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Among the FX-51's performance enhancements over previous AMD CPUs are a 1MB L2 cache (up from the Athlon XP's 512KB), a faster system bus, and an on-chip memory controller that eliminates the front-side bus. Even though no 64-bit operating system exists to help the processors achieve their full potential, they still provide an immediate boost for power users, and they shine running data-intensive tasks such as audio and video encoding and gaming.
Systems from ABS and Polywell join the Alienware Aurora Extreme, a top-notch entertainment desktop we reviewed last month, in the 64-bit club. Topping our power list, the ABS Awesome 6300 earned a screaming 142 on our PC WorldBench 4 tests, matching the highest score we've seen to date. The Awesome 6300 unit we tested aced our gaming tests, as well, with sky-high frame rates in Unreal Tournament 2003 (undoubtedly spurred by the included 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics board).
Slipping in at number six, the Polywell Poly 900NF3-FX1 was just as fast on our PC WorldBench 4 suite, equaling the 142 score of the Awesome 6300. Like the ABS, the Polywell's virtues don't stop with its processor; its 10,000-rpm enterprise-class SATA RAID hard drive setup provides 72GB of extremely fast primary storage in a striped RAID array. This Polywell also carried an extra, removable 250GB ATA 7200 hard drive with a convenient handle on the front that lets you easily remove the drive to lock up off-site for added security. Gainward's 256MB NVidia-based GeForce FX 5900 Ultra graphics board packed with our test unit helped the system turn in commendable speed performance on Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Unreal Tournament 2003 tests.
To read about innovative case features now appearing on other systems we've reviewed, see Tech Trend below.
The value side saw little movement this month because vendors discontinued the two new PCs we tested before our chart went to press. Gateway is scrapping the 500S-series system we reviewed--a 2.6-GHz Pentium 4 500S with a GeForce4 5200 graphics card and TV-out--and is replacing it with models from the new 510S series. The 510S has a sleeker case design that lacks the bulky door found on the front of 500S cases. We plan to review a 510S system for an upcoming chart. The other value newcomer, IBM's business-oriented ThinkCentre A50p, sports a 2.4-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, toolless hard drive access, and system management tools. Unfortunately, the configuration we looked at won't be available on IBM's site after December. A faster version of that model is still on sale, though.
You may consider a case to be no more than just a box to house your PC's internal components, but new designs and modifications allow you to personalize your system to make your computing experience a more enjoyable one. Cases come in a variety of colors and textures, from brushed aluminum to boring beige, though the latter is becoming something of a rarity. Some cases may be souped up with clear side panels and lights that illuminate your system's whirring fans and moving components. Rather than buy a case with all of its ports located on the back--which means you'll have to crawl behind your PC to connect your speakers, mouse, keyboard, and any USB and FireWire devices--think about buying a system with those ports on the front panel. The two cases shown below highlight some of the more recent innovations we've seen on desktop PCs.
Case innovations on HP's Pavilion A350n means that ports aren't hidden on the back; rather, everything is within reach on the case's front panel. Mounted on top is a camera dock, and toward the bottom is a door that opens to reveal headphone, audio, USB, and FireWire ports. Flash card readers are within easy reach as well. Click the image to see details.
Let there be light...inside your case. Seen through a clear window in the side panel of the ABS Awesome 6300, a rainbow light is attached to the case fan. The red, blue, and green light shines most brightly when the fan is running at its highest setting. A door near the bottom of the front panel reveals USB and FireWire ports. Click the image to view full-size.
--Alexandra Krasne
