What is the best desktop computer to buy for under $400?

With computers, you very frequently get what you pay for, so this isn’t going to be any great shakes of a machine.

Look around for refurbished computers. The local Microcenter has a refurbished Compaq for $99.
Dell has some cut-rate computers, and they’re fairly good.
You can probably buy a used CRT monitor for $30—$50, keyboard for $20, mouse for $10. Speakers will run you another $15—$30.
See if any of the universities in your area are selling their computers.

@silky1 You could check with a local network support company in your area. My husband and his “geek” co-workers always have computers up for grabs. Usually they email co-workers before looking to sell them on ebay/craigslist. If you put a “wanted” reply in with HR or the secretary, he/she will post it to the company for you.

First figure out what your requirements are. Is this for word processing? Graphics? Playing games? Multi-media? Is it a desktop or a portable? Then go to CNET or some other consumer tech site and read their reviews on computers to see what they have to say about various features.

Then go shopping (online). See how you can best meet your requirements within your budget.

My son just bought a $538 computer with his birthday money. It’s a 17” labtop; great for videos. It’s not the fastest computer, but then it doesn’t have to be. He wanted an HDMI port so he could play things on the TV. He wanted e-sata but don’t ask me why. He got a 500 gig hard drive.

You can get an awful lot of computer these days for $400. It doesn’t matter the manufacturer. Over the last year, we’ve bought computers from Asus, Acer, Sony, and Toshiba. Whoever meets the requirements at the lowest price.

You can even get very particular. In my opinion, Sony sports the best keyboard of all of them. It makes a difference—how responsive the keyboard it, and how much pounding you need to do.

Really excellent advice, @wundayatta. If I were in the market for an inexpensive computer, I’d follow it to the letter.

Every week Tiger Direct has a complete system (minus OS) for $200 (and another slightly upgraded for $299) that’s a pretty decent little system, the only catch is you have to assemble it yourself… but it’s not half as difficult as people make it out to be. The nice thing about it is you can easily upgrade components in the future, and for the price you can’t beat it. My current system started as a $199 TD deal and I’ve upgraded over a year and a half with another $150 in parts and this thing flies… not to mention it plays every game on the market with ease. Don’t look for name brands because you will get what you pay for… spend the hour it takes to learn, and then the 30 minutes it takes to assemble and you will have more money in pocket… and have learned a new skill.

I bought my last two desktops and a laptop on eBay.
Amazing value, unbeatable selection, OS and software included, more than I expected.
I was lucky to have Internet access, for years now, did my homework, and had fair sellers.

E-machines and other proprietary systems are designed for profit, not consumer value.
Planned obsolescence is deliberately designing a product to have a limited useful life.
Proprietary systems usually require proprietary upgrades rather than cheaper generic.
Buying a new car rather than used, the first owner takes the biggest depreciation hit.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Oops!

I bought my last two desktops and a laptop USED, on eBay.