台式电脑销量在过去几年一直在不断下降，2015 年全球出货量下降超过 10%。虽然移动电脑的市场份额(market share)正在迅速增加，但仍有一个领域台式电脑继续蓬勃发展，那就是赌博。由于(Due)散热、尺寸和重量的限制(size and weight limitations)，笔记本电脑无法与台式电脑的原始性能相媲美，至少在你的钱包上不做一个大洞的情况下是这样。许多游戏 PC 爱好者会更喜欢定制 PC，但选择品牌台式 PC(brand desktop PC)有其优势：没有兼容性问题、良好的构建质量(build quality)和可靠的组件。今天我们来看看华硕的一款游戏PC(ASUS)，即G11CB。在 20115 年的Computex 展会(Computex exhibition)上宣布，这款台式机(desktop unit)配备了第 6 代Intel Core i5/i7处理器、DDR4 内存和 NVIDIA GeForce(DDR4 memory and NVIDIA GeForce) 9 显卡，配备了具有可变照明功能的精美机箱。在这篇评论中，让我们看看它的表现如何：
华硕 G11CB 游戏 PC 拆箱
与笔记本电脑相比，沉重的PC 包装(PC package)实际上是一个好兆头：这很可能意味着机箱和电源(power source)构造精良且组件良好。华硕 G11CB 游戏 PC(ASUS G11CB Gaming PC)的简单棕色盒子重量超过 24 磅（11 公斤），考虑到内容的质量，看起来相当不起眼。
在里面你会发现这个单元、一个背光键盘和一个光学鼠标（没有图片，因为经过审查的单元没有鼠标）。还有一根电源线(power cable)和常用的手册和应用程序DVD。
该装置很重且非常坚固，重达 21.5 磅（9.78 千克）。该装置的尺寸为 6.92 x 17.32 x 16.61 英寸或 176 x 440 x 422 毫米 ( WxDxH )。对于需要更紧凑设备的用户，华硕(ASUS)以其著名的玩家国度品牌(Gamers brand)ROG (Republic)G20(ROG G20)推出了一系列紧凑型游戏 PC 。不过请注意，G20的价格要高一些。
在设备正面，您会发现不少于四个USB端口、一个 6 合 1读卡器(Card Reader)（适用于MMC、XD、SD、SDHC、MS/PRO卡）和背光电源按钮(power button)。Blu-ray/DVD Writer Combo巧妙地隐藏在前盖(front cover)下方，按下顶部托盘盖(tray cover)的一角即可访问。在设备顶部，您会发现两个插孔 - 一个用于麦克风，一个用于耳机。
从背面看，我们发现两个USB 2.0端口、两个USB 3.0端口、两个USB 3.1端口、一个 HDMI-Out、一个VGA ( D-Sub )-Out、一个RJ45 LAN 端口(RJ45 LAN port)以及一个 7.1通道音频面板(Channel Audio panel)。显卡(video card)有 1 个DVI端口(DVI port)、1 个HDMI 端口(HDMI port)和 3 个 DisplayPort。这意味着您只需一张显卡(video card)即可进行三屏环绕游戏。
背光巧克力键盘(chiclet keyboard)质量很好，有一个非常有用的音量旋钮(volume knob)。蓝色背光可以打开和关闭，但不能调暗。华硕(ASUS)确保用户拥有运行系统所需的一切，无需额外调整。
该单元很大，就像任何其他标准台式塔式 PC 一样；它也很重且坚固。机箱的设计很好，键盘和鼠标的添加赋予了额外的感知价值。(The unit is big, just like any other standard desktop tower PC; it's also heavy and solid. The design of the case is nice and the addition of a keyboard and mouse gives that extra bit of perceived value.)
