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Mesh Matrix II 5870XT review

Verdict

ATI's latest graphics card gives huge gaming power, and it's a very capable PC elsewhere too without costing the Earth

Review Date: 9 Oct 2009

Reviewed By: Mike Jennings

Price when reviewed: £912 (£1,049 inc VAT)

Overall Rating

Features & Design
5 stars out of 6

Value for Money
6 stars out of 6

Performance
5 stars out of 6

PCPRO Recommended

Details
Part Code	Matrix II 5870XT
Review Date	9 Oct 2009
Price ex VAT	£912
Price inc VAT	£1,049
Overall rating
Performance
Features & Design
Value for Money

Warranty
Warranty	1 yr return to base

Basic specifications
Total hard disk capacity	1,000
RAM capacity	4.00GB
Screen size	24.0in

Processor
CPU family	AMD Phenom
CPU nominal frequency	3.20GHz
CPU overclocked frequency	N/A
Processor socket	AM2+
HSF (heatsink-fan)	Akasa Nero

Motherboard
Motherboard	Asus M4A79XTD EVO
Motherboard chipset	AMD 790X
Conventional PCI slots free	1
Conventional PCI slots total	1
PCI-E x16 slots free	1
PCI-E x16 slots total	2
PCI-E x8 slots free	0
PCI-E x8 slots total	0
PCI-E x4 slots free	0
PCI-E x4 slots total	0
PCI-E x1 slots free	1
PCI-E x1 slots total	1
Internal SATA connectors	6
Internal SAS connectors	1
Internal PATA connectors	2
Internal floppy connectors	1
Wired adapter speed	1,000Mbits/sec

Memory
Memory type	DDR3
Memory sockets free	2
Memory sockets total	4

Hard disk
Capacity	1.00TB
Hard disk usable capacity	931GB
Internal disk interface	SATA/300
Spindle speed	7,200RPM
Cache size	16MB
Hard disk 2 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 2 nominal capacity	N/A
Hard disk 2 formatted capacity	N/A
Hard disk 2 spindle speed	N/A
Hard disk 2 cache size	N/A
Hard disk 3 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 3 nominal capacity	N/A
Hard disk 4 make and model	N/A
Hard disk 4 nominal capacity	N/A

Drives
Optical disc technology	Blu-ray reader
Optical disk 2 make and model	N/A
Optical disk 3 make and model	N/A

Rear ports
USB ports (downstream)	8
FireWire ports	3
eSATA ports	1
PS/2 mouse port
Electrical S/PDIF audio ports	1
Optical S/PDIF audio output ports	1
Modem
3.5mm audio jacks	6

Graphics card
Graphics card	ATI Radeon HD 5870
Multiple SLI/CrossFire cards?
3D performance setting	High
Graphics chipset	ATI Radeon HD 5870
Graphics card RAM	1,000MB
DVI-I outputs	2
HDMI outputs	1
VGA (D-SUB) outputs	0
DisplayPort outputs	1
Number of graphics cards	1

Monitor
Monitor make and model	Iiyama ProLite E2407HDS
Resolution screen horizontal	1,920
Resolution screen vertical	1,080
Resolution	1920 x 1080
Pixel response time	5ms
Contrast ratio	10,000:1
Screen brightness	300cd/m2
DVI inputs	1
HDMI inputs	1
VGA inputs	0
DisplayPort inputs	0

Additional Peripherals
Speakers	N/A
Speaker type	N/A
Sound card	VIA HD Audio

Case
Chassis	NZXT Hush
Case format	Full tower
Dimensions	185 x 510 x 420mm (WDH)

Free drive bays
Free front panel 5.25in bays	4

Front ports
Front panel USB ports	2
Front panel memory card reader

Mouse & Keyboard
Mouse and keyboard	Logitech Deluxe 660 wireless

Operating system and software
OS family	Windows 7
Recovery method	Recovery partition

Noise and power
Idle power consumption	116W
Peak power consumption	171W

Performance tests
Overall application benchmark score	2.03
Office application benchmark score	1.59
2D graphics application benchmark score	2.34
Encoding application benchmark score	1.70
Multitasking application benchmark score	2.52
3D performance (crysis) low settings	62fps
3D performance setting	High

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From around the web

I finally decided to take the plunge and buy a new PC, after reading your magazine for a long time. I had opted on this PC after your great review, however, having contacted 'MeshComputers' a number of times since the week before Xmas, I am still without a PC !!
The supplier keeps saying that they are waiting for new stocks of the 5870 graphics card, but can supply me with the lower spec, and I must say higher price, Mesh Matrix II 5850XT model. Would you be able to use your clout to push MeshComputers to see what is happening with this PC ?
I see now, after all this waiting, that it has in fact been knocked off the 'A list by the Chillblast Fusion. I kind of wonder if some of teh reason is not down to the fact that no one can actually buy the Matrix pc ?? I do like the sound of the Chillblast, however, when you take into consideration the cost of a Screen, Keyboard/Mouse, Speakers, additional hard disk space and a Blu-ray reader, the difference is quite substantial !!
I am very surprised not see any comments for this PC either, as other people must be experiancing the same issues as myself.

Thanks in advance, from a long-term avid PC Pro reader.

By StuPcPro on 23 Jan 2010

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