(Jun 15, 2009)
Rich Brown
Senior Editor
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.
ZT Affinity 7308Ma
ZT's smartly configured Affinity 7308Ma offers a Blu-ray drive and fast application performance, both rare for its $699 price tag. You won't show off this midtower PC off for its looks, but we recommend it to those who enjoy the satisfaction that comes with finding a hidden bargain.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: Apr 28, 2009
Excellent
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Apple Mac Mini (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 120GB, Winter 2009)
While we're still impressed with the Mac Mini's ability to pack so much into a tight package, Apple can't get away from its PC competitors that offer more features for less money. If saving space and the Mac OS are dominating factors, then the new Mac Minis are a viable option, but your dollar will stretch much further with a budget Windows desktop.
Price: $579.00 - $599.99 (check prices)
Review date: Mar 4, 2009
Very good
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Shuttle KPC K-4500
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.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: May 9, 2008
Very good
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Acer Aspire X1700-U3700A
The Acer X1700-U3700A is slightly slower than the competition, but it gives you almost every component you need in either a basic desktop or a light-duty home theater PC. If you prefer functionality to performance, we recommend this model out of the three systems in the current lineup.
Price: $428.00 - $479.99 (check prices)
Review date: Feb 4, 2009
Very good
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HP Pavilion a6750y
HP's Pavilion a6750y highlights the multitasking benefits of a mainstream quad-core CPU. It's also a fairly stable base on which to build a more capable system. You can find desktops with more raw performance out there, but this one is a reliable multitasker for the dollar.
Price: Sorry, pricing not available
Review date: Feb 26, 2009
Good
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