Labs

Three PC makers this month have chosen to include not one but two of the brand new GeForce 9600GT graphics cards, working in tandem to improve graphics performance. The PC Specialist certainly offers stunning gaming capabilities: a 3D benchmark score of 289% is remarkable, and one of the highest we've ever seen, beaten this time only by the similarly equipped Zoostorm.

The rest of the Apollo's specification is pretty accomplished, too. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor isn't up to the same feats as the quad core parts in some of these machines, but 175% is still quick enough to handle several demanding applications at once.

4GB of RAM is included,

One potential stumbling block is the interior of the smart-looking case. It's pretty cramped thanks to the two graphics cards, and there's been little effort to keep everything cool; wires trail everywhere and disrupt vital airflow, so the machine may get pretty toasty during long and demanding sessions.

The monitor and speakers, though, will prove excellent companions for extended use. The screen isn't ideal for professional image editing, but perfectly capable in tasks like gaming and movies as well as general work. The keyboard and mouse, though, are pretty basic.

These are minor quibbles, because the graphics cards are the star performers here. The main processor, though relatively modest, is no slouch either. This is definitely a system to consider if serious gaming is on the agenda.