We put Dell's speedy 2.8GHz Pentium 4 desktop through its paces. Is it worth making the extra investment for Intel's fastest processor?
Dell uses the Dimension 8000 series as a showcase for the latest desktop technologies. That primarily translates into the latest Intel and Microsoft technologies--you won't find Athlon processors or Via chipset motherboards on the Dimension 8200 we tested. But you will find just about everything else you'd ever want in a fully loaded desktop PC.
Conservative choice
Like many high-end systems, the Dimension 8200 offers configurations that use Pentium 4 processors (2GHz through 2.8GHz), fast RDRAM, and graphics cards with 128MB of video memory for top performance. Beyond those basic ingredients, however, you can choose from a mixed array of options. How about 2GB of RDRAM? A 120GB hard drive? A CD-RW/DVD+RW drive? Or a 20-inch flat-panel display? By the time you're done, you may need to take out a home equity loan to pay for the thing. What you won't find, though, is FireWire as part of the standard configuration; nor will you get drive subsystems running at fast Ultra ATA/133. Dell's high end is more conservative than cutting edge.
The Dimension 8200 has been a consistently strong performer in our Labs' tests, and the most recent configuration, equipped with Intel's latest 2.8GHz P4, was true to form. Not surprisingly, this system, which also included 1GB of PC800 RDRAM, an Nvidia GeForce Ti 4600 with 128MB DDR memory, and a 7,200rpm 120GB hard drive, was one of the fastest we've ever tested. The Dimension 8200 edged out a Gateway 700XL with a nearly identical configuration on applications performance (BAPCo's SysMark2002) (editor's note: Gateway PCs are no longer sold outside the US); on 3D graphics and gaming, the tables were turned, with the Gateway 700XL squeaking past the Dimension 8200 on MadOnion's 3DMark2001 Pro. In both cases, the margins were not significant.
Good overall design
The Dimension 8200's expandability, connectivity, and general ease of use are pretty good. It's housed in the same two-tone gray tower case found in its midrange counterpart, the 4000 series. The case's front panel has two USB ports (there are four altogether) and a headphone jack, but it's too bad that the door design makes it very tough to access the ports if you place the system on the floor. The base Dimension 8200 also lacks FireWire for applications that require faster throughput, such as digital video, but you could always purchase a separate PCI card or opt for the Movie Studio bundle.
To open the Dimension 8200's case, you must first turn it on its side (a large arrow shows which way is up), then press buttons on the top and bottom. The advantage to this is that the case splits open like a book, providing easy access to all components. Green plastic tabs enable tool-free removal and installation of PCI cards, drives, and other components. Assuming you opt for a network card, that'll leave you with one open PCI slot (the system has one AGP slot and a total of four PCI slots).
The 8000 line's performance translates into a fairly smooth video-editing experience, suitable for users working on small (320x240) projects. At larger sizes, make sure you have at least 512MB of RAM. The VideoWave software in the AU$122.10 Movie Studio Package is very easy to pick up and offers all the basic functions, such as titling and transitioning. But if you like to take shortcuts or want granular control over the sound track, you'll outgrow it very quickly.
Duplicated software
The Dimension 8200 ships with either Windows XP Home or Professional (AU$137.90 upgrade), your choice of Microsoft office productivity suites, and an introductory version of Norton AntiVirus 2002. Dell also offers its own software for digital audio (a branded version of the popular MusicMatch Jukebox 6.0), digital imaging, and digital video, some of which are optional.
The Dell 8000 series is a good all-around competitor in the high-end desktop arena, offering a good range of configuration options for reasonable prices. Its performance isn't the fastest, but it will suit users who don't mind living a bit below the cutting edge in exchange for working with an established vendor.
Dell Dimension 8200 2.8GHz
Company: Dell Australia
Price: AUD 5,993.90
Phone: 1800 812 393
6%
1%
