When the topic turns to desktop computers, nobody has the institutional knowledge and history that PCMag does. Our review standards were created in the 1980s at PC Labs and have evolved with tech over time to allow readers to quickly and fairly compare builds. We test desktops and evaluate them across multiple areas, considering price, features, design, and performance. We record capabilities using a suite of benchmark tests, as well as real-world applications and gaming, to highlight the pros and cons of each system. Here on the deals pages, we make the final call on how well they strike a balance between price and performance.
There’s nothing like a desktop computer for getting top-of-the-line speed and power in gaming, content creation, and everything else you need to get done. For those who are more tech-savvy, most desktops are customizable, letting you swap out components as your needs change, add more storage, or even install dynamic RGB lighting for a little extra wow factor. Here are the most appealing deals we’ve found for March on top desktops.
Best Home and Office Desktop Deals
Our current best value pick and overall desktop recommendation is the Dell Tower Plus, an Editors’ Choice winner that comes in at just over $1000 in a competent configuration. For all-in-ones, Amazon has a great deal on a budget HP that’s perfect for the whole family, as well as an ultra-affordable Lenovo.
Dell Tower Plus
Specs: Intel Core Ultra 7 265 CPU, GeForce 3050, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
$970.02
at Dell
$1,549.99
Save $579.97
Dell is often our go-to for consumer desktop towers, because it churns out new models year after year that land right at the nexus of price and performance. With chip prices skyrocketing, snagging a relatively budget-priced desktop tower is going to get even more challenging, so secure this one while it’s still reasonable. The Core Ultra 7 is a fast enough CPU for most software, and the rest of the loadout is competitive, even throwing in a dedicated GPU.
We gave the latest Dell Tower Plus a glowing review and an Editors’ Choice award, praising its versatility, attractive build with easy access to the inside, and well-chosen components. Dell has a few of these prebuilts on sale at a range of prices and loadouts, so you can pick the one that fits your needs and save some cash.
HP OmniStudio X 27″ All-In-One Desktop
Specs: 27″ FHD display, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM
$1,229.99
at HP
$1,829.99
Save $600.00
HP makes affordable all-in-ones with capable loadouts, and a $600 price drop puts the OmniStudio X in contention as a very good value. We have a review of the 31-inch version of this desktop, where we gave it an Editors’ Choice award, with writer Eric Grevstad saying “its perky performance, larger display, and numerous conveniences make it a worthy iMac competitor.” This model still has a larger screen than the iMac above, and has a good array of both side- and rear-mounted ports, a height-adjustable stand, and a surprisingly good pack-in keyboard.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One 24
Specs: 24″ FHD display, Intel N100, 512GB SSD, 16GB RAM
$499.98
at Amazon
$700.00
Save $200.02
If your budget is super tight, this $200 price cut on a decent and already super-affordable Lenovo all-in-one is worth your attention. When we reviewed this model in 2024, we noted that it lagged slightly behind the cutting edge, with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and a somewhat grainy webcam. While the 27-inch FHD screen in our review unit seemed a little big for the resolution, it looks a lot better at 240Hz. Good port selection is also a bonus, so you can boost the skimpy internal storage with a backup drive. It also comes with a decent wireless mouse and keyboard.
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Best Mini PC Deals
Squeezed for space? A mini PC might be the answer. The Geekom A7 Max is our top Windows machine, and we have an attractive Acemagic in the budget category.
Geekom A7 Max Mini Desktop
Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS CPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
$699.00
at Amazon
$949.00
Save $250.00
We haven’t reviewed Geekom’s A7 model yet, but we have spent a ton of time with similar models, most notably the A9 Max, which is quite similar, and unilaterally praise its elite performance, slick and simple design, and robust assortment of ports including dual 40Gbps USB4, five USB-A, dual HDMI, dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, and a Kensington lock. This model has a super-fast Ryzen A9 processor with integrated Radeon 780M graphics, making it a solid choice for content creation. It runs cool and quiet thanks to a pair of copper heat pipes and a big, silent fan.
Acemagic K1 Mini Desktop
Specs: Intel Core i5-12600H CPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
$399.99
at Amazon
$579.99
Save $180.00
Acemagic is a Chinese company that produces a wide range of mini desktops at reasonable prices, and right now, the K1 is on sale for a big discount at Amazon. The 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor is a zippy little chip that boosts up to a max clock speed of 4.5GHz with 12 cores and 16 threads. While the 16GB of RAM is only DDR4, it’s still plenty for mid-range productivity computing. The board is dual-channel, expandable up to 64GB, with plenty of room for a bigger SSD as well. Tons of ports, both front and back, give you connectivity options, and the low-noise cooling system keeps it thermally stable.
