Dell Dimension 4550

WHAT'S HOT: Dell's midrange Dimension 4550 line has one of the better case designs we've seen--especially for making repairs or installing upgrades. Press two large oval buttons located on the case's top and bottom and the PC opens like a giant clam, giving you quick and easy access to all of its components. Easy-to-spot green levers and latches allow you to remove most components without using a screwdriver.

This particular Dimension 4550 has a number of improvements over the version that previously appeared on our Top 15 Desktop PCs chart, but it costs only a bit more. It has a 120GB hard drive, for example--twice the capacity of its prior incarnation--and an upgraded graphics board, from a midrange 64MB GeForce4 MX 420-based card to a 128MB ATI Radeon 9700 TX (a Dell version of the Radeon 9700 that runs at a slower clock speed). The new model delivered solid frame rates in our 3D graphics performance tests. Both versions have the same 2.67-GHz Pentium 4 processor, but Dell increased the memory from 256MB to 512MB on this model. The extra RAM might explain the new Dimension's score of 122 running PC WorldBench 4--a modest 4 points higher than its predecessor achieved.

WHAT'S NOT: Dell provided the wrong sound card drivers on our test system, installing the software for a Turtle Beach card instead of the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live card that the PC came with. We alerted Dell to the problem, and the company claims it should not happen with systems shipped to regular customers.

WHAT ELSE: Our test unit came with a Dell M992 19-inch CRT, a flat-screen shadow mask model that placed high on our January Top 10 19-Inch Monitors chart. In our tests it delivered crisp text on a screen with a variety of font sizes, and pleasing colors on a test photo. Colors on a DVD movie scene and in a gaming session were quite bright.

The Harmon Kardon HK-395 sound system is composed of a hefty subwoofer and two small satellite speakers. The lightweight set emitted flat trebles and weak bass during our CD audio and DVD movie tests. It's fine for casual use, but audio lovers might want to spring for a higher-end set.

Dell preinstalled Microsoft Works Suite 2003 and Works 2003. Upgrading to Microsoft Office XP Small Business Edition will cost about $135.

Like other Dell systems, this model came with good-quality documentation, including a setup poster and a manual that's specific to the 4550. It's filled with illustrations and thorough chapters on adding components and on troubleshooting common problems.

UPSHOT: This updated Dell Dimension 4550 strikes a good bargain with its combination of midrange features and above-average performance.

SUMMARY

Dell Dimension 4550 $