Best budget PCs 2023: affordable desktop computers
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Quick menu
1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Affordable alternative
4. Best AIO
5. Best for gamers
Ready-made budget desktop computers are the most straightforward option for picking up an affordable PC. Whether you’re setting up an office area for working at home, building a creative space, or needing something for the whole family to share, I’ve found the best picks to fit a tighter spending limit.
Depending on your existing knowledge, most of my options have the potential for manual upgrades if you eventually want to squeeze in some extra performance for light PC gaming.
Still, for essential use, these picks from big hitters like Dell, HP, and Acer are all perfectly capable of running Windows and its most popular apps for day-to-day productivity and web browsing. Any of the best external solid-state drives can also provide extra storage if the budget options are too much of a squeeze.
The quick list
Best overall
1. Dell Inspiron 3910
The Inspiron 3910 compact model costs $500 for its entry-level specification but is customizable with more powerful hardware. You get a mouse and keyboard out of the box, but you’ll need to supply a monitor using an HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
Affordable alternative
2. Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i
A mouse and keyboard are in the box, ready to connect to any of the five USB ports, with three on the front panel, including one USB-C variant. Wi-Fi 6E offers rapid wireless networking, but Ethernet is still an option for LAN cables.
Best AIO
3. HP AIO 22-dd2026t
HP offers a 21.5″ panel with very similar specifications to our picks of PC towers, including a 12th Gen Intel Core processor and a high-speed SSD for storage.
Dual speakers save the need to buy extra audio equipment, too.
For gamers
4. HP Pavilion Gaming
This entry-level variant from HP can handle basic games and doubles as a lightweight creative machine thanks to its dedicated NVIDIA graphics card. Includes a mouse and keyboard, so you’re ready to go straight out of the box.
The best overall PC on a budget
Dell Inspiron desktops include a basic mouse and keyboard, but you’ll have to buy a monitor separately. (Image credit: Dell)
1. Dell Inspiron 3910
Best overall PC on a budget
Specifications
OS: Windows 11 Home
CPU: Intel 12th Gen Core i3-12100
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 730
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200
Storage: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Customizable hardware options before purchase.
+
Optional NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6GB graphics card.
+
Choose up to 1TB NVMe solid-state drive.
Reasons to avoid
–
Price quickly jumps when customizing hardware.
My favorite Dell Inspiron config:
Intel Core i3-12100 | 8GB DDR4-3200 | 256GB NVMe SSD
I wouldn’t change a thing from Dell’s recommended setup. Besides, the price shoots up when you start tinkering with the customization, and manual upgrades are much cheaper.
Even a complete novice who never dabbled in computers has likely heard of Dell, and it’s for a good reason. They’ve made fantastic PCs for decades, and the Inspiron range has been a top choice for almost as long. The Inspiron 3910 compact model costs $500 for its entry-level specification but is customizable with more powerful hardware. Still, the price jumps up dramatically if you ask for upgraded components, but the base model can handle general computing tasks to save you from unnecessary spending.
Regardless of your internal options, you’ll always get Windows 11 included with the Inspiron 3910, with the Home edition as standard, or an upgrade to Pro for an extra $50.
The choice of 12th Gen Intel Core processors includes the i3-12100 by default, which is no slouch, but you can still upgrade to an i5 or one of two i7 options that naturally increase the price. Keep the entry-level CPU paired with 8GB of DDR4 RAM clocked at 3200MHz, and a 256GB NVMe solid-state drive (SSD), and the cost will stay low. Memory and storage are some of the simplest parts to upgrade yourself if you’re willing to tinker.
You get a mouse and keyboard out of the box, but you’ll need to supply a monitor using an HDMI or DisplayPort cable. For networking, the Inspiron 3910 features onboard Wi-Fi 6 support, or you can connect to the Ethernet port at the rear. High-speed USB ports include Type-C and traditional high-speed USB-A for any peripheral you need, plus onboard Bluetooth 5.2 supports wireless devices. There’s even a full-size SD card slot for transferring photos from cameras, keeping Dell in the top spot. Keep an eye out for discounted prices as low as $450.
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An affordable alternative for a budget PC
Lenovo boosts its storage and wireless networking for a slight price increase on the IdeaCentre 3i.
(Image credit: Lenovo)
2. Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i
Affordable alternative
Specifications
OS: Windows 11 Home
CPU: Intel 12th Gen Core i3-12100
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 730
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200
Storage: 512GB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 QLC SSD
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Multiple models to choose from.
+
Onboard Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
+
512GB solid-state drive.
Reasons to avoid
–
No hardware customization.
My favorite Lenovo IdeaCentre config:
Intel Core i3-12100 | 8GB DDR4-3200 | 512GB PCIe SSD
Lenovo sticks with PCIe Gen3 for its M.2 SSD, but you get extra storage space and faster Wi-Fi networking for a slight price increase. Otherwise, it’s identical to the top pick and a fantastic alternative.
Lenovo offers a fantastic budget alternative with its IdeaCentre 300 series range of desktops, and the IdeaCentre 3i comes in a few flavors.
