Review: Mesh Cubex Media TV PCW

The Mesh Cubex Media TV PCW won’t win any prizes for style, but it’s a very good all-round performer and multimedia system.

Like the Ambros Shuttle SD36G5M  and Cube 247 Omega ST2 , the Mesh Cubex uses a small form factor (SFF) chassis, so it looks very much like a conventional computer.

It’s also the largest of the three SFF systems in this review, so you’ll probably have to think twice if you want it to fit in with your other A/V components.

Nonetheless, it provides all the main features you’d expect from a multimedia PC. The AMD Athlon64 X2 4400+ processor provides excellent performance – matched only by the more expensive 4600+ processor in Cube’s Omega ST2.

Graphics performance is very strong as well, thanks to the ATI All-in-Wonder X800GT.

In overall performance terms the Cubex lags just behind its rivals from Panrix  and Cube, but it’s less expensive than either of those so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a complete entertainment system that can handle music, video and games.

There’s more to the Cubex than just raw power, though. The All-in-Wonder graphics card has both a TV tuner and radio receiver, as well as a special video output connector that can be used for either a Scart or S-video socket on a TV.

With digital audio and surround sound, and Firewire for connecting a DV camcorder, this Media Center has all the main audio and video features you’re likely to need. To top it all off the Cubex has a 400GB hard disk, so you’ll be able to download music and films to your heart’s content.

It’s a shame the design of the Cubex is so conventional, as we can’t imagine that many people will want something like this sitting in their living room.

But its combination of price, performance and features make for a really strong multimedia PC that can handle music, video and games with ease.

This is part of a group test on remote access software. Other articles are:
Media Center PCs introduction and Editor's Choice
Ambros Shuttle SD36G5M
Cube 247 Omega ST2
Dell Dimension 5150C
Elonex Artisan VX
Evesham Ebox V
Fujitsu-Siemens Scaleo E
Hi-Grade DMS II 3200
Mesh Cubex Media TV PCW
Panrix Mantis
Sony Vaio VGX-XL 100
Entertainment systems and Viiv