Dell Studio XPS Desktop Computer (Intel Core i7 750GB HDD, 6GB)

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We find the gaming scores for these two PCs as encouraging as the application test results, but there's a catch for the Dell. Yes, it outperforms the Gateway on both tests, and we expect the Dell will let you play pretty much any PC game over the next year or so at a reasonable frame rate and decent image quality thanks to its 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 card. However, when you find that first game that really chokes a midrange PC, the Gateway gives you an easier upgrade path by way of a second graphics card slot. The Dell has no such feature. If it had, the Dell would have been the first sub-$1,000 PC that we know of to support ATI's CrossFire or Nvidia's SLI multigraphics card technologies.

Dell has long contracted its own motherboards, and here it opted for three PCI Express 1X slots in addition to the single 3D card slot. Our suspicion is that Dell decided against the second graphics card slot so that it wouldn't have to upgrade the 350-watt power supplies it already had lined up for its Studio desktop line. We don't require multigraphics card support in mainstream desktops, but we have a hunch you might find it hard to make use of all three 1x PCI Express slots. You should at least find a compatible wireless networking card.

We will give Dell credit for the ports on the rear of the system, at least because of the external SATA input (for speedy portable hard-drive connections). However, you don't get HDMI output, which we also don't expect in a midtower, but you'll be happy to find eight USB 2.0 jacks between the front and rear panels, as well as an optical S/PDIF audio output, and a FireWire 400 jack. You can also add a second hard drive inside, but all memory slots are occupied.

You should also bear in mind that this is a configurable PC, unlike the fixed-specification Gateway. Options for the Dell include a Blu-ray reader or writer, larger hard drives in various configurations, up to 12GB of memory, and a variety of displays, networking adapters, and mice and keyboards. Any additions or subtractions will, of course, affect the price.

You can also upgrade the default service and support package in a variety of ways, but for most buyers, the default warranty will be fine. You get Dell's typical year of parts-and-labor coverage, as well as 24-7, toll-free phone support. Dell has many help options available online, and it offers onsite service, pending prior approval of Dell's phone-based support team.

Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

System configurations: Dell Studio XPS
Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 (64-bit); 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920; 6GB 1,066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card; 500GB 7,200 rpm Western Digital hard drive.

Falcon Northwest FragBox 2
Windows Vista Home Premium; 3.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8400; 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT graphics cards; 500GB 7,200rpm Samsung hard drive.

Gateway FX6800-01e
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.67GHz Intel Core i7 920; 3GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card; 750GB 7,200rpm Seagate hard drive.

Maingear Prelude
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300; 4GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT graphics card; 640GB 7,200rpm hard drive.

Velocity Micro Edge Z15
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 3.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550; 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; (2) 512MB ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics cards; 750GB 7,200 rpm Hitachi hard drive.

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Compare prices for Dell Studio XPS Desktop Computer

As Reviewed: $1,299

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