Rather than opting for their absolute bottom end and crawling with sluggish hardware, you can step up to almost identical specs as the top pick on my list. The price jumps slightly, but so does the default storage space, so it’s fair. If nothing else, it’s a variation in color, too, with a sleek silver design.
You’ll get Windows 11 Home installed and ready to boot on the IdeaCentre 3i without an option to swap out for Pro. Still, a budget machine in this category doesn’t need it if you aren’t using enterprise apps with Bitlocker encryption. The same Intel 12th Gen Core i3-12100 processor sits alongside 8GB of DDR4-3200 RAM, and the upgrade, as mentioned earlier, to a 512GB M.2 solid-state drive for extra storage space.
A mouse and keyboard are in the box, ready to connect to any of the five USB ports, with three on the front panel, including one USB-C variant. Wi-Fi 6E offers even faster wireless networking than its predecessor, but Ethernet is still an option for LAN cables.
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Best budget all-in-one
Forget searching for a monitor and add-ons; HP provides everything you need with an all-in-one solution. (Image credit: HP)
3. HP AIO 22-dd2026t
Best budget all-in-one
Specifications
OS: Windows 11 Home
CPU: Intel 12th Gen Core i3-1215U
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200
Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
No tower saves on desk space.
+
Wide-angle webcam included.
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Anti-glare 21.5″ screen.
Reasons to avoid
–
Limited upgrade options.
–
Screen might be too small for some.
My favorite HP AIO config:
Intel Core i3-1215U | 8GB DDR4-3200 | 512GB PCIe SSD
HP provides everything you need for a desktop computer right out of the box with this 21.5″ FHD panel containing all the components. Save on desk space by skipping a tower altogether.
All-in-one computers are a fantastic solution to picking up a straightforward budget desktop with minimal fuss since everything is built directly into the screen. HP offers a 21.5″ panel with very similar specifications to our picks of PC towers, including a 12th Gen Intel Core processor and a high-speed SSD for storage. Throw in an 88-degree FHD webcam with a beautiful wide-angle shutter alongside a mouse and keyboard, and there’s nothing else you’ll immediately need.
The Intel CPU is an i3-1215U, a mobile chip, which makes sense to fit into such a slim frame. It’s still capable of driving the rest of the components on offer in this HP AIO, backed up by the same 8GB DDR4-3200 RAM recommended on the other machines. You get 512GB of storage on its high-speed NVMe solid-state drive, built-in Wi-Fi 6 tech for modern wireless networking, and Bluetooth 5.2 for peripherals.
Dual speakers save the need to buy extra audio equipment, too, rounding out the attractive feature set of this sleek all-in-one built into a reasonably slim frame with a funky desk stand.
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Best for casual gamers and creators
HP’s gaming variant of the Pavilion doubles as a competent machine for creators. (Image credit: HP)
4. HP Pavilion Gaming
For casual gamers and creators
Specifications
OS: Windows 11
CPU: Intel Core i3-10100
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 SUPER 4GB
RAM: 8GB DDR4-2666MHz
Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Today’s Best Deals
Reasons to buy
+
Handles basic image and video editing.
+
Casual gaming at 1080p.
+
Simple to upgrade.
Reasons to avoid
–
Storage is lacking for gaming and video editing.
–
CPU is showing its age.
This entry-level gaming Pavilion variant from HP can handle basic games at FHD 1080p and doubles as a lightweight creative machine thanks to its dedicated NVIDIA graphics card. Easy to upgrade thanks to its traditional internal layout with no reliance on an ultra-compact form factor, this tower comes with the capable NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card as default.
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Round up of today’s best deals
Dell Inspiron 3910 Desktop
$749.99
View
See all prices
Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i Tower
See all prices
HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
$759.99
$525.46
View
See all prices
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Ben is the channel editor for all things tech-related at Windows Central. That includes PCs, the components inside, and any accessory you can connect to a Windows desktop or Xbox console. Not restricted to one platform, he also has a keen interest in Valve’s Steam Deck handheld and the Linux-based operating system inside. Fueling this career with coffee since 2021, you can usually find him behind one screen or another. Find him on Mastodon @[email protected] to ask questions or share opinions.
9 best cheap laptops for 2023 — Acer, Microsoft, HP
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Budget Laptops
UPDATE: Jul. 25, 2023, 5:00 a.m. EDT This review has been updated with details from our hands-on testing as well as the latest pricing and availability.
So you fancy buying one of the best laptops around but don’t want to empty your wallet in the process? Take some crucial advice: Don’t let big brands with multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns fool you into thinking you have to pay upwards of $1,000 to get a quality device. The best budget laptop will compare favorably with that fancy ultrabook, and the average user won’t notice the difference.
You can actually get a spanking new laptop for half the price of a MacBook. And we aren’t talking about poorly made, subpar options that run slower than your smartphone.
We’re talking about cheap laptops that are both high-tech and responsive, helping you write, browse the internet, store files, and even game.
