Acer AX3300-U1322 Desktop PC (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review is written for MODDERS.General users may find this information useful, but I am writing for the intermediate to advanced power user who intends to open up the case.

First Impressions: I was looking for a Quad-Core Athlon processor that would be inexpensive to modify for server/*nix use (with occasional WIN7 use).The number one attraction was the price. And it still is!I am very happy with what I have done, and the flexibility gained.I had some previous experience with a fantastic gaming machine using a PHENOM processor with 4 cores, and I was looking to carry over much of that experience into a working machine, without doing the level of effort I put into building the gaming machine.My apologies to those of you who are INTEL platform fans: there are many games which run better on INTEL platforms with WIN7, and you should definitely go that way if you play those games.

About the Processor Core: if you need a gaming machine, this is not for you.There are several differences between the Phenom sold in expensive gaming systems, and the Athlon II X4 620 quad-processor core used here: including the complete lack of an L3 cache.Like the INTEL Core 2 Quad Q8200, there is no L3 cache at all.See magazine articles or reference materials on the differences.That being said, the architecture is great for a plain-jane workhorse or a media center to play DVD video.I have had not tried heavy HD video use, nor done the modifications for Blue-Ray movies on this machine.If you have data on doing a Blu Ray player upgrade for this machine, please leave a comment on this review.

About the Case:This machine is easy to open up.The two rear screws hold on the access panel quickly remove with a phillips, and have standard case threads - easily replaced with your favorite knurled-knob screws.The front fascia pops off the top edge with three exposed clips (plastic), and is retained on the other edge by three curved hooks (also plastic), and is wired to the motherboard by an easily disconnected micro-plug (for power switch and fascia/ bezel LED light).The DVD drive and HDD attach to a minimal sheet metal cage/ box, which is cleverly attached with two phillips screws on the front case sheet metal. To remove the drives, undo the SATA wires (L-type) and power plugs (flat type, not molex), undo the front screws, and then slowly lift up.The cage will act as if hinged at front, but it is just clever bending of the sheet metal cage.There is a sheet-metal box around the very-small, custom power supply (looks like 240 watts).The airflow, like most of the latest small form-factor PCs, is minimal; fans are limited to the CPU fan/heat-sink combo and a teeny-tiny power supply fan that I can't really see well.

About the MOBO layout.This is a compact set up with lots of money saving choices.It presents some limitations for MODDERS.There are 4 memory slots (came with 4GB on 2 SAMSUNG DDR3 cards) positioned immediately behind the bottom of the HDD, and in front of the fan/heat-sink combo on the CPU. The close proximity of the CPU fan/heat-sink to the rear-projecting cables of the full-sized DVD-drive box means limited options.The wire routing includes only the necessary; flat, red, sata cables tucked against the corners of the case... very clean and good for airflow. I did not like the look of the SAMSUNG memory: just bare chips on fibre-glass without a heat-spreader.The SAMSUNG performed perfectly on my burn-in testing, but I popped in 8 GB of Kingston Hyper-X as a long term preventative measure.The 8GB was recognized perfectly by the system, and tested very well too.No blue-tooth or WIFI on board, so use the USB plugs for a cheapo add-on.

About the I/O layout: there are normal front and rear input output sockets, in a pretty clean layout.The front panel sports a hinged plastic door to cover up the break-out sockets.Under the door you will see: audio 3.5mm in/out, 4-wire ieee1394 plug (aka mini-firewire400), 5 USB sockets, a CF card slot, and a flash combo-slot (SD, XD, MS multi-slot). In the back there are: 2 PS/2 sockets (?), HDMI and VGA out, e-SATA, ehternet, 4 more USB sockets, and the usual color-coded 3.5mm audio sound plugs.There are a variety of internal SATA sockets available on the motherboard (HDD, DVD, plus three more) but you won't get much use from them until you pull the DVD-HDD box/cage out of the case... everything is just crammed in with no room.Cables are mostly blocked by the DVD drive or the fan/heat-sink.

About the WIN7 compatibility with Athlon x64:Run your windows update and look carefully at the Optional installs (after you have installed the Important updates).There are several updates specific to the WIN7 behaviors with Athlon processors, and the combination of Athlon and NVIDIA products with +4GB RAM (see the official site for Microsoft (Start with a look at KB976972).To the credit of AMD, ACER and Microsoft, the patches are available and install easily (all updates installed successfully without any repeated tries or manual intervention).There are additional patches that may apply to your specific use as a corporate box or a media-center PC, so make the effort to do a good install-update to the system.

