Entered CNET Catalog: 07/30/2003
SKU: CNETOPTIPLEX270
Manufacturer: Dell, Inc.
Product summary
The good: Impressive application performance; 11 USB ports; beautifully designed, compact tower; ships with 16MB USB keychain drive.
The bad: Tower gets hot; short monitor cord.
The bottom line: Dell's latest corporate system is a compact cube warrior with a clever design, strong performance, and a winning warranty.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: Yes
- Reviewed on: 08/04/2003
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 The cleverly designed case can be hidden behind the flat-panel display. |
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Standing just less than 10 inches high and measuring just more than 3 inches wide, the diminutive OptiPlex SX270 packs a remarkable amount of expandability. At the rear, there's a full complement of ports, including serial and parallel, line-in/-out, DVI (for digital flat panels), two PS/2, and four USB 2.0. At the front, the OptiPlex SX270 serves up two more USB 2.0 ports, plus microphone and headphone jacks.
The tower has two access panels, either of which pops right off with the push of a small, green lock switch. As you might expect, there's no room inside for slots of any kind, save for a pair of SDRAM slots, both of which are occupied. The smaller of the two panels reveals the system's 2.5-inch hard drive and a lock switch for the DVD/CD-RW combo drive, which pops out (or not, if you lock it) just like that of a notebook drive. You'll find two plastic covers in the box that can limit or prevent access to the rear ports and the primary lock switch, but you'll need to supply your own standard Kensington lock; Dell doesn't include one.
The OptiPlex SX270's case works with the included 17-inch LCD to save space in cramped cubicles. The UltraSharp 1703FP's sturdy, metal stand doubles as a mount for the tower, which rests directly behind the LCD. At the same time, the keyboard can tuck away neatly below the screen, thanks to the stand's specially designed base. Because the monitor and the PC are clearly designed to sit together, we understand why Dell might have thought it was OK to make the display cable so short--barely longer than a foot, in fact. But if you choose to spread out your equipment, you're out of luck.
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| The system boasts an astounding 11 USB 2.0 ports: two on the case's front panel (pictured here), four on the back panel, four on the display, and one on the keyboard. | |
Did you think that there were just 6 USB 2.0 ports on this system? Think again. The monitor provides 4 additional USB ports--2 on the side, 2 at the rear--while the PS/2 keyboard serves up 2 of its own, bringing the system total to 11. That's undoubtedly overkill for a corporate system, but we'll gladly take too many USB ports over too few.
One final note: After a few hours of use, the tower's vented, metal top became very hot to the touch. We have concerns about the stability and long-term reliability of a system that gets this overheated, though we saw no evidence of any actual problems.
Small though it is, the Dell OptiPlex SX270 is abundantly equipped for the rigors of corporate environments, and it's plenty powerful for most home-office and small-business applications. Its 2.4GHz Pentium 4 doesn't clock in anywhere near today's top-speed CPUs, but it leverages Intel's 865G chipset to achieve performance on a par with that of 2.66GHz systems.
The OptiPlex SX270 also includes 512MB of DDR SDRAM and a 5,400rpm, 40GB Hitachi notebook-class (read: small-size) hard drive. Dell doesn't offer any larger capacities, but you can install a second 40GB drive in the tower's lone modular bay, supplanting the combination DVD/CD-RW that came with our system. You'll have to use the same bay for a floppy drive: the OptiPlex SX270 doesn't have one (it's a $29 upgrade), but Dell supplies a 16MB USB keychain drive for fast and easy file shuttling. The module bay lets you swap out drives while the system is on, so you can interchange optical, floppy, Zip, or hard drives, all of which Dell lists as options on its online configurator.
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| The SX270 has a module bay in which you can swap drives. Our test system included a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. | |
The OptiPlex SX270's Intel Extreme Graphics 2 chip improves dramatically over the previous generation of integrated hardware, meaning games are fair game, so long as you steer clear of higher-end 3D titles. We loaded Star Trek: Elite Force II, ran it at a comfortable, 1,024x768-pixel resolution, and enjoyed very smooth gameplay.
Dell's UltraSharp 1703FP monitor, a 17-inch LCD, lends itself well to games and movies, to say nothing of everyday software. Text looked crisp at its native 1,280x1,024-pixel resolution, and colors appeared vibrant and evenly saturated across the display. The monitor has adequate height adjustability but limited tilt range.
