If you want the latest technology and have cash to splash, the Evesham Evolution 34AIX could be just the computer for you. It uses a significant amount of new technology, including a new type of motherboard that is another step in the evolution of the PC. This motherboard has a number of important features, including a new connector that allows it to accept one of the latest processors - Intel's 3.4GHz 'Socket T' Pentium 4.

The Evolution 34AIX also uses 512Mb of DDR2 memory - the fastest currently available. Perhaps more significantly, the computer uses PCI Express technology. This feature allows graphics cards to operate much faster, meaning potentially better visuals. In the case of the Evolution 34AIX, the nVidia Geforce FX 5900XT graphics card does an admirable job, but we've seen better performance from more powerful graphics cards that use the older AGP connector.

The rest of the Evolution 34AIX is more familiar. Its 160Gb hard disk isn't the largest we've seen, but it should provide adequate storage unless you plan to save a large number of movies. Evesham has tried to prevent bottlenecks in the PC, whereby slow components hold up the faster ones, by making sure the hard disk is linked to the rest of the computer with a serial ATA cable rather than the more traditional parallel connection.

The recordable DVD drive supports both plus and minus discs, but not DVD-RAM. Fortunately, there are relatively few home DVD players that recognise this type of disc.

Evesham could have preserved some of its budget by using the more than adequate sound capabilities built into the motherboard, but has instead chosen to supply a top-notch Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS sound card. This is complemented by some impressive seven-channel Inspire T7700 speakers.

The 17in Viewsonic VP171S monitor is also a good inclusion. It's a high-quality display that is just as good for watching movies as it is for everyday use.

At £1,399, the Evolution 34AIX isn't the cheapest computer, but it is one of the best performers we have seen, and the new technologies will make it simpler to upgrade components in the future.

Contact: Evesham 0870 160 9500
www.evesham.com