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You may think that £800 or £1,000 is the least you can expect to spend on a new PC, but Aries has launched the P4C-1.7G at a mere £399.
There are no tricks or catches and the PC comes complete with Windows XP Home, an office suite, a monitor and a warranty.
It is a fully working desktop computer that is incredibly cheap, thanks to some pretty vicious cost-cutting in the specification.
The processor is one of the newer Intel Celerons running at 1.7GHz. These are based on the Pentium 4 processor but are designed as a cheaper, slower alternative.
In our SysMark 2002 test the Aries scored relatively poorly, something we expected for a computer at this price. That said, the Aries is more than adequate for using the internet and simple home use.
Upgrade options are limited, with no chance of stepping up to a Pentium 4 at a later date without throwing out the motherboard as well.
The motherboard is unusual as it has two memory slots for SDR memory and two slots for faster DDR memory. However, you can only use one memory type at a time.
Aries has chosen to fit a single 256MB module of the slower PC133 SDR memory to keep costs down. 32MB of this is used by the integrated S3 graphics chip, which leaves 224MB for system use.
We have no doubt that DDR memory would have helped performance but the modest score in our 3D tests suggests that this is not a computer for games.
It also comes with a 40GB hard disk, which is plenty for most users. In addition to the modem, there is also a network port, so fast internet connections won't be a problem.
While the motherboard gives very few options for upgrades, it does have a vacant AGP slot, so you could install a better graphics card to add a few gaming thrills.
The most obvious evidence of cost-cutting is the 15in AOC monitor. We haven't seen a 15in monitor for a year or so but, again, this is a super-budget PC and we were surprised to get a monitor at all. At a resolution of 800 x 600 and a refresh rate of 85Hz, the picture is clear and sharp.
There is no CD-RW drive included, which comes as a bit of a shock as virtually every PC has one these days.
The Aries does include a DVD-Rom drive though. The audio is a very basic integrated chip and Aries doesn't even include a set of speakers. It's probably best to stick to headphones.
The basic warranty is one year parts and labour plus five years labour only, which can be upgraded to three years' parts and labour and three years' labour for £40.
We feel that the P4C-1.7G PC is best taken for what it is: a very cheap PC that has legitimate uses if you want to write letters, use email and browse the web with the occasional game of solitaire thrown in for good measure.
Aries includes a copy of Ability Office, so you'll be able to write letters and use spreadsheets from the off.
Price: £399 (incl. VAT)
Contact: 0870 220 0700
www.savastore.com
See also:
For £700 you'd expect less power and speed than this system gives you. 17 Apr 2003
A 2GHz PC for less than £700. Is this system too good to be true? 05 Dec 2002
Packs all the essential hardware of a modern PC into a device the size of an Apple PowerCube, but at a fraction of the cost. 04 Oct 2002
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