(Hardware)华硕 G11CB 游戏 PC的(ASUS G11CB Gaming PC)硬件规格
我们正在测试的单元由第六代Intel Core i7-6700处理器（频率高达 3400 MHz）驱动。它缺少名称末尾的K 字母(K letter)，这意味着它不能超频，但我们怀疑在这种配置中，CPU将是一个限制因素。对于游戏目的，Intel Core i5就足够了，但如果您还需要 PC 进行设计和渲染(design and rendering)，i7 是更好的选择。
该 PC配备由Hynix制造的 8GB (Hynix)DDR4 内存(DDR4 memory)（最新技术，比DDR3 标准(DDR3 standard)更快且消耗更少） 。8GB 是游戏 PC 的绝对最低容量，我们建议为更多 RAM 密集型游戏额外增加 8GB。定制主板(custom motherboard)围绕Intel H170 芯片组(Intel H170 chipset)构建，具有一个PCI Express x1、一个PCI Express x16和一个 mini-PCI Express 扩展(Express expansion)槽。
该系统采用NVIDIA GeForce GTX960显卡，配备 2GB GDDR5 显存(GDDR5 memory)。虽然有更强大的变体可用（高达4GB 内存的GTX980），但GTX960便宜得多，并且可以很好地处理大多数 1920x1080 分辨率的游戏。在这里，我们看到了我们认为有问题的硬件选择：以相同的价格，专业游戏玩家会选择更强大的显卡和更慢的CPU，因为现代游戏的瓶颈通常是显卡。使用Intel Core i7和NVIDIA GeForce GTX960的计算机可以很好地处理多任务处理，但游戏质量会受到影响(Ultra Quality)设置和高分辨率。
就存储而言，我们正在测试的单元具有完美的组合：一个具有 256 GB 存储空间的三星 M.2 SSD 驱动器，用于快速启动时间和快速(Samsung M.2 SSD drive)应用程序启动(application startup)，一个具有 1000 GB 存储空间的东芝 SATA3(Toshiba SATA3)硬盘驱动器。那些电影、图片和游戏以及DVD 刻录(DVD)机/蓝光阅读器组合驱动器(reader combo drive)，如果您想观看蓝光电影或需要将一些数据写入DVD。
没有分立声卡(sound card)，但凭借ALC887 编解码器(ALC887 codec)的出色性能，分立声卡(sound card)只会增加设备的价格而收益不大。
LAN 网络(LAN network)适配器是RealTek RTL8168/8111，有趣的是，华硕G11CB 游戏 PC(ASUS G11CB Gaming PC)还具有RTL8821AE 无线 LAN 802.11ac(RTL8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac)适配器，这意味着如果您的 PC 远离路由器，则无需使用长网线。(network cable)此外，适配器包含一个蓝牙模块(Bluetooth module)，可用于无线连接到鼠标、耳机或扬声器。电缆杂乱(cable clutter)越少越好。
6 合 1读卡器(card reader)集成在设备前部，为用户提供了另一种连接选项(connectivity option)。另一个值得注意的功能是 PC 背面有两个USB 3.1端口。新的USB 3.1标准将(USB 3.1)USB设备的理论最大传输速率(transfer rate)提高到 10 Gbps。为了让您了解这意味着什么，一张满载的 50 GB蓝光光盘(Blu-Ray disc)的内容可以在一分钟内通过USB 3.1传输！(USB 3.1)
华硕 G11CB 游戏 PC(ASUS G11CB Gaming PC)还提供其他变体，从Intel Core i5处理器、高达 32 GB 的内存，到各种显卡和存储选项。查看官方ASUS G11CB 游戏 PC 页面(ASUS G11CB Gaming PC page)上的完整选项列表。
我们非常期待结合英特尔酷睿 i7处理器来测试(Intel Core i7)三星 SSD(Samsung SSD)，它们应该会让计算机感觉非常敏捷和响应迅速。您可以在本评论的下一页查看我们的测试结果。
A gamer's delight - The ASUS G11CB gaming PC review
Desktop PC salеs have been constantly decreasing in the last few yearѕ, with worldwide shipments falling by more than 10% in 2015. While the market shаre of mobile PCs is raрidly increasing, there is stіll one field where desktop PCs continue to thrive, and that's gamіng. Due to cooling, size and weight limitations, laptops cannot compete with the raw performance of desktop PCs, at least not without making a sizeable hole іn your wallets. Many gaming PC enthusiasts will prеfer custom-built PCs, but going for a brand desktop PC has its adνantageѕ: no compatibility issues, good build qualitу and reliable componеnts. Today we are going to take a look at a gaming PC from ASUS, namely the G11CΒ. Announced at the Computex exhibition in 20115, the deѕktop unit ѕрorts 6th generatіon Intel Core i5/i7 processors, DDR4 memorу and NVIDIA GeForce 9 graphics on an attractive chassis wіth variablе lighting. Let's see how it pеrforms, in this review:
Unboxing the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC
As opposed to laptops, a heavy PC package is actually a good sign: it most likely means the case and the power source are well built and with good components. The simple, brown box of the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC weighs more than 24 lbs (11 kg) and looks rather underwhelming, considering the quality of the contents.
Inside you will find the unit, a backlit keyboard and an optical mouse (not pictured, since the reviewed unit came without the mouse). There is also a power cable and the usual manuals and apps DVD.