The OptiPlex SX270 features a built-in speaker that's adequate for business audio, but Dell supplied a pair of Altec Lansing speakers with our test system, a $20 upgrade option. The built-in speaker immediately cuts out when you plug in the Altecs or a pair of headphones--no need to disable it manually in the BIOS or the control panel.
Dell offers various versions of Microsoft Office for an added cost, but our review system came with a sparser software bundle: CyberLink PowerDVD for watching DVDs; Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.0 for burning CDs; LegacySelect 2.0, a fairly useless port-management tool; and OpenManage Client Instrumentation, an IT configuration and support package.
Application performance
Business systems rarely break performance records, but the Dell OptiPlex SX270 held its own during testing. Thanks to its Intel 865G chipset and new 2.4GHz Pentium 4 processor with an 800MHz frontside bus (FSB), it outperformed other machines with faster processors. For example, the OptiPlex SX270 ended in a statistical dead heat with the IBM ThinkCentre S50 and the Systemax Venture LP U26R on SysMark2002 tests. Both featured speedier 2.66GHz P4's but with slower 533MHz frontside buses. We can especially see the difference in SysMark2002 office-productivity results, where the OptiPlex SX270 outpaced the ThinkCentre by more than 5 percent. Clearly Intel's next-generation chipset is a significant improvement over that of the previous generation, giving the OptiPlex SX270 more than enough muscle for today's business applications.
Application performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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To measure application performance, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's SysMark2002, 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).
3D graphics and gaming performance
Integrated graphics solutions don't usually provide enough oomph for applications with demanding 3D requirements. The integrated system found on the Intel 865G chipset, optimistically dubbed Extreme Graphics 2, far outstrips the achievements of its predecessor in the 845G/GL chipset, but its Quake III scores of 41.9 frames per second still will not suffice for any recent games.
3D graphics performance (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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To measure 3D graphics performance, CNET Labs uses Futuremark's 3DMark2001 Pro Second Edition, Build 330. We use 3DMark to measure a desktop's performance with the DirectX8 (DX8) interface at both 16- and 32-bit color settings at a resolution of 1,024x768. A system that does not have DX8 hardware support will typically generate a lower score than one that has DX8 hardware support.
3D gaming performance in fps (Longer bars indicate better performance)
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To measure 3D gaming performance, CNET Labs uses Quake III Arena. Although Quake III is an older game, it is still widely used as an industry-standard tool. Quake III does not require DX8 hardware support--as 3DMark2001 does--and is therefore an excellent means of comparing the performance of low- to high-end graphics subsystems. Quake III performance is reported in frames per second (fps).
Find out more about how we test desktop systems.
System configurations:Dell Dimension 4600C
Windows XP Home; 2.8GHz Intel P4; Intel 865G chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; integrated Intel 865G 64MB (shared memory); Seagate ST3120023A 120GB 7,200rpm
Dell OptiPlex SX270
Windows XP Professional; 2.4GHz Intel P4; Intel 865G chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 400MHz; integrated Intel 865G 64MB (shared memory); Hitachi DK23EB-40 40GB 5,400rpm
HP d325 business desktop
Windows XP Professional; 2.17GHz AMD Athlon XP 3000+; Nvidia Nforce-2; 512MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 AGP 8X 64MB; Maxtor 6Y0160L0 160GB 7,200rpm
IBM ThinkCentre S50
Windows XP Professional; 2.66GHz Intel P4; Intel 865G chipset; 256MB DDR SDRAM 333MHz; integrated Intel 865G 64MB (shared memory); IBM IC35L40AVV207 40GB 7,200rpm
Systemax Venture LP U26R
Windows XP Professional; 2.66GHz Intel P4; Intel 845G/GL chipset; 512MB DDR SDRAM 266MHz; Nvidia GeForce4 MX 440 64MB; Samsung SP8004H 80GB 7,200rpm
Companies of any size will appreciate Dell's support policies for the OptiPlex SX270. The system's three-year parts-and-labor warranty includes next-business-day onsite service, which is worth its weight in gold for corporate and small-office users alike. As always, Dell also provides 24/7 toll-free phone support and extensive online help. User and system guides are included in electronic form, courtesy of Dell's all-encompassing Support Center software.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23out of 23 user reviews
power supply failure, overheats | Dell knows and doesn't care.
