Acer Veriton VM460-UD2180C Value Desktop PC
At a Glance
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Acer Veriton VM460-UD2180C
Basic system boasts more expansion room than most value PCs, but isn't as fully loaded as competing models that cost less.
If you're looking for a basic desktop computer with lots of expandability options, the $748 (as of 2/7/08) Acer Veriton VM460-UD2180C has more growth potential than most budget desktops.
This PC houses a generous total of eight drive bays,
You do get an elegant Acer p223W 22-inch LCD (1680 by 1050 native resolution), with both DVI and VGA inputs. Although the VM460 we tested lacked a digital video output, the LCD displayed sharp text and fine color-quality images using a VGA connection.
The VM460 is powered by a 2-GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2180 processor with two 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2 modules mounted on an Acer EG31M motherboard with integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics.
In its WorldBench 6 Beta 2 productivity tests, the VM460's score of 66, though very good for a value system, is about 10 percent lower than the average of the other budget desktops we tested in this roundup. Its performance in the Adobe Photoshop CS2 and Nero image burning components of the test suite were the lowest in our sub-$750 value PC group. Not surprisingly, the
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The standard-issue keyboard works fine but lacks shortcut keys, and the archaic ball mouse is not as easy to use as the optical variety. The quick-start documentation that Acer provides for the system and the LCD is useful, but more detailed information on upgrading the
If upgradability is what you want in a value system, the Veriton VM460's well-engineered case design provides room for more drive bays than any of the other PCs we tested. But the steep price for this relatively unpopulated system makes it difficult to recommend if you want a PC that's really ready to roll as soon as you open the box.
--Richard Jantz






























