• Manufacturing
• AEC
• GIS
• CAD Management
• Cadalyst Magazine
  • Purchase Latest Issue
  • Cadalyst Access Program
  • Magazine Archives (2004-2009)
• E-Newsletters
  • Tips & Tools Archives
  • CAD Manager's Newsletter Archives
  • AEC Newsletter Archives
  • MCAD Newsletter Archives
  • GIS Tech News Archives
  • HP Workstation Innovation News
  • Dell Tech Insider
  • Harry's Code Class Archives
  • Subscribe E-newsletters
• CAD Software & Hardware Reviews
• Columns
  • "CAD Manager" Column, by Robert Green
  • "Circles & Lines" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Lynn Allen
  • "Editor's Window" Editorials, by Nancy Spurling Johnson
  • "Learning Curve" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Bill Fane
  • "User Profile" Column
  • "Viewpoint" Guest Column
• CAD Software Tutorials
  • All CAD Tutorials
  • "Circles & Lines" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Lynn Allen
  • "Learning Curve" AutoCAD Tutorial, by Bill Fane
• CAD Tips & Tools
  • Cadalyst CAD Tips - Tips and Downloadable AutoCAD Code
  • Video Tips Gallery
  • Tips & Tools Weekly Newsletter Archives
  • CAD Software Tutorials
  • Cadalyst Benchmark Test
• CAD Video Gallery
  • All Cadalyst Videos
  • All-in-One Video Tips by Curt Moreno (Sponsored by HP)
  • AutoCAD Video Tips by Lynn Allen
• CADspeed: Hardware Blog
• Cadalyst Benchmark Test
• CAD Events Calendar
• CAD Cartoons
• Reader Polls
• Subscriber Services
• Job Search
• Cadalyst Store
• Advertising

Hardware

Xi 4306 MTower SP

1 Mar, 2003 By: Ron LaFon

---

@Xi Computer Corp.

5 stars out of 5
@Xi Computer has once again posted the fastest figures on the Cadalyst C2001 Benchmark in a somewhat heated competition for fastest system in this roundup, though the figures fell back very slightly for both the ViewPerf and MAX4Bench tests.

The Xi 4306 MTower SP is based on a 3.06GHz Intel Pentium 4 CPU and is equipped with 1GB of RAMBUS RAM (it holds 2GB of RAM when full) and Windows 2000 Workstation with Service Pack 3. Like many of the fastest systems here, it uses the speedy NVIDIA Quadro4 980 XGL graphics card.

@Xi Computer’s Xi 4306 MTower SP workstation offers an easy-to-remove side panel and the best test results of all the systems.

The system comes with a simple black Mitsumi keyboard that has a good feel, a Logitech Optical Wheel mouse, and an integrated Realtek RTL8100BL network interface card.

@Xi’s new Neon case is a distinctive black minitower with two vertical blue-glowing Lucite bars near the front edges of the system. Certainly unlikely to be confused with another vendor’s case, the Neon case has an easily removable side panel with an oval Lucite window that shows the case interior. A clear Lucite fan housing at the back of the system is illuminated with tricolor lights, and interior system cables are dressed out in red. This is not only an attractive case, but also a highly functional and expandable one.

The Xi 4306 MTower SP provides a total of seven drive bays: four 5.250 and two 3.50 slots that are externally accessible, and one internal 3.50 bay. Six PCI slots are available for expansion. None were filled in the configuration we tested.

@Xi Computer Corp. offers a broad range of configuration options for its systems, as evidenced by all the choices you can select from its Web site ordering system (www.xicomputer.com). Considering its speed and its reasonable price of $2,699, the Xi 4306 MTower SP represents an excellent value. Highly Recommended.