked Micro Express, and the Shuttle G2 2200 ($999).
The graphics capabilities of cheap PCs tend to be elementary, too: Nine of the systems we reviewed employ integrated graphics. Though such graphics continue to improve, their deficiencies will be exposed by a moderately demanding 3D game or by most installations of the new Windows Vista OS. Only two systems--the Micro Express machine and the CyberPower computer--handily maneuvered through our graphics tests that run the games Doom 3 and Far Cry, scoring well above average for the cheap PCs we tested. A third, Dell's Dimension C521, barely scraped through the tests at a playable level. The other systems produced results we rated as unplayable and unsatisfactory for serious or even casual gaming.
Naturally, there are exceptions to these general rules. The HP Media Center TV m7690y--which just squeaks past our price filter at $1000--is the only system we tested that came equipped with an integrated TV tuner; it was also the only machine in the group to provide a DVD burner with LightScribe disc labeling.
Two systems--the Dell Dimension E520 and the CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500SE--had dual optical drives (a dual-layer DVD burner and a DVD-ROM drive). The Micro Express model was the only value system to include 2GB of memory.
The rudimentary configurations offered by some of our low-cost PCs clearly compromised their performance. Notably, the Ajump Prive 336 ($499), the Dell Dimension E521 ($489), and the eMachines T5048 ($600) struggled to complete some benchmark tests. Such systems may suffice for surfing the Web, editing uncomplicated documents, sending e-mail, or running educational software. But for demanding tasks like playing challenging 3D games, you'll want to purchase a better-performing (albeit more-expensive) PC.
The Art of the DealYou'll see plenty of ads touting all sorts of PC deals. But as we discovered, a deal isn't a bargain if the resulting ultracheap system doesn't deliver the goods. A superlow price, such as the $359 listed for Dell's Dimension C521, usually reflects a bare-bones configuration. Such a PC may lack a monitor, use a very slow processor, or pack as little as 256MB of memory (below our minimum for inclusion in this story). For example, when we added a monitor and a few basic upgrades to the Dell Dimension C521, its price climbed to $729.
Sometimes the advertised price reflects a mail-in rebate or two. eMachines and HP, for instance, offer mail-in rebates of $50 to $100 on the systems we reviewed here. Because we declined to deduct mail-in rebates from the bottom-line price, we often encountered price creep from the computer's lowest advertised price.
Savvy shoppers should keep an eye on deals, as bundles and special promotions change daily. One trend we've noticed: When one rebate or instant-savings program ends, another invariably pops up to take its place. To stay on top of the latest deals, visit sites like DealCatcher.com and TechBargains.com, which aggregate sales and coupon codes for PCs (and more).
Some manufacturers offer preconfigured PCs online with few options--or retail configurations with no options--for less money than the customized versions command. Whether you take this route or you buy a custom-configured system, we advise against skimping on core components such as memory, the hard drive, graphics, or even the DVD burner, with the intention of upgrading those components later. Instead, buy the components you want from the get-go, since they usually cost no more as part of a configuration than if purchased independently. Another benefit: The PC manufacturer will install them for you--and cover them under the system's warranty.
Our tests show that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a pretty good PC. Less than $1000 will fetch a system that can comfortably handle a wide range of tasks. Gamers and video enthusiasts may still prefer to lay out the extra cash for a higher-end machine; but for most purposes, a system like our Best Buy, the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B, or even our number two model, the Dell Dimension C521, is all the PC you need.
Micro Express MicroFlex 66BThe fastest of the cheap PCs we reviewed, the $999 MicroFlex 66B is a great value. It managed an impressive WorldBench 5 score of 148. The MicroFlex 66B carries a speedy 2.4-GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 processor and 2GB of memory--the only system in our roundup to do so. It also came configured with an ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card. This machine produced the best graphics performance of any cheap PC on our gaming tests, making it a good choice as a versatile, low-cost gaming desktop.
Our only major complaint involves the system's paltry 380-watt power supply, which could become overloaded if you add several hard drives or optical drives.
