Why Buy an Economy PC?

Simply put, an economy PC can get the job done without costing more than your car. An economy computer performs basic functions such as utilizing the Internet and running common programs, so you can pay your bills, do homework and access the Internet without breaking your budget.

These desktops probably won't satisfy hardcore gamers, multi taskers or avid video editors. Nevertheless, they perform all basic functions and don't require a large computer budget, like high-end multimedia systems. An economy PC is perfect for standard home computing, student use or as a basic office computer.

Here's what an economy PC can do:

• Schoolwork/Education — They can run the applications needed to write papers such as Word or WordPerfect. Systems with 256MB of RAM, Windows XP and a DVD-ROM can also run Microsoft Student and many other educational programs, such as Carmen Sandiego and the Mighty Math series.
• Finances — Nearly all database or spreadsheet type programs will work on an economy PC, since they do not include complex elements like video. These systems can easily handle programs like Quicken Deluxe, TurboTax or Microsoft Money. They can also effectively run spreadsheets such as Excel or Lotus.
• Internet — All economy PCs are Internet enabled. With a good connection you can surf the Internet, check email, chat and download online content.
• Manage Media —Most basic PCs now have the ability to organize and edit photos, display video and download music and podcasts.

Here are a few things basic systems struggle with:

• Gaming — Online role playing, first person shooter or dynamic games like Grand Theft Auto, Dungeon Siege II or games like Doom III, which require nearly 400 MB of RAM and an exceptional graphics card. These types of games cannot run or lag on basic systems.
• Video Editing — Introductory PCs generally do not have enough RAM to efficiently run programs like Cyber Link's PowerDirector or ShowBiz DVD.
• Multitasking — If you need to run multiple programs such as a security program, streaming music, a video editing program, all while IMing, you will want to look for a computer with hyper-threading or a dual core processor.

In this site, you'll find articles on buying economy computers, news stories and comprehensive reviews on economy PCs that will help you make an informed decision on which desktop is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS - We do the research so you don't have to.

What to Look for in Economy PCs

There are many economy PCs advertised for under $600; however, we found that most of these systems are not complete packages. It is true that you can get a computer for less than $600, but keep in mind that you may need to add a monitor and software to complete the package.

We compared ten of the most inexpensive introductory systems we could find, to determine which package offers the highest quality for the lowest price. All of these low-end systems can perform basic functions such as accessing the Internet, sending and receiving emails and running basic programs such as Word.

We looked at the processor, graphics card, sound components, the input/output peripherals, the type of support and warranty offered and rated the value for the price.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate economy computers.

• Processor – The best, low cost computers run at around 2 GHz and have an AMD Athlon 64, an Intel Pentium 4 or Core Duo processor. For reference, most entry level laptops run at under 2.0 GHz, whereas multimedia systems often run at over 3.0 GHz and/or have dual processors.
• Memory – The top products in this review offer 512MB of RAM. In terms of hard drive storage, most basic systems include 80GB hard drives; however, some PCs in this price range include a 160GB hard drive.
• Video/Audio – We looked at the type of graphics (video) card, as well as the size. Most budget systems have 128MB integrated graphics cards, which will run most applications except complex games and video editing programs. Most have the ability to connect to at least five speakers and a subwoofer.
• I/O Devices – Input and output devices include a keyboard, mouse, monitor, disc drives, media card readers and speakers. Many basic systems come with several I/O devices; however, none of them come with peripherals such as scanners or printers.
• Price/Value – We compared the quality of the PC to the price. So a machine that comes with low-end components with a high price tag would score lower than a good basic machine with a moderate or low price.
• Support/Warranty – First rate manufacturers offer reliable warranties of a year or more. Additionally, they offer easily accessible help and support through documentation, email, phone and chat.

To read about the economy PC our reviewers found to include the best components for the price, see Gateway's DX420B.