We’ve previously reviewed two other computer systems under Brendan’s watchful eye but it falls to myself to see first-hand how this passionate company present their pre-built offerings.

Pandora is described as ‘The pint-sized powerhouse’ and we can easily understand why. This system is very compact indeed, so much so that cable management is a trial and tribulation. The SilverStone FT03 Mini which we have previously reviewed is a premium choice for mini-ITX, it boasts top-class engineering and has all the features you could want. With the advent of Intel Z77 in the shape of Mini-ITX, power can be directed towards smaller systems such as Pandora, bringing in support for Ivy Bridge, PCI-E 3.0 and dual channel DDR3.

The choice of components is ultimately down to the consumer but for our sample today Utopia Computers have armed Pandora with every conceivable flagship. Our review sample represents the absolute best configuration that Pandora can offer and is an impressive showcase. The Intel Core i7-3770K has been overclocked to 4.2GHz and is cooled via Corsair’s Hydro H60 – resulting in low-noise and pleasing temperatures. NVIDIA’s new GTX Titan just about fits inside FT03 Mini and delivers a massive 6GB for those gaming above 1080p. Another product which we have reviewed also made an appearance inside Pandora – Corsair’s Neutron GTX. Utopia installed two of these drives and configured them in RAID0 to maximise transfer rates for fast access to data – combining this with Windows 8 and you only have to blink and you are into the OS.



The performance benchmarks over the preceding pages are testament to Pandora’s claim as a ‘powerhouse’. It tore through the latest gaming titles, demonstrating confidence where other systems could falter.

Priced at over £2000 this system is not for the faint hearted. As we have previously said, it’s really a showcase of the ultimate specification with a “money no object” approach to system building. Do bear in mind that £2000 isn’t the base price for Pandora, for each aspect there is the choice to pick different CPUs, memory, graphics cards etc.

It’s also important to outline the extras which come with this and other systems delivered by Utopia Computers. Pandora was shipped to us in ‘Utopian Transit Armour’ which is a new undertaking – giving the system added protection and a touch of exclusivity. Also available is the possibility of coating the exterior and interior of the system in a custom-automotive colour. There are other bonuses offered too including a phenomenal 10 years warranty – the longest currently available in the UK and an offer of lifetime technical support which proves handy for even experienced users.

Pandora epitomises ‘mini powerhouse’, our top-spec offering cut through everything we put in its path. Armed with high-quality components this compact system is perfect for gaming. Utopia Computers have done an excellent job building this system and have gone the extra mile with providing features which frankly, other retailers wouldn’t dare to.