Quantex QP6/400 SM-4X SE

Quantex QP6/400 SM-4X SE

The SM-4x SE is Quantex's solution for the power user who wants everything--and isn't afraid to pay for it. At $2899, the SM-4x SE is pricey, but it has nearly every bell and whistle you could wish for, including a 19-inch monitor. Missing and mismatched components and drivers keep this system on the lower half of the chart.

This loaded, strong-performing midtower is crammed with 128MB of RAM, an 11GB hard disk, an Iomega Zip drive, and a 2X DVD-ROM drive. The Altec Lansing ACS490 Dolby Surround Sound three-piece speaker system will wow movie and game buffs, though the sound lacked clarity when outputting just music. The 19-inch Hitachi monitor dazzled us with its crisp graphics even at the far corners of the large screen.

So why isn't this PC riding the top of the chart? First, we prefer a graphics card that can handle 1600-by-1200 resolution. The 8MB Real3D StarFighter graphics card is a fine general-purpose 2D and 3D gaming accelerator, but it won't support the monitor's top resolution. We would also have liked a better keyboard than the squishy Legacy model we got. Also, Quantex failed to install drivers for the no-name 56-kbps modem, Microsoft IntelliMouse, and DVD-ROM drive--an irksome oversight for novices. Finally, no DVD titles were packed with the Microsoft Office 97 software bundle.

Loosening three thumb screws gets you inside the case, where you'll have to wade through criss-crossing cables to get to the five free drive bays and three free slots. Quantex's generally good manuals bear no mention of the DVD-ROM drive.

SUMMARY

PRO: Loaded configuration, great 19-inch monitor CON: Expensive, no DVD drivers or titles