Hi-Grade DMS Xtreme C1800

The system is supplied without a monitor (the 6800 GT has DVI-I, VGA and S-Video outputs - just note the lack of component and scart), but includes a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse along with an MCE remote. The motherboard supports 5.1-channel sound (you can specify S/PDIF), and besides the USB port in the card reader there are four more at the back along with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and two FireWire. It's also worth noting that Hi-Grade is evaluating AOpen's newer PCI Express equivalent of the motherboard, based on the 915 chipset.

With dual 200GB hard disks, dual digital tuners, a 6800 GT and 1GB of RAM all hanging off a powerful yet cool-running CPU, it's an impressive, flexible, and surprisingly quiet system. Hi-Grade will also supply the C1800 using just Intel's Extreme Graphics 2 integrated graphics for £1,025, although you'll lose all but the VGA output and any gaming potential, making the case seem a touch like overkill.

We'd like to see a longer warranty as standard on a nominally non-user serviceable machine, but the DMS Xtreme is still a great choice for those who want an all-singing, all-dancing MCE powerhouse.

Author: Roger Kirkwood