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Top 15 Desktops

Gaming machines from Alienware, ABS, and CyberPower enter both the power and value sides of our chart this month.

Dan Sommer

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Alienware Aurora 64 FX-55 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

1. Alienware Aurora 64 FX-55

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch NEC LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3699,

Bottom Line: Blazing performance pushes this well-equipped, nicely-priced gaming system to the top of the chart.

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ABS Ultimate M5-64 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

2. ABS Ultimate M5-64

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 148GB (RAID), 200GB drive space, 19-inch Samsung LCD monitor, 256MB EVGA-E GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3899,

Bottom Line: Loaded system has industrial-strength metal case and liquid-cooled CPU. Three hard drives in this configuration.

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Dell Dimension 8400 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

3. Dell Dimension 8400

3.6-GHz Pentium 4 560 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID) , 19-inch Dell LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 16X DVD+RW, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when ranked: $2999,

Bottom Line: Quickest Pentium system on the chart; powerful graphics and attractive LCD are a winning combo.

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Alienware DHS 5 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: December 06, 2004

4. Alienware DHS 5

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU, 250GB drive space, 30-inch BenQ LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD±RW/-RAM drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5578,

Bottom Line: Our favorite Media Center PC in a stereo-component style; terrific LCD TV accounts for $3450 of the price.

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Micro Express MicroFlex 38A PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: October 05, 2004

5. Micro Express MicroFlex 38A

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 3800+ CPU, 250GB drive space, 19-inch ViewSonic LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 12X DVD±RW, 52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2699,

Bottom Line: Not the most interesting design, but it runs fast, sounds great, and displays impressive graphics.

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Polywell Poly 939VF-FX53 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: October 05, 2004

6. Polywell Poly 939VF-FX53

2.4-GHz Athlon 64 FX-53 CPU, 148GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch AOC CRT monitor, 256MB EVGA-E GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 8X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2995,

Bottom Line: Has top-notch performance, but we would have expected better than a 19-inch CRT at this price.

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HP Media Center PC M1050y PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: December 06, 2004

7. HP Media Center PC M1050y

3.8-GHz Pentium 4 570 CPU, 400GB drive space, 23-inch HP LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5025,

Bottom Line: Ultimate home system comes with slot for removable hard drive. Wide-screen LCD adds $2000 to the total.

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Sys Technology MediaMax PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: December 10, 2004

8. Sys Technology MediaMax

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch Planar LCD monitor, 128MB PNY Verto GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1445,

Bottom Line: Looks more like a stereo component than a PC; has stand-alone radio, DVD, and CD options.

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IBM ThinkCentre A51p PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

9. IBM ThinkCentre A51p

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch ThinkVision LCD monitor, 64MB ATI Radeon X300 Pro graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1627,

Bottom Line: Tool-less design and advanced security features distinguish this good-looking, all-business black tower.

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Dell Dimension 4700 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

10. Dell Dimension 4700

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch Dell LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1299,

Bottom Line: Fine for both home and business computing; one of the first value PCs with the new PCI Express bus.

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Amax Kloss i915B PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

11. Amax Kloss i915B

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 520 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch AG Neovo LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce PCX 5750-based graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1649,

Bottom Line: Shoebox system with excellent design will look terrific in any setting; see-through speakers match well.

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Medion M3Director 5100 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: December 09, 2004

12. Medion M3Director 5100

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 200GB drive space, 19-inch Medion LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5300-based graphics, 12X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1599,

Bottom Line: This nicely-equipped, bargain-priced Media Center entertainment system is sold though Costco and Best Buy.

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CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

13. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch AOpen LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5700LE-based graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $999,

Bottom Line: Funky-looking system includes top-mounted USB and audio ports and pop-up status panel.

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Alienware Bot PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: November 01, 2004

14. Alienware Bot

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch NEC LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1469,

Bottom Line: Compact business PC has tool-less servicing and case lock, but room for future expansion is especially limited.

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Polywell Mini-Box 900VX-3000 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: August 23, 2004

15. Polywell Mini-Box 900VX-3000

2-GHz Athlon 64 3000+ CPU, 160GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch AOC CRT monitor, 128MB ChainTech SA5900X graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1250,

Bottom Line: Shoebox system is quick and attractively configured for its size; expansion options are extremely limited.

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

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