Mesh Elite XP 2.6GHz Ti46

While reliability has long been one of Intel's main selling points, you could always similarly rely on a ridiculously high price to accompany its new chips. This often resulted in potential customers opting for better-value packages built around older and alternative processors. However, it now seems Intel has learnt its lesson. The new 2.66GHz Pentium 4 pumps at the heart of Mesh's Elite XP 2.6GHz Ti46, which looks like a bargain at £1,099.

The processor sits under a quiet heatsink on Abit's new SR7-8X motherboard. As the name suggests, AGP 8x is supported, but Mesh has opted for an MSI GeForce4 Ti 4600 graphics card, which is unable to take advantage of AGP 8x, although it's a fine performer. The SiS648 motherboard chipset also supports PC3200 memory, although as DDR 400 memory isn't validated at the time of writing, Mesh (like Advent and Systemax) has opted for a single 512MB DIMM of PC2700 memory, leaving two sockets free for upgrading.

However, the combination of these fine features still produced one of the highest ever PC Pro 2D benchmark scores. At 1.50 overall, the only systems to beat the Mesh are Systemax's Inspire 7312 with 1.65 (see p114) and the Evesham Evolution 2.8 with 1.62 (see opposite). This isn't surprising, though, as, at £1,399 and £1,999 respectively, both systems have enough money in the pot to be fitted with the ultimate processor and graphics technology. But for the price, the Mesh still offers outstanding speed.

You'll also be happy with the 3D performance. Set at 1,024 x 768 in 32-bit colour, 3DMark2001 SE returned a score of 11,429, which only reduced to 9,125 when upping the resolution to 1,280 x 1,024. Meanwhile, the Systemax and Evesham machines managed astonishing scores of 13,918 and 14,728 in 32-bit XGA respectively. The Mesh will serve you well in all games available now and for some time to come, although with their DirectX 9-compatible ATi Radeon 9700 Pro cards, the Evesham and Systemax offerings will be future-proof for a little longer.

Other features supported by the SiS648 chipset include USB 2, Ethernet and six-channel audio. The SR7-8X motherboard delivers ports for all these through its main I/O backplane, which also provides legacy support with two serial ports and one parallel port. A separate backplate is fitted for a further two USB 2 ports.

Mesh has disabled the on-board audio, instead opting for the superior-sounding Sound Blaster Audigy Player. Connecting this up to the 5.1 channels offered by Creative's Inspire 5300 speakers proved impressive. The surround sound of DVD movies provides a fully immersive experience, and the precision of acoustic music is crisply reproduced. The Audigy also provides a FireWire-compatible SB1394 port, which nicely rounds off the connectivity options.

Internal access is gained easily by removing the system's quick-release side panel, and the screwless approach can also be found inside, with the hard disk cage and peripheral cards all removable without a screwdriver. Of the five PCI slots, the V.90 modem takes one, the Audigy takes two - the game port backplate obstructs the use of another, leaving two free for adding extras like a video-capture card. There's also room to add another 5.25in external drive, and the hard disk cage has space for two more 3.5in hard disks, although there's disappointingly no RAID controller on the motherboard.

The 120GB IBM hard disk should, however, provide more than enough space for applications and documents, even for hard-core video editors. There's also a 40x/12x/48x TEAC CD-RW and a 16x Pioneer DVD-ROM, which are connected via Akasa rounded IDE cables, saving on clutter and allowing for good airflow.