Computers
Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
-- Pablo Picasso
The Pentium Era (2001 - 2006)
I purchased this system as a replacement for my Compaq Deskpro 486/66M when that computer suddenly died. However, this system has now been replaced with my latest custom-built system. I returned this system to Dell for free recycling in 2008.
The Hardware
This is what's inside the Dell chassis (and it sure rocked compared to my Compaq Deskpro!!!):
- Dell Dimension 4100 Original Configuration:
- Intel Pentium III/1 GHz Processor
- 512 MB 133 MHz SDRAM
- nVidia 64 MB DDR GeForce2 GTS 4x AGP Graphics Card
- Dell P991 19" UltraScan Trinitron Monitor
- Quantum Fireball Plus AS 40 GB Hard Drive
- NEC 5800A DVD/CD ATAPI Optical Drive
- 3COM 3C905C-TXM 10/100 Fast Ethernet PCI Card
- USRobotics V.90/56K PCI Modem with Voice
- Creative SoundBlaster Live! CT4780 PCI Sound Card
- Harman/Kardon HK19.5 Speakers
- Upgrades and Add-ons:
- Adaptec AUA-3121 DuoConnect USB 2.0 and Firewire Combo Card
- Antec Cobra ATA-133 Round IDE Cable
- APC Back-UPS RS 800 Uninterruptable Power Supply
- ATI All-in-Wonder Radeon 8500 128MB Video Card
- Promise SATA 300 TX4 PCI Card
- Belkin USB 2.0 4-port Hub
- BUSlink USB 2.0 External 48x12x48 CD-RW Drive
- ByteCC ME-320 External USB 2.0 and Firewire Enclosure
- Dell UltraSharp 1900FP 19" LCD Monitor
- Dell UltraSharp 1901FP 19" LCD Monitor
- Dell AS500 Multimedia Speaker System
- HP SureStore Tape 6000 4mm DAT SCSI Tape Drive
- HP Deskjet 850C Inkjet Printer
- HP Scanjet 7450c 2400x2400 dpi Flatbed Scanner
- iomega zip100 external SCSI Drive
- Nikon SuperCoolscan 4000 ED Film Scanner
- PNY Technologies Multi-Slot USB Card Reader
- Seagate ST31200N Hawk 1LP 1GB SCSI-2 Hard Drive
- SIIG AP-40 Pro Ultra Wide PCI SCSI Controller
- Sony DRU500AX DVD±RW Drive
- Soyo BayOne UFO 6-in-1 USB 2.0 Flash Memory Reader
- Toshiba MK537FB 1GB SCSI-2 Hard Drive
- Wacom Intuos2 Platinum 6x8 Graphics Tablet
- Western Digital Enterprise WD4360 Ultra SCSI 4GB SCSI-3 Hard Drive
- Western Digital Caviar WD1200JB 120 GB IDE Drives (3)
- Other Related Toys:
- ATI Remote Wonder
- Creative Labs Nomad II MP3 player
- Nikon D100 digital SLR Camera
The Software
This system was configured to dual boot between Linux and Windows ME/XP using the LILO bootloader. Here is a list of software packages that I had installed on this system:
- Operating Systems
- Microsoft Windows ME
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional
- SUSE Linux 7.1, 8.0, 9.2, and 9.3
- Operating System Utilities
- Acronis TrueImage
- APC Personal PowerChute
- ATI Remote Wonder
- Cygwin
- Download Accelerator
- Ext2 IFS for Windows XP
- GetDataBack NTFS
- Norton Internet Security
- OptiCAL Spyder Monitor Calibration Software
- Partition Magic 8.0
- Multimedia
- ATI Multimedia Centre 9.06
- GuidePlus+
- Nero Burning ROM
- PowerDVD 5
- Productivity
- Microsoft Office
- OpenOffice
- Graphics and Photography
- Adobe Creative Suite CS
- Adobe Photoshop 7
- Bentley Systems MicroStation95
- Breeze Systems BreezeBrowser Pro
- Breeze Systems Downloader Pro
- Camera Bits PhotoMechanic
- Canon ZoomBrowser EX and Photostitcher
- HP Precision Scan 3.02
- Nikon Capture
- Nikon Photo Secretary
- Nikon Scan
- Nikon View
- Panavue Image Assembler 2.12a
- Ulead Studio Quartet
- Browsers and Email Clients
- Mozilla Firefox Browser
- Mozilla Thunderbird Email Client
- Opera Browser
- Digital Asset Management
- Cerious ThumbsPlus 7
- Software Development
- gVim
- WinCVS
- Mathematics and Science
- Bisque Software TheSky6
- Maple V Math Analysis
- Communications
- BVRP PhoneTools (Dell OEM Version)
- BVRP Mobile PhoneTools
- MCI Access Manager
- OpenVPN Client
- Starfish TrueSync
The Verdict
A reliable and relatively inexpensive system. This system was ordered online using the Dell website but delivery was delayed by about a week. Here's the rest of the summary for this system:
- Decent performance for its price.
- Good upgrading options and compatibility with various PCI and AGP adapter cards.
- A stable BIOS without any tweaking or overclocking options.
- The P991 monitor was awesome for its day but it was truly massive!