Recommended by Our Editors
Best Home and Office Desktop Deals
-
HP OmniDesk Intel Ultra 7 2TB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$1,339.99
($1,729.99)
Save $390.00 -
HP OmniDesk Ryzen 7 RTX 3050 2TB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$1,399.99
($1,969.99)
Save $570.00 -
Dell Tower Plus Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5060 1TB SSD Desktop
—
$1,219.99
($1,849.99)
Save $630.00 -
Dell Tower Intel Ultra 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$899.99
($1,219.99)
Save $320.00 -
HP All-in-One 27 Ryzen AI 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$1,099.99
($1,349.99)
Save $250.00 -
Dell 24 All-in-One Intel i5 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$849.99
($969.99)
Save $120.00 -
Dell 27 All-in-One Intel 5 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$899.99
($1,049.99)
Save $150.00
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
Best Gaming Desktop Deals
We’ve got a few good gaming tower offers right now, including a budget Acer for new players and a midrange Lenovo. For something fancier, we have a powerhouse Alienware with the most powerful GPU on the market and a case to match.
Best Budget
Acer Nitro 60
Specs: Intel Core i5-14400F, RTX 5060, 1TB SSD, 16GB RAM
$1,049.99
at Amazon
$1,199.99
Save $150.00
Getting into gaming on a tight budget? This Acer battlestation will hit all the marks for solid 1440p play with advanced graphical effects for just a hair over $1000. The 14th generation Intel Core i5 processor isn’t the speediest on the market, but it’s more than capable of handling today’s popular titles, and the RTX 5060 is likewise a competent performer that’s power-efficient and has great thermal performance. Realtek 802.11ax and Realtek Dragon LAN connectivity plus plenty of ports on both the rear and side of the casing are very welcome. While 16GB of onboard RAM isn’t a ton, there’s plenty of room for expansion. Snag a 14% discount at Amazon right now.
Best Midrange
Lenovo LOQ Gaming Tower
Specs: AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX, RTX 5060 Ti, 2TB SSD, 32GB RAM
$1,499.00
at Best Buy
$2,149.00
Save $650.00
It’s way too easy to drop a ton of money on a gaming desktop, so some of our favorite models rest securely in the midrange. Snagging a $650 discount makes this Lenovo tower a great bargain, as it’s packed to the gills with excellent components, including a peppy Ryzen 7 processor, generous 32GB of system memory, and a 2TB SSD. The RTX 5060 Ti card is on the lower end of Nvidia’s current lineup, but it still excels at 1080p and 1440p performance. We have a review of another LOQ tower with similar specifications, where we were impressed by its quiet operation and sturdy build.
Best High-End
Alienware Area-51 Gaming Desktop
Specs: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, RTX 5090, 1TB SSD, 32GB RAM
$4,949.99
at Dell
$5,949.99
Save $1,000.00
Did you get your tax return already and are looking for something fun to do with it? We’ve got you covered. This is a serious $1150 price drop on a powerhouse PC loaded with the best graphics card Nvidia currently manufactures, the RTX 5090. In our review of that GPU, we gave it an Editors’ Choice award, saying that it was unmatched in performance both for 4K video with huge framerates, as well as on-device AI operations. This is the only Alienware desktop chassis that can use the 5090. The rest of the loadout here is equally impressive, with a potent Ryzen 9 9950X3D and tons of RAM. It also has all the cooling you need to push it to the limit, and plenty of connectivity.
Best Gaming Desktop Deals
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HP Omen 35L Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5080 2TB SSD 64GB RAM Desktop
—
$3,099.99
($3,299.99)
Save $200.00 -
HP Omen 45L Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5070 1TB SSD Desktop
—
$1,840.99
($2,660.99)
Save $820.00 -
Alienware Aurora Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5060 Ti 1TB SSD…
—
$1,749.99
($2,149.99)
Save $400.00 -
Alienware Area-51 Intel Ultra 7 RTX 5080 1TB SSD 3…
—
$3,799.99
($4,299.99)
Save $500.00 -
Alienware Area-51 Intel Ultra 9 RTX 5090 2TB SSD 3…
—
$5,999.99
($6,199.99)
Save $200.00 -
HP Omen 16L Ryzen 7 RTX 5060 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop
—
$1,399.99
($1,799.99)
Save $400.00
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
How Much Should I Pay for a Desktop Computer?
Your money goes further with desktop PCs and their components than with laptops. You can find complete mini PCs for less than $400 and perfectly serviceable small towers for $500 to $600. Gaming desktops with dedicated graphics cards start at around $700. You can also find all-in-one (AIO) desktops, with the display and all of the computing components built into a single device, starting at around $600. The sky’s the limit once you get into high-end gaming PCs and business-workstation power desktops, but the prices above are in the right range for most mainstream buyers.
Is It Better to Get an All-In-One Computer or a Desktop?
Traditional tower desktops offer the most upgrade and power flexibility, at the cost of bulk. Most towers have generous interior space and full-size motherboards, so you can install one or more (sometimes many more) secondary storage drives, more RAM in empty slots on the motherboard, and a video card (if the PC doesn’t come with one). PC gamers will want to stick with a traditional tower.
