Systems Reviewed:
Convergence -- the coming together of separate media -- is the driving
force of personal computing. The high-end machines we review this month
not only boast exceptionally fast processors, they also give the processor
a lot to think about.
These high-end systems combine video, audio and-increasingly-sophisticated
telephony capability all under one roof. The computer is, now more than
ever, a dynamic communications centre. It isn't just for playing games and
performing spreadsheet calculations anymore. It is merging multiple media
to create interactive presentations to be narrow-cast across the globe.
The demands placed on personal computers today not only require processing
power, but a host of various hardware components, all of which must be seamlessly
integrated to achieve acceptable performance. Offering nifty tools means
very little if they bog down the system.
During the course of this month's review, we've seen a slew of new hardware
making its way into the PC sector. Everything from larger hard drives, to
faster video cards designed for 3D acceleration, to 12x CD-ROMs are now
everyday items which we can obtain to further enhance our computer's performance.
And of course, there are faster processors available, such as the 200 MHz
Pentium series which are at the heart of this month's reviewed systems.
Is 200 MHz the way to go?
Although Intel first introduced the 200 MHz Pentium processor on June
10, 1996, it wasn't until recently that it became closer to affordable for
mainstream users. Most system vendors today are able to offer these processors
without having to make the customer waiting for a special order. These days,
the majority of advertisements you'll see for computers will have, at the
very least, a 120 MHz processor, with 133 MHz being the most common. For
those who are still equipped with 386 and 486 machines, these systems will
undoubtedly look very attractive.
However, for those few who are fortunate enough to have been spoiled by
a lab full of 200 MHz Pentium Pros, it can be very discomforting to settle
for anything less. Even with these 200 MHz Pentium systems, we found ourselves
thinking back wishfully to the good ol' days of August. During a particularly
warm month, the temperature in our Test Lab was further increased when these
Pentium Pro beasts were powered on and let loose to take on our infamous
BAPCo benchmark suite. With our daydreaming sessions over, we slowly began
our journey back into reality, where we were eager to find out how their
younger siblings would fare this month.
So, the questions readers are dying to have answered are "Do I buy
a P-200 or will a 166 MHz version do the job? Or how about a 133 MHz? My
friend has one, and he says all his software runs without problems."
As with many things we desire in life, the answer to this question is as
simple as "do I really need one?"
Of course there are those with propellers on their heads (who happen to
be drooling at the mere mention of 200 MHz) who will immediately throw caution
to the wind and buy a 200 MHz system just because it's the fastest clock
speed currently available to home users. Sure, the numbers sound attractive,
and yes, they are indeed fast, but as we will come to see, there is far
more to a high-performance computer than its processor speed.
At the time of writing, the difference in price between a Pentium 166 and
a 200 MHz chip was in the realm of $150 to $200. To some, this may seem
insignificant, and they will opt to get the faster processor just for the
sake of having one. But the budget-conscious among you will find our test
results very interesting. According to Intel, a Pentium processor speed
of 166 MHz will result in an iCOMP 2.0 index rating of 127, whereas the
200 MHz processor will achieve a rating of 142. By doing some simple arithmetic,
we can see that the numbers translate into an increase of 11.8 percent.
(The iCOMP 2.0 rating is a system used by Intel to compare the relative
performance of its various processors. It is intended to give non-technical
users a way of determining what they can expect from various processor speeds,
and to help them decide which one is better suited to their needs. For further
details on the iCOMP 2.0 system, take a look at http://www.intel.com/procs/perf/icomp/icomp_
paper/ch2icomp.htm)
The makings of a high-end system
Ask just about anyone, and they'll tell you that a true high-performance
system will have a 200 MHz Pentium or Pentium Pro processor. While the processor
speed is certainly a key ingredient in any computer, there are several factors
to consider before buying any computer-especially when you're going to spend
a lot of your hard-earned money.
One sure-fire way to improve the overall performance of a computer is to
add more RAM. Die-hard computer geeks will always tell you that you can
never have too much RAM. And although there may be some truth to that statement,
there is also a common misbelief that getting 128 MB of RAM will make your
old P-75 perform on par with a P-166. This of course, is wishful thinking.
