Scan PC 3XS-M

With a big-brand PC manufacturer, you usually end up spending extra for the name alone. When this comes to the latest hardware as well, you are often not getting the most value for your money, which is where the minnows of the PC industry stand out.

We have never reviewed a Scan PC before but the 3XS-M is a prime example of a PC that contains a lot of the latest computer treats while retaining a sensible price tag.

The first thing we noticed about the system is how incredibly heavy the case is. Removing it from the packaging is quite a mission and after closer inspection, it's obvious that the case is designed to rest underneath your desk.

Aside from the four feet screwed into the base, there's a flip-up panel on the top of the case that reveals a brace of USB 2 ports, a FireWire socket, headphone and microphone ports. We think this is a great idea, as it provides a simple way to connect external devices without having to root around the back of the PC. The case is also supposed to be home to a sound-proofing kit but we found it to be quite noisy, which is unsurprising considering there are five fans whirring away inside.

The front of the case is taken up by a lockable door, which hides the DVD-ROM and DVD-RW drives. There's also a floppy disk drive and a six-in-one memory card reader.

At the heart of the PC is an AMD Athlon XP 2700+ processor, which runs at 2.16GHz. Combined with the very generous helping of 1Gb of memory, Windows and its applications tick along without a hitch. There's also a 120Gb hard disk, which is fast becoming the norm with PCs these days.

Graphics are supplied by a Gainward Pro 760 XP card, which we reviewed in issue 141 and gave a Buy It! award. Built around nVidia's GeForce FX 5200, it managed a very good score in our system tests and will cope with any game that you throw at it. The 15in Sony TFT display is nice enough but sits low on the desk. Although you have to flip open a panel on the back to connect the cables, it means the wires are neatly tied back. Unfortunately, there is no DVI socket and the maximum screen resolution only reaches 1024 x 768. As well as the two USB 2 sockets on the top of the case, there are two more at the rear, alongside a further two FireWire sockets. The 5.1 on-board sound with digital-out is a nice touch but the inclusion of Videologic speakers make the audio set-up a bit redundant.

There are two free 5.25in external and four 3.25in internal drive bays and five free PCI slots (although one is obscured). Although a network port is integrated, there is no sign of a modem so unless you have already got a broadband connection, you'll have to fork out another £20 to get online. Apart from Nero Express, there is no sign of software either, only Windows XP Home.

While it's a good price for the specification that you get, we feel that this PC is aimed more towards the power user who wants fast games and good sound, and is not really for general consumption.

Contact: Scan PC 0870 755 4747
www.scan.co.uk