About the power loading:I was very concerned about the "el-cheapo" power supply that usually gets stuffed into a tiny budget box (in my opinion, all manufacturers view small-form-factor PCs as budget boxes).To open up the airflow, and offload some power demands, I moved the HDD and DVD off the MOBO.The old SATA internal (L-plug with flat red wiring) connection to the HDD is now modded to a internal (L-plug) to external eSATA (flat) on a round blue cable.The HDD now lives in an external eSATA drive toaster (use the brand of your choice, or an external RAID with eSATA plug).The DVD is now a USB connected external.This was easy for me since I already had all the parts, and the math says that this will reduce the load on the power supply in the ACER case.Theoretically, this may extend the life of the Acer power supply.Since all this stuff sits on a rack, out of sight, the looks are no big deal.Not recommended for the executive director's fancy desk top though.

About the performance:Five-stars!This is far better than the laptop which used to do this duty.I will run some benchmarks later to compare.The processor and OS combo have not hit any heat problems for any situation I have put them in during burn-in or anything so far.For the low cost, this fanken-customized rig now does multiple duties as a work machine in a home network.I keep the WIN7 disc for grins, but I am not a true believer in WIN7 for servers.Plus, this machine has no gaming use (except minesweeper and pin-ball).The *nix install was trivial... but that is beyond the scope of this review.

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Product Description:

Acer Aspire X3300 Desktop: Sleek Powerhouse PC

Small enough to fit just about anywhere, the Aspire X3300 desktop PC (model AX3300-U1322) is ready to satisfy your home computing expectations. But don't let its compact size fool you! The full-featured Aspire X3300 packs a SuperMulti drive, easy-access ports and extra slots for expansion, bringing you a complete desktop experience at just a fraction of the size of traditional desktops.


The sleek Acer Aspire X3300 is 1/3 the size of a normal PC, but is a powerful performer with ample room for upgrades and a wealth of ports at your fingertips.

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Dell Inspiron 545 Piano Black Desktop PC with 22-Inch HD Monitor (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This computer is a replacement for a relative's ancient Dell Dimensions system. I bought it and am setting it up for him. I personally have several Windows XP computers myself, 1 Vista, and 1 Snow Leopard (iMac), and I do know a lot about computers and networking, so this review will have those above thoughts in mind as I write it.

Positives:

* Monitor (5/5)
The supplied 22" has an exceptionally sharp screen, and I have no complaints about it at all. Perfect size, and works very well even at mid-range settings (I like 1920x1200, but lower resolutions are still sharp, unlike experiences I've had in the past with other computers & monitors).

* Windows 7 (5/5)
I can't find anything to complain about with 7. It is intuitive, and does everything I need easily and without having to jump through hoops. I was familiar with the earlier Windows releases, so there was basically no learning curve for me with 7. I am also a big Snow Leopard fan, but now with 7, in my mind they are pretty much equals.

* Box (5/5)
The piano black looks nice. I like that the DVD drive and the card reader slots are covered when not in use to keep dust at bay. It runs quiet, so that is much appreciated. I also prefer the Intel processor VS AMD, and like that it came with 6Mb RAM and a large hard drive.

* Keyboard (4/5)
The supplied keyboard is basic, and is a USB connection (not wireless). It works well, and is no frills. No complaints.

* Speakers (3/5)
The speakers are slimline, and very light. They won't get real loud, but are fine for basic needs. If you are planning on doing anything like watching movies frequently, you may consider upgrading them. Absolutely fine for everyday use though.

* Performance (5/5)
For my relative's needs (internet, email, youtube, etc), this is perfect. Video works great, and the speed of 7 is satisfactory. I did some benchmark testing, and the processor and drive score high, with the only downfall being the graphics ability. Nobody will notice that though, unless you are into hard core gaming.

