The price is £1,339. KitGuru's verdict is that the gaming value is hard to argue with, as long as you accept the trade-offs in memory and storage.
What's in the box
KitGuru lists this configuration:
- Case: DeepCool CH170 DIGITAL (Mini-ITX)
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F
- Memory: 16GB DDR5-5200 (Corsair Vengeance)
- GPU: ASRock Challenger Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
- Storage: 1TB Kingston NV3 M.2 PCIe SSD
- Cooler: ID-COOLING FROZN A410 SE
- PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower SFX 750W Platinum
- OS: Windows 11 Professional
- Warranty: 2 years parts, 5 years labour, 6 months collect and return
The CPU is a six-core Zen 4 chip on AM5. The review's pitch is that this gives the system a clear upgrade path. The review does not name the motherboard, so how far that path actually goes is unconfirmed. Check the board and its BIOS support before you plan a future CPU swap.
KitGuru's verdict
The review's positives:
- Solid 1440p gaming performance for the money.
- Better value than current DIY pricing.
- 16GB of VRAM on the GPU.
- The AM5 upgrade path.
- Whisper-quiet operation.
- An attractive ITX chassis with good airflow.
- Strong warranty terms.
The negatives:
- 16GB of system RAM was fine in testing but is expected to become a limitation.
- Storage is a single 1TB SSD, which KitGuru says is QLC-based.
- Reaching the motherboard and GPU connectors at the bottom of the case is slightly awkward.
The video chapters cover thermals, noise, CPU testing and gaming benchmarks. The games are Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Control Resonant, Forza Horizon 6, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Resident Evil Requiem. The written page doesn't publish frame rates, settings, temperatures or decibel figures. This article therefore reports only KitGuru's conclusions, not numbers. For the data, watch the video.
The listing doesn't match the review
The review and the retailer's current page differ in two places. MK Rigs' Essential Gaming PCs page lists the Macchina with a Deepcool CH170 DIGITAL, Ryzen 5 7500F, 16GB DDR5 5600mhz memory, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD, ID-COOLING FROZN A410 SE and Windows 11 Professional, from £1,339.99.
- Memory speed: KitGuru tested DDR5-5200 Corsair Vengeance. The listing says 5600.
- Price: the review says £1,339. The listing says "from" £1,339.99.
Both could reflect a listing update or a configurator default. I can't tell which from the evidence. Confirm the exact RAM kit, SSD and price at checkout before you pay.
MK Rigs also advertises 151 average FPS across 5 games at 1080p for the Macchina. That is the retailer's own claim. The games and settings aren't identified, so it can't be compared with KitGuru's 1440p-focused verdict.
Is the hardware sensible?
Some context from spec sheets, not from the review:
- AMD describes the Ryzen 5 7500F as six cores and 12 threads, with boost up to 5GHz and a 65W TDP, according to a retailer's summary of the part. The Zen 4 chip has 6 cores, 12 threads, a boost speed of up to 5.0 GHz and a 65 W TDP.
- Pairing a 16GB card with 16GB of system RAM is the odd part. Games that spill past VRAM lean on system memory, and 16GB leaves less room for Windows, a browser and background apps. KitGuru's warning on this point is reasonable.
- A single QLC SSD at 1TB fills quickly with modern game installs. Because the board is Mini-ITX, a second M.2 slot is not guaranteed. The review doesn't say, so check before you assume.
- Cooler choice and case access matter in small builds. KitGuru's connector-access complaint is a real consideration if you swap parts or reroute cables often.
Who should consider it
The Macchina suits buyers who want a small, quiet 1440p machine with Windows 11 Pro already installed. It also suits those who value a longer warranty over building from parts. The warranty is as listed by KitGuru: two years parts, five years labour and six months collect and return. Read MK Rigs' terms for the exact conditions.
It suits people less if you want 32GB of RAM or more storage out of the box. If you build your own PC, compare current parts prices yourself. KitGuru says the Macchina beats DIY pricing, but the review text doesn't show the price comparison behind that.
Bottom line
KitGuru calls the Macchina very impressive for its price. The weak points are the 16GB RAM, the QLC SSD and the awkward connector access. Check the live listing's RAM speed and price, since both differ slightly from the reviewed unit.