Product Reviews

Practically all areas of PC hardware have seen huge technological leaps, but none more so than processors. The Pentium Pro processor first appeared in 1995 and since then its P6-based architecture has matured and undergone several modifications, resulting in the 1GHz-plus monsters of today. Now, Intel has unleashed the Pentium 4, which although still an IA-32 based unit, is architecturally distinct from previous Pentiums (see Intel Pentium 4, p152).

Dell's Dimension 8100 is one of the first 1.5GHz models, intended to deliver the performance requirements of the future. Dell has chosen to partner the latest in Intel's processor technology with an impressive list of components. The Intel 850 chipset currently only supports the more expensive RDRAM, and Dell has supplied 128Mb as standard. This is disappointing for a machine of this price and specification, as the extra headroom offered from 256Mb provides significant performance gains in graphics-intensive applications.

Storage is handled by a 40Gb UltraATA/100 Western Digital hard disk, which is large enough to handle office applications and a fair amount of file storage as well. Optical storage comes in the form of a 12-speed NEC DVD-ROM drive, and a Sony CD-RW that will write at up to 12-speed and re-write at eight-speed. This is a great combination, providing DVD functionality as well as fast data backup capabilities, and a 5.25in drive bay is also left spare for future inclusions, such as a DVD-RAM drive.

A 64Mb Hercules 3D Prophet II Ultra takes care of the graphics, based around nVIDIA's GeForce2 Ultra chipset. This top of the range graphics board is the perfect partner to the Pentium 4, and helped the Dimension 8100 achieve a 3DMark2000 score of 6,125 at a resolution of 1,024 x 768 in 32-bit colour. This is one of the fastest results obtained from any machine reviewed at PC Pro, although the AMD Athlon-based Panrix

ADVERTISEMENT

Magnum Ultra (reviewed p157) scored 6,420 at the same resolution and colour depth. OpenGL performance was gauged using a timed Quake III demo running at 1,024 x 768 in 32-bit colour. The Dimension 8100 was again fast, returning a score of 101.5fps, although this is still second to the Panrix's 115.2fps.

Unfortunately, the Dimension 8100 was far less impressive when it came to application-based performance, as measured using our 2D benchmark tests. The Dimension 8100 scored a decidedly lukewarm 3.05 overall, which only marginally improves on 1GHz Pentium III-based machines, such as the Carrera Cygnus M1000's score of 2.83 (reviewed issue 73, p159). This score is even less impressive when compared to the Panrix Magnum Ultra, which scored a massive 3.64 overall. However, in all fairness, the Pentium 4 isn't optimised for 2D application-based work, and its score is more than enough to provide ample real-world performance.

Handling the visuals is a Dell UltraScan P991 aperture-grille monitor. This features Sony's excellent FD Trinitron tube, although the captive D-SUB input and lack of USB connectivity is disappointing. The monitor is capable of a maximum resolution of 1,600 x 1,200 at 85Hz, but is more comfortable at 1,024 x 768 at 85Hz, where it's sharp and bright, and maintains clear focus in all four corners.

Inside the stylish matte-black case things are slightly cramped, although motherboard access is simple, thanks to the swing-mounted power supply, which means peripheral card access is also easy. The excellent VideoLogic Sonic Fury sound card (reviewed issue 72, p197) and an Aztec 56K modem occupy two of the five PCI slots, which are both good inclusions, and the RAM comes on two 64Mb RIMMs, leaving a further two slots free for future expansion.

At £1,899, the Dimension 8100 offers outstanding value for the new technology, especially with the Microsoft Works Suite 2000 software bundle taken into account. Overall, it's clear that the Pentium 4 has huge potential, but the Dell is severely limited by having only 128Mb of RAM. Application-based performance is surpassed by current solutions, and 3D performance is fast, but not class-leading. However, the Pentium 4 is designed to meet the needs of the future, in particular high-quality streaming media and next-generation 3D. Unfortunately, since few developers have optimised software specifically for the Pentium 4 yet, the Dimension 8100 doesn't offer striking performance for today's applications.