With the popularity of telecommuting, employees and companies have renewed their computer equipment, which has boosted the sale of fixed PCs by 3.6%. Limited budget? This buying guide will help you find a cheap desktop computer. Office or gamer? Intel or AMD? We give you the important criteria to think about so that you can find the best PC that will suit your needs.
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Our selection
"The HP S01-aF0017nf is more than a multimedia computer with its 2 cores and 4 threads coupled with a powerful AMD Radeon HD8240 graphics chip.…"
"Small, but powerful and affordable! Powered by an i5-5257U processor and backed by 8GB of RAM, prepare to be amazed by its performance!"
"This all-in-one computer from Acer is classy and stylish with its 27″ Borderless display. It's all powered by a fabulous 10th generation i5."
"Despite some compromises, the Lens G1 Plus is a viable solution for gamers on a tight budget. The GTX 1650 will allow you to play…"
The HP S01-aF0017nf is more than a multimedia computer with its 2 cores and 4 threads coupled with a powerful AMD Radeon HD8240 graphics chip. It's perfect for low-demand games.
See the priceFeaturing a futuristic 3D design, the HP S01-aF0017nf is the perfect balance between power and your wallet. The AMD Gold Athlon 3150U processor hums along at a speed of 2.4 GHz, 3.3 GHz burst mode, will allow you to tame all your word processing and even photo editing software. The 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD will ensure a fast start-up time as well as an accelerated speed in running your favorite programs.
The storage of your work, photos, music is taken care of by a 1TB hard drive running at a speed of 7200 rpm. If your monitor is too small, connect your flat screen using the HDMI 1.4 port and enjoy your movie with a smooth image delivered by the AMD Radeon HD8240 iGPU. Finally, at the front you have 4 USB 3.1 ports and a 3 in 1 card reader.
Small, but powerful and affordable! Powered by an i5-5257U processor and backed by 8GB of RAM, prepare to be amazed by its performance!
See the priceLike an internet box, this mini PC U700 will fit anywhere in your home and can even be carried in your bag. The power is developed by an i5, 5th generation, capable of running at over 3.10 GHz. Equipped with two cores and 4 threads, this CPU is capable of supporting multiple tab openings since it is supported by 8 GB of RAM. If that's not enough, you can upgrade it to 32 GB.
Small, but powerful! Its integrated graphics card, Intel Iris Graphic, brings a rich gaming experience and will allow you to do video editing. To store all your projects, the U700 has a 256 Gb disk that you can expand thanks to the USB ports. The real plus is the presence of 2 video ports: HDMI, Mini DP.
This all-in-one computer from Acer is classy and stylish with its 27″ Borderless display. It's all powered by a fabulous 10th generation i5.
See the priceThe Acer Aspire C27 has a 27″ LED display featuring FHD, 1920 x 1080p resolution. Edgeless, the display has a 1MP webcam and stereo speakers. Coming with a Win 10, 64 Bits OS, this AIO is equipped with a wide range of modern connectivity. You have an HDMI output, 2 USB 3.0 ports and a WLAN 802.11ac network card. The keyboard and mouse are solid and responsive.
On the engine side, you have an i5-1035G1 quad core processor with 8 threads. All this is clocked at 1 GHz with a maximum potential of 3.60 GHz. This power is supported by 8 GB of RAM and this will allow you to browse the web while watching Netflix, check your emails while working on Drive. For a better start of the OS, you can install it in the 128 Gb SSD and store your documents in the 1 TB HDD.
Despite some compromises, the Lens G1 Plus is a viable solution for gamers on a tight budget. The GTX 1650 will allow you to play at 1080p.
See the priceWho said that it was necessary to ruin oneself to play recent games? The Lens G1 Plus gamer pc is proof that you can have fun with an average configuration. Embedding a Ryzen™ 3 3100 processor with 4 logic cores and 8 threads. This is perfect for heavy use coupled with 8GB of RAM. The Adobe suite is at your fingertips as this PC comes with an external graphics card: the GTX 1650 4GB.
