aphics card with a minimum of 4 MB of video RAM, 128 MB of system RAM, and a 3-GB or higher hard drive.
Performance
The C++ test helped us gauge how well a syst
em would perform while compiling Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC). We ran the multiprocessor test that measures how fast the system can build (compile and link) a big chunk of source code by running two simultaneous instances of Visual C++ 4.2.
Three single-threaded suites from Spec's Viewperf 5.0 comprised our high-end graphics tests for judging high-end graphics performance. The Viewperf CDRS-03 makes works of industrial- design elements, DX-03 tests scientific visualization elements, and AWADVS-01 tests 3-D animation. All tests were run at 1024- by 768-pixel resolution with true color.
To analyze each system's raw floating-point power, which is crucial to many applications such as advanced spreadsheets, we used the Fourier test. This program analyzes the spectral content of a WAV file and loads two simultaneous copies of the test, while NT handles the multiprocessing session.
Also, release 2.0 of the BYTEmark benchmark helped us expose the system's CPU, FPU, and memory systems.
Th
e Access test, an application-based benchmark that uses Microsoft's Test 4.0 compiler, measures how well a system can generate multiple business database transactions.
We also used Bapco's Sysmark 4.0 for NT, which measures NT client PC performance across a spectrum of business-application mixes, such as Word for Windows 6.0 (native 32-bit), Excel 5.0 (native 32-bit), Texim Project 2.0e (native 32-bit), Orcad MaxEDA 6.0 (native 32-bit), and PowerPoint 4.0 (16-bit emulation).
Finally, the InterMark video test measures primitive Graphical Device Interface (GDI) operations and displays entire pictures generated by applications such as Excel, Word, CorelDraw, PowerPoint, Freelance Graphics, and others.
Usability and Features
We examined each of the eight machines for usability by focusing on two areas: system design and documentation. We rate how easy it is to remove and reinstall the cover, for example. Ease of upgradability (for adding RAM and mass-storage devices) adds points to the
usability score. We look for accessible memory slots and drive bays that offer room for cabling.
We give top honors to systems with vendor-specific manuals that are comprehensive, include easy-to-use diagrams, and offer up-to-date technical information. Those that lack specifications for the motherboard, hard drive, and graphics subsystem are rated lower.
Each vendor completes a lengthy questionnaire and provides a detailed description of each system's features and support options. We weigh each feature and calculate an overall features score. Features related to performance include the size and write policy of the secondary cache. The use of hard drive controllers, network adapters, and graphics adapters on the motherboard frees up expansion slots and earns a system extra points. Finally, it's important to note that warranty and support policies are what frequently separate major vendors from second- and third-tier vendors.
The evaluations in t
illustration_link (18 Kbytes)
At $2999, Xi's 600 MTower DP offers the most bang for the buck.
Test Results
