Best Desktop Computers Under $500

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

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Although mobile devices continue to increase in popularity, many families and businesses still rely on larger desktop computers in their offices and homes. Consumers looking for a new desktop can easily spend thousands of dollars on top-flight components, but a number of solid, everyday machines can be found for $500 or less.

These four top picks from Cheapism.com are more than powerful enough to handle Internet browsing, word processing, and other casual use, although graphics-intensive games and tasks such as video editing will likely prove too taxing. While these computers include both a mouse and keyboard (not all desktop towers do), most require a separate monitor.

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Often the same model number represents a variety of configurations, with prices dependent on features such as the size of the hard drive, the amount of RAM included, and the power of the processor. Extras such as a DVD drive, a memory card reader, and Wi-Fi connectivity come standard. These days most budget desktops run Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system, which some user reviews cite as a drawback. However, a recent (free) update to Windows 8.1 has been greeted as an improvement.

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