Month: July 2022

This PC Specialist gaming machine has an Intel-beating AMD CPU and graphics that can handle any 1440p gaming scenario inside a classy case

The PC Specialist Magma R2 is the first system we’ve seen with one of AMD’s new Ryzen 5 3600XT processors – a chip designed to fight back against Intel’s newer Core i5-10600K.

Elsewhere, the Magma serves up an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Super graphics card and a 500GB Samsung SSD for a price of £1,199. That cost undercuts this many rivals, but can it compete with better specifications and beefier graphics cards?

Design & Build
The Magma R2 immediately draws the eye thanks to its Cooler Master MasterBox TD500 chassis.

It’s one of the more gregarious mid-tower enclosures on the market: it’s dominated by a swathe of dark, angled mesh, and that’s surrounded by matt black plastic that maintains the bold angles. The tempered glass side panel is streaked with slats, and the front is illuminated by three RGB LED intake fans.

It’s just as attractive as PC Specialist’s own Fnatic Gaming PC, it’s better-looking than the PC Specialist Vulcan S2, and it’s smarter and more conventional than the AlphaBeta i5 RTX. It’s miles more attractive than the Asus ROG Strix G15DH, which looks dated and dull in comparison.

The Cooler Master case is conventional on the inside – which is no bad thing. The chassis has plenty of cable-routing holes, and PC Specialist has done a grand job of keeping cables neat. There’s a PSU shroud too, which also contributes to a tidy build.

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It might still look the same, but what could well be the last Intel iMac is one of the best desktops you can buy thanks to a number of upgrades

If this is the last Intel iMac then I won’t be too sad, because it’s a mighty fine computer. Apple may be moving on to use its own CPUs in the coming months, but this swansong for the 27in iMac design of the last decade is not only one of the best iMacs ever, it’s one of the best desktop computers around.

I’ll concede that when you’re spending this much it might be nice to have an updated design, but bezels matter less on desktop computers than on laptops. The iMac design is a classic, and with a display this good on a machine with no tower unit is alright in my book.

Apple has said it will continue to support this and older Intel Macs with software updates, and after a good month with the 2020 iMac I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone.

Design & Build
If you have seen or used an iMac in the last five years, then you will know what you’re getting here. Some critics have pushed this as a downside, but I honestly don’t see it as one when the design is this good.

The excellent space-saving advantage of not needing a traditional tower with cables trailing all over the place can’t be overstated and it’s still crazy that the entire guts of the iMac is behind the display.

The power cable in the box is the only cable you need to run the machine, though it’s still annoying you can’t move the display up and down – it only tilts to offer different angles.Apple is all but certain to update the iMac design with the next version that uses its own silicon, so if that bothers you then you should wait.

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The Acer Nitro N50-610 is a gaming PC that doesn’t cost the earth, with change for £1,000. When most gaming systems command huge prices and don’t necessarily offer good value, this system stands out.

Acer’s latest machine, the N50-610 to be precise, does make compromises to hit its low price– so let’s find out if this budget option is a genuine bargain or if you’d be better off spending a little more on a better machine.

Design & Build
The Acer Nitro N50 uses the same underlying chassis as the Acer Predator Orion 3000, which means sturdy metal and plastic throughout alongside a modest 392mm height and 175mm width. Those humble dimensions mean that the Nitro can be placed into compact home configurations and easily transported, and the impressive build quality ensures that this rig will withstand frequent trips.

The Nitro differs from its stablemate aesthetically. The Acer Nitro N50 has a front panel with black metal, gunmetal grey plastic and a slashed indent that glows with red lighting. The front of the Acer has single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports and two audio jacks, which is reasonable connectivity – and they’re not hidden behind a flimsy door.

It’s certainly not ugly, but this cheaper Acer looks a little immature, and it’s not as eye-catching as the Predator. The Nitro misses out on exterior features, too – the more expensive Acer has RGB LEDs, a handle, and a headphone holder.

On the inside, the Acer Nitro N50 is underwhelming, with bare metal and untidy cabling. When it comes to upgrading, there’s a single drive bay for 2.5in and 3.5in hardware and a couple of spare memory slots, but that’s it. This PC is not supposed to be opened. There’s another rival that looms over this PC and the Predator Orion 3000 – literally.

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Dell continues to update its range of Alienware gaming hardware and the latest Aurora gaming PC is a bit of a beast in more ways than one and comes in a range of prices and specs.

It’s a little confusing because you’ll find the Aurora in both R10 and R11 versions. I’m not testing the previous generation here because Dell is using those model numbers to differentiate Intel and AMD powered machines.

This isn’t made particularly clear, least of all on the official store which simply calls them the ‘New Aurora’ (that’s the R11 Intel range) and the ‘New Aurora Ryzen Edition’, which is the AMD option.

Design & Build
Over the years Alienware products have been pretty chonky and it became part of the style. Things have improved and although the firm has made some compact PCs like the X51, the Aurora R10 does not fit in the same category.

In fact, I’m not sure where it does fit. If it were a bus, you wouldn’t be able to say “You can fit a bus through there mate” and be referring to the Aurora R10 in good conscience. To say it’s a chonky boy is an understatement, it almost completely obscures a Dell 27in AIO on my desk in the photos.

This is the biggest PC I’ve ever tested so you probably get the point by now. Make sure you have space for it and, at a whopping 17.8kg, don’t go putting it on anything flimsy. The floor is probably the most suitable place.

Tucked under a desk doesn’t really mean missing out on the design either as it’s a little plain and the nicest bit is at the front. That’s certainly the case with the Dark Side of the Moon black model I was sent, the Lunar Light has more going on.

For a high-end gaming PC, from Alienware no less, there’s a surprising lack of lighting around the chassis. It really consists of the logo and the ring light. Note that the R11 has a slightly more interesting design at the front with more lights.

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The Acer Predator Orion 3000 is compact, robust and reasonably quick, but rivals are faster and offer more features for similar prices

The Acer Predator Orion 3000 is a new big-brand gaming desktop, and it’s always easy to look at these machines cynically – too often, machines from big companies are expensive and underpowered when compared to rivals from local experts.

The Predator – PO3-620 in this case for the model name – arrives with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 inside and an Intel 10th-gen CPU for UK buyers, and on this side of the Atlantic, it costs £1,299. If you’re buying in the US, the machine costs $1,299 and upgrades to an RTX 2060 Super graphics card.

Design & Build
The Acer Predator Orion 3000 has a decent external design. The front panel has a good-looking slate of tempered glass with an RGB LED fan, two streaks of matching light and vertical slabs of mesh. It looks just as good as the systems from boutique builders. The triangular power button has RGB LEDs too, and a replacement side panel with tempered glass is included in the box.

The impressive aesthetic is bolstered by good build quality – the side panels, front panels and roof are strong. There’s a handle on top, and the rig is just 392mm tall and 175mm wide. That’s small by gaming desktop standards and it means that this PC is easy to carry to LAN parties and friends’ houses.

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