There’s a whole world of laptops to be had for cheap. Elsewhere, we’ve rounded up the best laptops for students and the best gaming laptops for any budget, but we wanted to gather all of the best budget laptops into one place. In this guide, you’ll find the best cheap laptops that are actually worth buying.
What are the most important things to look for in a laptop?
We need to set expectations right away: The laptops on this list will not come with the latest and greatest processors, graphics cards, or displays. You have to splash quite a lot for those features. For students or workers who just want something to get them through the day, things like ports and memory are more important.
Above all else, you want as much RAM, as much storage, and as high a processor speed as you can get. More RAM means the computer can handle more applications at once, more storage means you can fit more applications on it, and a speedier processor means it can work those applications more efficiently.
If you want to record audio with a microphone or use a mouse, you’ll need USB ports, and an HDMI port goes a long way if you like streaming on a TV or using a second monitor. Much to the annoyance of photographers and videographers, in-built microSD card readers are now a thing of the past, but you’ll be thankful for an ethernet port when your WiFi starts playing up.
What do you lose by getting a cheap laptop?
Laptops in this price range won’t hold a candle to gaming laptops. You won’t get a 4K resolution display or a refresh rate higher than 60Hz. RAM is going to max out around 8GB, which isn’t bad but also isn’t spectacular. You’re also unlikely to get more than 500GB of storage space.
In this price range, laptops are going to be best for web browsing, word processing, Zoom calls, and streaming. As long as you don’t expect more than that, you’ll be fine.
Ah, but we know what you’re thinking: What about gaming? The average cheap laptop will not be able to handle gaming; however, there are a handful of budget gaming laptops that we do recommend (more on that below).
Are cheap laptops actually worth it?
You know the old saying: You get what you pay for. But thanks to the technology boom of the last few decades, a cheap laptop can actually take you pretty far and won’t break down immediately. It’s all about knowing which one to select.
The laptops on this list have been chosen primarily for their impressive hardware specs and value for money. They’re all known to be reliable and free of the most egregious bloatware (that is, unwanted apps that manufacturers install on new computers) that slow down other budget laptops.
If you want a laptop that will last several years and let you do all the basics, you’ll be safe with one of these machines.
What is the best cheap laptop in 2023?
We’ve checked out everything on offer and lined up a selection of the best cheap laptops around, including impressive devices from reliable brands like Microsoft, Acer, and HP. There’s something for everyone on this list, so we recommend taking your time and considering all of the options.
That being said, if you’re looking for the TL;DR version, we think the Acer Aspire 5 is the all-around best laptop under $500.
Our Pick
The Acer Aspire 5 seems to have been designed with one major feature in mind: bang for your buck. As laptops go, few offer as impressive specs for such an affordable price, making it a superb pick for students.
Its powerful processors (each new model line always comes with the latest generation of chips) mean it outpaces most other laptops at this price point, although we’d recommend spending extra for a model with 8GB of RAM to keep things snappy. With a surprisingly high-fidelity webcam and a very generous selection of ports (it’s by no means common to have three USBs, an HDMI and an ethernet port these days), it will work well at home, at the office, or on-the-go.
Do bear in mind its weight. While it’s not the heaviest laptop with these specs, it is bulky and better suited to lugging about in backpacks than totes. Some models are available with extra-powerful Nvidia graphics cards, but we’d recommend avoiding these and putting the money towards something else, as you’re unlikely to make use of them.
Ultimately, this is a laptop that will last – the kind of thing to buy to take to college and still have on your desk by the time you leave.
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Samsung’s 11.6-inch Chromebook 4 is about as unpretentious as it gets. Technically, it’s a Chromebook, not a laptop, but if you just need a device for accessing the internet, this is the best you’ll find at the price. This Chromebook has a somewhat low-resolution display and a non-detachable keyboard, so don’t expect to use it as a tablet. And thanks to Chrome OS, you’ll have to get by with Google’s software ecosystem (which you may even prefer to Windows).
One USB 3.0 and one USB-C port aren’t much, but you’ll at least be able to use some accessories with the Chromebook 4. The biggest advantages here, however, are its 1.87-pound weight, less than an inch of thickness and a battery that’s rated for 12.5 hours on a full charge. Samsung’s Chromebook 4 is about as nondescript as cheap laptops get, but for the price, it’s plenty portable and capable of getting you through a work or school day.
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At first glance, the Surface Laptop Go 2 looks strikingly like a MacBook Air, which is probably not a coincidence. And while it’s not going to be mistaken for a MacBook when it comes to performance or display, it’s still the best laptop under $600. You can also get the upgraded model with 8GB of ram and a 256 GB SSD for practically the same price as the entry-level version. Compared to the other cheap laptops featured below, this device is fully specced out.
Simply put, it’s a fantastic all-rounder, and you can do little better than Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Go 2. Unlike the rest of the 2-in-1 Surface line, this is no tablet, but a bona fide, full-fledged laptop. It has the advantage of a sturdy, flat keyboard that’s a touch more tactile than the Surface tablets’ clip-on boards and up to 8GB of memory (which we’d recommend to keep it speedy). This Microsoft laptop sacrifices little in the way of portability, too.
