Alex Cocilova

Digital Storm has released another iteration of its ODE desktop, the ODE Level 4. At $3499 (as of March 27, 2012), the price tag rivals those of most of the top performance desktops--but does this PC have the chops to rank among the best? According to our tests, it does.

The Level 4 carries a lightning-fast Intel Core i7-3930K CPU that runs at 4.6GHz, as well as 16GB of DDR3 RAM. This system flew through our WorldBench 6 benchmark, earning an impressive mark of 213. In comparison, the original Digital Storm ODE posted a score of 198 in July 2011. The quicker processor and generous amounts of RAM allowed the ODE Level 4 to breach the 200 mark.

The Polywell Ignition X7900i-3960 boasts powerful hardware in an imposing package. But it certainly spares no expense, at $4599 (as of February 1, 2012). Does the cost add up? Let’s find out.

The Ignition is packed to the brim with power, starting with the Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme processor. That’s a $1000 CPU, which alone accounts for almost a quarter of the cost of the machine. The X7900i-3960 pulled off a score of 206 in our WorldBench 6 benchmark suite. Polywell left the CPU running at the CPU’s stock frequency of 3.3GHz, which leaves any overclocking in your hands.

This new AVADirect X79 Silent Gaming PC may be a bit of a bore on the outside, but crack open the case, and you will see where that $3000 (as of November 21, 2011) price tag comes from.

The star of the show is its six-core Intel Core i7-3930K. It sits in the middle of the Sandy Bridge Extreme Edition lineup, sporting a base clock speed of 3.2GHz. The processor alone will set you back $555, but thanks to the unlocked CPU cores (and with the aid of liquid cooling), AVADirect managed to comfortably overclock the processor to 4.5GHz.

It is rare to find an all-in-one desktop that can be compared to a gaming machine, but Lenovo took on the challenge with the IdeaCentre B520 (listed, as configured, at $1799, as of 10/13/2011). Is it possible to deliver a smooth gaming performance with a svelte system? Let's check under the hood to find out.

The IdeaCentre sports an Intel Core i7-2600 (Sandy Bridge) processor, clocked at 3.4GHz. A total of 8GB of DDR3 RAM backs up the CPU's speed, so you aren't likely to be hampered when running programs and games. Overall, the IdeaCentre B520 scored a 156 on our Worldbench 6 Test Suite--a record for the all-in-one PC category.

WarFactory is a new entrant to our performance PC category, and it offers a wide variety of options, both for those new to PC gaming and for the hardcore set. Its Sentinel is an entry-level model that offers a fair measure of gaming prowess at a very reasonable price.

Our review unit, at just $1190 as configured (price as of October 11, 2011), doesn't have anything too fast or flashy, but you will find adequate power to play just about anything out there at a beautiful resolution. The Sentinel contains a Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition CPU running at a stock 3.2GHz. The Phenom II line still proves to be AMD's strongest chip to date, even though it is a little on the older side. In addition, the Black Edition provides an unlocked core primed and ready for some overclocking--with proper cooling of course.

Digital Storm has produced some slick and powerful machines in the past, but the ODE may be the best buy of them all.

Priced at $1499 (as of July 25, 2011)--and encased in a glossy white, slightly rounded case that would look right at home at Aperture Science--the unit is a bargain for performance PC enthusiasts. Digital Storm didn't cut any discernible corners in cutting the price.

We expect certain characteristics from a performance desktop: speed, a lofty price tag, and a commanding presence in a room. Oh, and an enthusiastic moniker. The Digital Storm Special|Ops Dreadnought is more than happy to hit all of these notes.

Priced at $2905 (as of June 13, 2011), the appropriately named Dreadnought is intimidating in stature, standing roughly 2 feet tall and almost 2 feet deep in a Cooler Master 942 HAF X chassis--you'll find it hard to walk into a room and miss this machine.

Editor's Note: Sometimes, numbers just don't seem quite right. We took another look at our data, and after a bit of troubleshooting and testing, collected fresh gaming results. The F131 Super Stock ultimately earned 199.8 frames per second on our Unreal Tournament Benchmark (it previously earned 131.1 frames per second), right in line with our SLI expectations.