Alienware 17

PROS / Dell offers a deep bench of graphics card upgrade options.

CONS / Cooling performance on the laptop can be extremely inconsistent.

 VERDICT / The Alienware 17 has the performance ceiling needed to be a high-performance gaming PC.

Externally and internally, the Alienware 17 covers the expected specifications for a top gaming laptop. Our review unit was based on Dell's midrange configuration and built with a 2.5GHz Intel Core i7-4710HQ processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M graphics card.

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Points in graphics benchmark                                                                    More is better

The GTX 980M demonstrated its credentials as a reliable dedicated graphics card during benchmarking from our colleagues at Laptop Mag. In "BioShock Infinite" at Ultra graphics settings and a resolution of 1920 x 1080, the review unit had an average frame rate of 70 frames per second (fps). During graphics benchmark 3DMark Fire Strike, the laptop produced a score of 8,234 points. Usually, games need a frame rate of at least 30 fps in order to be playable without visual slowdown, and as such, the 980M has the overhead to handle standard gaming at high-definition graphics settings without performance issues.
Dell's graphics upgrade options provide additional flexibility for the gaming laptop. For more demanding buyers, Alienware's Graphics Amplifier is an optional peripheral that includes a desktop-level graphics card and additional connectivity options. The Amplifier's dimensions of 16.1 x 7.3 x 6.8 inches potentially limit the Alienware's portability, but it can be a useful add-on for professional users and enthusiast gamers.
Our laptop's 1920 x 1080 display performed consistently in our benchmarking. The screen's brightness mark of 253 nits was close to our category average of 276 nits, and it handled games and basic web browsing with ease. The laptop's Core i7 processor also produced marks in line with comparable high-end Intel processors in benchmark test Geekbench 3.
Physically, the Alienware isn't the most portable laptop, but its build quality is relatively consistent. The laptop's rubberized interior and customizable LED lighting give it a durable feel, and the body has none of the flex typically found in cheaply made computers. Still, in Laptop's hands-on testing, heat circulation was a concern for the Alienware. After 15 minute sessions of video streaming and gaming, the middle of the keyboard had respective temperature marks of 102 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit  .

Summary

The Alienware 17 doesn't necessarily have much of a wow factor, but its strengths lie in its consistency. With solid specifications and graphics card options, the Alienware has the performance ceiling needed to reliably handle demanding PC games.

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Digital Storm Vanquish 5

PROS / Digital Storm uses a high-end Intel processor and NVIDIA graphics card for speedy gaming performance.

CONS / The Vanquish 5 has a relatively modest design.

 VERDICT / While the Vanquish 5 is one of Digital Storm's mainstream gaming PCs, it makes few compromises when it comes to performance.

Among top gaming desktops, it's easy to mistake bells and whistles for substantial features. Add-ons like custom finishes, hulking cases and LED lighting can often draw attention away from areas like underpowered graphics cards and overpriced configurations

1. This is the high-definition performance in Battlefield 4.
   More is Better
   

At first glance, the Digital Storm Vanquish 5 doesn't appear to have much of the former. With its modest dimensions and unassuming design, the Vanquish could easily fit into a home office environment. However, this gaming desktop's strengths come from its focus on the fundamentals shared by the best gaming PCs. Thanks to an excellent performance ceiling, the Digital Storm Vanquish 5 earns the Top Ten Reviews Silver Award.

Graphics & Performance

The Vanquish 5's midrange configuration has high-performance specifications with a price tag that emphasizes value. Internally, this arrangement is built around a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970, and during benchmarking from our colleagues at Anandtech, the GTX 970 showed its abilities as a premium graphics card. While running the graphically intensive title Battlefield 4, the card produced an average frame rate of 80.7 frames per second (fps) on Ultra graphics settings at a resolution of 1920 x 1080. At comparable graphics settings, the card had similarly impressive respective marks of 91.7 and 55.8 fps in older titles Crysis 3 and Grand Theft Auto V. Generally, a custom gaming PC needs to produce a frame rate of more than 30 fps in order for games to be playable without visible delays.
The GTX 970's processing overhead makes it well-suited to handle the performance needs of a high-end gaming PC without missing a step. The Vanquish's price tag limits potential upgrade options like a multiple graphics card setup, but the optional GTX 980 provides additional processing power for demanding gamers.

Processor & Storage

This configuration is built on a 3.4GHz Intel Core i7-6700 processor that provides excellent midrange performance. In processor test Geekbench 3, it produced a stellar score of 15,527 points. For comparison among our evaluated setups, this mark is only topped by the 19,345 mark of the Core i7-6700K, which is an upgrade option for the Vanquish 5. In practice, there's little that the 6700 can’t handle, whether you're gaming our using the computer for tasks like video rendering.

Elsewhere, Digital Storm includes a standard slate of hardware options. All of the configurations rely on an ASUS Z170-A motherboard and come with at least 8GB of RAM. Digital Storm also offers several hard drive options on each configuration, with respective limits of 6TB and 2TB for hard-disk and solid-state drives. Multiple hard drives can also be installed in the Vanquish for additional storage.

Design & Connectivity

Externally, the Vanquish 5 has a relatively low-key design. The custom gaming desktop's case is certainly durable with easily removable side covers, ventilation and solid build quality. It also includes standard features like multiple USB 3.0 ports and audio output. Through the checkout process, you can also add hardware including a Blu-ray drive and high-end sound cards.Apart from the two LED fans in the front of the case, there's also little in the way of design flourishes. The case comes in a single slate-black finish, and internal lighting can be controlled via remote. Since this model is Digital Storm's mainstream premium gaming PC, the Vanquish 5's barebones look is certainly understandable. It doesn't negatively affect the case's functionality and is only a minor concern, but the compact gaming PC isn't especially visually striking .

