Buying a Desktop on a Budget

The average price of desktop PCs has dropped every year since 2005, with the average price expected to be about $500 in 2012, according to data from Statistica. Depending on the features you need and the sales venue you choose, you can get a desktop PC for significantly less than that. Start by examining what you will use your PC for, so that you can determine what features your desktop will need.

Instructions

1. Consider how much speed you need in your desktop PC. A quad-core processor is unlikely to be put to much use in a budget desktop, so don't automatically spring for the fastest option. For modest needs such as Web surfing and email, an Intel dual-core Pentium is plenty. An Intel i3 has the necessary power to run office and business applications and can handle some newer games. Similarly, 3 to 4 GHz is more than most people need for everyday activity, so look for CPUs of 2 to 2.7 GHz. In that range, there are a lot of options, and competition is driving prices down. An example is the HP Pavilion p6t series. If you are interested in a richer multimedia experience, including gaming, you might want to opt for an AMD E series processor. Models like the Acer Aspire X1 come with a Radeon HD right in the CPU, removing the need for an upgrade to discrete graphics.


2. Determine your memory needs. Memory is used for almost everything your computer does and is a very important component to an overall positive computing experience. For Web surfing and email, you can get away with 2GB of memory. If you're doing anything more than that, don't settle for less than 4GB of memory. When possible get DDR3 memory, like that used in the Dell Inspiron 620s; it's the fastest type of RAM in widespread use in the consumer market, and extra speed translates directly to a better experience.


3. Assess how many large applications you need to run. Hard drive prices continue to rapidly drop -- storage in 2010 was available for less than 10 cents a gigabyte -- so it's easy to find desktops packed with more than you'll ever use. Unless you're going to put 100 games or your 3,000-CD music collection on your computer, you don't need a terabyte of storage. Although for less-demanding home users, 20GB might be sufficient -- plus around 20GB for each suite of software you're going to install -- most budget desktops now come with a hard drive of at least 320GB, and 500GB is quite common, such as with the Lenovo H330. For reference, Microsoft Office requires a minimum of 3GB, but it is a relatively large office suite. Noncasual games might add around 10GB apiece. However much storage you think you'll need, double it to give yourself growing room, and make sure your chosen desktop meets that requirement.


4. Choose your peripherals. Often the extras and upgrades are what drive the price of desktops up. If you don't have a monitor, then look for a desktop that comes with a monitor included. You might find the best deals in the all-in-one market. All-in-one PCs pack all the internal components into the monitor, and in many cases they'll end up saving you a few bucks over a PC tower plus comparable external monitor. You can also skip high definition media options such as Blu-ray drives if you don't watch high-definition movies -- or if you already have one somewhere else in your home.
   
   For other peripherals, such as a printer, consider how much you're really going to use it. A printer may seem like a good idea, but the cost of ownership can be high. With photo-sharing sites, email and instant messaging, as well as photo printing kiosks in big box stores and the option to send print jobs to stores like FedEx over the Web, many people may be able to eliminate their need for printing at home.


5. Decide what you need up front and write it down. This will help avoid temptation when customizing an order in an online shop. Accept an upgrade to your list only if its sale price saves you money. When shopping from an authorized dealer, look for vendor-refurbished, open box or recertified models with higher specs for the same price you were going to spend. If you are buying used from a local store or person-to-person, for example on Craigslist, insist on a demonstration that covers powering up the computer, connecting to the Internet and watching an online video. This will show you that many if not all of the computer's parts are in working order.