Refine search for PCs

Dell XPS 420

Author	Edward Chester
Published	11th Jan 2008
Manufacturer	Dell
Price	£815.81 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£958.58 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price	Click here

Design & Features
Performance
Value
Overall

Discuss this article

Email this to a friend

TrustedReviews Newsletters

Given the quality array of components in this PC, it's no surprise performance is impressive and during general use we were never left wanting. The RAID-0 configured hard drives make boot times, video editing, and game loading times noticeably faster and the combination of the Q6600 processor and 8800 GTX graphics powered through everything we could throw at them. Crysis still remains a real challenge when it's cranked up to its fullest but this is certainly not something that can be held against Dell - there's simply no single graphics card on the planet that can cope with Crysis when played at its highest settings at high resolutions.

Dell has for a while had a partnership with Google whereby its PCs come preloaded with Google Desktop Sidebar in place of Vista's usual sidebar. Unfortunately, many of the SideShow mini apps also use the Windows Sidebar so you'll have to revert back to the Windows version if you want to get the best from MiniView. You also get the aforementioned Roxio Media Creator software and Microsoft Works 8.0 so, even taking into account my earlier misgivings, you at least have enough software to do most common tasks straight away.

Adding further to the sense of value, these systems come with a one year on-site XPS premium warranty that includes gaming support. Essentially, this means you can call Dell's hotline and receive help and advice on how to get the latest games and applications working, as well as receive other general help. This is a big step above what most warranty services provide.

Verdict

Dell's latest midi-tower powerhouse is a bit of a mixed bag. It has a few innovative features, like the Xcelerator and SideShow display, but they feel like a bit of an afterthought and only one of them is really any use and that's the rubber tray. However, there's no denying the great value of these systems, especially considering the current discounts Dell are offering. In particular, the Blu-ray equipped D01X406 is an absolute steal and if it stays at its current £999 price, I'd definitely recommend it. And even our review model is well worth a look, with its £60 off.