Best performance desktops
These high-performance machines contain the latest desktop technology. From the fastest processors and the most advanced graphics cards to cavernous hard drives, these PCs have the ingredients to satisfy 3D gamers, DV editors, audiophiles, or any demanding user.
Falcon Northwest Mach V (Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition)
9.0 Spectacular (reviewed 11/6/08)
Falcon Northwest's latest Mach V provides a model for the coming trends in high-end computing. From the latest Intel CPU, to solid-state storage, to copious amounts of memory, there's lot to admire about his PC. You will also have to pay for it, which unfortunately will thwart all but the most well-off gamers and enthusiasts.
Read review of the Falcon Northwest Mach V (Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition)
Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
8.5 Excellent (reviewed 5/1/08)
A slight bump to the specifications for the same price in addition to a much appreciated option to upgrade the graphics means the 24-inch iMac keeps the Editors' Choice it earned last year when the brushed-aluminum-and-glass design was first introduced.
Read review of the Apple iMac (24-inch, 2.8GHz)
Falcon Northwest FragBox 2 (Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650)
8.4 Excellent (reviewed 10/14/08)
Falcon Northwest's high-end, preconfigured FragBox 2 leans on a pair of top-of-the-line ATI 3D cards to achieve some of the fastest 3D scores we've seen. You might rightly wait for Intel's new CPUs to ship before making a pricey PC purchase, but if you buy this system now, you'll be treated to a superfast little desktop.
Read review of the Falcon Northwest FragBox 2 (Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650)
Velocity Micro Edge Z-55 (Intel Core i7-920)
8.3 Excellent (reviewed 11/11/08)
Velocity Micro's Edge Z55 provides a powerful example of the leap ahead in performance afforded by Intel's new Core i7 CPUs. Velocity Micro's own overclocking efforts don't hurt either. Any PC gamer would love to make this upper midrange desktop their own.
Read review of the Velocity Micro Edge Z-55 (Intel Core i7-920)