Hi-Grade Ultis PV4 2GHz

If you find money easy to come by, your hand may have dashed wallet-wards when Intel rolled out the 2GHz Pentium 4 processor. After all, it's impossible to stay ahead in the computer game, but the best way to stay current for as long as possible is to buy the newest kit available.

Intel launched the Pentium 4 processor in late 2000 with the promise of super-lively performance. Early reviews suggested that Intel's big new gun was more of a pea-shooter and sales didn't take off. Since then, things have perked up somewhat and prices of P4 machinery have dropped, making PCs using the chip good value as well as powerful.

The Hi-Grade Ultis uses the meatiest version of the P4 processor, which runs at a speed of 2GHz. One thing that has always kept the price of Pentium 4 systems artificially high is the cost of the special memory they were launched with, known as Rambus memory. The reason Rambus was expensive was that it allowed PCs fitted with it to run faster than those with conventional memory. PC buyers are a fickle bunch though, and the extra cost didn't go down well. As a result, cheaper versions appeared and this Ultis has 256Mb of conventional memory under the bonnet. You will find faster 2GHz systems, but price is the key with conventional memory machinery.

Cutting the cost of memory has allowed other parts of the system to be improved while keeping costs sensible. The inclusion of a 5.1 surround sound card ensures that music and movie soundtracks from the Ultis will make fine listening.

The Creative DTT2200 speakers sound good, although hiding all six near your PC may prove problematic if you are short of space. If you are a gamer, the inclusion of a GeForce 2 Ti graphics card is very welcome. Graphics performance is very solid, with adequate results for all but the most pedantic gamers. Better results would come from a GeForce 3 card but the price would creep up.

The presence of an S-Video plug means you can plug your PC into a TV for games purposes if the monitor isn't big enough. Both DVD-ROM and CD-RW drives are present too.

Opening the screwless case, access to the insides is very good and the cabling didn't present an obstacle to any of the internals. Alongside the 56K modem is a TV Tuner card that allows owners to watch a bit of television while they work. This is far from being a vital piece of PC hardware, but it allows you to record TV broadcasts to the hard disk if you so desire; and if you make movies on your PC, it may be a useful feature.

The availability of three FireWire ports and a generous 60Gb hard disk suggest that video editors should consider this if they are in the market for a new PC.

The 17in flat-screen LG monitor is beautiful, with minimal distortion and reflection. The built-in four-port USB hub is a welcome addition, as are the wireless Logitech keyboard and mouse. Rummaging in the box, we also found a webcam, image-editing software and Lotus SmartSuite, so you can start work as soon as you set up.

There are only two spare PCI slots but with a TV card, sound card, FireWire and modem already on board, it's difficult to see what else you'd want. Even adding a network card would leave one spare slot.

Contact
Hi-Grade: 0800 074 7272
www.higrade.com

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