Desktop Pcs

The Sony VAIO VPC-L212FX/B ($1,199.99 list, at Best Buy) is a very attractive all-in-one desktop PCwith the power to create media (photos, videos, music) as well as enjoy it. It has a couple of creature comforts, like HDMI-in and an innovative multi-touch screen, but a couple of missing features, like Blu-ray and a TV tuner, keep this desktop from industry-leading greatness.

Design and Features
The VPC-L212FX/B looks more like an HDTV than the last Sony VAIO all-in-one we looked at, the Sony VAIO VPC-J113FX/B ($999.98 list, 2.5 stars). The desktop is all monitor, with a slightly large bezel around the screen (more on that later). The chassis fits the current consumer electronics standards: glossy black plastic and glass, with silver accents on the system’s “foot.” The included wireless keyboard and mouse easily slip underneath the screen for storage. The back and sides of the system have embedded controls and ports, but are almost invisible unless you really look for them. This design strategy is both a help and a hindrance: they are certainly discreet, but they almost seem hidden when you’re trying to find them in a darkened room.

The system’s 24-inch 1080p HD (1,920 by 1,080 resolution) panel is multi-touch enabled, so you can navigate using your fingers. The surface has a little more friction than other touch devices (like the relatively slick screen on an iPad or iPhone), but it’s easy to get used to. The bezel surrounding the screen is actually another touch-sensitive that tries to make the touch experience more than just “pressing on-screen buttons.” Depending on what spot you press, you’ll bring up functions like zoom in/out, back or forward, a hotkey for a favorite app, and even a control to turn the backlit Sony logo on or off. It’s somewhat gimmicky, but I suppose you can learn the functions to make surfing the Web a better experience. At the very least, it means that you’ll need to use the mouse and keyboard less. An icon on the lower right of the bezel brings up a cheat sheet diagram in case you forget which part of the screen zooms in.

Like other all-in-one PCs, there isn’t any internal expansion room in the VPC-L212FX/B, though you can expand the included 4GB of memory up to 8GB. There are 3 USB 2.0 ports in the back, and a pair of USB 3.0 ports on the side. The USB 3.0 interface is “up to 10 times faster” than USB 2.0. Above the USB 3.0 ports is the media card reader, which only handles SD and Memory Stick models (and their variants). I’d like to see an eSATA port to also provide a faster connection when transferring data via external hard drives, since video collectors and creators tend to like big-screen PCs like this one. Other buttons on the right side of the desktop handle volume or selecting which of the three inputs display on the screen: The internal PC, HDMI in, or the analog (composite) video/audio in ports. HDMI in is great for people that want to hook up a cable DVR, PlayStation 3, or TiVo to the VPC-L212FX/B, and the analog ports will work with old-school VCRs and camcorders.

For such a compact desktop, there are a lot of options to view video, but there are a few omissions. The system lacks the Blu-ray player that should have been a natural choice for 23-inch 1080p HD panels, and this version of the VAIO L Touch lacks a TV tuner (other models from Sony have both options). Since we’re griping, the bloatware situation at Sony has improved greatly compared with a few years ago, but there are still a couple of stumbles. The system comes with only 30 days of updates for the included Norton Internet Security trial software (I’d like to see 12-15 months included on all new PCs), and there’s a copy of Evernote preloaded. Evernote is a free note-taking app, but to get the full functionality of the program you’ll have to subscribe. The software isn’t all bad: There’s a VAIO Media Gallery program pre-loaded that helps you view photos, videos, and music in an easy to navigate touch interface. VAIO Media Gallery also helps you create videos and slideshows you can then share with the world. PlayStation 3 owners will get a kick out of the remote play and remote keyboard functions built into the VAIO L Touch. You can share media (photos, music, videos) between other VAIO desktops and laptops, if you set up the Vaio Media sharing utility.

Performance
The VPC-L212FX/B uses one of the new Intel Core i5-2410M processors, which includes Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 integrated GPU. This means that the desktop has very good multimedia processing performance with a modicum of 3D power, all in a singe-die chip. It has multimedia performance that rivals quad-core processors from AMD, even though the Core i5-2410M is technically a dual-core processor. The VPC-L212FX/B completed our Handbrake video encoder test in 2 minutes 38 seconds, and our Photoshop CS5 test in 4:13. That’s faster than the AMD Athlon II X4-powered Lenovo IdeaCentre B305 ($949 list, 3.5 stars) (which scored 3:25 on Handbrake; 8:01 on CS5) and the HP TouchSmart 310 ($1,159 direct, 4 stars) (2:56 Handbrake; 6:42 CS5). Our current Editor’s Choice for midrange multimedia all in one PCs, the Asus All in One PC ET2400IGTS-B008E ($1,299 list, 4.5 stars) is a smidge faster than all these desktops (1:57 Handbrake; 3:30 CS5): its higher-powered Intel Core i5-2400S and a smidge more memory (6GB vs. 4GB) is the reason for the extra performance. Of course, none of these desktops is a great choice for playing 3D games, though the Asus ET2400 comes closest to playable scores at Crysis (33fps). If you want 3D performance in an all in one at this price point, you’ll have to go for the smaller screened Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3) ($1,199 list, 4 stars) (61fps Crysis). The VPCL212FX/B can run Crysis, but its 11fps score at medium settings is akin to a slow motion video of the action.

