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Artwork: Rick Rizner, John Goddard
Alienware Bot
| WorldBench 5: Performance word scores reflect comparisons of PCs in the same category (power or value) running the same operating system. See Your Guide to the Top 100 for more details. | Good: 83 (Windows XP Home) |
| Base configuration | Good |
| CPU | 3-GHz Pentium 4 530 |
| System memory | 512MB of DDR400 SDRAM |
| Hard drive (GB): Total capacity. May represent multiple hard drives. | 120GB |
| Monitor size and model | 17-inch NEC MultiSync LCD1760NX LCD |
| Graphics: Most integrated graphics systems use the PC's main RAM. | Integrated Intel 915G |
| Case type: Vertical cases are towers (over 20 inches), midsize towers (15.5 to 20 inches), or minitowers (under 15.5 inches). Horizontal cases are desktops (5 inches or taller) or compacts (under 5 inches). | Minitower |
| Open bays, slots | 0 internal and 0 externally accessible bays, 4 slots |
| Extra features | Good |
| Removable-media drives | 12X DVD±RW drive, media-card reader |
| Sound card | Integrated Realtek ALC860 |
| Speakers | Logitech Z-640 |
| Communications | network adapter, 6 USB 2.0 ports, 1 FireWire port |
| Software | None |
| Other | N/A |
| Graphics quality | Very Good |
| Design score | Good |
| Vendor's reliability/service: A vendor's score is based on surveys of PC World readers. Vendors receiving insufficient data scores did not generate enough responses to our most recent survey for us to make a determination. | Better/Insufficient data |
| : Lifetime refers to the lifetime of the product. | One-year parts and labor warranty; 24-hour daily toll-free support during warranty period. |
Alienware Bot
Bot Review, by Scott Plamondon November 1, 2004
Alienware, better known for high-end, souped-up gaming machines, has taken a different tack with this $1583 system aimed at home and small-office users. The professional-looking, black-and-silver minitower with a side-loading DVD burner is thinner than most tower cases, letting it more easily fit under or on top of your desk. The front panel has two doors: one at the top that hides a media reader, and the second at the bottom (a less-than-ideal location) that opens downward to reveal a FireWire port, two USB 2.0 ports, and audio jacks.
Alienware paired the Bot with a terrific 17-inch NEC MultiSync 1760NX LCD. We found the compact display excellent for both text and photos, with clear, readable text at the lowest pixel levels and sharp photo detail with vivid colors. In our DVD playback test, the audio that pumped out of the bundled Logitech Z-640 5.1 speakers was pleasingly crisp; the scenes we played, though slightly grainy, earned above-average scores.
Outfitted with a 3-GHz Pentium 4 530 processor and integrated graphics, the Bot doesn't break new ground in performance. But its WorldBench 5 score of 83 is comparable to similarly configured systems and quick enough for most home and small-business productivity applications. True to its business focus, the Bot does not emphasize graphics horsepower. It turned in lower frame rates on our Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Unreal Tournament 2003 tests than similar machines with graphics cards. If gaming is on your agenda, consider footing $216 for the optional 128MB ATI Radeon X600 XT PCI Express graphics card for the Bot's open PCI Express x16 slot.
The back of the Bot sports four USB 2.0 ports and well-labeled audio jacks. Alienware also includes a case lock and tool-less access to the well-organized interior. The compact size, of course, comes at a cost: no open expansion bays and difficult access to the two open RAM sockets.
As a final plus, the Bot gets high marks for its complete and well-organized documentation.
Upshot: The Bot doesn't deliver screaming performance, but home and small office users will appreciate its compact case and fair price.
Scott Plamondon
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