Dell OptiPlex GX1 400

Dell OptiPlex GX1 400

SUMMARY

PRO: Attractively designed corporate system, easy access to interior, excellent monitor CON: Relatively small hard drive, no AGP slot

Moving over from the top spot on the power chart thanks to a $208 price cut, the Dell OptiPlex GX1 400 is a formidable budget PC. This $1937 corporate-oriented midtower features integrated remote management hardware and an easy-access interior.

The OptiPlex GX1 400 logged an impressive PC WorldBench 98 score of 244 on Windows NT 4.0. That score makes it the second-fastest system we've tested for this configuration, trailing only the Sys Performance Pro 400BA.

Dell's high reliability and service ratings should clinch the OptiPlex GX1 400 a spot on any corporate IS manager's shopping list. The price drop from last month is due partly to the fact that our test machine lacked speakers this time. If you want to add them, Dell offers speaker options priced at $105 (shown at left) and $49.

The OptiPlex's modular case design allows every part of the system to swivel, glide, or swing open for easy access. Removing the cover could hardly be easier: Just press a button on the front and flick the case-lock switch at the back, and the cover swings up and out of the way. Expansion cards mounted on a separate chassis conveniently slide out as you press a lever. The power supply pivots upward and provides easy access to RAM slots and the motherboard. There is, however, no AGP slot, so you can't upgrade the integrated AGP graphics with an AGP graphics board in the future.

But in general, upgrades shouldn't enter into the picture for some time, thanks to the hardware Dell already includes. The 6.4GB hard disk suffices for most uses, though it's on the small side compared to those of other PCs on the chart. Dell's bundled UltraScan 1000HS monitor, one of the best 17-inch Trinitron displays currently available, delivers excellent image quality. The vendor covers the machine with a three-year warranty on parts and labor. Telephone support lines operate around the clock. In our recent survey, readers rated Dell's work PCs as among the most reliable.