
Dell Dimension 3000 Desktop (2.4 GHz Celeron, 512MB, 40GB, CD-ROM, FreeDOS)
| WorldBench 5: Performance word scores reflect comparisons of PCs in the same category running the same operating system. See Your Guide to the Top 100 for more details. | Fair: 62 (Windows XP Home) |
| Base configuration | Fair |
| CPU | 2.4-GHz Celeron D 320 |
| System memory | 512MB of DDR333 SDRAM |
| Hard drive (GB) | 40GB |
| Monitor size and model | 15-inch Dell E153FPB LCD |
| Graphics: Most integrated graphics systems use the PC's main RAM. | Integrated Intel graphics |
| 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 | Two externally accessible bays, two slots |
| Extra features | Limited |
| Removable-media drives | 48X CD-ROM drive |
| Sound card | Integrated audio |
| Speakers | No speakers included |
| Communications | V.92 modem, network adapter, six USB 2.0 ports |
| Software | Corel WordPerfect, Musicmatch 8.2, Dell Photo Album |
| Other | Dell 720 Color Printer |
| Graphics quality | Fair |
| Setup and ease of use | Fair |
| Vendor's reliability/service: A vendor's score is based on surveys of PC World readers. Vendors receiving an Insufficient Data score did not generate enough responses to our most recent survey for us to make a determination. | Average/Average |
| Vendor's support policy | One-year parts and labor warranty; 24-hour daily toll-free support during warranty period; free on-site service during warranty period |
Dell Dimension 3000
Dimension 3000 Desktop (2.4 GHz Celeron, 512MB, 40GB, CD-ROM, FreeDOS) Review, by Sean Captain February 2, 2005
In the late 1990s several companies tried to market Internet appliances, basic boxes for e-mail and Web surfing. But the appliances never took off, because full-blown PCs got so darn cheap. And the trend continues today--take Dell's Dimension 3000, for example. With an impressive bundle that includes a 15-inch LCD and an inkjet printer, it's a great deal.
The Dell E153FPB LCD monitor, while far from top-of-the-line, is a refreshing change from the bulky, generally poor-quality CRTs that come with many budget systems. Text was sharp, images were bright, and colors looked rich. However, though the LCD makes Web browsing and text-based duties pleasant, it isn't accurate enough for color-sensitive tasks such as meticulous photo editing. As for the printer, while you do get it free, you have to shell out an additional $25 for a cable to hook it up to the PC.
Like all Dell systems, the Dimension 3000 comes with user-friendly features such as well-labeled and color-coded rear ports, a detailed setup poster, and an extensive user manual. Although Dell wasn't the top-ranking PC maker in our recent Reliability and Service survey, most of the company's reliability scores were above average. Its service scores for phone support, though, were below average.
The biggest disappointment was the system's embarrassingly slow performance. With a WorldBench 5 score of just 62, it landed about 30 points below the average for value systems on our Top 15 Desktop PCs chart. To be fair, this PC is far cheaper than those on the chart. Though poky by today's standards, it's good enough for running office applications, browsing the Web, ripping CDs, and playing DVD movies.
The integrated Intel 865G graphics system could play simple games in our tests (we used The Incredibles: When Danger Calls), but because it relies on main system memory for graphics, it was not powerful enough for more intensive titles such as Unreal Tournament 2003. In our tests playing UT, the system mustered a tepid 19 frames per second running at 32-bit color depth and 1024 by 768 resolution. Worse, the machine lacks an AGP slot for adding a graphics card that would have boosted the PC's gaming performance.
Upshot: Its low price and nice LCD make the Dimension 3000 a good choice for users with modest computing needs.
Seán Captain
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