First Look Review: Entry-level workstation offers great performance at a low price
Dell Precision workstations, targeted at "users who need uncompromised performance on demanding, specialized applications," have always been a good fit for Cadalyst readers. Over the years, we have reviewed several models from the line. Addressing the needs of today's budget-conscious professionals, we looked at the latest version of Dell's entry-level model: the Precision T1600 workstation. Housed in a small tower chassis, it delivers great performance at a low price.
The Dell Precision T1600 Precision workstation packs a lot of power into a small tower.
System Features
If you haven't seen it yet, check out the system configurator on Dell's web site, which lets you easily configure a workstation to your specifications. The possible combinations probably number into the millions. Our point? Simply to remind you that your workstation needn't match the specs of the one reviewed here. Consider our system just one example of what's available from Dell.
Dell Precision T1600
The Dell Precision T1600 workstation packs a lot of power into a small tower.
The Dell Precision T1600 we reviewed included the following components:
Processor: one of Intel's newest CPUs, the 3.4-GHz quad-core Xeon (E3-1270). This chip can jump to 3.8 GHz when running in single-core mode.
Operating system: 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional with XP mode.
Graphics card: NVIDIA Quadro 2000, Dell's top-of-the-line option for the Precision T1600. It plugs into a single PCIe 16x slot and includes 1 GB GDDR5 memory, as well as one DVI-I and two DisplayPort connections. It supports dual monitors at a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1600. The Quadro 2000 is the key to the T1600's performance.
RAM: 4 GB of 1,333 MHz, DDR3 SDRAM
Storage: a pair of 500-GB SATA hard drives (16 MB cache) arrayed in a RAID 0 configuration for top-performance reading and writing data.
The system has a 265-W power supply, 16 x DVD+/- RW drive (with Roxio Creator Cyberlink PowerDVD), standard keyboard, optical mouse, internal speaker, network adapter, and an integrated sound card.
The stylish and diminutive tower case, measuring a mere 14.2" x 6.9" x 17.0", weighs 19.7 lb and includes ten external USB 2.0 ports (four in the front and six in the rear), as well as one serial and two PS/2 ports. Internally, there are two free expansion slots and one 5.25" and one 3.5" drive bay available for additional storage capacity. There are also two free memory slots, letting you boost system memory later by as much as 16 GB. The system includes a 1-W ready low-power mode, and the case provides one-handed access for quick and easy upgrades.
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