ViewQwest Black explained

[mr_voodoo]

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/feat...s-end-end-10gbps-home-fiber-broadband-service

Disclaimer: I am a VQ subscriber and despite some minor hiccups, I am generally a satisfied customer. VQ NOC's customer service and attention to detail is unparalleled.

My gripe here is with Hardwarezone not exploring the topic thoroughly as a tech site/magazine. It's a shame that the issues are to do with technology and hardware, something Hardwarezone is supposed to specialise and inform their readers about.

The system starts from a price and probably allows for upgrading, but the base system and specifications which the article covers does not qualify as 10Gbps ready or arguably even be considered high-end.

Briefly, the Aftershock Boost, which starts from S$2,800, is decked with high-end PC components, such as an ASUS H170M Plus motherboard, Intel Core i7-6700 CPU, a Zotac NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphics card with 4GB VRAM, 8GB RAM, and a 120GB Samsung 850 Evo SSD.

More importantly, the Aftershock Boost has an ASUS 10Gbps PCI Express fiber module, so users can plug the cable directly to the PC. I was told that a substantial portion of the Boost’s price goes to this 10Gbps module.

So far, you can only get the Aftershock Boost if you subscribe to ViewQwest Black, but ViewQwest isn’t discounting the possibility of selling it to other folks who need it.

Ultimately, I’ve to give props to ViewQwest for trying to offer a “hassle-free, end-to-end experience”, going as far as to have a ready-made system for customers.

1) The system is utilizing an 850 EVO SSD which would only be able to achieve a THEORETICAL MAXIMUM OF 550mb/s over SATA which would equate to approximately 4400mbps.

850 EVO Max Write Speeds from Samsung's Product Page is stated as 520mb/s http://www.samsung.com/global/busin...SSD/global/html/ssd850evo/specifications.html

Though the stated write speeds for the 850EVO is 520mb/s we will go with the higher 550mb/s.

The SATA interface used by the 850 EVO would theoretically only allow a maximum throughput of 4.4gbps which isn't even half of the 10gbps connection.

The system's SSD is in no way capable of handling a 10Gbps connection. Nowhere is this mentioned in the article along with any mention of the newer NVME standard.

2)

More importantly, the Aftershock Boost has an ASUS 10Gbps PCI Express fiber module, so users can plug the cable directly to the PC. I was told that a substantial portion of the Boost’s price goes to this 10Gbps module.

Intel 10Gbe Ethernet or SFP+ PCIe cards can be purchased at prices below 100sgd easily from sites like eBay. Intel networking cards are well known among enthusiasts to be the best solution over other brands in general.

Some HWZ forum members have even mentioned this in the forums as well, after the earlier article from HWZ on how to get 10gbps ready.

Here's a screenshot of the Intel X520 that I purchased on eBay for $60 ($87 inclusive of shipping) over a month ago and has been working perfectly fine. There are in fact other cheaper and more reputable sellers available on eBay and Taobao.

With the top tier 10gbps PCIe NICs going for below $100, it seems like pure embellishment to state that 10gbps NICs cost a lot and that a "substantial portion of the Boost’s price goes to this 10Gbps module"

It is perfectly fine for a company selling products to state and play up certain aspects of their product. That's marketing talk.

However, it is NOT FINE for a Hardwarezone as a tech portal/magazine to not research and inform it's readers with the correct information. It simply seems like a regurgitation of a press release and reporting "hear-say"

3) The article goes on to say:

Ultimately, I’ve to give props to ViewQwest for trying to offer a “hassle-free, end-to-end experience”, going as far as to have a ready-made system for customers.

The "ready-made system" can't even handle a 10gbps to begin with and Hardwarezone as an authoritative tech site gives them "props"

I could go on about how a system with 120gb SSD and 8Gb ram would not qualify as "decked with high-end" in 2016, especially from a tech site's POV but that's for another day.

 

[chucks]

Hi mr_voodoo,

My bad for this late reply.

Indeed, you've raised some good points, and I've a few people asking me the same things you did.

You are certainly right to say that 10GbE adapters and switches, like those from Intel and Netgear, can be had easily and affordably these days (compared to 2 years back). Thing is, Aftershock has opted for an ASUS 10GbE module in this case, and they're the one that said that the module isn't cheap when I questioned them about the Boost's pricing. Those with the know-how of building his own 10GbE system may not buy that argument and so don't think the Boost is worth the money, I've no objection to that. My kudos is for the fact that VQ actually bothered to partner Aftershock to try to build a system for the new plan.

That said, I do agree too that having a 10GbE adapter alone doesn't constitute a 10Gb-ready system, if the CPU and storage subsystems aren't adequately addressed, a point I've since added to the article.

Thanks for the feedback!