Top-Rated PCs
The best systems for budgets big and small.Narasu Rebbapragada
Narasu Rebbapragada is a PC World associate editor.
What's inside today's hottest PCs? It's not necessarily Intel. Every month the editors of PC World test and rank the latest systems. Here's how we rate the best power and budget PCs. For more details, see our Top 15 Desktop PCs chart.
Top Power Systems
1. Alienware Aurora 64 5500 2.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch NEC LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 Pro graphics, 16X DVD+-RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives. Blazing performance puts this well equipped, nicely priced gaming system at the top of the chart. Price when ranked: $3702.
2. ABS Ultimate M5-642.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, two 74GB RAID and one 200GB hard drives, 19-inch Samsung LCD monitor, 256MB EVGA E-GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD+-RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives. Loaded PC has an industrial-strength metal case and a liquid-cooled CPU. Price when ranked: $3899.
3. Polywell Poly 939N-FX552.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch ViewSonic CRT monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, media-card reader, 16X DVD+-RW, 52X/32X/52X CD-RW drives. Elegant-looking black-and-silver unit has top-notch performance; CRT monitor keeps the price down. Price when ranked: $2995.
4. Alienware DHS 52.2-GHz Athlon 64 3500+ CPU, 250GB hard drive, 30-inch LG LCD monitor, 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro graphics, 4X DVD+-RW/-RAM drive, media-card reader. Our favorite Media Center PC in a stereo-component style; a massive LG LCD TV accounts for $3499 of the price. Price when ranked: $5513.
5. ABS Ultimate M62.6-GHz Athlon 64 FX-55 CPU, two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch Samsung CRT monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X850 XT graphics, 16X DVD+-RW, 16X DVD-ROM drives. This ultimate gaming machine earned PC World's top benchmark score. Comes in an industrial-looking case. Price when ranked: $3699.
6. Dell Dimension 84003.6-GHz Pentium 4 660 CPU, two 160GB RAID hard drives, 19-inch Dell LCD monitor, 256MB ATI Radeon X800 XT graphics, 12X DVD+-RW, 52X/24X/52X CD-RW drives. Updated Windows XP Media Center PC has snappy performance, powerful graphics, and an attractive LCD. Price when ranked: $2799.
7. MPC Millennia 940i Dream Machine3.8-GHz Pentium 4 570J CPU, two 400GB RAID and one 250GB hard drives, 19-inch MPC LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce 6800 Ultra graphics, 16X DVD+-RW, 52X/32X/52X CD-RW drives. Well appointed and fairly quick home-office system has three hard drives, two in a RAID configuration. Price when ranked: $3699.
Budget Systems
1. Sys Technology MediaMax3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch Planar LCD monitor, 128MB PNY Verto GeForce FX 5200 graphics, 12X DVD+-RW drive, media-card reader. Looks more like a stereo component than a PC; it has stand-alone radio, DVD, and CD options. Price when rated: $1345.
2. IBM ThinkCentre A51p3-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 160GB hard drive, 17-inch ThinkVision LCD monitor, 64MB ATI Radeon X300 Pro graphics, 16X DVD-ROM, 48X/32X/48X CD-RW drives. Tool-less design and advanced security features distinguish this good-looking, all-business black tower. Price when rated: $1627.
3. Amax Kloss i915B2.8-GHz Pentium 4 520 CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch AG Neovo LCD monitor, 128MB NVidia GeForce PCX 5750 graphics, 16X DVD-ROM/52X/32X/52X CD-RW combo drive. Shoebox-style system with excellent design will look terrific in any setting; see-through speakers match well. Price when rated: $1499.
4. Velocity Micro ProMagix PCX3.4-GHz Pentium 4 550 CPU, 200GB hard drive, 19-inch CTX CRT monitor, 128MB EVGA E-GeForce 6600 graphics, 16X DVD+-RW, 16X DVD-ROM/52X/32X/52X CD-RW combo drives, media-card reader. Fast PC is expandable; all-black aluminum case is attractive. But at this price, you deserve an LCD. Price when rated: $1645.
5. CyberPower Gamer Ultra 7500 Elite2.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 120GB hard drive, 17-inch AOpen LCD monitor, 256MB NVidia GeForce FX 5700LE graphics, 12X DVD+-RW drive, media-card reader. Funky-looking system includes top-mounted USB and audio ports and a pop-up status panel. Price when rated: $999.
6. Polywell Mini-Box 939AX 32002.2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+ CPU, 200GB hard drive, 17-inch Hyundai LCD monitor, integrated ATI Xpress X200 graphics, 16X DVD+-RW drive, media-card reader. Stylish black Media Center entertainment model fits easily into tight quarters, but upgrades are limited. Price when rated: $1295.
7. MPC ClientPro 4143-GHz Pentium 4 530 CPU, 80GB hard drive, 17-inch MPC LCD monitor, 64MB ATI Radeon X600 graphics, 8X DVD-ROM/24X/10X/24X CD-RW combo drive, media-card reader. Small footprint and good performance are a natural fit for space-conscious home and small-office users. Price when rated: $1799.
8. HP Pavilion A820n3.2-GHz Pentium 4 540 CPU, 200GB hard drive, 17-inch HP LCD monitor, 128MB integrated Intel 915GV graphics, 16XSL/2.4XDL DVD+-RW/40X/24X40X CD-RW combo, 48X CD-ROM drives, media-card reader. Value-priced home PC has an eight-in-one media-card reader and a double-layer DVD+-RW drive with a disc label creator. Price when rated: $1200