How Much Should I Pay for a Desktop Computer?

Your money goes further with desktop PCs and their components versus laptops. You can find complete mini PCs for less than $400, and perfectly serviceable small towers for $400 to $600. Gaming desktops with dedicated graphics cards start at around $500 to $600. You can also find all-in-one (AIO) desktops, with the display and all of the computing components built into a single device, starting at around $400. The sky's the limit once you get into high-end gaming PCs and business-workstation power desktops, but the prices above are the right range for most mainstream buyers.

Is it Better To Get an All-In-One Computer or Desktop?

Traditional tower desktops offer the most upgrade and power flexibility, at the cost of bulk. Most towers have generous interior space and full-size motherboards, so you can install one or more (sometimes, many more) secondary storage drives, more RAM in empty slots on the motherboard, and a video card (if the PC doesn't come with one). PC gamers will want to stick with a traditional tower.

An all-in-one desktop's big appeal is saving you lots of space, since the PC is built right in, with the components living behind the display. It comes down to how much you care about the desk area your PC uses up, and whether you happen to be shopping for a desktop monitor at the same time. Budget AIOs with basic feature sets are common, but spending more can gain you some combination of a touch-enabled screen, a panel with a high native resolution, roomier storage, and a more muscular processor. Higher-end AIO desktops tend to cater, though, to content creators and productivity-app power users, not gamers.

Is it Cheaper to Build a PC or Buy One Right Now?

It depends, largely, on the kind of desktop you are looking to buy or build. At the low end, economies of scale for the components, plus the cost of single Windows 10 or 11 licenses, tend to make buying a prebuilt PC a better deal. It's when you get into the $1,000-and-up zone that building your own starts to make more sense, especially if you can reuse parts from an existing PC build. For the last few years, the inflated cost of graphics cards made building your own PC a lot less attractive. That price pressure has relented in 2023, though.

How Much Does a Good Budget PC Cost?

Expect to pay a solid $400 to $500 for a basic, competent small tower for day-in/day-out productivity and web work. You'll find plenty of models below $400, especially in the mini PC class, but you should insist on at least 8GB of system memory for any Windows machine, and, for anything beyond very basic productivity work, a Core i3 or Ryzen 3 processor.

What Are Good Websites to Find Computer Deals? 

Why, right here on PCMag! We have dedicated deals articles, as well as comprehensive lists of configurations suited to different users.

When’s the Best Time to Shop for a PC?

Black Friday is typically the best time to buy electronics (computers included). You can also shop around the Back-to-School season, which starts in July and usually features price drops on configurations geared toward productivity. 

Who Has the Best Deals on Refurbished Desktops? 

Dell Outlet is a great source of certified refurbished desktops in a variety of conditions. Best Buy Outlet also deals in expert refurbished computers, but they also offer open-box options that are like-new and can save you some serious cash. 

Is It Cheaper to Buy a Desktop Than a Laptop?

Desktops are usually a better value than laptops because your money goes further with desktop components. Building your own PC will often be the cheapest option, but for those who don’t have the know-how, even a pre-built PC tends to cost less than its laptop equivalent.

Best Desktop Under $800? 

Our experts have named the Acer Aspire TC-1760-UA92  their top budget pick for its peppy performance and Wi-Fi 6 support—all for only $639. Check out our top picks for The Best Cheap Desktop PCs for more budget options. 

Best Gaming Desktop Under $1,000?

Available for just $749, the NZXT Player: One earned PCMag’s Editors’ Choice award for its excellent 1080p gaming performance and well-made, upgradable build.