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Top 10 Value Desktop PCs

Our top-rated value desktops cost less than $1,500 and have plenty of computing bang for the buck.

Edited by Danny Allen

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1. Micro Express MicroFlex 450B

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q9550; CPU speed: 2830GHz; Graphics adapter: Sapphire HD4870; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 500GB; WorldBench rating: Superior

Bottom Line: This power desktop delivers a whole lot of performance without a whole lot of price.

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2. Micro Express MicroFlex 82B

CPU: Core 2 Duo E8400; CPU speed: 3000GHz; Graphics adapter: nVidia GeForce 8800GT; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 250GB; WorldBench rating: Superior

Bottom Line: The MicroFlex 82B has limited storage, but provides plenty of horsepower without draining your savings.

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3. Gateway FX6800-01e

CPU: Core i7 920; CPU speed: 2660GHz; Graphics adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4850; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 750GB; WorldBench rating: Very Good

Bottom Line: With top-notch performance, design and expandability, the FX6800-01e is one of the better value PCs in the category, period.

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4. Polywell Minibox 798G-940

CPU: 3-GHz-Phenom II X4 940; CPU speed: 3000GHz; Graphics adapter: nVidia GeForce GTX285; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 1500GB; WorldBench rating: Very Good

Bottom Line: The portable Minibox boasts Nvidia's latest graphics card, and an amazing amount of storage and connection options.

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5. Dell XPS 630

CPU: Core 2 Duo E8500; CPU speed: 3160GHz; Graphics adapter: nVidia GeForce 9800 GT; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 640GB; WorldBench rating: Very Good

Bottom Line: Customizable desktop system provides affordable performance in a stylish package.

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6. Dell XPS 625

CPU: 3-GHz-Phenom II X4 940; CPU speed: 3000GHz; Graphics adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4850; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 500GB; WorldBench rating: Very Good

Bottom Line: The Dell XPS 625 is a strong Phenom II-based desktop PC, but for an extra hundred bucks or so, you can get even more value.

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7. eMachines ET1161-03

CPU: Athlon 64 X2 4400+; CPU speed: 2300GHz; Graphics adapter: nVidia GeForce 6150SE; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 320GB; WorldBench rating: Fair

Bottom Line: With an upgrade or two, the ET1161-03 could become a pretty good general-purpose value desktop..

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8. Maingear Dash

CPU: 3-GHz-Phenom II X4 940; CPU speed: 3000GHz; Graphics adapter: XFX ATI Radeon HD-4850; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 500GB; WorldBench rating: Superior

Bottom Line: Maingear's Dash minitower desktop PC packs an overclocked Phenom II CPU and provides excellent graphics performance.

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9. Polywell Poly i7050

CPU: Pentium Dual-Core E2180; CPU speed: 2000GHz; Graphics adapter: Nvidia 7150; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 250GB; WorldBench rating: Fair

Bottom Line: Delivers solid performance for basic tasks but not for fast-action games, and a compact case limits expansion.

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10. Dell Studio Slim

CPU: Core 2 Quad Q8200; CPU speed: 2330GHz; Graphics adapter: ATI Radeon HD 3450; Monitor: No; Hard drive size: 640GB; WorldBench rating: Very Good

Bottom Line: The compact Dell Studio Slim provides above-average application performance and connectivity, but upgrades are limited.

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