Compaq Compaq dc5750 Desktop (2.00GHz Athlon 64 X2 3800+, 1GB DDR2, 80GB, DVD/CDRW, Windows Vista Business)

Our test system had integrated graphics, which we worried would slow Vista's Aero interface, especially because the system came with only 1GB of system RAM from which the graphics system could steal. But we ran Aero with no problems. Even with integrated graphics, the HP lets you connect two monitors simultaneously--one DVI and one VGA. HP charges $95 for a 128MB ATI 1300 card. The HP L2045w LCD monitor that shipped with our system allows height adjustments, swiveling, and tilting.

In our WorldBench 6 Beta 2 tests, the dc5750 scored a 62, about 11 percent behind the OptiPlex 740. They're two of the first Vista value systems we've tested, and compared with the power Vista systems we've tested previously, both systems are quite slow: The fastest system we tested then scored a 129 on our benchmark. If you want more power, you can opt for AMD processors with slightly faster clock speeds, or choose a slightly different system and configure it with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

The dc5750 did not have a chassis-intrusion-detection mechanism installed, but HP offers it as a no-cost option. You can buy a port guard to prevent unauthorized USB connections, and you can disable the front-mounted USB ports in the password-protected BIOS. HP offers a security sleeve for mounting the system under a desk or on a wall, but only for use with the desktop version.

You can use the Trusted Platform Module security chip embedded in the motherboards along with included software to encrypt passwords and document folders. The chip works with Vista's Bit Locker security feature, which lets you encrypt your entire hard drive.

HP offers 24/7 tech support and next-business-day on-site warranty service, and you can tack on same-day on-site service to a three-year warranty for $149 extra. Readers in our most recent reliability and service survey scored HP fourth from the bottom, with average marks in every category but "satisfaction with reliability," where it received a below-average score.

With its many security options, the dc5750 is a good choice if you want a PC that won't grow legs. But the OptiPlex 740 line, while perhaps not quite as generous with the security add-ons, has a better-designed case and a lower noise output.

Alan Stafford