Yes, adding a ton of RAM to your computer will certainly help speed things
up, but only up to the point where you "hit the wall."
Depending on the tasks you're performing, and the operating system under
which you are performing them, an increase in RAM will only get you so far.
For example, playing your classic Pac Man game under DOS with 8 MB in your
machine will be identical to playing the same game with 32 MB. If the program
in question is not designed to take advantage of a larger amount of RAM,
then regardless of how much you add, you won't notice any difference. This
is especially true of programs written several years ago, before DOS extenders
such as DOS4GW were available, back when the dreaded 640KB barrier was in
existence.
On the other hand, let's say you just bought a fully updated version of
the same game, but this one's designed to run under Windows 95. Now, our
hypothetical Pac Man has a set of lasers, ion canons, and shrink rays that
all look great using the new 3D graphical interface. They sound even better
with digital stereo and surround sound where you actually determine the
ghost's location by sound alone.
All of a sudden, you've added a tremendous amount of complexity to the game,
and with the added complexity comes the need for more RAM. Playing the game
on the same machine equipped with 8 MB will most likely be dreadful, making
it anything but enjoyable. Now go ahead and throw in the 32 MB. Notice how
your hard drive light isn't constantly flashing anymore? That's because
the program is now residing in RAM, rather than being swapped to and from
your much slower hard drive.
And speaking of hard drives, this is one piece of hardware that is seldom
given the credit it deserves. Yes, it's a form of storage, and yes it's
available in very large sizes these days. But just what role does a hard
drive play in determining overall system performance? One far greater than
most people would think.
The hard drive is essentially a bridge between your central processing unit
(CPU) and your data. Whenever the CPU needs to access data that is not already
stored in memory, it looks for it on your hard drive. A good example is
loading a large program, a time consuming process. The time it takes to
load your programs into RAM will depend greatly on how quickly your hard
drive is capable of supplying the CPU with the information it requests.
A high-quality IDE hard drive will have the following characteristics: an
access time of around 10 millisecond (ms), a high data transfer rate in
the area of 2,500KB/s or more, and a spin rate of at least 3,600 revolutions
per minute (RPM). Note that the access time of 10 ms refers to the average
access time, and the transfer rate refers to the "host-to-host"
rate, which can be obtained by using one of many hard drive benchmarking
programs (see our Feb. '96 Test Lab).
Many times, the manufacturer of a hard drive will print data transfer rates
such as "16.6 MB/s in PIO mode 4" or other such large numbers.
These are known as "buffer-to-host" transfer rates, and should
not be confused with the sequential transfer rates, which are measurable
using software.
Several vendors this month have sent us systems equipped with new 2.5 GV
B and 3.1 GB hard drives from Quantum and Western Digital. These drives
offer fast spin rates, low access times, and very high transfer rates. As
can be seen from our results, the systems equipped with these fast drives
did very well in comparison to other older models. One system vendor even
went so far as to throw in an Ultra Wide SCSI controller with a 4.3 GB Ultra
Wide SCSI hard drive from Seagate. The results were just as we had expected.
While it's true that a hard drive is a storage device more than anything
else, it is also undoubtedly a key component in the building blocks of what
separates a good system from a great system.
And last, but certainly not least, no high-performance computer would be
complete without a high-performance video card. When considering a video
card, there are a number of choices to be made. How much memory should the
card have? What type of memory? Will you need the card mainly for 2D tasks,
or will you also require 3D acceleration? What refresh rates should the
card support?
With a bit of careful planning and some homework, you can find a video card
that will best suit your graphical needs. First of all, to determine how
much RAM you'll need on the card, ask yourself what resolutions you'll most
likely be using. If you're content with old-fashioned VGA at 640x480 resolution,
1 MB of video RAM is plenty.
Here's a simple formula to use when calculating video resolutions and color
depths: multiply the horizontal pixels by the vertical pixels by the desired
color depth. Use 1 to represent 8-bit depth (256 colors), 2 will represent
16-bit (65,536 colors), and 3 for 24-bit (16.7 million colors). For example,
let's say you wanted to run your applications at 1,024x768 using 65,536
colors. We can easily find out how much RAM that resolution will need by
doing the math: 1024x768x2=1.57 MB.
