Alienware Aurora Extreme

Large thumbscrews in the back of the case let you open the box without a screwdriver. Alienware also adds thoughtful touches for those users who might work inside the computer a lot, such as a screw holder and well-arranged cables. In fact, this Aurora Extreme is one of the most neatly arranged PCs we've seen. Cables are tucked into corners, creating open space that makes the tower appear bigger than it really is inside. Expansion options are good: The system has ten total drive bays, of which two front-panel bays and two internal bays remained open on our test system.

A black Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard not only matched the tower in color, but its responsiveness matched the machine's sprightly performance. The 17-inch NEC MultiSync 1760NX LCD monitor that Alienware chose to send with the Extreme displayed bright colors and sharp text.

Our high-end system came with Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 speakers, which alone retail for about $400. After a rather befuddling setup, you are rewarded with fantastic, rich sound with deep bass. The very heavy subwoofer is a pain to get out of the box, but if you want sensational audio, you won't be disappointed.

Upshot: If you have the money to burn, the Aurora Extreme will give you speedy performance and top-notch components in return.

Roy Santos