Velocity Micro Vector Z25

Bottom Line

You might not have heard of Velocity Micro, but experts say this Virginia boutique manufacturer delivers powerful, customizable PCs at a reasonable price. The Vector Z25 -- formerly the Vector Campus Edition -- beats the big-name brands in tests.

Performance

Big power, little price. You configure the Vector Z25 the way you want it. The base version (*Est. $750 without a monitor) gets a quad-core Intel Core i5-3470 processor, 8 GB of RAM, a 1 TB hard drive and integrated Intel graphics. All that's not too shabby for the price.

Experts usually test a lightly upgraded setup with a brawnier, overclocked Core i5-3570K processor (*Est. $60) and stronger AMD or Nvidia graphics (*Est. $100 to $400). Even faster processors, graphics and solid-state drives are available, but critics really like the $1,000 to $1,300 versions they test. Even the cheaper ones can play pretty much any game on medium settings. For max settings, just step up to the $1,300 configuration, says Matt Smith at DigitalTrends.com.

Another great feature is "acres of open space" and nothing but simple screws inside, so you can easily add your own upgrades, Smith writes. "If you know how to operate a screwdriver, you already know how to disassemble (and reassemble) this computer." Compare that to many all-in-ones for which you need a special diploma just to crack the thing open.

Design

Clean-lined aluminum design. The Vector Z25's plain black steel tower looks "utilitarian," PCMag.com says, except for the cooling fans' glowing blue LEDs. But CNET's Rich Brown appreciates the Vector Z25's beauty that's literally on the inside: "Velocity Micro ... still knows how to build a PC properly," he says. Unlike big-name brands, you'll find "clean, organized case interiors, with all of the cables neatly routed and cut to fit."

True to its boutique roots, Velocity Micro ships your PC completely clean unless you specifically order pre-installed software. Critics like the refreshingly clean user experience you won't get from the big-name brands. The keyboard and mouse are fine, but nothing special.

A DVD burner comes standard; Blu-ray is optional. There's a good selection of ports, although a couple of USB ports are awkwardly placed near the front bottom of the tower; the rest are on the back. The tower is small enough to sit on a desk. A monitor and speakers aren't included, but can be ordered from Velocity Micro if desired.

Support & reliability

A solid reputation. Velocity Micro is known for solid, boutique-style customer service. All phone techs are in-house, never offshore, and the one-year warranty includes lifetime phone support. Warranty upgrades are available, including on-site service for an extra $50.

Value

Best mainstream PC value on the market. Fairly priced and impressively powerful, the Vector Z25 is an easy recommendation for experts to make. "Perhaps the best option under $1,000" for a strong, expandable PC, CNET says. "You will find few PCs that have this much pure CPU performance for this price."