Dell XPS 630
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CNET Editors' Review
- Reviewed by: Rich Brown
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
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The good: Fastest gaming performance in its price category (mostly); distinctive chassis; lots of expandability; Nvidia software makes overclocking easy.
The bad: Large case.
The bottom line: With its second full-fledged gaming PC, Dell shows that it understands the mainstream gaming desktop as well as the high-end. The Dell XPS 630 delivers everything a gamer would want in a sub-$2,000 PC, from its components, to its case, to its powerful software. We've seen no better system in this newly competitive category.
We have a feeling that Dell is going to sell a lot of XPS 630 systems. This new midrange desktop brings over many of the features we like about Dell's XPS 720, but in a more manageable size. The price starts at $1,249 at launch, and for that you get the sleek angled case, a well-organized interior, a quad-core CPU, and a fast 3D graphics card. Bump the price to $1,619 and you get our review system, which includes a second graphics card for even better gaming power. Compared to other systems in its class, the XPS ... Expand full review
We have a feeling that Dell is going to sell a lot of XPS 630 systems. This new midrange desktop brings over many of the features we like about Dell's XPS 720, but in a more manageable size. The price starts at $1,249 at launch, and for that you get the sleek angled case, a well-organized interior, a quad-core CPU, and a fast 3D graphics card. Bump the price to $1,619 and you get our review system, which includes a second graphics card for even better gaming power. Compared to other systems in its class, the XPS 630 did very well on our benchmarks, which sealed the deal for us. This system was built for strong gaming bang-for-the-buck, and Dell most definitely achieved that goal, making this system an Editors' Choice winner.
The XPS 630 combines familiar characteristics of a few desktops we've reviewed recently. Like the Gateway FX7020 and the Uberclok Ion, the XPS 630 is a sub-$2,000 gaming PC with a quad-core processor, respectable gaming capabilities, and a spacious 500GB hard drive. Velocity Micro's ProMagix E2055 is also similar to this Dell system in price, although it has dual-core CPU with a faster clock speed. When you compare the Velocity system with the XPS 630, it becomes apparent that the Dell is a more well-rounded PC, despite the fact that the Velocity has the edge in a few component categories.
| Dell XPS 630 | Velocity Micro ProMagix E2055 | |
| Price | $1,619 | $1,499 |
| CPU | 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 | 3.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 |
| Memory | 2GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM | 3GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM |
| Graphics | (2) 512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT | 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3850 |
| Hard drives | 500GB, 7,200 rpm | 500GB, 7,200 rpm |
| Optical drive | Dual-layer DVD burner | Dual-layer DVD burner, DVD-ROM drive |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Operating system | Windows Vista Home Premium | Windows Vista Home Premium |
The biggest differences between the two systems, configuration-wise, are in their processors and their graphics cards, although the memory matters also. The CPU difference is especially interesting, because it represents something of a philosophical gap in desktops right now. Would you rather have a faster dual-core CPU, which will give you lots of speed on most current applications, or would you prefer a slightly slower (although similarly priced) quad-core processor, to the benefit of the few multithreaded programs and games out there right now, and with the promise of more to come in the future? Dell will let you configure the XPS 630 with an array of Core 2 Duo CPUs shortly after launch, so if you like the idea of an XPS 630 with a dual-core chip, you'll have that option soon. For our money, even though the Velocity Micro desktop wins out on a few benchmarks, we'd still go quad-core, largely for the future-proofing aspect.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
| Rendering multiple CPUs | Rendering single CPU |
Even though the CPU might be up for grabs, the Dell has the clear graphics card advantage over the Velocity Micro, and indeed, any of the three desktops we've mentioned so far. The XPS 630's pair of GeForce 8800 GT cards dominates on our benchmarks to the point that it's a little embarrassing for Velocity Micro. Even if you opt for the Dell with a single 8800 GT, that's a vast improvement in 3D capability over the Velocity's lower-end Radeon HD 3850 card.
For the most part, the gaming scores speak for themselves, but we should point out the Unreal Tournament 3 chart, specifically the differences between the Dell and the Uberclok. On that test, the Dell and its pair of 3D cards wins out on the more demanding 1,920x1,200 test, but it lags behind on the Uberclok on the 1,280x1,024 test. The reason is that SLI is able to flex its muscle at higher resolutions, but as you drop the resolution down, CPU speed begins to make more of a difference. The Uberclok has only a single 3D card, but an overclocked Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip, the same one as in the Dell. The good news for you is that not only can you overclock the Core 2 Quad Q6600 yourself, Dell even provides software that makes it easy.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
| 1,920 x 1,200 | 1,280 x 1,024 |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
| 1,600 x 1,200 (high quality) | 1,280 x 1,024 (medium quality) |
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Rich Brown wrote his first review, of the CD-ROM game Voyeur, for "PC Magazine" in 1993. He parlayed that acclaim into his current role as a senior editor in charge of CNET's desktop, printer, and peripheral device reviews. He also writes about the occasional present-day game for CNET, despite their confounding lack of FMV.
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stars 12 of 23 users found this review helpful
"Dell charges you $130 to "upgrade" from Vista to XP" By Tandy386
Pros Great to see Dell enter the mainstream gaming market
Cons Awful to see Dell gouge customers who don't want to be stuck with Vista
Summary It pains me to give a big red 3 to the XPS 630. I love the fact that Dell has entered the mainstream gaming market and thank God that they are keeping XP as an OS option. However, I must protest what I see as plain and simple price gouging. ... Expand full review
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