Dell Demension 4400
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Introduction: Well boys, OCA is bringing to you today something a little different. Yes that’s right we’re going to take a look at an OEM machine *grimace in pain*. With the multifarious capabilities and options of the latest hardware in the computer industry, it is getting fairly difficult for an average person to purchase a decent computer. AMD or Intel? SDR, DDR, or RDRAM? GF3ti200 or GF4MX420 or Radeon8500? Things are starting to get ridiculous, and probably only a hobbyist in the computer area (euphemism for overclocker) can tell the difference.
Company: Dell Computer Corporation
Product: Dell Dimension 4400
Price: Starting at $897
Availability: Now
Written by: kaoman
Reviewed: February, 2002
Introduction: Well boys, OCA is bringing to you today something a little different. Yes that’s right we’re going to take a look at an OEM machine *grimace in pain*. With the multifarious capabilities and options of the latest hardware in the computer industry, it is getting fairly difficult for an average person to purchase a decent computer. AMD or Intel? SDR, DDR, or RDRAM? GF3ti200 or GF4MX420 or Radeon8500? Things are starting to get ridiculous, and probably only a hobbyist in the computer area (euphemism for overclocker) can tell the difference.
This is where quality and trust in a company plays in. Dell, being rated best computer manufacturer for years on end, shines in this category. The stock entry Dimension 4400 for $897 has the following specs:
Processor | Intel Pentium 4 1.6GHz |
Ram | 128MB DDR SDRAM |
Hard drive | 20GB Ultra ATA/100 |
Floppy | Generic |
Keyboard | Dell Enhanced Quiet Key Keyboard |
Mouse | MS Intellimouse |
Warranty | 1Yr Ltd. Warranty – 1Yr At-Home Service + 1Yr Phone Support |
OS | MS Windows XP Home Edition |
Software bundle | MS Works Suite 2002 with Money 2002 Standard |
Antivirus software | Norton AV 2002 90-day intro offer |
Monitor | 15in. E551 Monitor |
Video card | 16MB ATI Rage Ultra 4x |
CD-rom | 16x/10x/40x CD-RW with Roxio’s Easy CD Creator |
Speakers | Harman Kardon Speakers |
Sound | Integrated audio |
Music software | Dell Jukebox powered by MusicMatch 6.0 |
Image software | Image Expert2000 for XP, Dell edition |
Modem | 56K PCI Data Fax Modem |
Net Access | 6 months Dell Net or AOL |
Remember… these options are pretty much totally customizable to your own likings. Not too shabby for a price tag of $897. Of course these specs were not the least bit acceptable for a kaoman computer! Some changes in the system being tested are:
P4 1.8ghz
128MB + 512MB Mushkin PC2100 DDR
40GB Western Digital 7200RPM ATA100 – Dell
40GB Western Digital 7200RPM ATA100 – Best Buy
18in. Sony LCD (still on backorder… damnit)
GeForce3 Ti200 64MB DDR
Generic 48x CD-rom
Philips 8x/4x/24x CD-RW
Generic 10/100 NIC
D-Link 10/100 NIC
Avermedia TV98
Intellimouse Optical
*note* parts in bold have been added separately, not purchased from Dell. You didn't think we would leave the PC STOCK from the factory did ya?? ;-)
Installation: Considering the fact that this is an OEM machine, installation should have been a piece of cake. Well installation was more than a piece of cake. It was like the whole cake being spoon-fed to you. (lame comparison… but ohwell). The computer itself comes out of a fairly large brown box branded Dell.
Opening it up revealed a big quick-start instruction sheet as well as a two boxes holding the keyboard, mouse, microphone, software/drivers, and 148 page long instructions manual. Beneath all that was the case itself secured by two pieces of Styrofoam. Acting like any average human would, I took everything out and started hooking up the system. Dell was nice enough to color code EVERYTHING… making it setting up the system very straightforward.
Upon booting up I was greeted with the familiar “Welcome to Windows XP” screen, the one you get the first time you’ve booted into a newly installed Windows XP. From there you enter your name, hit next a few times, setup your email, etc. Hit finished, and *wham* your at your desktop, all setup and ready to start using your computer. Extremely fast, extremely easy, and very well-done. I am unfortunately unable to provide you with any screenshots of this process since… about 10 minutes into turning on the system I turned it off, installed some existing hardware I had, formatted, and loaded up XP Pro. XP Home does NOT cut it for me… but then that’s just me. I’m sure your mother or children wont notice =).
Next: Performance >>
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