The ABS Performance 7 has the distinction of being the least expensive PC in our roundup, and if you're a gamer on a budget, it may be just right for you.

This 2.0-GHz Pentium 4 system is powered by the high-end nVidia 64MB GeForce3 Ti 500 video card. The 19-inch CRT Hitachi monitor provides a sharp, bright image, particularly while playing our DVD test movie (Twister). We did encounter a few jitters, but that is characteristic of software-driven DVD playback. ABS uses a 3Com 905 10/100 Ethernet adapter and a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 sound card, paired with a Klipsch 4.1 speaker system, not taking full advantage of the surround-sound potential.

In addition to the Pioneer DVD and Plextor CD-RW drives, the Performance 7 includes a 60GB hard drive (7,200 rpm) and three USB, one parallel, and two serial ports—no IEEE 1394 ports—all mounted on the rear of the system.

ABS has done a commendable job of organizing its system documentation, which is presented in a single color-coded binder, complete with disc holders to keep everything in one place.

You may want to stash a screwdriver there as well; it will come in handy for removing the cover and any expansion cards. The optical disc and floppy disk drives, however, have a quick-release mechanism that lets you remove them tool-free. Unlike many of the high-end consumer systems we review here, the Performance 7 skimps on bundled software, offering only CyberLink PowerDVD and Microsoft Works.

Although the Performance 7 didn't break any speed records on our Business Winstone tests, it was one of the top four performers on our MDK2 Setting, Quake III Arena Demo001, and Unreal Tournament: Reverend's Thunder tests.