Though the Sony VAIO VPC-L212FX/B is arguably the most attractive system among the five in terms of looks, it has a few drawbacks that keep it from achieving our highest ratings: The Sony’s weaker 3D performance isn’t a dealbreaker by itself, but when you add the lack of Blu-ray, eSATA, and TV tuner to the mix, you lost a few points off the top. The Asus ET2400IGTS-B008E holds on to the Editors’ Choice for multimedia all in one desktops by virtue of its better performance overall, and the things that the Sony lacked.

 

The Gateway DX4850-27eu ($649.99 list at Best Buy) is a mid-tower desktop PC that won’t “wow” enthusiasts with future-proofed features like USB 3.0 or Blu-ray. But with its strong performance on multimedia tasks, scads of storage space, and plenty of room to grow internally, the DX4850-27eu will appeal to consumers and those on a tight budget.

Design and Features
Taking design cues from its sibling, the Gateway DX4320-45 ($899.99 list, 3 stars), the DX4850-27eu sports the same protruding lip on top of the system that makes for a dynamic design than the traditional boxy desktop. The front of the chassis has a black glossy finish with a glowing white light that frames the front panel (this can be turned off, if you wish). There’s an included DVD-R/RW drive and an empty 3.5-inch hard drive bay, which is already prepped for a drive (in case you want to expand your storage). Both are hidden behind doors that fold out when the side eject buttons are pressed. The aforementioned lip houses a media card reader that accepts a wide array of formats, including xD, Micro SD, SD/MMC, MS/PRO, and CF media cards. Next to the card reader are two USB 2.0 ports and audio jacks.

The top of the chassis has a indented tray to place your multimedia devices (i.e. MP3s, hard drives, etc.) and plug them into the two additional USB 2.0 ports on the tray, toward the back. There’s also a hidden cable wrapper for those who like to keep wire-clutter to a minimum.

On the back of the DX4850-27eu is an array of connectivity options: Two PS/2 (older mice and keyboards), HDMI, VGA, 6 additional USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, and audio jacks. I would have liked to have seen a USB 3.0 or eSATA port, which the Velocity Micro Vector Holiday Edition ($999 direct, 4.5 stars) have. Heavy downloaders and digital hoarders will be delighted by the 1.5TB hard drive, but its 5,400rpm speed makes this system more for the consumer-grade photo or digital enthusiasts. Desktops at lesser price points, like the Dell Inspiron i580-8139NBC ($499.98 list, 4 stars), include a 500GB drive that spins at a fast 7,200rpm.

Cracking open the Gateway DX4850-27eu will require a screwdriver, but after loosening two screws I was able to slide the side panel open. All 4 RAM slots were full, but there were 3 PCIe x1 slots open that can be filled with expansion cards like a sound, Wi-Fi, TV tuner, or USB 3.0 card. There’s one PCIe x16 slot were you can install an discrete graphics card, but you’ll want to make sure not to exceed the 300W power supply—which limits you to mid-range cards like an ATI Radeon HD 5570 or AMD Radeon HD 6570. There are also two internal SATA ports open in case you need even more hard drive storage space, along with the aforementioned empty extractable bay (that’s already wired for a hard drive) and two other free drive bays.

Bloatware is at a minimum, Gateway included a 60-day Norton trial, Bing Bar, and a Best Buy app to download and purchase software. Think of it as similar to Steam for everyday applications or the Apple App Store on your computer where you can purchase software. The Best Buy app is good, because it prevents manufacturers from pre-loading (and ultimately slowing down) your desktop with trial software, shortcuts to eBay, and extraneous applications that you most likely don’t need.

Performance
The DX4850-27eu is equipped with a 2.8GHz Intel Core i5-2300 processor (Sandy Bridge), coupled with 6GB of RAM. This hardware combination gave the desktop a boost on several of our CPU-intensive tests, like PCMark Vantage (8,715) and Cinebench R11.5 (4.62). These scores were competitive with that of desktops with similar processing power, like the Editors’ Choice Velocity Micro Vector Holiday Edition (8,622 PCMark and 4.87 Cinebench). Likewise, on multimedia tests like Photoshop CS5 image filter (3:37) and Handbrake video encoding (1:48) tests the DX4850-27eu was able to churn out similar scores as the Velocity Micro Holiday Edtion (3:29 CS5 and 1:34 Handbrake).

