A cheap and cheerful PC that's so quiet you'll forget it's there
Desktop computers used to be plain black boxes. Now they come with UFO landing lights, rocket exhaust vents and Formula 1 spoilers. But what if you just want something that gets on with the job, neither seen nor heard? PC builder Chillblast - which isn’t usually averse to an LED-backlit grille or dual-radiator water cooler - has pushed all the stops back in for this exercise in understatement. The Fusion Orion i3 takes a selection of the latest affordable components and hides them inside a box so black, it'll attract nobody's attention but Stephen Hawking.
The case is actually Ace’s Ecco 250. Not only is it devoid of shape or colour, it has an internal layer of noise-absorbing material that, just like a real black hole, allows nothing to escape. Switch on the PC, and - apart from a baleful red power light - the only clue you’ll have that it’s started doing anything is when the Windows 10 desktop appears.
It may be one of the smallest, plainest PC cases you can buy - in fact, one of the most perfectly featureless objects in the known universe - but we like to think it has a hint of style. On closer inspection, a series of diagonal vents runs down the left side of the matt front panel. And one of the two cutouts at the top conceals, in this configuration, a DVD writer drive.
Minimal it may be. but the Fusion Orion i3 isn’t lacking in power on the inside. Although the Intel Core i3-6100 processor is the least powerful of Intel’s latest Skylake chips, it packs a serious punch for everyday Windows tasks, partly thanks to its 3.7GHz clock speed. There’s barely any delay when opening programs, loading web pages or applying filters to photos. The processor only has two cores, while many have four, but Intel’s hyper threading technology puts them to exceptionally good use in more strenuous tasks, such as video rendering. With 8GB of fast memory, this system is ready for most things you’ll throw at it.
Even when you do, the processor’s cooling fan remains practically inaudible. There’s little else to heat up, since there’s no separate graphics card, but the integrated Intel HD graphics 530 will cope with older 3D games and the likes of Minecraft. VGA, DVI and HDMI ports give you plenty of ways to attach a monitor, and alongside them on the back panel are four USB 2.0 ports and two of the faster USB 3.0, as well as 3.5mm jacks for a microphone and speakers. On the front, where they're easier to reach, are two extra USB 2.0 ports and 3.5mm headphone and mic jacks.
Many desktop PCs come without Wi-Fi, but an 802.11n adapter is included here in case your router isn’t nearby. If you’re likely to be using a wireless connection full time, it’s worth paying an extra tenner to upgrade this to 802.11ac, and this gets you Bluetooth too, letting you use accessories such as a wireless keyboard without extra USB dongles.
The 1TB hard drive is a hybrid type, with 8GB of flash memory to speed it up. There’s a bit of room left for future expansion, with a PCI Express port free for a graphics card: the power supply provides 500 watts, enough for any of today’s mid-range cards.
The subtle styling, quiet running and competent performance make the Fusion Orion i3 a dependable budget computer, and with Chillblast’s five-year warranty (free collect and return for the first two years, labour only for the last three) it’s a wise buy.
VERDICT
Everything you want in a basic PC, plus room for expansion later - it's a sensible system and a great deal.
SPECIFICATIONS
3.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-6100 processor • 8GB memory • 1TB hybrid drive • 2x USB 3.0 ports • 6x USB 2.0 ports • Gigabit Ethernet • HDMI port • DVI port • VGA port • Windows 10 • 395x187x367mm (HxWxD) • Two-year warranty