This is my very first Dell Computer. I have been a long time owner of Compaq, but recently felt that their customer service and drive for innovation have fallen behind cross state rival Dell.

I used the dell.com website to custom craft this computer to my specifications. I chose the THX Lucas Films certified system since I am an avid gamer. I went with the Pentium 4 1.4 Ghz processor. To complement the excellent picture quality from the Trinitron 19" monitor and the Altec Lansing ADA885 Digital Surround Sound Speakers, I chose the 64 Meg. Nvidia GeForce2 GTS graphics card.

The results are that this system is no match for any game currently on the market. I was particularly interested in how it handled Microsoft Flight Simulator, with no hesitation. The monitor is capable of displaying images at a resolution of 1600 X 1280 at 32-bit resolution. I also was impressed by the Logitech cordless mouse and keyboard combination. The sound output from the Altec Lansing speakers is impressive and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who is an intensive gamer.

Take note though there are several outstanding issues with the 8100 series. There have been numerous posts on the Dell technical support page about issues with the Trinitron monitors. Some the Trinitron monitors have been shipped with discoloration in the screen usually in the form of a blue aberration in the corner of the viewable area. The remedy has been a replacement monitor from Dell. It should be noted that I have had no problems with my Trinitron monitor. Another technical issue involves the ADA885 speaker system. There is an occasional audible popping sound that emanates from the speakers. Dell has advised owners that the problem is being addressed and a fix should be available soon. Another issue involves improper shutdown. When the restart command is chosen in Windows the computer does not always complete the procedure and the blue screen of death appears. I have had to do a manual shutdown on those occasions and several calls to Dell tech support have not resolved this issue.

This computer is not for the average computer user. New computer users should steer clear of this machine. The Dimension 8100 is a complex machine built for the serious computer user and is not to be taken lightly. The base price of $1900 makes this computer an expensive but worthwhile investment. With that said you can manage to come away with a killer system under $3000 dollars. The above system was purchased for $2700 and includes the 19" monitor and THX package at the expense of a CDR drive and no zip drive both of which I wouldn't really use.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $2700
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: 256
Internal Storage: DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50