Need a computer for school or office work, or for everyday use? Have a very little budget for a new desktop? Don’t have enough space for the mid-PC tower? Don’t worry about it, we have curated the top 5 best PC under 500 of 2023 for which you don’t have to break the bank nor do you need to wipe out everything from the working table.
These are the cheapest desktops that are basically good for checking emails, making assignments, and spreadsheets, extracting data, watching movies or videos, streaming and so much more. However, there are a few exceptions attached to these budget PCs, that is, they are not designed to run advanced video games and do intensive video editing or any other graphic centric tasks.
Let’s find out the best PC under 500 to fulfill your need for a new computer that would remain light on your budget too.
Most Common FAQs For The Best PC under $500
1. Can I play games on a PC under $500
A $500 PC is usually built with some outdated components that are enough to fulfill your daily needs but are not able to run any video games. However, you can expect very few indie games to run but is incapable of doing anything more than that in the gaming section.
2. How much a gaming PC would cost?
A gaming PC will at least cost no less than $700 and it will be the cheap desktop for gaming today. Whereas, a budget gaming PC costs between $700 to $900 with a mid-range configuration.
3. What things I can do on a $500 prebuilt PC?
A $500 desktop allows the user to check emails, video conference, presentations, work on spreadsheets, do assignments, surf, research, and all those things an office worker would like to do.
Although this range of a computer is not eligible for doing any graphic intensive work, like, editing videos and photos, gaming, creative working or any sort of high processing involving tasks.
4. Is a desktop Under $500 upgradeable?
Yes, usually any PC (depending on the type of tower) under $500 is upgradeable with empty slots and bays to increase the memory. They also let the user replace the components with anything latest, like processor and graphics card.
5. Is a $500 computer worth buying?
Yes, it is worth buying for those who are striving with a limited budget, though in dire need to execute daily computing, office work, or need to do homework.
Read Also: Best prebuilt gaming PC 2023
List Of The Best PC Under 500 In 2023
- Acer Aspire– Best PC for school use
- HP Pavilion– Best PC for multitasking
- Airtech Avalon II– Best value PC
- HP EliteDesk 800 G3– Best PC for business mini
- HP Slim 270– Best slimline desktop PC
Best Prebuilt Computers Under $500 Review 2023
1. Acer Aspire- Best desktop for school and office
Processor: Intel Celeron J4125 | Graphics card: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Perfect for data extracting, school assignments, etc
Compact size with a small footprint
Affordable computer to run everyday tasks
Free USB keyboard and a mouse
A big no for gaming
If you count on the money, the benefits of this computer will overrun it easily. Acer Aspire meets all those features a decent desktop needs to cope with everyday tasks. Having 11.6 inches in height of the case, 3.9 inches in width, and 13 inches in depth, this small desktop get fits very well in a congested area on your table and you don’t have to put things down or remove stationary from the desk to give this PC.
Talking about the hardware, it consists of an Intel Celeron J4125 Quad-core processor with a 2.0Ghz base and 2.7Ghz boost frequency. Further, the desktop has Intel UHD Graphics 600, an integrated GPU with shared memory, and a clear-cut “No” for gaming or video editing. The 8GB RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD are plentiful to let the user multitask.
This PC has an optical drive unlike many of the latest computers we can see now in the market that is now omitting this feature. There are enough ports/connectivity options including HDMI, USB, VGA, and DisplayPort. Built-in Wifi and Bluetooth to keep you connected around the globe.
Speaking of the upgradability, you can make changes by adding more RAM to up to 16GB, though the rest of the components are not ready to replace with anything latest. The package includes a USB keyboard and a mouse too. Overall, this desktop under $500 is clearly an affordable option for students and for a new office setup to start with.
Read Also: Best gaming PC under $1000
2. HP Pavilion- Best PC for home under 500
Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 5300G | Graphics card: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 11 Home
Latest Windows 11 operating system
Upgradable
Can do intensive multitasking
Plenty of ports
No free accessories
Not for AAA gaming
HP Pavilion is a professional desktop that can be used at the home, office, or anywhere you like to conduct your work. This gives the freedom of multitasking with multiple tabs and applications running simultaneously. Having 13.28 inches in height, 11.9 inches in depth, and 6.12 inches in width, takes a very little space on your working desk.