It’s light and has a slim design, which means it’s ideal for carrying around.
With that does come a cost in screen size. At only 12.4-inches, it’s a smaller display than other laptops on this list. But the high brightness and crisp resolution more than make up for the shortfall. Throw in a respectable 13.5-hour battery life (although it’s closer to 10 in our hands-on experience), a serviceable webcam, and regular optimization updates that keep it running the latest version of Windows without a hitch, and it ticks all the right boxes.
It’s quieter than its predecessor, too, and noticeably less sluggish when handling more intensive tasks like image editing. Don’t expect to be playing any games on it, but for working, web browsing, and streaming, it’s a winner.
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Overall, we think the Acer Aspire 5 is the best cheap laptop for students, but if you’re looking for the best Chromebook for college, then you should also consider the Lenovo Idea Pad 3.
Lenovo’s 11-inch IdeaPad 3 is fairly stripped down, but that’s not such a bad thing. For a super-low price, you get a crisp HD display, up to 10 hours of battery life, a solid keyboard and a reasonably decent selection of ports, including multiple USB-C ports and a microSD reader. (For the record, being able to transfer microSD data to your laptop can come in very handy, especially for class presentations and hopping from dorm to dorm.)
Overall, at just under 2.5 pounds, this Chromebook laptop is a lightweight, simple machine that will get you through basic everyday tasks like taking notes, writing papers, streaming and, of course, scrolling social media. Is it fancy? No. But does that matter? Absolutely not.
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If you want to listen to music or watch TV and movies, the HP Pavilion x360 is a good choice because it has impressive audio quality and its convertible 2-in-1 design makes it really versatile in terms of viewing modes.
The Micro Gears allow the display to roll around the base in one continuous movement; so from notebook mode, you can rotate it around to tent mode, and it’ll stay there until you want to adjust again. Plus, the 14-inch screen is larger than what you’ll find on most cheap laptops and Chromebooks.
Under the hood, you’ll find minimal hard drive capacity (128GB) on this particular model, but 8GB of system memory to help you multitask as needed. Overall, it’s a great, affordable laptop for everyday use.
Here’s the bottom line on the HP Pavilion x360: You won’t get as much performance as you will with a proper ultrabook like the MacBook Air, but this is still one of the best budget laptops under $500 and the top option for those who prefer a convertible 2-in-1.
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One of the main distinguishing features of Chromebooks is that they’re usually not very powerful, but they also don’t cost much. Both things are extremely true of the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3.
With just 4GB of RAM, you’ll be limited to things like web browsing, streaming and work tasks, as long as they aren’t too intense. Get comfortable with Google Drive for cloud storage, too, as 64GB of onboard space will fill up mighty quickly.
That said, there’s still plenty to like about it, including 10 hours of battery life to power you through an entire school or work day (plus some juice left over for the next day, in case you forget to plug it in). Its convertible design also makes this 2-in-1 laptop a star for streaming entertainment and unwinding with some tablet-style gaming, too.
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For shoppers searching for the best cheap gaming laptop, there are only a few options worth considering. Most specced-out gaming laptops will cost a minimum of $1,000, but Acer has one of the few exceptions to that rule.
The Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop is capable of handling most games, although it lacks the graphical powers of gaming PCs (and most gaming laptops, in truth).
However, few budget laptops are built for gamers’ needs, and with a 9th Generation Intel Core i5-9300H processor and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card (as well as plenty of ports), the Nitro 5 will get the job done.
This budget laptop also has a 15.6-inch full HD display and a durable frame designed for optimal cooling. Yes, you can get some work done on this laptop as well, but you won’t want to.
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The Asus Vivobook’s 15.6-inch, full HD NanoEdge bezel display is pretty stunning at such a low price point, and the laptop’s Intel Core i3-8145U processor provides the necessary power for a seamless, on-the-go user experience. You’ll also get ample space to store all your files, programs, photos and other stuff that you need to take along with you.
The only issue we found is potentially with the backlit keyboard; while ergonomic, some users have said that they’ve run into issues with the backlight not working properly, but this didn’t happen in every case.
(And either way, both Amazon and Asus have good customer support programs that should help you sort out any problems).
If you need more than a Chromebook but can’t go above the $400 price point, then the Asus Vivobook is a solid cheap laptop for college and more.
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The Acer Swift 1 one is built with a 14-inch HD LED screen — considerably larger than most other cheap laptops — which means you get enough space for comfortable typing and viewing. The screen is also an IPS display, producing excellent color you can see from multiple viewing angles. The laptop is equipped with 4GB of RAM, all the standard port options (including HDMI, USB ports, and an SD reader) and a fingerprint sensor, which is a great feature to have if you’re worried about anyone accessing your laptop when you’re not around.
Overall, you can expect about 9.5 hours of battery life, which isn’t quite as long as some of the other cheap laptops out there, but it should be plenty to get some work or gaming done on the go.