* Amazon (5/5)!!!
The price is terrific, and is actually a much better deal than I could get from Dell directly (at least as of this writing, deals change all the time). Also very much appreciated the $3.99 1-day shipping! I'm a prime member so I could have had free 2-day shipping, but I wanted to make sure it was delivered when someone would be here so the 1-day worked out great.Negatives:

* Mouse (2/5)
The mouse is also a USB connection (not wireless), and is pretty cheap. It is optical and tracks fine, but just feels real cheap. I'll probably replace with a nicer wireless mouse.

* Dell supplied software (1/5)
The only real issue I'm having is the Dell supplied software crashes repeatedly. None of it is very useful, so I just disabled it and all is well. Please note that this is NOT a Windows 7 issue, but an issue with the Dell utilities software itself. I suspect they will have updates that will fix it, but for now, it liked to crash, so I just disabled it. I also uninstalled the supplied anti-virus software and installed one I like better that is free, but that is just a personal choice.Overall:
I am very pleased with this computer! The hardware (except for the mouse) is better than expected, especially the monitor. I would recommend this setup without hesitation, especially for those that are mainly going to do emails & internet. This is a stellar deal as well, and I feel you get a lot for the money.

Thanks for reading.UPDATE 11/29/09: I did purchase the Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro keyboard and mouse set to replace the supplied Dell ones for this system. This was a fantastic upgrade! I highly recommend the Wave Pro setup. It integrates well with Windows 7, and has dedicated keys on the mouse and keyboard for Aero among other things. With this mouse and keyboard, I like the system even better.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Inspiron 545 Piano Black Desktop PC with 22 Inch HD Monitor (Windows 7 Home Premium)

Product Description:
The Inspiron 545 desktop is optimized to provide the entertainment features you need for a price you want. Watch your screen come to life with the integrated Integrated Intel Media Accelerator 3100 graphics with optional ATI discrete graphics that further maximize your viewing experience. Quickly transfer your digital photos and music from your digital camera with the 19-in-1 media card reader. Immerse yourself into a cinematic experience by connecting to your 22-Inch HD monitor or TV with the HDMI port.Dell USB keyboard and mouse included.Included software: McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days; Microsoft® Works.

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Asus EeeBox EBXB202-BLK-X0081 Desktop PC (1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, XP Home) Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this Asus Eee PC as an experiment, replacing my bulky Media Center PC (aka Home Theater PC or HTPC), and I have been extremely satisfied so far.The unit is small (1/10th the footprint of my HTPC), quiet, very responsive, and makes an attractive (if only diminutive) addition to my entertainment center.

I use the unit for web browsing with a wireless keyboard and mouse/remote (with accelerometer), watching online video, Amazon UnBox videos, music playback (multiple formats), video playback (multiple formats), and playing DVDs. So far I have no complaints, from me (the household geek) or my family (internet junkies one-and-all).

Pros: Affordable, small, quick boot, attractive design, high quality graphics, low power consumption, very quiet (nearly silent), and it can be mounted to the back of a display (using the VESA mount).

Cons: None noted

Summary: This very well design unit is not suited for all applications, but when you need a small PC, with diminished demands, this is an excellent solution at a very affordable price.I added a USB DVD/CD RW to my tools, using only when needed, and it works flawlessly.

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Product Description:
EEE Box is the smallest desktop PC in the world and can be easily moved from room to room. It can be mounted to most of LCD in order to save even more space. Its 8.5" x 7" x 1" dimension is smaller than an A4 paper. It is quieter than a whisper and pre-installed with the latest technology ATOM. Its Windows XP OS is easy to use and compatible with most software. It allows users to access Internet, play game, or listen music with Express Gate in seconds without entering the OS. It reduces energy usage (and cost) by 90% compared to the typical PC, so it helps protect the environment. It is equipped with the fastest wireless LAN connect 802.11n. In the package, it contains keyboard, mouse, DVI-D-SUB Convertor, SPDIF, Stand, VESA Mounting Kit, and 65w Adaptor.

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Sony VAIO VPC-L111FX/B 24-Inch Black All-in-One Desktop PC (Windows 7 Home Premium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this for my family for Christmas and they LOVED it!Everyone that came to the house over the holidays could not get over the touch screen capability.After I explained that it had a Blu-ray player and all the other features, they were sold.I had the computer sent to work before Christmas so I would have it ready when my family opened it on Christmas.Three guys in my office bought one for their families after they experienced the computing speed, the clarity of the picture and the touch screen capabilities.We have only had ours for a month but I do not have a single complaint.
This is perfect of a student in a dorm with limited space.It would work great as a television and a computer. I have always been impressed with Sony and Microsoft, but the marriage of their latest products has proved to be a giant leap forward for consumers.