The $729 Dell Dimension C521 is skinnier than a typical midsize tower PC. Set up vertically, the well-designed case has a width of just 4.5 inches. Even so, it retains a modicum of expansion room, including three open expansion-card slots (for half-height cards only). Our system included a five-in-one memory card reader.
The C521 configuration that we tested had a 2-GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+ dual-core processor, 1GB of memory, and an ATI Radeon X1300 graphics card loaded with 256MB of video memory. That combination powered the C521 to a creditable WorldBench 5 score of 95--more than adequate for tasks like word processing, Web browsing, and even video and image editing--and to fair (and playable-quality) results on our gaming graphics tests.
Dell Dimension E520
The Dimension E520 may look like its cousin the E521 on the outside, but inside it's a very different beast. It has a faster processor, more memory, a bigger hard drive, and a dedicated graphics card that makes it a more desirable proposition for a wider range of activities. But it's also more expensive at $989 versus $489.
The system contains a 1.86-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor and 1GB of RAM, and it rolled to a respectable WorldBench 5 score of 106. Still, the E520 isn't for gamers. Its nVidia GeForce 7300LE graphics board generated hit-or-miss performance on our graphics tests; and the games in our tests, while playable at 1024 by 768 resolution, were just barely so.
An array of blue LEDs illuminates the case's curved plastic front, but unfortunately the case looks and feels fragile and cheaply made. Other quibbles: The 19-inch ViewSonic Optiquest Q9b LCD monitor that came bundled with our system rendered our images and games in dark and dull colors; and the LCD had a VGA input, generating fuzzier video than a DVI connection (which the system supports) would have.
HP Media Center TV m7690y
The m7690y earned a mark of 108 on our WorldBench 5 test suite, the second-best score among models reviewed here. But subpar graphics performance makes this system a poor choice for gaming.
The Dimension E521 ($489) is the least-expensive computer we tested for this roundup. However, its slow performance and underwhelming specs severely limit its appeal. Configured with a single-core 1.8-GHz AMD Sempron 3400+ processor and 512MB of RAM, the E521 attained a modest WorldBench 5 score of 80--adequate for basic tasks like Web browsing or word processing, but insufficient for running games. It also choked when we tried to play a DVD movie and convert an MP3 file simultaneously; the video simply became unwatchable.
The E521 that we reviewed for this roundup came equipped with a 17-inch LCD monitor, Dell's E177FP. Though we welcomed the inclusion of a slim LCD at this extremely low price, we found the monitor to be just adequate, with undistinguished color.
Lenovo ThinkCentre A60 D3ULenovo's $949 A60 D3U lacks the frills of a consumer system, but it has features that an IT manager might find useful. A built-in data encryption chip safeguards data on your hard drive, software protects your passwords and encryption keys, and Lenovo's ThinkVantage management program allows you to configure and check the system remotely. The A60 D3U's WorldBench score of 95 is more than adequate for most general business tasks.
An unexpected bonus on the PC configuration we tested was the inclusion of Lenovo's first 19-inch wide-screen monitor, the L192 Wide. This cleanly designed display rendered sharp, bright images.
At this price, eMachines bundles its 17-inch eView 17F3 CRT monitor with the T5048. The monitor produced adequate image quality, but images and movies lacked sharpness and had dull colors.
The system came with a dual-layer DVD burner, a multiformat card reader, and a 160GB hard drive. One limitation: The audio output supports stereo speakers only.
Shuttle XPC G2 2200Just 7.2 inches high and 7.8 inches wide, the $999 Shuttle XPC G2 2200 saves space; but as you'd expect, it lacks room for expansion. The shoe-box-size case houses a 2.4-GHz AMD Athlon 64 3800+ CPU and 1GB of RAM, a combination that helped power this system to a creditable WorldBench 5 score of 95--fast enough to support some video and image editing.
