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ABS Multimedia System #2 (8/13/99) Despite its 433MHz Celeron processor, which is slightly sluggish on the clock-speed scale, the ABS Multimedia #2 delivers some of the fastest application and 3-D graphics performance in the roundup. This muscular system is also packed with some great components that make it an outstanding value. ng the minitower case involves removing four screws and lifting off the entire cover. Inside you'll find the least accessible layout in this roundup. Many of the Multimedia's components -- the CPU and the power supply, for instance -- block access to each other. Nonetheless, two PCI and two ISA slots are vacant, and the 3.5-inch and two 5.25-inch drive bays are readily accessible. And as an added bonus, the motherboard monitors the system's temperature, voltage, and fan speed. The Multimedia is one of three systems in this feature to include a DVD-ROM drive. DVD movie playback looks good, but we noticed some occasional blockiness in the image. The system includes the same great 17-inch monitor that comes with the NuTrend, the CyberVision C70, which supports a maximum display setting of 32-bit color at a resolution of 1,280x1,024 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. Image quality is excellent, with only some slight softness creeping into the corners of the display at 1,024x768 and higher. The system's audio quality is also quite good; however, it could be even better if you invested $30 for a subwoofer-based speaker system. Thanks to its 128MB of memory and a swift graphics subsystem, the Multimedia was one of the best performers of the group. Its score of 21.6 on Business Winstone 99 is virtually the same as that of the 466MHz Celeron-based NuTrend system, which also comes with 128MB of SDRAM. Excellent 3-D graphics are delivered by the Diamond Viper V550 accelerator, a card that was considered high-end just six months ago. The Multimedia comes bundled with Corel WordPerfect Suite 8, 1997 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, and BitWare. The ABS and the Gateway are the only systems to also include a multifunction keyboard with hot buttons-one for the Web, one for the calculator, and one to be programmed by the user. Sleep and volume controls are also on the keyboard. Though ABS might be one of only two vendors not to include one year of onsite service as part of the standard warranty, the three-year parts and lifetime labor warranty is acceptable. Three years of onsite support cost $165 more. The high-performance Multimedia has outstanding parts and great upgrade potential. Its downsides are minor: the lack of a subwoofer and no standard onsite support warranty. ABS has packed unbeatable value into this very capable system. Product: ABS Multimedia System #2 |