Video cards come in three popular flavors-configured with 1, 2 or 4 MB on
board. In this case, we would have to go with 2 MB of RAM to achieve our
desired resolution. If your needs should exceed that of most users, it is
possible to find video cards configured with 8 MB and even 16 MB of RAM.
Note that unlike the RAM inside your computer, video RAM is solely responsible
for putting your images on the screen at the given color depths and resolutions.
If you plan on using your computer mostly in 640x480 resolution at 256 colors,
you will only need 1 MB of video RAM. Buying a 4 MB card will not speed
things up.
You can improve video speed, however, by choosing the best type of video
RAM. The most popular types on the market today are DRAM, EDO DRAM, SDRAM,
SGRAM, VRAM and WRAM. The cheapest, and oldest type among those mentioned
is DRAM. It's been around since the stone age, and was the most widely used
in video cards until recently, when the newer/faster types have caught on.
EDO DRAM is the same stuff that's found in your computer, but slightly faster
than its predecessor, DRAM.
SDRAM and SGRAM (synchronous dynamic RAM and synchronous graphics RAM) both
improve on DRAM and EDO in several ways. SGRAM has a higher bandwidth, which
means it can deliver more pixels to your screen in any given time. It has
added capabilities for block writes, which lets you perform area fills and
text painting at a greatly accelerated rate. Also, the fact that they're
called synchronous means they are tied to your system clock, which enables
them to function at higher bus speeds than 66 MHz. This is beneficial to
you if you like to plan ahead. When the time comes for 225 MHz or 250 MHz
systems, their bus speeds will range anywhere from 75 MHz to 100 MHz. Today's
DRAM and EDO DRAM are designed for use only up to 66 MHz.
VRAM (video RAM) and WRAM (Window RAM) are significant improvements over
any other type of RAM due to the fact that they are dual-ported. This allows
for far greater bandwidth, which in turn allows for much greater throughput
in terms of both MB/s and pixels per second. You'll find some of the best
video cards on the market are equipped with VRAM or WRAM.
Not long ago, the price difference between DRAM and VRAM was far greater
than it is today, which put VRAM cards out of reach for many. That's no
longer the case today, with 2 MB VRAM or WRAM cards selling for close to
$200.
It's also important that you pick a video card which can handle vertical
refresh rates of at least 70 Hz to 75 Hz in all video modes. The refresh
rate of the card and monitor denote the number of times the image is being
repainted (refreshed) on the screen. For flicker-free displays, you'll want
to stay above 60 Hz, and aim for 75 Hz or higher. Note that both your monitor
and video card have to have support for these refresh rates. It's not much
good to you if you buy a super video card that can refresh at 160 Hz to
find that your monitor won't go any higher than 60 Hz.
What's in store next?
One of the most eagerly awaited additions to the PC industry is Intel's
MMX processor. Initially scheduled for the later part of 1996, these chips
are expected to be available in early 1997, perhaps even by the time you
read this. MMX processors are basically an enhancement of Intel's current
processor line. These new processors improve on Intel's current architecture
by introducing 57 new instructions, which software developers can use to
develop MMX-enhanced applications.
But aside from the new instructions introduced, the new chips will also
have a larger on-board cache of 32KB, compared to today's 16KB. This alone
will yield a boost in overall system performance of about 11 percent.
We were able to get an early look at an MMX processor during our September
'96 survey, and a "real" system from Comtex in December. Although
we had no applications that take advantage of the MMX technology, we were
definitely able to notice an increase in speed. It is estimated that with
software designed to take full advantage of MMX, performance boosts as high
as 50 to 400 percent can be expected. So, if you're the type who likes to
squeeze every last drop of performance out of your system, MMX might be
just what you're looking for.
Compucon
The moment we opened up the box and saw the enclosed spec. sheet, we
new we had a screamer on our hands. The giveaway was the Ultra Wide SCSI
hard drive from Seagate. The controller was Adaptec's 2940UW-a perfect match
for this drive. Not only is it huge, at 4.3 GB, but it's also incredibly
fast. The system was powered by a 200 MHz processor with 512KB of pipelined
cache and 32 MB of EDO RAM.
