Summary:
With its generous array of configuration options, the
Dell Precision 380 workstation can be outfitted for the latest
generation of software that supports hyper-threading, dual-core and
64-bit processors.
Target APPS:
Video editing, graphics rendering, audio editing and other processor-intensive applications
What It Costs You:
$4,359 (with the 2405FP 24-inch monitor)
What’s Cool:
Wide range of configuration options, including latest dual-core 64-bit
Pentium processors; can install as much as 8 GB of system RAM;
relatively quiet for a workstation; release latch for easy access to
the interior
What’s Missing:
Can’t be configured with an AMD processor
RATINGS: Products are rated for features, performance, ease of use and overall value on a scale from LAME, OK, SOLID, SWEET to HOT.
Specs
Processor: Pentium 840 dual-core 3.20 GHz
OS: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Memory: 4 GB of 533 MHz DDR2 RAM
Drive Controllers: 160 GB Serial ATA 7200 RPM hard drive
Graphics Card: NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450 with 256 MB of RAM
What’s the ideal workstation? If you run heavy duty, video editing
programs (especially if you edit HD video or use processor-intensive
plug-ins) or if you render complex 3D animations, you’ll need all the
hardware you can get. Your ideal workstation would need to offer a wide
range of options at the time of purchase. And it would need to be
highly expandable to accommodate future needs.
The Dell Precision 380 is strong in both departments. While it’s
limited to Intel’s Pentium family of processors, you can outfit the
system with a broad range of choices, including the latest 64-bit,
single-core and dual-core processors. If you choose a dual-core 64-bit
processor and match it with the 64-bit version of Windows XP, you could
receive a significant boost to programs that are 64-bit compatible. Why
would you choose a single-core over a dual-core processor? At press
time, Intel’s single-core processors were available in clock speeds
that exceeded those of its dual-core processors. If you know your
software won’t take advantage of the dual-core (increasingly less
likely as time goes by), you could save some money and go with a higher
clock speed.
Breaking the Memory Barrier
Combining a 64-bit processor with the 64-bit version of Windows XP also
lets you break the 4 GB RAM limitation. You can configure the 380 with
as much as 8 GB of high-speed DDR2 memory. If your video-editing
program supports it, you could edit an entire video sequence—or
possibly even the entire video project—from within memory, with none of
the usual pauses to read and write the files from the hard drive.
Similarly, if your 3D rendering program supports it, you could render
extremely large or complex objects entirely from memory.
With this system (unlike some processor-upgradable AMD systems), you’ll
have to live with the processor you select for the life of the
computer, unless you replace the motherboard. Other components, such as
the graphics card, could be switched out later. The review system I
looked at had an NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450 graphics card with 256 MB of
onboard memory and dual DVI ports. Dell also provided a 2405FP 24-inch
widescreen LCD monitor with the review unit, which is one of the
display options for the system. This monitor and graphics card are an
excellent match for the 380. The monitor has a native resolution of
1920 x 1200, and it requires a fast graphics card to drive that many
pixels at high speed. With this combination, you could work with a full
1080i or 1080p video image and still have room on the side for the
program’s toolbar. Or you could run four SD video windows
simultaneously.
The Sound of Silence
I was very impressed with the 380’s internal expandability and build
quality. The standard configuration allows for as many as four serial
ATA hard drives for as much as 2 TB of storage. Options include 10,000
RPM Serial ATA drives and 15,000 RPM Ultra 320 SCSI drives. Taking a
cue from the Mac, access to the inside of the computer is now as easy
as pulling a release latch. Best of all, this system is extremely quiet
for a workstation. No more straining to hear if the audio is in perfect
sync with the video. It’s quiet enough that you won’t have to hide it
under your desk.
I had a chance to try out two different Precision 380 configurations
during the review process. One had a single-core 3.60 GHz Pentium, and
the other (reviewed here) had a dual-core 3.20 GHz Pentium. Both
systems were configured with 4 GB of RAM and the 64-bit version of
Windows XP Pro. Softimage|XSI v.5.0 rendered complex scenes
noticeably faster with the dual-core system, even though it had a
slower clock speed. You should definitely check to see if your
applications support hyper-threading, dual-core processors and 64-bit
Windows before you select the components for your 380.
With all these options available, you could have just about any kind of
system you need. However you build it, the components will be
surrounded by a well-constructed, easily expanded and surprisingly
quiet chassis that should hold up to a fair amount of abuse for many
years to come.
Close-up
64-bit Pentium CPU: Choose from among the latest Pentium processors, including hyper-threading, single-core, dual-core and 64-bit.
Dual-channel DDR2 RAM: You can add as much as 8 GB of dual-channel 533 MHz DDR2 memory. If
you’re running 64-bit Windows XP, you can break through the 4 GB
barrier.
Four Hard Drive Bays: Fill each of the four hard drive bays with a 500 GB drive and you could have a massive 2 TB of internal storage.
PCI Express Graphics Card: You can install PCI Express graphics cards up to 150 watts. The PCI
Express x16 slot delivers as much as four times the bandwidth of AGP 8X.
