You don’t need to spend four figures to get a reliable home PC—many of our budget desktop favorites are under $600. Check out our top labs-tested picks among conventional towers, mini PCs, all-in-ones, gaming rigs, and more.
The words « cheap desktop PC » may conjure negative vibes, but they shouldn’t. In our 40 years of testing and benchmarking desktops at PCMag, we’ve encountered plenty of quality budget computers that offer solid speed and feature sets. To suss out the winners, our expert analysts and editors use defined, repeatable testing methodologies to run quantitative benchmarks on every model we review, and also assess machines on the basis of design, features, connectivity, upgrade potential, and value. With all that in mind, the Acer Aspire TC-1780-UA92 is our current top pick for a cheap desktop PC for most buyers, thanks to its excellent mix of components for the money and a feature-packed chassis. But keep reading for six more highly recommended budget desktops for various use cases, followed by a detailed buying guide and a helpful breakdown of our picks’ specs.Why We Picked It
A few speed demons may complain that Acer’s Aspire TC-1780-UA92 has a merely adequate Intel Core i5 and integrated graphics that can’t play demanding games, but they’ll have a hard time finding anything else to gripe about for the price. This successor to our previous top cheap desktop continues to drive perky everyday performance, now with a 13th Gen chip and the latest wireless in Wi-Fi 6E. It even has two HDMI ports to boost productivity with a dual-monitor setup.Who It’s For
If you want an affordable yet capable PC, it’s hard to do better than this Aspire microtower. The TC-1780 has handy front-mounted USB 3.2 ports (both Type-A and Type-C) and a useful media card reader. Its storage and RAM are expandable, though the power supply lacks the GPU connector you’d want for a robust discrete graphics card, and Acer continues to resist the temptation to clutter the system with unwanted bloatware.Why We Picked It
Most budget desktops have adequate but not impressive horsepower. HP’s Pavilion Desktop TP01-2060 stands apart with a potent eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 processor, tempting users who plan to do a bit of photo or video editing or other digital content creation in addition to routine productivity and online tasks, and its dual storage drives (a 256GB SSD plus 1TB hard drive) ensure you won’t run out of room. Five USB 3.2 ports (four Type-A and one Type-C) are conveniently located up front.Who It’s For
Power users with not-so-powerful wallets will find the Pavilion fills the bill, though it won’t support a dual-monitor setup (it has only one HDMI monitor port rather than two) and its Wi-Fi 5 networking means slower downloads than Wi-Fi 6 or 6E. If you can live with those limitations, the compact and quiet HP is a winning choice.Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3iWhy We Picked It
Most budget desktops make you pay extra for a monitor and speakers, but the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3i is a rare example of a bargain-priced all-in-one. Starting at $529 ($599 as tested), this stylish unit offers a 22-inch, thin-bezel screen as well as a generous 16GB of RAM and 1TB solid-state drive. The full HD display is brighter and more colorful than you might expect for the money, the built-in speakers aren’t bad, and you’ll find a good array of ports (though alas no USB-C).Who It’s For
We’re big fans of all-in-one desktops, and the AIO 3i is an admirably affordable example. Its main shortcoming is an underwhelming Intel Pentium Gold processor, but its performance is suitable for an online kiosk or homework station. Its stand even has an indented niche to stash your mouse, phone, or keys.Why We Picked It
The Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3i (also recommended here) is the more traditional all-in-one. But what if you wanted something more versatile? The HP Envy Move is undeniably a unique proposition: This AIO features a handle and automatic retractable feet so you can tote it around the home or office and set it up in different rooms with ease. There’s even a pocket on the back for the keyboard and a battery like a laptop, so it won’t die in transit or have to be immediately plugged in.
The design works shockingly well, and there’s a nice PC in there, too. The screen is a bright 23.8-inch 1440p panel, and inside is an Intel 13th Gen U-series processor with 16GB of memory and a 1TB SSD. The webcam is sharp, too. It’s notably pricier than the Lenovo, but considering all it offers, coming in well under $1,000 is still a bargain.Who It’s For
If you can’t imagine why you’d possibly want to move your PC more than a couple of times in its lifetime, stick with our other AIO pick. But if you have a household where you want to move around an entertainment system for your kids, plop down a PC in the kitchen while you cook, or work in an office where you might want to collaborate or show off a presentation quickly, the Envy Move is a unique solution.Why We Picked It
Only one-tenth the size of the midtowers that dominate the budget desktop market, the ECS Liva Z5 Plus delivers surprisingly perky performance in a petite package. It’s small and VESA mountable, so you can hide it behind a monitor or attach it to the underside of your desk. You’ll find a wide selection of ports on the Liva Z5 Plus, able to support up to four monitors. This box isn’t the least expensive mini PC around, but considering the parts and versatility, its price for a 13th Gen U-series processor, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage is a fine deal. Who It’s For
If you’re on a budget and not into the DIY assembly of most mini PCs, the Z5 Plus is a smart way to save desk space. A variety of USB ports (three Type-A, one Type-C), dual Ethernet jacks, and three video-out options (two HDMI and one DisplayPort connector) give you plenty of options. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 6E support and a three-year warranty sweeten the deal. This is a step above mere digital signage PCs with its performance and feature set, though you could use it for that with its array of connections, meaning it can step in as a home office or business PC.Why We Picked It
At just under the $1,000 mark, this NZXT rig is about as premium as it gets for an entry-level system right now, using slightly dated but effective parts to provide a steady 1080p gaming experience. While it’s a 2023 product running on an Intel Core i5-12400F CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU in order to keep the price down, we found it to be excellent for full HD gaming, delivering a high value for the price. No matter what components you pick, they come in a smart and attractive case that includes a roomy side window.Who It’s For
If you’re a gamer trying to stick as close to $1,000 as possible, you would be well served by this rig. You could perhaps squeeze more power out of a slightly more expensive system and future proof yourself more, but the build wouldn’t be as high in quality, and at this price you’re almost certainly sticking to a 1080p monitor. (Though, we would upgrade its 500GB SSD.) Mainstream, casual, and non-competitive gamers need not overextend themselves beyond a system like this, and hardcore gamers on a budget will get the essentials. Deeper-pocketed enthusiasts, however, should look in the higher tiers.Why We Picked It
For years PC tinkerers and beginning programmers have found ultra-cheap Raspberry Pi circuit boards easy and fun paths to app development or robot or device control. All that the Pi 5 did was improve over the Pi 4 with faster hardware, punchier graphics, and expanded storage support—simple, right? This is a snappy, easy to set up single-board computer with a nice price, making it the name to beat in this arena.
