Latest Reviews
Velocity Micro Gamer's Edge 1000 Value Gaming PC (Atlon 64 3800+)
Product Short Spec:
Processor:
Athlon 64 3800+ (2.4 GHz)
RAM installed:
512 MB DDR SDRAM
Hard drive:
250 GB
OS provided:
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP 2
... View Review
AVADirect Core 2 Duo SLI
Positives:
Overclocked CPU and graphics card give you extra performance; plenty of expandability; three-year parts and labor warranty comes standard without jacking up the price.
Negatives:
Cluttered cables and an outdated serial game port need to go; barely acceptable power supply if you want to add a second graphics card after purchase; limited phone support hours.
Facts:
This is AVA Direct's debut PC, and we like what we see so far. A few minor design and config issues aside, the overclocked parts squeeze as much performance as possible, while helping to keep the price somewhat reasonable. We're eager to see more from this small vendor.
... View Review
BBNS 6014LM4 DCXEON LV-1U 4X U320 X6DPL4G2 300W
... View Review
Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 8500 SE (AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000 )
Positives:
Great collection of hardware and peripherals for the money; Cyberpower promises to improve tech support response times.
Negatives:
Terrible case; we're still not sure about Cyberpower's ability to deliver satisfactory customer service.
Facts:
The Cyberpower Gamer Ultra 8500 SE looks like a great deal, but we question the overall Cyberpower buying experience. Four years of negative reader comments about this company led us to investigate. Cyberpower promises to improve, but you should still proceed with caution.
... View Review
Dell Dimension E521 (Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 2.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD)
Positives:
Fast dual-core AMD CPU lends bang for the buck; Vista runs with no hitches; roomy 320GB hard drive will please digital media archivists.
Negatives:
Weak graphics card is fast enough for Vista, but that's about it, and there's no faster option available with this model.
Facts:
Dell's Dimension E521 doesn't have many bells and whistles, but a powerful dual-core AMD processor lends it unexpected performance and strong bang for the buck. Its speed, Vista Home Premium's Media Center functions, and multiple storage options make this a strong PC for archiving and showing off your digital media.
... View Review
eMachines T5226 - Pentium D 925 3GHz
Positives:
The eMachines T5226 PC has a fair amount of expandability; strong support, both online and off; and acceptable core features and performance.
Negatives:
No built-in wireless networking; competing budget PC from HP has better performance for the dollar.
Facts:
eMachines' new T5226 desktop is powerful enough to run Windows Vista smoothly. It should also power you through most of the common modern-day applications without too much fuss. We just wish it offered more compelling hardware for the money. You can find faster, more-capable PCs for basically the same price.
... View Review
Falcon Northwest Mach V (Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700)
Positives:
Fastest gaming PC we've ever seen; somewhat less expensive than the competition; quiet; pristine interior.
Negatives:
The overclocking might be a little too aggressive; digital media archivists will want more storage space; Blu-ray costs extra.
Facts:
Falcon Northwest continues its tradition of building the fastest gaming PCs around. This one comes with Intel's quad-core chip clocked higher than we've ever seen before, and its resulting game performance sets new records. You might want to bolster some of the features on this system, but if it's 3D power you're after, Falcon delivers the strongest system we've seen so far.
Note: This product is part of the Falcon Northwest Mach V series. .
... View Review
Gateway FX530XT (Windows Vista)
Positives:
Crisp exterior; updated offering includes Windows Vista.
Negatives:
Outdated 3D cards lack support next-generation Vista gaming graphics.
Facts:
We liked this system when we covered its Windows XP-based debut back in November. The big news here is that Gateway has added an option for Windows Vista. Unfortunately, it's an awkward time for high-end gaming PCs to use Microsoft's new operating system, and Gateway hasn't adjusted well. We'd stick with the older model.
... View Review
HP Compaq Presario SR5050NX
... View Review
iBuyPower Value 640
Positives:
Decent performance for the money; case provides plenty of room for future upgrades; lots of configuration options means you can tailor the system to your specific needs.
Negatives:
iBuyPower neglected to include a Wi-Fi card, which is a standard feature; no option for Blu-ray or HD DVD drive; larger than other living-room PCs, so it might be a cramped fit with you're A/V rack; an auxiliary display on the case would be useful.
Facts:
The Vista-based iBuyPower 640 is a good bet for PC enthusiasts on a shoestring budget who are looking to add a PC to their home theater and don't mind (or look forward to) tweaking and upgrading the system as they go.
... View Review
Lenovo ThinkCentre A60 8700 (Athlon 64 X2 2.2 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD)
Positives:
Serious security and maintenance features; dual-core AMD Athlon X2 provides more than enough processing power for the majority of business users; open PCI Express slots.
Negatives:
Limited expansion space for hard drives and RAM; weak power supply means your upgrade options are limited; warranty is not as generous as other business systems'.
Facts:
The Lenovo ThinkCentre A60 offers no-nonsense security features that business users need, along with decent components for a reasonable price. Only its short warranty gives us pause.
... View Review
Maingear X-Cube
Positives:
Most up-to-date small-form-factor gaming PC on the market; great-looking PC inside and out; strong gaming performance.
Negatives:
Athlon CPU price cuts are expected later this summer, so you'll save some dough if you postpone your purchase a month or two.
Facts:
Falcon Northwest's FragBox might be the best known small-form-factor gaming PC, but Maingear's X-Cube is currently the most up-to-date. With the latest of everything, if you want a gaming desktop for on-the-road fragging, look no further.
... View Review
Computer News
Molson Concert Security: Chief: Problems, few; crowds, well-behaved
With the Molson Canal Concert Series bringing thousands of people to Lockport, the potential for chaos could have been high, but officials say the crowds were well-behaved. Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert ..... Read more
More Holders Back "Say on Pay" in 2008
Risk Metrics says 10 firms had affirmative stockholder votes this proxy season, up from 8 last year... Read more
(+) How to Remotely Control a Distant Computer
The DAILY newsletter for genealogy consumers, packed with straight talk - hold the sugar coating - whether the vendors like it or not! August 27, 2008 ...or perhaps a computer that is not so distant... Read more
SJCC football team for final round
Bangalore: St. Joseph's College of Commerce will participate in the State level inter-college football tournament's final round that will be held in October... Read more
