MESH Matrix FireBlade CSX review

The FireBlade CSX seems expensive for such a drab but admittedly solid-looking PC. First and foremost, though, a computer has to perform, and Mesh has focused on ability rather than cosmetics.

Like many other manufacturers, Mesh has clearly decided that there is a cost and performance advantage in nVidia's SLI graphics architecture. The Matrix FireBlade CSX has a pair of nVidia GeForce 6600GTs, each of which has 128MB of memory. Together they cost significantly less than a single GeForce 6800Ultra or an ATI Radeon X800XT but perform just as well in 3D games. The FireBlade's dual-6600GT setup can run all modern games without any trouble. Only when there are massive volumes of texture data to process do the more powerful cards have the edge and, even then, only because they have more memory.

Mesh hasn't relied solely on graphical prowess to sell the FireBlade CSX. At its heart lies an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ processor and 1GB of RAM in dual-channel configuration, so even intensive computing tasks such as video editing are well within its capabilities. You won't need to upgrade the 300GB hard disk in the foreseeable future unless you make heavy use of video-editing tools. A double-layer DVD writer is included along with a DVD-ROM drive, so you can copy from disc to disc.

The FireBlade's ViewSonic monitor is the same as that supplied with the Evesham PC (reviewed opposite). The 19" display takes a digital input and has a native resolution of 1,280x1,024 and a 12ms response time. This means there is little blurring in fast-paced games or movies, although it's not completely eliminated at high frame rates. It's a tricky choice between the larger image of a 19" screen or the faster response time of a 17" panel. Gamers would argue for the latter, but for most people a 12ms 19" screen is perfectly acceptable.

A high-quality mouse and keyboard set from Logitech is included. Both are wireless, and a cradle recharges the mouse's batteries. Creative's Inspire T7900 7.1 surround-sound speaker system is a welcome addition if you want to make the most of modern games and movies, as long as you can route the tangle of wires out of sight.

The FireBlade CSX illustrates perfectly that you can get a whole lot of power for £1,300. Although this PC is toward the top end of most people's budgets, you certainly get your money's worth.