Palicomp Phoenix i5 Supreme desktop computer base unit

Editor's note (14 December, 2011): we have been informed that the price of this computer has increased to £500 (from £450) since we reviewed it, as a result of  recent hard disk price increases. Apologies for any confusion. The change in price does not change our score or verdict.

The Palicomp Phoenix i5 Supreme is a computer base unit – it includes a keyboard, mouse and the main processing unit, but it doesn't have a monitor.

If you're not planning to connect it to a monitor you have already, or a TV, you'll need to factor in the cost of a new screen. As a base unit, though, it's ideal for people who do already have a screen and just want to upgrade from their existing computers.

The main unit is around the standard size for desktop ‘tower' computers, though it's a little deep so it may stick out a little if you're placing it under a particularly short desk.

On the front panel are the power buttons, two USB sockets and headphone and mouse connections. There's also an optical disc drive that will read and write CDs and DVDs in all formats, and will read but not create Blu-ray discs. It has a capacious 1TB (1,000GB) hard disk for file storage.

On the back are four more USB sockets (these and the front panel ones use the older USB 2 technology) and two of the newer, faster USB 3 sockets.

It also has a wired network socket (like most desktop PCs it can't connect to wireless networks unless you buy and install a wireless add-in card), surround-sound output sockets, a combined keyboard-and-mouse socket and DVI, VGA and HDMI connections so it'll connect to most monitors and flat-panel TVs.

Interestingly, it has a feature that used to be common but is little-seen these days: a power input socket, so you can plug your monitor into it and save on the number of mains sockets you'll need to take up.

Inside the PC are an Intel Core i5-2500K processor, which is near the top of Intel's Core i5 range, and 8GB of memory.

Those components helped it to a blisteringly fast score in our DVD-copying test, which replicates heavy real-world use and which means it'll be fast for photo and video-editing as well as other intensive tasks such as making music, and email and office tasks will present no problem at all.

It wasn't quite up to the mark when it came to games: there's no separate graphics card so in-game graphics have to rely on the main processor, which means performance was poor.

Despite the fast main processor you'll need to severely turn down games' settings to get them working well, or add a graphics card at extra cost. It's fine for playing high-definition video, however, such as from the BBC iPlayer or a Blu-ray film.

Expansion-wise, there's some potential. Although all four of the memory slots are used up, there are lots of PCI-Express expansion slots free inside the case, along with free drive bays for hard disks or other devices.

The computer is loaded with the 64-bit edition of the Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and comes with a three-year ‘return to base' warranty under the computer must be returned to Palicomp should repairs be required.

Other than the poor games performance our only qualm was with the supplied keyboard and mouse, which were usable but not particularly ergonomic or comfortable. The computer's fan was audible but not particularly loud by PC standards.

Overall the Palicomp Phoenix i5 Supreme is a good-value PC for upgraders or others who aren't big games-players.