Asus Essentio CM6870

Robust CPU/GPU combination. Multiple USB 3.0 ports. Spacious dual-drive setup. Solid expansion. HDMI video output. Integrated Wi-Fi. Excellent value ; Cons: Some bloatware. Not so great in higher quality gaming settings ; Editor Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0...

Some bloatware. Not so great in higher quality gaming settings ; Editor Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 ; Bottom Line: In all but the most demanding of game settings, the Asus Essentio CM6870 is a great entry-level gaming desktop that offers plenty of bang for...

In all but the most demanding of game settings, the Asus Essentio CM6870 is a great entry-level gaming desktop that offers plenty of bang for the buck, with an abundance of features, a sturdy CPU/GPU combination, and lots of room for expansion. The...

Fast productivity performance, thanks to new Ivy Bridge processor ; Large 2TB hard drive ; Great expansion options

Gaming performance could be better for a system in this price range ; Internal fans are noticeably noisy during bootup

With its new-for-2012 Intel Ivy Bridge processor, this Essentio tower is a powerhouse productivity and entertainment system for the price. Plus, once it shows its age, options for internal upgrades will be plentiful.

This computer comes with 16GB of RAM, which is the highest amount we've seen

The Asus Essentio CM6870 does not come with Windows 8

This home computer can stand toe-to-toe with the best of home computers.

Cheaper than buying separate components to build your own: CPU ~$300, Motherboard ~$80, 16GB DDR3 SDRAM ~$75, Blu-ray ~$50, 2GB Hard Drive ~$100, Graphics Card ~$50, Windows 7 ~$100, Windows 8 Upgrade $15, Case ~$50, Card Reader ~$20, Keyboard and...

Power supply and graphics card

None

This is a lemon. The case is plastic and flimsy. The ON button appears as if it is half-broken. The USB ports and other ports appear poorly constructed and barely fit any plug-ins ; After the initial boot, it had problem with installing Windows and the...