Gateway DX4300-15e
Not everyone wants a PC with a TV tuner, but if you're in the market for such a system, the Gateway DX4300-15e has you covered. Best of all, it offers a tuner without sacrificing other features we'd expect to find at this price. You'll find few other desktops at retail with a TV tuner, but we're glad to see that the one of the few out there is a decent computer all-around.

Asus Essentio CG5275-AR003
If you don't mind its massive, distinct case, the Asus Essentio CG5275-AR003 offers a compelling set of features and enough room inside to satisfy upgraders. Hard-core media hounds can spend less on a competing HP system, but few systems challenge Asus in single application and multitasking performance, making it an easy recommendation.

HP Pavilion p6320y
The HP Pavilion p6320y earns its place with respectable multithreading performance that takes advantage of its powerful quad-core processor. Although it falls slightly behind the competition in single-core performance, it's still quick enough to earn our recommendation for the average light-duty user.

Asus Essentio CM5571-BR003
Asus has made a game attempt to crack the American retail desktop market over the last year or so, but the low-cost Essentio CM5571-BR003 can't overcome tough competition in the $500 to $600 price range. Gateway offers a better midtower for just $40 more, so for all but the most price-conscious shoppers, we can't recommend this desktop.

Dell Inspiron i560-4000NBK
We recommend this Dell only to those who need its particular combination of good-enough performance and wireless networking. If you value faster performance, or you're willing to get your hands dirty with upgrades, you can find more computer for your money elsewhere.

HP Pavilion p6310y
The HP Pavilion p6310y is a midtower desktop computer with average performance coupled with a disappointing set of features. Sure, it can handle low-demand processing, but we recommend the Gateway DX4831-01e over it. The Gateway is a faster computer with more versatile connections that costs $50 less.

Gateway DX4831-01e
The Gateway DX4831-01e is the midtower version of the Editors' Choice award-winning SX2840-01 and exhibits equally impressive performance scores while offering ample room for expansion. We recommend this system to budget-minded shoppers who are looking for a powerful, affordable midtower desktop computer.

Dell Inspiron i545-1125NBK
Selling budget desktops at retail has never been one of Dell's strengths, and the Inspiron i54 1125-NBK is a fairly representative case-in-point. It's slow, out-of-date, and looks downright silly next to other desktops on the shelf. Pass by this desktop, and be rewarded by a better deal from one of its competitors.

HP Pavilion Slimline s5310y
With poor system performance and a severe drought in features, we recommend leaving this clunker on the shelf and picking up the Gateway SX2840-01, a highly capable budget desktop with a faster processor chip, a bigger hard drive, and a larger variety of connectivity options inside and out.

Gateway SX2840-01
Gateway's SX2840-01 remains the budget PC to beat. Its combination of small size, fast performance, and living room competence makes it one of the most flexible desktops on the market. That it has room to upgrade makes the deal that much sweeter. We recommend this desktop to anyone looking for a powerful, versatile low-cost computer.

HP Pavilion All-in-One MS225
Don't expect the world from HP's low-cost Pavilion All-in-One MS2255, but as a basic day-to-day PC for light-duty productivity or Web and media accessibility in the kitchen, it's a very good deal. You'd be wise to look here before considering an Atom-based Nettop.

Apple Mac Mini (2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 160GB, Fall 2009)
The lower-cost Mac Mini offers respectable budget performance and Apple's usual compelling design, but a puny hard drive and a lack of HDMI hurt this system's value and overall potential. It's actually more versatile next to its budget-priced Windows competition than the higher-end Mac Mini, but this entry-level Mac is still best left to Apple loyalists.

Dell Inspiron Zino HD
In the right configuration, Dell's Inspiron Zino HD will fit seamlessly into your living room as a PC-based video source. Due to its uneven handling of even standard-def video, this $468 build isn't quite up to the task. Fortunately, Dell offers the right upgrades to get you to the hallowed ground of PC-based video content--just be prepared to spend a little bit more to get there.

Apple Mac Mini (2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 320GB, Fall 2009)
With strong competition among small PCs on the Windows side of the aisle, the latest Mac Mini faces a greater challenge than older models. If you demand a small, relatively affordable Mac, we suppose the Mac Mini is your only option. Otherwise, you can find Windows-based small form factor desktops that offer more interesting features with better value.

Acer Aspire Z5610
You could say that the Acer Aspire Z5610 has a few flaws, but it might be more accurate to call them sacrifices. After all, we don't expect that Acer could sell a 23-inch all-in-one for less than $1,000 without trimming a few costs. Fortunately, Acer chose its trade-offs wisely. You can find faster, better-looking all-in-ones out there, but none that offer this much screen real estate for such an aggressive price.

Dell Studio XPS 8000-2361JBK
The retail version of Dell's Studio XPS 8000 desktop might lack some of the charm of its direct-from-Dell counterpart, but its strong price-performance offering makes it easy to overlook the minor cosmetic deficiencies. That and its admirable power consumption make this system an impressive all-purpose midrange desktop.

HP Pavilion p6210y
The HP Pavilion P6210y gets by as a decent performer in entry-level applications, but we're disappointed by its lack of features. It can definitely serve as a family PC, but the Gateway SX2800-01 is a faster computer with more flexibility in its connection offerings.

HP TouchSmart 300-1020
With a small screen for its price, we can't justify the TouchSmart 300 as a home entertainment all-in-one PC. It's also slower than more affordable midtowers, so you can spend less for more productivity. This leaves HP's touch-based software as the TouchSmart 300's primary selling point. We'd recommend this PC in the kitchen, but it's less appealing elsewhere.

Dell Inspiron i545s-3055NBK
The Dell Inspiron 545s-3055NBK improves on previous models with more upgrade options and faster performance. Its modest components can easily handle the most common tasks, but shoppers looking for a home theater PC should consider the Gateway SX2800-01 or Dell's forthcoming Zino HD instead.

HP Pavilion Elite E9220y
HP's Pavilion Elite E9220y strikes out because of slow performance and underwhelming features for its price. We can't recommend this desktop to anyone.