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How we tested
We constructed this list through a mix of hands-on testing and online research. Both the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Acer Aspire 5 were thoroughly tested in person and put through their paces across several days of non-stop use. We worked with them, wrote on them, streamed videos through them, and did anything else we could think of to push the limits of their functionality.
The other laptops here list were picked for their impressive hardware specs, as well as their age, which suggests they’ll be well-optimized for the latest version of Windows. When researching devices online, we paid special attention to their processors (particularly what generation they belonged to) and maximum RAM, as these will most acutely impact their performance. Other factors, like the number of internal fans or if their batteries could be replaced, were also taken into account.
For the purposes of this review, we looked primarily for cheap laptops under $500, with one notable exception.
In our hands-on review, we were impressed with the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, and so we included it despite the $619 price tag, which is still firmly in the budget category.
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Best gaming PCs for Fortnite (cheap and premium)
Purchased Fortnite The game world is like a storm, its gameplay is addictive, like in Survival Co-op or Like a Mameluke fighting game. What makes the game even more interesting is how well it is optimized. You can play this on an Older and less powerful computer without problems that may affect performance. If you are looking for a new gaming device, there are several attractive options.
When it comes to computer games, not everyone has the time or knowledge. build your own computer.
In these cases, you can opt for a pre-built system ready to run games smoothly.
If you play premium games like Fortnite, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. For advanced system. In fact, you can pick up a powerful gaming device It can play Fortnite for less than $1,000.
Below is a selection of the best gaming hardware to play Fortnite available today.
1. iBUYPOWER GTX 1050 Ti Desktop Computer
Buy Now on AMAZON $ 736.44
iBUYPOWER is one of the most respected system builders among hardware enthusiasts. iBUYPOWER GTX 1050 Ti Desktop has everything you need Basic gaming device With GTX 1050 Ti graphics card and AMD FX-6300 processor. Yes, it’s an average graphics card, but it handles Fortnite with ease, especially since it has a high-end processor next to it. There is also 8 GB of RAM.
You can expect to play Fortnite at 78fps at 1080p on this PC. If you’re looking for a cheap Fortnite gaming PC, there’s an iBUYPOWER GTX 1050 variant that contains a non-TI GTX 1050 graphics card.
However, we recommend spending an additional amount to get the Best Graphics Card. It will last longer before an update is required.
2. iBUYPOWER Enthusiast Gaming Computer
Buy now on AMAZON $579.99
Another option from iBUYPOWER is an enthusiast gaming PC. This affordable option includes an AMD Radeon RX 560 2GB graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 3 3200G processor. This is a less powerful graphics card, but the processor is better than in the previous build. Again, there is 8 GB of RAM.
This is a good option for those who want to play games and do other tasks at work or school. As it is less powerful from a graphical point of view, you should probably use this device to play Fortnite at 720p. With this quality, you can expect the game to run at a speed of 80-90 fps.
3. HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop
Buy Now at AMAZON $529.99
HP offers several gaming PC options, such as the HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop. This is probably the best cheap PC to play Fortnite as it combines an AMD Radeon RX 580 graphics card with an AMD Ryzen 5 2400G processor.
There’s also 8GB of RAM and a compact body so it will fit right on your desk without taking up too much space.
The downside of this build is that the parts used are proprietary, making it difficult or impossible to upgrade in the future. But, if you are looking for a very cheap option that will help you play games with minimal money, then this is a good choice. This graphics card is a favorite for affordable gaming, so you can expect to play Fortnite at 108fps at 1080p.
4. OMEN by HP Obelisk
Buy now on AMAZON 1 USD
HP also has a line of games, including OMEN by HP Obelisk. This powerful build includes a 6GB GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card, an AMD Ryzen 5 2600 processor, and 8GB of RAM. This build offers a good graphics card and processor for the price, and it comes in a well-designed and affordable package.
If you have more money to spend, you can upgrade your graphics card to get the OMEN RTX 2070 8GB, but it doesn’t take that much power to run a game like Fortnite.
With the basic design of OMEN, you will have no problem playing Fortnite at 1080p resolution and around 108fps.
5. CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC
Buy Now at AMAZON $749.99
Cyberpower, another popular choice for building systems, offers options like the Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC. It has an Intel Core i5-9400F processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6GB graphics card, both of which are great options at this price point.
Also has 8 GB of RAM and impressive gaming style with RGB fans. There are options to upgrade the CPU to an i7 or the graphics card to a 1660 Ti, but this type of upgrade is not really needed to play Fortnite. With this architecture, you can expect 120fps playback at 1080p resolution.
6. CyberpowerPC Gamer Master Gaming PC
Buy now at AMAZON $ 539.99
CyberpowerPC also has a Gamer Master gaming PC with AMD Ryzen 5 1600 processor and Radeon RX 580 graphics card 4 GB, plus 8 GB RAM. It’s a popular graphics card and a cheaper processor, but it’s still acceptable, in a fun RGB-lit package with a glass side case.
With this architecture, you can play Fortnite at over 100fps at 1080p resolution. There are cheaper options with a lower performance RX 570 graphics card and a Ryzen 5 1400 processor. However, we recommend the architecture unchanged so that you can keep up with modern games in the coming years.
