Product ReviewsTFT monitors
Glance at the Mesh's details in the feature table, and you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a far more expensive system. Its 3GHz processor, an Nvidia GeForce 9000-series graphics card and the largest hard disk in the Labs certainly suggest a higher price. The Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 processor helps the Mesh to the second highest 2D benchmark this month. Its score of 1.52 is only a fraction short of the Chillblast Fusion Rogue's, promising enough power to handle even the toughest tasks. The GeForce 9600 GT is Nvidia's latest mid-range graphics card, and it still provides a brilliant 3D score, only bettered by the Eclipse and its 9800 GTX. A result of 21fps in our demanding High detail test, and 49 at Medium settings, underline
The entertainment experience is improved by the inclusion of speakers. The Logitech S220 set provides only a pair of satellites and a subwoofer, but five systems this month lack any audio equipment at all. The monitor, meanwhile, is a Hanns.G HW191D, which offers crisp detail and lots of brightness. Contrast isn't great, so photographers should steer clear, but it's fine for everyday use. On balance, we prefer the Hannspree, but it's a close call. The PC is built around a capable Asus P5N-E SLI motherboard which, as the name suggests, includes an extra PCI Express 16x slot- ripe for another 9600 GT graphics card and a potentially explosive SLI setup. There's also a pair of extra DIMM slots for upgrading the 2GB of DDR2 RAM. A 500GB hard disk is generous, and the largest in the Labs. Cabling is neat, and the single-height graphics card and low-profile cooler leave plenty of room free. It's also one of the quietest systems on test. The Mesh is one of the better performers this month and a well-rounded system, thanks to the quick processor and excellent graphics card. The roomy hard disk and speakers also add value to an excellent all-round package. It's a worthy Labs champion and deserving of your £500. By Mike Jennings |
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