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Top 15 Desktop PCs

Speed demons and stylish entertainment systems premiere.

Sean Captain

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Awesome 6300 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 02, 2003

1. 3Dlabs Awesome 6300

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 FX-51 CPU, Two 120GB hard drives configured as RAID 0, 19-inch LCD monitor, 256MB Sapphire Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when ranked: $3599

Bottom Line: This ABS machine is one of the fastest systems we've tested with business applications and games.

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Micro Express Microflex 64KB PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 18, 2003

2. Micro Express Micro Express Microflex 64KB

2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 19-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD-R/RW drive, 52X/24X/52X CD-RW drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when ranked: $1999

Bottom Line: This 64-bit PC sped through PC WorldBench 4, and it's a bargain for a model with a 19-inch LCD and a fast graphics card.

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Performance 64 3400+ PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

3. Sys Technology Performance 64 3400+

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, Two 120GB hard drives configured as RAID 0, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB PNY Verto GeForce FX 5700 Ultra graphics, 4X DVD±RW drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when ranked: $3340

Bottom Line: One of the fastest systems we've tested, this industrial-black Sys came with a fantastic-sounding audio system.

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Dimension 8300 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

4. Dell Dimension 8300

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 250GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 8X DVD+R/RW drive, 48X/24X/48X CD-RW drive, Price when ranked: $2899 (With Dell E-Value code 6V411-D83REV)

Bottom Line: Well-equipped for handling media, this 8300 includes a monster 250GB hard drive, our current Best Buy 17-inch LCD monitor, and a very satisfying sound system.

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Poly 900NF3-FX1 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 02, 2003

5. Polywell Poly 900NF3-FX1

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 FX-51 CPU, Two 36GB hard drives configured as RAID 0, one 250GB hard drive., 19-inch CRT monitor, 256MB Gainward FX PowerPack Ultra/1600 XP graphics, 4X DVD±RW drive, 52X/24X/52X CD-RW drive, Price when ranked: $3199

Bottom Line: Acing our gaming tests with sky-high frame rates in Unreal Tournament 2003, this PC ties for fastest model on our chart.

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ABS Awesome 5500 Extreme PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 31, 2004

6. ABS ABS Awesome 5500 Extreme

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 Extreme CPU, 160GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 4X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when ranked: $3299

Bottom Line: System uses Intel's game-centric CPU. It produced top-notch frame rates in gaming tests, but the monitor was mediocre.

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X09 Gaming PC PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

7. Compaq X09 Gaming PC

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, Two 120GB hard drives configured as RAID 0, 17-inch LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5950 Ultra graphics, 4X DVD+R/RW, 48X/24X/48X CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when ranked: $3326

Bottom Line: Compaq's aluminum-clad game machine looks impressive, but it trails other contenders in performance. This fixed-configuration system is available only at CompUSA.

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Dimensions 4600 (2.8GHz) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

8. Dell Dimensions 4600 (2.8GHz)

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 48X/24X/48X CD-RW drive, Price when rated: $1139 (With Dell E-Value code 6V411-460RPW)

Bottom Line: Well-appointed, this Dell offers fine performance for its configuration, plus an attractive, basic LCD and good speakers.

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Vaio PCV RS530G PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

9. Sony Vaio PCV RS530G

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 160GB hard drive, 15-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9200, 4X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SmartMedia), Price when rated: $1850

Bottom Line: Sony's media PC is loaded with amenities for watching and recording television, playing music, and working with digital images.

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HP Business Desktop D330 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 18, 2003

10. Hewlett-Packard HP Business Desktop D330

3-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 80GB hard drive, 15-inch LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 48X/24X/48X CD-RW/DVD-ROM combo drive, Price when rated: $1571

Bottom Line: Business system is easy to set up, and its DVD playback and sound system performed well in our tests.

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Microflex 3000D PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 31, 2004

11. Micro Express Microflex 3000D

2.17-GHz Athlon XP 3000+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 15-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9600 Pro graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X/24X/52X CD-RW combo drive, flash media reader (CompactFlash I/II, Memory Stick, SD card/MultiMediaCard, SmartMedia), Price when rated: $1198

Bottom Line: Nicely designed tall black tower is highly expandable and functional; graphics performance is middling.

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NuTrend Kila 2 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 18, 2003

12. NuTrend NuTrend Kila 2

1.83-GHz Athlon XP 2500+ CPU, 80GB hard drive, 17-inch CRT monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 52X/32X/52X CD-RW drive, Price when rated: $899

Bottom Line: Light on the extras, this sub-$1000 budget PC is an excellent choice for the casual gamer and multimedia dabbler.

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Poly900VF PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 31, 2004

13. Polywell Poly900VF

2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 80GB hard drive, 17-inch CRT monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 52X/24X/52X CD-RW drive, Price when rated: $1250

Bottom Line: Fastest PC on our value chart when running productivity applications, but graphics performance was disappointing.

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Dream2004PC PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 31, 2004

14. IBuyPower Dream2004PC

3-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 19-inch CRT monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 4X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, Price when rated: $1179

Bottom Line: Has the look of a gaming machine, with a fancy front panel and side window. But it had low frame rates in our tests.

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310X PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

15. Gateway 310X

2.6-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 40GB hard drive, 17-inch CRT monitor, Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics (845GV) graphics using main memory, 16X DVD-ROM/48X/24X/48X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $760

Bottom Line: Well-priced, the 310X is a good candidate for a starter system or for an extra, basic workstation.

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All systems are tested or retested under our PC WorldBench 4 test suite.

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