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Top 15 Desktop PCs

Alienware's new gaming system with a dual-core CPU lands atop the power side of our chart. Models from ABS, CyberPower, HP, and Micro Express also bow.

Dan Sommer

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Aurora 7500 PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0

Last Rated: July 27, 2005

1. Alienware Aurora 7500

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 X2 4800+ CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 20-inch BenQ LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon X850 XT graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $4041

Bottom Line: Pricey but speedy gaming system has a dual-core Athlon CPU, a large LCD, and SLI support.

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MTower SP PCW Rating: 86.1PCW Rating: 86.1PCW Rating: 86.1

Last Rated: June 06, 2005

2. Xi MTower SP

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 600GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch ViewSonic LCD, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, Price when ranked: $3662

Bottom Line: Gaming PC turned in highest-ever WorldBench 5 score. With 600GB of storage, it's worth the steep cost.

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Poly 939N-FX55 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

BEST BUY!

3. Polywell Poly 939N-FX55

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 148GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch ViewSonic CRT, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, 52X CD-RW drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2795

Bottom Line: Elegant-looking black-and-silver unit has top-notch performance; a CRT monitor keeps the price down.

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Ultimate M6 PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: March 31, 2005

4. ABS Ultimate M6

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch Samsung CRT, 256MB ATI Radeon X850 XT graphics, 16X DVD+RW DL drive, 16X DVD-ROM, Price when ranked: $3599

Bottom Line: Massive yet stylish gaming PC on wheels earned our second-best WorldBench 5 score. Comes in matte-silver case.

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Power 3460+ PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

5. Amax Power 3460+

3.46-GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch ADI LCD, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6600 GT graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM, Price when ranked: $3499

Bottom Line: Expensive system offers strong graphics performance and quality, as well as lots of interior space.

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MicroFlex 3464 PCW Rating: 75.0PCW Rating: 75.0PCW Rating: 75.0

Last Rated: June 23, 2005

6. Micro Express MicroFlex 3464

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 650 CPU, 400GB drive space, 19-inch ViewSonic LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon X850 graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, Price when ranked: $2299

Bottom Line: Plenty of pep for video editing and gaming, but overclocking to 3.67 GHz may cause problems down the line.

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HP Pavilion D4000e PCW Rating: 82.0PCW Rating: 82.0PCW Rating: 82.0

Last Rated: July 27, 2005

7. HP HP Pavilion D4000e

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 4000+ CPU, 400GB drive space, 17-inch HP LCD, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, 16X DVD-ROM, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2465

Bottom Line: Reasonably priced business tower is feature-packed. Multimedia DVD burner has HP's LightScribe disc labeling.

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Ultimate V2 PCW Rating: 74.0PCW Rating: 74.0PCW Rating: 74.0

Last Rated: July 27, 2005

8. ABS Ultimate V2

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, 200GB drive space, 17-inch Sony LCD, 128MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 GT graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, 16X DVD-ROM, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1599

Bottom Line: Brisk performance, dual DVD drives, and solid sound highlight this silver-and-black midsize tower.

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MicroFlex 35B PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0PCW Rating: 79.0

Last Rated: July 27, 2005

9. Micro Express MicroFlex 35B

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU, 250GB drive space, 17-inch LG LCD, 128MB Sapphire Atlantis Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1299

Bottom Line: Strong value and performance; midsize tower includes a dual-layer burner and top-mounted USB and audio ports.

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

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

10. Shuttle I 8600b

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

Bottom Line: Shoe-box-size unit provides almost everything in a compact space that a standard minitower does.

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Pavilion A1050y PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0PCW Rating: 77.0

Last Rated: June 21, 2005

11. HP Pavilion A1050y

3.6-GHz Pentium 4 560 CPU, 160GB drive space, 19-inch HP LCD, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, 48X CD-ROM drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1870

Bottom Line: Clean-looking system for home media and general computing tasks; includes LightScribe for labeling discs.

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

Last Rated: April 28, 2005

12. IBM ThinkCentre A50 Ultra Small Form Factor

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 40GB drive space, 17-inch IBM LCD, Integrated Intel 865G, 8X DVD-ROM/24X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1067

Bottom Line: Tool-less design and advanced security features distinguish this slim, good-looking, all-business (formerly IBM) model.

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Gamer Ultra 7500 SE PCW Rating: 85.0PCW Rating: 85.0PCW Rating: 85.0

Last Rated: July 27, 2005

13. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 SE

2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch ViewSonic LCD, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW DL drive, 16X DVD-ROM, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1075

Bottom Line: Jazzy neon-lit unit has an adjustable fan controller, a dual-layer optical writer, and a stellar LCD.

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

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

14. Gateway Profile 5.5C

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch Gateway LCD, Integrated ATI Radeon X300 LE graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, 24X CD-RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1885

Bottom Line: The only all-in-one system on our chart, the Profile is nicely designed and great for a limited space.

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ProMagix PCX PCW Rating: PCW Rating: PCW Rating:

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

15. Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 200GB drive space, 19-inch CTX CRT, 128MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1757

Bottom Line: Fast PC is very expandable, and the all-black aluminum case is attractive. But at this price, you deserve an LCD.

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

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