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Top 15 Desktops

Two systems from Gateway and Velocity Micro enter the value side of our chart this month.

Eric Butterfield

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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, Two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch NEC LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3846,

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, Two 74GB RAID and one 200GB hard drives, 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 PC has an industrial-strength metal case and a 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, Two 160GB RAID hard drives, 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 an 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 hard drive, 30-inch BenQ LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD±RW/-RAM drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5835,

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 hard drive, 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, Two 74GB RAID hard drives, 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: $2880,

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, Fixed 250GB and removable 160GB hard drives, 23-inch HP LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $5010,

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 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch Planar LCD monitor, 128MB PNY Verto GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1345,

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 hard drive, 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 hard drive, 17-inch Dell LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when rated: $1299,

Bottom Line: Improved graphics and sound, plus faster RAM, make update of past Best Buy suit both home and business.

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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 hard drive, 17-inch AG Neovo LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce PCX 5750 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1649,

Bottom Line: Sleek, stylish shoe-box system will appear terrific in any setting; see-through speakers match well.

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

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

12. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch AOpen LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5700LE 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

13. Alienware Bot

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch NEC LCD monitor, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1441,

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

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Gateway 5200XL PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

14. Gateway 5200XL

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 200GB hard drive, 17-inch Gateway LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon X600 Pro graphics, 8X DVD+RW, 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1410,

Bottom Line: A roomy 200GB hard drive, nice LCD, and good performance make this PC an excellent catch for the price.

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Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

15. Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 200GB hard drive, 19-inch CTX CRT monitor, 128MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1890,

Bottom Line: Fast system is very expandable; all-black aluminum case is attractive. But at this price, you deserve an LCD.

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

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