Best Budget Desktop PCs for College Students

College students are barraged by a variety of choices when it comes to getting a computer for going back to school. Do you want a desktop, laptop, netbook or an iPad? As a college student, I prefer using a desktop for the power it provides in comparison to a laptop or a netbook. In this article, we will examine the top 5 budget friendly desktop PCs for college students. For a full list of tech specs and features for these great computers, please use the links provided.

Gateway DX4840-03E Desktop & 20" LCD Monitor Package $750 (Link)

I purchased this desktop as a replacement for my HP laptop that failed midway during a semester at school. This desktop features 8GB of DDR3 memory, 1TB hard drive capacity, 10 USB ports, built-in wireless and lots more. I use the computer regularly for research, statistics software, basic MS office functions and on occasion, games, Call of Duty Modern Warfare to be more specific. The fast 8GB of DDR3 memory makes multitasking convenient and fast. For instance, I would run Call of Duty, while downloading a video and listening to music, and noticed no lack of speed. The package also includes a 20" monitor, which I find large enough for daily tasks, video and TV (built-in cable input), but there are larger screen packages available. College students will enjoy the power and variety of extras that no laptop, netbook or iPad could possibly provide.

Asus Essentio CM5671-05 $710 (Link)

When students are looking for a desktop for college use, they want speed, a large monitor and plenty of space to store music, video and other multimedia. The Asus Essentio combines 4GB of DDR3 memory with a 1TB hard drive. Other cool features include a 16-in-1 media reader, 10 USB ports and Windows 7. However, the gaming is relatively raw on this PC, it lacks a quad-core processor and is not very fast at multitasking for heavy usage files, but provides speed for internet and basic applications. Overall, this desktop is great a little more than the basics, includes a large 24" monitor and has some great high-end features, but lacks the specs required to play the latest games. However, the lack of gaming on a PC is not a huge concern for most students, as most students do not use their computer to play games.

HP Slimline s5510y $670 (Link)

When space is a priority in dorm rooms, especially freshmen dorm rooms, the HP Slimline delivers plenty of power with a small footprint. The computer provides 640GB of memory on its hard drive and 3GB of SDRAM memory, which is plenty of storage and multitasking ability for students. This package includes a large 23" LCD monitor and Windows 7, which is perfect for usability. However, the computer lacks Wi-Fi and a quad-core processor. Overall, this PC is easy to use, provides enough power for most students and comes with an ultra slim desktop.

Asus Essentio CM5671-05 Desktop $600 (Link)

This budget desktop combines some excellent features and a 20" monitor all for a great price. The Asus Essentio features two processors including an Intel Pentium processor and an Intel Pentium dual-core processor, 4GB of DDR3 memory, 1TB hard drive capacity, multimedia card reader and 10 USB ports. This computer is best for college students who focus on academics rather than gaming and multitasking. The 4GB of DDR3 memory is sufficient for basic multitasking, but lacks the raw power that more advanced computers have. In addition, the dual-core processor is relatively dated in comparison to the quad-core processors that are standard in higher priced models. Built-in Wi-Fi is another feature that this computer lacks. Overall, this computer lacks some high-end features, but is perfect for college students that use their computers for basic internet surfing, multimedia and MS Office. However, do not expect modern games to run smoothly as the included graphics card and DDR3 memory will quickly becoming overwhelmed.

Compaq Presario CQ5500Y Desktop $370 (Link)

Not all families or students can spend $500-$2000 on a new computer for college. The Compaq Presario CQ5500Y provides affordability without sacrificing basic functions. This Windows 7 desktop features 500GB of hard drive storage, 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM (expandable to 4GB), 6 USB ports and an NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE graphics card. Although the specs on this computer at not mindboggling, it is perfect for doing schoolwork, enjoying online video, but lacks the power for more advanced applications, such as gaming. The 500GB of storage on the hard-drive in plenty for most students; to put this in perspective, I have used under 160GB on my 1TB hard drive. Overall, this computer is a great value for the price and includes an 18.5" LCD monitor.