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With its luminous paint job, alien head logo and sci-fi inspired moniker, the Alienware Aurora DDR appears to be little more than a novelty PC. But behind its kitschy exterior lies benchmark-burning performance and features that make this $1,999-direct computer not just the fastest budget gaming system we've tested, but a worthy contender regardless of price.
The Aurora DDR edges out all the other systems in this roundup, as well as every other Athlon XP 2000+ system we've tested to date, thanks in no small part to its 512MB of DDR SDRAM, 7,200rpm hard drive (which, at 100GB, is a mammoth for the price), and leading-edge 128MB GeForce4 Ti 4600 graphics card.
Alienware backs up the Aurora DDR's imposing performance with great peripherals. NEC's Multisync FE950+ 19-inch CRT monitor has a flat aperture-grille screen that looks crisp all the way to 1,600x1,200. Fast DVD-ROM and CD-RW drives (the latter with a record-setting 40x write speed) round out the hardware package, with Roxio's Easy CD Creator 5 Basic handling CD-creation tasks. Alienware also supplies two excellent games-Deus Ex and Giants-along with demos of Quake III Arena and Comanche 4.
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A Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer card and Inspire 5.1 5300 speakers pump out the audio. It's a good match, especially if you plan to watch DVDs. Serious audiophiles might prefer more powerful speakers, however; Alienware offers several options, including the acclaimed Klipsch ProMedia 5.1.
Whichever you settle on, you'll want to crank up the volume to drown out the noise generated by the Aurora DDR's gargantuan tower case. Inside, four large fans keep the system cool and comfy, but it sounds like you've got a jet taxiing beneath your desk.
The Aurora DDR's Cyborg Green case design also has its drawbacks, mainly the additional $49 charge if you want a matching monitor. The system's tool-free removable side panels make upgrading easy, and the many available drive bays, PCI slots, and memory sockets give you plenty of growing room. In addition, one IEEE 1394 (FireWire) port and four USB ports let you connect peripherals to your heart's content. One design drawback: The hinged door on the tower's front blocks access to all drives when closed.
Alienware offers a one-year parts-and-labor warranty; the company also includes a year of on-site service and around-the-clock toll-free phone support. All things considered, the Alienware Aurora DDR justifies its name with out-of-this-world speed and generous features for a budget gaming PC.
"That said, there's one that stands just a little above the rest: the Alienware Aurora DDR. You get one of the coolest cases around (in your choice of colors), as well as pack-leading performance, a splendid flat-screen monitor, an enviable audio package (only Klipsch 5.1 speakers could make it sweeter), and a good support policy.