ReviewReview
Specifications
Pentium 120MHZ, 256Kb synch pipeline burst cache, 16Mb EDO RAM, 1Gb EIDE hard disk, 2Mb VRAM PCI graphics, 17in FST monitor, integrated 16-bit audio, external active speakers, 4x speed CD-ROM, MS Office, MS Bookshelf on CD-ROM.
Yet another mini-tower. The monitor being a good quality Idek Iiyama 17in with 2Mb of VRAM PCI Diamond-Stealth-with-TI-video card. A Mitsumi quad-speed CD-ROM drive connected to a Vibrasound 16 card and a pair of Trust Soundscapes. These are mighty loud and produce a reasonably good bass and a clear mid and upper range.
The motherboard shares the basic characteristics of all the others in terms of its Triton chipset, EDO RAM, 256Kb pipeline burst synchronous L2 cache and total of four PCI slots. The layout is more than usually illogical though, with the RAM SIMMs arranged so as to reduce two of the ISA slots to half length, but at least the other two were full length. Unless the adjacent PCI slot is used, this leaves two full- and one half-length ISAs free, or a maximum of three additional two-thirds length PCI cards can be fitted at the expense of one of the long ISAs.
Although the machine's 1Gb Micropolis EIDE hard disk is bolted to the side of the power supply, there are only two free bays in the machine. Both are 5.25in front-openers however, so this should still meet the needs of a great many people.
Overall
Although the Carrera did fractionally better in the overall rating, the Panrix is actually a touch quicker at everything except heavy disk accessing. As it is, both are very fast and probably indistinguishable from one another during normal use.
Verdict
A good monitor, an excellent keyboard, as well as a realistically equal-top performance in this group.
Price
£2950 (£3466 inc VAT)
Supplier
Panrix 0113 244 4958
Features 4 Performance 6 Value 4 Overall 5
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