HP Pavilion P7-1231 Desktop PC

Big 1TB hard drive. Intel Core i3 CPU and 8GB of RAM. 802.11n Wi-Fi included

Short trial-period on security software. Too much needless bloatware. No HDMI, eSATA, or USB 3.0 ports

The HP Pavilion p7-1030 is a mid-range desktop that gives you an Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM, a full terabyte of storage space, and room to grow with an upgrade or two.

Intel Core i5 processor. Big 1TB hard drive. Wi-Fi-enabled. 180-day trial of Norton Internet Security 2012. Costco offers 2-year warranty

No USB 3.0. Integrated graphics. Uninspired design

The HP Pavilion p7-1187c has a few extras that aren't always available at this price, like an Intel Core i5 processor, a 1 TB hard drive, and six months of security.

Large 25-inch monitor included. Big 1TB hard drive. Wired keyboard and mouse bundled in. Integrated Wi-Fi. Minimal bloatware. External speakers and video cables bundled in

Two DIMM slots and 300 watt power supply limit future expansion. No HDMI, USB 3.0, or eSATA on board

The HP Pavilion p7-1167cb is a no-muss, no-fuss desktop and monitor bundle that's perfect for the home—and its Core i5 processor is built to last for a few good years before it noticeably starts to slow.

Reasonably priced. 1TB hard drive. Wi-Fi enabled

No USB 3.0. Integrated graphics. Uninspired design

The HP Pavilion p7-1110 is an appealing—though generic looking—entry-level desktop that gives you an Intel Core i3 processor with 6GB of RAM, a full terabyte of storage space, and even room for upgrades.

Integrated Wi-Fi. Big 1.5TB hard drive. Core i3 CPU and 8GB of memory is a great hardware combination for day-to-day productivity needs. Wired keyboard and mouse included

Bloatware. No eSATA, USB 3.0, or HDMI video ports. Core i3 isn't DirectX 11-ready

The HP Pavilion p7-1120 is a solid replacement for your dated, seven-year-old desktop. Its creature comforts, like integrated Wi-Fi, will keep mainstream users happy, and the Core i3 CPU and 8GB of RAM hardware combo is sufficient for running through...

AMD Llano APU outmatches Intel's integrated graphics in gaming. Beats audio. USB 3.0 onboard. Integrated Wi-Fi. Big 1TB hard drive

AMD Llano APU was slow in day-to-day productivity tests. No HDMI video output. Bloatware

The HP Pavilion p7-1126s desktop will treat you well if your needs don't go beyond Web browsing and gaming, but at the first sign of CPU-intensive tasks, like video encoding or Photoshop editing, its AMD Llano APU slows considerably.

Big 1TB hard drive. USB 3.0 ports on board. Lots of room for upgrades

AMD Llano APU provides lackluster performance compared with its Intel-equipped competitors. Wired USB keyboard and optical mouse. No gaming capability

The HP Pavilion p7-1154 is affordable, but the AMD hardware used here doesn't fare well when compared to Intel-equipped competitors.

Speedy for everyday productivity/media tasks ; Lots of RAM for price ; Excellent expansion options

Light on ports, especially USB ; Power supply limits certain upgrades ; Heavy on the bloatware

This under-$600 Pavilion model is a good fit for those looking for an inexpensive, upgradable PC that won't get bogged down by everyday computing tasks. (Just be prepared to spend time uninstalling unnecessary software.)