New PCs: Dell Announces New Dimension PCs With Intel's 450MHz Pentium II and Celeron Processors for Home and Small Business Users

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, August 31, 1998

Dimension V333c                Dimension V350

333MHz Celeron processor       350MHz Pentium II processor

32MB SDRAM memory              32MB SDRAM memory

6.4 GB hard drive              6.4 GB hard drive

15-inch monitor (13.7" v.i.s.) 17-inch (15.9" v.i.s) Trinitron

                                monitor

ATI 2X AGP Rage Pro 8MB        ATI 2X AGP Rage Pro 8MB

14/32X IDE CD ROM              14/32X IDE CD ROM

QuietKey Keyboard              QuietKey Keyboard

Microsoft Intellimouse Mouse   Microsoft Intellimouse Mouse

Yamaha DS-1 64-voice audio     Intel 10/100 Ethernet

harmon kardon Speakers         Turtle Beach Montego A3D audio

56K modem V.90                 harmon kardon Speakers

MS Windows 98                  MS Windows 98

MS Home Essentials w/Money     MS Office w/Bookshelf

$1,399(a)                      $1,899(a)

Dimension XPS R450

450 MHz Pentium II processor

128 MB 100 MHz SDRAM memory

14.4 GB Ultra ATA HD (7200 RPM)

17-inch (15.9" v.i.s) Trinitron monitor

STB nVidia ZX 8MB, 3D AGP graphics

4.8X DVD ROM drive/Decoder Card

Turtle Beach Montego A3D audio

Altec Lansing ACS 295 speakers

56K modem V.90

MS Windows 98

MS Home Essentials w/Money

$2,779(a)

(a) all prices include a 3-year limited warranty.

Dell Computer Corporation, the world's leading direct computer systems

company, today introduced a new Dell Dimension desktop PC that offers

customers power and affordability with Intel's latest Celeron

microprocessor.

The company also expanded its most powerful Dimension XPS R series to

include Intel's newest and most powerful 450MHz Pentium II processor.

The new, updated Celeron microprocessor announced Monday by Intel, is

offered by Dell for the first time with the introduction of the Dimension

V series. Prices for the Dimension V series begin at $1,399 and include

Intel's Celeron or Pentium II processors, a unique trouble-shooting LED

panel developed by Dell, large hard drives, color monitors, rich video and

sound, speakers, 14/32X CD ROM, 56K V.90 modem, optional integrated

networking, and Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft Home Essentials or

Small Business Edition.

The new Dimension V series will be sold to small business customers and

consumers as a lower-cost alternative to Dell's performance PCs, like the

Dimension XPS R450.

"The performance of the updated Intel Celeron processor has greatly

improved with the addition of cache memory," said Janet Mountain,

director, Dell Dimension product group. "This improvement enables us to

design a Dimension platform with full features and expandability at

aggressive price points."

High-Performance Features, Low-Cost Platform

The new Dimension V series is available with either the Intel Celeron

333MHz processor or the Pentium II 350MHz processor.

Adding value to the new Dimension V series are new leading-edge features

commonly found only on high-end systems. For example, Dell is optimizing

the customer multimedia experience by including the ATI Rage Pro video

controller with 2X AGP and 8MB of SDRAM, which was recently only available

on Intel Pentium II-based, performance-class Dimension PCs.

Audio options include a choice of an integrated Yamaha DS-1 PCI-based

64-voice sound or a powerful PCI-based Turtle Beach Montego A3D sound

card. Both audio options provide rich, simulated 3-D sound that adds

realism to today's DVD titles and video games.

Troubleshooting LEDs

The new Dimension V series PCs feature unique Dell designed

troubleshooting LEDs on the back of the chassis to help diagnose display

problems. If a customer experiences a video failure, for example, he or

she can describe the LED display pattern to Dell's service and support

reps who can then better identify the problem and guide the customer

through a repair sequence. Dell believes it is the first major PC maker to

incorporate troubleshooting LEDs on PCs for home and small business

customers.

Integrated Networking/Broad Expansion Capabilities

The Dimension V Series is optimized for the small business customer with

an optional integrated Intel 10/100 Ethernet controller for direct

connection to an Ethernet local area network. By integrating the

networking feature on the Dimension V series motherboard, more PCI slots

are available for upgrades or expansions to other peripherals. In

addition, the Dimension V series utilizes the traditional Dimension

chassis that provides easy access for upgrades and multiple unused drive

bays, which overcomes limited expandability typically criticized in

entry-level PCs.

Updated Dimension XPS R Series

In conjunction with the Dimension V series introduction, Dell announced

that it has upgraded its performance-class Dimension XPS R series to

include Intel's most powerful 450MHz Pentium II processors. The Dell

Dimension XPS R450 is 12 percent faster than comparably configured Pentium

II 350MHz-based Dimension systems with features that equip customers for

future applications such as digital photography, video editing and

high-speed Internet access. Prices for the Dimension XPS R450 start at

$2,049. Available options can include a 17-inch Trinitron monitor (15.9"