Top 5 Mainstream Desktop PCs

Mainstream desktop PCs are those that fall in the middle of the price range between those considered to be in the budget or performance categories. In general, these systems will provide the best overall value for your dollar. Systems in this category will cost under US$1600 with a monitor or US$1250 without one. All picks are based upon my research and experience.

1.Gateway GM5478
Gateway's retail products have come a long way and offer some spectacular value. The GM5478 is a strong mix of performance and features that also carries a very attractive price. Its Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 quad core processor is great for those looking to multitask or do lots of video editing. The 500GB of hard drive space provide plenty of storage space and come in handy with its analog and digital TV tuner. It even comes with a decent GeForce 8500 GT graphics for those looking at some casual PC gaming. Overall a very strong value.

2.HP Pavilion m8120n
It was tough call for the top spot as the HP Pavilion m8120n just missed out to the Gateway. Overall, the build quality of the HP system was a bit better, but the difference in price and features in the end dropped it to second. Like the Gateway, it has a Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor but it comes with 3GB of memory and 640GB of total storage space. This makes it slightly better for those doing the digital video and multitasking. Its downfall comes from the older GeForce 7350 LE graphics board that lacks Direct X 10 or much 3D performance. So really, it comes down to a choice of casual gaming and price versus more memory and storage.

3.Dell Inspiron 530
Dell's new Inspiron 530 desktop systems are more geared towards the budget segment, but it is still possible to configure it to be competitive with their own XPS 410 desktop. For those willing to spend a bit more, you can get a Core 2 Duo E6550 processor, 2GB DDR2 memory, 320GB hard drive and a GeForce 8600GT graphics card. The best part is that the systems often come with the Dell line of LCD panels that are some of the best available on the market. Definitely a choice for those looking for a solid all around system, or a budget system if so inclined.

4.Velocity Micro Vector GX
The Vector GX system is qutie a bit older than other desktop systems on this list, but Velocity Micro has done a good job on keeping the specifications competitive. In fact, they now offer three different "versions" of the system. One for home offices with Intel processors, another with AMD processor and a Campus Edition. Of these, the Campus Edition offers the best choice of components and features including a Core 2 Duo E6320, 2GB DDR2 Memory, 250GB hard drive and GeForce 8600 GT graphics card.

5.ABS Ultimate I-Spirit E6400
ABS is generally known for custom built PCs, but for those that need a system without the wait or don't care as much about selecting which components will be used ABS has introduced their new Ultimate Spirit desktops. The I-Spirit E6400 is based off the Core 2 Duo E6400 that provides a solid amount of performance for the price. Users do only get a single gigabyte of memory, 250GB of hard drive space and an older GeForce 7600 GT. What they do get is a very reasonably priced desktop PC system that is several steps above the budget oriented desktops without breaking the bank.