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Drilling to the core of Core i7 desktops
Rich Brown,
Senior Editor
April 1, 2009
Listed below you'll see five desktop, each using a brand new Core i7 CPU from Intel. Thanks to this updated processor and its accompanying hardware, all of these PCs have redefined speed in their respective price categories. The benefits of raw computing speed may have been obscured lately, especially given so much talk about relatively low-end NetBook laptops. And while it's true that many of us can get by with a simply functional computer, anyone with a specific performance need will be relieved to know that Core i7 has moved the speed bar forward.
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| Price | Check Prices | $1,699.00 | Check Prices | Check Prices |
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| Review date | November 24, 2008 | November 11, 2008 | November 17, 2008 | November 19, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | Even if we have a few reservations about this system, we can't deny that Alienware has an outstanding deal on its hands, with the Area 51 X58. It offers the same core hardware and twice the storage capacity as PCs that cost $1,500 more. High-end bargain hunters, assuming they exist, will find an amazing deal in this PC. | 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. | With 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. | You can find flashier PCs than Dell's $1,299 Studio XPS, but few have as much power where it counts. We don't recommend its small, pared-down case for upgraders, but this PC will satisfy anyone who needs a loaded, powerful PC for gaming and consumer-level digital media editing. |
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| Features | ||||
| RAM | 12 GB DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz | Info unavailable | 3 GB (installed) / 16 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz | 6 GB |
| Processor | 1 x Intel Core i7 965 / 3.2 GHz | Info unavailable | 1 x Intel Core i7 920 / 2.66 GHz ( Quad-Core ) | Intel |
| Hard Drive | 2 Solid state | Info unavailable | 1 x 750 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 | 750 GB |
| Product Description | Core i7 965 3.2 GHz | Info unavailable | Gateway FX 6800-01E - Core i7 920 2.66 GHz | Dell Studio - 24 |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices |
As Reviewed: $6,473 |
As Reviewed: $1,249 |
As Reviewed: $1,299 |
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