Mesh has successfully used AMD processors in the past, but the Mesh Matrix II 965 DX11 desktop PC's mighty 3.4GHz chip lacks the raw computational power of the Intel Core i5 and i7.
Mesh's Matrix II 965 is the only system in our chart to use an AMD processor. Its implementation of the Phenom II X4 965 has been very successful in previous issues, but this mighty 3.4GHz chip lacks the raw computational power of the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, despite their slower clock speeds.
The cheaper processor and lower-spec DDR2 memory has enabled Mesh to add a better screen to the Matrix II 965, with only a relatively small drop in desktop performance. And its gaming results trail the Intel PCs by only the tiniest amounts.
In our tests, the Mesh Matrix II 965 lags behind the Intel-based PCs by around nine points in WorldBench 6. It's a measurable difference, but shouldn't be noticeable for most users.
Mesh has included an excellent 24in Iiyama E2407HDS display with the Matrix II 965. Like the Chillblast's BenQ, this monitor is capable of a full-HD 1080p resolution. And the extra couple of inches of screen space makes a difference in the readability of text and the gaming experience.
Mesh, like Eclipse, has also plumped for a brand-new DirectX 11.0-compatible ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card with the Matrix II 965. While this card lags behind the HD 4890 when used with current games, its support for new features in upcoming titles provides welcome future-proofing. It also enhances performance when executing computational tasks with certain software, such as video transcoding, and offers twin DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort connections.
Budget PCs chart ranking: February 10 issue
- Chillblast Fusion Blade
- Arbico HD7590 Pro
- CyberPower Gamer Infinity i5 Achilles
- Eclipse Matrix Crossfire i786R577
- Mesh Matrix II 965 DX11
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