To go hand-in-hand with the speedy hard drive was a very speedy Matrox Millennium
sporting 4 MB of WRAM. This card will not only deliver superb performance,
but will provide you with support for resolutions as high as 1,600x1,200
thanks to its large complement of RAM. Multimedia accessories include a
state of the art 12x CD-ROM drive from Panasonic, and a Sound Blaster 32
Plug and Play sound card. A pair of 150W speakers are also included.
Overall performance on our benchmark suite was exceptional, outperforming
every system in the survey. Fastech sent us this system with Windows NT
Workstation 4.0 pre-installed, which we should note is also included in
the price of the system. But in order to remain consistent, we had to install
Windows 95 in order to perform our tests. This very well-rounded system,
which we enjoyed testing, can be yours for $4,535.
Daiwa
The best way to sum up this system from Daiwa is to call it a super
performer at an incredible price. With its 200 MHz processor, 256KB pipelined
cache and 32 MB of EDO RAM, this system was already beginning to look very
appealing. But that's because we cheated, and looked at the price before
we looked at the rest of the components.
As we further studied the enclosed invoice, our eyes widened all the more.
This system is loaded with nothing but quality parts from start to finish.
Take for example, the Matrox Millennium video card with 2 MB on board; or
how about the very fast, very comfortable 2.5 GB hard drive from Western
Digital? And speaking of very fast, the system also includes a 12x CD-ROM
drive from Panasonic. Sound is produced with the help of a Sound Blaster
32 Plug and Play sound card, and a pair of multimedia speakers. To get you
online as quickly as possible, there is an internal US Robotics 28.8Kbps
voice/faxmodem.
On our benchmark suite, this system was among the fastest tested. If you've
waited until after the holidays to find a great deal on a computer, look
no further. The whole package can be yours for $2,390.
Darius
This month's system from Darius Discovery features, along with the 200
MHz processor, several quality components that make this system complete.
To complement the CPU, the system contains 512KB of Level-2 pipeline burst
cache and 32 MB of EDO RAM. Graphics are produced with a Diamond Stealth
3D 2240 with a generous 4 MB of EDO RAM on board. This card is not only
great for your everyday 2D graphics, but has 3D functionality as well, making
it all the more attractive. Multimedia components include a Creative Labs
Sound Blaster 16 sound card, a pair of Yamaha M7 speakers, and an 8x CD-ROM
drive by Sony. Getting online will be no problem with the system's US Robotics
33.6Kbps voice/faxmodem with speakerphone. And once January comes around,
US Robotic's X2 upgrades should be readily available, which can transform
this modem into a 56.6Kbps Internet-surfing delight. The hard drive in the
system was on the lighter side, being a 1.7 GB drive from Fujitsu. Although
smaller by comparison to some of the other drives we received, it is nonetheless
adequate for many users' needs.
The package includes a copy of Corel WordPerfect Suite on CD-ROM, and should
you decide on Lotus SmartSuite 96 instead, you can make the switch at no
extra cost. The grand total comes to $2,988 and is backed by a three-year
warranty.
DataTrain
From ServiceWorks Distribution Inc. in B.C. comes this DataTrain system.
It features many of the accessories common among this month's tested systems,
including the 200 MHz Pentium CPU, 512KB of pipelined cache, and 32 MB of
RAM. Hard drive storage should be adequate for the next while with a 2.1
GB drive. The zippy 12x CD-ROM drive from Panasonic should make CD-ROM-based
software a breeze to access. Video is accomplished through an ATI Mach64
with 2 MB of DRAM on board. The system also features a 33.6Kbps faxmodem,
a Sound Blaster 16 sound card and four software titles. Performance of this
machine was at acceptable levels based on the given components.