An all-in-one desktop’s big appeal is saving you lots of space since the PC is built right in with the monitor, with the components living behind the display. It comes down to how much you care about the desk area your PC uses up and whether you happen to be shopping for a desktop monitor at the same time. Budget AIOs with basic feature sets are common, but spending more can gain you some combination of a touch-enabled screen, a panel with a high native resolution, roomier storage, and a more muscular processor. Higher-end AIO desktops tend to cater, though, to content creators and productivity-app power users, not gamers.
Is It Cheaper to Buy a Desktop Than a Laptop?
Desktops are usually a better value than laptops because your money goes further with desktop components in lieu of a screen, keyboard, and mouse. Building your own PC will often be the cheapest option, but for those who don’t have the know-how, even a pre-built PC tends to cost less than a laptop equivalent.
Is It Cheaper to Build a PC or Buy One Right Now?
It depends largely on the kind of desktop you are looking to buy or build. At the low end, economies of scale for the components, plus the cost of single Windows 10 or 11 licenses, tend to make buying a prebuilt PC a better deal. It’s when you get into the $1,000-and-up zone that building your own starts to make more sense, especially if you can reuse parts from an existing PC build. This will all likely remain the case as we’re in a market burdened by substantial shipping tariffs at the time of writing, though building PCs might lose its value luster as individual component sales get taxed as well.
How Much Does a Good Budget PC Cost?
Expect to pay at least $500 for a basic, competent small tower for day-in/day-out productivity and web work. You’ll find plenty of models for less than $500, especially in the mini PC class, but you should insist on at least 8GB of system memory for any PC, with 16GB required at minimum for AI tasks. For anything beyond basic productivity work, look for an Intel Core i5 (or Ultra 5) or AMD Ryzen 5 processor at least.
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Desktop on Sale?
Black Friday is typically the best time to buy electronics (computers included). You can also shop around the back-to-school season, which starts in July and usually features price drops on configurations geared toward productivity. However, if you need a deal outside of those shopping rushes, do more research on the product lines you’re looking to pick from. Determine the products that have most recently received annual updates with new processors and other parts. Then, find the previous, outgoing editions of those products. By the time the latest models are available, retailers are already clearing stock of those outgoing ones with considerable discounts.
Do Desktops Get Major Discounts During Black Friday or Prime Days?
Yes! We see substantial PC price cuts on both Black Friday and Prime Days. This includes even more attainable budget models and high-end systems discounted down to more approachable figures. All told those are the two best days of the year (Cyber Monday, too) to buy a new desktop online if you’re in need.
Who Has the Best Deals on Refurbished Desktops?
Dell Outlet is a great source of certified refurbished desktops in various conditions. Best Buy Outlet also deals in expert refurbished computers, but they also offer open-box options that are like new and can save you some serious cash.
Which Brands Offer the Best Desktop Discounts?
Some brands post deals and discounts on their products more often than others, particularly Acer. Dell, HP, and Lenovo also do this, but you should always double-check exactly what you’re getting and whether you can buy it for less at other retailers. Brands like Lenovo adjust their prices frequently, making assessing the raw value of deals you see there difficult. Notably, Apple has improved its image as a value-focused brand, permanently dropping prices on some of its laptops and often hosting limited deals on shopping holidays.
What Is the Best Desktop Under $800?
Our experts have named the Acer Aspire TC-1780-UA92 their top budget pick for its decent performance and Wi-Fi 6E support—all for around $600 (though it was just $479.99 as tested). For more budget options, check out our top picks for the best cheap desktop PCs.
What Is the Best Gaming Desktop Under $1,000?
While it was just $979.99 when we tested it, the new $1,049 MSI Codex R2 is the PC we’ve tested that is closest to that mark and worth recommending. The Codex R2 earned our Editors’ Choice award for its 1080p gaming performance and well-made, upgradable build. You might still find base models just under $1,000 (depending on the day), packing an Intel Core i5 14th Gen CPU and an Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card.
What Are Good Websites to Find Computer Deals?
Why, right here on PCMag! We have dedicated deals articles and comprehensive lists of configurations suited to different users.
About Our Experts
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
Read Full Bio
Joe Osborne
Deputy Managing Editor, Hardware
Experience
After starting my career at PCMag as an intern more than a decade ago, I’m back as one of its editors, focused on managing laptops, desktops, and components coverage. With 15 years of experience, I have been on staff and published in technology review publications, including PCMag (of course!), Laptop Magazine, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and IGN. Along the way, I’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops and helped develop testing protocols. I have expertise in testing all forms of laptops and desktops using the latest tools. I’m also well-versed in video game hardware and software coverage.
Read Full Bio
Jade Chung-Lee
Merchandising Associate
Experience
When she isn’t perusing online stores for deals, Jade enjoys playing video games (mostly JRPGs and roguelikes), sorting board game components neatly into containers, and building Gundam models. Her love of electronics has persisted through her youth and has resulted in a collection of gaming peripherals including keyboards and controllers, scale figures, and art work. Jade lives in blissful harmony with her wife, cat, and two chinchillas—as well as a host of houseplants.
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