PCSpecialist Arc Nova S Review
Conclusion
Conclusion
Consistency is an underrated quality. We might all love to be ‘wowed’, or surprised even, but knowing what to expect has a quality of its own. This is especially true when you’re dealing with limited budgets. When cash is tight the last thing you want is to feel like you’ve wasted it. With PCSpecialist you know that however much, or little, you spend you’ll be rewarded. They will give you the same quality of build and packaging regardless of sticker price.
This Arc Nova S tests that ethos to the extreme. It’s a £899 rig that has all of its value aimed towards performance. There is no concession to flashy RGB lighting. It’s chiefly a performance machine first and last. Indeed, by making use of the newest Intel GPU it actually goes harder than you might imagine. If you’re old, like us, you’ll know that years ago George Michael released a solo album called ‘Listen Without Prejudice’. Aka forget what you know of him from Wham, and just listen on its own merits. The PCSpecialist Arc Nova S could be in that sphere.
If you read our Intel B580 review then it won’t be a massive shock how good the Intel Arc GPU is. However, if you come from a world where only Nvidia or AMD can make graphics cards, you’re in for a treat. And, perhaps, a shock. Intel have delivered a card which can do super-sampling and ray-tracing with the best of them. Significantly better than it has any right to be for the money, pairing it with the massive value for money proposition of the Core i5-12400 ends up making the Arc Nova S a spectacular system for a very affordable entry point.
Tiny Caveats
For this price there will always be compromises. The PCSpecialist Arc Nova S has them in connectivity and lighting. The Gigabyte B760 motherboard primarily has a dearth of USB ports. Keyboard, mouse, webcam, headset and Stream Deck and you’ve already filled it up. If you plan to run a TrackIR and HOTAS or wheel and pedals, you’ll be in need of a USB hub. It’s a small point, but worthy of note. Additionally there are no RGB items. Neither fans nor case light up. Only the “Intel Arc” wording glow on our Sparkle B580. Not the end of the world as you’re looking at the monitor more than the case.
Weaponised Value
By carefully choosing the components, PCSpecialist have once again brought us a system that makes a mockery of its sticker price. The Arc Nova S will run anything at 1080 without compromise, and only mild settings adjustments are necessary at higher resolutions. If you play less demanding titles, the Fortnite/Valorant ones of this world, you’ll be in heaven. Big performance and a small price tag wins the PCSpecialist Arc Nova S our OC3D Value for Money Award.
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