Mesh Elite 3450-W8CS review

The processor is an Intel Core i5-3450. It’s not overclockable, but at its stock speed of 3.1GHz it did a great job in our application benchmarks with an overall score of 105. This makes it very slightly quicker than the Intel Core i5-2500K – our favourite processor from last year – so there’s still plenty of power for everyday applications.

The system has 8GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 memory, in two 4GB modules. 8GB RAM should be plenty for most users’ needs. There are only two memory slots on the motherboard, though, so if you require more, you’ll have to replace the existing modules. SATA ports are also in short supply, with just one SATA3 port and three SATA2 ports. Two of the SATA2 ports are available for extra storage.

If external storage is more your thing, then you’ll appreciate the pair of USB3 ports at the back of the motherboard, along with four USB ports and two PS/2 ports for older keyboards and mice. There are another two USB ports on the case’s front panel, alongside 3.5mm mic and headphone ports. The PC doesn’t have digital audio outputs to connect to a surround sound amplifier, but three 3.5mm stereo ports provide support for 5.1 analogue surround sound.

The PC comes with an Acer G22HQL monitor. It’s a 21.5in display with great viewing angles and even backlighting, although it has a mild grainy texture and a slightly pink tone out of the box. Despite this, its clear image makes it comfortable to use for long periods. The Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse set are similarly no-frills but functional, although the keyboard in particular feels rattly and plasticky. Despite its limited upgrade potential, this is a good system for the price, with a processor and graphics card that are both capable of tackling the latest software. It’s a good buy if you fancy a Windows 8 PC on a budget.