Are you hunting for a top-notch desktop computer system? Well, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one than the Dell Dimension XPS 600. This powerful PC has all the power you need to run the most complex business applications and run the most graphic intensive 3D games.

One very nice feature of ther XPS 600 is the inclusion of two high-end graphics cards in an SLI (Scalable Link Interface) configuration, giving extremely high graphics horsepower. Add to that the large 24 inch display and its stability - and we have one great system.

There aren't many flaws about this PC - except that some hardcore enthusiasts would complain that you can build a more powerful (and cheaper system) using a dual core Athlon 64 processor.

Anyway, let's now jump into the details and see what the Dell Dimension XPS 600 is all about.



CPU and Memory

The Dell XPS 600 is clearly set on being on a mean, high-end gaming PC. The Intel Pentium 4 670 processor (running at 3.8 GHz) and installed 1 GB of RAM simply blows you away. Throw anything you want at it - the latest 3D games, video editing or number-crunching applications - it processes them with aplomb.

If you want to further drive up the power, the Dell Dimension XPS 600 can be configured with practically any high-end Pentium processor, including the dual-core Pentium Extreme Edition 840.

Case

The XPS 600 comes with a armor-like black and silver case. There is a wealth of PCI Express and PCI slots in the box, but they're filled, with graphics cards, TV tuners, and the Audigy 2 ZS sound board. Overall, the case is easy to work with, but made of plastic so it can feel a bit unsturdy. However, that is no big issue considering the processing might of the machine.

Graphics

The dual GeForce 7800 GTX graphics cards in the XPS 600 are the main draw of this system. 3D games these days call for an obscene amount of graphics horsepower - so Dell has responded with a power packed solution. The cards are mounted on a new nVidia-based motherboard chipset which is very apt since the nVidia chipset that can use two full x16 PCI Express lanes for the graphics, as opposed to previous configurations.

Data Storage

The Dell Dimension XPS 600 comes with - get this - 1 TB of hard drive space! I can just imagine storing tons and tons of games, music, videos and what have you in that drive - and not having to worry about disk space for a long time.

Other Components

Another key component in this machine is the lovely 24 inch LCD screen, which is great for playing games. The included primary dual-Layer DVD+/-RW drive and a secondary DVD-ROM drive will ensure you have enough optical storage capabilities.

The system also comes with the Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system and two standard TV tuners for home entertainment.

Shortcomings

There isn't really any shortcoming for the Dell Dimension XPS 600. Perhaps the only problem is the price. At a price tag of $5,000, its one of the most expensive offerings on the market. But then again, if you're willing to pay for features that'll only become mainstream two years down the road - it is a good buy.

Conclusion

The Dell Dimension XPS 600 is a monster of a machine and truly takes advantage of true x16 SLI dual graphics card processing. Buy this machine and you won't have to upgrade your computer or worry about slow gaming frame rates. Not for a very, very long time .

About the author:

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on building computers. Visit his website at Build-Your-Own-Com puters.com for tips and tricks on assembling a PC, as well as buying good computer components.