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Top 15 Desktop PCs

A new power system from Polywell is a Best Buy, and both Polywell and WinBook offer new value desktops.

Kalpana Ettenson

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Alienware Aurora 5500 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

1. Alienware Aurora 5500

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, Two 160 RAID hard drives, 19-inch NEC LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3846,

Bottom Line: Blazing performance keeps this well-equipped, nicely priced gaming system at 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, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3799,

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, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 16X DVD+RW, 48X CD-RW drives, Price when ranked: $2999,

Bottom Line: One of the fastest Pentium systems 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 LG LCD, 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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Polywell Poly 939N-FX55 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

5. Polywell Poly 939N-FX55

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, Two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch ViewSonic CRT, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16XDVD±RW, 52X/32X/52X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2995,

Bottom Line: Elegant-looking black-and-silver unit has top-notch performance; CRT monitor keeps the price down.

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MPC Millennia 940i Dream Machine PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

6. MPC Millennia 940i Dream Machine

3.8-GHz Pentium 4 570J CPU, Two 400GB RAID and one 250GB hard drives, 19-inch MPC LCD, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 52X/32X/52X CD-RW drives, Price when ranked: $3699,

Bottom Line: Well-appointed and fairly quick home-office model has three hard drives, two in a RAID configuration.

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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, 256MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $4810,

Bottom Line: Ultimate home system offers a slot for a 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 hard drive, 17-inch Planar LCD, 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, 64MB ATI Radeon X300 Pro graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X/32X/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, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X/24X/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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CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

11. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch AOpen LCD, 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 a 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

12. Alienware Bot

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch NEC LCD, 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 case lock, but room for future expansion is limited.

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Compaq Presario SR1010Z PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

13. Compaq Presario SR1010Z

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 160GB hard drive, 17-inch Compaq LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD+RW, 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW drives; media-card reader, Price when rated: $1433,

Bottom Line: Smart case design and above-average graphics performance make this an attractive home PC.

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Polywell Mini-Box 939AX 3200 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

14. Polywell Mini-Box 939AX 3200

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 200GB hard drive, 17-inch Hyundai LCD, Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress X200 graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1350,

Bottom Line: Stylish black Media Center entertainment system fits easily into tight quarters; but upgrades are limited.

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WinBook PowerSpec 9262 PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0PCW Rating: 3.0

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

15. WinBook PowerSpec 9262

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 160GB hard drive, 19-inch LG LCD, 128MB NVidia GeForce FX 5330 graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when rated: $1983,

Bottom Line: Basic, all-black system lacks front-mounted ports, but its performance on our WorldBench 5 tests was solid.

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

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