The full complement of audio and video connections on the DHS-2's rear panel includes a host of RCA audio and video inputs, 7.1-channel surround-sound inputs, optical audio, two FireWire ports, a pair of USB 2.0 inputs, and dual IR-blaster outputs. Alienware includes IR-blaster cables, as well as a set of high-end Belkin Pure/AV component-video cables. Our system did not include a display, although Alienware offers three large-format LCDs and a 30-inch LCD TV as options. Even counting a set of adequate Logitech X-530 5.1 speakers, our system still came in shy of $2,000. You can certainly find cheaper PCs with more-robust features, even with Media Center. But few systems on the market provide the slim form factor, which holds a certain design-minded appeal.
The DHS-2 Media Center performed about as expected, given its processor and memory. Other Media Center-based PCs that scored higher on our tests than this one had more-powerful specs, but they're all also traditional desktop towers, so you're more likely to use them for traditional PC-related tasks. Still, the application performance scores for the DHS-2 Media Center prove that it will be able to handle basic computing chores. We wouldn't recommend trying to play Doom 3 from your couch with the Gyration input devices, but it might be comforting to know that the DHS-2 Media Center can at least play older 3D games at respectable frame rates.
Alienware backs the DHS-2 with a standard year of 24/7 toll-free phone support and onsite service. You can upgrade to two years of coverage for $195 or three years for $265. The company has really beefed up its Web support services, too. You'll find a full knowledge base, along with customer support forums, a driver-download area, and live chat support.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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BAPCo SysMark 2004 rating | |
SysMark 2004 Internet-content-creation rating | |
SysMark 2004 office-productivity rating |
To measure application performance, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's SysMark 2004, an industry-standard benchmark. Using off-the-shelf applications, SysMark measures a desktop's performance using office-productivity applications (such as Microsoft Office and McAfee VirusScan) and Internet-content-creation applications (such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Dreamweaver).
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Unreal Tournament 2003 Flyby-Antalus 1,600x1,200 4xAA 8xAF | |
Unreal Tournament 2003 Flyby-Antalus 1,024x768 |
To measure 3D gaming performance, CNET Labs uses Epic Games' Unreal Tournament 2003, widely used as an industry-standard benchmark. We use Unreal to measure a desktop's performance with the DirectX 8.0 (DX8) interface at a 32-bit color depth and at a resolution of 1,024x768 and 1,600x1,200. Antialiasing and anisotropic filtering are disabled during our 1,024x768 tests and are set to 4X and 8X, respectively, during our 1,600x1,200 tests. At this color depth and these resolutions, Unreal provides an excellent means of comparing the performance of low-end to high-end graphics subsystems. We report the results of Unreal's Flyby-Antalus test in frames per second (fps).
Find out more about how we test desktop systems.Alienware DHS-2 Media Center
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 3.0GHz Intel P4 530; Intel 915P chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB ATI Radeon X300 (PCIe); Seagate ST3160023AS 160GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
Cyberpower Media Center Ultra Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 2.6GHz AMD Athlon 64 FX-55; Via K8T800 Pro chipset; 1,024MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 6800 Ultra (AGP); Maxtor 7Y250M0 250GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
iBuyPower Media XP
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 3.4GHz Intel P4 550; Intel 915G chipset; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Nvidia GeForce 6600 (PCIe); Maxtor 7Y250M0 250GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
Sony VAIO VGC-RA820G
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 3.2GHz Intel P4 540; Intel 915P chipset; 1,024MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB ATI Radeon X300 (PCIe); WDC WD2000JD-98HBB0 200GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
ZT Media Center X3113
Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005; 2.8GHz Intel Celeron D 335; SIS 661FX chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB Nvidia GeForce4 MX 4000 (AGP); Seagate ST380011A 80GB ATA/100 7,200rpm