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Product Description:
E5400 2.70 4GB (2GBX2) DDR2 320 7200RPM HDD 24IN TOUCHSCREEN (1920X1080) 16X9 NV

Get 4% OFF

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Dell 3.0 Ghz. Super Fast GX Computer , Gigantic 1 Terebyte (1,000 GB) Hard Drive, 4GB RAM, DVD Burner (DVD-RW), and New Licensed Windows XP with Genuine Microsoft Authorized CD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am thrilled with this computer.Unbelievable for the price I paid.

And though the specs don't mention it, mine came with a lightscribe capable drive, when I thought I was getting only a DVD-RW.It has a floppy drive, too, which the specs don't mention.The keyboard and mouse were genuine Dell. The keyboard even has media player controls.Can't say anything about the speakers, as my monitor has integrated speakers and I haven't connected the included ones.They are basic powered generic speakers.

The only thing I could possibly have wanted that it doesn't have is a modem, but I knew that before I ordered it.

The shipping was fast, the packing excellent, and there were only a few small scuffs on the case, but since it is sitting on the floor under the desk, that is totally insignificant.What matters is how this system works, which is amazingly.

I would recommend a system from this vendor to anyone!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell 3.0 Ghz. Super Fast GX Computer , Gigantic 1 Terebyte (1,000 GB) Hard Drive, 4GB RAM, DVD Burner (DVD-RW), and New Licensed Windows XP with Genuine Microsoft Authorized CD

Product Description:
This computer has been refurbished by a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher. It includes an Original Genuine Licensed Windows XP Operating System with a new sealed Official Microsoft CD from a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher. Beware of Software Piracy. Many other sellers offer a non-original copy of Windows XP. A non-original copy may leave your computer at risk and inhibit your right to critical security updates and is also illegal. SUPER FAST DELL Optiplex Pentium 4 3.0 GHz computer system ready to use. This UPGRADED DELL includes: 4 Gigabytes of DDR2 Ram Memory, a Giant 1 Terabyte Hard Drive (that's 1000 Gigabytes), Fast DVD-RW (Plays/Records DVDs and CDs), loaded with great software. It is ready for any Cable/DSL internet connection. Also included FREE: Scrolling Mouse, Keyboard, and Hi- Fi Stereo Amplified Speakers! The Dell Optiplex was designed for heavy professional use at large fortune 500 companies. They differ greatly from the Dell consumer line of computers sold in stores, which are usually not as high quality. The Dell Optiplex cases and interiors are more durable and very well designed for the demanding corporate customer. These computers are great for all users. This Dell Optiplex is an excellent choice for Office, Home, or School. Students, Professionals, Educators, and Parents can all benefit from this computer. Even in demanding network environments where multiple computers are inter connected, and consistent operation is a must, the Dell Optiplex is a proven performer.

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Dell Gx270 SFF Desktop Computer, Fast Intel 2.80 GHz, 512GB DDR Memory, Large 80 HDD, DVD/CD Play both DVD's and CD's, XP Pro Installed Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was very pleased with my purchase of the reconditioned Dell Optiplex computer. It arrrived well packed and in perfect condition. I ordered DSL internet service and hooked it up and it ran just like a new one. This purchase exceded my expectations.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dell Gx270 SFF Desktop Computer, Fast Intel 2.80 GHz, 512GB DDR Memory, Large 80 HDD, DVD/CD Play both DVD's and CD's, XP Pro Installed

Product Description:
Dell Optiplex GX270 Desktop computer The OptiPlex GX platform is designed for business and individuals that are focused on affordable pricing coupled with top-level performance. This Dell Optiplex GX270 tower desktop PC comes running an Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz HT processor, 512MB of DDR memory, a Large 80GB hard drive, CD Rewriteable drive, and integrated LAN. It's perfect for the web and office programs. The Dell OptiPlex GX270 provides the perfect blend of relevant technology that users demand, all at a price that won't bust the budget. This model also comes with Windows XP Professional installed using original restore disk. All Dell software drivers updated..

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