The Top 3 Budget Dell Desktop Computers for Christmas 2010

The Top 3 Budget Dell Desktop Computers for Christmas 2010
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The economy has hit everyone in various ways in the past few years and sales of big-ticket items have plummeted as a result. Although not as expensive as a car or a washer and dryer, computers represent a big expense to many people. Many computer manufacturers have reduced the prices on their computers to help increase sales for the 2010 holiday season.

This article lists and discusses the best Dell budget desktop computer deals for the 2010 Christmas season. Learn why these computers are such a great deal and why you should consider these desktop computers before the year is out.

#1 – Dell Inspiron 560 Desktop Computer – US$594.99

Although at the low-end of the price scale, the Dell Inspiron 560 Desktop Computer still packs in some nice features that make it a good choice for a home budget system. This computer comes with an Intel E5500 Dual Core processor running at 2.8GHz. 2GB of DDR3 Dual Channel memory is also standard with the option to upgrade to more for a reasonable price.

For the operating system, Dell didn’t bother offering the lower-priced 32-bit version but instead gives you the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. A moderately-sized 500GB SATA hard drive and integrated sound and video round out the package and keep the cost of the computer down to a minimum. Of course, the option to upgrade these components before shipment is available.

What makes the Dell Inspiron 560 such as great deal is the inclusion of a 18.5” Dell widescreen HD monitor in this package. Unlike many other computers that only include a monitor for more money, the Dell Inspiron 560 includes the HD monitor in the US$594.99 price. This is what makes this computer package such a great deal for the 2010 holiday season.

#2 – Dell Studio XPS 8100 Desktop Computer – US$699.99

Dell Studio XPS 8100 Budget Desktop for 2010 Holidays

The Dell Studio XPS 8100 offers a significant upgrade to the Inspiron 560 above justifying its higher price. Let’s take a look at what you get and decide whether the higher price is worth it. The Dell Studio XPS 8100 comes standard with an Intel Core i5 650 processor running at 3.2GHZ. Already this budget desktop is more powerful than the 560 above.

The Dell Studio XPS 8100 also comes standard with 3GB of DDR3 Dual Channel RAM, a full 1GB more than the Inspiron 560. Like the 560 above, the XPS 8100 is powered by the 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium. In addition, this desktop computer’s graphics are powered by a separate, rather than integrated, video card; the nVidia GeForce G310 with 512MB of video memory.

Unlike the 560 above, the Studio 8100 does not come standard with an HD monitor. However, If you need more power and if a monitor isn’t an issue for you, this computer is likely a better choice for the 2010 Christmas season. The Dell Studio XPS 8100 sells for US$699.99.

#3 – Dell Studio XPS 8100 Upgraded – US$999.99

Upgraded Dell Studio XPS 8100 Budget Desktop for Christmas 2010

At the higher end of our budget computer deals for the 2010 holidays is the same Dell Studio XPS 8100. The difference is that this 8100 has been upgraded to make it more of a budget powerhouse.

Featuring an Intel Core i7 860 processor at 2.8GHz, this computer can handle just about anything you throw at it. What sets this Dell Studio XPS 8100 budget desktop apart from the others is its staggering 6GB of DDR3 Dual Channel RAM. That is more than enough to run Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, which also comes standard with this computer. But the features don’t end there. This Studio XPS Desktop also ships with a spacious 750GB SATA hard drive and the same nVidia GeForce G310 video card as above.

This computer is the deal to end all deals for the 2010 Christmas season, especially since it ships with an Core i7 processor. If you want one of the best computer deals on the web, this is it. Be prepared to shell out a bit more for this upgraded budget desktop; it retails for US$999.99 but still qualifies as a budget desktop since it is a sub-$1000 PC.

Conclusion

Dell has a number of great deals on budget desktop computers for the 2010 Holiday season. These Top 3 deals from Dell represent the best of the best and range from the total budget computer with the Inspiron 560 to the Studio XPS 8100 Desktop mid-range computer that could see you all the way through several years of home computing. The questions are how much you want to spend and how much power you really need in a home budget desktop computer?