7. SkyTech Archangel Gaming Computer
Buy Now at AMAZON $599.99
SkyTech is a smaller system builder but has several gaming architecture options available, such as the SkyTech Archangel Gaming Computer. Which comes with a Ryzen 1200 processor and a 4GB GTX 1050 Ti graphics card, along with 8GB of RAM.
This is a very simple processor, so it is not the most powerful piece of hardware. But the graphics card is solid, so it’s fine if you want to play Fortnite. With this system, you can expect Fortnite to run at 9 speeds6 fps at 1080p.
8. Best PC to play Fortnite: Xidax X-5.
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If you’re looking for the best Fortnite PC, consider the Xidax X-5.
This system is equipped with an Intel Core i5 9400F processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card. This makes it one of the best computers on this list. By selecting it, you will be able to work in modern games for longer before you need to update.
Powerful hardware makes it the perfect choice for anyone looking to record or stream Fortnite sessions. With this build, you can expect Fortnite to run at 121fps at 1080p. The computer also has features such as an all-in-one CPU water cooling kit. This cooling system allows the computer to perform better than other air-cooled computers.
Best gaming PCs for Fortnite
If you want to play games like Fortnite, you need a mission level PC. On any of these computers, you will be able to play Fortnite at a reasonable price. These options are also available at different prices, so there should be an option for your budget.
If you want to take the next step in the world of computers, you might want to consider Build a cheap PC to play Fortnite.
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PC of the month (January 2023) – ITC.ua
Starting 2023 with new PC builds. The ITC edition has greatly expanded the range and adds new categories of system blocks that may be of interest to most readers.
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Manufacturers do not produce components that often. To avoid feeling déjà vu, let’s take a look at the exciting new PC builds in the Ultra Budget and Workstation categories. There will also be an “Optimal” PC this month.
For those looking for “Progressive” or “Full Mincemeat”, here is the December 2022 review. Their relevance has not changed at all.
Ultra-budget computer for UAH 10,600
| Ultra-budget PC | Price, UAH | |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 4600G | 4000 |
| RAM | 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz | 1800 |
| Motherboard | AMD B450/A520 | 2300 |
| Video card | iGPU Vega 7 | 0 |
| Accumulator | SSD SATA 480 GB | 1200 |
| Housing and PSU | Micro ATX Slim, 400W | 1300 |
| Cooling | BOX | 0 |
| All PC AMD | 10600 | |
For many users, an inexpensive, economical and compact PC with integrated graphics will be relevant.
This configuration is special. Unfortunately, Intel does not yet have a decent analogue that would be as versatile. Ryzen 5 4600G can be purchased from 4000 UAH.
We will not consider future upgrades, for an ultra-budget PC we take what is beneficial here and now. Therefore, we leave the Ryzen 5 5600G for more affluent buyers. The integrated graphics are almost the same, the 4000 series CPU power is enough, and the savings will not be superfluous.
Ryzen 4000/5000 support the cheapest A320 boards, but we will put Gigabyte B450, with iGPU overclocking. Vega 7 is overclocking. With the right settings, you can get a good performance boost. Such a PC will be enough for work and undemanding video games.
Almost all popular in our area “e-sports” will work fine on this configuration. The performance of the integrated graphics card will be close to the GTX 1050, but with more video memory. Most importantly, make sure the board supports the new BIOS for the processor.
Otherwise, you can purchase the A520 motherboard for roughly the same price as the B450.
It would be possible to put 2×4 GB, but this is disrespectful to oneself. RAM is quite cheap, so we will not save too much. We choose a simple GOODRAM 2×8 GB DDR4 with a frequency of at least 3200 MHz. If you want to save money, then you should look for something cheaper without radiators, but the priority is CL16 timings, like this model. RAM doesn’t hurt much, because the integrated graphics will want 2 or 4 GB for their needs.
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A good drive Kingston SSDNow A400 480 GB will cost only 1200 hryvnia. Yes, it’s a SATA drive, not an M2, but for the money, it’s a real Christmas present. The volume is enough for most users. System, games, programs, photos, videos – everything will fit.
A good addition to an ultra-budget PC.
Putting all these parts will come out in a compact package. Suitable Vinga CS313B with built-in power supply. A cheap “400 W” PSU (actually less) can easily handle these components. Simple and attractive case with miniature dimensions. This is exactly what you need for an ultra-budget PC.
So, PC “Ultrabudget” will cost 10,600 hryvnia , which is a little more than 200 euros. And this is a full-fledged system unit, which has 16 GB of RAM, a good 480 GB SSD drive, a powerful Ryzen processor with good Vega 7 integrated graphics and a compact case.
Just look at the ready-made configurations in stores and this PC looks like a powerful monster in its price range. This assembly easily covers the needs of a large number of users and consumes 40-80 watts of electricity.