Pros: Nothing positive to say about this PC
Cons: Power supply failure, overheats, Dell knows but doesn't care.
out of 23 user reviews
These are Terrible
Pros: Small form factor
Cons: Bad Capacitors, Over heaat, Limited RAM, poor support
out of 23 user reviews
Serious Power Issues and awful! customer support
Pros: None if the machine doesnt work
Cons: capacators blown, AWFUL CUSTOMER SUPPORT
DO NOT BUY DELL COMPUTERS!!!!!
out of 23 user reviews
Optiplex line mobo replacements inevitable
Pros: Small, many mounting options
Cons: bad capacitors on mobo, replacements inevitable, poor dell service
Tech just wrote me, "We had 4 SX 270 go out over ther weekend and [a] GX 280 this morning...". All were related to the motherboard. Some have been replaced more than once since motherboards w/ the same faulty components were shipped ot us.
out of 23 user reviews
Dell is BAD
Pros: Cheap, OK short term product.
Cons: Can't Upgrade, basically JUNK
I decided to upgrade. If you want a computer that will grow with you, Don't buy a Dell. I've found out Dell is basically JUNK. What you buy is what you get. That's it. You can't upgrade a components UNLESS, you want to spend TONS of money.
Don't even get me started on the POOR customer service they have. Trust me, Don't buy Dell.
I for one will NEVER buy another Dell.
out of 23 user reviews
Don't Buy
Pros: Nice monitor
Cons: Footprint too small; notebook hard drive and memory are proprietary; unit overheat, causing the unit to fail early in life; poorly designed; worst aspects of notebooks and desktops; junky, overpriced
What it is, essentially, is a laptop computer, with laptop proprietary components, stuffed into an impossibly tiny desktop design. In our company, without a fan sitting right behind it, life expectency is roughly nine months before failure due to heat.
When I discovered my new work computer had only 30 gigs of HD space, I wasn't happy. Then I discovered the HD itself was a notebook size, so CompUSA sent us a 120 gig drive for $200. Of course, being a Dell, it wouldn't accept a non-proprietary drive, so we paid even more for an Optiplex drive when the notebook drive really should have worked.
Oh, and not just any memory is likely to work, but that's hardly surprising and not worthy of comment.
The tiny desktop also had to be situated right next to the monitor because the data cord was so short. The computer is slow, there's no room in the unit; however, one may fry eggs on the heat ventilation on top. Another plus is that it doesn't matter how much dust that gets in the case as the components can't get any hotter than they already are.
I could complain that the fan noise was excessive, but there doesn't seem to be a fan. Is it any wonder that resistors pop like pop corn less than a year after you buy it. The modular DVD ROM also is proprietary, slow and unreliable -- especially when it gets too hot. Do yourself a favor and buy a USB external writer. You'll find it worth the extra $$$.
If it were fast enough to play really great games, I could give it the nod because it's easy to move from one place to another, but it gets a little unreliable, especially when it gets hot.
I got one because that's what my company buys. I'd never buy one for myself, ever.
The deal's not a total waste, though. The monitor is quite nice, vibrant, no dead pixels and flips vertically. You can also pop out and keep the DVD read/writer when the motherboard blows and keep it as a spare if your company buys you a replacement.
After it fails, you can either use it as an example when your IT guys come by of what not to buy, or, if you prefer, it makes an excellent target at about 100 yards.
Oh, and one last thing. I'm not kidding about the fan. Get one of those cheap plastic fans and leave it on all the time you're using the SX270. It will greatly extend the life of the unit.
out of 23 user reviews
Small System with No Cooling
Pros: Small, easy to move.
Cons: Product design requires proprietary components such as memory and DVD/CD reader/writer. Overheats, fails frequently. Miniscule hard drive.
out of 23 user reviews
Great and beautifully small
Pros: So many features in such a small case. Robust and reliable.
Cons: Although I initially thought that 40 gigs would be sufficient the hd is very small. Poor upgradeability.
out of 23 user reviews
don't even think of buying it
Pros: Cute and little yet powerful. If it works fine - it is great crossover b/w desktop and laptop.
Cons: ...But if something goes wrong - oh boy you are screwed. It's all proprietary DELL stuff inside - you can't do anything by yourself to fix it, and you have to rely on DELL support completely,,, Nightmare
out of 23 user reviews
very nice for the cost
Pros: very good for a small office with little space. we have 5 now and only one had problems which was resolved not quickly but completley to my satisfaction. going with the support upgrade is a must. if your on a ti
Cons: limited options such as no dvd writer, no gpraphics options.
out of 23 user reviews
Beware: Cheaply made, and terrible support !
