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Space-Saving PCs Big on Value

Shuttle, Dell, and Gateway earn Best Buys in the mini-box system,thin-profile system, and all-in-one system categories, respectively, proving that more than one shape can meet your needs for a small computer.

Dan Sommer

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I 8600b PCW Rating: 72.0PCW Rating: 72.0PCW Rating: 72.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

1. Shuttle I 8600b

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 320GB drive space, 17-inch Shuttle LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1611

Bottom Line: This small, elegant system--packed with almost everything a larger PC offers--provides strong value and performance.

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1.25GHz Mac Mini Desktop (1.25GHz PowerPC G4, 256MB, 40GB, DVD?RW, Mac OS X) PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

2. Apple 1.25GHz Mac Mini Desktop (1.25GHz PowerPC G4, 256MB, 40GB, DVD?RW, Mac OS X)

1.25-GHz PowerPC G4 CPU, 40GB drive space, Monitor not included, Integrated ATI Radeon 9200 graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/24X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $574

Bottom Line: The attractive Mac Mini is quiet, well-equipped, and easy to set up. We can imagine it working where other PCs won't go.

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OptiPlex SX280 PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated: April 28, 2005

3. Dell OptiPlex SX280

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 80GB drive space, 17-inch Dell LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 24X CD-RW drive, Price when rated: $1403

Bottom Line: The top performer among our thin systems--nicely designed, versatile, and reasonably priced.

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ThinkCentre A50 Ultra Small Form Factor PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 28, 2005

4. IBM ThinkCentre A50 Ultra Small Form Factor

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 40GB drive space, 17-inch IBM LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 865GV graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/24X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1295

Bottom Line: This easy-to-use system is the least-expensive Windows machine in our roundup. It's also moderately expandable.

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E-4300 SB PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

5. Gateway E-4300 SB

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch Gateway LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1408

Bottom Line: Gateways' corporate model is the most expandable small PC we tested, with an open 3.25-inch drive bay and an open PCI slot.

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dc7100 Ultra-Slim Desktop PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

6. HP dc7100 Ultra-Slim Desktop

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 80GB drive space, 17-inch HP LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915GV graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/24X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1502

Bottom Line: At 3 inches high, this HP is the thinnest thin-profile PC here, yet it has plenty of USB ports plus a free PCI card slot.

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Profile 5.5C PCW Rating: 69.0PCW Rating: 69.0PCW Rating: 69.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

7. Gateway Profile 5.5C

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 160GB drive space, Integrated 17-inch Gateway LCD monitor, Integrated ATI Radeon X300 LE graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, Price when rated: $1885

Bottom Line: Gateway's innovative design offers stability and makes the ports and drive in this all-in-one easy to reach.

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VAIO V520G Desktop PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

8. Sony VAIO V520G Desktop

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 250GB drive space, Integrated 20-inch Sony LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX Go 5700 graphics, DVD+R dual layer/ 8X DVD±RW drive, Price when rated: $2699

Bottom Line: Top performance in a small system, along with generous drive space and a 20-inch monitor, lead to high style--and a high price.

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ClientPro 414 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

9. MPC (Micron PC) ClientPro 414

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 80GB drive space, Integrated 17-inch MPC LCD monitor, 64MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/24X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1799

Bottom Line: Good-looking machine shows crisp text and makes a fine impression but doesn't quite match the leaders.

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PS1500M PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

10. Pelham Sloane PS1500M

1.7-GHz Pentium M 735 CPU, 80GB drive space, Integrated 15-inch Pelham LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 855GM graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, Price when rated: $2548

Bottom Line: Niche system with touch screen would fit well in a kitchen or other small location, but is quite expensive

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

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