ABS Performance VL

This ABS of steel will set you back a few, but its multimedia and performance are worth the price.

WHAT'S HOT: Packed with a PIII-700 CPU and a massive 256MB of RAM, the ABS Performance VL earned a PC WorldBench 2000 score of 151, the highest we've seen for a Windows 98 machine with a PIII-700 CPU. The 19-inch ADI MicroScan 6P monitor produced crisp text, even at 1600 by 1200 resolution, though colors looked slightly washed out. The Creative Labs Live Drive takes up an external drive bay and provides external ports for audio input and export, but that still leaves two bays and four slots open (three PCI, one ISA). You can access interior parts easily. We originally evaluated this system with PC WorldBench 98, but we have since retested it with PC WorldBench 2000 and reconfirmed its configuration with the vendor. --Editors

WHAT'S NOT: During our tests, we noticed slight pauses in DVD video playback on the 8X DVD-ROM drive when we opened other applications.

WHAT ELSE: The Performance VL's price of $2199 makes it one of the least-expensive systems on this month's chart, though it is still pricey for a PIII-700 system. A large binder holds all of the documentation.

BEST USE: For a power user interested in gaming or audio manipulation, the ABS Performance VL is a good deal.

SUMMARY

ABS Performance VL

PC WorldBench 2000 score of 151, Pentium III-700 CPU, 256MB of SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, 27.3GB hard drive, Windows 98 SE, ATI Rage Fury Maxx graphics card with 64MB of SDRAM, 19-inch monitor, 8X DVD-ROM drive, 4X/4X/32X CD-RW drive, V.90 modem, integrated Crystal Audio, Cambridge SoundWorks FPS2000 Digital speakers, Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition; 3-year parts warranty, lifetime labor warranty, free unlimited support, 24/7 toll-free support.

$2199
800/876-8088
www.buyabs.com

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