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Editors' rating
In response to Intel unveiling its latest chipset, Dell released a range of business PCs that support the chip manufacturing giant's latest architecture. In the small form factor space, Dell's offering is the Optiplex SX280 -- a PC featuring Intel's 915G Express chipset, a Pentium 4 500 series processor (520, 530, or 540), and a GMA900 video controller. 256 to 2GB of shared DDR2 SDRAM can be installed, alongside a 40-250GB Serial ATA hard disk drive.
Upside: The SX280 features an ultra small form factor chassis that weighs about 4.8kg and takes up a tiny amount of desk space. The chassis can be hidden away behind an LCD, if purchased in conjunction with an optional stand from Dell. The all-in-one stand is adjustable in height and designed to hold a 15- 17-inch monitor as well as the chassis (which is held in place by a removable bolt). Cables protruding from side of the chassis are managed by a clip-on section which routes all cables out through the same hole. There are seven USB ports (two on the front and five on the rear), as well as Ethernet, serial, parallel, and audio ports.
Downside: The motherboard on Dell's Optiplex SX280 only allows DDR2 SDRAM to be installed. Businesses with spare DDR RAM lying around won't be able to use the legacy memory to upgrade SX280 PCs.
Outlook: The Optiplex SX280's design certainly isn't as striking and charming as, for example, Apple's iMac, but at a starting price of AU$1,269 you can't expect too much. But does the SX280 sacrifice performance for small size? We'll have the full details on the SX280 shortly.
Specifications
| General | |
|---|---|
| Product Form Factor | Ultra small form factor |
| Packaged Quantity | 1 |
| Processor / Chipset | |
| CPU | Intel Pentium 4 530 / 3 GHz |
| Data Bus Speed | 800 MHz |
| Chipset Type | Intel 915G Express |
| Processor Main Features | Hyper-Threading Technology |
| Processor Socket | LGA775 Socket |
| Cache Memory | |
| Installed Size | L2 cache - 1 MB |
| Cache Per Processor | 1 MB |
| Type | L2 cache |
| Per Processor Size | 1 MB |
| Installed Size | 1 MB |
| RAM | |
| Technology | DDR2 SDRAM |
| Memory Speed | 400 MHz |
| Memory Specification Compliance | PC2-3200 |
| Features | dual channel memory architecture |
| Technology | DDR2 SDRAM |
| Installed Size | 512 MB |
| Rated Memory Speed | 400 MHz |
| Memory | |
| Max Supported Size | 2 GB |
| Form Factor | DIMM 240-pin |
| Slots Qty | 2 |
| Empty Slots | 1 |
| Storage | |
| Interface Type | Serial ATA-150 |
| Type | none |
| Display | |
| Type | none. |
| Audio & Video | |
| Memory Allocation Technology | Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0 |
| Hard Drive | |
| Type | HDD |
| Interface Type | SATA 1.5Gb/s |
| Spindle Speed | 7200 rpm |
| Type | HDD |
| Interface Class | Serial ATA |
| Installed Qty | 1 |
| Capacity | 160 GB |
| Input | |
| Type | keyboard (on selected markets only), mouse (on selected markets only) |
| Storage Controller | |
| Interface Type | Serial ATA-150 |
| Type | Serial ATA |
| Installed Qty | 1 |
| Hard Drive (2nd) | |
| Installed Qty | None |
| Storage Controller (2nd) | |
| Type | 1 x IDE - integrated |
| Controller Interface Type | ATA-100 |
| Installed Qty | 1 |
| Processor | |
| Installed Qty | 1 |
| Max Supported Qty | 1 |
| Type | Pentium 4 |
| Processor Number | 530 |
| Manufacturer | Intel |
| Clock Speed | 3.20 GHz |
| Optical Storage | |
| Drive Type | no optical drive |
| Type | CD-RW / DVD-ROM |
| Floppy Drive | |
| Type | none |
| Storage Removable | |
| Type | none |
| Header | |
| Brand | Dell |
| Product Line | Dell OptiPlex |
| Model | SX280 |
| Packaged Quantity | 1 |
| Compatibility | PC |
| Networking | |
| Data Link Protocol | Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| Form Factor | integrated |
| Compliant Standards | WfM 2.0 |
| System | |
| Type | personal computer |
| Hard Drive Capacity | 40 GB |
| Monitor | |
| Monitor Type | None. |
| Diagonal Size | 17 |
| Viewable Size | 17 in |
| Graphics Controller | |
| Form Factor | integrated |
| Graphics Processor | Intel GMA 900 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0 |
| Video Interfaces | DVI |
| Dimensions & Weight | |
| Width | 3.5 in |
| Depth | 9.9 in |
| Height | 10.4 in |
| Chassis | |
| Form Factor | tower |
| Manufacturer Form Factor | ultra small form factor |
| Audio Output | |
| Form Factor | integrated |
| Compliant Standards | AC '97, High Definition Audio |
| Mainboard | |
| Processor Socket | LGA775 Socket |
| Data Bus Speed | 800 MHz |
| Chipset Type | Intel 915G Express |
| Manufacturer Warranty | |
| Type | 3 years warranty |
| Printer | |
| Type | none |
| Environmental Standards | |
| ENERGY STAR Certified | Yes |
| Expansion / Connectivity | |
| Bays |
1 (total) / 1 (free) x external 5.25" Slim Line 1 (total) / 0 (free) x internal 3.5" x 1/3H |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Form Factor | tower |
| Power | |
| Type | power adapter |
| Operating System / Software | |
| OS Provided: Type | Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
| OS Provided | Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
| Type | Drivers & Utilities, Microsoft Office Basic Edition 2003, Norton Internet Security (90 days subscription) |
| Video Output | |
| Graphics Processor | Intel GMA 900 |
| Graphics Processor Series | Intel GMA |
| Video Interfaces | DVI |
| Video Memory | |
| Memory Allocation Technology | Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0 |
| Service & Support | |
| Type | 3 years warranty |
| Service & Support Details | |
| Type | limited warranty |
| Full Contract Period | 3 years |
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