It is an affordable PC with AMD Ryzen 3 5300G, a 4-core processor with a 4.0Ghz base and 4.2Ghz boost frequency. Introduces lag-free performance without experiencing any hiccups. Moreover, it contains AMD Radeon Graphics (an integrated) graphics card, although that wouldn’t allow you to play games. The 8GB RAM is upgradable to up to 32GB and has 256GB SSD with extra slots as well.
It is the best PC under 500 that allows the user to dive into the intensive level of computing. All the necessary ports are given at the front of the case, it also contains Wifi 5 and Bluetooth, so that you can perform whatever job you are having, fully and optimally. On top of it, it has Windows 11 Home, the latest operating system, so forget about working on the previous OS and get ready to get benefited.
The grace factor just doesn’t end here, HP Pavilion is upgradeable too. The case needs a screwdriver to open up and the externals are very easy to replace including the memory sticks, graphic card of your own choice, and processor if you need to build it and stand it out with the latest configuration.
3. Airtech Avalon II- Best bang for the buck PC
Processor: Intel E5 2420 | Graphics card: Nvidia Geforce GTX 745 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB SSD + 500GB HDD | Operating System: Windows 10 Home
Five RGB ring light fans and RGB heat sink
Attractive yet rugged design
Can play popular video games at 1080p resolution
1-year labor and parts warranty
Not for AAA game titles
Poor graphics card
Looking at the configuration, it is equipped with Intel Xeon E5-2420 a 6-core processor with 16 threads and a 2.9Ghz boost frequency. Furthermore, it consists Nvidia Geforce GTX 745 dedicated video card with 4GB of video memory. There is 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD which is indeed not sufficient but then again it is also offering a 500GB HDD.
It is built on a mid-tower PC case, there are five RGB ring light fans glowing within the chassis that can be seen through a glass tempered panel given on one side. That’s how if you are missing those fancy lighting gaming desktops, this might fulfill your desire too. It is extremely easy to upgrade as well, you just need to unscrew the side panel and there you are facing the components.
Although you can play games like Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at low settings on 1080p resolution, the results may seem poor due to the low-profile GPU. You can replace it effortlessly with any Nvidia Geforce 30 series graphics or AMD equivalent. Consequently, it is a good start for gamers to begin with at a very affordable price.
Read Also: Best gaming PC $800
4. HP EliteDesk 800 G3- Best mini PC under $500
Processor: Intel i5 7500T | Graphics card: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Plenty of RAM to conduct smooth multitasking
Free Windows 10 Pro
Good for professionals and business use
Free USB keyboard and a mouse
Upgrading to Windows 11 is not supportive
Not for gaming
Looking for a mini-desktop, setting up a new workplace? Must have a look at this HP EliteDesk 800 G3 small computer that weighs only 2.67Lbs, with 1.33-inch height, 6.9 inches width, and 6.8-inch depth, and can be placed horizontally on the table. This is the best PC under 500, a very suitable option for those who have a limited budget and are planning to expand their workplace.
This small desktop is equipped with an Intel i5 7500T 4-core processor, with 4 threads, and a 3.30 turbo frequency. As for the graphics card, it has an Intel UHD Graphics 630 integrated GPU with shared memory. The good part is, that it has 16GB of huge RAM and is upgradable to up to 32GB as well. There is a 256GB SSD which is also easy to increase whenever you need it.
HP EliteDesk 800 G3 is a small form factor PC for business and home use. It is mountable as well, hang it behind the monitor and get zero space occupation. In addition, it incorporates Wifi, Bluetooth, and plenty of ports at the front and back too.
