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Top 10 Gaming Desktop PCs

These powerful desktops use overclocked CPUs, one or more ultra-high-end graphics cards, and gobs of high-speed storage to put performance above all else.

Danny Allen, PC World

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PCW Rating: 86.6PCW Rating: 86.6PCW Rating: 86.6

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

BEST BUY!

1. CyberPower Black Pearl

CPU: 3.2-GHz Core i7 Extreme 965, Graphics Adapter: XFX GTX 280, Monitor Model: Optiquest Q241wb, Total HD Size (GB): 1300GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior,

Bottom Line: Though not the best gaming PC around, the Black Pearl is solid, feature-packed, and attractively priced.

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Price When Reviewed: $3799 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 86.2PCW Rating: 86.2PCW Rating: 86.2

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

2. Falcon Northwest Mach V

CPU: 3.2-GHz Core i7 Extreme 965, Graphics Adapter: (2) AMD Radeon HD4870 X2, Monitor Model: Samsung 2243BWX, Total HD Size (GB): 1080GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior,

Bottom Line: The Mach V packs in the latest technologies--including Intel's new Core i7 CPU--for the pinnacle of powerful PC performance.

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Price When Reviewed: $7395 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 85.6PCW Rating: 85.6PCW Rating: 85.6

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

3. AVADirect Core I7 SLI / Crossfirex Ddr3 Gaming System

CPU: 2.66-GHz Core i7 920, Graphics Adapter: eVGA e-GeForce GTX 285, Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster 245BW, Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior,

Bottom Line: For the price, this system is a killer performer that falters a little in graphics, but still rivals top gaming PCs overall.

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Price When Reviewed: $1840 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 83.1PCW Rating: 83.1PCW Rating: 83.1

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

4. IBuyPower Gamer Paladin F860-A

CPU: 2.93-GHz Core i7 940, Graphics Adapter: PowerColor Radeon HD4870, Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good,

Bottom Line: This gaming PC packs solid extras, but it lacks performance chops.

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Price When Reviewed: $2199 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 81.9PCW Rating: 81.9PCW Rating: 81.9

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

5. Xi HAF-SLI

CPU: 3.33-GHz Core 2 Duo E8600, Graphics Adapter: (2) EVGA e-GeForce 9800 GTX, Monitor Model: Samsung 2443BWX, Total HD Size (GB): 600GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior,

Bottom Line: This rig sacrifices some graphical prowess to achieve blazing overclocked performance at a killer price.

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Price When Reviewed: $3184 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 79.7PCW Rating: 79.7PCW Rating: 79.7

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

6. Hardcore Computer Reactor

CPU: 3.2-GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9770, Graphics Adapter: Nvidia GeForce GTX 280, Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM, Total HD Size (GB): 2240GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Superior,

Bottom Line: Impressive PC cools its parts by immersing them in oil, but more upgradable, cheaper, and faster (graphics-wise) PCs exist.

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Price When Reviewed: $10053 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 78.6PCW Rating: 78.6PCW Rating: 78.6

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

7. Überclok Reactor

CPU: 2.83-GHz Core 2 Quad Q9550, Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon HD4870 X2, Monitor Model: Samsung 245BW, Total HD Size (GB): 1300GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good,

Bottom Line: The Reactor is a speedy system, but a few of Überclok’s design decisions don’t make sense in a PC of this caliber.

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Price When Reviewed: $3693 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

8. Maingear F131

CPU: 3.2-GHz Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition, Graphics Adapter: ATI Radeon HD 4890, Monitor Model: Samsung SyncMaster T220, Total HD Size (GB): 1000GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Very Good,

Bottom Line: The F131 gaming PC uses AMD's latest technology and provides room for tweaks and upgrades as your needs increase.

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Price When Reviewed: $2499 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

9. Vigor Gaming Force Recon BT

CPU: 3.2-GHz Core 2 Extreme X9770, Graphics Adapter: (2) ATI Radeon HD-3870, Monitor Model: Viewsonic VG2230WM, Total HD Size (GB): 1800GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Good,

Bottom Line: While not a world-beater, the Force Recon BT offers good performance at a reasonable price.

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Price When Reviewed: $3399 Check Latest Prices

PCW Rating: 73.0PCW Rating: 73.0PCW Rating: 73.0

Last Rated: May 20, 2009

10. HP Firebird 803

CPU: 2.83-GHz Core 2 Quad Q9550, Graphics Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 9800S, Total HD Size (GB): 640GB Hard Drive, WorldBench 6 Word Score: Fair,

Bottom Line: This medusa of gaming systems will charm you with its good lucks, but be warned: it could be a trap!

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Price When Reviewed: $2099 Check Latest Prices
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