Palicomp Phoenix i5 Laser review

There are two free memory slots, which means if you want to add more memory you won’t have to replace the existing modules. The free card slots include two PCI slots and three PCI-E x1 slots, so you can add a variety of expansion cards, such as TV tuners, sound cards or extra ports. Externally, you get a total of eight USB ports, two of which support the faster USB3 standard.

Palicomp has saved a USB port by including a wireless keyboard and mouse set that has a single USB transceiver. The mouse has a nice rubberised top surface which aids grip, and its batteries give it a bit of weight, but the keyboard isn’t great and the page navigation keys are bunched up to save room. You also get a set of 2.1 speakers from Logitech, which will suffice for YouTube and the odd movie.

With a Blu-ray player and HDMI, optical S/PDIF and 7.1 surround audio ports, the Laser can double as a home cinema PC. Unfortunately, it’s paired with an AOC F22+ monitor. This may have a DVI input (and Palicomp includes a DVI cable in the box) but image quality is relatively poor. The backlight is dull and uneven and, as a result, colours lacked punch and the image looked washed-out.

This monitor lets the package down, but the Laser can be bought without the monitor for £485, leaving you with the freedom to choose your own, or use an existing one. As a bundle, it’s not as good value as the Dino PC Jurassic 2500, which is almost as fast and comes with an excellent 24in monitor. If you’re looking for a complete package, the Jurassic is the better choice.