Power users looking for the best deal will want to consider one of these 133-MHz Pentium models. On average, they retail for less than $4212 with monitors. You can choose from price points ranging from $2948 to $5669.
The
IPC Austin PowerPlus 133
, Polywell Poly 133T5, and S.A.G. STC 133 are the top overall performers. All three systems are configured with PCI-based Adaptec SCSI Wide hard drive controllers. The Polywell and S.A.G. models excel in the FoxPro database benchmarks, but the
Austin PowerPlus 133's performance
in these disk-intensive tests is only average. IPC's system, configured with a Seagate ST32430W hard drive, performs poorly in NSTL's InterMark file-write tests and cannot match the performance of the S.A.G. and Polywell units in the sequential benchmarks.
However, the
IPC machine stands out in tests that stress its processor and memory subsystem, such as the WordPerfect benchmark, where it takes top honors. The Polywell and S.A.G. systems feature upgraded (to 512 KB) secondary memory caches. The proficiency of the Austin PowerPlus 133's ATI Mach 64 PCI-based video subsystem is evident in the Excel insert and delete tests, where it outperforms the Polywell by an average of 15 percent.
Except for the Dell Optiplex DGX, the remaining systems we tested offer balanced overall performance. They feature integrated enhanced IDE (EIDE) hard drive subsystems. They all perform similarly in the disk-intensive database benchmarks.
The Gateway 2000 P5-133XL is configured with a Matrox MGA Millenium PCI video adapter that provides superior video performance, as displayed in the low-level InterMark tests. The proficiency of the Gateway's video subsystem is clearly evident in the Excel benchmark, where the unit produces 24 percent more transactions than its nearest competitors,
the Polywell and All Computer Warehouse units. The USA Flex PT-133 stands out in the PhotoShop and WordPerfect benchmarks, which stress its processor and memory subsystems. The ACW P5-133A, with its 512-KB direct-mapped write-back secondary memory cache, excels in the WordPerfect for Windows search and compare tests.
Dell's Optiplex DGX offers subpar overall system performance. In fact, the S.A.G. 120-MHz Pentium model finishes with a higher overall performance rating (and costs $1469 less as configured). The Dell lags behind the other 133-MHz models in video-intensive benchmarks, such as the Word for Windows and Excel screen tests. Low-level screen benchmarks verify the relative inefficiency of the Dell's integrated ATI Mach 64 PCI-based video adapter. The system is unimpressive in processor-intensive tests, such as PhotoShop and the Autodesk AutoCAD Garden Path benchmark. Also, it lags behind in the FoxPro tests, which stress its integrated Fast SCSI-2 hard drive subsystem.
The Dell Optiplex DG
X is configured with a relatively large 512-KB direct-mapped write-back memory cache, but it is the only 133-MHz model we tested that does not feature Intel's Triton PCI chip set. Also, like the ACS and Polywell units, the Optiplex DGX doesn't support EDO RAM, which outperforms conventional DRAM at competitive prices. However, Dell's Optiplex is the only tested 133-MHz system that supports a second Pentium chip, so it can run OSes that support symmetric multiprocessing. The Dell is also unique in that it can accommodate up to 512 MB of RAM when 64-MB SIMMs are available. Systems that use the Triton chip set are limited to 128 MB of RAM.
We gave the IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 and Gateway 2000 P5 133-XL our highest usability ratings. The IPC's side panel slides off easily after you remove three hand-tightened screws; the Gateway's cover is held in place by six screws and slides off from the rear. Both units come with vendor-specific documentation that is clearly written, comprehensive, and includes numerous
charts and diagrams.
We gave the ACW P5-133A a low usability rating because of its ill-conceived design. The system's 3-1/2-inch EIDE hard drive is mounted over the expansion slots, which means you must remove the drive cage to install, or take out, an expansion board. Also, one side of the motherboard was not secured to the system chassis. The system lacked vendor-specific documentation, and technical-support information was not available when we tested.
Reason Technology offers the best warranty: six years on parts and labor. Most other vendors offer you three-year warranties.
The IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 takes top honors over the Gateway 2000
P5-133XL by the slimmest of margins. The Austin PowerPlus costs $344
less than the Gateway in their test configurations and earns a higher
usability rating. You don't need tools to remove the tower's side
panel, and there's ample room for upgra
des. And it comes with good
documentation. Low-level testing verifies the efficiency of the
unit's memory subsystem, a configuration that includes EDO RAM and a
256-KB (expandable to 512 KB) two-way set-associative write-back
memory cache. The Triton PCI-based model also benefits from the
throughput of its SCSI Wide hard drive subsystem. The PowerPlus 133's
efficient ATI Mach 64 local-bus video adapter contains 2 MB of VRAM
and supports 1600- by 1200-pixel resolution.
PRICE (W/ CASE OVERALL
MONITOR) TYPE PERFORMANCE
=======================================================================
IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 $3807 Tower ****
Gateway P5-133XL $4151 Tower ****
Polywell Poly 133T5 $4850 Mini-tower ****
USA Flex PT-133 Ultimate Tower $4600 Tower ****
Reason Square 5 LX-TR/IE $4295 Mini-tower
****
EASE RAM (STD./ INTEL TRITON
FEATURES OF USE MAX./EDO) PCI CHIP SET
==============================================================================
IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 Good Excellent 16/128/Y Yes
Gateway P5-133XL Excellent Excellent 16/128/Y Yes
Polywell Poly 133T5 Good Good 32/128/N Yes
USA Flex PT-133 Ultimate Tower Good Excellent 8/128/Y Yes
Reason Square 5 LX-TR/IE Good Excellent 8/128/Y Yes
HARD DRIVE VIDEO
INTERFACE ADAPTER
=========================================================================
IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 SCSI Wide ATI Mach 64
Gateway P5-133XL EIDE Matrox MGA Millenium
Polywell Poly 133T5 SCSI Wide
Diamond Stealth 64 V
USA Flex PT-133 Ultimate Tower EIDE STB Velocity 64 PCI
Reason Square 5 LX-TR/IE EIDE Diamond Stealth 64 V
KEY:
Ratings from 1 to 4: * is the lowest; **** is the highest.
photo_link (11 Kbytes)
IPC Austin PowerPlus 133 mixes solid performance with excellent usability.
133-MHz Pentiums
