Dell Dimension XPS B866r

WHAT'S HOT: If you want PC speed, Dell's Dimension XPS B866r is a great choice. Its Pentium III-866 CPU and 128MB of RDRAM make applications sizzle. A PC WorldBench 2000 score of 158 makes it the fastest home system we've seen. High-end graphics and 3D games move like photons too. The NVidia GeForce 256 graphics card with 64MB of DDR RAM churned out images on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and Rage Expendable faster than any system we've seen--39.3 and 84 frames per second, respectively. The system we evaluated came with a first-rate 19-inch Dell M990 Trinitron monitor, which showed deep colors and crisp small text even at 1600-by-1200 resolution, though we had to adjust the refresh rate to eliminate screen flicker. DVD movie playback quality was superb. A 100MB Zip drive and a huge 30GB hard drive provide ample storage.

WHAT'S NOT: At $2607, the Dimension XPS B866r is a tad expensive. For that price, we'd like to see extras such as a CD-RW drive. The Harman Kardon HK-595 speakers--with a subwoofer almost the size of a microwave oven--produce clear, rich sound, but we've heard better.

WHAT ELSE: The XPS B866r comes with an ethernet card for users who want high-speed Internet access. Removing the easy-off cover discloses two open PCI slots and three free drive bays. Setup is a snap--even for the uninitiated--thanks to an excellent instruction sheet and detailed documentation. The reference and troubleshooting manual covers basic and intermediate maintenance issues. The price includes a copy of Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition.

BEST USE: This Dimension is a great system for a home office or for a family that uses 3D graphics software or games.

SUMMARY

Dell Dimension XPS B866r PC WorldBench 2000 score of 158, Pentium III-866, 128MB of RDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, 30GB hard drive, 19-inch monitor, midsize tower, Windows 98 SE, NVidia GeForce 256 DDR graphics board with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 12X DVD-ROM drive, V.90 modem. $2607 800/388-8542 www.dell.com