Cheap desktop computers are actually pretty easy to put together or find for yourself if you know what to look for. Cheap desktop computers are on the lower end of the current range of desktop PC's and Computers. They are away from the cutting edge and benefit from well-tested technology. They can also be put together for you, or by yourself from a mix of computer components that you, the consumer, can select from various online sources and retailers.

The main objective when choosing cheap desktop computers is to get the best-valued but not-quite-cutting-edge components on the market. Although low price is the primary concern here, I recommend keeping current and up-to-date with parts. Where it's necessary, I'll point out alternative discount computer accessories and components as well as the pros and cons of those decisions.
Often the most expensive part in cheap desktop computers is the computer processor. The fastest, most cutting edge processors can be more than $1000, but for a quarter of the price you can get one that is only 15-20% slower and allows you to put money into other components of the computer. Currently I would recommend at least an Intel Core 2 Duo, or AMD Athlon 64 X2. Intel Core 2 Duo go for anywhere between $150 - $550, while AMD Athlon 64 X2 go for anywhere between $100 - $250.

According to benchmark testing, the Intel processors are the better choice and offer more performance per dollar in most of today's applications. Although you can get better prices with AMD, currently Intel is the better choice. However, please note that this is only my opinion and you should buy whatever type of processor you can budget for, whether it's AMD or Intel.

In speed per dollar, I wouldn't recommend going any higher than the E6600 2.4GHz model, as the prices do jump higher after that. The AMD range are spread evenly, so the choice is yours, best value is still found around the middle of the range though.

The best motherboard should come packed with lots of features. My recommendation is to go for motherboards that offers a lot of features. So here is what you should expect to get these days:

• USB 2.0 with at least 4 slots at the back of the desktop and an additional 2 usually available in the front of the case
• External SATA (not a necessity, but would be a plus)
• Built-in audio, with 5.1 channel (or equivalent) support as well as mic and headphones (USB sound card is fine as well)
• LAN Port preferably Gigabit, 2 ports a bonus
• PCI express for graphics card upgrades (if not used already). SLI a bonus
• PCI-X, which is a faster PCI slot, but still compatible with older PCI cards Expect 2 or more
• Make sure SATA2 is supported, it’s faster and more future-proof!
• Firewire (IEEE1394) slots, just 1 or 2 (not essential)

Cheap desktop computers should come with at least 1GB or more of RAM memory. More RAM memory makes a huge impact and you should try to get as much as you can when you buy your desktop computer. My recommended minimum for running Windows XP is 512MB, while Vista will run a lot better with at least 1GB or more of RAM memory. If it's in your budget, try to get double the minimum as it will save you time and money down the road as new memory-hungry applications come out. This is same rule-of-thumb I recommend as for a more expensive desktop computer. Instead, get a smaller hard drive or a slightly slower processor.

The hard drive should be a balance between storage size and speed. Definitely get a drive bigger than 100GB. One DVD movie is about 8GB, so you might only get 10 on your hard drive if you stick to a 100GB hard drive. Fast hard drives spin faster, at 10K rpm, like the Western Digital Raptor (I have 2 of these bad boys!), but are smaller sized for the price. I prefer speed as I don’t need massive space, I backup to DVDs when necessary.

A DVD writer is essential in today's market. Make sure it does dual-layer, DVD+R and DVD-R, and should be rated about 16x. DVDs are a fantastic way to back up any data, including your DVD Movie collection.

And that’s about it in a nutshell. You should be good to go for the time being with a computer that will stay current for at least a few years and can last for many more than that, given that you do routine maintenace such as defragging the hard drive from time to time and having a good antivirus/firewall application installed to block any potential hackers.

I've leave you with a final note here. The most alarming fact in my opinion, and the one that makes cheap desktop computers so appealing is that the most up-to-date computers are complete overkill for surfing the net, listening to mp3s, word processing and running the Windows operating system. With cheap desktop computers the core principle in getting the best deals is… you don’t need the latest and greatest PC for killer performance!

This is definitely a common question that comes up these days. I'll try to make your as easy as possible by sharing with you my experience as an individual with an IT background. Of course please take into consideration that my opinion might not be as objective as it should but even though it's based upon 15 years of experience in the IT arena.

In order to choose a best rated laptop, you'll need to answer a couple of basic questions. The first and most important question in my opinion would be ...

What is the main purpose of this computer?

If you're spending more than 20 secs pondering about the answer to this question, then perhaps it's still not the right time for you to buy a new best rated laptop but instead you may want to look at a cheap desktop computer to begin with. After you answer the first question, we can move on to the next question which you'll be able to determine the size of your laptop.

The three most common computer flat screen monitor sizes are:

12 inch display

Usually weights between 1.5 and 1.9 Kg. The battery of these computers last longer. They are suitable for a mobile computer with a lower productivity! Such computer will be suitable for you if you are traveling a lot. But it will not fit your needs if you work with graphics.

15 or 15.4 inch display

One of the most common displays among all. Weights between 2.8 and 3.2 kg. This machine is perfect for work and fun. You have to be aware that if you are an architect or a graphic designer for instance the display might be just a little too small for you.

17 inch display

Perfect for any purpose. This laptop can be a fine replacement of your desktop computer. Some of the new models come with TV-Tuner and a remote control. On these machines you can as well add a video card in order to fit you needs. The weight of these computers is around 4kg, which makes them not very suitable if you happen to travel a lot. The price is also higher compared to the smaller notebooks. However, another disadvantage is that the battery does not last as long as laptops with smaller screens!
Now that you have an idea of the different laptop screen sizes, let's move on to the next set of questions...

What type of processor is best for my laptop?

I won't be taking any sides as to whether AMD or INTEL is better, however, if you don't want to spend too much initially, going the AMD route is probably best. If you're content with your choice about INTEL, then let's proceed to choosing the next set of components for your laptop...

What about the Motherboard and Processor?

INTEL has several processor types available in the market - Celeron, Pentium M, Core Duo, Intel Core 2 Duo. Core Duo and Core 2 Duo would be your choice during 2007. These processors are with two cores (imagine as if you have two processors) and have higher productivity! I consider in my opinion that INTEL has some of the best motherboards on the market.

How much RAM do I need?

Often best rated laptops are being sold with 512 MB of RAM, which is enough for Internet, simple word processing, office programs and for small multimedia projects like music, online tv or movies. However, if you're serious about gaming or a graphic designer, or you are using programs that require higher performance you might need to be looking for at least 1GB of RAM. If it's in your budget, then I would definitely recommend 2GB of RAM

How much Hard Disk ( HDD ) space do I need?

With the cost of storage having gone down from years before, you can be rest assured that most best rated laptops these days come with at least 60GB or 80GB of storage space. Now another factor to take into consideration is the speed of the HDD which is the RPM. Most of today's HDD devices come standard with either 5400RPM/min or 7200RPM/min. If you want to process data with higher speeds get a “fast” HDD, go with the 7200RPM. If you want the battery to last longer, you should consider choosing a HDD with 5400RPM.

What type of Video Card is suitable?

There are various levels of video cards/graphics accelerators to consider when choosing best rated laptops. It really all depends on your budget and primary use of the laptop. If you're a gamer or graphic designer, then go with a graphics card that has at least 256MB of onboard memory. I recommend going with either ati video cards or ones with an nvidia chipset. However, for simple internet use and word processing, I would recommend at least 128MB of onboard memory just so can save yourself the headache of having to upgrade in 6 months when you do want to start playing some games.

So that's about it for this article. I hope you find it useful and will help you with your search for best rated laptops and discount computer accessories!