The unit is heavy and very solid, weighing a hefty 21.5 pounds (9.78 kg). The dimensions of the unit are 6.92 x 17.32 x 16.61 inches or 176 x 440 x 422 mm (WxDxH). For users who need a more compact unit, ASUS has a line of compact gaming PCs under their famous Republic of Gamers brand, called ROG G20. Be advised though, the price of the G20 is a bit higher.
On the front of the unit you will find no less than four USB ports, a 6-in-1 Card Reader (for MMC, XD, SD, SDHC, MS/PRO cards) and the backlit power button. The Blu-ray/DVD Writer Combo is neatly hidden beneath the front cover and can be accessed by pressing the corner of the top tray cover. On top of the unit you will find two jacks - one for a microphone and one for headphones.
Looking on the back of the unit, we find two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 3.1 ports, one HDMI-Out, one VGA(D-Sub)-Out, a RJ45 LAN port as well as a 7.1 Channel Audio panel. The video card has one DVI port, one HDMI port, and three DisplayPorts. This means you can have triple-monitor-surround gaming with only one video card.
The backlit chiclet keyboard is of good quality and has a very useful volume knob. The blue backlight can be switched on and off but can't be dimmed. ASUS made sure that users have everything they need to run the system with no additional tweaking.
The unit is big, just like any other standard desktop tower PC; it's also heavy and solid. The design of the case is nice and the addition of a keyboard and mouse gives that extra bit of perceived value.
Hardware specifications of the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC
The unit we are testing is powered by a sixth generation Intel Core i7-6700 processor (with a frequency of up to 3400 MHz). It lacks the K letter at the end of the name, which means it can't be overclocked, but we doubt that in this configuration, the CPU will be a limiting factor. For gaming purposes, an Intel Core i5 would be sufficient, but if you also need the PC for design and rendering, the i7 is the better choice.
The PC has 8GB of DDR4 memory (latest technology, faster and with lower consumption than the DDR3 standard) made by Hynix. 8GB is the absolute minimum for a gaming PC and we recommend getting an additional 8 GB for the more RAM intensive games out there. The custom motherboard is built around an Intel H170 chipset and has one PCI Express x1, one PCI Express x16 and one mini-PCI Express expansion slot.
The system uses an NVIDIA GeForce GTX960 graphics card with 2GB of GDDR5 memory. While there are more powerful variants available (up to a GTX980 with 4GB of memory), the GTX960 is significantly cheaper and handles most titles in the 1920x1080 resolution quite well. Here we see what we think is a questionable choice of hardware: for the same price, a dedicated gamer would go for a more powerful graphics card and a slower CPU, since the bottleneck for modern games is most often the graphics card. With an Intel Core i7 and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX960, the computer will handle multitasking quite well, but the gaming will suffer on Ultra Quality settings and high resolutions.
As far as storage goes, the unit we are testing has the perfect combination: one Samsung M.2 SSD drive with 256 GB of storage for quick boot times and fast application startup, one Toshiba SATA3 hard-drive with 1000 GB of storage for all those movies, pictures and games and a DVD-writer/Blu-ray reader combo drive, if you want to watch a Blu-Ray movie or if you need to write some of your data to a DVD.
No discrete sound card is present, but with the decent performance of the ALC887 codec, a discrete sound card would just increase the price of the unit with little gains.
The LAN network adapter is a RealTek RTL8168/8111 and interestingly, the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC also has a RTL8821AE Wireless LAN 802.11ac adapter, which means you won't need to use a long network cable if your PC is far from the router. In addition, the adapter contains a Bluetooth module which could be useful for connecting wirelessly to mice, headphones or speakers. The less cable clutter, the better.
A 6-in-1 card reader is integrated in the front of the unit and provides another connectivity option for the user. Another noteworthy feature is the presence of two USB 3.1 ports in the back of the PC. The new USB 3.1 standard raises the theoretical maximum transfer rate for USB devices to 10 Gbps. To give you an idea of what that means, the contents a fully-loaded 50 gigabyte Blu-Ray disc could be transferred over USB 3.1 in under a minute!
There are other variants available for the ASUS G11CB Gaming PC, from Intel Core i5 processors, up to 32 GB of memory, to a whole range of video cards and storage options. Check out the full list of options on the official ASUS G11CB Gaming PC page.
We definitely look forward to testing the Samsung SSD in combination with the Intel Core i7 processor, they should make the computer feel very snappy and responsive. You can see the results of our testing on the next page of this review.