All of this requires a good amount of storage space and Lens has thought of this by including a 512GB SSD, ultra fast, to save your work and improve the speed of the computer. Don't worry, you can expand that via the free M2 port or plug in an external drive using one of the USB 3.0 ports. The high-end HDMI or DisplayPort will allow you to enjoy smooth image quality.
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The best cheap desktop computer in 2021
The best entry-level cheap desktop computer
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | VERY GOOD | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Cheap desktop computer - HP S01-aF0017nf
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Intel Core i5-5257U Mini PC
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Ordinateur tout-en-un Acer Aspire C27
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PC Gamer Lens G1 Plus
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The HP S01-aF0017nf is more than a multimedia computer with its 2 cores and 4 threads coupled with a powerful AMD Radeon HD8240 graphics chip. It's perfect for low-demand games.
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Small, but powerful and affordable! Powered by an i5-5257U processor and backed by 8GB of RAM, prepare to be amazed by its performance!
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This all-in-one computer from Acer is classy and stylish with its 27″ Borderless display. It's all powered by a fabulous 10th generation i5.
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Despite some compromises, the Lens G1 Plus is a viable solution for gamers on a tight budget. The GTX 1650 will allow you to play at 1080p.
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Efficient processor, Athlon 3150U from AMD
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Very compact
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A large 27″ FHD display, no edges
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GTX 1650 4GB GPU
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A wide range of connectors
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Powerful, Intel Core i5-5257U
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Speedy, i5-1035G1 quad core
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Very powerful CPU, Ryzen™ 3 3100
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Efficient storage, SSD and HDD
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A high performance IGPU, Intel Iris.
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Dual storage solution
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Scalability, 2 M2 ports.
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The first thing to do is to think about the intended use. Cheap gaming desktops are generally more expensive than office desktops. The latter have a softer configuration allowing you to work on Office, watch videos, surf the Web and play solitaire or minesweeper. A family use then. In the Gamer category, you shouldn't expect warlocks, but compromises. They will allow you to play with medium to low level settings on recent games.If you have an old PC monitor, don't throw it away! To complete your setup, buy a cheap CPU.
For very good performance without breaking your piggy bank, we advise you to go for the mid-range processors. Like the Ryzen 3, the Athlon Gold range or the i5, U series solutions from Intel. These are perfect CPUs for web browsing, online gaming, video editing or word processing. On the other hand, if you have a very tight budget, it will be wise to look at cheap computers with an i3 or a first generation Ryzen. On a cheap PC, it will be difficult to choose the motherboard yourself. Unless you ask for a custom assembly, which will obviously increase the price of the package. However, it will be important to see if your motherboard has additional expansions for the future.
RAM or memory bars are expensive, depending on the CPU generation, and can quickly inflate your bill. In keeping with our topic, a RAM strip has a capacity between 2, 4 or 8 GB. In your search for the best cheap computer, we recommend 8GB of RAM. This is the current standard, the minimum, which allows a CPU to be versatile.
On
a cheap desktop computer, in most cases you should settle for an integrated graphics card or iGPU. These are graphics chips capable of running video editing software, photo editing and will even allow you to play PC games. For 500 euros and more, you can get a cheap gamer PC with an external GPU. In this category, we recommend the 1650 4Gb models, and less, from Nvidia or those from AMD like the RX 560 4 Gb and less.
To make up for the lack of reactivity of a cheap computer, we advise looking at CPUs with an SSD. Admittedly, some PCs will only have a 128 or 256 Gb SSD, but you'll be able to plug in an external drive. This is especially true of mini PCs. Most tower PCs will offer you two devices: an SSD for the operating system and a 1TB HDD to store your data on.
On a cheap Tower, All-in-One or Mini PC, it is crucial to have enough USB ports. This will allow you to connect your USB flash drive, external drive, HDD or SSD, and other peripherals. The other advantage is to have at least one USB 3.0 port that will allow you to transfer your data quickly. This will save you money on the purchase of a USB hub. You should also not neglect the presence of an HDMI connector, usually basic, or Display Port. A lot of compromise will be made by manufacturers on the Bluetooth version.
They are not new to the market, but their configuration has evolved tremendously since their inception. It is the least expensive of the three types mentioned. Visually, a mini PC will look like a TV set-top box.
