Desktop computers don’t need to have premium components if you’ll use them strictly for processes such as typing, printing, sending emails, and other related tasks.
You can have the best business desktop under 500 dollars as long as the machine is capable of handling your daily office chores.
In actuality, you can probably set a lower budget ceiling than $500, but having a few upgrades shouldn’t hurt in the long run.
Comparison Chart
HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF High Performance Business Desktop Computer, Intel Quad Core i5-4590 upto 3.7GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 256GB SSD (boot), DVD, WiFi, Windows 10 Professional (Renewed)
DELL Optiplex 9020 Small Form Business Desktop Tower PC (Intel Quad Core i7 4770, 16GB Ram, 240GB Brand New SSD, WIFI, Dual Monitor Support HDMI plus VGA, DVD-RW, WIFI) Win 10 Pro (Renewed)’]
lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Business Class Desktop, Quad Core i7 4770 3.4Ghz, 16GB DDR3 RAM, 512GB SSD Hard Drive, DVD-RW, Windows 10 Pro (Renewed)
HP Business Desktop ProDesk 600 G2 Desktop Computer – Intel Core i5 (6th Gen) i5-6500 3.20 GHz – 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM – 256 GB SSD (Renewed)
Best Business Desktop under 500: A Review
1. HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Small Form Factor (SFF)
The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF is a business PC classified as a mini desktop.
Just in case you’re not familiar, this type of computer combines the parts of desktop and notebook.
It allows this model to be less bulky than its mainstream counterpart.
Despite its minuscule stature, the specs are capable of producing excellent performance.
This PC is more than capable of carrying out office activities in the day-to-day for your company.
Review
Don’t let the compact build of the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Small Form Factor make you think that it has limited capabilities.
Let’s jump into its features and see if it’s worthy of a spot in your office.
- Position Flexibility
Usually, desktop PCs can only be mounted vertically, mainly due to the location of the components inside the casing.
With the HP EliteDesk 800 G1, you have the freedom to either position it horizontally or vertically.
If you don’t have a lot of free space on your desk, this capability may come in handy.
- Hard Disk Space
This desktop computer comes with a 1 TB HDD with a 256GB SSD.
In case you are not aware, installing OS on SSD makes booting significantly faster.
For the hard drive, 1 TB is pretty much the standard storage space we expect from these pre-built PCs.
If your files are primarily composed of documents and photos that aren’t considered high-resolution, this space should be more than sufficient.
- CPU
The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 has the Intel Quad-Core i5-4590 as its processor.
While it cannot run games such as GTA V or Fortnite in a standard setup, you can still play them in lower settings.
For business purposes, it will have no issues handling the prevalent office applications such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other similar programs.
If you’re working with Adobe products such as Premiere Pro or After Effects, you might not get the best results.
- RAM
The HP EliteDesk 800 G1 SFF has 16GB RAM that is expandable up to 32GB.
It should be more than sufficient for a business PC as it is considered a good starting RAM for gaming desktops.
- Ports
A total of 10 USB ports are available for the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Small Form Factor.
You have four on the front and six on the back.
This number allows you to connect multiple peripherals at once.
So, if you have lots of thumb drives that need to be accessed simultaneously, the desktop can certainly accommodate them.
Pros:
- Windows 10 Professional installed
- DVD drive available
- Has graphics card slot
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Packaging could be better
- Low-quality mouse and keyboard
- No HDMI port
2. Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor
When it comes to computers, Dell has been a staple brand that earned praise worldwide.
High-quality and durable components are the qualities that made the company stand out from its competition.
The Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor is among its pre-built PCs that can handle more than conventional office programs.
Review
Some of the features the Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor has to offer are:
- CPU
For its processor, this computer features an Intel Quad-Core i7-4770 3. 40GHz 4th generation.
While it isn’t the most powerful chip available on the market today, it still has a respectable processing output.
It is capable of supporting a myriad of office programs and some games with relative ease.
- RAM
Regarding its memory, the Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor features 16GB DDR3L RAM.
This memory is considered by many as fast as it allows you to handle multiple data processes from different programs without much difficulty.
- Hard Drive
When it comes to storage space, this SFF computer has a 240 GB 2.5-inch SATA SSD.
Since it is an SSD drive, you can expect fast loading of your OS and programs.
- Monitor Support
If you prefer two monitors on your desk to make your job easier, then the Dell OptiPlex 9020 Small Form Factor might fit you well.
This desktop is capable of supporting dual monitors because it has two display ports.
- DVD-RW Drive
DVDs are becoming obsolete nowadays due to more convenient portable storage mediums such as flash drives and external hard drives.
However, you still might never know when you might need to write data on a DVD.
While flash drives offer more features, DVDs are cheaper and provide less risk of viruses and malware.
- Connectivity
The Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF has six USB 2.0 slots and four USB 3.0 slots.
It is fair to assume that you won’t run out of ports to connect your USB charger, flash drives, massage chairs, and more.
Wired and WiFi connection is also possible with the Dell OptiPlex 9020 SFF.
