Review

Computer Shopper, September 2007
Vigor Stealth NE Desktop

Pros Striking transparent case, multicolored LEDs; very good performance for price Cons Only one optical drive; limited software selection; case may require frequent cleaning to maintain sharp appearance Editors' Take The Vigor Gaming Stealth NE is the clear choice for gamers who want an inexpensive, but strong-performing, desktop with a distinctive look.

Computer Shopper does not currently have pricing information for this product. It may be available directly from the manufacturer's Web site.

Key Specs

Processor:2.4GHz Core 2 Duo E6600 (overclocked to 2.82GHz)

Memory: 2GB DDR2

Storage:Two 250GB hard drives (RAID 0)

Optical Drives:Double-layer DVD±RW with LightScribe

Monitor:None

Graphics:Two Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 2600XT cards (256MB, CrossFire)

Operating System:Windows Vista Home Premium

Review

Lots of gaming desktops come tricked out with LED lighting, but Vigor's Gaming Stealth NE is one of the few machines that makes those lights an integral part of the design. The Gaming Stealth NE's case and fan lights, which play beautifully off the clear-plastic case, show that Vigor understands how gamers frequently play: in the dark.

But this desktop is more than just good looks. It's also a surprisingly powerful machine¡Xand at a price of $1,299, you don't need to be a Plexiglas heir to afford it. With a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 processor overclocked to 2.82GHz, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, two 250GB hard drives in a RAID Level 0 configuration, and two 256MB Sapphire Radeon HD2600XT cards set up in a CrossFire dual-card arrangement, there's a lot of gaming potential to be found here.

Right out of the box, the Gaming Stealth NE cuts an impressive figure. The components are completely visible through the clear-plastic case, letting you see what's going on inside without opening the side panel. Turn on the power, and watch how the blue LEDs strewn about the case intermingle with the green, red, and orange lights on the many fans¡Ximagine the Northern Lights in a box.

The Gaming Stealth NE fared quite well in our performance tests, delivering a score of 8,845 at a resolution of 1,280x1,024 in Futuremark 3DMark06 and a score of 7,201 at 1,600x1,200. In Company of Heroes, it delivered an average of 87.2 frames per second (fps) at 1,280x1,024 and 57.5fps at 1,600x1,200. Frame rates dropped considerably at 2,560x1,600, so we don't recommend playing most games at that resolution, at least with all the 3D detail settings cranked up. Our 1,280x1,024 Supreme Commander test netted frame rates of just under 30fps¡Xplayable, but not tremendously exciting.

On our productivity tests, the machine did predictably well, burning through our iTunes conversion test in 3 minutes and 31 seconds and Windows Media Encoder in 5 minutes and 31 seconds. Despite multiple attempts, we couldn't get Futuremark's PCMark05 benchmarking software to run, though we experienced no other operation problems with the computer.

As strong a performer as the Gaming Stealth NE is, it won't please every gamer. It comes with only a single optical drive, a double-layer DVD¡ÓRW (with LightScribe); adding another would mean losing the large intake fan that occupies the three external 5.25-inch drive bays. You get no software beyond the installed OS, Windows Vista Home Premium. And port selection is fairly conventional, though the presence of two FireWire ports and an external Serial ATA (eSATA) port on the back offer some additional connectivity.

Also, while the system looks good, that see-through case means you'll notice every speck of dust¡Xinside and out¡Xand that's seldom eye-catching for the right reasons. We don't like cleaning anything¡Xespecially our computers¡Xmore than is absolutely necessary, but the Gaming Stealth NE is just enough computer to be worth it. Occasionally.

Discuss this product in our desktops forum.

Direct Price: $1,299

Vigor Gaming Computer, 866-907-3536

www.vigorgaming.com