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Top 15 Home PCs

Several systems make their debuts on our chart this month, including two new Pentium 4 machines.

By null, PCW Print   

New Pentium 4 systems from Gateway and IBM grab slots on our power chart, despite the fact that PCs using the 1.2-GHz Athlon processor--and even some with 1-GHz Athlons--turned in better PC WorldBench 2000 scores. All other performance features being equal, buyers of the new P4 will pay a large premium over existing Athlons and Pentium IIIs--for little (if any) speed gain.

To be fair, though, the power chart's new Gateway Performance 1500 and IBM NetVista A60i displayed some of the highest frame rates we've seen in our gaming tests. And both PCs bundle TV tuners and top-notch graphics cards with their systems, as well as plenty of storage options to satisfy home enthusiasts.

In the midrange section, three new Athlon-based machines displace older contenders. Of these, the $1999 Micron Millennia Max XP turned in the highest PC WorldBench 2000 score we've seen yet from a Windows Me system. However, it was still bested by the Dell Dimension 4100 PIII-933, whose superior graphics performance and exceptional reliability and service ratings keep it at the top of the midrange category.

The budget chart features a new value-laden unit, too--the Tiny Value 900A. For $999, this 900-MHz Athlon system comes with a dedicated graphics card that helps it outperform most other PCs in this category. It also has excellent documentation that makes setup a breeze.

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