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Quantex Pentium II PCs Show Less Is Sometimes More

Pentium II-300 models perform just as well as pricier 333-MHz systems--and cost $150 less.

By PC World staff   

Quantex%squots new Pentium II-333 PCs for small businesses and homes are cases in point. The basic, home-oriented QP6/333 M-4x and small-business-minded QP6/333 SM-4x SE cost a bit less than other comparably configured Pentium II-333s we%squotve seen, and they%squotre dressed up with generous software bundles, including Corel or Microsoft suites.

However, you can save $150 if you buy the Pentium II-300 versions of the same systems, and you won%squott notice any difference with business applications. Though $150 may not seem like much, consider this: $99 buys you a color scanner for your home or small office.

We tested a shipping version of the Quantex QP6/333 M-4x, street-priced at $2499, a workhorse for the home or small office. It doesn%squott have many frills, but it%squots far from skimpy, with 64MB of RAM, a 6.4GB hard disk, a Toshiba 16X-32X CD-ROM drive, a 56-kbps K56flex modem, and a good-looking 19-inch monitor.

In PC WorldBench tests, the Quantex QP6/333 M-4x earned a score of 271. Of the four other Pentium II-333 systems we%squotve tested, the fastest garnered a 281 and the slowest a 276. In contrast, the 25 Pentium II-300s with 64MB of RAM we%squotve tested posted an average score of 270--almost identical to this Quantex PII-333%squots score. And the difference between 281 and 271 is negligible. You%squotre smarter to choose the Quantex QP6/300 M-4x, with the same configuration for $150 less ($2349).

The $2799 QP6/333 SM-4x SE has just a bit more sizzle. Like its sibling, it sports a 56-kbps K56flex modem and 64MB of RAM, but this system adds an 8.4GB hard drive as well as a 19-inch Quantex monitor. Speedwise, a shipping unit racked up a PC WorldBench score of 276, just higher than the QP6/333 M-4x%squots, thanks to its faster IBM hard drive. Nonetheless, this difference won%squott show in everyday use. Overall, this system is hard to fault, but the PII-300 QP6/300 SM-4x SE is a better deal at $150 less ($2649). One drawback: The Quantex manuals are merely adequate.

Before buying a Pentium-II 300, consider one other fact: Later this spring, PII-350 machines will incorporate a 100-MHz system bus instead of today%squots 66-MHz bus, so the chip will talk to other parts of the PC faster. Should you hold out for one? If you want the very fastest cruncher you can get, you should.

For the complete story, see Laurianne McLaughlin%squots %dquotQuantex Pentium II PCs Show Less Is Sometimes More %dquot in April%squots PC World magazine.