Dell OptiPlex GX150 1GHz SD

Corporate PCs tend to be conservative, beige affairs, with the occasional tweak to internal design matched by gradual increases in specification. As usual, Dell hasn't been reading the script: the OptiPlex GX150 is bold, innovative and entirely black. This is a brave move, as Dell has everything to lose. It already boasts a huge 18.5 per cent market share, second to Compaq by the narrowest of margins, so its original beige OptiPlex machines were clearly popular with MIS and IT managers.

Dell hasn't concentrated on the machine's cosmetics alone. Inside the black system case, a 1GHz Pentium III processor dominates affairs, with 256Mb of memory in tow. This guarantees superb performance in Windows 2000 Professional, and our tests underlined this fact: the GX150 scored a suitably impressive 3.08 in our 2D benchmarks.

We were pleased to see a 20Gb Western Digital Caviar WD200BB hard disk tucked inside the case, as this proved to be a fast performer in our recent hard disk Labs (see Labs, issue 77, p121). With 20Gb of storage space, there should be plenty of room for any applications loaded during the machine's lifetime. Dell pairs this with a 48-speed LG CD-ROM, a standard specification in this Labs.

The speakers, on the other hand, are anything but standard for a corporate machine. The Harmon/Kardon design matches the black system and monitor. We're not quite so impressed by the two-button mouse and rattly keyboard, but the colour rather limits Dell's choice.

The same could be said of the monitor, but we were initially impressed to see that Dell includes a 19in display. Don't expect pin-sharp detail at 1,280 « 1,024 though, as the shadow-mask tube is matched with only mediocre electronics. Dell recommends a 1,280 « 1,024 resolution, but we found the best compromise to be the non-standard 1,152 « 854. This retains reasonable focus and geometry, but also provides a little bit more Desktop area.

Due to the system case's height, some users won't like standing a 19in monitor on top of it, but Dell's case design means you can use it as a midi-tower unit. We're also impressed by the GX150's internal design. Opening the case is simple - press down on two side buttons and the top swings open to reveal a maintenance worker's dream layout, with straightforward access to the hard disk, CD-ROM, floppy drive, CPU and memory. You won't need a screwdriver, as Dell uses sliding, plastic holders for all the drives. Even the motherboard slides out on a removable tray.

Dell relies on the motherboard for all the machine's internal features rather than filling either of the two PCI slots. There's a 10/100 Ethernet adaptor, integrated sound and Intel's own integrated graphics supplemented with a GPA (Graphics Performance Adaptor) module to boost performance. For greater 3D acceleration you'll need to fit a dedicated graphics card. The only other way you can expand the OptiPlex is via the empty PCI slots, as there are no free internal or external bays.

If you're more interested in keeping people out of the machine, Dell provides a case lock and a chassis intrusion switch. It also offers a full range of manageability options, while bespoke disk imaging, network pre-configuration and on-site installation are all available. The warranty is also up to the level we'd expect, with three years of on-site, next business day cover. You can upgrade this to a four-hour response for £99 per machine for three years - the cheapest on test.

If you've ruled out Dell PCs before, then the GX150 should certainly make you reconsider your options. Although you may not be able to call into your local reseller if something goes wrong, Dell provides a single contact and also sets up a dedicated Web site from which you can buy extra PCs and track your orders. Add this to the comprehensive warranty, superb specification and easy-maintenance features, and the OptiPlex is a clear winner this month.