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While many people are excited about Intel’s powerful new Ivy Bridge processors, not everyone needs a massively overpowered processor or the latest in 3D graphics. The majority of PC users still mainly use their computers to use social networks and the web, exchange emails, chat and write the odd letter. If the nearest you regularly come to 3D gaming is the odd game of Bejewelled Blitz, you don’t need to spend a fortune on a PC.
The Zoostorm Home Media Desktop is, at £395, a modestly priced mini desktop system. It’s not much to look at and it’s surprisingly noisy for its size, but it doesn’t take up much space, either, so it’s easy to unobtrusively stick under a desk or into a corner. The case’s interior is bare metal; there are no unfinished edges to cut yourself on but it looks stark and has wide mesh vents that do little to prevent fluff from getting into the case. There are no fans to keep it cool but with only a bare minimum of components, this PC runs little risk of overheating.
The processor is a 2.8GHz AMD FX-4170, plugged into a Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2P motherboard. The processor’s integrated AMD Radeon HD 3000 graphics couldn’t handle any of our 3D gaming tests, although it should be able to cope with casual 2D games such as Plants vs Zombies. In our application benchmarks, the system got an overall score of 52. It’s nothing to write home about, but should be sufficient for a modest user.
The motherboard is a no-frills model, with just one PCI, one PCI-E x1 and one PCI-E x16 slot. This gives you a modest amount of upgrade potential, but if you want to add a powerful graphics card, you’ll have to also upgrade the 350W power supply and add some fans to the case. There are only two memory slots, both of which are occupied by 4GB modules – 8GB is the maximum the motherboard can handle, but it’s unlikely you’ll need more. There are six SATA ports – none of them SATA3 – of which two are in use for a DVD drive and a 500GB hard disk. The hard disk is surprisingly small by modern standards. There’s one empty 5 1/4in drive and three unused 3 1/2in bays, one of which is external so can be fitted with accessories such as a memory card reader.
There are two USB ports, a headphone port and a mic input beneath a flap at the front of the PC. There’s not much at the back, either; just four USB ports – none of them USB3 – two PS/2 ports for a keyboard and mouse, Gigabit Ethernet, 5.1 analogue audio outputs, plus DVI and VGA graphics outputs. The PC comes with a keyboard and mouse. They’re functional, but that’s about all you can say. Although the keyboard’s layout made for easy typing, its keys are uncomfortably rough and rather rattly. The optical mouse is light and doesn’t glide particularly well, but does the job.
This is a reasonable PC, but its £395 price is a little high given its limited upgradeability, poor integrated graphics and surprising noisiness. If you’re after a basic PC, you’re better off with the Overclockers Primo 6100i, which currently costs around £350 and has a more powerful Intel Core i3-2100 processor and a quieter and more attractive case, or the £440 Palicomp Hyper Flame, which is well made and has outstanding integrated graphics performance thanks to its AMD Llano A8-3850 processor.
