The second issue experienced was with the iXLs DVD drive, which appears to work absolutely fine when inserting discs, but then fails to read them, and indeed, appears unable to eject discs too, failing with a DVD error message. As the drive is slot loading, with no external control, that means opening the chassis to remove the disc. Whilst the remote issue was annoying, the drive issue is certainly a showstopper – I’ve passed both problems back to Tranquil PC for comment. I’m sure the drive issue can be corrected by a swap out.
Conclusions
Those issues aside, Tranquil PC’s iXL is easily the best hardware I’ve reviewed from the company in the last three years. The chassis design is excellent, well built and assembled with care and Tranquil’s custom components have also been engineered to a high specification. The result is a compelling blend of fantastic off the shelf components from Intel, with custom wrapping that passively cools the iXL’s internals without forgetting the aesthetics required for any PC that is going to live under the TV. It’s the simple touches that further elevate the package from its competitors – the internal motherboard schematic on the underside of the chassis, the connector schematic on the iXL’s base – all simple things to do, but often neglected and appreciated when remembered.
The base specification is powerful, if premium and the combination of the Core i3, 2GB RAM and a 500GB hard drive is a fantastic combination for a Media Center PC, with the Intel motherboard handling high definition audio and video with ease. The Core i5 will provide additional longevity I’m sure, but with the iXL offering easy upgrade paths to the processor, storage and RAM going forward, the i3 is a great place to start.
I’ll certainly recommend the iXL as a fantastic Media Center PC. There are certainly cheaper options available for those on a budget, but if you’re searching for a great looking, silent and powerful HTPC then look no further. The iXL is Tranquil PC and Windows Media Center at their finest.
Update #3: Tranquil PC are offering WGS Readers an exclusive £50 (+VAT if applicable) discount on the iXL, when you use the coupon code WGSRJR during checkout. The code expires at the end of July 2010.
