Alienware's MJ-12 5500 line of business desktop computers features powerful, stable machines with excellent components. They're well suited for CAD, architectural design, or other high-end activities. If you're looking at a new workstation for your business, don't let Alienware's reputation for building gaming machines fool you--the company's doing a bang-up job of putting together corporate machines.

The Alienware 5500 desktop computer line supports Intel's Dual Core processors--twin processing units in a single chip. The 5500 comes standard with the 2.8GHz Pentium 820 Dual Core processor. You can upgrade to the 3.2GHz Pentium Extreme Edition 840 Dual Core CPU, but that will add more than $1,000 to the price tag.

Memory, on the other hand, is abundant from the start. The baseline desktop ships with the Dual Core processor and a gig of speedy 667MHz memory. If you need more, upgrading to 2 gigs costs $271.

The default graphics board is a 128MB Quadro FX 1400, and the Quadro FX 3400 with 256MB of GDDR3 memory is $381 over baseline.

Storage space for this computer starts out at a respectable 80GB on a 7,200rpm drive, although users manipulating large files may need more room or want faster transfer rates. Doubling the space to 160GB is only $33, and you can take it up to a quarter-terabyte (250GB) for $91. Alienware offers a RAID 0 option for greater performance for this desktop--twin 74GB 10,000rpm drives run $367 over baseline.

The desktop ships with a basic DVD-ROM drive that will read CD media and play DVD movies, but isn't capable of media writing. You can make the computer a combination DVD-ROM drive and high-speed 52X/36X/52X CD-RW drive, letting you burn audio and data CDs, for only a $15 upgrade.

Another inexpensive option from Alienware is a $44 upgrade to a 16X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW drive. This drive burns to both DVD-R and DVD+R media and handles the new high-capacity Dual Layer media that can store up to 8.5GB of data on a single disk.

The optional 10-in-1 media card reader (only $18 over baseline, replacing the default floppy drive) lets you transfer data or photos from your PDA or other device to your desktop easily. It supports almost every flash memory format on the market, from common ones like CompactFlash and MicroDrive to lesser-known formats such as xD-Picture CardT.

A Creative SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS comes standard, giving you 7.1 channels of sound and a Firewire port for connecting high-speed peripherals. Speaker options include a basic 5.1-speaker set from Logitech for $60, the Creative GigaWorks S750 700-watt 7.1-speaker set for $436, and everything in between.

The spartan aluminum Alienware chassis is sleek and powerful looking. The computer can be easily locked down with a single key, eliminating unwanted access to the front bays or the interior of the desktop. There are two USB 2.0 ports up front, letting you connect high-speed peripherals without having to reach behind the computer.

No modem is included (one is available as a pricey $67 option), although the gigabit Ethernet port lets you connect to your company's high-speed LAN without any bottlenecking.

There's a one-year limited warranty on the Alienware 5500 desktop line that includes 24/7 toll-free tech support and on-site service if needed. If you need a longer coverage period, two years is $195 while three years is $265.

No display comes with the computer at the default price, although you can pair it with an excellent 17-inch black LCD from NEC for $345 or a giant 22-inch NEC CRT for $555.

Alienware includes a basic black keyboard and optical mouse from Microsoft with your desktop, and there are upgrades available. Stepping up to the Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard is $17 while opting for the MS IntelliMouse Explorer is $30. If you already have input devices of your own, you can skip Alienware's keyboard and mouse and knock $12 and $10 off the price tag, respectively.

Alienware's MJ-12 5500 line of desktop computers offers excellent power for business users and graphics designers. Stepping up to the Dual Core technology will cost a little extra, but the performance boost--coupled with the excellent graphics capabilities of these Alienware desktop computers--will definitely be noticed.

Pro: Powerful Dual Core technology supported, great graphics
Con: No monitor included

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Alienware
12400 Southwest 134th Court, Bay 8
Miami, Florida 33186
(800) 494-3382
http://www.alienware.com

Warranty
1-year limited