This overclocked dual-core desktop outgunned pricier, quad-core systems.

This dual-core unit's performance surpassed that of the quad-core power and gaming systems we recently tested, and earned a record-breaking score of 139 in our WorldBench 6 Beta 2 test suite; the previous high was the CyberPower Gamer Infinity Ultimate's score of 129. Better still, at $3299 (as of September 12, 2007), it's one of the least expensive power-oriented PCs we've seen of late.

The MTower is equipped with Intel's fastest dual-core processor to date, the 3-GHz Core 2 Duo E6850, which Xi overclocks to 3.3 GHz (and covers under warranty). The CPU also boasts a faster frontside bus speed (1333 MHz) than its dual-core forebears had (1066 MHz). Using a single, 768MB EVGA GeForce 8800 GTX graphics board on an nForce 680i SLI-ready motherboard, our MTower was a racehorse in its graphics performance, earning the highest scores for most resolution settings among the four power systems we tested in the latest batch. For example, running at 1280 by 1024 resolution with antialiasing turned on in the graphically intensive game Far Cry, the MTower averaged 232 frames per second, compared with its rivals' average of 200 fps.

The MTower's black aluminum case (Cooler Master Stacker 832) features mesh grilles on both side panels as well as on the top and bottom sides. A hinged front panel conceals six external drive bays, two of which in our test model were occupied with a DVD burner and DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo player (but no multiformat card reader). Port connectors for USB, FireWire, and audio are sensibly located at the very top of the case, making them easy to access if the system sits on the floor. Additional USB and FireWire ports are provided on the back, but no parallel or serial ports for older devices are included.

The case's side panel and a second inner panel (featuring three of a maximum four 120mm fans) both come off easily without tools. The IGE-Stacker also has a liquid cooling system (Cooler Master Aquagate S1), and you can adjust its fan speed via a dial on the back of the rig (useful if you wanted to tinker with overclocking the processor yourself--though doing so would void Xi's warranty). As shipped, the liquid cooling of the MTower wasn't noisy or overly distracting, but I could definitely hear it humming along. Two of the four internal drive bays were filled with a pair of 150GB, 10,000-rpm Western Digital Raptor hard drives configured in a RAID 0 array, and of the four memory slots, two were occupied, giving our test machine a total of 2GB of DDR2 RAM. Our test model also offered two PCIe x16 and two PCI slots, but both PCIe x1 slots were unavailable: One was covered by the extrawide graphics card, and the other was blocked by the water cooler's adjustable dial bracket.

The bundled 22-inch wide-screen LCD, a ViewSonic VX2255wmb, delivered excellent color fidelity in both still and moving images, and readable text in small sizes. I also liked the convenience of its built-in microphone and 1.3-megapixel Webcam. The included Logitech Deluxe 250 keyboard and optical mouse were responsive but offered no extras; you may want to spend a few extra bucks on more versatile input devices.

If you don't require quad-core capability out of the box, the overclocked MTower IGE-Stacker offers top-flight performance and easy expandability at a very reasonable price.

This overclocked system is blisteringly fast and comes with the works, justifying its high price.

The Gamer Infinity Ultimate may lack the exotic looks and customized touches that uber-gaming systems from high-end boutiques like Voodoo and Alienware possess, but it makes up in function and price for any shortcomings in form. At $4399 as of March 16, 2007, including ViewSonic's VG2230WM (a $320, 22-inch, flat-panel display), the Gamer Infinity Ultimate costs thousands of dollars less than some gaming systems, yet delivers top-flight performance and first-rate hardware.

For gamers, performance is king, and the Gamer Infinity Ultimate qualifies as royalty. Its WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 129 was the highest of the eight power systems running Windows Vista that we tested recently. The Gamer Infinity Ultimate runs on Intel's latest quad-core, Core 2 Extreme QX6700 CPU, which CyberPower overclocked to 3.46 GHz. Notably, the system scored very well on the multitasking portion of WorldBench 6 Beta 2--second only to the Xi MTower IGE-SLI, which runs on Intel's dual-core Core 2 Extreme X6800 CPU.

Using dual SLI XFX GeForce 8800GTX graphics boards, our Gamer Infinity Ultimate scored very well: Frame rates while running Doom 3 and Far Cry were very high for most resolution settings; in some cases they were second only to the Xi MTower IGE-SLI, which used a single 768MB XFX GeForce 8800GTX graphics board.

In lieu of occupying an exotically sculpted case, our test PC came in a relatively staid Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 tower. Unlike many aluminum cases, the CM Stacker feels sturdy, and--as the name implies--it offers excellent cooling. Every face, including the bottom, has vents in it; and the interior holds five fans. Speed-hungry overclockers who aren't fans of liquid cooling systems will like the included Vigor Gaming Monsoon II CPU cooler, which combines airflow with a powerful Peltier cooler.

