Reviewed on November 3, 2008Thanks to an expensive new motherboard requirement, Intel's new Core i7 desktop processors will remain enthusiast and professional-level parts until more affordable complementary hardware comes out later next year. Speed never comes cheap, however, and if you're willing to spend for it now, you'll find yourself in possession of the fastest CPU on the market.TAGS:Intel, Intel Pentium 4, motherboard, CPU, chipset, Intel Pentium, platform, memory stick, dual-core, AMD
Reviewed on September 7, 2009Falcon Northwest's revamped, mainstream-oriented Talon gaming desktop puts its best redesigned foot forward with a new case and a strong, price-competitive configuration built around Intel's latest batch of Core i7 CPUs. Shop around, as many vendors will have adopted Intel's new chips, but for this build at this price, Falcon Northwest sets the example to beat.TAGS:Intel Core Microarchitecture, chassis, Intel, fan, hard drive, motherboard, PC
Reviewed on June 30, 2009HP's Pavilion p6110y isn't necessarily an offensive system, and its case might even entice you to give it a second look. We just wish HP had taken a more substantive approach to help this desktop stand out. Its FireWire port might sway you, but otherwise you can find more interesting features from other PCs on the shelf.TAGS:HP Pavilion, HP Pavilion SlimLine, ASUS, FireWire, HP, retailer, Intel, Gateway Inc., HDMI, Intel Pentium, motherboard, PC
Reviewed on April 23, 2009The AVADirect shopping experience can be daunting, but for the tech-savvy buyer willing to navigate the many options available for this system, you'll find that AVADirect's Custom Gaming PC is competently built, with options for blazing fast overclocking, all at an attractive price.TAGS:Intel Core Microarchitecture, overclocking, degree, Blu-ray, motherboard, Intel, PC, games
Reviewed on November 17, 2008With lots of useful features (some cleverly hidden), Gateway's FX6800-01e stands out from the boring mainstream pack. It also uses Intel's new CPU and motherboard combination to provide speed and upgradeability. You can find faster PCs for a similar price, but few with this much promise.TAGS:Gateway Inc., media card reader, tray, USB port, 64-bit, Intel, motherboard, PC, hard drive, Microsoft Windows
Reviewed on February 12, 2009We expect anyone who purchases the Dell XPS 625 will be pleased with its robust midrange gaming components and the software that makes it easy to overclock them. We just wish Dell had been more aggressive with its pricing and that you didn't have to spend more money to make the most of this system's standout features.TAGS:Dell XPS, Gateway Inc., AMD, Dell, motherboard, 64-bit, chipset, Intel, PC
Reviewed on November 4, 2009AVADirect's tries to distill as much gaming power as possible into its Nano Cube, but the extra small case requires too many sacrifices next to even standard small form factor PCs. Gaming purists with a need for an extra tiny PC might appreciate the Nanon Cube, but even they should be wary of everything you need to give up for this tiny desktop.TAGS:Nvidia GeForce, Intel Core 2 Duo, games, motherboard, networking, video card, hard drive, NVidia, Intel, PC
Reviewed on July 17, 2007The quad-core Core 2 Extreme QX6850 keeps the desktop CPU performance belt tied firmly around Intel's waist at a price that helps offset the lack of sizable performance gains. New products at the end of the year may outclass this new chip when they arrive, but for now, the QX6850 reigns supreme.TAGS:Intel Core 2 Extreme, quad-core, clock speed, bus, Intel, Intel Core 2 Duo, multimedia, motherboard, AMD, CPU, chipset
Reviewed on July 21, 2009We hate to criticize PCs that strive to balance performance and power efficiency, because the goal is noble. But despite its visual charm, Maingear's Pulse requires too many speed compromises to entice PC gamers, and too few benefits over a competing system from HP. Its base configuration may have some appeal as a digital entertainment system, but this higher-end Pulse needs the core technology to catch up to its aspirations.TAGS:Maingear, savings, Blu-ray drive, NVidia, digital media, Intel Core 2 Duo, Nvidia GeForce, motherboard, gamer, HDMI, games, chipset, Intel, PC, video
Reviewed on February 26, 2009Maingear's X-Cube small form factor game PC has received a cleverly redesigned case and boasts strong bang for the buck in its niche. We wouldn't necessarily pick this configuration, and you can find a better deal in a standard-size gaming desktop, but you still might be charmed by its unique looks and its decent value.TAGS:Maingear, Velocity Micro, ATI Radeon, AMD, ATI Technologies, games, motherboard, Intel, CPU, PC, hard drive