PC Base Units Test

Tests

"MSI Wind Top AE1900"

1 Desktop (approx. £550)

Published on 10/2009

On test: MSI Wind Top AE1900 WT

"All-in-one PCs have been around for ages and it’s not hard to understand their appeal. They feature the wire-free tidiness of a laptop, combined with the big screen of a desktop PC. The concept sustains many admirers, with Apple’s iMac range doing very well indeed with just such a form factor." Review details: Single Test → Test results

"Advent AIO101 review"

1 PC Base Unit

Published on 9/2009

On test: Advent AIO-101

"A mysterious new AMD processor and ATI graphics card upgrade the AIO100 into the Advent AIO101 all-in-one PC." Review details: Single Test. One budget desktop PC was reviewed and rated on build quality, features and value. → Test results

"Asus Eee Box B204"

1 Desktop (approx. £230)

Published on 7/2009

On test: Asus Eee Box B204

Turning the nettop into a suitable device for home media centre use, Asus' original Eee Box lacked the power to present HD video. The new Eee Box B204 has been upgraded with an 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 graphics chip to provide just that. Review details: Single Test → Test results

"Advent AIO-156"

1 Desktop

Published on 6/2009

On test: Advent AIO 156

Building on their original AIO-100 nettop, Advent's AIO-156 is largely the same in build and internals. The screen though has been replaced by a smaller 15.6" 1366 x 768 display, but in this case it's also a touchscreen. Review details: Single Test → Test results

PC Base Units

If you are upgrading your system buying just the computer base unit is a great way to save money and some of those treasured accessories you have built up over the lifespan of your current computer. A base unit will provide you with the heart of the set-up, leaving the choice of monitor, speakers, keyboard and mouse up to you. The benefits of this are that your old input devices and screen can simply be plugged straight back into the new system and can often be of better quality than many of the budget devices that system builders bundle with their packages on all but the most high-end models.

When buying just the base unit it is thus possible to bump up the specs by offsetting the cost of extras. Nowadays 2GB of RAM is a must, most systems only come with 1GB or even as low as 512MB, which is simply not enough to run software such as Windows Vista or a video editing suite. Also look out for a large hard drive as this will allow you to store more data, leaving you free to go wild on iTunes (other online music stores are available) and still have enough space for the 1000 holiday snaps you shot in Cancun to document the cultural legacy of the Aztec civilisation on modern day dance-hall architecture and costume.

A dual-core processor is a must for any new system, allowing for higher efficiency when multitasking and also providing some much needed relief in terms of heat-production and power consumption, offering, in result, lower electricity bills and an all-round eco-friendlier system.

The minimum outlay for a new computer base system will be around the three hundred pound mark. Granted this will not include a monitor, which will add a further hundred pounds onto the price, but the flexibility of being able to choose you own accessories means that you could end up with a better system for only a small price premium.

PC Base Units

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PC Base Units