Arbico Elite OC3556 CS review
This is an eminently capable Ivy Bridge PC, but most of its rivals have better graphics cards
Specifications
4.4GHz Intel Core i5-3570K, 16GB RAM, 23.6in 1,920×1,080 display, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
The system has just eight USB ports in total: two on the front panel and six at the back. Two of the rear ports are USB3. There’s also a PS/2 port, an optical S/PDIF output, three 3.5mm stereo outputs for analogue surround sound and a Gigabit Ethernet port. On the front, are 3.5mm microphone and headphone ports.
The system comes with a Logitech MK260 wireless keyboard and mouse set. We’ve seen a lot of these from OEMs and they’re certainly an inoffensive choice. The keyboard is slightly spongy and the ambidextrous mouse is a bit small, but it’s a good set. The monitor is an AOC E2450SWDA. It’s a matt 23.6in widescreen display with DVI and VGA inputs and a Full HD resolution. Its controls are fiddly and options are few, but we were pleased with its even backlighting and natural, balanced colours.
Although the Elite OC3556 CS uses the same components as many similarly priced systems on the market, the GTX 560 Ti graphics card is a little underpowered. Gamers will be better off with the Wired2Fire Diablo GTX or the excellent Chillblast Fusion Vantage.
Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Rating | *** |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-3570K |
| Processor external bus | 100MHz (DMI) |
| Processor multiplier | x44 |
| Processor clock speed | 4.4GHz |
| Processor socket | LGA1155 |
| Memory | 16 |
| Memory type | PC3-12800 |
| 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 | 0 |
| Free 3.5in drive bays | 3 |
Hard Disk | |
| Hard disk model(s) | OCZ Vertex 3 128GB SSD + Seagate Barracuda ST31000524AS |
| Interface | SATA3 + SATA2 |
| Total storage capacity | 1,128GB |
Graphics | |
| Graphics card(s) | 1GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti |
| Graphics/video ports | 2x DVI, mini HDMI |
Sound | |
| Sound | Realtek ALC889 |
| Sound outputs | 5.1 line out, optical S/PDIF out, line out, mic in |
| Speakers | none |
Removable Drives | |
| Supported memory cards | none |
| Optical drive type(s) | DVD+/-RW +/-DL |
Display | |
| Viewable size | 23.6 in |
| Screen model | AOC E2450SWDA |
| Native resolution | 1,920×1,080 |
| Screen inputs | DVI, VGA |
Other Hardware | |
| Keyboard | Logitech K260 |
| Mouse | Logitech M210 |
Software | |
| Software included | none |
| Operating system | Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit |
| Operating system restore option | Windows disc |
Buying Information | |
| Warranty | two years RTB |
| Price | £999 |
| Details | www.arbico.co.uk |
