Sony VAIO R series

CNET editors' take

• Reviewed by:
  Rich Brown
• Reviewed on: 06/14/2004
• Updated on: 11/07/2009

It's no secret that Intel's new Prescott CPUs generate lots of heat. What will be interesting is how desktop manufacturers respond to the challenge. Sony's new R series is the first in what is sure to be a flood of atypical cases designed to keep things cool. One R-series model, the VAIO RA710G, is available now on Sony's Web site, and other R-series systems are expected to launch in a week when Intel releases its new Grantsdale and Alderwood chipsets.

Upside: By isolating the CPU in a separate upper chamber away from the massive power supply of its new VAIO R series, Sony has created a striking new chassis design. And if the hole in the middle isn't different enough for you, perhaps the conduction cooling system and the massive fan will be. Aside from boasting an original design, expect this system to compete with performance PCs from all of the other major desktop vendors, thanks to Intel's latest, most-powerful processors and chipsets, plus a new PCI Express video card from ATI. In addition to Microsoft's Windows Media Center OS, expect Sony's usual loadout of multipurpose media software to round out the package.

Downside: The size of this system and the lengths to which Sony goes to keep it cool don't bode well for the short-term future of unobtrusive, high-end computing--at least if you're using an Intel processor. The case design is undoubtedly striking, but that doesn't mean you'll have an easy time finding a spot for it in your living room if you're planning to integrate it in your home-theater setup. Also, the RA710G model, with a high-end Prescott processor and an outdated graphics card, sells for around $1,700 (without a monitor). We're afraid to hear what it'll cost for one of the newer R-series models with the latest technology.

Outlook: Although the case reminds us of the towering, black monolith from 2001, we can't help but be intrigued by a design that's so different. Since it uses Windows Media Center as its operating system, Sony opted to pare down its own media software in favor of streamlining management--a move we hope will further streamline the process of using your PC for home entertainment.

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