Dell Dimension XPS R450

Dell Dimension XPS R450

If you're venturing away from the corporate fold, Dell's latest Windows 98 midtower is a terrific choice. At $2529 it isn't a pocket-change purchase, but its fast performance, multimedia features, and strong reliability and support make it one of our top picks for power-hungry small or home businesses.

This Dimension sports Intel's 450-MHz Pentium II, and it shows: The R450 loads Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer on the screen almost instantly, chalking up a PC WorldBench 98 score of 212. File junkies and pack rats will benefit from the spacious 10GB hard drive.

Multimedia capability is one of this system's strengths. The DVD video output is as smooth as a baby's forehead, thanks to the XPS R450's effective MPEG 2 playback, substantial 128MB of RAM, and 17-inch Trinitron monitor. Even with half a dozen apps churning away in the background, playback remained flawless. The included Turtle Beach Montego sound card and Altec Lansing ACS295 speaker-subwoofer combination offer powerful sound with a crystal-clear tone. Just make sure you have enough space under your desk to accommodate the subwoofer, which is approximately the size of a small microwave oven.

Besides price, the only nit we found to pick involves the system's x2-standard 56-kbps modem. Unlike many of its competitors, Dell has yet to equip its PCs with modems built to the global V.90 standard. In every other respect, though, the Dimension XPS R450 is a well-built, well-documented system. Dell backs it with a support policy that includes 24-hour telephone support seven days a week, and our readers rate Dell's system reliability as good.

SUMMARY

PRO: Impressive performance, extensive features including high-quality 4.8X DVD-ROM drive and MPEG 2 playback CON: Modem is not V.90 standard