NEC PowerMate ML450 Desktop Computer Review
NEC PowerMate ML450 Desktop Computer is a great buy if you need a computer for your day to day administrative tasks. This desktop is not designed for enterprise level computing. But this sleek and glossy system will definitely meet your need if you are simply a home user looking for a basic gaming adventure using your personal computer.
Comprising high performance Intel processor and latest Intel chipset i945G, PowerMate ML450 enhances your computing experience, but only for performing your daily stuffs. If you are planning to run an agile gaming software that requires high speed, this is not your PC. Though it comes with Microsoft Windows XP Professional, but if it is for home use you can consider upgrading to Microsoft Windows Home Edition to make it more compliant to other home edition software.
Design
NEC PowerMate is made up of black and silver case with a removable side panel that can be opened only by just flipping the adjacent lock. The best part of this Desktop PC Computer is its monitor. The PowerMate LCD display offers vibrant colour but with only 1, 280 x 1, 024 resolutions, PowerMate ML450 cannot beat other 17 inch LCD monitor in terms of image clarity. However, the displays do comes with captive D-sub cable, built-in speakers. The integrated speaker system often creates a barrier in sound quality.
Inside the PC
This NEC Desktop PC is powered by two 200GB hard disk along with 1GB memory with the motherboard compliance extends up to 667MHz. With PowerMate you cannot add an RAID array without filling in the PCI slot with an RAID controller. The system provides 256KB cache memory with optical storage read speed is 48x, 48x (CD) / 16x (DVD).
Features
Featuring the latest high performance integrated Intel chipset i945G and Dual Channel DDR2 with integrated PCI Express network adapter, Realtek RTL8111B Ethernet Controller having Wake on LAN (WoL) feature iPower with no doubt will accelerate you network speed and keep you hooked on to the internet all day long without compromising the network speed.
Performance
Core 2 Duo-based PowerMate ML450 performance entirely depends on 2GB of 533MHz DDR2 RAM, but even then it freezes up when editing large batch of photos. The monitor adds to the problem. While 17 inch is the decent size but poses quite a bit of problem when working on your photo editing software.
Apart from working with the software, the system stumbles due to its sluggish hardware configuration. Starting with the integrated speaker to other hardware like mouse and keyboard which comes as wired parts.
Also, the compact micro ATX model chassis makes little space for any kind of expansion. The CPU cooler makes the system noisy on the days when it works really hard, else it is a pretty quite system.
Therefore, the system is worth buying if you are excited about its three years warranty package that comes with on-site support. Though NEC PowerMate ML450 Desktop PC has been marketed as the photo editing / gaming PC but it is far from being true since its performance is far behind other contemporary gaming PC. In the same price you can find better desktop PC having, powerful graphics cards and RAID support with DVI-equipped 19 inch monitor.
NEC PowerMate ML450 - Technical Specifications, Features
| Manufacturer | NEC |
| Model Name | NEC PowerMate ML450 |
| Display | NEC MultiSync LCD |
| Display screen size | 21.3 inches |
| Dimensions ( H x W x D) | (348 x 100 x 407) mm |
| Hard drive Capacity | Up to 250GB |
| Optical drive | DVD-RW (+R double layer) – IDE |
| Graphics hardware | Integrated Intel GMA 950 with Dynamic Video Memory up to 224 MB |
| Memory | Installed RAM: 512 MB expandable up to 4 GB with 240-pin (max) DIMM DDR2 SDRAM with non-ECC 533 MHz. |
| Processor | Intel Pentium D Dual-Core with Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology, Intel Execute Disable Bit, Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology, Intel Virtualization Technology |
| Processor speed | 920 / 2.8 GHz |
| Audio | Sound card integrated Sound Output |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
| Mouse | Logitech M-UAE96 |
| Keyboard | Logitech Deluxe Keyboard |
| I/O ports | 6 Hi-Speed USB and 4 PIN USB Type A ( 2 in front ) ports / 1 IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) with 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) port / 1 keyboard generic 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) port / 1 mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) 1 serial RS-232 with 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9) port / 1 composite video VGA 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) port / 1 audio line-In mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm port / 1 audio line-out mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm port 1 microphone input mini-phone 3.5mm port / 1 Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX / 1000Base-T - RJ-45 port |
| Software | McAfee Virus Scan |
March 18th, 2010 at 8:42 am
I don’t recommend buying an NEC PC. I have had nothing but trouble with my powermate (it’s a more expensive model than the one mentioned above). The on-site warranty means NOTHING when all the numbers in the warranty guide are disconnected or engaged constantly for the 8 days I called them for. Wrote them an email…no response. Went to Joyce Mayne (where I purchased it). They tried all their NEC contact numbers…some were disconnected and the one that did ring hung up every time they chose a number at the menu. Joyce Mayne also contacted them by email and got no response. Joyce Mayne technicians took a look and said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it, yet it still turns off and beeps at me when it feels like it…doesn’t power on properly lot of the time and numerous other problems. I know a fair bit about computers myself so am going to fix it myself (at my own bloody expense) but then also void the warranty due to breaking the seal on the back. Joyce Mayne have since stopped selling any NEC PCs and I will never buy NEC products again. Stick with an Acer or a Compaq…they will actually FIX it if it fails during the warranty period!
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:12 pm
I think this is the best computer i have had - its not broken down on me its very quick. I have upgraded memory and its all fine. I have only got to replace the heat sink fan due to me catching my finger in the other day.
Personally i would recommend to buy one of these as the fantastic (my version is one a top of the page)