In Pictures: Best Desktop PCs Under $750
Being tightfisted when it comes to buying a new PC usually gets you a pretty tight list of features. But we found a few models that can get the job done without doing a number on your budget.
Richard Jantz and Danny Allen
2. Speedy Space Saver: Polywell Poly i7050
The $729 Polywell Poly i7050 is a compact (13-by-16-inch) desktop that's powerful enough for general applications, Web surfing, and other routine tasks. Despite its entry-level CPU, it scored admirably in our productivity-application benchmark, equaling the similarly sized Sys Technology Sys SlimLine Si200's result of 77 in our WorldBench 6 test suite (and 77 marks the best score among the systems in this slide show). Graphics performance was weak due to the use of integrated graphics, but an HDMI port lets you connect the system to a TV. (Polywell charges $72 for a 256MB nVidia GeForce 8400GS card upgrade). The package we tested included a 19-inch LCD, a 250GB hard drive, and a combo DVD/CD writer (which left only one external 3.5-inch drive bay free). The Poly i7050's small size, strong performance, and HDMI output make it a good living-room PC candidate.
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