Dell OptiPlex GX240

WHAT ELSE: The GX series of OptiPlex systems features a Pentium 4 processor, Intel's 845 chip set, and SDRAM. Our GX240 came with a 1.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 256MB of PC133 SDRAM, and Windows XP Professional. It scored a mediocre 91 on PC WorldBench 4.

IT professionals will appreciate this sleek, gray and black desktop system (a base, so you can convert the desktop to a minitower, also ships with the GX240). The easy-access chassis pops open when you press a button on each side of the system's rear, and you can take out almost any interior component without a screwdriver or other tools. The green tabs aid in removing individual pieces, whether a PCI card, a drive, or the motherboard itself. Our OptiPlex had two available PCI slots; the system's design makes them and the other components easy to access.

The 17-inch Dell P793 monitor bundled with our test system produced rich colors, natural-looking flesh tones, and sharp details on our test image. But it didn't fare as well with text: 12-point Arial typeface viewed at 1024 by 768 resolution showed some fuzziness, though it was readable.

The 8X/4X/32X CD-RW and 4X DVD-ROM combination drive is far from state-of-the-art, but it saves space in the small case.

The sturdy keyboard offers three Internet hot-keys and permits quiet typing, but individual keys--especially the spacebar--feel unresponsive. And the two-button mouse lacks the scroll wheel we've come to expect.

UPSHOT: A well-designed system that won't take up much room on a desk, the Dell OptiPlex GX240 delivers a high level of manageability. Its performance and monitor, however, are middle-of-the-road.