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Dell Computer on Monday introduced a new sub-$1,000 server for small businesses or corporate workgroups that can be factory configured to run as a file server, print server, or application server.

The Dell PowerEdge 1600SC is the new starting point for customers in search of a two-processor server. Dell has replaced its previous 1400SC and 1500SC servers with the new system, says Russ Ray, senior product manager for Dell PowerEdge servers.

The new, slimmer 1600SC ships with higher-performing chips than its predecessors and has more options for bulking the system up into a higher-end server.

"We didn't want to limit the top-end scalability with this product," Ray says. "But we did want to make things optional, so the system is not taxed if a customer doesn't want the other features."

Dell, in Round Rock, Texas, is battling with IBM and Hewlett-Packard in the Intel server space and has managed to gain share against its competitors in a tough economic climate.

Technical Details

The 1600SC has built-in gigabit Ethernet support and can be fitted with dual Intel Xeon processors at speeds up to 2.8 GHz, up to 438GB of internal SCSI (small computer systems interface) storage and up to 4GB of memory, Ray says.

Additionally, the 1600SC offers support for hot-pluggable disks and power supplies for customers requiring high-system uptime. Dell has also made remote management available, bringing this option down from its higher-end systems, Dell says.

Pricing for the 1600SC starts at $999. Dell in the U.S. offers a $100 mail-in rebate, according to its Web site. The basic, $999 system, includes a single 1.8-GHz Xeon processor, 128MB of memory, and one 18GB SCSI hard drive, according to the Dell Web site. The system is available worldwide.

The new server is available with factory installation of Microsoft's Windows 2000 Server, 2000 Small Business Server software, and Red Hat's Linux. The 1600SC is also certified and validated for Novell's NetWare, Dell says.

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