The PC gaming crowd can be tough to please. They want a
high-resolution gaming machine that runs at 60-plus frames per second –
but it can't be a one-trick pony, either. Every component needs to be
upgradeable and be available on store shelves. Oh, and if it's built by
someone else, it better be almost as affordable as building it yourself.
It's quite the list of demands.
You
can imagine my surprise, then, when Digital Storm's latest Vanquish II
gaming PC scribbled a checkmark next to each and every requirement in
the book.
You wouldn't know it by the unsuspecting, jet
black case – no green neon paint or gaudy, haphazard, LED light show
here – but underneath the hood of the Digital Storm's latest Vanquish II
beats the heart of a wallet-friendly gaming PC. That is, under the cool
hue of a steady blue light.
That starts with the 4th gen
Intel Core i5 processor that works as the brains behind the brawn,
while 8GB of Digital Storm-certified memory and a GeForce GTX 770
graphics card deliver the power needed to play this year's biggest and
best games. The included storage options in the model sent to TechRadar –
a 120GB SSD and a 1TB, 7200 rpm hard drive – are a good start, but will
fill up fast. Thankfully, the included power supply supports an
additional SSD and two extra spinning drives, giving you enough
expandability for years to come.
Design
Aesthetically,
there's a lot to love about the Vanquish II. The Corsair Graphite
Series Black 230T case is simple, unimposing and should go with whatever
décor surrounds it. For a standard desktop, it's average size – neither
too big for a local LAN, nor so small that it strays into mini-ITX
territory. The unit measures 21.65 x 8.27 x 17.32 inches (W x D x H) and
weighs in at 15 pounds, so not all that light, either. What's most
lovable about this case is that it has room to grow, with seven
expansion slots and three optical drive bays for a Blu-ray or secondary
DVD drives.
Open it up, and it's instantly clear that the
Vanquish II is a smart, cleanly built system with next to no cooling
issues. After a 12-hour gaming/web-browsing binge, the chassis didn't
feel a degree warmer and, surprisingly, the components inside the case
were just as cool. This speaks volumes for Digital Storm's design
philosophy. They've placed a priority on positioning cables, creating a
wide-open space for the myriad fans to do their job.
Don't
think that Vanquish is invulnerable, however. This rig's Achilles Heel
isn't found on its inconspicuous case, but rather on the motherboard
itself. The micro-ATX form factor looks as streamlined as it's ever
been. But check out the two DDR3 memory slots. With an initial 8GB of
RAM, it's ready to take on whatever today's gaming space can throw at
it. What's on the horizon, though, is another story. Two
RAM slots and a single open PCIe slot mean that there's little in the
way of modification here. Thankfully, the board supports up to 16GB of
DDR3 memory, so it'll likely hold for another couple years without
needing an overhaul. Regardless, the limited amount of PCIe and RAM
slots sets a frighteningly close expiration date for one of the most
expensive parts in the case.
The Vanquish II "Ultimate" configuration is at an
interesting tipping point. The internals are far punchier than the
average gaming laptop, but won't deftly outperform other top-tier gaming
PCs. That's not to say Digital Storm can't make a great high-end gaming
machine – just look at the Bolt II – but the Vanquish definitely feels
middle of the pack.
That said, when compared side-by-side
to its spec sheet, this Vanquish II establishes a solid baseline of
price for power. Here's the Digital Storm Vanquish II configuration sent
to TechRadar in detail:
Spec sheet
CPU: 3.2GHz Intel Core i5-4570 (quad-core, 6MB cache, up to 3.6GHz with Turbo Boost)
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (64‐Bit Edition)
Power supply: 600W Corsair CX
Ports:
3.5mm headphone/mic jack, 2 USB 3.0 ports (front); PS/2 input ports,
VGA, 4 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, Ethernet, 3.5mm headphone/mic, HDMI, 3 DVI
(rear)
Weight: 15 pounds
Size: 21.65 x 8.27 x 17.32 inches (W x D x H)
Costing
a cool $1,259 (about £747, AU$1,365), the Level 4 version of the
Vanquish II may not sound cheap at face value. However, you can take
some solace knowing you're paying for premium parts (save for that
motherboard), and that extra cost will pay for itself when it comes time
to upgrade. If
you're in the market for a less powerful machine, check out the Level
1, 2, and 3 machines. There's a lot of wiggle room to save $600 (the
Vanquish II starts at a surprisingly low $699) here. But in doing so,
you trade the Core i5-4570 for an i3-4330 and that GTX 770 for its
little brother, the GTX 750. You'll also lose out on the solid-state
drive and swap a 1TB hard drive out for a 500GB model.
