Quantcast
Subscribe to magazine

Top 15 Desktops

Gaming machines from Alienware, ABS, and CyberPower enter both the power and value sides of our chart this month.

Dan Sommer

Compare ProductsCheck boxes to
Aurora 64 FX-55 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

1. Alienware Aurora 64 FX-55

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch NEC LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3699

Bottom Line: Blazing performance pushes this well-equipped, nicely-priced gaming system to the top of the chart.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Ultimate M5-64 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

2. ABS Ultimate M5-64

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 148GB (RAID), 200GB drive space, 19-inch Samsung LCD monitor, 256MB EVGA-E GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3899

Bottom Line: Loaded system has industrial-strength metal case and liquid-cooled CPU. Three hard drives in this configuration.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Dimension 8400 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

3. Dell Dimension 8400

3.6-GHz Pentium 4 560 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID) , 19-inch Dell LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 16X DVD+RW, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when ranked: $2999

Bottom Line: Quickest Pentium system on the chart; powerful graphics and attractive LCD are a winning combo.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
DHS-5 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 06, 2004

4. Alienware DHS-5

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU, 250GB drive space, 30-inch BenQ LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD±RW/-RAM drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5578

Bottom Line: Our favorite Media Center PC in a stereo-component style; terrific LCD TV accounts for $3450 of the price.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
MicroFlex 38A PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: October 05, 2004

5. Micro Express MicroFlex 38A

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 3800+ CPU, 250GB drive space, 19-inch ViewSonic LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 12X DVD±RW, 52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2699

Bottom Line: Not the most interesting design, but it runs fast, sounds great, and displays impressive graphics.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Polywell Poly 939VF-FX53 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: October 05, 2004

6. Polywell Polywell Poly 939VF-FX53

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 FX-53 CPU, 148GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch AOC CRT monitor, 256MB EVGA-E GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 8X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2995

Bottom Line: Has top-notch performance, but we would have expected better than a 19-inch CRT at this price.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Media Center PC M1050y PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 06, 2004

7. HP Media Center PC M1050y

3.8-GHz Pentium 4 570 CPU, 400GB drive space, 23-inch HP LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5025

Bottom Line: Ultimate home system comes with slot for removable hard drive. Wide-screen LCD adds $2000 to the total.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
MediaMax PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 10, 2004

8. Sys Technology MediaMax

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch Planar LCD monitor, 128MB PNY Verto GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1445

Bottom Line: Looks more like a stereo component than a PC; has stand-alone radio, DVD, and CD options.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
ThinkCentre A51P PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

9. IBM ThinkCentre A51P

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch ThinkVision LCD monitor, 64MB ATI Radeon X300 Pro graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1627

Bottom Line: Tool-less design and advanced security features distinguish this good-looking, all-business black tower.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Dimension 4700 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

10. Dell Dimension 4700

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch Dell LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1299

Bottom Line: Fine for both home and business computing; one of the first value PCs with the new PCI Express bus.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Kloss i915B PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

11. Amax Kloss i915B

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 520 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch AG Neovo LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce PCX 5750-based graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1649

Bottom Line: Shoebox system with excellent design will look terrific in any setting; see-through speakers match well.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
M3Director 5100 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: December 09, 2004

12. Medion M3Director 5100

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 200GB drive space, 19-inch Medion LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5300-based graphics, 12X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1599

Bottom Line: This nicely-equipped, bargain-priced Media Center entertainment system is sold though Costco and Best Buy.

Full Review • Test Report •
Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

13. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch AOpen LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5700LE-based graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $999

Bottom Line: Funky-looking system includes top-mounted USB and audio ports and pop-up status panel.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
Bot PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: November 01, 2004

14. Alienware Bot

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch NEC LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1469

Bottom Line: Compact business PC has tool-less servicing and case lock, but room for future expansion is especially limited.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices
MiniBox PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

15. Polywell MiniBox

2-GHz Athlon 64 3000+ CPU, 160GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch AOC CRT monitor, 128MB ChainTech SA5900X graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1250

Bottom Line: Shoebox system is quick and attractively configured for its size; expansion options are extremely limited.

Full Review • Test Report • Check latest prices

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

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No