Mesh CubeX64+LAN Xtra review

Verdict:

The Mesh CubeX64+LAN Xtra is a cracking system that comes within a whisker of getting a Best Buy award.

Review Date: 20 May 2004

Price when reviewed: £1,174

Reviewed By: David Fearon

Our Rating 6 stars out of 5

One thing you do lose with a small case like the CubeX's is any real scope to expand the PC by adding new components. The motherboard's single PCI slot is occupied by the TV tuner, and there are only two RAM sockets - both of which are occupied. You'll have to throw away at least one of the two 256MB sticks if you want to increase the total to more than 512MB. The CubeX64 does have four USB 2 ports, though - two at the front and two at the back. There's also a mini-FireWire port on the front of the case, while the rear has a full-size version. There's gigabit Ethernet too, and optical as well as electrical audio outputs. You also get a built-in memory card reader with two slots, allowing you to read Smart Media, CompactFlash, SD and MMC memory cards.

The CubeX64+LAN Xtra isn't perfect. A temperamental TV tuner and the lack of surround sound prevent it from winning a Top 50 Best Buy award. Still, to get a PC this small and powerful - and for so little money - is a feat in itself.

Prev Next

Get more reviews, tutorials and in-depth advice, every month with Computer Shopper.
Click here to try 3 issues for £1

< Previous Reviews : PCs Next >

Sponsored Links

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to Login or Register to comment.