Honestly, you gotta look at single-core clock speeds above all else—that's what determines how many VSTs you can run on a single channel before you start getting those annoying pops and clicks. While DDR5 is cool, it's definitely not a dealbreaker for a budget build; you're better off putting that money into a better processor. If you want the best bang for your buck in that $500 range, check these out: - Beelink SER5 MAX - It's a mini PC but the Ryzen 5800H is a beast for multithreaded tasks in FL Studio.
- HP Victus Desktop - Sometimes goes on sale near $600 and gives you a dedicated GPU, which helps offload some UI rendering from the CPU.
- Apple Mac Mini M2 - If you can find a base model on sale or refurbished, the Core Audio drivers are way more stable than most budget Windows ASIO setups. Just make sure whatever you grab has enough USB ports for your interface and MIDI controllers. Running everything through a cheap hub can cause major DPC latency issues which totally ruins the workflow tho.

Honestly, while chasing specs is fun, you really need to think about long-term reliability so your system doesnt crash in the middle of a heavy mix. If youre on a strict budget, buying brand new consumer-grade stuff can be a bit risky because they often cut corners on the power supply and cooling. Personally, I think looking at business-class machines that are built to run 24/7 is the move for a home studio.

• Dell OptiPlex 7000 Tower
• Lenovo IdeaCentre 5i Desktop
• ASUS ExpertCenter D700 Tbh, whatever you choose, make sure the case has decent airflow. Heat is the number one killer of performance and parts in a small desktop. Also, maybe think about getting a small UPS later on to protect against power surges? It basically saves your motherboard and your work if the power flickers, which is a total life saver. It might put you at the top of your budget, but the peace of mind is worth it.

A $400-$600 PC can work for starting out, especially with lighter DAWs or fewer plugins/tracks. Prioritize a fast CPU (i5 or Ryzen 5 equivalent) and 16GB RAM (DDR4 is fine). An SSD (512GB minimum) is crucial for faster loading times. Check used/refurbished options for better specs in your budget.