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Editors' top budget PCs

Rich Brown
Rich Brown, Senior Editor
Updated August 15, 2007
Want to buy a new PC without having to take out a second mortgage? These budget PCs strike a balance between performance and cost, covering the basics at affordable prices. Good for home office use, sending e-mail, and surfing the Net, a budget PC gives you the features that you need and none that you don't.

Need help finding the right computer? Let CNET's ExactChoice tool guide you to the perfect desktop or laptop.

Related editors' top products lists:
Budget PCs | Mainstream PCs | Media Center PCs | Performance PCs

 
Budget PCs
Product Editors' rating Price Summary
HP Pavilion Slimline s3020n 
HP Pavilion Slimline s3020n
8.4 out of 10 8.4
Excellent
Review date:
04/02/2007
With new polish and a whole lot of bang for the buck, HP's new Pavilion Slimline s3020n leads the small PC field overall. The glossy black chassis, added expandability, and even a new keyboard make this system attractive both inside and out.
Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (2 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 250 GB Standard, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Tower, Athlon 64 X2, 1 year warranty, Personal computer, 128 MB

Dell Inspiron 531s 
Dell Inspiron 531s
7.8 out of 10 7.8
Very good
Review date:
07/18/2007
Dell may not have the most bang for the buck in its new, trim Inspiron 531S, but it offers more options than the competition in this new, small-scale Windows desktop. For systems in its slimmed down class, we recommend it. For budget PCs in general, you can find a better deal if you shop around.
Specs: AMD Sempron 3600+, 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, 320 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Sempron

eMachines T5230 
eMachines T5230
7.8 out of 10 7.8
Very good
Review date:
07/02/2007
$350
from 1 store
Check prices
We like this new eMachines T5230 quite a bit for its fast processor. Our main reservation is that other vendors have become more aggressive in adding features to their low-end PCs, and eMachines has opted for power over a well-rounded PC. Still, if all you need is a basic, able desktop, this is a great deal.
Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ (2.3 GHz), 1 GB DDR II SDRAM, 250 GB Standard, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Tower, 667 MHz, Athlon 64 X2, 1 year warranty, Personal computer

Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.66GHz) 
Apple Mac Mini Core Duo (1.66GHz)
7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good
Review date:
10/10/2006
$500
from 3 stores
Check prices
If you're looking for a pure budget desktop and aren't too worried about looks, even this new updated Mac Mini with its 1.66GHz dual-core CPU is a hard sell. But if you want a small, innocuous computer for sending or receiving media or other files between rooms, no other computer offers the deal that Apple has with this one.
Specs: EPA Energy Star, Intel Core Duo (1.66 GHz), 512 MB DDR II SDRAM, 60 GB Standard, Apple MacOS X 10.4, Desktop slimline, 667 MHz, Intel Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Core Duo, 1 year warranty, Personal computer

HP Pavilion Media Center a6030n - Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2.5 GHz 
HP Pavilion Media Center a6030n - Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 2.5 GHz
7.5 out of 10 7.5
Very good
Review date:
05/04/2007
The new looks are nice, but we're more glad that HP has redesigned its new midtower Pavilion desktop with an eye on expandability. That and the robust service make this $760 desktop a solid buy for anyone in need of a straightforward day-to-day PC.
Specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (2.5 GHz), 2 GB DDR II SDRAM, 320 GB Standard, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Tower, Athlon 64 X2, 1 year warranty, Media center, Max 2 x 2 GB module, 128 MB

 






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