AVADirect Core 2 Duo SLI

Aggressive overclocking; strong configuration for the price; top-notch current-generation gaming performance; highly customizable

Dual-core CPU not as future-proof as a quad-core chip; irritating front-panel fan controller; too many customization options isn't always a good thing; weak phone support hours and few online support resources

AVADirect's newest Core 2 Duo SLI desktop would be a great buy for a gamer looking to dominate on a current-generation title. We wish it had a quad-core chip, and we'd also rather that tweaking this configuration didn't involve choosing from such a...

Overclocked CPU and graphics card give you extra performance; plenty of expandability; three-year parts and labor warranty comes standard without jacking up the price.

Cluttered cables and an outdated serial game port need to go; barely acceptable power supply if you want to add a second graphics card after purchase; limited phone support hours.

This is AVA Direct's debut PC with CNET, and we like what we see so far. A few minor design and config issues aside, the overclocked parts squeeze as much performance as possible, while helping to keep the price somewhat reasonable. We're eager to see...