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Dell sends fastest computer (for now) to Midwest Test Facility
It's been a while since we reviewed a Dell workstation here at the Midwest Test Facility. Since we evaluated a Dell 3GHz Precision Workstation over a year ago, numerous other computers have been placed under our scrutiny here -- including boxes from Apple, ABS, HP, Boxx, and Alienware. But none of those had dual Intel Xeon 3.6 chips inside. And, as you may have guessed, none of them were as fast the one we're reviewing here -- the Dell Precision Workstation 470 ($5493), packed with faster, newer technology. But it wasn't quite perfect.
The test machine Dell sent us for this review is stoked with all the newest silicon and its associated innovations, starring two new Intel Xeon processors. Their 3.6 gigahertz clock speed was the most significant difference between this machine and the dual 3.4 GHz ABS box we reviewed three weeks ago, containing most of this same new technology [read that review here]. Besides the new 64-bit instruction set inside this new line of Intel Xeon chips, the two machines have in common the new PCI Express bus (which Dell calls PCIe), allowing for 16x graphics speeds, and the new E7525 "Tumwater" chip set facilitating that faster DDR2 memory, of which we found 2GB stuffed inside as well.
That's all well-and-good, but the most dramatic advantage of this box is its processors, the hyper-threaded dual 3.6GHz Xeons. Imagine that: Two of these babies, and they're both hyper-threaded, so when you look at your performance meter in Windows Task Manager (see graphic at left), you see four processors in the CPU Usage History window. Sure, there's nothing too revolutionary there, since we've seen dual hyper-threaded Xeons here before, but then they're each running at 3.6GHz, so that means you're getting the rough equivalent of about 7.2 gigahertz of computing power under the hood of this beast. We're kinda breaking the 7GHz barrier here (but yes, I know, 3.6GHz + 3.6GHz doesn't necessarily give you the same performance as one 7.2GHz chip). For those of us codgers who were thrilled with the 33MHz (that's megahertz, whipper-snappers) computers of more than a decade ago, I can only say that my mind is sufficiently boggled. Sweetening the pot is the first hint of 64-bitness hiding inside these chips. Never mind there's no 64-bit computing possible on Windows thus far, where if you cram more than 4GB of RAM inside the thing, you can't even use it because Windows XP can't see more than that anyway. Even so, it's nice to know that all that 64-bit business can happen while the chips are still compatible with the 32-bit apps you're using now. It's also reassuring that these chips are ready for the not-too-distant future where 64-bit Windows XP will be finally available along with truly useful applications following soon thereafter. Heady stuff.
Back here on Earth, Dell has continued to refine its OOBE (Out of Box Experience). Take the computer out, plug it in, and it's off and running. Alas, it's not up to the most perfect OOBE in all computerdom, that of the esteemed Mac G5, with its single plug for the monitor with USB attached, one AC plug, and candy-wrapper packaging. But even though I like this unit and its compact chassis, there's a bit of weirdness involved with it. Dell says it's versatile, meaning it can be used as a desktop unit or in a tower configuration, but you'll have to skip using this as a tower unless you never plan to use your DVD or CD drives for anything -- they won't work sideways. That's not too versatile in my book. On the plus side, the case is smaller than a tower, and is about the size of desktop computers of the old days, a form factor that could come in handy if space were an issue. Also included in the package are little niceties, such as Dell's great new USB keyboard that's sleek and small -- reminding me a bit of Apple's snazzy keyboard but in Dell black instead of MacCrystal clear -- and has about the quietest keys I've ever (not) heard pressed.
Speaking of quiet, Dell has done it again in the quietude department. Just when I thought the Dellians had created the most silent of all PCs, in sneaks the Precision Workstation 470 -- which was so quiet that during my testing I twice thought it wasn't even on when indeed it was. Looking inside the box, I was wondering what magic the box-builders had tucked in there to make it so quiet. (First, I had to actually get inside the box. Unlike any other computer, opening a Dell case is like cracking open an egg, but once you get the hang of it you see the logic that's involved in its thoughtful design. Even so, I wish it were easier to open. Like I've said before, I think a computer should be no harder to open than a car door, or a refrigerator.) Anyway, inside, see the secrets of those sounds of silence revealed -- notice in the graphic (below) the two green air directors, moving air from the quiet, small cooling fan right where it's needed, and alleviating the need for huge, noisy cooling fans. The chassis is also tool-free, where you can change cards without even using a screwdriver. I've always liked the way Dell chassis are tool-free.
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| See those two green air directors on the left? They move air from the quiet, small cooling fan to where it's needed, and alleviate the need for huge, noisy cooling fans. |
However, I was surprised to see that chassis almost slot-free as well, where the Sound Blaster Audigy card took up the only full-length PCI slot. What's up with that? Let's take a look at the slots that are inside (see graphic): There's that one 32b/33MHz PCI slot (that's the PCI that most of us are using now), then there are the new-fangled PCI slots, including a 64-bit 100MHz PCIx slot, one PCI Express x4 slot, and that PCI Express x16 slot where the 128MB ATI FireGL V3100 graphics card resides. Maybe I'm not getting with this new PCIe program (and I'm sure plenty of readers will explain this to me as soon as they read this), but since when is it OK to have only four slots total inside a computer, and only one PCI slot (see graphic below)? Perhaps the presence of 1394 and USB 2.0 ports make internal slots less important?? What if I wanted to install a Canopus DVStorm2 or Matrox RT.X100 DV accelerator card? Well, the fact of the matter is, I could. Dell tells me the PCI-x 64-bit slot is backward-compatible with 32-bit PCI, so if the card will plug in, it'll run fine. And, if you need more than two available slots, I'd say step up to Dell's tower model workstation, the Precision 670, where there are plenty more slots for anything you'd want to plug in there.
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| Here are the four slots inside the Dell Precision Workstation 470. 1: 32b/33MHz PCI slot we've all come to know and love with a Sound Blaster Audigy 2 card in it. 2: 64-bit 100MHz PCI-x slot. 3: PCI Express 4x slot and 4: PCI Express 16x slot with the graphics card in it. |
On the plus side -- and this is a big plus -- Dell included the fastest hard disks I've ever seen. The two 10,000 74GB Serial ATA (SATA) drives configured in a Raid-0 array blew our doors off here at the Midwest Test Facility, with a read speed of 130MB/sec. and write speed of 133MB/sec. These hard disks are getting so big and fast that I just have to get used to this over-100MB/sec. standard. It's remarkable.