This mini desktop is purely designed to facilitate users with small cabins, students sharing small rooms, or congested working tables. The configuration allows running multiple applications simultaneously but is not feasible to run video games or any intensive editing. In short, HP EliteDesk 800 mini PC can do all your work and assignments quite nicely without spending huge money.
Read Also: Best gaming PC under $1500
5. HP Slim 270- Best small PC under $500
Processor: Intel Celeron G3930 | Graphics card: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 500GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10
Compact size and can be placed horizontally
Good for home, office, and school work
Easy to upgrade
Comes with a USB keyboard and a mouse
The mouse and keyboard are poor quality
Not for advanced gaming
Another great option by HP is a very affordable desktop for everyday use, we have HP Slim 270 compact computer under 500. If you want to surf, check emails, stream, browse, watch movies, fill the spreadsheets, manage data, or whatnot, this PC will do all. It is very compact, and can easily get adjusted in a confined place effortlessly.
Moving towards the configuration, HP Slim 270 incorporates the 7th generation Intel Celeron G3930 dual-core processor with 2.9Ghz frequency and has an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU. Moreover, it contains 4GB RAM which is upgradable as per your need and has 500GB SSD local storage to save your files and useful applications.
Furthermore, the front of the case has all the necessary ports including USB Type C, USB 3.0, an audio port, and a headphone jack. It also contains a DVD and a card reader. You can place it vertically or horizontally, the way you like to place it. Overall it is a cheap PC to begin your own computing without spending thousands of dollars on a basic computer system.
Although it’s not a suitable configuration to run PC games, can do casual gaming at low graphic settings depending on the game you intend to play. However for mainstream computing, like viewing documents and extracting data, this PC can handle all of these sorts of jobs pretty nicely.
Read Also: Best gaming PC under $700
How to choose the best PC under 500 in 2023? Buyers Guide
A $500 amount is the minimum cost for a basic computer if you don’t want to bring home a refurbished PC. The above reviewed desktops under $500 are all brand new computers, not renewed.
Now let’s talk about the features a $500 PC can offer you or in other words what you basically need to look for in a PC under this budget. Before getting started, always remember that there must be some compromises hidden in a budget PC. thus, being a consumer, you have to make a balance between these compromises and the needs associated with them.
1. Look for a PC with at least a dual-core processor with 2.9Ghz or more frequency to run your useful applications and multiple tabs simultaneously.
2. A desktop under $500 is mostly equipped with an integrated graphic chipset because dedicated GPUs are pretty expensive out there and wouldn’t come into budget computers nowadays. Consequently, settle for any GPU from the previous generation if not lucky enough to have the latest one.
3. RAM is crucial to run applications, tabs, and software to execute your tasks smoothly. It is recommended to have at least 4GB RAM, that’s what a $500 PC can offer you at a minimum.
4. To store your important documents, files, applications, etc, an SSD storage drive is always recommended. You need at least 256GB SSD to hold everything that is important to you.
5. A PC under $500 is certainly a budget computer that hardly does any intensive computing but only performs on a baseline. For instance, it can do streaming, data managing, word and excel, presentations, assignments, and everything in between. We recommend, that whichever desktop you aim to buy, it’s a plus to check if it is upgradeable too. This will let you replace outdated hardware with something new with every passage of time at a minimal cost.
6. Lastly, here comes the personal preferences regarding the PC tower you like to own. But due to the budget factor, this category is been narrowed down to compact computers instead of full towers let alone a mid-tower PC. Therefore you often find small desktops under $500, though how small they would it be, may vary.
Read Also: How to choose best prebuilt gaming PC in 2023? Buyers Guide
Conclusion
The best PC under 500 has all those abilities a user wants a computer at home, office, or school for. These PCs are not designed to run the latest AAA video games trending nowadays, although, they can do casual gaming. Similarly, a $500 desktop is hardly able to generate any intensive graphic content. In particular, this category of computers suffices mainstream computing at an affordable price.
At the end of this guide, we hope you have found your new PC to start your career or set up a new office on a budget. If you have any queries or find it difficult to choose one that fixes your needs, feel free to contact us in the comment section. We will cover you up.