Performance
These
components worked together to produce some relatively formidable
numbers in our synthetic tests. Bioshock's opening scene dazzled as it
spit out an ultra-smooth 83 frames per second on the highest possible
settings. Metro Last Light, on the other hand, grinded to a near-stop
when gunfire filled the screen. Here are the benchmark scores in detail
below: Benchmarks
3DMark: Ice Storm: 147,971; Cloud Gate: 16,207; Fire Strike: 6,615
These
numbers may seem obfuscated, but the short of it is that the high
PCMark 8 score means fast web browsing and quicker load times in your
favorite programs. Meanwhile, high frame rates in last year's hottest
games means you'll be able to ride the GTX 770 for a while to come.
No muss, no fuss
There's
no single term to describe a PC gamer. Some can hardwire circles around
others, while some are simply content with a super-fast system that
works – no assembly required. Obviously, a boutique build, like the
Vanquish II, appeals more to the the latter. It's an incredibly clean
machine that, despite my own experience, would be tough to replicate. It's
refreshing to buy a machine – OS already installed – ready to download
Steam the moment it arrives at your door. Overall, the device was
painless to set up and use, something I can't say about every PC I've
ever built, used or tested. Plus, the chassis is easy to get into and
close, thanks to a single thumbscrew on the back panel.
The
Vanquish II doesn't win any awards for silence: the machine runs at a
noticeable, near-whisper pitch. Nor does the unit take home the award
for the lightest desktop, either. If you're looking for that, though,
you're in the wrong place. This feels like a desktop built by gamers for
gamers, and doesn't necessarily include the rest of the PC user base in
its agenda.
Boring board
One of the most glaring
weaknesses of this machine is its micro-ATX, Asus H81M motherboard.
It's eloquent, succinct and thoughtful, sure, but those are all nice
ways of saying there's just no room to expand on this board.
The
GPU takes up the single PCIe x16 slot, leaving only a single PCIe slot
free. Have both a sound card and wireless expansion card? You're out of
luck. This board just can't support any rear-port expansions. While
this is more of a complaint of aesthetics than functionality, parts are
exceptionally close on the board. This might send design-conscious
minimalists' hearts aflutter, but makes certain parts, like the CPU,
tough to access without removing the bulky GPU.
Roll with the support class
You're
reading TechRadar, so you're likely savvy tech user. Value-added
propositions like technical support and a 4-year warranty may not mean a
whole lot to you. Still, you'll be left wanting for services like these
when you least expect it.
Think about those times when
you can't figure out something difficult, like how to change that one
BIOS setting, or need something simple, like an upgrade question
answered. Extensive warranties are ideal for high school graduate gamers
with a wad of graduation cash, buying a machine for college.
Offerings
like these may not be the deciding factor between building a PC
yourself or buying a pre-built machine. But warranties and support
guarantees are undeniably strong perks for choosing the latter.
The Vanquish II succeeds in almost everything it set out to
do. It's fast, powerful and, considering its components, fairly cheap.
It's got the edge on most mid-core sets, and thanks to some great perks,
you can buy it without remorse. That said, the board could've been more
adaptable to changing technology and the storage options aren't ideal
right out of the box.
We liked
At its fourth-level, "Ultimate" configuration, it's easy to admire the Vanquish II. Upgraded fans work hand-in-hand with the Haswell chip to make for one cool machine. And the 120GB SSD, though tiny, provides enough room for a handful of your favorite games.
This system is extremely well-rounded. Though it may not be the runaway victor in the race of the lowest-cost machine you can build, its value-added perks like a four-year warranty and infinite tech support more than make up for the extra cost.
Another plus is that the configuration options here are as broad as they come. And if you have money to make it rain on a box of silicon, then premium, top-tier gaming PCs – like the Falcon Northwest Tiki – are only a click away.
We disliked
Unfortunately,
no matter which option you decide to go with, the stringent motherboard
will be a thorn in your side. There's not much you can do to add to the
setup without additional PCIe slots. And while 8GB is plenty of memory
for most programs today, it might not hold over the next two to three
years.
It's also a bit too bulky to bring with you
everywhere you go. It'll fit just fine inside, say, a college dorm, but
if you're looking for a rig to constantly take to LAN parties or a
friend's house, the Vanquish II isn't it. And while I liked the overall
simplicity of the case, this is a far cry from the eye-catching, Blade
Runner-esque systems that pervade PC message boards.
Final verdict
This
is a value-priced gaming PC, and the performance suggests as much. The
components can handle most intense tasks without suffering from severe
slow-down, and most games on medium settings will play buttery-smooth.
Battle-hardened
PC builders could easily create a box with better specs for less than
the $1,259 ticket for entry, but what about gamers that don't know their
way around a chassis? Throw in a four-year warranty and lifetime
technical support, and the Vanquish II becomes one mid-range boutique
gaming PC to beat.
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