In terms of 3D performance, the DX4850-27eu did well considering it lacks a discrete graphics card. Its Core i5 processor, with its improved integrated graphics, helped the desktop to score 5,441 on 3DMark Vantage at enty-level settings. On our DirectX 10 Crysis gaming test, it was able to churn out a slow 11.8 frames per second (fps) on Medium and 1.73fps on Very High; but it failed to even run our DirectX 11 Lost Planet 2 test. As such, you’ll be limited to light 3D games like Torchlight and World of Warcraft.

The Gateway DX4850-27eu is a solid performing desktops that offers room to grow and plenty of ports. But given that this desktop is competing in the best bang for buck space, it lacks features like Wi-Fi, that would make it appeal to the casual consumer. If you’re willing to eek out the extra cash, the EC HP Pavilion p6727c-b ($749.99 list, 4 stars) bundles a monitor, but you’ll be sacrificing some performance and adding bloatware. There’s also our Editors’ Choice Dell Inspiron i580-8139NBC, 98 that will give you a Blu-ray player and no bloatware for much less.

 

Budget systems are a great way for budding enthusiasts to dip their toes in the waters of desktop PCmodding. The Asus Essentio CM1630-08 ($579.99 list at Best Buy) comes with the essentials to get started and provides plenty of PCIe slots to grow. Just keep in mind, you’ll have to live without creature comforts like Wi-Fi, USB 3.0, and eSATA, unless you decide to add them later yourself.

Design and Features
The CM1630-08 comes in a standard black chassis with a glossy faceplate and metal side panels. Topside, there’s a plastic mesh indented tray to hold hard drives, MP3 players, and other devices that can be jacked into one of the easy-access ports that sit near the top of the face of the PC. These ports consist of 4 USB 2.0, audio jacks, CF, SD/MMC, and MS/PRO card readers. Below sits a DVD drive and expansion bay for an extra hard drive or optical drive. In the back of the desktop are even more connectivity options: 6 more USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks, Ethernet, HDMI, VGA, PS/2 (for older keyboards and mice), and DVI-D (digital and analog). I would have liked to have seen USB 3.0 or an eSATA port to provide users with faster data transfer speeds, but these advanced ports are unlikely in a sub-$600 desktop.

 

Cracking open the CM1630-08 was fairly easy; you just undo two screws and slide open the side panel. Inside, there are 4 RAM slots (3 of which were filled), 3 SATA ports and two drive bays for extra hard drives, one PCIe x1 (for sound, Wi-Fi, TV tuner, or USB 3.0 card), one PCIe x16 (for a graphics card), and two PCI slots. Note that if you do decide to install a graphics card, you’ll be limited to a mid-range one as the included 330W power supply can’t handle anything more powerful. Storage space shouldn’t be an issue as the CM1630-08 comes with a 1TB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

Bloatware is kept to a minimum thanks to the Best Buy app; it’s like a Steam or Apple App Store shortcut that directs you to a store where you can sample or purchase software for your PC. I prefer this over manufacturers littering the desktop screen with shortcuts and ads to applications I could simply download myself. The only other included software was the Ebi.Book Reader and Bing Bar.

Performance
The CM1630-08 comes with a 2.8GHz AMD Phenom II X4-830 processor and 6GB of RAM. On our CPU-intensive PCMark Vantage (5,723) and Cinebench R11.5 (3.35) tests it faired well considering its parts. It held its own against other desktops with more powerful CPUs, like the AMD Phenom II X4-840T-powered HP Pavilion p6719c ($499.99 list, 3.5 stars) (PCMark 6,721 and R11.5 3.43) and Intel Core i3-550-equipped Dell Inspiron i580-8139NBC ($499.98 list, 4 stars) (PCMark 6,287 and R11.5 2.62). On multimedia-oriented Photoshop CS5 image filter (5:35) and Handbrake video encoding (2:41) tests, the CM1630-08 fell significantly behind the Dell Inspiron by 1 minute 20 seconds, but only came up 22 seconds short of the HP p6719c.

The CM1630-08 has little to offer by way of 3D performance with its ATI Radeon 3000 integrated graphics chip. Its 3DMark Vantage scores were an abysmal 1,827 on the Entry setting, and it couldn’t even run our DirectX 11 Lost Planet 2 gaming benchmark test and barely made it through our DirectX 10 Crysis test (6.5fps Medium quality). You’ll need to upgrade to a discrete graphics card for anything more complicated than streaming online videos.

The Asus Essentio CM1630-08 is a solid starter desktop with room to grow. It may not have the most cutting-edge technology that enthusiasts crave, but puts out solid performance considering its parts, and all for a sub-$600 price. The Editors’ Choice Dell Inspiron i580-8139NBC has similar offerings for $80 less. Their differences are merely in hard drive space (1TB for the Asus vs. 500GB for the Dell) and overall performance numbers. Because of these factors, the Dell Inspiron i580-8139NBC still remains our Editors’ Choice, but I still give the Asus Essentio CM1630-08 a high recommendation.