In terms of power, you won't lose anything since most models will be equipped with an i3, i5 and even an i7. The disadvantage will be the ability of the chassis to generate quite a lot of airflow. When the components heat up, their performance decreases.
A PC tower, or stationary computer, is the timeless classic since the appearance of computers. Made of plastic or aluminum, the computer tower is robust and allows a great evolution concerning your computer components. Moreover, they have a better air flow which is the first enemy of processors, GPu or RAM.
The main concern with this type of hardware is that it takes up a lot of space on your desk. This makes it a good candidate to take a place in the living room or your office.
The mini PC will suit everyone, but especially those living in apartments with little space to install a PC tower. Upgrading is possible, but very limited compared to a fixed PC which can greatly evolve over time.
The desktop PC is the first solution when looking for a fixed PC. After that come space and mobility considerations.
The big advantage of a Tower PC is that you can buy a cheap model and you have the possibility to upgrade it over time.
This adaptability is dictated by the version of your motherboard. And you have two options:
1. Do not change the motherboard.
If you bought a CPU with a 4th generation i5-4460 processor, you will not be able to upgrade to the 5th generation processor. This is also true for AMD's AM4 motherboards. However, you can upgrade to an i7-4790 or an i5 with a better clocking. The rule is not to upgrade for 0.5 GHz; the performance obtained will be minimal.
Next, look carefully at the characteristics of the motherboard of the cheap computer you want to buy. The important points will be:
In most cases, manufacturers equip their cheap PC with a mini-ATX card. These models have two RAM slots that you can use to improve the speed of your PC. However, before you buy your extra RAM strip, find out how much RAM your motherboard supports in total.
All current motherboards have a PCI express slot. The difference lies in the version of the latter. You can therefore add an external graphics card at any time, regardless of the brand. The only constraint is that your tower or case must be large enough to accommodate large GPUs, if that is the case.
2. Change your motherboard.
If you've saved enough money, changing your motherboard will be ideal. You will be able to switch to a more efficient generation of processor and get a better performing motherboard with a better Chipset, more RAM or storage slots and better connectors. Keep in mind that the latest generation boards cost twice as much as the previous generations.
The PC case on the table
Many people place their CPU on the floor, yet the best solution would be to place it on the desk. This way, you will have quick access to the various USB ports and other features of the PC.
Optimize your PC
Install
the Win 10 operating system in the SSD, it usually takes 20 Gb. This way, booting and running software will benefit from its speed benefits. Don't forget to update your version of Windows so that the drivers are updated.
Change the theme
Customizing
your computer theme is always a great way to see your hardware in a new light. To do this, right-click on your mouse and select Customize.
All wireless
You
may find that cables become a burden and fill up your table. The solution will be to go all wireless by purchasing a Wireless keyboard and mouse.
No USB 3.0 port
The
USB 3 standard. This is a faster way to transfer a large file faster. It takes half the time of a USB 2.0. If your cheap desktop computer doesn't have such a port, you can buy a USB 3.0 hub or a USB 3.0 expansion card to install on an internal PCi port inside the Case. It is shorter than the PCi Express.
The best cheap desktop computer depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find the best products out there.
A gamer PC is significantly more powerful than a desktop computer for home use. It has an external graphics card, not an iGPU, and has more muscle in the processor and RAM. Designed for playing games, it can also be used for office work or just surfing the web.
You will need to open your case first. See if you have slots for either an HDD or SSD in addition. If you do, make sure you have a Sata cable. Next, place your HDD or SSD in the slot and screw the sides together with the required mechanism. Finally, find a free power pin and push it in properly. Now you just have to insert the Sata cable to the drive and to a free port on the motherboard.
32-bit operating systems have a maximum ram capacity of 3.5 GB. Your PC will not take into account the extra RAM even if you add a 16 GB strip. On the other hand, 64-bit OSes can support up to 128 GB of RAM. One of the reasons why the best-selling memory sticks come in 8GB and 4GB sizes. The 16GB ones are more reserved for gamers.
Yes, but this will depend on the make and model of your all-in-one PC. To be on the safe side, we recommend that you approach a specialist.
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