Sapphire EDGE VS8 Barebones Model Review (8GB/SSD)

Rating: 9.0.

Kitguru has reviewed many of the diminutive, versatile Sapphire EDGE systems in the last couple of years. We reviewed the EDGE HD3 in February 2012, powered by the AMD E450 and the EDGE VS8 in December 2012, powered by the AMD A8 4555M APU. In early February we also reviewed the latest Celeron powered EDGE HD4. Today however we have something really special for you – the enthusiast focused barebones version of the EDGE VS8.

The EDGE VS8 has been my personal favourite of all the EDGE systems I have reviewed to date. The quad core AMD A8 4555M APU (1.6ghz) proved quite powerful and capable of handling a variety of tasks, a significant step above the Intel ATOM processors of yesteryear. It also demands very little power at the socket, which is a huge selling point if the system is to be left on 24/7.

My biggest problem with all of Sapphire's EDGE systems has been the company insistence on including a painfully slow 2.5 inch 5,400 rpm mechanical hard drive. This has had a hugely negative impact on the overall performance of the system.

The barebones version of the EDGE VS8 negates this concern, as the system doesn't ship with memory or a hard drive. You therefore have the option to populate this unit with whatever memory and hard drive, or solid state drive that you want. As the starting price has also been reduced accordingly this is surely a good thing.

The EDGE VS8 is built inside a tiny little chassis which is vertically mounted on a supplied stand. If the barebones VS8 is too expensive, then Sapphire also sell a VS4 version. This system features the 1.9ghz, dual core AMD A4-4335m.

Become a Patron!