Dell’s new XPS 420 targets digital hub segment

January 21, 2008 – Dell has launched its new XPS 420 model, a multimedia PC which includes features designed to make it the digital hub of a home.

The new model offers a TV tuner, hardware video transcoder, nVidia GeForce 8800 GTX graphics and a mini LCD screen built into the casing, as well as support for CableCARDs.

On the front of the XPS 420 there are two USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire 400 port and two 3.5mm jack sockets for headphones and microphone.  Round the back there are a further 6 USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, eSATA and Firewire 400 ports, five analogue audio outputs and an optical digital audio output.  With the optional Xcelerator/TV card, there are also inputs for a TV aerial, S-Video and Composite Video.

There are three XPS 420 models offered – starting with the D01X401, costing £549 and packing a dual-core Intel E4400 processor running at 2GHz, 1GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive and ATI 2400 Pro graphics.  Next model up is the D01X409, costing £958.58 and featuring an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 running at 2.4GHz, 3GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, 8800 GTX graphics card and Xcelerator module.

Top of the range is the D01X406, which offers the same specs as the D01X409, as well as including a Blu-ray drive and shipping with a copy of Adobe Elements Studio.  This model is aimed at the video editing enthusiast and has had a price cut to £999.