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This is the first system we've tested from Sys that uses AMD's 64-bit CPU, the 2-GHz Athlon 64 3200+. Paired with 512MB of DDR400 memory, it posted a heady score of 141 on our PC WorldBench 4 benchmark tests, about the same as we've seen from other systems (such as the Micro Express MicroFlex 64 KB) using this new CPU. The 3200+, however, comes with only half the memory seen in other similar systems, most of which boast 1GB of DDR400 SDRAM.
At just under $3400, the 3200+ carries a hefty price; but you get a nice array of components geared toward playing games, working with video and digital photography, or watching DVDs. Thanks in part to its 128MB ATI Radeon 9800 Pro card, the Performance 3200+ achieved high frame rates in our graphics tests, even at the LCD monitor's native resolution of 1280 by 1024 pixels. A dual-format DVD rewritable drive, three FireWire ports, and Sonic's MyDVD Deluxe DVD authoring application enable you to burn video from your digital camcorder to DVD. And no matter what type of memory card your camera or PDA uses, the Performance 3200+ should be able to handle it: The flash media card reader included on our review unit could read CompactFlash, Secure Digital, Memory Stick, and Smart Media storage cards.
The black midtower case offers plenty of room for upgrading the system. We found five open drive bays (three internal for hard drives and two externally accessible for removable or optical drives), three open PCI slots, and a free memory socket. Upgrading is made easier by the tidy interior, with its flat cabling and bundled wiring.
The 19-inch monitor we tested, ViewSonic's VP191b LCD, looks perfect next to the company's new pitch-black case. Though this monitor has both analog and digital inputs, Sys took the high road and included a digital DVI cable; some vendors scrimp by including an analog VGA one. In our image tests, the panel displayed smooth, bright colors, and we saw lively hues in games, a DVD movie, and a photo of a group of children. The VP191b has a full range of ergonomic adjustments--including height, tilt, and swivel--and can pivot from landscape to portrait mode. Software to rotate the screen images is included.
Sys equipped this system with the Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy 2 sound card and Inspire's 6.1 6600 speakers, an excellent pairing for generating rock-solid surround sound. We heard satisfying bass thumps and crisp trebles during DVD and audio CD playback, and the speakers are loud enough to fill even a large space with sound.
The documentation included with the 3200+ consists of a spiral-bound basic manual whose sections on setup, upgrading, and troubleshooting are adequate though not specific to this model. Software includes Corel's WordPerfect Productivity Pack--a suite of software that includes word processing, spreadsheet, and contact management programs--as well as the aforementioned pivot software and DVD burning application.
Upshot: Sys's latest 3200+ offers plenty of speed and multimedia punch, albeit at a fairly hefty price.
Mick Lockey
