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Top 15 Desktop PCs

This month, a couple of newcomers on the chart offer a compact footprint and stylish looks along with impressive power.

Melissa Perenson

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ABS Ultimate M6 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: May 24, 2004

1. ABS Ultimate M6

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 FX-53 CPU, Two 74GB RAID hard drives and a 250GB drive, 19-inch LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $4972,

Bottom Line: This system combines superior performance, graphics quality, and design--as you'd expect for just under $5000.

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Alienware Aurora Extreme PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: May 24, 2004

2. Alienware Aurora Extreme

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 FX-53 CPU, Two 74GB RAID hard drives and a 250GB drive, 22-inch CRT monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 48X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $4619,

Bottom Line: The first unit we've tested to reach 150 on PC WorldBench 4. The large, sci-fi-themed case has plenty of expansion room.

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Compaq Presario 8000Z PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: April 28, 2004

3. Compaq Presario 8000Z

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, Two 80GB RAID hard drives , 17-inch LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9600 Pro graphics, 8X DVD+RW and 48X CD-RW drives, Price when ranked: $2178,

Bottom Line: This newly configured 8000Z sped through our tests; but the model we reviewed lacked open drive bays to boost storage.

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Micro Express MicroFlex 34A PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

4. Micro Express MicroFlex 34A

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, 250GB hard drive, 19-inch LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2799,

Bottom Line: A generally well-equipped system, with USB ports on the top of its black chassis; however, it earned low scores for sound quality.

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ZT Group Ultimate PC A5230 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

5. ZT Group Ultimate PC A5230

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 FX-53 CPU, Two 80GB RAID hard drives , 19-inch CRT monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2799,

Bottom Line: Though dull looking for a gaming system, this PC earned top-notch scores in our graphics tests and delivered booming sound.

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Xi Computer MTower 64X PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

6. Xi Computer MTower 64X

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, Two 74GB RAID hard drives, 18-inch LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5950 Ultra graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 16X DVD-ROM drives , Price when ranked: $3399,

Bottom Line: System includes a pair of 10,000-rpm hard drives and has plenty of open bays for future expansion.

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Shuttle Computer XPC G4 8520 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

7. Shuttle Computer XPC G4 8520

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, Two 74GB RAID hard drives, 17-inch LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, Price when ranked: $3000,

Bottom Line: Shoebox-size PC is less expandable than competing towers but gives away nothing in speed; its mirrored front panel looks chic.

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Dell Dimension 4600 PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0

Last Rated: February 26, 2004

8. Dell Dimension 4600

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM and 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1129 ,

Bottom Line: This well-appointed Dell offers fine performance for its configuration; an LCD and good speakers sweeten the deal.

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Gateway 510XL PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: April 28, 2004

9. Gateway 510XL

3-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 160GB hard drive, 15-inch LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5200 G graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1400,

Bottom Line: Nicely configured machine can handle basic text and spreadsheet documents, as well as multimedia presentations.

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Dell Dimension 2400 PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0

Last Rated: March 29, 2004

10. Dell Dimension 2400

2.67-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 80GB hard drive, 19-inch CRT monitor, Integrated Intel 845GL graphics, 16X DVD-ROM and 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $699,

Bottom Line: A large CRT monitor and a generous, home-oriented software bundle highlight this bargain system.

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iBuyPower Back To School PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

11. iBuyPower Back To School

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, 80GB hard drive, 19-inch CRT monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1694,

Bottom Line: This system's high-flying performance makes it an appealing choice; outlandish front panel might give even gamers pause, though.

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Sony VAIO PCV-RS520 PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0

Last Rated: May 24, 2004

12. Sony VAIO PCV-RS520

3-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 160GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9200 graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1599,

Bottom Line: System with stylish design and competitive performance are undermined by inferior keyboard and tinny sound system.

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Velocity Micro Vision 64 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: May 24, 2004

13. Velocity Micro Vision 64

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3400+ CPU, 200GB hard drive, 19-inch CRT monitor, 128MB EVGA GeForce FX 5900XT graphics, 8X DVD±RW and 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when rated: $1739,

Bottom Line: This PC has a stylish case and very tidy interior. It is one of the fastest budget systems we've seen.

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Sys Technology Sys Performance 3200+/64 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

14. Sys Technology Sys Performance 3200+/64

2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB PNY FX5900SE graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1795,

Bottom Line: Nondescript black tower has a terrific software bundle and an attractive balance of features, speed, and price.

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ABS Harmony 1000 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: July 02, 2004

15. ABS Harmony 1000

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 80GB hard drive, 17-inch LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9600 XT graphics, 16X DVD-ROM and 52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1499,

Bottom Line: Minitower sports a sleek look and front-mounted CD audio controls, but it lacks open drive bays and memory slots.

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All systems are tested or retested under our PC WorldBench 4 test suite.

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