Empac
Computers from Empac are distributed under the Azura name. While fairly
new to our Test Lab, these systems have managed to surprise us every now
and then, with this month being no exception. The configuration, which is
found among many systems surveyed this month, includes a Pentium 200 MHz
processor, 512KB of pipeline burst cache, and 32 MB of SDRAM. One unique
feature of this machine was the Diamond Stealth video card with 2 MB of
EDO RAM. It's been our experience that systems equipped with these cards
tend to score high marks in the area of our benchmarks that deal with graphics-intensive
applications. The unit is made complete with a 2.5 GB drive from Seagate,
a 33.6Kbps faxmodem and a 12x CD-ROM drive from Panasonic.
As far as performance goes, this machine managed to achieve a score of 159
on our benchmark suite. This is a well-rounded system with great performance,
definitely worth considering.
Express Micro
Leave it to Advance-Interface to give us the ultimate machine, loaded
with features not found among any of its competitors. This was one of those
cases where we knew we had a winner on our hands just by reading the enclosed
spec. sheet. To start off, the system bears a 200 MHz Pentium CPU, 512KB
of pipelined Level-2 cache and 32 MB of EDO RAM. All your video needs will
be met with a Matrox Millennium accelerator with 4 MB of WRAM on board,
and an MPEG XL hardware add-on. This combination will let you play any MPEG
file with ease. This system also features the largest hard drive of this
survey, a 4.5 GB Quantum Atlas Ultra Wide SCSI, complete with Adaptec's
2940UW controller. If you want the hard drive of all hard drives, this is
definitely the one to get.
Now we come to the multimedia components of the system, where things really
start to get interesting. To start off, you'll get unparalleled sound quality
and features from Creative Labs' brand new Sound Blaster AWE64 Synthesizer.
The CD-ROM drive in the unit is not only a fast Panasonic 10x, but adds
a unique twist by being able to juggle five CD-ROMs at the same time. This
five-disc changer is great if you have a set of CDs that you're constantly
using but are tired of swapping back and forth.
And no true high-performance system would be complete without a mass storage
device. How does a 1.3 GB rewriteable optical sound? Panasonic's PD/CD drive
can now handle 1.3 GB storage media, where previously you were limited to
650 MB.
Also included in the system is a 33.6Kbps Digicom faxmodem and the Microsoft
Plus pack for Windows 95. The package sells for $5,799 with a five-year
labor and three-year parts warranty. The Panasonic PD/CD drive is an additional
$599. A truly exceptional system, definitely Editors' Choice material.
Hewlett-Packard
HP's evaluation system this month was from the Vectra 500 series. Our
test unit came equipped with a 200 MHz Pentium processor, 32 MB of RAM and
256KB Level-2 cache. Video in this system is achieved through a Matrox Millennium
with 2 MB of WRAM
Storage comes in the form of a 2.5 GB Quantum hard drive, which definitely
aids in system performance. Multimedia components include a Sound Blaster
16 sound card, and an 8x CD-ROM drive. What really makes this system stand
out is the included CD-ROM featuring MS Office Professional. A great package,
backed by one of the industry's giants, is yours for $4,435 with a three-year
warranty.
IBM
Well, it's black, it's sleek, and it's new from IBM. This latest innovation,
code named Stealth is IBM's attempt to, among other things, help keep your
desktop clean. The system is composed of three main pieces-the monitor,
media console, and the tower case itself. IBM's design allows you to place
the monitor and media console on your desktop, while conveniently letting
you hide the tower under your desk. The media console is home to your floppy
and CD-ROM drives, so there are no worries about having to crawl under your
desk all the time to insert a disc.
Aside from being a great performer, this system is very aesthetically pleasing,
making it a surefire way to impress someone. The unit consists of a 200
MHz Pentium processor with 256KB of Level-2 cache and 32 MB of EDO RAM.
Whether your graphic requirements are simple or that of a real gaming nut,
the ATI 3D Rage chipset with 2 MB on board will go a long way to satisfying
your needs. Storage is provided using IBM's own 3.2 GB EIDE drive, which
has proven to be very fast in our tests. Using IBM's Mwave, you get a 28.8Kbps
faxmodem and 16-bit sound capabilities all on one card. As was mentioned
before, the media console houses an 8x CD-ROM drive.
