Dell Computer wrestled the top rank in worldwide PC shipments away from Hewlett-Packard in the first quarter of 2003 in a market that managed to grow a little bit.

Dell shipped about 450,000 more desktops, notebooks and Intel-based servers worldwide than did rival HP, according to research firm Gartner, giving Dell the top spot once again. The two companies have now traded the coveted designation four quarters in a row.

Round Rock, Tex.-based Dell accounted for 16.9 percent of the market worldwide, according to research firm Gartner, growing by 24.4 percent over the same quarter a year ago. HP, meanwhile, accounted for 15.6 percent of the market, a 5.7 percent decline from the combined shipments of HP and Compaq Computer a year ago.

Overall, PC shipments were slightly ahead of modest predictions. According to Gartner, 34.5 million PCs left factories in the first quarter, an increase of 5.5 percent. Shipments in the United States increased 7.7 percent, the firm said.

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