The Bottom Line
- Highly Customizable
- Dual Core Processor Good for Multitasking
- Includes Monitor
- Media Center OS Without Appropriate Hardware
- No DVD Burner in Base Configuration
Description
- Intel Pentium D 820 (2.8GHz) Dual Core Processor
- 512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 Memory
- 80GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
- 48x CD-RW Burner and 16x DVD-ROM Drive
- Intel High Definition Audio and Dell AS501 Speakers
- ATI Radeon X300SE Graphics Card with 128MB Memory
- 19" Dell E196FP LCD Monitor
- v.92 56Kbps Modem and Gigabit Ethernet
- Seven USB 2.0 Ports and 13-in-1 Card Reader
- Windows Media Center and Word Perfect Word Processor
Guide Review - Dell XPS 400
2/21/06 – The Dell XPS 400 is powered by the Intel Pentium D 820 dual core processor over the more traditional Pentium 4. This allows the system to perform well with multiple applications running at the same time, albeit slower when only running a single application. It is matched up with 512MB of PC2-4200 DDR memory that is a step up from their Dimension systems but still below that offered by other companies.
Storage on the XPS 400 is a bit disappointing at the base level. The hard drive is a smaller 80GB model that is well below other comparable systems. In addition, the system comes with a CD-RW burner and a DVD-ROM drive. Even many budget class computers are now coming with DVD burners and it would be nice to see Dell include this standard as well.
The area where the XPS does really well is the graphics. Most mainstream desktops were foregoing dedicated graphics card, but this comes with an ATI Radeon X300SE graphics card. While not the fastest at 3D graphics, it is still well above integrated graphics. In addition to this, Dell includes a 19” LCD monitor with the system making it a complete computer package.
One of the biggest problems with the XPS 400 is the software package. The included Windows Media Center operating system is unable to use many of the key features due to the lack of multimedia hard such as a TV Tuner. It also only comes standard with a word processor meaning many base applications will have to be added on.
