Top Cheap PCs

These days a budget system costs under $750, handles basic office computing and photo editing, and has some room for upgrades. What you don't get: really big hard drives, top-of-the-line processors, and powerful game-playing graphics.

Grace Aquino

Monday, January 31, 2005, 03:00 PM PST

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Test Center

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	Rank	Name	PCW Rating
Cheap PC
	1	Dell Dimension 3000 • 2.4-GHz Celeron D 320 • 40GB hard drive • 15-inch Dell LCD monitor • Integrated Intel graphics • 48X CD-ROM • Price when ranked: $505 Check latest prices The bundled LCD monitor and printer make up for the system's feeble performance and limited upgrade options (for one thing, there's no AGP slot). (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report
	2	IBuyPower LAN-Party Mini PC • 2-GHz Athlon 64 3000+ • 80GB hard drive • 17-inch ViewSonic CRT monitor • Integrated VIA graphics • 52X CD-RW drive, media card reader • Price when ranked: $649 Check latest prices It's a high-performance bargain. But the cramped interior would complicate the graphics card upgrade we recommend to help this PC live up to its name. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report
	3	Compaq Presario SR1214NX • 2-GHz Athlon XP 2900+ • 80GB hard drive • No monitor included • Integrated VIA graphics • 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drive, media card reader • Price when ranked: $550 Manufacturer Url This handsome tower has lots of front connections and easy access for upgrades. But Compaq rated poorly in our Reliability and Service survey. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report

	4	EMachines T2984 • 2.93-GHz Celeron D 340 • 80GB hard drive • 17-inch EMachines CRT monitor • Integrated Intel graphics • 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drive, media card reader • Price when ranked: $720 Check latest prices Despite EMachines' pleasing Reliability and Service record, this model didn't wow us. The monitor was a blurry disappointment, and the PC lacks an AGP slot. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report
	5	Polywell Poly 880NF2-MX • 1.58-GHz AMD Sempron 2300+ • 80GB hard drive • 17-inch ViewSonic CRT monitor • Integrated NVidia graphics • 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive • Price when ranked: $630 Check latest prices This basic black box had the best gaming frame rates of the lot and offers Creative SBS15 speakers. Bad interior design makes upgrades cumbersome. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report
	6	HP Pavilion A706n • 2.1-GHz Athlon XP 3000+ • 160GB hard drive • No monitor included • Integrated VIA graphics • 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drive, media card reader • Price when ranked: $610 Check latest prices This PC features a stylish tower and has the largest drive capacity (160GB) here. But it loses points for poor graphics quality and low Reliability and Service scores. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report

	7	Sys Technology Sys TaskMaster S2600+ • 1.83-GHz AMD Sempron 2600+ • 60GB hard drive • 17-inch ViewSonic CRT monitor • Integrated SIS graphics • 16X DVD-ROM/52X combo CD-RW drive, media card reader • Price when ranked: $616 Check latest prices Despite this system's extra features (including a pair of speakers and a few software packages), its subpar performance kept it low on the chart. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report
	8	WinBook PowerSpec 4988 • 2.66-GHz Celeron D 330 • 40GB hard drive • 17-inch Daewoo CRT monitor • Integrated VIA graphics • DVD±RW drive, 52X CD-RW drive • Price when ranked: $745 Check latest prices Having both a DVD burner and a CD burner doesn't make up for the PowerSpec 4988's abysmal performance and relatively high price. (Last Rated: February 02, 2005) Full Review • Test Report

Use the Check Boxes to see a Side-by-Side Comparison

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