Dell Dell Dimension 8250

WHAT'S HOT: Refreshing the Dimension 8200 series, Dell gave this new model an impressive list of top-notch components, including Intel's 3.06-GHz Pentium 4 processor. Especially noteworthy are a trio of added goodies geared toward entertainment: an ATI Radeon 9700 Pro graphics board with 128MB of DDR SDRAM; a gorgeous, thin-bezeled 18.1-inch Dell Ultrasharp 1800FP LCD monitor; and a powerful set of Altec Lansing ADA 995 speakers with a subwoofer.

Put to the test, this combination of powerhouse components and peripherals shone: The 1800FP displayed our sample photo image crisply and in vibrant hues, while text screens looked razor sharp even at small font sizes. Sound quality excelled as well. Consisting of four pod-shaped satellites, a center speaker, and a massive, block-like 45-pound subwoofer, the THX-certified set produced well-defined trebles and booming bass notes--all without a hint of distortion. And with a DVD+RW drive and 200GB of hard disk space (spanning two drives), the 8250 is hardly lacking for data storage. Dell equipped the new 8250 with eight USB 2.0 ports, two more than most systems offer; six are at the rear of the unit, while two are up front behind a small, flip-open door.

Similar to previous models, this unit opens up like a book after you press a button at the top and bottom. Tool-less access to the drive bays and PCI slots makes servicing, adding, or swapping out components simple. For instance, each drive bay cage has two side latches that, when pressed, help you slip the hard drive out. A green tab located on the PCI mounting brackets holds cards in place.

WHAT'S NOT: High-end components usually translate into a high-end price, and the 8250 is no exception. Priced at $3158, it's one of the costliest systems we've tested recently.

WHAT ELSE: Our test configuration included Intel's current top-of-the-line 3.06-GHz Pentium 4 CPU with 512MB of PC1066 RDRAM. It clocked in with a score of 123 on PC WorldBench 4 tests--remarkable speed, but 7 points behind the fastest system we've tested to date, the Polywell Poly 875VF-2800, a 2.8-GHz Pentium 4-based PC.

The chassis is Dell's familiar black case with midnight-gray accents, the design found throughout the company's line of Dimension PCs--it's good-looking in a conservative way. We found fewer upgrade options on this model than we've seen on other desktops, though what's available is more than adequate given the high-end components already preinstalled. There are two free memory sockets for adding extra memory, and access to those sockets is unobstructed.

UPSHOT: It may be hard on the pocketbook, but the 8250 is an impressive step up for Dell's premium desktop line.