Today it's easy to find cheap desktop computers. There are a variety of companies that manufacture computer systems that cost only $200-$300 brand new. It's true that these systems don't contain the same high quality components as more expensive systems. But for very basic users who only plan on doing things like basic Internet surfing, e-mail, word processing and other simple programs, these new cheap desktop computers may be ideal.
Finding Good Cheap Desktop Computers
It can be a challenge to find good cheap desktop computers that are going to last, however. Some of the cheaper brands can't handle anything more complex than a simple program without slowing down to a crawl. And some of these brands are put together in other countries by unskilled labor and can break down very quickly.
Even though they are cheap desktop computers, they still represent $200-$300 that you don't want to lose on something that's only going to last a few months. The trick is to look for cheap name brand computers that are marked down for various reasons. Cheap HP desktop computers, for instance, are probably going to last longer and serve you better than an off-brand computer that costs very little. Look for overstock sales, discontinued models and refurbished computers. That's one way to get brand name merchandise at a discount without having to worry as much about breakdowns and problems.
Comparing Cheap Desktop Computers
To figure out which cheap desktop computers might be the best, look at things like hard drive size, RAM, processor speed and basic features. By looking at those features you can determine whether the cheap computer is really worth the cost or if you're better off waiting and purchasing one that costs more but will serve you better.
If you want to play video games, for instance, a cheap desktop computer with a very slow processor is not going to work for you. Also, if you want to store lots of things like MP3s, images and videos, a cheap desktop computer that has a very small hard drive will disappoint you because it will fill up quickly and the computer speed will slow down dramatically.