Review: Boxx Apexx 2

Introduction, design and specs

The Boxx company offers many different high performance and rendering systems that include workstations, virtual solutions, server-based rendering solutions, and simulation solutions. The Boxx team builds custom machines that focus on AutoCad, 3D, VFX, animation, multimedia, video editing, video game creation, and more.

The Boxx Apexx 2 workstation (starting at $2,086.00, £1399.43, AU$2739.58) is a wonderful purchase for anyone who is looking for a computer that can produce amazing performance for AutoCAD and 3D modeling applications.

Competing in the same arena as top-tier workstations like the Fujitsu Celsius W530 (around $2,160, £1,430, AU$2,680), the Dell Precision T7610 (about $3445, £2027.40, AU$3660), and the Mac Pro, ($2,999, £2,499, or AU$3,999), the Apexx is an underdog that holds its own very well.

Design

You aren't buying this workstation for its looks. Built like any old standard rectangular mid-tower desktop, the Apexx has no visual differentiators from most of the desktop computers you used in the early 2000s. It features a black chassis with a black vent that covers about 70% of the front side. Above the vent is a power button and a rewriteable DVD drive.

Beneath the drive you'll find two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. On the back of the Apexx 2, there are four USB 2.0, four USB 3.0, an HDMI port from the video onboard, an 8-channel audio connection, a gigabit ethernet input, and an S/PDIF Out (Optical) port. So, you're not looking at something very pretty, but never mind that - you won't find yourself disappointed once you plug in.

Specs

The Boxx Apexx 2 Workstation features the latest 4th generation Intel Core i7 and Intel Xeon processors. The machine can take up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 RAM and it supports full-sized professional GPUs.

Internally, the Apexx 2 that I was given has an Asus Gryphon Z97 socket LGA 1150 motherboard that offers incredible performance. On top of the motherboard is the processor, which is fitted with an awesome water-cooled kit that exhausts on the bottom rear of the case.

The Apexx 2 comes with two hard drives, a 256 GB SSD SATA III for the OS and a 2TB 7200RPM drive for data storage and general files. This allows you the performance of using AutoCAD and rendering high end files and being able to store huge renders on your secondary HDD.

With regards to graphics, the Apexx features an NVIDIA Quadro K5200 8GB PCI-E installed and, if/when the time comes, the Apexx 2 can support two Quadro GPUs as the box does come with an SLI connector. The NVIDIA Quadro has two Display Ports, one DVI-D port, and one DVI-I port.

And powering this whole thing? Well, a simple 555w power supply.

Now, remember, this is customizable, so you can change processor, add more hard drives, and a secondary GPU.

Performance and flaws

Spec Sheet

• Processor: Intel Core™i7 i7-4790K 4.0ghz (Turbo Boost to 4.5ghz)
• Graphics: NVIDIA Quadro K5200 8GB
• RAM: 16GB DDR3 1600mhz
• Screen: ASUS VG248QE
• Storage: Intel 730 SERIES 2.5-Inch 240 GB Internal SSD SSDSC2BP240G4
• Storage: 1 2TB Western Digital RE WD2000FYYZ 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA
• Optical Drive: 20x Dual layer DVD +/- R/W Writer or Blu-ray RW Drive
• Ports: 2 USB 3.0 Front, 2 USB 2.0 Front, 4 USB 3.0 Rear, 4 USB 2.0 Rear
• Power: 550w 80 Plus Gold Power Supply
• Connectivity: 1 Gigabit Ethernet Port
• Camera: None
• Weight: 30 lbs (13.61kg)
• Dimensions: 6.85" W x 14.6" H x 16.6" D (17.4 cm x 45.7 cm x 51.3 cm)

Performance

The Apexx 2 takes only 28.12 seconds to boot, and only 4.85 seconds to log in once you're up and running. It took only 41.68 seconds to reboot the machine, and that was with unforeseen Windows updates. You literally (and this word gets thrown around a lot) plug the Apexx 2 in and it works. Period.

Now, to put perspective on multi-process handling, I tried to do as much as I could to pin the Apexx 2 process wise. So, I streamed music from Spotify, opened a ton of Chrome and IE windows, played a movie in HD on both Netflix and Amazon, I had a program that was writing a 1TB file to the 7200 RPM drive, I played Call of Duty Ghosts in the highest resolution possible, and I was running a Linux machine using Oracle's VirtualBox. I found no lag in frame rate and no choppiness in audio. The Boxx Apexx 2 is a workhorse that would not relent no matter what I threw at it.

Here's how it performed on our standard benchmark tests:

• 3DMark: Fire Strike 6741; Sky Diver 20799; Cloud Gate 24941
• CineBench: OpenGL 158.27 fps, CPU 854 cb
• PCMark 8: 4565

Flaws

Unlike other computer manufacturers, Boxx Technologies does not have a 24/7 support staff. While the 24/7 support is not something I've used often, it does come in handy in those awful late nights that come up.

The only real complaint I can find, if I have to be really picky, is the lack of a WiFi adapter. But this point is somewhat moot as the Boxx Apexx 2 Workstation is geared toward businesses and professionals who are more than likely connected to an ethernet network.

Verdict

If you're looking for a flashy design built by a manufacturer with a tremendous advertising budget, then you're in the wrong place. Boxx Technologies isn't a household name, and its machines aren't the sexiest devices you've ever used, but underneath the hood, you're getting top-notch performance at a comparable price.

We liked

The Boxx Apexx 2 Workstation has everything you need for those AutoCAD, multimedia, and animation departments that really require heavy performance. Although, the Apexx 2 looks like a standard office computer, it is backed by tremendous specs that are almost guaranteed to never let you down.

The ability to expand and customize this unit is a major plus, as your needs will likely change over time.

We disliked

Lack of WiFi and the lack of 24/7 tech support are disappointing, but they aren't game changers. If you have the same experience I had with my unit, you likely won't need round-the-clock support. However, given the price of each unit, you probably don't want anything to be missing from your new device.

Final verdict

If performance is the core need for your company then you've found yourself an ideal device. If you're trying to wow visitors with sexy machines that sit nicely at the front of the office, go elsewhere. The Boxx Apexx 2 Workstation will provide the speed, functionality, and performance that will become the foundation for how you work.

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