Help & Support

Digital Storm includes multiple support options for the Vanquish 5, including a three-year warranty with coverage for parts and labor. The company also provides additional support via phone, email and its website. Digital Storm's website features resources like a FAQs section along with forums for other Digital Storm customers.

Summary

Considering the Vanquish 5's modest look, it could have easily been designed as a cheap gaming desktop with equally budget parts. However, it prioritizes functionality in several different areas. With high-quality components and a competitive price tag, the Vanquish 5 might not be the fanciest gaming desktop on the market, but it outperforms much of the competition and earns its billing as a top-ranked gaming PC

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XOTIC PC Recon

 XOTIC PC Recon : (gaming pc)

PROS : The Recon's NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphics card provides excellent gaming performance

CONS : XOTIC PC only includes a midrange Intel Core i5-6500 on the Recon's stock configuration

 VERDICT : The XOTIC PC Recon is an excellent gaming PC for mainstream users

For entry-level gamers, the gaming PC buying process can sometimes be less than clear. On one end, preconfigured systems are easy to pick up or order from most retailers, but the lack of customizable options means that you have limited avenues for hardware upgrades. On the other end, custom-built systems often feature a litany of customization options that fly over the heads of most beginning PC gamers

This is the high-definition performance in Battlefield 4

The XOTIC PC Recon has a variety of features designed to appeal to beginning and high-end PC gamers. Thanks to its combination of competitive specifications and value, the XOTIC PC Recon earns the Top Ten Reviews Gold Award

Graphics & Performance :

For gamers, the XOTIC PC Recon has components with impressive performance ceilings. On the inside, the midrange configuration is built on an EVGA SuperClocked NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 graphics card. While performance data for this exact card model was unavailable from our colleagues at Anandtech, its benchmarking for a comparably built EVGA GTX 970 highlights the configuration's lofty performance ceiling.
Playing Battlefield 4 at Ultra graphics settings and a resolution of 1920 x 1080, the overclocked GTX 970 averaged 82.5 frames per second (fps). The card's performance mark of 88.6 fps at comparable graphics settings in Crysis 3 was equally exceptional. Games typically need a frame rate of at least 30 fps in order to be playable without visual skipping.
In practice, the GTX 970 is a stellar graphics card model that is more than capable of handling current-generation PC games without missing a step. But if you want additional graphics processing overhead, XOTIC PC features a slate of upgrade options. These include support for multiple graphics card setups and RAM upgrades of up to 64GB. In addition, the company includes a full catalog of graphics card options, including the higher-end NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and the enterprise-level NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan Z

Processor & Storage :

The 3.2GHz Intel Core i5-6500 used in the Recon provides similarly consistent performance, though it's not without its blind spots. In processor test Geekbench 3, the Core i5-6500 had a score of 11,248 points.
While the Core i5 is still a reliable performer and doesn't significantly bottleneck components like the Recon's graphics card, the midrange processor is a slight step behind the premium processor models used in comparable gaming PCs. Most series rely on the Intel Core i7-6700, which produced a score of 15,527 points in Geekbench 3 and is available for the Recon during the checkout process. In daily usage, the Core i5 can handle basic system tasks easily, but it doesn't provide top-in-class performance for processor-intensive tasks like video or image editing.
In other areas, XOTIC PC includes a standard slate of upgrade options. As with most gaming PCs, you can install multiple hard drives in the Recon during the checkout process for additional storage. Respective hard-disk and solid-state drive limits clock in at 6TB and 2TB, and hard drives can be configured into a RAID array for faster data transfer performance. The system is also built with an ASUS Z170 Pro motherboard with similarly flexible upgrade options. Along with higher-end motherboards, alternative Recon configurations can be built with AMD-friendly components

Design & Connectivity :

Visually, the Recon's Corsair case design leaves room for ample upgrades. With dimensions of 22.2 x 9.7 x 22.4 inches, the gaming desktop computer has space for add-ons such as a Blu-ray drive and a liquid cooling rig. In addition, XOTIC PC offers several alternative full-size case designs from third-party manufacturers to house the Recon, and custom finishes or graphics can be added on during the checkout process.
By default, the Recon comes with a 750-watt power supply that provides ample headroom for the stock configuration. For custom configurators, the supply can be upgraded up to a 1,500-watt unit. During the checkout process, you can also add on standard accessories like monitors and keyboards to make the Recon playable out of the box.

Design & Connectivity :

Visually, the Recon's Corsair case design leaves room for ample upgrades. With dimensions of 22.2 x 9.7 x 22.4 inches, the gaming desktop computer has space for add-ons such as a Blu-ray drive and a liquid cooling rig. In addition, XOTIC PC offers several alternative full-size case designs from third-party manufacturers to house the Recon, and custom finishes or graphics can be added on during the checkout process.
By default, the Recon comes with a 750-watt power supply that provides ample headroom for the stock configuration. For custom configurators, the supply can be upgraded up to a 1,500-watt unit. During the checkout process, you can also add on standard accessories like monitors and keyboards to make the Recon playable out of the box.

Help & Support :

By default, XOTIC PC includes a one-year warranty on this custom gaming PC. The company also offers additional tech support through channels such as live chat, email, phone and an online troubleshooting hub. Its support page includes resources like driver downloads, a FAQs section and user forums.

Summary :

As fluid as PC gaming configuring can be, XOTIC PC's focus on the basics places the Recon among the best gaming PCs. While its basic configuration can benefit from slight tweaks, the Recon still possesses ample strengths thanks to an excellent base graphics card and flexible upgrade options. Whether you're in search of a fully fleshed-out gaming PC or a basic gaming rig, the Recon has the versatility needed for enthusiast gamers.