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The Sys Performance 3200+/64 comes in a pedestrian black midsize tower case that's indistinguishable from many of the systems we see in the PC World Test Center. What impressed us most about this system was not its solid speed, moderate configuration, or modest $1795 price, but the ViewSonic VE175b 17-inch LCD that came bundled with the PC. It displayed outstanding images in our tests, with both text and photo graphics showing fine details and vivid colors. And DVD playback on this monitor also shined, with bright, accurate colors and smooth playback. Equipped with a PNY FX5900SE graphics card, the Sys Performance scored above-average frame rates on our demanding Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Unreal Tournament graphics tests, making this system suitable for work and casual gaming.
The Sys Performance we tested included integrated sound, and shipped with Altec Lansing's 251 5.1 speaker system; we found these compact, cubic speakers easy to set up and pleasing to the ear for both DVD and CD playback.
Back to that case: It has a flip-open door that covers the drive bays. It swings to the left, making it a bit awkward to reach your optical drives if the system is placed on the right side of your desk. A quick-release side panel snaps off easily, revealing a well-designed, roomy interior. The system has plenty of expansion prospects, with two open RAM sockets, six open drive bays (three internal, three external), and three unoccupied expansion card slots. If you want to add peripherals without cracking open the system, doing so is a breeze via the seven USB 2.0 ports (three front, four rear) and two FireWire (one each front and rear) ports. Plus, the system has a plethora of multimedia ports (VGA, DVI, S-Video, and S/PDIF out).
The biggest flaw we found: Sys Technology fails to include adequate documentation that's specific to the system.
Upshot: The Sys Performance 3200+/64 won't win any design innovation awards, but it handles most computing tasks well. With its sparse documentation, it's a better prospect for more technically astute PC buyers.
Scott Plamondon
