WHAT'S HOT: The latest entry in Dell's Dimension 8200 line is equipped with what is currently Intel's fastest CPU, the 2.4-GHz Pentium 4. With this powerful processor, 256MB of PC800 RDRAM, and Windows XP Professional, our review system scored an impressive 116 on our PC WorldBench 4 tests. Though this score is not as high as those of some AMD Athlon systems we've tested, it's 5 points (about 5 percent) above the average for 2.2-GHz P4 systems using the same amount of RAM. (Two 2.2-GHz systems have scored slightly higher than this Dell: the Gateway 700XL and the Polywell Poly 850GB).

Its large 17-inch LCD monitor, the Dell 1702FP, showed consistent image quality on all of our test screens, and the unit offers a wide range of tools for adjusting the picture. It also remained bright and clear when viewed from relatively wide angles. For a more complete review of the 1702FP, see our Top 5 17-Inch LCDs chart.

All of this system's components match, from the gray-and-black midsize tower to the monitor's case to the black mouse and keyboard, which sports seven shortcut keys and also serves as a handy two-port USB 1.1 hub (suitable for USB devices that require little power). Two more USB ports and a headphone jack reside under a flip-up cover on the front panel.

WHAT'S NOT: The large flat-panel monitor and Intel's latest CPU inflate the price of our Dimension to a relatively expensive $2679. Finding the button on the bottom of the tower to open it up can be a bit of an adventure the first time, and the clamshell-style case doesn't always shut all the way when you try to close it.

WHAT ELSE: Our test system's moderately powerful configuration is more than adequate for most business applications. The 80GB hard disk drive, reasonably speedy 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, and NVidia GeForce3 Ti 200-based graphics card are all solid choices. If this configuration is a bit too rich for your budget, you can save several hundred dollars by substituting a 19-inch CRT display for the LCD monitor. On the other hand, an extra hundred bucks or so will extend the one-year warranty to three years.

At the rear of the case are two sturdy case lock loops you can use with your lock of choice to help prevent unwanted hands from getting into the system. The interior is well thought out; all of the commonly upgradeable components are easily accessible and don't require tools for installation--just use the green plastic slots and tabs. After you pop off a plastic slot cover, you can snap cards into the two open PCI slots. And while you must first install green rails (which are included) in the system's two open removable-media drive bays and one open hard drive bay, once the rails have been placed, drives slide in and out smoothly. Even the power supply can be taken out sans screwdriver.

Dell includes a handy setup poster, as well as a system-specific Solutions Guide that contains lots of illustrations and thorough chapters on troubleshooting and upgrading this 8200 model.

UPSHOT: Although it'll cost you, the level of performance from this top-tier Pentium-4 system would please any small-office user--and it looks good on your desk, too.

SUMMARY

Dell Dimension 8200 PC WorldBench 4 score of 116, 2.4-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 256MB of RDRAM, Windows XP Professional, 80GB hard drive, 24X/10X/40X CD-RW drive, GeForce3 Ti 200 graphics card with 64MB of DDR SDRAM, 17-inch Dell 1702FP LCD monitor, SoundBlaster Live Value sound card, Harman Kardon HK-395 speakers, network adapter, modem, midsize tower case; Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition, Norton Antivirus 2002. One-year parts and labor warranty; 24-hour daily toll-free tech support. $2679 800/388-8542 www.dell.com