Zoostorm Core 2 Quad Q6600 Advanced Premium PC in Desktop PCs

So the Zoostorm certainly doesn't tick all the boxes: the monitor is nothing special and there's no discernable gaming ability - present or future. But the use of a quad-core processor is something that's only just beginning to filter down to this sort of budget price point, and it offers a tremendous level of performance and responsiveness absent from many other cheap PCs.

The Cyberpower Gamer Infinity 550 is an interesting comparison: it's only dual-core but it offers the added entertainment of a 22in TFT, ATi Radeon HD 3870 graphics and a 5.1 set of speakers for an extra £170. It's a more attractive and versatile PC than the Zoostorm, and it highlights the base price we'd expect to pay for a true all-round system.

But if gaming or movies aren't a priority, the Zoostorm Core 2 Quad Q6600 Advanced Premium PC is a startlingly cheap - if a little rough around the edges - route to multicore computing.

Author: Mike Jennings