Novatech Allspark VHP64 system review: low-power Core 2 Quad at the helm

Final thoughts and rating

Novatech's Allspark VHP64 is the company's attempt at producing a high-end small-form factor box with all the trimmings. The specification is good, taking in a low-power Intel quad-core chip, GeForce GTS 250 graphics, ZOTAC's all-in-one motherboard, and SilverStone's impressive Sugo SG05 chassis, and it's certainly no slouch in the performance tests.

However, we have to question some of the component choices made by Novatech. The 320GB drive is plain stingy at this price point, and the system can hardly be termed quiet when under load, with the majority of the noise coming from the fast-spinning fan on the ASUS GeForce GTS 250 512MB card. We'd change it for the quieter Dark Knight model in a heatbeat.

There's no denying the power here, which is far greater than the equivalently-priced systems on test, but what the Allspark needs is a slight component and software/settings re-think before shipping out. Should Novatech be able to do that then there's a clear niche which it will exploit. Right now, as reviewed, it's merely an average proposition.

HEXUS Rating

We consider any product score above '50%' as a safe buy. The higher the score, the higher the recommendation from HEXUS to buy. Simple, straightforward buying advice.

The rating is given in relation to the category the component competes in, therefore the Allspark is evaluated with respect to our 'high-end' criteria.

Novatech Allspark VHP64

HEXUS Where2Buy

The Novatech Allspark VHP64 system, as reviewed, is available for £764.74, including VAT and delivery

HEXUS Right2Reply

At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.

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I hate the new Hexus rating system….everytime I see a new review I think “oh well that's crap”..then read on (every time) about the 50% thing BUT…I hate it. I much rather you go back to the old system where good products get awards..and Alienware/Dell stuff get's battered :)

my 2 pennies..

I hate the new Hexus rating system….everytime I see a new review I think “oh well that's crap”..then read on (every time) about the 50% thing BUT…I hate it. I much rather you go back to the old system where good products get awards..and Alienware/Dell stuff get's battered

my 2 pennies..

Completely agree. So many times something comes in above 50% which is supposed to be a safe buy, but it's clear from the article that it's no good. They either need to give harsher ratings or up the threshold for a ‘safe buy’

stavroshamster
Completely agree. So many times something comes in above 50% which is supposed to be a safe buy, but it's clear from the article that it's no good. They either need to give harsher ratings or up the threshold for a ‘safe buy’

I think you're missing the point of “Safe Buy”. The Allspark is not “no good” - it's a well featured and well performing mid-range system in a very small chassis. It runs rings round most of the benchmarks thrown at it, and the price point is reasonable considering the premium you always pay for space- and energy-saving solutions (discounting AMD's lowerer powered 3 and 4 core processors, that is - but they have lower clock speeds so it's swings and roundabouts). Basically, if you bought this as a gaming rig you would not be dissappointed - it'll run most modern games at resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 with dsecent image enhancement.

It's not perfect, sure, but there's nothing wrong with it, and it does everything it should without defect, so it deserves a reasonable rating. I don't think a smallish hard drive and a bit of fan noise are that problematic, are they?

Okay, in this case its not a bad product, and probably its rating is about right - but almost all the ratings given in reviews fall between about 60 and 70%, with a few exceptions where things have got about 80%. Given that most products seem to have scores in a very similar range how are we supposed to differentiate between them? It would be much better, I think, just to stick with a star rating or medal system and be done with it.

good system but i agree with the hdd, thats really small especially when you cant have more than 1 in that case. The GPU needs changing imo, get a 4850 vapour-x or a 4770 and then you will shave about 70/80w off the load figure and it would be alot quieter(with the vapourx)