Quantcast

Top 15 Desktop PCs

Three power systems--including a gaming PC at number one--and a value machine debut this month.

Dan Sommer

Compare ProductsCheck boxes to
Xi MTower 64 AGE-SLI PCW Rating: 86.0PCW Rating: 86.0PCW Rating: 86.0

Last Rated: June 06, 2005

1. Xi MTower 64 AGE-SLI

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 600GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch ViewSonic LCD, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, Double-layer 16X DVD±RW drive, Price when ranked: $3799,

Bottom Line: Gaming system turns in highest-ever WorldBench 5 score. With 600GB of storage, it's worth the steep cost.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Alienware Aurora 5500 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

BEST BUY!

2. Alienware Aurora 5500

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch NEC LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3500,

Bottom Line: Strong performance keeps this well-equipped, well-designed, nicely-priced gaming PC near the top of the chart.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
ABS Ultimate M5-64 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

3. ABS Ultimate M5-64

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 348GB drive space (148GB RAID), 19-inch Samsung LCD, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3799,

Bottom Line: Feature-rich system comes with an industrial-strength metal case and a liquid-cooled CPU.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Polywell Poly 939N-FX55 PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5PCW Rating: 4.5

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

4. Polywell Poly 939N-FX55

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 148GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch ViewSonic CRT, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 48X CD-RW drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2950,

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

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
ABS Ultimate M6 PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: March 31, 2005

5. ABS Ultimate M6

2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch Samsung CRT, 256MB ATI Radeon X850 XT graphics, 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives, Price when ranked: $3699,

Bottom Line: Massive yet stylish gaming PC earned our second-best WorldBench 5 score. Comes in matte-silver case.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Gateway 9310XL PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: June 06, 2005

6. Gateway 9310XL

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 650 CPU, 500GB drive space, 17-inch Gateway LCD, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, Double-layer 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/48X CD-RW combo drives, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2319,

Bottom Line: Lots of storage, a dual-layer optical writer, and a low price offset this PC's relatively slow performance.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Sony VAIO VGC-RA830G PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: June 06, 2005

7. Sony VAIO VGC-RA830G

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 320GB drive space (RAID), 19-inch Sony LCD, 256MB Asus EAX300LE graphics, Double-layer 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/ 40X CD-RW combo drive, media-card reader, Price when ranked: $2200,

Bottom Line: Sony's inexpensive unit with Windows XP Media Center will fit effortlessly in the living room.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
IBM ThinkCentre A51p PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

8. IBM ThinkCentre A51p

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch ThinkVision LCD, 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.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Shuttle Computer XPC i8600b PCW Rating: 72.0PCW Rating: 72.0PCW Rating: 72.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

9. Shuttle Computer XPC i8600b

3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 320GB drive space, 17-inch Shuttle LCD, Integrated Intel 915G graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1611,

Bottom Line: Packed with almost everything a larger unit offers, this PC provides strong value and performance.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Amax Kloss i915B PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0PCW Rating: 4.0

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

10. Amax Kloss i915B

2.8-GHz Pentium 4 520 CPU, 120GB drive space, 17-inch AG LCD, 128MB NVidia GeForce PCX 5750 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drive, Price when rated: $1469,

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

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 28, 2005

11. Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 200GB drive space, 19-inch CTX CRT, 128MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM/52X CD-RW combo drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1647,

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

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 SE PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: January 04, 2005

BEST BUY!

12. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 SE

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB drive space, 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.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Sony VAIO VGC-RB38G PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: June 06, 2005

13. Sony VAIO VGC-RB38G

3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 250GB drive space, 17-inch Sony LCD, 128MB Asus EAX300LE graphics, Double-layer 16X DVD±RW, 16X DVD-ROM/40X CD-RW combo drives, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1700,

Bottom Line: Media Center PC for the price-conscious suits modest entertainment needs. Double-layer DVD writer.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
Gateway Profile 5.5C PCW Rating: 69.0PCW Rating: 69.0PCW Rating: 69.0

Last Rated: April 29, 2005

14. Gateway Profile 5.5C

3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 160GB drive space, 17-inch Gateway LCD, Integrated ATI Radeon X300 LE graphics, 8X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1885,

Bottom Line: Gateway's innovative all-in-one design offers stability and makes the ports and drive easy to reach.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Polywell Poly Mini-Box 939AX 3200 PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5PCW Rating: 3.5

Last Rated: February 28, 2005

15. Polywell Poly Mini-Box 939AX 3200

2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 200GB drive space, 17-inch Hyundai LCD, Integrated ATI Radeon Xpress X200 graphics, 16X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader, Price when rated: $1250,

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

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices

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

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No

Today's Special Offers

Name City
Address 1 State Zip
Address 2 E-mail (optional)