SYS International Performance 2700+

WHAT'S HOT: The 17-inch Sys 17-C-MT LCD monitor that shipped with our Performance 2700+ has an elegant, silvery blue finish and built-in speakers (a redundant feature, given the PC's impressive Creative Labs speaker set.) The monitor produced crisp letters at all font sizes in our sample text screens; our test photo looked impressive on the unit too, sporting lively colors and sharp detail. The system's Leadtek WinFast A250 Ultra TD graphics card turned in solid 3D gaming scores, generating 106 frames per second running Unreal Tournament at 1280 by 1024 resolution (the monitor's highest setting)

Our test system came with a set of Creative Labs Inspire 6.1 6600 surround-sound speakers--six small, square satellite speakers and a subwoofer that sounded terrific, delivering full bass notes and crisp trebles. And if you regularly use a digital camera or an MP3 player, you'll appreciate the handy front slots for CompactFlash and SmartMedia storage cards.

WHAT'S NOT: Our Performance 2700+ did not come with instructions for connecting the speakers to the integrated sound inputs on the back of the PC, which made setting up the system confusing. Moreover, two of the four USB 2.0 ports and one of the two FireWire ports on the back of the unit are mounted on PCI slot covers. If you need to add more than two PCI adapters, you may have to sacrifice the ports. As for aesthetics, the basic-beige Sys case is a poor match with the more modern-looking LCD, speaker set, and wireless Logitech keyboard.

WHAT ELSE: To date, we have not tested many systems that have a 2.17-GHz Athlon XP 2700+ processor and 512MB of DDR333 SDRAM, but the Performance 2700+'s PC WorldBench 4 score of 125 is in the right ballpark for this configuration. It's also about midpack among power systems we've tested.

Like many Sys PCs we've looked at, this one had a neat interior, with cables and connector wires tucked away from drive bay cage entrances. In addition to the two unused PCI slots, the system had three open drive bays (one for a removable-media drive and two for hard drives) and an open memory socket available for future expansion.

A 120GB hard drive should be enough for most needs (and desires), but power systems we've recently tested often provide more storage--as much as 400GB, in the case of a Gateway 700XL.

The wide Logitech wireless keyboard has nine large, oval hot-keys for launching applications or opening folders. A big center dial adjusts volume settings, and additional buttons allow you to navigate CD functions, such as advancing through tracks. Typing was smooth and comfortable.

The software bundled with the Sys included the games AuqaNox, Rouge Spear BlackThorn, and Master Rallye. When work beckons, Corel WordPerfect Office 2002 is a capable productivity suite that offers spreadsheet and word processing programs, plus compatibility with Microsoft Office applications. The company's documentation is comprehensive, with sections on upgrading components and troubleshooting. Unlike manuals from other vendors, however, it lacks illustrations.

UPSHOT: Somewhat pricey and rather dull looking, the Performance 2700+ is a solid, jack-of-all-trades machine with admirable entertainment features and good speed.

SUMMARY

Sys Technology Performance 2700+ PC WorldBench 4 score of 125, 2.17-GHz Athlon XP 2700+ CPU, 512MB of DDR333 SDRAM, Windows XP Professional, 120GB hard drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, 48X/24X/48X CD-RW drive, Leadtek WinFast A250 Ultra TD graphics card with 128MB of DDR SDRAM, 17-inch Sys 17-C-MT LCD monitor, integrated 6-channel AC97 sound, Creative Labs Inspire 6.1 6600 speakers, network adapter, V.92 modem, midsize tower case; Corel WordPerfect Office 2002, various games. Three-year parts, five-year labor warranty; lifetime 24-hour daily toll-free tech support. $2371 800/613-9963 www.sys.com