The package wouldn't be complete without a slew of software that you've
come to expect from IBM. Among the many titles are Microsoft Encarta '96,
Lotus SmartSuite 96, Quicken SE, MechWarrior 2 designed for the 3D Rage
chipset, VR Soccer, TripMaker 1996 SE, and others aimed at younger children
that fall into the "edutainment" category. To give you the best
possible chance of defeating those enemy Mechs, IBM includes a very attractive,
high-quality joystick with buttons galore, and a cordless mouse. The price
of this model with a 15-inch monitor is $4,999 or $5,499 if you want a 17-inch
version. The system includes a three-year warranty.
INET
This month's INET system was among the lowest-priced systems, but certainly
not lowest performers. In fact, with a score of 155 on our BAPCo benchmark
suite, this system managed to place among the fastest in the survey. The
system as a whole leaves little to be desired. The 200 MHz Pentium processor
is aided by 512KB of pipelined cache an 32 MB of EDO RAM. This was yet another
system to use the new Rage chipset from ATI. The 4 MB version of this card
is expandable to 8 MB of SGRAM, and has the capability of redirecting output
to your TV. To round out the system, you'll get a 2.1 GB hard drive from
Quantum, a 12x CD-ROM drive from Mitsumi, a Sound Blaster 16 sound card,
and a 33.6Kbps voice/faxmodem from US Robotics. This system, priced at $2,450,
comes with an exceptional three-year warranty on parts and six years on
labor.
IPC
Computers from IPC are known to us around the Test Lab as the ones with
all the little extra gizmos. This machine is equipped with everything you
need to get you up and running right out of the box. Whether your main concern
is price or system features, IPC has it all. Driven by a 200 MHz processor,
256KB of pipeline burst cache and 32 MB of RAM, you have plenty of computing
power to run all of the applications that come with this system, which include
the Microsoft CD bundle, featuring MS Encarta, Golf, Dangerous Creatures,
Works and Money. The popular Virtual Fighter by Sega is also part of the
deal. Hard drive storage comes in the form of a 1.6 GB Fujitsu drive. Although
smaller than most of the systems in this survey, it still provides you with
sufficient room, at least for the near future.
The one thing we would change in this system is the 1 MB ATI Mach64 video
card. For a very small amount, it would certainly be beneficial to ask for
a 2 MB version of the card, or even for ATI's new 3D Rage. Multimedia components
include a 12x CD-ROM drive from Toshiba, a Sound Blaster 16 sound card,
a Zoltrix "snake" microphone and a 33.6Kbps faxmodem. Popular
among IPC and Bondwell systems are the radio tuners, which are found in
the form of an ISA card, complete with Windows-based software to aid you
in flipping between your favorite stations. It is priced at $2,549 and comes
with a three-year warranty.
Mynix
From Quebec-based Mycomp comes a well-balanced, competitively priced
system. Features in this unit include the standard 200 MHz Pentium processor,
256KB of Level-2 cache, 32 MB of RAM, and a Matrox Millennium video card
with 2 MB of WRAM.
The 3.2 GB Quantum hard drive will not only give your system a performance
boost, but will also provide you with plenty of storage for the foreseeable
future. An ESS1688 sound card provides you with 16-bit stereo sound. The
8x CD-ROM drive in this system is not as fast as the newer 12x variety,
but is still very reliable, considering nearly all CD-ROM titles require
no more than a 2x drive to ensure compatibility. To add the finishing touches
to the system, Mycomp has included a 33.6Kbps faxmodem from Supra. The price
tag on this machine reads $2,850 and comes with a three-year warranty.
OA Comp
Known for providing us with fast systems at competitive prices, OA's
submission into this month's Test Lab was a complete package with nothing
but the best of components. It featured 512KB of pipelined cache, 32 MB
of EDO RAM, and an ATI 3D Pro Turbo with 4 MB of SGRAM. The video card is
capable of using your TV as a monitor, which can prove to be quite fun.
The hard drive in the system was a Quantum 2.0 GB Wide SCSI, complete with
an Adaptec 2940UW controller. Other components include a 12x CD-ROM drive
from Toshiba, a Sound Blaster 32 Plug and Play sound card from Creative
Labs with a Yamaha DB50XG midi daughterboard if you're a real sound buff,
and a 33.6Kbps faxmodem with speakerphone from US Robotics. The price of
the system is $3,188, and an extra $200 for the Yamaha daughterboard.
