New PCs: NEC Announces the PowerMate 8100 Series of Managed, Performance PCs for Corporate Environments

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, June 15, 1998

NEC Computer Systems Division (NEC CSD) Monday announced the PowerMate 8100 series of minitower computers. Running on Intel's Pentium II processors at 350 and 400MHz and utilizing the new Intel 440BX chipset, the PowerMate 8100 series delivers the highest processing power currently available for business PCs. In addition, an NEC Select Install CD-ROM of software applications is included with each PowerMate 8100 PC, and gives customers the ability to create software configurations that best match their computing needs. Designed for enterprise environments, the PowerMate 8100 series will also incorporate new manageability features to allow corporate users to manage their networks more efficiently and lower their total cost of ownership (TCO). The PowerMate 8100 series is available now, in configurations featuring 350MHz or 400MHz Pentium II processors, and prices starting at $1,799.

"By including Intel's fastest processors, the new 440BX chipset with 100MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) in our PowerMate 8100 series, NEC CSD continues our commitment to delivering corporate PCs that are true performers," said David Sorenson, Director, Product Marketing & Management, Corporate Desktops, NEC CSD. "Furthering the PowerMate tradition of 'best in class' manageability, the PowerMate 8100 series will also feature an enhanced manageability suite of hardware and software for the ultimate ease in setup, networking and support."

"Intel's 400MHz Pentium II processor-based PCs deliver the highest performance available, enabling maximum productivity for corporate customers," said Paul Otellini, executive vice president, Intel Architecture Business Group. "The combination of Intel's fastest processing power with the advanced manageability capabilities of the PowerMate 8100 series makes these products outstanding investments in enterprise computing."

A New Approach to Bundled Software The NEC Select Install CD bundled with NEC's PowerMate 8100 Series offers corporate customers the flexibility to customize their software installations. With the Select Install CD, PowerMate systems come with only the operating system and drivers installed on the system. The applications and Web browsers are included on a CD-ROM, allowing the corporate IT manager to choose just those components they need for their environments and standardize applications.

The PowerMate 8100 series will have either the Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT operating system pre-loaded. Microsoft Windows 98 will be available pre-loaded on the PowerMate 8100 series in July. Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 will be pre-loaded as part of the operating system on all PowerMate 8100 PCs running Windows 98 and Windows NT.

The Fastest Intel Processors and Technology Intel's 350 and 400MHz Pentium II processors are the fastest processors currently available on the market, and will allow corporate users to experience improved computing performance, especially in 3D, imaging and video applications. These processors, in combination with Intel's 440BX chipset and 100MHz bus, provide the ideal platform for visual computing. Intel's 440BX chipset features a Slot 1, 100MHz front side system bus, rather than the 66MHz bus used in previous chip sets. The chipset significantly improves the system's ability to maximize overall performance. The 440BX chipset includes: USB, PCI Level 2.1 bus-mastering compliance, Ultra DMA/ATA-33 device support and PIO mode 4, as well as improved power-saving features.

Key Hardware Features of the PowerMate 8100 In addition to the Intel Pentium II 350 and 400MHz processors, 440BX chipset and 100MHz system bus, the 8100 series will feature AGP graphics, fast SDRAM DIMM memory, Ultra DMA 33 hard drive support and a 3COM 3C905 network interface with wake-on-LAN support and NEC MagicEye technology. The PowerMate 8100 series will also feature the NEC Intellicase minitower chassis for ease-of-manageability and serviceability. Key hardware features will include:

* Intel Pentium II processor speeds of 350 and 400MHz o Intel 440BX chipset o 100MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) o Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) architecture o Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 operating systems o Fast 100MHz SDRAM memory o Fast Ultra DMA EIDE (Ultra ATA-33) SMART hard drives (4.3GB- to 9.1GB) o 3COM 3C905 with Wake-on-LAN on Riser o NEC IntelliCase easy-to-service NLX minitower chassis o 32X CD-ROM o On-board 16-bit SoundBlaster compatible audio o Microsoft PC97 Compliant; ACPI ReadyEnhanced Enterprise Manageability

With the PowerMate 8100 series comes an enhanced manageability software suite, including NEC WebTelligent software, for remote enterprise management over the Internet. NEC's MagicEye technology provides system monitoring and alerting, and provides notification of the following: ambient temperatures inside the chassis, voltages on the motherboard, chassis intrusion and potential hard drive failure. Additional manageability software on the PowerMate 8100 Series includes:

* Intel LANDesk Client Manager 3.2 - delivers remote management, alerting and asset control using DMI 2.0