A Matrox video board.........................
November 01, 1997, Issue: 811
Section: WinLab Reviews
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Seanix CS DVD 166 -- The Debut of Affordable DVD
By John M. Cummings
Seanix's new desktop system makes using a computer fun. The CS DVD 166 is ideal for both home office and family use, and is reasonably priced for a fully equipped digital videodisc (DVD) system.
Seanix pairs the relatively slow 166MHz P55C Pentium with an ample amount of RAM and a fast, capacious hard drive. The system comes with a 166MHz MMX-enabled Pentium processor, 64MB of SDRAM, 512KB of internal cache, a 6.4GB (nominal) Ultra DMA hard disk, a Matrox Millennium II video adapter with 4MB of WRAM and a 17-inch monitor (15.8-inch viewable area) with 0.28mm dot pitch. It also has a 56Kb-per-second fax modem with speakerphone, Ensoniq Wavetable sound, a microphone and Altec Lansing ACS400 speakers with a subwoofer.
But it's the digital video component that impressed us the most. With its crisp monitor and good sound capabilities, the system serves up a thrilling DVD experience. To whet your appetite, the CS DVD 166 ships with a title pack that includes The Muppets Treasure Island game and Silent Steel (an adult adventure game)
On our Wintune benchmarks, the CS DVD scored 321MIPS, with 30MB-per-second cached-disk throughput and 26Mpixel-per-second video throughput. Average times to execute our application tests were: Word, 74 seconds; Excel, 188 seconds; multimedia script, 19.43 minutes; AutoCAD R14 open, 11 seconds and AutoCAD R14 render, 56 seconds. Those scores are very respectable for a 166MHz system.
Its combination of features and performance earns the CS DVD a place on our WinList. The only other DVD-equipped system on our WinList is the Pentium II-powered Gateway 2000 G6-266, but it carries a $4,908 price tag-almost double the price of the Seanix.
--Quick View--
Seanix CS DVD 166
Bottom Line: Well-made, feature-rich DVD system especially geared toward families and home offices
Price: $2,499
Platforms: 95
Pros: Superb sound system; great DVD software
Cons: Relatively slow processor
Strongest Rival: Gateway 2000 G6-266
Seanix, 800-555-4031, 712-255-3733. Winfo #595
Copyright (c) 1997 CMP Media Inc. |
