Arctic MC001-BD Blu-Ray Entertainment Center Review

When I have to write this page, it is sometimes made difficult, especially when the benchmarks are in all honesty, not great, but I feel that it made need some explanation as you have to look at it from a worst case scenario view.

We test our components and products on some of the highest settings around, and with a not so high-end unit like this, it can maybe show things in the wrong light. We tested some of the most intense benchmark applications around, to show that this unit is still capable of running them; albeit at low performance levels.

If you’re looking at buying one of these entertainment centres from Arctic, you won’t be looking at rendering CAD designs or playing the likes of Metro 2033, but you always have the facility to do so if you so wish. Instead, you’re likely to want to watch HD footage, some light web surfing and maybe even a slight bit of word processing, and it will handle these tasks with ease and will do so while using little to no power.

In terms of design, the MC001-BD is certainly one of the most stylish units we’ve had pass through our labs and that’s a big plus in our books. It will seamlessly integrate with your HTPC equipment and the slim-line style really makes it stand out, but in a subtle way.

Due to the passive design, you won’t have to put up with any noise and heat shouldn’t be a problem. Due to the type of board and processor used, monitoring the temperatures was a difficult task, but we can honestly say that as long as you leave the unit in its intended upright position, you’ll have no problem with overheating, even when watching HD content or a little bit of light gaming if that’s your preference.

The included TV tuner really adds to the wow factor and just gives more value for money, and the included Blu-Ray player gives extra functionality if you intend to use this for your living room HTPC.

In terms of price, at around £440, it’s certainly not cheap, but you have to think that this isn’t a HTPC unit, but is a fully-fledged desktop PC that is capable of much more than media playback, and with the Blu-Ray player and TV tuner included, you won’t regret it.

This unit is going to be one of those marmite choices, but for me, I have to give my honest overall opinion. I feel that it offers everything a user would need, and is fantastic looking and offers great styling, but I do feel that the price tag will seem a bit steep for some, but it still offers something that other units can’t and to me it really is an innovative product.