Data storage should be no problem for even the most inveterate digital packrats. Our review model came with two high-performance 150GB, 10,000-rpm Western Digital Raptor hard drives configured in a RAID 0 array, an additional 500GB hard drive, and a LiteOn Blu-ray DVD drive that can stores up to 25GB of content per disc. The $557 Blu-ray drive included with our test model is nice, but a frugal buyer could substitute a far less expensive DVD drive to lower the overall system cost. Gamers will like the Logitech G15 gaming keyboard, which carries its own LCD display for gaming stats plus 18 programmable buttons for gaming shortcuts.

Latches enable you to release both side panels for quick access to the case's interior, and the bank of four cooling fans located under one side panel pops off easily. You can add a card or drive without tools, but the bulky graphics cards block several of the expansion slots, and you have to remove a graphics card to reach the hard-drive bays.

The ViewSonic VG2230WM flat-panel display that accompanied our review unit displayed crisp details and rich colors, though we had to adjust the contrast to brighten the screen for DVD movie playback. Small type (6.8-point font) was sharp and readable at 1024 by 768 resolution.

The Gamer Infinity Ultimate may be expensive, but it packs a lot of value for gamers and power users who need speed, storage, and the ability to upgrade.

Kirk Steers

This fast, water-cooled, dual-core PC generated high video frame rates with just one graphics card.

Using the same components found in other high-end systems, Xi Computer builds PCs that regularly top our performance charts--and the MTower IGE-SLI Gamer (priced at $3655 as of March 16, 2007) is no exception.

Of the eight Vista-equipped power desktop systems we recently tested using the Beta 2 version of our WorldBench 6 test suite, the MTower earned the second-highest score--a mark of 127, just behind the 129 posted by the CyberPower Gamer Infinity Ultimate. The MTower cemented its gaming credentials by posting the top frame rates in our Doom 3 and Far Cry tests at various screen resolutions. Its mark of 204 frames per second while running Far Cry at a 1024 by 768 resolution beat the frame rate of its nearest competitor--the Gamer Infinity Ultimate--by more than 10 percent.

The MTower achieved this performance with a less-powerful processor and graphics card combo than the CyberPower used. The MTower sported a dual-core, 2.93-GHz Core 2 Extreme X6800 overclocked to 3.2 GHz and a single EVGA 8800 GTS graphics board. The MTower posted the top score on the multitasking portion of our WorldBench 6 Beta 2 tests, too.

The lesson: You may want to forgo a quad-core CPU and a second graphics board until more software can take advantage of these features. Fortunately, the MTower's nForce 680i motherboard gives you the option of waiting until later to upgrade; it supports Intel's new quad-core CPUs and can accommodate a second SLI graphics card.

The MTower's black midsize tower case isn't terribly stylish: A large window on one side reveals the system's innards bathed in an eerie blue light, but otherwise the exterior is standard fare. The unit came with a floppy drive; this may come in handy for BIOS upgrades or RAID installs, but most hardcore gamers would rather have a second DVD drive and a third hard drive to complement the two 150GB, 10,000-rpm Western Digital Raptor drives (which are optimized for performance in a RAID 0 array).

Unlike many water-cooled PCs equipped with SLI, the Cooler Master water-cooling system in the MTower is quiet and permits unobstructed upgrading. The case's cover pops off without balking to reveal an uncluttered, roomy interior. The presence of a single SLI graphics board helps avoid blocking the expansion slots (dual-card systems tend to make access more difficult). You may have to brush aside a few cables and cooling lines to reach the drive bays or RAM, but they are easy to reach, too.

I especially liked the Logitech MX3200 laser mouse and keyboard. The mouse has a pleasing ergonomic fit and lots of control buttons that aren't prone to accidental clicks. The keyboard includes a small LED screen and plenty of multimedia and other control buttons--among them, VoIP controls.

The $200, 22-inch Sceptre X22WG-Gamer flat-panel display delivered rich, colorful images in still graphics, game play, and DVD movie playback. Small (6.8-point) text was readable, though the edges of letters did blur slightly.

The MTower may not have the fancy looks of boutique PCs that cost thousands of dollars more, but it should satisfy any power user who wants fast performance and easy upgrading.

Kirk Steers

This overclocked water-cooled desktop is reasonably fast and nicely loaded.

At $3999 (as of
September 12, 2007) bundled with a 22-inch LCD, the P3503 is a
well-equipped system that includes a generous total of 650GB of
hard-drive space and offers solid performance.

Interestingly,
however, even when competing with models using the QX6850, the P3503's
overclocked QX6800 processor held up fairly well in our tests.

Running
Windows Vista Ultimate in our WorldBench 6 Beta 2 test suite, the P3503
earned a score of 122, putting it a little behind the gaming-PC field's average of 126 but well behind the blazingly fast Xi MTower IGE-Stacker's WorldBench 6 Beta 2 result of 139.

Equipped
with a single 768MB EVGA GeForce 8800 Ultra graphics board, the P3503
scored consistently well for all resolution settings in gaming
performance. It ran at 180 frames per second in Doom 3 at 1280 by 1024
resolution, just beating competing models, including the Xi MTower
IGE-Stacker.

