Best Desktop Deals | PCMag

February 7, 2025

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Since 1982, PCMag has been testing and reviewing desktop computers and our team represents over a century of experience in that field. The PCLabs were established not long after, in 1984, and with it came the standardization of our testing. We test desktops and compare them to others in their category with the following in mind: Price, features, design, and test performance. Performance is evaluated by a suite of software benchmark tests as well as real-world applications and gaming so that we can really highlight the strengths and weaknesses of different towers and also how well-suited they might be for your unique needs.

Though the portability of a laptop is enticing, you can’t beat the bang-for-your-buck of a desktop computer. If you’re reading this, then you probably agree. For those who are more hands-on, a desktop is endlessly customizable, allowing you to swap out parts as your needs change and even add in your own lighting. New models were announced at CES earlier this month, so we’ve got our eyes on price drops for 2024 models. Here are the best deals we’ve been able to find on desktops for gaming, productivity, and everything in between.

Best Home and Office Desktop Deals

Our current best value pick is the 24-inch HP All-in-One, which will handle casual computing like web surfing and email drafting—plus it includes everything you need to get started. Our best overall recommendation is the Dell XPS 8960, which can work and play thanks to powerful components. Read on for more details.

Editor’s Choice Jack of All Trades

Dell Inspiron 3030

Intel i7 14th Gen/1TB SSD/16GB RAM

$799.99
at Dell

$999.99
Save $200.00

This Inspiron 3030 is a no-frills tower that’ll fit easily into your workspace with a number of ports including an HDMI 1.4 port, a DisplayPort 1.4, 2 USB 2.0, and more so that you can connect all of your peripherals without juggling cables. Your purchase includes a Dell Multimedia Keyboard (KB216) and a Dell Optical Mouse (MS116). For those who need more horsepower, there are RTX 3050 and RTX 4060 options and the tower supports up to 64GB of RAM. Dell is a brand that is in the top 20 of our tech brands of 2024 list, so you know you can make this purchase with confidence in build quality and performance. $200 is a noteworthy discount on a solid desktop workstation that will handle everything from browsing the Web to PowerPoint creation.

HP Pavilion TP01

Intel i7 14th Gen/1TB SSD/16GB RAM

$749.99
at Best Buy

$999.99
Save $250.00

The HP Envy TE01 is a comfortably-priced configuration that is powered by the latest 14th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and will handle a variety of standard tasks. A similar HP Envy TE01 configuration that we reviewed received an “Excellent” rating from our expert, who called it a “proficient everyday PC, offering excellent productivity.” A wired keyboard and mouse combo are included, stretching the savings even further. There’s a lot to like here and we can wholeheartedly recommend this desktop at this sale price saving you $250.

Best Home and Office Desktop Deals

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

Best Gaming Desktop Deals

The best midrange gaming tower on sale is currently the HP Omen 35L, which received high marks from our reviewer and will perform adequately on the gaming scene without burning a hole in your wallet. Those in need of a powerhouse gaming rig should look at the Alienware Aurora R16, which sports a powerful graphics card as well as 32GB of RAM—perfect for gaming as well as content creation.

Recommended by Our Editors

The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 8 is an AMD-powered gaming PC with enough power under the hood to tackle modern titles and even handle a bit of streaming and video editing. Wi-Fi 6E connectivity ensures you’ll have a fast, stable connection when you hop online and the latest Windows 11 OS introduces the Copilot AI tool to maximize productivity as well. Also included is a mouse and keyboard as well as three months of Xbox PC Game Pass Ultimate, to really help drive home the savings. At 30% off, this tower costs less than $1,000 and it includes access to a vast library of hundreds of titles, including day-one releases. That’s a pretty sweet deal to me.

This iBUYPOWER Trace 7 gaming desktop is capable of running most modern day titles at medium to high settings. Plentiful RGB lighting and an included wired mouse and keyboard pictured ensure this desktop looks as good as it operates. Those seeking to attempt video editing and other resource intensive tasks should purchase more RAM, but 16GB is a good baseline. For the price, this midrange tower will handle all but the most demanding titles in your library with ease. We think this is a very good deal as it’s a good mixture of power and pricing, and you can check out our buyers guide located at the bottom of the Best Gaming Desktops article for more information.

Best Gaming Desktop Deals

Lenovo Legion Tower 5i Intel i5 RTX 4060 1TB SSD Desktop

for
$899.99

(List Price $1,149.99)
Alienware Aurora R16 Intel i7 RTX 4070 Super 2TB Desktop

for
$1,799.99

(List Price $2,209.99)
Alienware Aurora R16 Intel i9 RTX 4060 1TB SSD Desktop

for
$1,299.99

(List Price $1,499.99)
HP Omen 35L Intel i5 RTX 4060 512GB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop

for
$1,099.99

(List Price $1,399.99)
Alienware Aurora R16 Intel i9 RTX 4090 2TB SSD Desktop

for
$2,899.99

(List Price $3,699.99)
MSI Codex Z2 Ryzen 5 RTX 4060 Ti 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Desktop

for
$899.99

(List Price $1,199.99)

*Deals are selected by our commerce team

FAQ

How Much Should I Pay for a Desktop Computer?

Your money goes further with desktop PCs and their components versus laptops. You can find complete mini PCs for less than $400, and perfectly serviceable small towers for $400 to $600. Gaming desktops with dedicated graphics cards start at around $500 to $600. 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 $400. The sky’s the limit once you get into high-end gaming PCs and business-workstation power desktops, but the prices above are the right range for most mainstream buyers.

Is it Better To Get an All-In-One Computer or 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 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 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. For the last few years, the inflated cost of graphics cards made building your own PC a lot less attractive. That price pressure has relented in 2023, though.

How Much Does a Good Budget PC Cost?

Expect to pay a solid $400 to $500 for a basic, competent small tower for day-in/day-out productivity and web work. You’ll find plenty of models below $400, especially in the mini PC class, but you should insist on at least 8GB of system memory for any Windows machine, and, for anything beyond very basic productivity work, a Core i3 or Ryzen 3 processor.

What Are Good Websites to Find Computer Deals?

Why, right here on PCMag! We have dedicated deals articles, as well as comprehensive lists of configurations suited to different users.

When’s the Best Time to Shop for a PC?

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.

Who Has the Best Deals on Refurbished Desktops?

Dell Outlet is a great source of certified refurbished desktops in a variety of 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.

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. 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 its laptop equivalent.

Best Desktop Under $800?

Our experts have named the Acer Aspire TC-1760-UA92 their top budget pick for its peppy performance and Wi-Fi 6 support—all for only $639. Check out our top picks for The Best Cheap Desktop PCs for more budget options.

Best Gaming Desktop Under $1,000?

Available for just $749, the NZXT Player: One earned PCMag’s Editors’ Choice award for its excellent 1080p gaming performance and well-made, upgradable build.

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About Jade Chung-Lee

Merchandising Associate

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.

Read Jade’s full bio