The 2TB Caviar Black is spec’d to impress, with four 500GB platters, two processors, 64MB of cache, and a dual-stage actuator system that puts a fine-tuned piezoelectric actuator head at the end of the standard magnetic actuator, enabling fine-tuned tracking for speedy seek times.

It's speedy, it's small, and it's an elegant way to attach 320GB of storage to your desktop or laptop.  Western Digital's My Passport Elite is the latest and largest of the My Passport line, and we love how it puts a pretty (and speedy) hunk of storage into a pocked-sized form.

Once we got the drive into our test system, it performed like a dream, with average sustained read speeds of 205.4MB/s—virtually identical to our champion, the Intel X25-M. The Torqx is still much more expensive than a magnetic hard drive of similar capacity, but it offers 48GB more capacity than the $300 80GB Intel X-25M, so if you’ve got the extra Benjamin, it's a great buy.

The 1TB 7200.12 has much in common with drives from the previous generation of Barracudas: It features 32MB of L2 cache, 7,200rpm rotational speeds, and SATA 3Gb/s data transfer with Native Command Queuing. But with 1TB on only two platters, this drive is wicked fast.

The Samsung SH-S223 is a minor upgrade from its predecessor, the SH-203, but it’s our new favorite. The burner has 22x DVD +/-R and though a majority of the specifications mirrored that of the older model, the SH-S223 is seconds speedier.

In the end, the Pioneer’s BDR-2203 succeeded in unseating LG’s GBW-H20L as our Blu-ray burner of choice. After all, who wouldn’t want BD-R write times that are 30 percent faster for a comparable price, along with solid performance in all other areas?

Envision’s G2219w1 is the best 22-inch LCD monitor available for less than $300. Unlike other many other budget monitors, the G2219w1 didn’t suffer from banding or ghosting issues. This monitor’s grayscales are also impressive, particularly its ability to display a wide range of lighter colors.

Don’t make the mistake of buying the Audiobyte without the optional subwoofer. The little speakers are capable enough on their own, but they need a sub—the EPZero is enough, despite being passive—to deliver great performances with games and music. This 2.1-channel system costs 1.5 times more than the 5.1-channel Logitech system, but if music is your passion, the price delta is worth it.

Logitech wins this category more or less by default: No manufacturer of note is building 5.1-channel speakers for PCs these days. But while audiophiles might look down their noses at it, the Z-5500 Digital does pack an incredible feature set—including THX certification and a very powerful subwoofer—into a $350 tag. If you must have true surround sound, this is the set to buy.

The Fortress FT01 is a solidly constructed aluminum unibody case that boasts five tool-free optical slots, as well as seven slide-in hard drive trays. Two filtered 18 cm fans pull cool air into the case, while the warmed air leaves via the 12cm rear exhaust fan and vents in the back panel. The FT01 is a great-looking, well-constructed case. It’s nice to see Silverstone back to the classy brushed-metal look it’s known for.