ABS Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme

ABS's Ultimate X8 Stealth Extreme is most definitely not stealthy thanks to its loud cooling hardware, but for sheer bang-for-the-buck, this high-end gaming PC has a lot to recommend it. Whether you like it as is, or plan to make upgrades later, this PC makes a strong gaming box. Just don't expect it to win any design awards.

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 EMachines T5224 - Pentium D 820 2.8 GHz

It has a sleek new look and it runs Windows Vista as well as you'd want, but we wish Gateway had taken more risks with the new eMachines T5224 desktop. This system delivers respectable budget performance with most of the features you'd want, but we think you can find a better PC for the money if you shop around.

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 HP Presario Media Center SR2050NX (Pentium D 2.8 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD)

We don't recommend paying list price for HP's budget Compaq Presario Media Center SR2050NX, but if you can find it for less, this desktop makes a fine choice as a cheap second PC.

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 HP Pavilion Media Center m7780n TV PC

HP's Pavilion m7780n desktop brings strong performance for its price. We wish HP helped you better navigate the tricky ins-and-outs of getting the most out of this system's HD DVD drive. Assuming you get it working, this PC delivers a wide variety of desk-bound entertainment and utility.

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 HP Digital Entertainment Center Z560 (Pentium D 3 GHz, 1 GB RAM, 300 GB HDD)

With all the talk of HD video, you might scratch your head when you learn that HP's Digital Entertainment Center z560 only has a standard-definition DVD player. But when you learn what else it has and that its price is pretty reasonable, you might not care. This is a perfect home theater PC for riding out the HD format wars.

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 HP TouchSmart IQ770 (Turion 64 X2 mobile technology 1.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD)

HP's new TouchSmart PC IQ770 is not as fast as Apple's iMac, nor does it have the same clean-lined elegance. It makes up for those problems with intuitive touch screen software you'll actually use and a comprehensive lineup of features. If you're looking for a home PC to organize your family's schedule, or serve up media in a kitchen or another small room, we know of no other system suited so well for the task.

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 Dell Dimension E521 (Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 2.6 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB HDD)

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.

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 Velocity Micro CineMagix Grand Theater

Velocity Micro's first full-fledged home theater PC pulls very few punches in providing a complete digital media experience. It's big, it lacks a built-in audio receiver, and it invites PC gaming into the living room, which has never been the best fit. It's also the victim of a few Vista-related growing pains. On balance, though, Velocity Micro has as complete a home theater PC as we've seen.

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 HP Pavilion m7690n (Core 2 Duo 2.13GHz, 2GB RAM, 500GB HDD)

We'd rather see an HD-DVD drive in a living room-style case, but if HP had to build it into a standard desktop, at least the Pavilion m7690n Media Center TV PC is powerful, and it's also affordable. It will play both high-def movies and 3D games, and it's also ready for Windows Vista, for less than $2,000. No other PC we know of can make that claim. If you're in the market for such a system, this is a steal.

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 Dell Dimension E521

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.

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 HP TouchSmart PC IQ770

HP's new TouchSmart PC IQ770 is not as fast as Apple's iMac, nor does it have the same clean-lined elegance. It makes up for those problems with intuitive touch screen software you'll actually use and a comprehensive lineup of features. If you're looking for a home PC to organize your family's schedule, or serve up media in a kitchen or another small room, we know of no other system suited so well for the task.

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 Dell XPS 710 H2C

Thanks to its market muscle, Dell's XPS 710 H2C delivers state-of-the-art gaming power for significantly less than its boutique competition--and with (basically) identical performance. That fact and the near-silent operation granted by its brand-new cooling hardware make this desktop a CNET Editors' Choice winner.

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 Dell XPS 710 H2C Edition Desktop Computer (Core 2 Extreme QX6700 2.66GHz/320GB/4GB)

Thanks to its market muscle, Dell's XPS 710 H2C delivers state-of-the-art gaming power for significantly less than its boutique competition--and with (basically) identical performance. That fact and the near-silent operation granted by its brand-new cooling hardware make this desktop a CNET Editors' Choice winner.

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 eMachines T5224

It has a sleek new look and it runs Windows Vista as well as you'd want, but we wish Gateway had taken more risks with the new eMachines T5224 desktop. This system delivers respectable budget performance with most of the features you'd want, but we think you can find a better PC for the money if you shop around.

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