This is phenotype versus genotype:
Phenotype:
http://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/at...r-img_8976.jpg
Genotype:
http://sequencer.de/forumsynth/simpl...r_base/VCO.JPG
Its absolutely possible to judge the performance of a computer that is unmixed and unchanged from the production, by looking at the case and the label on it.
But judging the performance of mixed and modded mashines, by looking at the
case alone is impossible. You cant know if there is a 10Mhz processor in a supercomputers case or if there is a 8Core 3000Mhz processor in a C64 case, because there are no unmodded mashines anymore.