Powerful Desktops For Work And Display

HP Workstation xw4100
Years ago, everyone wanted the fastest PC available because, regardless of speed, it would be obsolete in six months. Today, only those involved in data-intensive, bandwidth-demanding applications need a high-end workstation such as HP's new xw4100.

The HP workstation is suitable for engineering applications such as CAD/CAM and digital content creation such as digital video production and 3-D animation.

This is the first new HP desktop designed from the ground up by the newly integrated HP-Compaq engineering team, and resellers will notice features and design elements reminiscent of older HP and Compaq desktops.

The CRN Test Center received an xw4100 workstation loaded with a HyperThreading Pentium 4 processor running at 3GHz, with an 800MHz front-side bus and an Intel 875P chipset. The system also featured an NVIDIA Quadro4 200NVS dual-output graphics accelerator, 512 Mbytes of memory, an 80-Gbyte hard drive, a DVD/CD-RW drive, an integrated Gbit NIC and two USB 2.0 ports.

The xw4100's workstation-class 875P chipset supports Intel's Performance Acceleration Technology and ECC memory. When using PC3200 memory (DDR-400), the Performance Acceleration Technology bypasses standard memory paths, which results in an apparent 200MHz increase in processor speed. ECC memory contains an extra chip that compares the data that is read in and written out to provide better data integrity than the memory used in typical PCs. Single-bit errors are fixed on the fly, but multibit errors will cause the system to shut down. The xw4100 is also very expandable, with six drive bays, five PCI slots and one 8X AGP slot.

The HP xw4100 can be loaded with Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional or Red Hat Linux 7.3. Regardless of the operating system, the workstation's ISV certification ensures that software and hardware are tuned to provide compatibility, reliability and performance.

The xw4100's rugged steel case is finished in metallic silver, and the internal components can be serviced without using any tools. The side panel latches in place, as do the internal hard drives. A one-piece snap-down latch holds all expansion cards in place, making card removal and replacement a breeze. Even the motherboard slides out on a tray. On the whole, the desktop looks, feels and performs much better than its low price would indicate.

Gateway Media Center XL
With a 42-inch plasma display and robust feature set, Gateway's Media Center XL is a presentation PC on steroids.

The PC features a 2.6GHz Pentium 4 processor and 512 Mbytes of memory.

It also includes an 80-Gbyte hard drive, integrated 10/100 NIC and two optical drives: a DVD-/ RW and CD-RW recorder and a 16X DVD-ROM drive. A 128-Mbyte NVIDIA GeForce4 MX440G graphics card with a TV output handles graphics acceleration, while a SoundBlaster Audigy 2 card with a built-in IEEE 1394 FireWire port handles audio. The system also features a TV Tuner/Personal Video Recorder (PVR) card and a 56K modem. Two remote controls are included, one for the PC and the other for the plasma TV. The system runs Windows XP Media Center Edition.

The Media Center XL has eight USB 2.0 ports, two in front and six in back. It also features inputs and outputs that allow the display and recording of nearly any external video source.

Gateway's 42-inch plasma TV has an aspect ratio of 16:9, an integrated NTSC tuner, built-in amplified speakers and inputs that include VGA, DVI, NTSC cable, Composite and S-Video. The TV is also a monitor, but it's hard to read small text on it because of its relatively large size and low resolution. Word and Excel users will want to have a conventional monitor hooked up as well.

But for signage and presentation purposes, this plasma display is hard to beat.

CHANNEL PROGRAM SNAPSHOTS

>HP WORKSTATION XW-4100
PRICE: $743 ($1,696 as configured)
WARRANTY: 3 years parts and labor
DISTRIBUTORS: Arrow, Avent, Ingram Micro, Synnex, Tech Data
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

CHANNEL OVERVIEW: The PartnerOne program of Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, Calif., provides broad support, including compensation programs that reward solution providers for success in new markets or for displacing competitors. Collatorial tools, presentation and other resources are available at the HP Partnership Web site. HP customizes its marketing assistance and other support.

>GATEWAY MEDIA CENTER XL
PRICE: $4,170
WARRANTY: 1 year parts and labor
DISTRIBUTORS: Direct from vendor
TECH RATING:

CHANNEL RATING:

CHANNEL OVERVIEW: Poway, Calif.-based Gateway is eagerly eyeing the channel as it unveils several new products and integration solutions for the home and SMB markets later this year. Gateway plans to establish a channel program by the fourth quarter of 2003. The program is in the early stage of development, and details have yet to be completed.

Note: Vendors can earn up to five stars for technical merit and five for their channel program. If the average of these two scores is four stars or greater, the product earns CRN Test Center Recommended status.