Friday, January 30, 2009

Feature Packed, High Performance Desktop - the Dell Inspiron 518

By Matt Ryan

Dell is known for the quality machines that they produce along with the high performance they implement into each PC. They have added, yet another, phenomenal desktop to the Dell family - the Inspiron 518. This mini tower is one of the best computers for any home or dorm. Students of all ages, and entire families, will find everything they need in the new Inspiron 518.

The bare-bone system starts are $329. (Bare-bone, in this sense, means the minimal technical specifications discussed in a bit.) Additional features can be added through Dells interactive build process. The Inspiron 518 may not be the cheapest desktop on the market, but is decently priced when you consider the performance and functionality that it offers.

The power and high performance comes from the 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q660 and 320GB 5,400 rpm hard drive. You will also find, as part of the standard build, 2GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450, and gigabit Ethernet, along with a dual-layer DVD burner. Dell will install Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (32-bit) as the operating system, on all Inspiron 518s.

Notice that there is no option for the installation of the 64-bit version of Windows Vista. Unfortunately, the Inspiron 518 is not flexible in this sense, as it only supports a 32-bit operating system. 64-bit operating systems require more memory, which this system does not have. If you are planning to upgrade to Windows 7, you will first have to upgrade the memory, and any other necessary hardware, to get the desktop up to speed to handle a 64-bit OS.

On the physical side, Dell has added a bit of a tray at the top of the casing. This tray is the perfect size to store devices such as MP3 players, cell phones, cameras, etc. Not only can you conveniently store your plug-n-play devices on your desktop, but you can easily charge them at the same time. Dell added two additional USB 2.0 ports directly below the tray for this purpose alone.

There has been a new feature added to the interface of Dell machines - the Dell Dock. This is similar to the Vista sidebar, with the exception of it being more personable. Users can add their favorite icons and folders, to Dell Dock, for easy navigation and access. Dell Dock can be docked anywhere on your desktop (top, left or right side, or even the bottom). The Dell Dock is so customizable that you can even turn it completely off if you decide that it clutters your desktop a bit too much for your taste. Regardless, it is a nice feature for users to experience a more personalized experience.

The Dell Inspiron 518 does not offer consumers the option to add a Blu-ray optical drive. Depending what you had in mind for the desktop, this may not be a hindrance at all. The graphics card, which comes with the system, is a bit on the low end as well. Unlike other Dell machines, there is no option to upgrade this feature upon customizing your build. The graphics card that comes with the Inspiron 518 is decent, but is not a high-end card for gaming.

The Inspiron 518 is a budget friendly computer. Combine this with its high performance and the number of features it offers, and you've got yourself an amazing everyday computer. Whether you are looking for a computer for a student or an entire family, the Inspiron 518 is a good fit. - 16955

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