Rich Brown,
Senior Editor
May 15, 2008
Whether you need a basic PC for day-to-day productivity, or you simply want a cheap desktop to play around with, we found that you can find a respectable computer for less than $600.
The eMachines T5254 is our favorite, offering a DVD burner, a media card reader, a large 320GB hard drive, and decent performance for $400. Dell and Hewlett-Packard both compete in this price range and offer decent configurability. And if you really want to save money, Shuttle's $229 Linux-based K-4500 system (the only one of the group without a DVD burner, or any optical drive) is the cheapest complete desktop we know about.
Some of these systems cut corners, but all of them will get you online and otherwise perform most of the basic, non-gaming tasks you expect from a modern PC.
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| Review date | April 21, 2008 | April 18, 2008 | May 09, 2008 | May 15, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | The eMachines T5254 costs less than similar systems from Dell and HP, and it outperforms them (in some cases), and uses less power while doing so. You can't configure it before making a purchase, but eMachines has chosen this system's specs wisely, and with a level of environmental consciousness that make it a very enticing deal. | PC vendors have very few tricks remaining to differentiate their systems from the competition, which makes the built-in Bluetooth in the Dell Inspiron 530 unique. There's little else that makes this system stand out, but if you need Bluetooth in your budget desktop, we can recommend no other. | Shuttle's KPC K-4500 has appeal as a prebuilt Linux PC for a tech-savvy owner to play around with or as a more or less accessible, basic computer to bestow upon a loved one (for whom you're willing to provide tech support). If you're aware of the potential pitfalls we recommend it, not least because it's so affordable. | eMachines T3646 is one of the cheapest desktops available, and unfortunately it shows. It offers some compelling performance, but basic capability is more important in budget systems, and we found this system came up short compared with others in its price range. |
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| Features | ||||
| Graphics Controller | NVIDIA GeForce 6100 - 128 MB | PCI Express x16 - ATI Radeon HD3650 - 256 MB | PCI Express x16 - ATI Radeon HD3650 - 256 MB | NVIDIA GeForce 6100 - 128 MB |
| Storage Removable | None | None | None | None |
| Floppy Drive | None | None | None | None |
| Optical Storage (2nd) | None | None | None | None |
| Storage Controller | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) | Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 ) |
| Type | Personal computer | Personal computer | Personal computer | Personal computer |
| Hard Drive (2nd) | - None | - None | - None | - None |
| Printer | None | None | None | None |
| Optical Storage | DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM | DVD?RW | DVD?RW | DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM |
| Manufacturer Warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty | 1 year warranty |
| RAM | 2 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 | 2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 | 2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 | 1 GB (installed) / 2 GB (max) - DDR2 SDRAM - 667 MHz - PC2-5300 |
| Cache Memory | 1 MB L2 cache | 1 MB L2 cache | 1 MB L2 cache | 512 KB L2 cache |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 7.2 in x 16.1 in x 14.5 in | 6.7 in x 17.1 in x 14.3 in | 6.7 in x 17.1 in x 14.3 in | 7.2 in x 16.1 in x 14.5 in |
| OS Provided | Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium | Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 | Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 | Microsoft Windows Vista Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic |
| Processor | 1 x AMD Athlon 64 X2 BE-2350 / 2.1 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 / 2.2 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x Intel Pentium Dual Core E2200 / 2.2 GHz ( Dual-Core ) | 1 x AMD Sempron LE-1250 / 2.2 GHz |
| Hard Drive | 1 x 320 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 | 1 x 320 GB - Standard - S-ATA | 1 x 320 GB - Standard - S-ATA | 1 x 160 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 |
| Weight | 21.6 lbs | 28 lbs | 28 lbs | 21.6 lbs |
| Product Description | eMachines T5254 - Athlon 64 X2 BE-2350 2.1 GHz | Dell Inspiron 530 - Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2 GHz | Dell Inspiron 530 - Pentium Dual Core E2200 2.2 GHz | eMachines T3646 - Sempron LE-1250 2.2 GHz |
| Card Reader | 15 in 1 card reader | 19 in 1 card reader | 19 in 1 card reader | 15 in 1 card reader |
| Product Form Factor | Tower | Mini tower | Mini tower | Tower |
| Communications | Fax / modem - 56 Kbps | None | None | Fax / modem - 56 Kbps |
| Audio Output | Sound card - 5.1 channel surround | Sound card - 7.1 channel surround | Sound card - 7.1 channel surround | Sound card - 5.1 channel surround |
| Cache Per Processor | 1 MB ( 2 x 512 KB ) | 1 MB | 1 MB | 512 KB |
| Monitor | None. | None. | None. | None. |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
This configuration is no longer available from Dell. |
This product is available directly from the manufacturer's Web site. Click here to visit the product page. |
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