Optimal computer
| PC “Optimal” | Price, UAH | |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-12400F | 7600 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | 7300 | |
| Motherboard | Intel B660 | 3700 |
| AMD B550 | 3700 | |
| RAM | 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 3200MHz | 1800 |
| Video card | RTX 3060/RX 6700XT | 16000 |
| Accumulator | SSD M2 NVMe 1TB | 3000 |
| Housing and PSU | Mini / Midi Tower ATX, 500W 80+ | 3000 |
| Cooling | Air Tower 180W 4Pin | 1200 |
| All PC Intel | 36300 | |
| All PC AMD | 36000 | |
The balanced video game PC hasn’t changed much in the last few months.
It should be noted the decline in prices for video cards. This is especially true for Radeon models. We will try to keep within $ 900 for the entire system unit.
The “Optimal” PC will involve a battle between two popular six-core processors. Ryzen 5 5600X versus Core i5-12400F. The difference in price is small. The performance is similar as well.
Both CPUs have not very high requirements for motherboards. That’s why representatives of middle-class chipsets will suffice. For AMD it is B550, and for Intel it is B660.
For the “blue” ones, we choose a base with DDR4 support, because extra costs are not needed. DDR5 has come down in price, but is still too expensive for economical builds. Inexpensive options are MSI Pro B660M-E DDR4 for Intel and BIOSTAR B550MH for AMD.
Enough 16 GB inexpensive RAM GOODRAM 2×8 GB DDR4. This volume covers the needs of most users. You can overpay for higher frequencies, up to 3600-4000 MHz. This will slightly improve performance, especially in eSports games, where there will be no emphasis on the GPU.
A Kingston NV2 1 TB drive will suffice for data storage. Choose M2 NVMe drives. Enough of such a model with speeds up to 3500 Mb / s.
RTX 3060 and RX 6700 XT have similar price tags. Beam fans will definitely pick up RTX and get better tracing performance. The performance is very similar if you leave out the hardware support for DLSS. But is it really worth evaluating power ignoring proprietary technologies? NVIDIA looks more interesting, but Radeon will perform better in many scenarios.
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Let’s put this in an inexpensive case with good ventilation. A budget Frime Fusion Blue LED will do. It’s not for heavy metal fans. Most importantly, this model has good ventilation. For its price of 1500 UAH – an adequate choice.
The assembly is not too demanding on the PSU, so a real 500W unit with a bronze certificate will suffice. Something on the level of Chieftec 500W will do.
Box coolers are too weak for these CPUs. The noise of the fan will always remind you of the saved thousand hryvnias. Any 150-180 watt tower is enough. A good 2E GAMING AIR COOL that does the job. We get minimal noise and adequate temperature.
PC “Optimal” will cost UAH 36,000 if it is assembled on the basis of AMD components. In the case of Intel, you will have to pay a few hundred more – UAH 36,300.
Workstation
| Workstation PC | Price, UAH | ||
| Processor | Intel Core i5-13600KF | 14000 | |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7700X | 14400 | ||
| Motherboard | Intel B660 | 9000 | |
| AMD B650 | 8000 | ||
| RAM | 64GB (4x16GB) DDR5 4800MHz | 11000 | |
| Video card | NVIDIA RTX 3060 12 Gb | 16000 | |
| Video card+ | NVIDIA RTX 3080 10 Gb | 32000 | |
| Accumulator | SSD M2 Nvme PCI-E 3. 0 2Tb |
5300 | |
| Accumulator 2 | HDD 3.5″ 5400 rpm 8 TB | 6300 | |
| Housing and PSU | Midi Tower ATX, 700W | 4500 | |
| Cooling | Air Tower 250W | 2600 | |
| videos | Video+ | ||
| Whole PC Intel | 68700 | 84700 | |
| All PC AMD | 68100 | 84100 | |
What does “workstation” even mean? Manufacturers such as HP, DELL, Lenovo regularly produced (and still produce) powerful PCs for professionals.
Worth mentioning HP Z600 with two 6-core processors and six-channel RAM 48-96 GB. And that was in 2010. Such computers are mainly used for work, hence the name. They are a powerful tool for architects, programmers, content makers, and more.
Pictured is the HP Z840 Workstation.
Maximum configuration up to 2 TB of RAM, x2 CPU 44 cores, 88 threads
Workstation main criteria:
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- Powerful CPU;
- Large amount of RAM;
- High storage capacity;
- Large video card VRAM;
What distinguishes them from gaming PCs is their size. For toys, 16 or 32 GB of RAM is enough, but this may not be enough for some specific professions. The same applies to drives and video memory.
Working applications for processing 3D models and images primarily depend on the amount of VRAM. And to store a huge amount of information, 2 or 4 TV SSDs may not be enough. This is especially true for those who work with high quality video.
For a long time, workstations were assembled on HEDT (elite) Intel Xeon platforms.
LGA 1366, LGA 2011, LGA 2066 were the foundations for heavy duty work PCs. But as of 2023, HEDT is a thing of the past.
There are quite a few powerful latest generation desktop options on the market that can easily outdo 20 or 40 core woofers. But we will choose rationally, reasonably planning the budget. However, this is only a working tool that should quickly pay for itself, and not a configuration for wealthy enthusiasts “Full Stuffing”.
