1st question: Are you tied to PC or Mac? A use Mac MIni M1 can handle audio perfectly well. I've seen 8GB/512 units used on Craigslist for $500.
Next Question: Do you want a laptop or a desktop?
Most desktops today have multiple USB ports, and are expandable. You can add an additional hard drive and some come with optical drives. I recently bought a Lenovo IdeaCentre 5i Desktop PC. 12th or 13th gen I5 processor, 12GB, 512SSD. I added 16GB more RAM and another 1TB SSD. It was $500 on sale, plus about $120 for the 2nd drive and extra memory. It's got 7 USB inputs and CD/DVD. That's about the same cost as an 8 bit Atari 800XL and floppy drive cost in the early 80s! A gaming computer generally includes a LOT of money on a big power supply and video card, which aren't really needed for audio. The on-board video processor on I5 and I7 processors are easily enough for running a DAW. 16 to 32GB is a nice spot for memory, especially if you run lots of virtual instruments. If you're just recording a couple of mics, say .. voice and guitar, you can get by with 8GB. Make sure you have an SSD, not a spinner.
Laptops are not going to be as expandable and won't have as many outputs. You can, of course, get a USB hub for about $30 to handle keyboard/mouse and CD burner. Many of the newer ones are not able to have an extra hard drive or memory added. The mobile processors often run at a lower base speed vs desktops. Still, most modern systems are very capable of handling audio recording. If you need to keep costs down, you can look at something like
an HP Elitebook 840 G5. You can get a refurbished unit for under $350. Make sure you get at least an 8th generation processor, so you can upgrade to Win 11 without issue.
I prefer a desktop machine for recording, but I've mixed down on my laptop without any issues. I have my interface on my desktop machine, and my larger monitors are connected to the interface. I always check things on my monitors and make adjustments based on that system.