Eight Low-Cost Desktop Systems Tested

The Dell Dimension 3000's bundled LCD monitor and printer (printer not shown) make up for its feeble performance and limited upgrade options (for one thing, there's no AGP slot). (Dell Inc.)

Several PCs make it easy to upgrade components. The Compaq, HP, and Sys Tech PCs, for instance, open via thumbscrews and allow you to unlock and remove drives by flipping latches rather than using a screwdriver. Other systems are less helpful: The WinBook, for example, requires you to do some work to remove both side panels and four mounting screws that anchor the optical drive.

Graphics and Sound

Budget computer makers typically save money by eschewing sound cards and graphics cards with dedicated video memory in favor of basic processors integrated on the motherboard and dependent on system memory. However, today's integrated graphics systems do surprisingly well for most tasks, offering full color depth for movies and photo editing. All the budget PCs we reviewed except the Sys TaskMaster could support 1600 by 1200 resolution, enough for a 21-inch monitor. The Sys topped out at 1024 by 768, about right for a 17-inch CRT; at the flickering 60-Hz setting, though, it can go up to 1280 by 1024. Except for the Dell and the EMachines, all the PCs here offer an AGP slot for adding a graphics card, which can make a big difference.

These systems can run 3D action games, but not fast enough to make them enjoyable. For example, frame rates in Unreal Tournament 2003 at 1024 by 768 resolution and 32-bit color were painfully slow, ranging from an almost palatable 44 frames per second on the Polywell to an abysmal 6 fps on the Compaq and the HP. Evaluations by the PC World Test Center show that 30 fps is acceptable for first-person shooter games but 60 fps is required for smooth play. On several of the budget machines, complex textures broke up at times, making scenes look blocky. Worse, the graphics sometimes couldn't keep up with game play. By the time you see an opponent aiming at you, he may have already fired a fatal shot.

Low-impact games, however, were no problem. In our informal tests, all the PCs offered smooth play in the popular The Sims 2 and the movie-inspired title The Incredibles: When Danger Calls.

Integrated audio suffers even less compromise. These low-cost PCs provide analog output for stereo, and all but the Dell and the EMachines support 5.1 surround sound that will produce impressive results if paired with midrange speakers (such as Logitech's $60 X-530) or if fed into a good home theater system. Integrated audio has no effect on digital music sent to a sound system via a wired or wireless streamer like the Apple AirPort Express with AirTunes; in that case, the audio processing takes place in the streamer itself, not the PC. For audiophiles who desire a beefier setup, these budget systems offer a few free PCI slots that can accept a sound card, such as the $80 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2. Adding a sound card should automatically disable the integrated audio; at worst you'll have to change a BIOS setting or adjust a jumper on the motherboard.

Peripherals

While most of the systems we received came with a monitor, the offerings varied. Dell was the most generous, bundling a 15-inch LCD with its $505 system. The E153FPB screen displayed bright images and fairly rich colors, as well as the sharp text that we expect from any flat-panel monitor. However, the LCD presented a very narrow vertical viewing angle -- colors and brightness changed with even a slight head movement. Such an issue would cause no difficulties during most everyday tasks, but it would preclude color-sensitive graphics work.

IBuyPower bundled the ViewSonic E70FB, a fine-looking 17-inch CRT with a flat screen. The other PCs we saw came with low-end 17-inch CRTs that displayed washed-out colors, and some had glare-catching rounded faces.

We gave the vendors the option of not bundling a monitor, and Compaq and HP chose not to do so. This helped lower the prices of their PCs, but they still weren't the cheapest in the bunch. Getting a CRT would add about $180 to either purchase.

All the keyboards were serviceable, and some were appealing. The Polywell, for example, included a well-designed Logitech Internet Pro and an optical mouse. Another nice extra was the inkjet printer included with the Dell Dimension 3000. But there was a catch: When we bought the PC, the USB cable cost an extra $22 (a generic one would be a few bucks less).

Extras

Like a car without wheels or a flashlight without batteries, some budget PCs require additional investment before they are ready to use. So don't assume that the first price you see is what you will end up paying. For instance, many of the budget systems lack essential software such as antivirus protection (though some come with trial versions).

Only the Sys and WinBook PCs included the full version of an antivirus product. A good security package, such as Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2005, costs about $50. You may also need to purchase productivity software. The Dell and Sys computers offered a version of Corel WordPerfect; the Compaq, EMachines, and HP systems were bundled with Microsoft Works. The IBuyPower, Polywell, and WinBook PCs lacked an office suite. You can upgrade, of course -- but expect to pay up to $150.

When adding features, beware the barrage of "upsells." Configuring and buying our Dell system required clicking through four Web pages bearing offers for more than two dozen extra hardware items, software packages, and training and installation services. The pages even recommended upgrading to the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center OS -- overkill for a budget desktop with integrated graphics that can't handle the tasks for which you buy a Media Center PC. And Dell's online configurator automatically bumped customers up to a two-year warranty (an extra $27); we had to manually specify the standard, one-year policy.

Also, watch closely for hoops you must jump through to get a system at the advertised price. Compaq, EMachines, and HP list prices after rebate on their sites. Vendors love rebates because not every customer will bother to send in the paperwork. (For cautionary tales, read "Rebate Roulette.") For this reason, the prices we list for products do not take rebates into account. Note, too, that some vendors offer short-term specials. The bargain you saw while shopping online Friday may not be there when you come back to buy on Monday.

Ultimately the old saying about getting what you pay for still applies when buying a PC: Saving money involves some compromises. But with overall improvements in technology, the trade-offs for budget PCs are far more palatable today than in years past. Entry-level models can offer substantial savings and a pleasant surprise in capabilities, provided that you are clear about what you need and realistic about what you can expect.