Mesh Matrix64 3000+ GFX review

The Mesh Matrix is the most serious-looking machine in this test. It doesn't concern itself with fripperies like blue lights, or go-faster flashes. The Matrix focuses on power, and leaves worrying about looks to its competitors.

The Mesh's list of extras is short. It includes a Logic 3 Intruder game pad, which is comfortable to hold, and an equally well-designed joystick. Also in the box is a Nostromo SpeedPad, which looks odd but will do wonders to speed up your gaming. If you need such peripherals, they'll be welcome additions, but they're not as useful as the Tiny's extras, which is why the Mesh misses out on full marks for features.

It's when we turn our attention to the PC's essential components that the Mesh begins to look really impressive. At 200GB, its Maxtor Y200MO hard disk is colossal. It also uses the latest Serial ATA connection. This doesn't do much for performance yet, but it will let you fit improved drives in future.

Serial ATA also connects to the motherboard using small, neat plugs that make upgrading easier.

At the front of the machine is a Sony DW-U18A multi-format DVD writer, paired with a 16-speed Sony DDU1612 DVD-ROM. Together these drives will make backing up DVDs and CDs a quick and easy job as you'll be able to copy from one drive to the other without swapping discs.

Mesh has fitted 512MB of RAM - enough to make Windows XP run smoothly, though. Microsoft reckons 128MB is enough to make Windows XP work.

The Mesh's Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 930sb monitor won't win any awards for looks, but the quality of its picture compensates for this. Images were crisply drawn, colours lush and contrast high. If we had one quibble, it was that the monitor proved a little tricky to set up. Its controls are a bit idiosyncratic, but all in all, it's a stunner.

Mesh earns further points for its choice of keyboard and mouse. Though not quite as comfortable as CFL's Microsoft models, these Mesh-branded devices (made by Logitech), won't leave you feeling disappointed.

The lack of a memory card reader on the front of the Mesh case might, though. Both the Tiny and CFL have them, and they are a great benefit as they make downloading pictures from your digital camera or adding music to some MP3 players very easy. The set of Creative Inspire P580 surround sound speakers supplied won't disappoint - but we prefer the VideoLogic ZXR-550s.

The Mesh offers plenty of scope for upgrading. It has four free PCI slots, though one is obscured by the graphics card. There's plenty of room left around the other three, though, so adding a device such as a TV tuner would be easy. There's also space for two more hard disks and one more 5.25in drive such as an extra DVD writer. The Mesh's 360W power supply should be sufficient to run a couple of extra drives. This contrasts with the Tiny's 250W supply, which may struggle to supply enough power if you upgrade.

If you fancy adding external drives, the Mesh has two of its USB 2 ports mounted at the front of the case, to save you scrabbling around behind the computer.

But it's when we look at performance that the Mesh really shows its mettle. It's the fastest PC in this group, trouncing the CFL in particular. This is due in no small measure to its Athlon 64 3000+ processor, which is vastly superior to the CFL's Athlon 2800+ XP.

The Tiny machine is also based on an Athlon 64 chip, but Mesh's choice of graphics card - a Connect 3D ATI Radeon PRO with 128MB of dedicated graphics memory - ensures that the Mesh stays ahead. It surges its way to a cracking 2D score of 1563. More impressive still were the machine's 3D gaming test results. Here, the Mesh towered above the other two machines with a towering 19486.