Pros: It's fast, and maximizes space.
Cons: Where shall I begin ? These systems are junk. They are cheaply manufactured, and when support is needed, it is not available. The MAJOR issue with these SX270's is their motherboards. The BLOW. Yup, that's right: the electrolytic capacitors BLOW. The
out of 23 user reviews
Versitle space-saver w/options
Pros: The small footprint is excellent. I tend to spread my work out, so I have plenty of room with the SX270 on the desk. The CPU hides behind my 17" flat panel monitor...people rarely know a computer is back there. The performance has been great. I have con
Cons: No DVD burner optional drive. But I'll settle with and external unit (IOMEGA SuperDrive).
out of 23 user reviews
Great Machine, No Upgradablilty
Pros: Great form factor case. Feature rich, considering it's such a small box. Good amount of USB ports. Quiet... Excellent tech support when you purchase GOLD level tech support.
Cons: Virtually no upgrade ablilty. Proprietarty Laptop hard drive. Runs very hot!!! Hard to service due to small form factor. Dell regular tech support is terrible (especially in India). Only purchase this computer (as well as any Dell machine) with GOLD leve
out of 23 user reviews
PCI bus
Pros: great little box, as it says "Corp. Platform". Dell's idea was that all communications was via the 10/100/1000 mbps Ethernet connector.
Cons: No modem, No PCI Bus. Only one bay/ slot for; CD-ROM or 3.5 floppy -just as a laptop. External devices that would connect via the USB (USB to Serial to external modem)would be expensive and jury-rigged.
out of 23 user reviews
Hard Drive sucks
Pros: You get a lot for a little.
Cons: Runs way to hot, and the hard drives can die if you get a power outage. My computer at home gets the power shut off on in all the time and the hard drive doesn't fail.
out of 23 user reviews
worse computer we ever bought
Pros: the size is great if you're hurting for space, but I would wait to buy when Dell makes them more reliable.
Cons: We've had miriad of hard drive failures and motherboards blown. Disk drive is proprietary...
out of 23 user reviews
this is a sure buy
Pros: I manage 70 desktops and could not ask for a better desktop. When I have had an issue I have resolved them myself, alittle knowledge can go a long way, I only use their support if a part is broken. Have had very few issues.
Cons: My users want to take them home.
out of 23 user reviews
Power supply is EXTERNAL...
Pros: small
Cons: Why is this product listed as just released? I bought two of these a year ago. The small size is achieved by making the power supply (picture huge laptop power pack) EXTERNAL... one of the machines is already having problems with the power pack fluctuatin
out of 23 user reviews
Neat Design, Crappy Reliability
Pros: Compact, Neat to Look at
Cons: Bought 12 for the company to try out and it's been 5 months and 4 hard-drives later that we decided to go back to our IBM's.
out of 23 user reviews
Great little PC FOR BUSINESS USE!!!
Pros: Compact unit saves desk space. Easy to move from one desk to another. PC and monitor are separate units and can be installed or replaced separately.
Cons: Not intended for home or small business use. Very few expansion options. Propriatry system- 3rd party hardware can cause conflicts (common to all major manufacturers). I have been a support tech for HP/Compaq, Dell and IBM. They all state in their warrant
out of 23 user reviews
Great Computer for office and home
Pros: Size and Functionality - Price! Dell Customer Service is the best - you never wait more than 5 minutes - Who cares if their reps work in foreign countries, as long as they do their job.
Cons: Nothing really. I don't understand people writing negative reviews about Dell's Service - It is by far the best in the business, and if you don't believe this, try calling Compaq, HP, Gateway, or any of the other vendors and see how many hours they leave
out of 23 user reviews
service stinks (i am trying to use clean language)
Pros:
Cons: I wait on the phone for hours to get through to a service tech who cant help me. they yes you to death until they run out of things to try based on their script. How can you possibly give them a 9 for service and support. They also sold me upgrades for
out of 23 user reviews
Totaly incompatible to modems
Pros: +Nice design + small + silent
Cons: - Propietary CD-Drive like in a notebook - This model does not have space for an internal modem. I have tried different external modems and none of them worked. All my modems work perfectly on all other PCs. DELL is unable to solve the problem. The onsit
