Behold: Dell's XPS 420 revealed

Should anyone be wondering what Dell's got up its sleeve with its next-gen XPS system, here's the scoop: the XPS 420 will be appropriately bigger, badder, better equipped, and even have fun features like a hardware MPEG-4 encoder and SideShow display up top.

• Core 2 Duo, Extreme, or Quad (up to 8MB) processor options
• Intel X38 Express chipset, DDR2 800 (up to 8GB)
• MiniView LCD 3 x 2-inch QVGA display (runs SideShow on the front, picture after the break)
• Dell Xcelerator - dedicated media coprocessor for transcoding video streams to MPEG-4 formats. Can cut encode time on a 2 hour HD movie in half and use far fewer CPU cycles.
• SATA II (with RAID 0 or 1 support)
• PCI Express x16, gigabit Ethernet
• (2) front USB, (6) rear, (2) internal; one front and rear 1394; one eSATA, frontal audio ports

MiniView shot and details after the break.

Some MiniView display modes

• Default - shows time, date, month calendar, and system stats (including number of users connected)
• PC monitoring - Shows detailed system stats like CPU speed / temp, available RAM, fan speeds, and other info like Service Tag (so you don't have to keep that memorized anymore)
• Audio, video, or picture mode - controls media access and playback (duh)

[Burke Hamblin @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:08PM]

And yet, the interior still isn't cleaned up. I'd like to see some Mac Pro-style wire invisibility in there.

[tony @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:00PM]

Exactly what I was thinking. Loose wiring strung all over, connecting the cheapest possible components... same old Dell junk.
Surely the stupid little screen was suppose to draw our attention away from that.

[David @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:22AM]

You know, I could put up with the inside being a little messy, but its the Web2.0 version of the standard beige box. Dell need to get off their asses and either drop the XPS line and pull in alienware's stuff to fill the gap, or else start putting actual designers into the brand. I mean the XPS 700 series look pretty cool, who did that design, and where has their influence gone?

[andy @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:08PM]

So why is the internal shot mirror imaged? It's making me dizzy.

[Doug @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:20PM]

It isn't reversed. It's a BTX mobo instead of ATX.

[Matt @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:08PM]

I just don't get the point of the slideshow thing. Seriously, look at the freakin' monitor!

[Scooby03 @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:50PM]

Why? Why not?

[engadget.com @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:35PM]

I believe the point of sideshow is that you can concievably display certain data (calender, email, basic stuff) while the system is turned off, or in a sleep mode type state. Atleast that is how I understand sideshow...

[dfn_doe @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:19PM]

Yeah, it is pretty worthless on the top of a mini-tower, but on the front of an htpc, on an mce remote, or on a bluetooth tethered mobile device side show will be a kickass addition. Imagine having your remote display relevant IMDB pages about the movie you are currently watching or being able to checkout EPG information without turning on your TV or even being in your living room.

[Sirnoobius @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:15PM]

would be cool if you could display vista gadgets on the little screen

[dj-kenpo @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:08PM]

or being able to watch porn without draining your laptop battery...

[Spyvie @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:09PM]

He He, you said 420!

[Mike Salem @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:31PM]

hehehe 8-P

nah jk grow up the real point is this is going to be the illest computer ever dude!!

[Spyvie @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:54PM]

I am all grown up (45yo here) and I still think the name is funny.

[JCA @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:20PM]

Age and level of maturity are mutually exclusive my friend. Being 45 means nothing.

That being said, props on the 420 reference :D

[MxSix @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:51PM]

The new Dell XPS, stoner edition.

[Penguin Warlord @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:03PM]

Comes with integrated and detachable lighter. Also features a filter printer, and a microwave/blender/minifridge combo for those high tech munchies.

[John @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:16PM]

This computer should come with the finish off the XPS 1730

[docjohnboy @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:10PM]

"...and other info like Service Tag (so you don't have to keep that memorized anymore)"

So when your computer breaks you can just not call it in.

[Chris Knight @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:10PM]

Hopefully the power supply has been upped from 375 watts. What's the release date on this?

[Tiffany @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:11PM]

no cablecard option?

[Panda61 @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:17PM]

Cool it is BTX!!

