"hp vs. Dell" who win?: April 2011

Saturday 30 April 2011

HP unleashes entry-level Z210 workstation; starts at $569

Following up the EliteBook mobile workstation, Hewlett-Packard has also unveiled the budget-friendly Z210 desktop workstation.
The key thing to remember here is that this workstation was designed and is intended to be a low-cost, entry-level option for those working with video editing, AutoCAD software, education and other similar purposes. For designers, there are 2D and 3D graphics options available, ranging from AMD FirePro 2270 in 2D to NVIDIA Quadro 4000 in 3D. Intel’s own integrated graphics are also onboard.
Intel has its mark on a few other spots on this machine. Along with vPro technology, buyers have a slew of Intel processor choices. Choices include second-generation Core i3/i5/i7 dual-core and quad-core CPUs as well as several Intel Xeon quad-core options to look over. The maximum hard drive space is 4.5TB, but one can also opt for up to 480GB of solid state drive space.
Just like the EliteBooks, accessing the interior of the workstation is a lot simpler thanks to a single door design with a handle that grants access rather than removing a bunch of tiny screws that can easily be lost. When looking inside the Z210, it’s amazingly organized thanks to a design job by BMW. There are touch points identifying where parts can be removed and replaced, and the cleaner layout also adds to better airflow and acoustics.
There are actually two variants for the Z210 workstation, which will affect several of the spec options such as the number of USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, maximum amount of memory and storage space, and even the audio power, among other things.
The small form factor (SFF) version starts at $569, while the convertible mini-tower (CMT) starts at $659. Note that the SFF model is 65% smaller than the CMT edition, which might be helpful to know when buying for smaller workspaces. Both are available now.

HP revamps EliteBook mobile workstations; starts at $1,299

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Earlier this year, Hewlett-Packard revamped its professional-grade notebooks inside and out. Now HP’s EliteBook mobile workstations are getting the same treatment.
Many of the same aesthetic and protective notes found on those pro laptops are also seen on the EliteBook workstation series. Outfitted with an all-metal, hybrid magnesium and aluminum chassis, the EliteBook design is inspired by aerospace technology, also evident by the brushed gunmetal finish.
There is one release door on the bottom of the computer for simplified access, and all of the ID stickers and such have been moved under the battery to clear up the clutter. The touchpad is double the size of those seen on the EliteBook’s predecessors, and this new design features a chemically-strengthened glass, like the one on the iPod touch.
All of the connectivity ports are now outlined with a silver trim for a cleaner finish, and a rubber Display Safe Frame outlines the bezel on the interior to protect the extremely HD, RGB-backlit Dream Color 10-bit panels. (I say “extremely” because I’ve seen the picture quality in person, and it’s better than seeing anything in person, if that makes any sense.) Those displays are held on with a CNC aluminum hinge and screws, and the HP logo is backlit to top it all off.

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Now that we’ve covered all the fine points of the exterior, let’s go inside these EliteBooks. These mobile workstations have second-generation Intel Core i5 and i7 dual-core processor options, USB 3.0 ports, fingerprint readers, face recognition security using the HD webcam, optional 3G, and graphics cards options ranging from AMD’s FirePro M3900 to NVIDIA’s Quadro 2000M GPU.
The 14-inch model is not only the most portable because of its more compact frame but it also boasts the best battery life of the series, offering up to six to seven hours after a full charge. The 15- and 17-inch models have backlit keyboards. That 17-inch machine is the behemoth of the group with 4GB of video memory, dual hard drives and an optical drive that can be swapped out for a third HDD. That means the 17-inch EliteBook can hold up to 3TB of storage space.
Set to roll out in May, pricing starts at $1,299, $1,349 and $1,899 for the 14-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch EliteBook mobile workstations, respectively.

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Dell unloads trio of Precision workstations; Intel Core, Xeon CPUs, NVIDIA Quadro graphics

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Dell has expanded its Precision workstation offerings with a pair of new mobile models and another dual-socket rack option with plenty of customizable, high-end specs.

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Starting with the 15.6-inch M4600 and 17.3-inch M6600 (pictured above, right), these mobile workstations are designed for anyone working with heavy, heavy amounts of data - especially when working with both 2D and 3D graphics. Additionally, even though they’re both a bit large for frequent travel, these machines are still ready for the road being outfitted in with a durable aluminum and magnesium alloy chassis and have been tested for extreme temperatures, vibration, dust, altitude and shock.
There are quite a few intriguing options to choose from with these new Precision workstations, notably the choice between a four-finger multi-touch display (ideal for graphic designers and engineers) or a 100% color-correct PremierColor IPS RGB LED display with PremierColor calibration software for improved image clarity.
Other shared specs include:

Second-generation Intel Core processor options (Up to Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition)
AMD Eyefinity (Provides support for up to five displays simultaneously)
NVIDIA Optimus technology
GPU options: AMD FirePro Mobility Professional Graphics, NVIDIA Quadro Professional Graphics with up to 2GB of GDDR5 dedicated memory
DDR3 memory options: Four DIMM slots for up to 32GB of 1,333MHz RAM or up to 16GB of 1,600MHz memory
Connectivity: Two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and USB 2.0/eSATA combo slot, DisplayPort, VGA and HDMI

There are some definite differences on certain areas, such as maximum hard/solid state drive space and security. The M6600 is the winner here with an optional second hard drive and a 128GB solid state drive with RAID 5 support.
Continuing on to the R5500 Rack Workstation (pictured below), this computing device is also designed for heavy data purposes and is intended to be placed in a centralized location with “remote 1:1 access to the workstation from virtually anywhere.” There are a few options to make the connection, including PC-over-IP hardware-based compression transfers or VMware View software.

To understand the scope of what this workstation offers, here’s a few of the customizable spec options:

OS options: Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Windows Vista and 7 (Ultimate, Professional or Business)
Intel Xeon 5600 series quad-core or six-core processors
Up to 192GB of 1,066MHz or 1,333MHz ECC memory in 12 DIMM slots
NVIDIA Tesla C2050 GPGPU
Can handle up to five 2.5-inch SAS or SATA hard drives
Support for up to five industry standard full-height and full-length PCIe x16 slots (with many NVIDIA Quadro graphics card choices)

Pricing starts at $1,678 for the Precision M4600 mobile station, and the base cost rises to $2,158 for the M6600. These will both be available worldwide on May 10th. The R5500 mobile workstation will roll out sooner on May 3rd in the United States (along with Europe, the Middle East and Africa) with a starting MSRP of $2,551. The rest of the world will get a chance at that one on May 10th as well.

Saturday 9 April 2011

Dell Precision T1600 entry-level workstation now shipping

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Announced back in February, Dell’s Precision T1600 entry-level workstation is ready for work.
Powered by second-generation Intel Sandy Bridge (Core or Xeon) processors, the T1600 is touted as being 24% more powerful and faster than its predecessors. The machine is highly customizable with room for up to 16GB of memory and dual 2TB 3.5-inch SATA hard drives.
The T1600 also stands as an option for designers and others working with 3D as the workstation supports NVIDIA Quadro 2000 graphics. If 2D suffices your needs, then Intel Integrated HD graphics is the other option.
Dell also reminds us about the “tool less” chassis that opens with a single latch and doesn’t require removing any screws. This is becoming a very common (and welcome) feature on both desktop workstations and personal computers.
Pricing starts normally at $829, but Dell is currently running a special so the system starts at $629. It isn’t clear how long that deal will last, so act fast if you want this for your office space. For a closer look at the Precision T1600, check out the promo video below: