Multivision Ionix SP 2200NF review

With its towering black case, the Multivision looks imposing and serious. Don't be put off, though. This PC is well kitted out and seriously cool.

Features

When this machine arrived in our Labs, we assumed there had been some mix up, and called the Multivision team to let them know they'd sent us the wrong system. To our astonishment, they told us that the Ionix was definitely the machine for this month's Lab Test. To get a system with a TFT screen, 512MB RAM and a 120GB hard disk for only £599 excluding VAT isn't just incredible - it's unheard of! It's an absolutely astonishing specification. You'll never run out of hard disk space to install games or store files in, and your PC won't choke on demanding software for lack of RAM. Added to this are some good 4.1 surround sound speakers from Creative Labs. This system truly won our hearts.

Ergonomics

This system's Sharp monitor was generally very good. It suffered from no noticeable distortion, and the skin tones on photos were natural, with fine gradation between colours. Sometimes pixels took a little while to reach their full brightness on fast-moving images, but this was almost impossible to see, even with repeated testing using specially designed tools. It shouldn't be a problem for most users. The Logitech keyboard and mouse are stylish, comfortable to use and match the case, adding to the machine's overall style.

Expansion

This PC is the upgrader's dream. It has six USB ports, including two tucked away at the side of the case. It also has four FireWire ports - perfect for plugging in external hard disks or digital video cameras. In the unlikely event you'll want to add anything else, Multivision has a bit of a treat in store. Instead of ferreting around inside, you just unhinge the side of the case to which the motherboard is screwed, and lay it flat on the desk. This allows you to get at all the PC's bits and bobs without having to wrestle with power cables and CD drives. Once you've finished your upgrade and you're sure everything's working correctly, you just close the case again, and everything is back to normal. And just to ensure you don't accidentally unfold your PC and drop its innards on the floor while you're carrying it from place to place, Multivision has fitted two screws that can be removed by hand. Getting FireWire ports in a PC at this price was impressive enough. Getting Multivision's posh new case into the bargain was more than we expected.

Performance

The integrated nVidia nForce2 graphics chip in this system is the best built-in 3D graphics processor we've seen. Even so, it's still not up to the standard of a good dedicated graphics card, such as the ATI Radeon 9000 Pro in the NetHighStreet