Ginger6 G6 Vision review
Needs more RAM to make the most of its great components
Specifications
3.1GHz Intel Core i5-3450, 4GB RAM, 23.6in 1,920×1,080 display, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Ginger 6 has paired a 1TB hard disk with a super-fast 128GB SSD to give the G6 Vision a speed boost in file transfers and startup times. If you’re constantly waiting for your existing PC to load, the difference an SSD can make will be eye-opening.
The G6 Vision reaches the Windows desktop in just under 30 seconds, letting you start work or play much sooner than with a traditional hard disk. Once you’re there, the Intel Ivy Bridge processor and 4GB of RAM should be able to handle all your desktop applications. Our multimedia benchmarks are a prime example. Finishing with an overall score of 113, the G6 Vision is around 10% faster than our reference PC. It won’t outpace an overclocked system, so you may need to look for a multiplier-unlocked processor if you plan on running intensive multithreaded applications.
You’ll also be able to play the latest games, thanks to the Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 SE with its 1GB of dedicated video memory. It completed our Dirt3 test at an average of 41.5fps, although our more demanding Crysis 2 test highlighted its limitations. Managing just 18.2fps, you’ll have to turn down anti-aliasing and detail settings on some games.
The G6 Vision is built in to a basic midi tower case that’s made from a combination of plastic, steel and wire mesh for added ventilation. The blue LED lights glowing from inside may not be to everyone’s taste, but they’re relatively unobtrusive. A sensibly placed I/O panel is fitted in the roof of the case, with two USB ports, a pair of 3.5mm audio jacks and a multiformat card reader.
Once you run out of ports around the front, there are plenty more around the back, including four USB ports, two faster USB3 ports and one PS/2 port, as well as DVI, VGA and HDMI outputs for the integrated graphics card. One digital optical and three 3.5mm audio outputs complete the selection.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | *** |
Processor | Intel Core i5-3450 |
Processor external bus | 100MHz |
Processor multiplier | x31 |
Processor clock speed | 3.1GHz |
Processor socket | LGA1155 |
Memory | 4 |
Memory type | DDR3 |
Maximum memory | 32GB |
Motherboard | Asus P8Z77-V LX |
Motherboard chipset | Intel Z77 |
Ports | |
USB2 ports (front/rear) | 2/6 |
Firewire ports (front/rear) | 0/0 |
eSATA ports (front/rear) | 0/0 |
Wired network ports | 1x 10/100/1000 |
Wireless networking support | none |
Internal Expansion | |
Case | midi tower |
PCI-E x1 slots (free) | 2 (1) |
PCI-E x16 slots (free) | 2 (1) |
Free Serial ATA ports | 3 |
Free memory slots | 3 |
Free 3.5in drive bays | 2 |
Hard Disk | |
Hard disk model(s) | Crucial CT128M4SSD2 + Seagate ST1000DM003-9YN162 |
Interface | SATA3 |
Total storage capacity | 1,144GB |
Graphics | |
Graphics card(s) | Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Se |
Graphics/video ports | HDMI, DVI, VGA |
Sound | |
Sound | Realtek HD Audio |
Sound outputs | 7.1 line out, optical S/PDIF out |
Speakers | none |
Removable Drives | |
Supported memory cards | none |
Optical drive type(s) | DVD+/-RW +/-DL |
Display | |
Viewable size | 23.6 in |
Screen model | AOC 2436Vwa |
Native resolution | 1,920×1,080 |
Screen inputs | VGA, DVI |
Other Hardware | |
Keyboard | Microsoft Wired Keyboard 600 |
Mouse | Microsoft Wheel Mouse Optical 1.1A |
Software | |
Software included | none |
Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
Operating system restore option | restore disc |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one year collect and return |
Price | £800 |
Details | www.ginger6.com |