iBuypower Gamer Paladin Q600-SB

Processor: 2.33GHz Core 2 Quad Q8200
Memory: 4GB DDR2
Storage: 500GB hard drive
Optical Drive: DVD±RW
Monitor: None
Graphics: Nvidia integrated graphics
Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit)

We're used to boutique PC manufacturer iBuypower catering to the hard-core enthusiast with its (relatively) low-cost, high-performance PCs, such as its recent Gamer Paladin F870-SB Core i7 screamer. Systems aimed at those with tighter budgets aren't usually the company's order of the day. Now that we've become acquainted with its $719 Gamer Paladin Q600-SB, we understand why.

This is, as per iBuypower's usual, a slick-looking machine. The Vantage Gaming case offers no hint of the Paladin's budget status, bearing decisive design elements on its front panel and drive-bay door, mostly based on triangles (including the crystal-blue power button) that give it an imposing, exciting look. The side panel goes even further, with explosively colorful Halo 2 artwork that not only provides serious visual pop but also ties into one of the system's chief premiums: a free copy of Halo 2 with purchase.

Granted, the rest of the traditional-black exterior is more closely related to low-frills budget systems than all-out gaming machines. On the front panel you'll find a simple DVD±RW drive, a 12-in-1 card reader, two USB ports, and the headphone and mic jacks. Around back, you'll see two PS/2 ports; HDMI, DVI, and VGA out for exporting video; four USB, one FireWire, Ethernet, and eight-channel audio jacks. (Speakers and a Creative Webcam, while not integrated, are also included.)

Only one of four expansion slots—PCI Express (PCIe) x1, PCIe x16, and two PCI—is filled: a wireless networking card is in a PCI slot. In terms of other expansion room, there's plenty available: three free external 5.25-inch bays, one external 3.5-inch bay, and three internal 3.5-inch bays.

But although the Gamer Paladin Q600-SB has no shortage of room for the future, you should probably take advantage of it immediately if you want to get a lot of gaming done. The 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 500GB hard drive, and 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium aren't enough to guarantee even passable 3D performance. You really need a discrete graphics card, which this system does not have. What it has instead is an integrated GeForce 9300 card, which isn't going to be good enough for much more than basic video tasks.

This isn't to say you're completely lost: In both of our 1,280x1,024 Company of Heroes tests, the Gamer Paladin Q600-SB bested other budget desktops we've seen recently, pulling in average frame rates of 16.3 frames per second (fps) in the DirectX 9 (DX9) test and 19.3fps in the DX10 test, both at the game's out-of-the-box settings for those modes on this system. Unfortunately, these scores are below what most people consider playable. You could probably squeeze out slightly better scores by turning down the details even more, but it's not as though they're cranked up already.

The Paladin's productivity scores, however, were better for its class, poised between the Gateway DX4710-05 and the ZT Affinity 7238Xi in most of our tests—the exception being Windows Media Encoder (its score of 4 minutes and 17 seconds was behind both the ZT's 4 minutes and 2 seconds and the DX4710-05's 4 minutes and 8 seconds). The Paladin needed 3 minutes and 50 seconds to finish our iTunes conversion trial (the Affinity did it 17 seconds faster, the DX4710-05, 21 seconds faster), and earned 9,607 in Cinebench 10 (compared with the 9,478 and the 10,494 on the Gateway and ZT systems, respectively). The iBuypower came in just shy of the ZT on our 64-bit run in Futuremark's 3DMark Vantage: 4,030 versus 4,407 (the Gateway PC was unable to complete this test).

Of course, nothing about the look or the name of the iBuypower Gamer Paladin Q600-SB suggests it's aimed at productivity, regardless of its test scores or its inclusion of a 60-day free trial of Microsoft Office 2007. This is a machine meant for gaming, a task for which it's only moderately capable in its current state. One solution would be to add an ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics card, although you'd slightly overshoot the budget category of $750. This would give you a considerably better gaming experience at lower resolutions and still not sap your budget. Think of it as using the money you don't have to spend buying Halo 2.

Price (at time of review): $719 (as tested)

author : Matthew Murray