Time Platina Viper FX
Hardware
• ASUS SK8N, NVIDIA nForce3 Pro, Socket 940 AMD Opteron/FX Motherboard
• AMD Athlon 64 FX-51 (11 x 200MHz, 2.2GHz)
• NVIDIA GeForceFX 5900 Ultra 256MB AGP8X
• 1GB Micron Registered ECC DDR333 Memory (2 x 512MB sticks)
• Seagate ST3160021A 160GB Barracuda 7200.7 Ultra ATA100 7200RPM HDD
• In-Win 5-in-1 Memory Card Reader
• Panasonic SW-9581 DVD-RW
• 16x DVD-ROM
• 19" Flatscreen CRT Monitor (LG Flatron F900P)
• Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
• Creative Inspire T7700 7.1 speakers
• Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
• 56k Internal PCI Modem
Software
• Windows XP Professional w/SP1If you are familiar with the UltraStation XP3200+ specification, you'll notice some immediate similarities and subtle changes compared to that system. For the uninitiated you'll simply see a machine with immense power and specification, with the odd talking point.
• Cyberlink PowerDVD
• Pinnacle Instant CD+DVD
The most notable item in the list is the memory subsystem. Current BIOS revisions for the SK8N motherboard, a powerful and feature packed nForce3 Pro based board, allow the use of DDR400 modules. The Platina ships with DDR333 modules with Time presumably arguing cost and availability against the use of DDR400. They are partially correct, with low latency registered DDR400 seemingly as rare as hen's teeth. From a performance point of view, I'd be tempted to trade the full GB of DDR333 for 512MB of DDR400, but the generous memory capacity does offset the speed reduction to some extent. You'll see just how much a little later.
The eagle eyed among you will notice Time forgoes the use of the onboard audio provided by the ASUS motherboard, in favour of a full Audigy 2 ZS Platinum system, complete with remote control and full 7.1 speaker setup (provided by the T7700's). A wise choice, given the complete step down of the nForce3 Pro audio capabilities, compared to what's provided with most nForce2 (which the UltraStation used). The Audigy 2 ZS is a highly capable discrete PCI audio board, supporting Dolby digital, optical output, full 8-channel output, multi channel recording and a whole bunch more. I'll cover it properly in upcoming pages.
The disk subsytem doesn't make use of the SATA ports provided by the motherboard, instead opting for a tried and tested 160GB ATA100 unit from Seagate. The 7200rpm 7200.7 Barracuda is a formidable IDE disk with an 8.5ms average seek time, matching up well with its rotational speed. The benefits of SATA in a single disk configuration are entirely minimal. Only the cable makes a case for its inclusion and with well routed internal cabling, the effects of the large 80-pin IDE ribbon that the Seagate uses can be easily minimised. We'll see if Time managed to do that soon. 160GB means more than ample space for almost all home computing data scenarios.
The optical storage subsystem is completed by the same DVD writer and 16x IDE DVD-ROM drives that were seen in the UltraStation. The Panasonic is a 2x DVD-R writer, it also writes to -RW at 1x and CDR and CDRW at 12x. Not outstanding, 2x -RW support would have been nice, but nothing bad. The 4.7GB per disk capacity is welcome, although no blank media is supplied to get you going. Pinnacle Instant CD+DVD allows for full use of all the drive features. The plain 16x DVD-ROM reader is fast but a little noisy at full speed. Nothing catastrophic however.
Like the UltraStation, the Platina provides support for the major removable flash memory types with its integrated 5-in-1 InWin card reader. Accepting everything from Sony MemoryStick to SD, if you've got a digital camera or MP3 player, you'll more than likely appreciate its inclusion.
Graphics wise Time have stuck with NVIDIA again, equipping the Platina with a GeForceFX 5900 Ultra reference board, complete with 256MB of memory. With support for DVI monitors and S-Video TV out (cables supplied), it's no different to the reference board we took a look at way back when it initially launched.
The monitor is the same LG F900P that the UltraStation ships with, so I'll spare commentary on that, except to say it's an excellent, completely flat, 19" analogue CRT monitor.
The case I'll cover on the next page. A pretty powerful combination of parts, I think you'll agree. nForce3 Pro, Athlon 64 FX-51, 1GB of memory, 160GB of fast IDE storage, DVD writing and 8 channel audio complete with remote. The FX 5900 Ultra, speakers and monitor top it all off.
The wireless keyboard and mouse are the same models shipped with the UltraStation. In that review I mentioned the mouse was god awful, with simply horrid movement and response. The example shipped with the Platina faired slightly better, when equipped with a fresh set of batteries, but it's still a long chalk from being close to an Intellimouse or Logitech MX series mouse in terms of movement. It's a simple 2 button mouse with wheel button, no side thumb buttons for navigation. Being a ball mouse doesn't help either, since unless it's a super high quality ball assembly, it's never going to get anywhere near being as accurate or easy to move as an optical model. The weak point of the package yet again. For the money a Platina costs you, an optical setup, even wired, would be much more desirable. The keyboard is good though, nicely angled and with a decent key action. Quite loud though, when typing at a decent pace.
Let's have a look at it in the flesh.
