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.