19 Pentiums

We evaluate 19 high-performance Pentiums for speed, usability, expandability, features, and price

Chandrika Mysore and John Mcdonough

The market for 90-MHz Pentium systems is becoming extremely competitive as power users clamor for more speed, especially for server-based applications.This month, we evaluate 19 systems equipped with Intel's Pentium processor. One system from Xi Computer arrived with dual processors, ready for testing (see the text box ``The Dual-Processor Pentium'' on page 204). mmThe systems flew through the Windows and DOS application tests. But the bad news is that we ran into a few problems running Unix and SQL Server-based benchmarks. Our attempts to run Unix sometimes ended in frustration, because three new systems had state-of-the-art video cards that did not yet offer Unix drivers for SCO Unix (see the report on the best Pentiums for Unix on page 203). Only nine of the 19 systems we tested completed our SQL Server workout, due to disk I/O errors (see ``90-MHz Pentiums as SQL Servers'' on page 194).

Since last summer, prices have dropped over a thousand dollars on these high-end Intel systems, thanks in part, to competition from Motorola's PowerPC and to Intel's own triple-speed DX4 chip. All the systems in this review offer more than just a fast processor. We asked for 32 MB of memory, large hard drives from 1 to 2.5 GB, high-end video cards with at least 1 MB of RAM, 256 KB of secondary cache, and a double-speed or faster CD-ROM drive. They each have at least one PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) or VL-Bus slot and at least one shared local-bus slot with either an ISA or EISA bus design. And for those systems that are not sold through mail-order businesses, street prices are considerably lower than those listed here. In addition, although we standardized on a high-end co nfiguration, for many purposes, half the RAM and disk space would suffice, increasing your savings even more.

To identify today's top Pentium performers, we rank systems in three categories: General Business, where we consider Pentiums for general-purpose DOS and Windows applications; CAD and Graphics, for ranking systems based on Windows, X Window System, and graphics components of various test suites; and Unix, where we run those systems that support SCO Unix through SPEC tests, BYTE's Unix tests, and NSTL's Intermark test suite. In each category, we use an array of low-level and application tests that give a real-world basis for comparing the performance differences among the systems. In addition, to arrive at winners, we combine these numerical test results with hands-on evaluation of features and ease of use.

How to use this guide

To find the best Pentium system for your needs, follow the main headings until you come to the category that most closely matches yours. Then look at the des criptions of the winners and runners-up in Best Overall, Most Expandable, or Low Cost categories to find an appropriate system.

List prices are for the as-tested configuration. All the systems had 32 MB of RAM and a hard drive with a minimum capacity of 1 GB, a double-speed or faster CD-ROM drive, and a 15-inch color monitor.

Ease-of-use scores indicate how easy it is to configure and upgrade a system, as well as the quality of the documentation.

Features scores reflect the presence of key elements for expandability, flexibility, and reliability. Higher scores indicate greater capabilities.

Speed scores are based on tests appropriate to each rating category. Higher scores indicate faster performance.

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Illustration: Inside a High-End Pentium System DRIVE BAYS Empty drive bays accessible from the outside are necessary for adding any type of removable media. This system has five accessible full-height drive bays and four inaccessible ones that are suitable for hard drives. POWER SUPPLY Many of today's power supplies accept variable AC input, from 90 to 240 V, a convenient feature for international use. Having the proper combination of components and power is something a reputable system manufacturer should provide. As a consumer, you may need to take that on faith; Typical ratings for power supplies are between 200 and 300 W. SIMM BANKS If you plan to run intense graphics or multimedia, you'll need plenty of RAM. All the systems tested accept at least 128 MB of RAM. PCI SLOTS At 33 MHz, a PCI local bus is more than four times faster than an ISA or EISA bus. It also offers high bandwidth and auto-configuration, and it is processor-independent. CPU Pentium chips are usually hidden by large heat sinks and fans, which are necessary to keep the CPU running at a cool temperature. Some CPUs even have thermostats connected to alarms. In most cases, if the system is designed to house a Pentium chip, secondary fans and alarms are not needed. VL-BUS SLOTS Adapters us ing the 32-bit VL-Bus can run at speeds of up to 40 MHz. Systems that offer ISA, VL-Bus, and PCI buses are not typical. If you have an investment in VL-Bus and want to capitalize on PCI as well, a system with both types of slots is highly desirable.