Entered CNET Catalog: 10/27/2004
SKU: DIM47CMEDIA
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
Product summary
The good: Space-saving design; strong mainstream performance; industry-leading service and support.
The bad: Limited upgrade potential; mediocre 3D numbers.
The bottom line: Whether at home or the office, the Dimension 4700C packs the right mainstream feature set into its slim case, and its PCI Express interface gives it more flexibility.
CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 04/13/2005
Our $1,499 (as of November 2004) test system is nearly identical to the roomier Dell Dimension 4700 we reviewed earlier this year. Each uses a 3.0GHz Pentium 4 530 processor, 512MB of DDR2 memory, a Serial ATA 160GB hard drive, and a crisp 17-inch LCD. Both systems are based on the Intel 915G chipset, which uses the PCI Express (PCIe) bus interface. Although the 4700C's case is about half as wide as the 4700's, it is still able to accommodate a media-card reader, which the 4700 system can't.
Aesthetically speaking, the Dimension 4700C is sleek but understated. Viewed dead-on, the 4700C's narrow, curved front panel looks like a space-age thermos. All in all, the thing doesn't take up much more space than one of today's larger laptops, and it can work in a tower or horizontal desktop configuration. Its silver-and-black cladding is consistent across all peripherals, including the nifty multimedia USB keyboard, with its excellent hardware volume control.
Two release buttons, one each on the top and the bottom of the 4700C's case allow for tool-free entry, should you really need to go there. Inside, there's a well-ordered interior but not much in the way of expansion--one of the 4700C's chief drawbacks: It features only a x1 PCIe slot and one half-height x16 PCIe slot. Should you opt initially to have Dell configure your 4700C with integrated graphics, you'll have very few options for upgrading the subsystem later because there are fewer half-height graphics cards than full-size cards. Still, unlike slim systems we've seen in the past that bind you to integrated graphics due to their lack of an AGP slot, PCIe gives you the option of upgrading the 4700C's graphics.
Our test system came with many of the features we recommend you choose if you go for a Dell 4700 series machine: a 160GB 7,200rpm hard drive, an eight-in-one flash-media reader, and 512MB of DDR2 memory. Our system also included a combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, hidden behind the hinged front case cover, and Dell offers an upgrade to a double-layer DVD burner for movie lovers and videographers. FireWire ports in front and back, an S/PDIF connector, and built-in 5-channel surround-sound audio are all welcome features that come thanks to the 4700C's Intel 915G chipset. The Dell A215 stereo speakers we tested are fine for office use, but home buyers may want to spend more for some audio oomph.
As you'll find with the Dimension 4700, Dell offers a single third-party graphics card option for the 4700C: the half-height 64MB ATI Radeon X300 SE. It works with the motherboard's single PCIe x16 slot, but our test system used the integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900, courtesy of the 915G chipset. DVD playback looked smooth, and the system delivered a playable 50 frames per second in 3D testing--granted, that was on an older game at a relatively low resolution. Forget CAD modeling and Doom 3, but you should be able to play some midrange games. Also, Dell offers a number of display options, including standalone LCDs, as well as several multifunction LCD monitors with TV capability. The 17-inch LCD that shipped with our system is a $289 option (not bad at all) and looked very bright and crisp.
The software bundle will serve mainstream users well and includes Dell PictureStudio 2.0, Dell-branded Musicmatch Jukebox, Sonic RecordNow, and WordPerfect Office 12.0. We'd happily trade Corel's WordPerfect suite, however, for the less expensive Microsoft Works Suite. Dell also includes Dell Media Experience, which is a lite Media Center app that gives you easy access to your music, photos, and videos. If this idea appeals to you, opt for the $17 remote control, which our test system lacked.
The price of our review system includes Dell's standard one-year warranty, with onsite service and 24/7 toll-free phone support. You can, of course, upgrade this in many different ways, as is the Dell custom. Small-business customers can extend coverage to three years, home users to four years. Also available to home users is a nights-and-weekend package, wherein you can schedule an onsite service call when you're actually home. Business users are promised next-day onsite service. Both home and business users can opt to pay extra for accidental damage protection, onsite installation, and data migration service, including connecting your new PC(s) to your home or office network.
