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More…The Dimension E520 may look like its cousin the E521 on the outside, but inside it's a different beast. It has a faster processor, more memory, a bigger hard drive, and a dedicated graphics card that makes it a more desirable proposition for a wider range of activities. But it's also more expensive at $989 (as of November 6, 2006) versus $489.
Dell Dimension E520
- Spec Navigator
- Processor
- Memory
- Storage
- Multimedia
- Software
- Optical Drives
- Expansion Slots
- Display
- Modem / Networking
- Case
- Other Features
- Interface Connection
Multimedia
| Audio Adapter Model | Integrated SigmaTel High Definition Audio |
| Audio Channels | 7.1 surround |
| Graphics Board RAM Type | DDR2 |
| Video chipset | nVidia GeForce 6150 LE |
| Installed video memory | 256 MB |
| Video bus | PCI Express |
Software
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition |
| Included Software |
|
Optical Drives
| Optical Drive Speed | 16 |
| Optical Drive Type | DVD-ROM |
| Second Optical Drive Type | DVD±R DL/DVD±RW |
Expansion Slots
| Open PCI Express X16 Slots | 0 |
| Number of PCI slots | 2 |
| Open PCI Express X1 Slots | 1 |
| PCI Express Slots | 2 |
| Slots | 2 |
| Other Storage | Five-in-one media-card reader |
- Lab Tested
- How We Test Desktops »
Pros
Equipped with large hard drive
Has dual optical drives
Cons
Only one vacant drive bay
Bottom Line
Midpriced Windows Media Center PC has strong performance and solid features for the price.
Dell Dimension E520
Dimension E520 Review, by Richard Baguley November 20, 2006
For the higher price, you get above-average components--including a 200GB hard drive and dual optical drives (a dual-layer DVD burner and a DVD-ROM drive)--and reasonable performance. The system contains a 1.86-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor and 1GB of RAM, and it achieved a respectable WorldBench 5 score of 105. That's well above the average mark posted in our roundup of cheap PCs, but it's 29 percent lower than the 148 turned in by the Micro Express MicroFlex 66B.
Still, the E520 is not for gamers. Its nVidia GeForce 7300LE graphics board generated hit-or-miss graphics performance; our test games were playable, barely, at 1024 by 768 resolution. For example, at a resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels, the system achieved frame rates of 24 frames per second on our Doom 3 test and 32 fps on our Far Cry test.
Like most sub-$1000 PCs, this system doesn't leave you much room for expansion. Housed in a standard Dell Dimension midsize tower case; our test configuration provided a single internal 3.5-inch bay, and two expansion slots (one PCI and one PCI Express x1).
The system is Vista-capable, according to Dell, which offers Vista upgrade information on its site.
Richard Baguley
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
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69
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79
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74
- See Complete Lab Results »
Performance Comparison with Similar Desktops
69
95
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50
Performance
| ACD Systems ACDSee | 520 |
| Adobe Photoshop | 292 |
| Adobe Premiere | 376 |
| Ahead Nero | 525 |
| Discreet 3ds Max DirectX | 276 |
| Discreet 3ds Max OpenGL | 873 |
| Doom 3 with AA, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 9.4 |
| Doom 3 with AA, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 7.4 |
| Doom 3, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 30.3 |
| Doom 3, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 24.4 |
| Far Cry with AA, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 16.49 |
| Far Cry with AA, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 9.84 |
| Far Cry, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 49.61 |
| Far Cry, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 31.66 |
| Microsoft Office XP | 521 |
| Mozilla | 353 |
| Multitasking | 432 |
| Musicmatch Jukebox | 500 |
| Overall Graphics Score | Poor |
| Return to Castle Wolfenstein, 1024 by 768, 16-Bit | 88.57 |
| Return to Castle Wolfenstein, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 91.97 |
| Return to Castle Wolfenstein, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 58.7 |
| Roxio VideoWave | 252 |
| Unreal Tournament, 1024 by 768, 16-Bit | 174.9 |
| Unreal Tournament, 1024 by 768, 32-Bit | 150.72 |
| Unreal Tournament, 1280 by 1024, 32-Bit | 94.52 |
| Windows Media Encoder | 276 |
| WinZip | 349 |
| World Bench 5 Score | 106 |
| World Bench 5 Word Score | Good |
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Dell Dimension E520
1 Review Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 1 review
-
Reviewed by: dcontarino
Duration of ownership: 10 Months
Strengths: Great value (including inexpensive upgrade to 20" digital widescreen monitor), reliable, stable operating system, no quirks, somewhat upgradeable but limited by chipset and motherboard
Weaknesses: Required a good deal of upgrading to make it a capable gaming rig, Dell tech support for this model is overseas and leaves much to be desired
Overall: I purchased this system in November 06 during one of Dell's great sales. The E520 came from the factory with a Core 2 Duo E6400 processor, ATI X1300 Pro video card, 2GB of 533MHz RAM, a TV tuner, a 20" UltraSharp widescreen monitor, all running on Windows XP Media Center for just over $1000. Since then I have upgraded to a E6700 processor, a Sapphire X1950 Pro 512MB graphics card, and 4GB of 800 MHz RAM. Finally, games can run at high resolution and not miss a beat. Be warned: this system will not support a dual-slot graphics card such as a NVidia 8800 series, so you will be limited to anything that is a single-slot card. However, the processor is upgradeable to most of the Intel dual or quad cores, and RAM can be upgraded to PC-6400 speed. This system has recently been replaced by Dell's new Inspiron desktop, but if you can get an E520 and you're not a serious gamer, I'd say you can't go wrong. I have owned 5 Dells in the past 10 years, and this one is the best yet.
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