It is odd how they are all of a sudden switching. Some computers at my school are BTX also.

[Christian @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:20PM]

No reefercard option?

[shuyin198x @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:21PM]

Beware , the cpu is going to be noisy if its anything like the past xps. Another limiting factor is theres only 2 bays for hdds :(. Wish i'd built my own sys but funds suck right now.

[Alex K. @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:03AM]

Yeah, less drive bays than a Mac tower? What's going on here?

[Craig @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:17AM]

it can handle more than two drives... in addition to the dedicated hd bays, there are two bays that can either be used externally (one as a card reader, one as a floppy drive) or internally (two more hard drives). it can handle up to four hard drives. dell's had this sort of configuration for a while.

[Dan Gleckler @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:29PM]

I didn't actually think Dell could have made their computers any uglier. Never underestimate the power of ugly.

[Sean @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:35PM]

Oh my! Look at all of the wires. I would be ashamed if I had been asked to design that piece of hardware and I could only come up with that.

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:26AM]

gah i clicked the wrong comment LOL

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:30AM]

what the shit? i totally clicked farfisa. alrighty, come to me ban hammer

[farfisa @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:35PM]

Wow an 8MB... processor?
What is that, like, L2 cache? Speeeds, mon, we want speeeds!

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:25AM]

i'd like to dual socket a quad core with 8MB.... =D

[DarkAardvark @ Aug 23rd 2007 12:29AM]

now that im commenting the right comment......

i'd like to dual socket that 8MB quad core =D

[Huy @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:31PM]

What, is Dell all poor now after the whole fiasco with the Dell M1330 lids? Come on, go hire that design team back. This thing looks hideous.

[Kent Pribbernow @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:30PM]

Hate to say this, but the weird ass room dehumidifier gaming system they offer actually looks cooler than this lamo box.

[Sanchez @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:56PM]

Very nice.

[JO @ Aug 22nd 2007 1:59PM]

If I had to choose this or a 24" iMac... hmmm

[PeterF @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:07PM]

You would be so stupid to take the 24" iMac, how could it even compare?

[Matt @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:18PM]

Don't be a hater! Power vs. style...

[Rodeo @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:16PM]

0 points for design.

[jRockman13 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:36PM]

Hey, I'd take it. I think it looks sweet...a BIG improvement over the 410...I wonder if you can overclock it?

[James @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:36PM]

Some DDR3 would be nice....

[DellFanBoi @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:51PM]

Wowzerz. I'm a big fan of the XPS 410 (which can be configured with a Q6600, 2 gigs of 800 ram, and a 768 8800 gtx, with a 3 year warranty for under 1600 with student discount).
but anyways, this computer looks pretty sick - I just REALLY hope its priced more like the 410 and not like the 700s. they should also offer a liquid cooling system as an option for another $160.

[PM @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:22PM]

Why did Dell purchase Alienware again? Their mainstream computers already look like crap...and now this (referring to the XPS). I thought Dell designs could not possibly get any uglier...but for some reason it keeps happening.

[kastonie @ Aug 22nd 2007 3:55PM]

SO where exactly would the weed go in this system?

[HineyWipe @ Aug 22nd 2007 4:15PM]

This effin thing better be effin silent. My last Dell (Duh-mention) gets louder over time. I just want a quiet Dell. Is that so difficult (other than powering off)?

[rickhamilton620 @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:49PM]

I have an XPS 400 (the system preceding the 410) and it is near silent. I expect this one to follow suit

[DM @ Aug 23rd 2007 1:41AM]

I'll never understand these comments about the looks of a system. If you want something pretty, get a MAC, set it on your desk and dust it off whenever you need to check your email or surf. But if you want to get work done or do some serious gaming then check out the specs and pull out your wallet for this baby. This thing will hold 8GB of DDR2-800 and has SATA II!! That's a wicked fast subsystem in my opinion.

[chong @ Aug 22nd 2007 5:00PM]

420 is an appropriate name, since you'd have to be high to buy it.

[Aditya @ Aug 22nd 2007 7:31PM]

Absolutely Amazing. You can already see the engadget fanboi's starting their incessant pungent queefing about how this sucks compared to their fischer price mac's.