Gateway One ZX6810-01 All-in-One PC

Of course, it's those new Core i5/i7 processors that push the iMacs out in front, though it's not like the Gateway One ZX6810-01 isn't wonderfully decked out itself. It's got a 2.33GHz Core 2 Quad Q8200S processor, 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory, and dual hard disks: a 64GB Samsung solid-state drive (the boot drive) and a 1TB Western Digital drive (for general storage).

These specs almost look like they were ripped straight out of a gaming desktop. They helped the ZX6810-01 achieve a score of 105 in our WorldBench 6 benchmark--a score equal to the Sony Vaio VPCL117FX/B, but again, behind the new iMacs. Tested using 64-bit Windows 7 and Boot Camp, the $2200 Apple iMac (27-inch/Core i7) scored 128 in WorldBench 6, while the $2000 iMac (27-inch/Core i5) notched 123.

In use, the ZX6810-01's display delivers good saturation and contrasts, but a discernible backlight glow on the top and bottom of the screen becomes apparent during darker scenes. Similarly, the glossy coating produces a reflective glare that admittedly improves the vibrancy and richness of the colors and grayscales, but it comes at the cost of a powerful reflection that turns viewers and nearby light sources into unwanted extras in the scene.

The system's integrated wireless-N and gigabit LAN connectivity does much to bolster its ability to function as a multimedia-streaming device in an existing high-speed network. You also get six USB ports and an eSATA connection for external hard drives. But as I mentioned: no Blu-ray drive, a shame given the system's 1080p-compatibility.

The bundled keyboard and mouse are average, with no greater functionality than what you'd find on a standard keyboard and two-button mouse. They're wireless devices, which at least conserves ports. And Gateway's inclusion of a remote helps the ZX6810-01 bridge the gap from desktop to "living room PC." A lack of upgradability--or, at least, a lack of any mention of upgradability in the manual--means that you're stuck with what you get in this all-in-one system.

That said, there's not much we'd change about the inside of this PC. Gateway's ZX6810-01 is an absolute killer in both general and gaming performance--the latter being quite rare in the all-in-one category. A few quibbles with the system's overall display quality and the lack of Blu-ray are our chief reservations about this all-in-one desktop. The ZX6810-01 isn't as fast as the iMacs, but if you want the fastest multitouch all-in-one PC out there, the ZX6810-01 is the system to beat.

--David Murphy