Lenovo's 3000 J115 series of desktop computers feature AMD's Athlon 64-bit dual-core processors, providing an affordable yet powerful CPU for handling Windows Vista and other 64-bit applications. These machines are designed for small business or home office users who want a high-performance machine that still meets their budget.

The core components in the baseline configuration of the J115 series include an AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ with twin processing cores operating at 2.0GHz each on a single chip. Lenovo pairs this speedy processor with 512MB of 533MHz DDR2 memory--the minimum amount you need to run Windows Vista, so you might consider an upgrade.

The low-end system ships with a decent 160GB 7,200rpm hard drive which provides a healthy amount of space for application installations and file storage. You get a combination CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive for burning audio and data CDs and can read--but not write to--DVDs.

As is Lenovo's custom, you can obtain desktop computers in the J115 family in a variety of configurations as far as operating system, processor, and other components go. But after you've selected your core configuration, certain aspects of these desktop computers are uniform across the family. These include the built-in gigabit Ethernet adapters, which allow you to connect your J115 to a high-speed network at home or at the office.

You also get NVIDIA GF6100 integrated graphics. While not as fast as a dedicated graphics card, as they still share video memory with the main system RAM, the GF6100 graphics are superior to most integrated graphics options. This ensures a decent boost for multimedia multitasking or light image/video editing. If you'll be doing heavier CAD work, you may consider upgrading to a dedicated video card, as the J115 desktop computers come with an available PCI Express slot.

The Lenovo Care tools come standard on all systems in the line, providing system crash recovery aid, secure password management, and a built-in troubleshooter. At the touch of a button, you can automatically return to the last stable system configuration, which makes recovering from a virus or system crash a much easier process. You also get a basic set of office applications in Corel's WordPerfect Office 12, but the rest of the software bundle is rather basic.

You'll find a good selection of ports at the front of the gray minitower for connecting a headset or USB 2.0 devices such as thumb drives or other peripherals (there are two USB ports on front and another four on the rear of the tower). While the J115 includes a standard mouse and keyboard, users who like a cleaner desktop may consider an upgrade to wireless peripherals to cut the cords.

You don't get a monitor with the J115 desktop computer at the baseline price, but Lenovo offers a variety of display sizes to choose from (including a 15-inch LCD that starts out at under $180). However, your best bet would be looking for a bundle at an online or brick-and mortar retailer. There's only a one-year warranty on the J115 line to start with, but extending the coverage is very affordable. Lenovo also has good online support as well as free phone support while you're under warranty. If you're looking for a powerful office desktop computer at a budget price, the Lenovo 3000 J115 series offers great core performance in a compact and affordable package.


Pro: Lots of configurations available, great starting price
Con: No monitor included

Warranty
1 year, parts; 2 years, motor