Unfortunately, this system can't handle even casual gaming. The G2 2200 barely completed some of our graphics tests, and it failed two others. Our test model used an integrated VIA Chrome 9 IGP graphics chip; you can add a dedicated graphics card via the machine's single PCI Express x16 card slot. The system offers both coaxial and optical digital audio outputs (the PC supports up to 5.1 surround-sound audio). Shuttle's portable, 17-inch XP17 LCD monitor produced strong colors and good shadow detail.
Compared with its bargain-basement cousin the T5048, the eMachines T5212 has better specs, a better feature set (a larger hard drive, for example), and a higher price. The T5212 costs $870; in addition, $50 mail-in rebates are available for the monitor and the PC.
Although the T5212 delivers solid features for the money, it is constrained by disappointingly lethargic performance. It scored 17 percent lower on our WorldBench 5 tests than the Dell Dimension C521, which costs about $140 less. With its dual-core 2.66-GHz Intel Pentium D processor (a CPU older than processors of the Core 2 Duo chip family) and 1GB of memory, the T5212 ambled to a sluggish WorldBench 5 score of 79--sufficient to handle tasks like e-mail and Web surfing, but not video or image editing.
Can Cheap PCs Handle Microsoft's Windows Vista?
Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows Vista, carries a whole new set of system requirements. But how can you tell whether the cheap PC you're buying is capable of handling either the basic or the premium flavor of Vista? (For more details on the different versions of Vista and on the various features that the new OS offers, see "Everything You Need to Know About Windows Vista.")
Systems that bear Microsoft's Vista Ready logo meet the company's minimum specifications for running Vista. The machines we reviewed for this story came to us too early to have received the Vista Ready logo; nevertheless, all but the Ajump are designated by their vendors as Windows Vista-capable (indicating that the system can run simpler versions of Windows Vista, such as Windows Vista Home Basic, which excludes Vista's most attractive visual effects). The presence of the Windows Vista Premium Ready logo means that the PC can handle enhanced versions of Vista (none of the systems reviewed here carried that indicator either, but Micro Express says that its computer will handle Vista Premium).
We expect to see the first Vista-equipped units in January 2007. But that doesn't mean you have to wait until then to get Vista: If you bought a Vista Ready or Vista-capable system after October 26, 2006, your PC manufacturer should have an upgrade program available. Depending on the version of Windows that you have loaded on your system, you'll get Vista Basic (at least) or something better. The fees vary: Some vendors are offering upgrades for free--not including shipping and handling costs--or for a modest charge.
Keep in mind, though, that even if you buy a Vista Ready system, the logo alone doesn't promise an easy installation; nor does it guarantee how well the system will run Vista. See "Vista: The Upgrade" for a discussion of what you can expect if you're upgrading to Vista from Windows XP, and for details on PC makers' coupon plans.
Cheap PCs Rated (chart)In our tests, cheap PCs showed that they could stand up well next to more-expensive models. We tested 14 models priced at less than $1000--including monitor--and found that most of them provided a level of performance acceptable for general business or home use. Just keep your expectations reasonable, and don't expect to be able to play high-end games on these systems--few did well on our graphics tests. Despite their poor graphics performance, most earned a PCW Rating of Good or better, because in our rating system, performance is just one of four major factors that affect the overall rating (the others are price, features, and design).
The PC World Test Center evaluated each system on our WorldBench 5 test suite, which times how long various common tasks in popular applications take. The results plotted a dramatic arc, ranging from the laggardly score of 66 for the Ajump Prive 336 ($499) to the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B's stunning 148.
The MicroFlex 66B ($999) was our clear winner, delivering performance scores in line with those we've seen from much costlier systems. Our number two pick, Dell's attractive and uncommonly narrow Dimension C521, turned in relatively modest performance scores and for that reason is far more typical of the systems in this price range than the powerful MicroFlex 66B--but it also costs $270 less.
To see how our 14 cheap PCs stack up against our usual field of value PCs, click the link below to jump to our most current
Click the icon below to see the
Richard Baguley; testing by William Wang
