Twice as Nice: Micron Doubles CPU Power
Micron's ClientPro can run two 733-MHz Intel Pentium processors, or stick with a single.
by Tom Mainelli, PC World
January 3, 2000, 5:45 p.m. PT
A PC with Intel's 733-MHz Pentium III processor just isn't fast enough for you? Perhaps you'd prefer a system running a pair of the high-speed processors.
MicronPC.com will announce Tuesday its new ClientPro Dx5000, offering single or double Pentium III processors running at up to 733 MHz (with 800-MHz CPUs coming soon). The system uses Intel's 840 chip set, and supports high-speed Rambus memory, high-quality AGP Pro graphics, the ATA 66 hard drive standard, and the fast new 133-MHz front-side bus. It's geared toward power users who want near-workstation performance from their PCs.
MicronPC.com sells direct, so you can configure your Dx5000 exactly as you want it. The company is taking orders for the new system and will begin shipping on Tuesday.
In a sample configuration you'd pay $2499 for a ClientPro Dx5000 with a single 533-MHz PIII, 128MB of Rambus memory, Elsa Synergy III graphics card with 32MB of memory, 13.6GB hard drive, 40X CD-ROM drive, integrated Intel 10/100 network card, 17-inch monitor, and Windows NT 4.0.
A system with two 600-MHz PIII processors, a 9GB Ultra 160 SCSI hard drive, a 19-inch monitor, and the same memory, video memory, CD-ROM, network card, and operating system sells for $3999.
Still not fast enough for you? The speedy dual 733-MHz PIII system is priced at $4314, and includes the dual processors, a 13.6GB hard drive, and the same memory, video memory, CD-ROM drive, network card, and operating systems.
Workstation or PC?
Traditionally workstations offered more computing and graphics power than a high-end desktop, and that power could be very expensive. Today it can be difficult to distinguish between a high-end PC and low-end workstation, and the prices are growing more comparable, too.
"The line between workstations and desktop is blurring," says Jeff Moeser, senior vice president of product development at MicronPC.com.
The new ClientPro Dx5000 is designed for people who want an affordable, high-powered PC, or a "workstation light," Moeser says.
The systems ship with Windows NT and will support the upcoming Windows 2000. That means it is for power users interested in the capability of dual processors to split the workload and speed execution.
While the Dx5000 offer tons of computing power, gamers interested in trying to squeeze better performance from their latest games using its dual processors will be disappointed.
"This is not a game box," Moeser says. Most games require Windows 95 or Windows 98 to run correctly, and many won't run on Windows NT. Windows 98 isn't an option for the Dx5000, however, because that operating system does not support dual processors.
All ClientPro Dx5000 systems include a five-year warranty on the processor and main memory, a three-year warranty on system components, and one year of on-site service.
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