Do you want to work with large graphics packages, photography packages, or are you into running complex, energy consuming games? If you wish to run any of these types of software, then you may not be able to use very cheap desktop computers. For any other purposes, you are probably in luck. For many different uses that the average family may need, you do not really have to have all the bells and whistles that are available in today’s market.
An excellent use for new cheap desktop computers is for the kid’s room. Children get excited, throw things around the room, and have accidents that can be costly. You are better off to use cheap desktop computers for your children’s homework needs in case they break them! Children may surf websites that bring in viruses, which may inadvertently destroy a PC. Most children do not really need the large amount of memory and hard drive space for their everyday needs.
If you have determined that your basic computer needs include surfing the net, using word processing programs, sending, and checking your e-mail, then you are a perfect candidate for cheap new desktop computers. Many work at home moms make use of a basic computer for running small businesses. Another good use for cheap desktop computers is to use them in a cubbyhole of the kitchen. You can check your email when it suits you and store a handy base of recipes for cooking.
Hewlett-Packard makes desktops at reasonable prices. Another company known to provide decent budget PC systems is eMachine. However, if you are not very PC savvy and require a lot of customer assistance, you may want to look into something like a Dell where you can buy support assistance as part of the package.
Tips For Shopping
Since you are shopping for a new PC, make sure all the components are up to snuff to run the newest operating system, which is Windows 7. Generally, systems for $500 or less will come equipped with Pentium D chips or Celeron, which should be adequate for your needs. If you have a few extra dollars, the Athlon and Core Duo are more up to date and are better processors.
You should be looking for a minimum of 512 MB of RAM, which is enough to run most desktop computers. 1 GB of RAM is considered much better if possible. RAM is very important to the overall running performance of your system; therefore, if you have to cut back somewhere, you should cut back with a smaller hard drive and a slower CPU.
Most of the newer PCs come with a minimum of 120 to 160 GB of hard drive space, which is sufficient for most family needs. If you anticipate using big graphics programs or photo editing, you may want to consider extra storage when purchasing. It is advisable to get one that can burn DVDs and CDs, so you can record movies and documents to disks. If you get a system that can only read DVDs and CDs, with no writing capabilities, you may regret this later.
One of the newer trends in PC sales is that some do not come with a monitor included; pay special attention to this when looking at the price of the unit. Monitors can be purchased separately that will be compatible with the new unit you are buying, or you can purchase from the same manufacturer of the PC unit. The video chip that comes on the motherboard standard is fine for basic needs. Upgrading to a dedicated video card can improve RAM performance for other functions.
You will want a PC with a minimum of four USB ports for the addition of headphones, printers, keyboards, mice, and cameras. USB ports located on the front of the PC are the most convenient. Mini-towers are great for easily installing new cards that may be required down the road. With so many changes in technology, many new PCs are no longer equipped with a modem port, so be sure and check for this if it is needed. Unfortunately today, many models will not include the Windows CD, which can be used to repair your operating system or add additional windows software that was not pre-loaded. If it is not included in the package, make a point of buying one right away. This is a serious piece of software that you need on hand when you run into trouble!
Top 2010 Cheap Desktop Computer Suggestions
Compaq Presario CQ5110f
This Compaq falls into the realm of very cheap desktop computers. Not only is it fairly inexpensive, but also you get pretty good value for the money. It is equipped with 3GB of DDR2 memory and an AMD Athlon X2 7750 dual core processor. It comes with a DVD burner and a 320 GB hard drive. It is a bit limited on internal space for adding additional cards. Product details and additional information can be found at http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=729719039.
HP Pavilion p6110f
This comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 Processor, which is a great deal. You also get 6 GB of DDR2 memory along with a 640 GB hard drive. However, it is equipped with an older GMA 3100 integrated graphics and the older VGA connector. Overall, the processor, memory, and hard drive space are very impressive for cheap desktop computers. You can find additional information about this unit at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx? Item=N82E16883107982.
Zt Systems Affinity 7304Mi-37
The Affinity comes with 4 GB of DDR2 memory and an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor, making for a very strong running system. On the downside, it uses the older GMA 3100 integrated graphics that cannot be used for digital video outputs or HD video streams. You can shop for this at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx? Item=N82E16883241008.
Buying cheap desktop computers is pretty easy when you figure out what your family’s needs are, what components you require, and what PC unit meets those requirements.
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