Dan Littman

Compaq Presario 6000

Our review Presario 6000 packed a lot of punch for a $1266 system. Its 1.8-GHz Athlon XP 2200+ waltzed through our PC WorldBench 4 tests with a score of 116, matching the average score for systems with the same CPU and operating system but twice as much RAM. And this Presario carries an MSI G4 MX420-T graphics board with 64MB of dedicated graphics RAM, rather than a graphics processor integrated onto the motherboard (some of which share main RAM with the CPU.) Though 64MB is less RAM than you'll see on a power machine's graphics board, it's more than adequate for word processing, number crunching, and Web browsing. In our tests, Compaq's 17-inch FS7550 CRT displayed saturated colors and clean-looking whites. On our test unit, the focus and color alignment looked somewhat off, but the monitor displayed text legibly. DVDs displayed at half-screen size looked pretty good, with good detail and color but a slightly slowed-down feel; full-screen movies and action games lagged more noticeably, but they were still playable.
The keyboard is quiet but provides no touch-typing feedback, and it sags like a keyboard on a notebook. Compaq's generic manual covers three product lines, and the photos illustrating it are too dark; you won't learn much from it. The 6000's case opens easily, but working inside could be unduly laborious--for example, a hank of cables and wires runs tight against the empty memory slot, and you might have to disconnect them to install a module. In any case, spots for new components are scarce--there's just one open PCI slot and one free hard-drive bay. The tall, skinny speakers that accompanied our test unit have hooks designed to attach to the sides of a monitor, but our monitor didn't have the necessary slots. Still, we managed to stand them upright. As for their sound quality, bass notes sounded muffled and high notes sounded strained.
Compaq provides a nice starter set of software, including Microsoft Works 6.0, Money 2002 Standard, and Encarta Online Deluxe, along with Pinnacle Studio 7, a video editing app. The one-year warranty, plus a year of toll-free 24/7 support and on-site service, is about what we expect in this price range.
If you need a fast machine at a modest price, you can't go wrong with the Presario 6000--as long as your plans don't include extensive gaming.

Buying Information

Compaq Presario 6000 PC WorldBench 4 score of 116, 1.8-GHz Athlon XP 2200+ processor, Windows XP Home, 256MB of DDR266 SDRAM, 80GB hard drive, 40X/12X/40X CD-RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, MSI G4 MX420-T graphics board with 64MB of SDRAM, 17-inch Compaq FS7550 monitor, integrated sound, JBL Platinum SB08A11 speakers, network adapter, V.92 modem, minitower case; Microsoft Works 6.0, Money 2002 Standard, Encarta Online Deluxe, Pinnacle Studio 7, Norton Internet Security 2002. One-year warranty on parts and labor, 24-hour daily toll-free tech support. $ 1266 PC WorldBench 4 score of 116, 1.8-GHz Athlon XP 2200+ processor, Windows XP Home, 256MB of DDR266 SDRAM, 80GB hard drive, 40X/12X/40X CD-RW drive, 16X DVD-ROM drive, MSI G4 MX420-T graphics board with 64MB of SDRAM, 17-inch Compaq FS7550 monitor, integrated sound, JBL Platinum SB08A11 speakers, network adapter, V.92 modem, minitower case; Microsoft Works 6.0, Money 2002 Standard, Encarta Online Deluxe, Pinnacle Studio 7, Norton Internet Security 2002. One-year warranty on parts and labor, 24-hour daily toll-free tech support. http://www.compaq.com 800/888-0220