Barebones PCs: All the Essentials at the Right Price

Barebones PCs, also known as barebones desktops or barebones kits, offer a practical and value packed way to get started with a custom PC build. These slim, stripped down mini PCs include a computer case, power supply, and motherboard, with some or all other parts omitted. The idea is to provide just the basics of a functional computer system so you can customize the rest with anything on your wish list.

A barebones PC can be a great choice for a lot of different use cases, including small form factor PCs, basic desktop computers for students and professionals, test platforms for components and build ideas, personal media servers, and network attached storage or NAS devices for homes and offices, utility PCs for point of sale systems, office servers, security systems, IoT stations for homes and small businesses, and more.

You will find barebones models in all kinds of configurations, from basic office machines to the chassis of a high performance gaming PC - all of which are available from Micro Center

Choosing a Barebones PC

First, look at the specs of what a barebones computer provides out of the box. As mentioned before, almost all models include a case, motherboard, and power supply, so look at the relevant specs for these parts and decide if they will meet your needs.

For example, does the motherboard include enough USB and HDMI ports and PCIe slots, and is it compatible with Intel or AMD Ryzen CPUs? Check out the power supply, too - is it rated to provide enough wattage for the GPU you want to use? It’s always a good idea to choose your GPU in advance, especially if you want to use a demanding next gen model. Is there room to add case fans, or is the case designed for fanless builds? All of these questions will affect which other components you can add.

What Components Should Your Barebones PC Have

Pay attention to what does and does not come with the PC. Typically, a barebones PC comes with a CPU, which will often have an integrated graphics system such as AMD Radeon or Intel UHD graphics. Barebones systems almost never include discrete graphics cards, and many of the smaller barebones mini PC models don’t have space to accommodate a discrete GPU easily.

Most barebones PCs also do not include any kind of permanent storage memory or RAM. Check how many SATA and M.2 NVMe SSD connectors the motherboard provides for attaching SSDs and HDDs.

It is also important to note how many gigabytes of RAM your barebones PC can accommodate and how many memory slots for RAM modules are available. Verify whether it supports DDR4 or the next gen DDR5 RAM, as any given motherboard is compatible with only one RAM generation. Remember that most barebones PCs also do not come with an operating system, so leave room for a copy of Windows 11 or whatever other OS you want to use in your budget.

Finally, as with any electronics purchase, remember that it is often a smart call to look for a vendor warranty on your barebones PC.

Connections and Controls

Check to determine whether the motherboard of a barebones PC already has a WiFi module installed or if you’ll need to purchase and install your own. If the motherboard already has WiFi, remember to look for the version, too, such as WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E. Many WiFi adapters also include Bluetooth, which can be a must have if you want to use a wireless mouse, keyboard, or other cord free peripherals.

Check out Micro Center's lineup of barebones desktop PCs here and find the best prices on these lean machines. Looking for something that is fully ready to rock out of the box? Browse our selection of prebuilt PCs and all in ones for plug and play deals.