Group test: Budget deskop PCs

The pace of change in the computer industry constantly throws up more and more bargains: a PC that might have been top of the range last year can become a low-cost bargain just one year on.

Here at Computeractive we’ve been looking around for budget desktop PCs in readiness for Christmas and have found half a dozen terrific deals. They’re all very respectable computers that come in at £500 or less, but still include up-to-the-minute features such as TFT monitors, built-in network connectors (for your broadband internet connection), or Firewire connectors for linking up a digital camcorder.

Of course, you’re not going to get a cutting-edge machine for £500 and a few corners have been sliced off here and there to get to the price. Some of these low-cost machines aren’t very good at handling 3D graphics, which means that they’re not much use for playing the latest 3D games. Most of them only have tiny little speakers built into their monitors, so they don’t pump out much sound when you’re playing music or watching DVDs.

Even so, these PCs can still handle most tasks that home users are likely to be interested in, from word processing to surfing the net or editing your home videos – and, yes, the odd bout of gaming action as well.

This article is part of a group test of budget desktop PCs.
Others are:
Watford Performa 3500+RV
PC Specialist Trident s500
PC Nextday Zoostorm 1-3301 Versatile PC
Mesh D820 Value+
Evesham Axis STR Plus
Ambros Shuttle SS31T
The table can be read via our pdf download
Best on test is on the next page

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