The P3503's black, midsize-tower case has
ventilation grilles on the front and side, both backlit with blue
lights. The side panel comes off easily, and inside the case a
water-cooling system and a copper heat sink help keep the system from
overheating.

Our test machine came with a dual-layer
DVD burner that supports LightScribe labeling (a silk-screen-like,
high-contrast label on the top side of CD or DVD media), a
DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo player, and a multiformat card reader, leaving
three of the six external drive bays open. A Seagate 500GB hard drive
and two Western Digital Raptor 74GB, 10,000-rpm hard drives occupy
three of the four internal drive bays, and five open slots (two PCIe
x1, one PCIe x16, and two PCI) are available for further expansion.

The
P3503's Asus P5K3 Deluxe motherboard supports CrossFire graphics (using
two CrossFire-compatible cards, not the SLI-compatible GeForce 8800
card in our test system), and it includes on-board wireless networking
and an adjustable antenna. The P3503 also provides an ample number of
ports on the front and back, including nine USB ports and two eSATA
connections, but it lacks ports for serial and parallel peripherals.

The
bundled Samsung SyncMaster 225BW wide-screen LCD was easy to adjust,
and it displayed strong image quality with clear, readable text and
colorful graphics, including great-looking Vista Aero features. The
Logitech Premium Desktop keyboard and wireless optical mouse were both
responsive, solid performers, but gamers may want devices with more
programmable features.

The Polywell P3505 provides plenty of power and is a worthy choice for any power user.

--Richard Jantz

ASUS' N10
might be a netbook, but it’s certainly no Eee PC - not if your general
conception of the Eee range is a basic web-surfing machine that would
run out of breath even at the mention of gaming.  Mobile Computer
have been putting the N10 through its paces, and one thing is clear: a
netbook becomes a very different animal once you add switchable NVIDIA
GeForce 9200M graphics, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard-drive and HDMI output.

Check out the ASUS N10 gaming demo video after the cut

The switchable video card - the N10 has both onboard Intel 945
graphics, like other netbooks, together with the NVIDIA card, that you
swap between with a reboot - means games like Call of Duty 4
play smoothly at the LCD’s native 1024 x 600 resolution (although a
little tweaking to the anti-aliasing was required).  It’s also capable
of handling 480p high-definition video, though reviewer Julian Prokaza
had trouble with 720p.

Mobile Computer are basically calling the ASUS N10 a crossover, a
blend of netbook and traditional ultraportable, and it sounds like many
of the strengths of each are brought along too.  Pre-orders for the N10
are currently starting from around $600, though that climbs rapidly when you start looking at more traditional-spec models.

45 Nanometers of Quad-Core Glory

With more than 800 million transistors for quad-core, the new 45nm Core 2 Extreme introduces new microarchetecture features for greater performance. Some of these advanced new features include: greater performance at all previous given frequencies, up to 50-percent larger L2 caches, and expanded power management capabilities for new levels of energy efficiency. Also new to the next generation 45nm Core 2 Extreme are nearly 50 new Intel SSE4 instructions for speeding up the performance of media and high performance applications.

Let Alienware Push Your System to the Limit

The Area-51 ALX system is now available with the quad core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 overclocked from 3.0GHz to 4.0 GHz core clock speed! Alienware factory overclocking increases your processor’s overall speed and performance. Alienware assures that all its overclocked systems still meet Alienware’s strict quality and performance guidelines before leaving the factory. Alienware factory overclocking does not void your system warranty.

Get Caught in the CrossFireX

The New ATI® Radeon™ HD 3870 X2 in CrossFireX™ technology is the DirectX® 10 screaming graphics firepower that ALX customers have been waiting for. These power-packed dual GPU graphics cards provide the stunning realism and immersive visual quality that propels you deep into your gameplay. Quad 512MB of GDDR3 onboard memory, and PCI-Express 2.0™ x16 GPU bus interface graphics compatibility, makes sure your next-gen DX10 games can get cranked up to their maximum settings without experiencing any lag in framerates. The new revolution in gaming graphics is Quad GPU technology.

More than ever before

Cram all your digital pictures, movies, games, and music, into the massive hard drives on the Area-51 and still have room to spare. With up to 4 terabytes of storage you’ll never have to worry about storage space.

DDR3 Memory is Here

The Area-51 ALX with the Intel X38 chipset is equipped with the new standard in high performance memory, Patriot Extreme Performance Enhanced Latency DDR3. DDR3 carries an average of 30% less power consumption and higher memory bandwidth than DDR2. These features allows for RAM clock speeds up to 1333MHz to 1600MHz.

Blu-ray Disc Technology

The Blu-ray Disc format offers the highest capacity of any consumer media format to date, also greatly surpassing the capacity of other media formats. Blu-ray Disc gives you the maximum storage capability of 50GB on one dual layer disc, almost 10x the standard storage capabilities of a DVD. Blu-ray Disc's huge capacity allows not only for the highest quality High Definition video to be displayed, but allows you back up your large media libraries on one disc.