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COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Dell Demension 4400
By: KaoMAN
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  • Rating: 4 stars4 stars4 stars4 stars4 stars / 22
    2003-10-02

    Table of Contents:
  • Dell Demension 4400
  • Performance
  • Conclusion

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    Dell Demension 4400


    (Page 1 of 3 )

    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 =).

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