If your office spot doesn’t have a network cable available, having the option to connect via WiFi is very convenient.
Pros:
- New mouse and keyboard included
- Genuine Windows 10 installed with reinstallation disc available
- Premium casing design
- Quiet operation
Cons:
- Low hard drive space
- No slot for second hard drive
- Pricier than others
3. Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Business Class Desktop
Lenovo is one of the successful companies in the industry because of its high-spec yet reasonably-priced merchandise.
From gaming laptops to smartphones, the brand is all over the tech space and continues to grow its empire.
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Business Class Desktop is among its releases that garnered acclaim for its overall performance.
Review
Let’s take a look at this business desktop’s features and find out if its qualities could make it the
best business desktop under 500 dollars.
- CPU
Like the previous entry, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p has an Intel Quad-Core i7 – 4770 3.4Ghz.
This processor is highly regarded since it is not just for office but is also a good choice for a gaming PC.
- Hard Drive
This desktop has a 512 SSD SATA to provide you with enhanced loading time for booting the OS or programs.
This disk space might not be enough if you’re planning on saving many files and installing large applications.
That said, it should be sufficient for storing documents and images.
- RAM
Bearing another similarity to the previous units, the Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Business Class Desktop comes with a 16GB DDR3.
This type of memory ensures that you’ll be able to run multiple programs at once without experiencing too much lag or slow processing time.
- DVD-RW Drive
You can install a fresh, new copy of your preferred operating system via its optical drive.
Since the Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p’s drive allows you to write data on a blank DVD, you’ll be able to backup files or make a DVD video.
- Video Card
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M93p Business Class Desktop has the Integrated HD Graphics 4600.
Don’t expect too much with this graphic card, as the games it can render were released about a decade ago.
In other words, try to avoid playing recent games with this video card because you’re not going to have lots of fun.
- USB Ports
The front of the casing has two USB 3.0 ports, which may not be convenient if you need to access multiple flash drives simultaneously.
At the back, there are four USB 3.0 ports at two USB 2.0 ports.
While you can better appreciate if some of these sockets are at the front, the fact that it is still available should be enough.
Pros:
- Dual display possible
- Wireless connectivity
- Windows 10 Pro x64 installed
- Good packaging
Cons:
- No peripherals included
- Wi-fi connection not consistent
4. HP ProDesk 600 G2 Small Form Factor Business PC
For companies requiring commercial-grade productivity, efficiency, and reliability, the ProDesk 600 G2 Small Form Factor Business PC offers balanced performance and potential expandability.
Review
This pre-built PC from HP has components that promise exceptional results for your business or personal purposes.
Let’s explore the HP ProDesk 600 G2 Small Form Factor Business PC components to assess its capabilities properly.
- CPU
The 6th generation Intel Core i5-6500 3.20 GHz is the processor of this machine.
While it will give you the necessary processing output for various office tasks, it wouldn’t be optimal if you run programs such as video editing applications or high-resolution games.
- RAM
A DDR4 16GB SDRAM is superior to DDR3 RAMS, which gives this PC an edge compared to the other PCs we have listed so far.
Running multiple programs in the background is not going to be an issue with this memory.
- Hard Drive
An SSD of 256GB storage is used on the HP ProDesk 600 G2 SFF.
You should experience an enhanced loading speed of your programs with this type of hard drive.
Pros:
- Pre-installed genuine Windows 10 Pro
- Wired keyboard, mouse, and power cord included
- DVD Drive available
Con:
- Casing design could be better
5. OptiPlex 3040 Micro PC Desktop
When it comes to office computers, Dell is arguably the top choice of business owners due to its reputation of impeccable quality.
The OptiPlex 3040 Micro PC Desktop is one of its releases that simplifies business computing.
Review
Let’s see the components of this computer from Dell to determine if it has sufficient capabilities for handling various tasks.
- CPU
The Dell OptiPlex 3040 Micro PC Desktop features an Intel Quad-Core i5-6500T, which has a max output of 3.1GHz.
If you’re strictly using the machine for office-related tasks such as processing documents and sending emails, this CPU should handle it without any difficulty.
- RAM
An 8GB DDR3L RAM is used on this Dell desktop.
Like the assessment on the CPU, this RAM is optimal if you’re running applications that do not require much memory capacity.
- Hard Drive
The 256GB SSD can offer an increased loading speed of your operating system and programs.
- Graphics Card
Intel HD 4000 Graphics is integrated into the Dell OptiPlex 3040 Micro PC Desktop.
This component allows you to view high-quality videos online and play low-resolution games.
Pros:
- Free mouse and keyboard
- Compact build
- Windows 10 Pro 64-bit installed
- Multi-language support
Cons:
- Video card not upgradable
- Price is not that reasonable
Conclusion
We picked the HP EliteDesk 800 G1 Small Form Factor as the best business desktop under 500 dollars.
While it shares similar components with the other PCs on this list, the impressive hard disk space made it stand out.
In any business, storage is essential because creating new documents and updating records is most likely unavoidable.
To top it off, it is offered at a lower price than others.