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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).
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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.System configurations:
Dell Dimension 4700
Windows XP Home; 3.0GHz Intel P4 530; Intel 915G chipset; 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB (shared memory) integrated Intel 915G; Maxtor 6Y160M0 160GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
Dell Dimension 4700C
Windows XP Home SP2; 3.0GHz Intel P4 530; Intel 915G chipset; 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 400MHz; 128MB (shared memory) integrated Intel 915G; Seagate ST3160023AS 160GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
eMachines T3256
Windows XP Home; 2.2GHz AMD Athlon XP 3200+; Nvidia Nforce-2 chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; 64MB (shared memory) integrated GeForce4 MX; WDC WD1600BB-22GUA0 160GB 7,200rpm
iBuyPower Back to School
Windows XP Home; 3.0EGHz Intel P4; Intel 865PE chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; Nvidia GeForce FX 5200; Maxtor 6Y080L0 80GB 7,200rpm Serial ATA
Systemax Ascent 64
Windows XP Home; 2.0GHz AMD Athlon 64 3000+; Via K8T800 chipset; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; 64MB ATI Radeon 7000; Samsung SP1203N 120GB 7,200rpm
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 User Rating: 
7/10
Excellent System. Fast and reliable. Had minefive years
Pros: Fast and dependable. Small area foot print. Trouble free operation but keep it internally maintained. Cameras, Convert x, Printer, Photo Printer, Floppy drive, Ext DVD writer, speakers all hooked up to it and all units and software running fine.
Cons: Poor case ventilation but with a little effort and a drill fans can be added but must be done from the top (set vertically) w/air flow going in (downward) as heat flow exits out the rear from CPU fan cooler and Pwr supply. Also very Ltd expansion.
There's no doubt in my mind it runs hot without modifications being made to create more airflow through it, including removal of the pwr supply fan guard. The Intel MB is well designed and once maxed out with a matched pair of 2 x 1gb 667 Mem Sticks (P/N SNPU8622CK2/2G) the speed's supercharged.
User Rating: 
3/10
Worst computer I've ever had
Pros: Small form factor
Cons: Hardware failures abound
User Rating: 
1/10
Film Maker?!?! Forget about it, this computer is the worst peice of garbage ever!!!!
Pros: Looks cool and has a nice screen
Cons: Won't expet ANY editing softwear, Fruity Loops wont work, Slow, Dosn't exept DVD, Hard to find a Firewire Card, Can't exept any camera threw USB even with softwear, Not compatable with anything
ARTISTS TURN AROUND...NOTHING HERE FOR YOU!!!
I was told by Dell themselves that this was a good computer for editing movies. When I got it up and running I tried uploading Avid, Fruity Loops, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Audition, and even tried uploading Vegas Studio and not one of the programs worked. Fruity Loops could open but forget about using drums, all it makes is noices. Trying to find a Firewire Card to fit and work with this computer is next to impossible, and when you do find one its expensive.
Basically ALL I can do is get online (sorta) and open word pad. If you wanna have ANY fun or use this for anything other than a calculator, turn back now. Its worthless, you will be pissed you got it. I would recommend using Windows Millenium over this computer.
User Rating: 1/10
very disappointed
Pros: nothing good to say
Cons: waste of money
User Rating: 
9/10
good small computer
Pros: small fits anyware easy to open and work with
Cons: watch for internal cards must be smaller
User Rating: 
5/10
Dell support is worthless -serious problems interfacing with AOL
Pros: Great deal. Free monitor upgrade, free printer, space saving design.
Cons: Serious problems with system crashing-stop error screen. Problem occurs when signing off and closing AOL 9.0 SE on dialup connection . Tech support is clueless. Received replacement PC with the same problem-can't be an isolated incident. Appears to be a d
User Rating: 3/10
If you have problems, expect no assistance from Dell.
Pros: Great advertising campaign.
Cons: I bought this product so my 4th and 7th grade children could write reports, create presentations, and have something reliable for their school work. I really thought Dell had a great product and wonderful customer service, and as it turned out I quickly l
