Task-IT Predator 2.4GHz

An impressive machine for the power-hungry user.

Price: £1761.33

Manufacturer: Task-IT

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Verdict

Pros:

Very fast; USB2-equipped.
Cons: The case feels cheap at this price.
Overall: A great machine if you have cash to spare, but it would've looked better in a different case.

Lars-Goran Nilsson, Personal Computer World 24 Jul 2002

The Predator 2.4 is by far the most impressive machine we've seen from Task-IT, and the first computer on test to contain a Pentium 4 with a 533MHz front-side bus (FSB). The previous version's FSB was set at 400MHz so, in theory, this new chip can be up to a third faster.

Aside from bus size, though, there have been no real changes to the chip. It's still based on the Northwood core, with 512KB of Level 2 cache.

And like its predecessor, it clocks in at 2.4GHz, but the supporting chipset is the i850E. This is an improved version of the i850 that supports the new bus speed.

If you're familiar with the i850 chipset you'll know it uses dual-channel RD-Ram. This has not changed and neither has the speed of the memory, as it comes fitted with two sticks of 128MB PC800 RD-Ram in two of the four Dimm slots.

The Intel motherboard comes with onboard Ethernet and is fitted with an NEC USB2 controller chip with two USB2 ports around the back, and another two at the front.

A host of other quality components has also been fitted. A 7,200rpm Maxtor hard disk is the main storage drive and is well proportioned at 60GB, but far from huge by today's standard.

The Predator 2.4 is an incredibly fast PC, scoring 243 in our Sysmark 2002 tests. It's also a very capable gaming system managing 8,484 in 3Dmark 2001 as well as 117.4 frames per second in Quake III Team Arena. At £1,499 ex VAT, the Predator 2.4 isn't cheap, but it has a lot to offer the power-hungry user.

Price: £1,761.33 (£1,499 ex VAT)

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