Watford Perfecta 5562 CS09 review

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Verdict:

This computer's case makes a promise that the ordinary components within aren't able to deliver. With its inadequate memory and hard disk, it's a disappointing choice.

Review Date: 27 Jul 2006

Price when reviewed: inc VAT

Reviewed By: Simon Handby

Our Rating 2 stars out of 5

Review
Specs

If you want an unusual-looking computer, the Perfecta's huge alloy Cooler Master case is just the job for you.

FEATURES

This computer's impressive case is the biggest and heaviest here. It isn't discreet, but it looks expensive and classy. There's a huge amount of room inside, but the system is cooled by two 8cm fans, which make more noise than a single 12cm fan. In operation, the Perfecta makes a quiet but noticeable hum.

A hinged metal panel covers the whole of the PC's front, but the power and reset buttons - along with the front panel audio, USB and FireWire connectors - are easily accessible. Inside is an SLI-compatible motherboard, but a weak graphics card means you'd need to buy two decent cards to get high frame rates.

The Perfecta comes with a decent keyboard and mouse. Its stereo speakers are basic and feel flimsy, but they sound better than the Logitech S-100 pair supplied by Eclipse and the Aria's 2.1-channel set. Watford supplies the same 19" Hanns-G monitor that comes with the Carrera Vision and Gladiator Trident. We'd settle for a better-quality 17" screen.

PERFORMANCE

Like the Carrera Vision, the Perfecta uses a Pentium D dual-core processor. It's the entry-level D 805 model, though, with a smaller level 2 cache and slower frontside bus than the rest of the range. It performed strongly in the video-encoding component of the Shopper application benchmarks, but was disappointing elsewhere.

The Nvidia GeForce 7300GS graphics card is the same as that used by Evesham. Even the Carrera's limp ATI Radeon X1300 card outpaces it, making this system a disappointment for even the casual gamer.

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