Intel will represent the Core i5-13600KF. It would seem that this is only the middle peasant, but the Raptor Lake generation changed everything. Powerful single-core P-Cores performance and a huge number of E-Cores put this CPU in competition with recent 16-core flagships such as the Ryzen 9 3950X and 5950X.
We invite you to read the review from the ITC editors:
What are the new raptors capable of? Checking the capabilities of Intel Core i5-13600K and Intel Core i9-13900K
The new AMD Ryzen 7 7700X will compete with the fresh and aggressive i5.
These are very similar models in terms of performance and cost. Somewhat better power per core, but less in the multi-core test. Both processors are worthy of attention and will be a good basis for a PC of the “Workstation” class.
The B660 and B650 motherboards will handle these processors. We choose models with a reasonable price tag up to 10,000 hryvnia. Consider models with DDR5 memory and powerful power supply. The inexpensive ASUS PRIME B650-PLUS option is suitable for the Ryzen 7 7700X.
The motherboard for Intel will be a slightly more expensive MSI MAG B660M MORTAR WIFI. Both options have 4 places for RAM, support PCI-E 4.0 and will not limit CPU performance in any way.
DDR5 has pretty much dropped in price. It is most advantageous to choose strips with a capacity of 16 GB. For the workstation, we will supply Crucial DDR5 4×16 GB with a frequency of 4800 MHz. 64 GB of fast DDR5 will perform better in workloads than 128-256 GB of slow DDR4 2133 server memory (or prehistoric DDR3 REG ECC on LGA 2011).
Complements the memory subsystem with a high-speed PCI-E 3.0 drive ADATA Swordfish. For the main disk, 2 TB will be enough. More “larger” models will cost too much, and we assemble rationally.
As an additional option, we add a Seagate BarraCuda 3.5″ 8 TB HDD with a rotation speed of 5400 rpm and a 256 MB buffer. There are faster (7200 rpm) and larger models, but the workstation must also be quiet and pleasant to work with.
Why a hard drive in 2023? It will definitely come in handy for content makers. High quality video takes up a lot of space. The most interesting thing is that the speed of 200 MB / s (which this HDD shows) is enough to process the highest quality content. For media data, this is still a decent drive.
The cost of one terabyte of memory is 4-5 times lower than that of an SSD. To get 10 TV total volume using only NVMe (as in this configuration), you would have to spend 15,000 hryvnia more. And it would not affect the speed of work with content.
We suggest reading the material from ITC, in which we examine how the hard drive performs relative to NVMe in real conditions.
Is a hard drive enough in 2022? Comparison of Sata HDD vs NVMe SSD in games and synthetics
Everything seems to be simple with video cards, but not quite. Working NVIDIA Quadro video cards have a fairly high price tag. They have improved support for some highly specialized programs at the hardware level.
Certain professions simply need them, because “quads” get an advantage in such environments as Autodesk, Maxon, Adobe, SideFX. But we will select a universal video card that shows good performance in popular public software. And all this for an adequate cost, not five-figure price tags.
For the game, the ITC editors always recommend models from NVIDIA and AMD, choosing competitive models. But in workloads, the RTX series is unmatched by AMD. The RTX 3060 easily outperforms the Radeon RX 6900 XT in 3D rendering.
We offer the NVIDIA RTX 3080 10 GB model for the workstation. It can be purchased for approximately 32,000 hryvnia. The RTX 4000 series is still too expensive. The ADA line can be taken to the workstation if the user works as a video game developer, etc.
We try to keep our budget reasonable. Not everyone will need an RTX 3080 for work, because the RTX 3060 12 GB can be considered as an alternative. It is the 12-gigabyte version that interests me, because in working programs the volume decides a lot. It will cost half as much as the RTX 3080.
For many, these savings will not affect the overall performance of the workstation. Therefore, we add an alternative configuration. It’s still a powerful graphics card that will boost your PC for video editing, 3D graphics processing, physics simulation, and more.
Place a strict computer in a strict case. The classic Chieftec iArena has plenty of space and will accommodate any configuration. Not too cheap, but not overpriced.
A good model, which will be able to install powerful cooling and a lot of 3.5-inch drives.
An inexpensive 700W PSU can handle the above components with ease. Zalman ZM700-TX is an almost perfect choice for its price. The absence of modular cables is not a hindrance. The model has 88% efficiency, x4 6+2 Pin cables and 120mm fan.
Deepcool AK620 can cool processors. Large tower dissipating up to 260W of heat. Quiet and powerful cooling that can calm the demanding new products from AMD and Intel. The price is quite adequate, a little more than 2000 UAH.
The workstation is a device for serious people who have little interest in children’s video games, although such powerful hardware can easily handle modern AAA projects. We have considered only one of the possible configurations, the ultimate and heavy duty universal workstation.
For more specific purposes, you can delete some components, replacing them with simpler ones. For example, not everyone needs powerful graphics or a large amount of storage.