A desktop computer is the way to go if you want the best performance, for the lowest price. And really, performance and price are the only two major factors to consider, since you’ll be plugging in your choice of accessories, including a keyboard, monitor, and mouse.

Short & Sweet

My General-Purpose Recommendation: Dell has quality desktops for competitive prices, especially if you buy refurbished. And I’ve never had a problem with a Dell refurbished desktop. Their lines range from budget to high-end gaming, in this order: Inspiron, Studio, XPS, and Alienware. So Inspiron machines are the cheapest and least powerful, but if your needs are modest, they’ll be met.

My Hardcore Gaming Recommendation: Build Your Own! That might sound intimidating, but if you learn how to build your own machine, it’ll pay off over time by saving you hundreds of dollars with each purchase, and giving you ability to affordably upgrade when a component just can’t cut it anymore. If you’d like to learn how, you might find this guide extremely useful, as well as our tips for deciphering technical computer specs. Heck – you can even come on down to Power On if you’d like to put everything together under supervision the first time.

Getting a Great Deal

If you’re building your own computer, everything you need is in the guide. If you buy a dell, make sure to check out our page on Getting a Great Deal on a Dell Computer. That’s all you’ll need.