The PCs in the accompanying chart represent some genuine bargains. But don't turn your nose up at a non-Intel processor. Make sure your vendor doesn't pair your new CPU with an obsolete motherboard that won't allow for upgrades. The minimum to run today's Windows apps is 32M, and 64M is better. Most PC motherboards, even at the lower end of the price scale, accommodate either synchronous DRAM or extended data out RAM chips.
RAM is cheap and one of the best things to add for enhancing a PC's performance.
More than 64M of RAM may be overkill for running typical office applications, however. Size isn't all that matters in a hard drive. Large 3.2G and 4.3G drives are rapidly replacing 2.1G drives. If your PC motherboard allows for one, a 4.3G Ultra ATA or DMA drive is a better performance buy than a 4.3G EIDE drive. Not only is the viewing area small, but it can be uncomfortable.