WHAT'S HOT: Pairing a 2-GHz Pentium 4 processor with 256MB of RDRAM, our Apollo launched itself to a PC WorldBench 4 score of 109--the highest mark for similarly configured systems running Windows XP Professional.

Premio also included a high-end GeForce3 Ti 500-based graphics board (complete with S-Video and DVI output) and a speedy 24X/10X/40X Sony CD-RW drive--currently number eight on our Top 10 CD-RW Drives chart.

WHAT'S NOT: While this Premio system offers strong performance and decent components, its $1949 sticker price seems high for what you get.

WHAT ELSE: The bundled 19-inch Daewoo 905D monitor is serviceable, but not stellar. Text on our test document was readable, although individual characters and icons were fuzzy. In our graphics test, colors were a bit dull and flesh tones did not appear photo realistic.

The Premio keyboard includes 15 handy hot-keys for Internet and multimedia shortcuts. However, this flimsy keyboard's standard keys felt sluggish, and the backspace key is so small that its easy hit the wrong key while touch typing.

Accessing the interior for upgrades is fairly easy. The cabling is bundled together to make more room, although it still impedes access to the memory sockets and the four open bays (two for hard drives and two for removable-media drives). Two standard PCI slots are open and easy to reach.

While Premio includes detailed documentation for individual components, it no longer provides a printed system manual. A lengthy PDF version of the manual on CD contains excellent troubleshooting and upgrading information. However, it's of no help if your system is turned off or having problems booting up. And it would be a hassle (and expensive) to print out.

UPSHOT: This respectable system provides above-average performance and some room to grow, but we'd expect more for its steep price.

SUMMARY

Premio Apollo 850R PC WorldBench 4 score of 109, 2-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 256MB of RDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, Windows XP Professional, 60GB hard drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, NVidia GeForce 3 Ti 500-based graphics card with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 19-inch Daewoo 905D monitor, integrated sound, Altec Lansing AVS300W speakers, network adapter, V.90 modem, midsize tower case. 3-year parts warranty, 3-year labor warranty; free, one-year, 10-hour toll-free tech support. $1949 800/677-6477 www.premiopc.com