Xi Computer 3286 M-Tower

WHAT'S HOT: Outfitted with an Intel 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 processor and 512MB of 1.066-GHz RDAM, the dark-gray and blue 4286 MTower earned a score of 128 on PC WorldBench 4, making it one of the fastest Windows XP systems we have tested.

As befitting a system primed for delivering digital entertainment, our test unit offered high-quality sound via a Creative Labs Inspire 5.1 5300 five-speaker-and-subwoofer set. In audio tests, bass notes sounded full and strong without becoming muddy. The 4286 MTower also handled DVD movies well. In a test screening of a scene from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, we saw rich colors and heard crisp sound effects with plenty of volume. Other solid components include a black 19-inch ViewSonic G90fb CRT monitor. In our tests of image quality, colors on a photo looked bright, and text appeared fairly sharp.

Considering its expensive top-of-the-line processor and memory, the 4286 MTower is priced at a very reasonable $2699--that's several hundred dollars less than others with similar configurations.

WHAT'S NOT: We found one minor glitch. Though the system we received provides four open PCI slots, two of them aren't usable because a USB 2.0 connector and a game port connector are mounted in the slot holes in the back of the case that are each normally used by a PCI card's bracket.

WHAT ELSE: Graphics scores were in the middle of the pack for the entertainment systems tested this month. The 128MB Albatron Ti4600 card churned out 78 frames per second on Return to Castle Wolfenstein and 110 fps in Unreal Tournament 2003 at 1280 by 1024 resolution and 32-bit color. By comparison, the best scores were racked up by the Voodoo Egad Obsidian Black, which scored 108fps on Castle Wolfenstein and 159fps on Unreal Tournament 2003.

If you're looking for a system to grow with, this one fits the bill. It has six unused drive bays (three for removable media drives and three for hard drives), two available slots for PCI cards, and two open memory sockets for additional RAM. The system's interior is roomy and easy to maneuver in.

The sturdy black-and-silver ViewSonic KP202 keyboard doesn't quite match the system's overall decor, but it does have more handy hot keys than most, including a dedicated set for quickly launching Microsoft Office applications. A separate group of silvery blue buttons, housed in the keyboard's right corner, provides access to CD audio functions and worked well in our hands-on tests.

Xi tosses in a hefty software bundle that's geared mainly for play. It includes the games Giants Citizen Kabuto, MDK2, Motocross Mania, and Deus Ex. Other notable mentions include Corel WordPerfect Office 2002 for times when work prevails over play, and PC Works Suite, which includes an edition of Quicken 2002 for keeping track of home finances.

UPSHOT: This inexpensive, high-performing package will provide plenty of entertainment for a modest price.

SUMMARY

Xi Computer 4286 MTower $