Sirus
As is always the case, the system we reviewed this month from Sirus
was among the fastest of the lot. Using Intel's 430HX chipset and other
high-quality components, computers from Sirus are always a treat to work
with because we never have to worry about things like system crashes every
five minutes during testing. Powered by a 200 MHz processor, this system
boasts a number of features that are sure to please any power-hungry user.
For example, the 512KB of pipelined cache was certainly a factor in putting
this system among the fastest ever surveyed. The system was further enhanced
by 32 MB of EDO RAM, a super fast 3.1 GB hard drive from Western Digital,
and the ever-popular Matrox Millennium with 4 MB of high-speed WRAM on board.
A US Robotics 33.6Kbps voice/faxmodem will meet your communication needs
with ease. Multimedia components include a Pioneer 12x CD-ROM drive, a Sound
Blaster 32 sound card, and a pair of speakers.
Sygma
From Montreal-based Sygma comes a system that is not only very well
equipped, but one that managed to fly through our benchmarks with extreme
ease. This machine consists of a 200 MHz processor, 512KB of pipelined cache,
32 MB of EDO RAM, a 33.6Kbps modem from US Robotics, a Sound Blaster 32
sound card, a large 3.1 GB hard drive from Western Digital and a 4 MB ATI
3D ProTurbo video card with ATI's TV tuner. A pair of Jazz 590 speakers
and a microphone are also included for maximum multimedia enjoyment. The
addition of a MAG DX15T monitor to this package makes it all the more inviting.
To better aid you in customizing your system, Sygma offers a Web site through
which you can configure your system with all of your favorite components.
A well-designed system with great overall performance.
Ultinet
Known for packing a lot of power into a little box, computers from Ultinet
are generally among the leaders when in comes to benchmark results. This
month, their system was no exception, managing to stay in close proximity
to the head of the pack, outdone only by machines that used Ultra Wide SCSI
hard drives and controllers. This system features the Intel 430HX chipset,
512KB of pipeline burst cache, and a generous 64 MB of EDO RAM. When we
had asked for high-end systems, we were hoping to see more of them equipped
with 64 MB, but that was not to be.
The remaining components in this system are Grade-A quality, like the Matrox
Millennium graphics accelerator with 4 MB of WRAM. The hard drive is one
of Quantum's newest creations, the 3.1 GB Fireball. When combined with a
16 MB caching controller, it was hard to slow this system down. To add the
finishing touches, you also get a US Robotics 33.6Kbps voice/faxmodem that
can be upgraded to X2, as well as a fast 12x CD-ROM drive from Acer. Ultinet
also includes a series of CD-ROM titles, including Compton's Interactive
Encyclopedia and a pair of 100 W surround sound speakers to let you get
the most from your software. A very complete package, at a surprisingly
low price.
Performance: Express Micro Our award for best performance is always
given to the fastest system in our survey. This month, we've seen a lot
of computing power stemming from these 200 MHz systems, but there are always
one or two systems that stand out. The system from Express Micro is such
a system, managing to outperform all of its competitors. Nothing but the
best components are found in this machine; everything from its Matrox Millennium
video card to its Quantum Atlas 4.5 GB Ultra Wide SCSI drive to its Panasonic
PD/CD rewriteable unit. When it comes to high-performance systems, this
is the computer you want.
Price/performance: Daiwa This month's winner of our Price/Performance
award goes to Daiwa. At just $2,390, it is not only equipped with everything
you need for maximum performance, but is also an incredible bargain. The
ever-popular Matrox Millennium and Western Digital hard drives went a long
way in helping this machine achieve a high score. If you want top performance
at an incredible price, look no further.
All round: IBM Looking for something with muscle and a pretty face? This
month's system from IBM has it all. Quality components include the new ATI
3D Rage video card with 2 MB on board and IBM's own very fast 3.2 GB hard
drive. The system, complete with 15-inch monitor and three-year warranty,
is yours for $4,999. q
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TCP Online February 1997 Issue