Medion Erazer x5361 G review – Life would be much simpler if every PC came with one big processor to do all the work. In reality, tasks are divided between the main processor (CPU) – normally an Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 or AMD Ryzen – and a graphics processor (GPU). Both consist of hundreds of millions of microscopic transistors on silicon wafers sealed in a black plastic slab, but they do their work differently. The GPU, for example, is optimized for certain types of computation involved in rendering data into pixels.
It has a fast graphics card for games and creative software
So one big choice is how much to spend on the CPU and how much on the GPU. If you often play 3D games, the GPU makes the difference, and the latest Nvidia GTX or AMD RX cards will give superb results. If not, it’s a trickier decision. Serious graphics software can use compatible GPUs to speed up real-time tasks like applying effects, so you’re not constantly kept waiting.
For example, Blackmagic’s Da Vinci Resolve 14 is a pro-level video-editing program that’s free to use, but really needs a decent GPU. On the other hand, it’s the CPU that matters for jobs like converting video between formats, and for anyone running neither games nor creative software the main processor is the priority. They all have a basic GPU built in, so you can live without a graphics card.
This particular PC is for the graphics crowd, and uses a modest Intel i5-7400 CPU to make room in the budget for a powerful 8GB GTX 1070 GPU. Accompanied by 16GB of memory, the quad-core i5 turned in acceptable mid-range scores in our general tests.
It’s certainly faster than i5 processors in laptops, which many use for photo and video editing, and it multitasks well.
Then again, with a 2TB hard drive for space but no SSD for speed, the Erazer X5361 G takes an age to boot up and doesn’t feel as nippy as it ought to. An M.2 slot is provided to add an SSD later, and there’s room for four more drives, but none of the external ports are faster than USB 3.0. Just one slow PCIe x1 slot is free for upgrades.
But if the GPU is your priority, it may be worth the compromises for the 8GB GTX 1070, which blazed through all the games we threw at it on maximum settings, and even coped at 4K with a few tweaks.
Medion Erazer x5361 G review: VERDICT
This is not a well-balanced general-purpose PC. but gamers and creative types get a lot of graphics power for their money
Medion Erazer x5361 G review: ALTERNATIVE
Palicomp AMD Gravity RYZ1
A faster six-core Ryzen 5 1600 processor comes with 3GB GTX 1060 graphics. 240GB SSD and 1TB hard drive
Medion Erazer x5361 G review: SPECIFICATIONS
3GHz i5-7400 quad-core processor • 16GB memory • 8GB GTX 1070 graphics • 2TB hard drive • 4x USB 2.0 ports • 6x USB 3.0 ports • Gigabit Ethernet port • 2x HDMI ports • 4x DisplayPort • DVI port • Windows 10 • 500x205x490xmm (HxWxD) • One-year warranty
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