New age desktops

GIZMO GALLERY

The growing demand of SOHO users has brought out the need for low-end, reliable and energy efficient desktops. Dell and Wipro have the answers.

If power-efficiency is one of your top concerns, then Dell's line of Optiplex and AMD Protos desktops would be worth checking out. The Dell Optiplex 755 is configured with the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor with vPro technology, 8GB of RAM and comes in a mini-tower, desktop or small form factor style case.

The vPro technology allows easy control of PCs as customers can manage systems even when powered down or have no operating system, reducing the time spent on patch deployment.

Available at approximately Rs 35,000, the OptiPlex 755 is an optimal option for the small office home office (SOHO) environment.

It scores low on graphics but that's expected on a computer with an integrated graphics card. A standard 17-inch LCD monitor "" which makes up about 20 per cent of the system's cost "" makes up for the weak graphic support to some extent (one can always opt for a 15-inch LCD and reduce the price of the PC).

The OptiPlex 755 is also equipped with a power management mode that puts the system into sleep mode after 15 minutes of inactivity.

The system has no frills like external speakers or integrated DVD burner drives, something that most SOHOs can do without. The system is also shipped light on software to control the costs.

If you want a no-fuss, green alternative to a standard PC then look at AMD powered, Protos desktop. Wipro is the first Indian original equipment manufacturer to market Protos PC, which is based on AMD's Geode LX800 processor and is quite attractively priced at Rs 14,000 and upwards.

Another tiny form factor PC, Protos encompasses of a CPU running at 400Mhz, 256MB of DDR RAM (upgradable to 1 GB) and a 40 GB hard disk. The unit uses only 3-5 watts during normal operation and due to its design it is completely noiseless.

The sheer size and relative performance make the applications for this box near endless. The OEM has kept the CPU's body dust resistant, maintenance free, network ready and added connectivity options such as USB 2.0, VGA and audio ports.

Built-in encryption and 2D graphics are part of the Wipro Protos armoury and a separate 3D chip can be added if necessary. Overall, the Protos is a solid, expandable business machine without any fanciful add-ons "" the lack of which likely accounts for much of its energy-efficient performance.

From the heat dissipation and power consumption standpoints, the AMD energy efficient processors compete easily with the new Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs based on Core microarchitecture, which offers extremely efficient performance-per-watt ratio. So, there is no reason why an AMD powered PC should not be your first choice.