WHAT'S HOT: Like the OptiPlex models before it, the sturdy GX260 is clearly designed with IT managers in mind, with features such as the ability to check the serial numbers of components and alert an administrator over the network if a part fails. It ships with client management software for remote troubleshooting and system-wide software installations, as well as a capability for chassis intrusion alerts. And unlike systems in the earlier GX240 line, you can configure GX260 units with a lower-cost Celeron processor (instead of a Pentium 4) for situations where you don't need much processing power. The GX260's design gives it the flexibility of an under-the-desk midsize tower or an on-its-side desktop; paired with Dell's 15-inch flat-panel display, the PC should fit well into small offices.
Press the oval button on the case's top, and the GX260 splits into two halves (much like laying a book on its binding and opening it in the middle), revealing a spacious interior that makes servicing easy. You won't need to lug around a tool set to add or replace parts. In fact, every component inside the case can be removed without tools.
WHAT'S NOT: Despite its Intel 2.53-GHz Pentium 4 processor and 256MB of DDR SDRAM, this OptiPlex's PC Worldbench 4 score of 112 is significantly below the average for its processor class. Most of the 2.53-GHz machines we've tested have 512MB or more of RAM, and their average is about 119. So it's possible that the smaller amount of RAM on this Dell had an appreciable effect on its speed.
WHAT ELSE: Intel's 845G chip set handles the video and audio, but as with all such integrated features, it uses a chunk of system memory to accomplish the task--in this case, up to 48MB (which may also have contributed to the below-average performance score). Integrated graphics also means this PC wouldn't be suitable for those who need high-end graphics performance, although an AGP slot lets you add a graphics card. The system lacks FireWire (IEEE 1394) ports, but it does have four USB 2.0 ports, two of them on the case front.
The black, thin E151FP 15-inch LCD monitor doesn't offer many extras like tilt or pivot capabilities, but it displayed text on business documents crisply, and colors looked bright on test photos at its native 1024 by 768 resolution.
For a corporate PC, this OptiPlex has sufficient room for expansion: Our test model had four open, easily accessible PCI slots (two on a riser card), plus one vacant memory socket, and three open storage bays capable of handling hard drives or optical and other removable-media drives.
The 40GB hard drive is more in line with a value-priced system than a power one these days, but is sufficient for most networked corporate environments. The die-hard floppy drive and--in a nod toward efficient use of drive bays--a double-duty DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive expand storage. The keyboard is bare-bones fare--no extras such as hot-keys--but the spacebar and keys felt responsive in our typing tests.
UPSHOT: With its flexible design and adaptable case, the GX260 will fit into a wide range of corporate applications. However, we'd recommend more than 256MB of RAM if you want to get the most out of its top-end Pentium 4 processor.
Download: Dell Optiplex GX260 Drivers
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