Custom Build Alternative to Digital Storm Vanquish 5 LVL 4

an0n4627

Commendable
Sep 28, 2016
5
0
1,510
Hey everyone. I've been wanting to get into PC gaming for the longest time now but I don't really know much about computers. Because of that, my first option would be getting a pre-built, which I would understand is the more expensive route.

After doing some research and reading reviews, I settled for Digital Storm's Vanquish 5 (LVL 4) model. Below I have the specs for it:

Vanquish 5 Lvl IV — $1883 (+$60.10 Shipping)
Processor: Intel Core i7 6700 3.4GHz (Codename Skylake) (Quad Core) (Not Overclockable)
Motherboard: ASUS/GIGABYTE (Intel Z170 Chipset)
System Memory: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz Digital Storm Certified Performance Series
Power Supply: 750W EVGA/Corsair
Optical Drive: DVD-R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 24x / CD-Writer 48x) (Internal)
Storage Set 1: 1x SSD (240GB Digital Storm Certified Performance Series)
Storage Set 2: 1x Storage (1TB Seagate / Toshiba)
Graphics Card(s): 1x GeForce GTX 1080 8GB (ASUS Turbo) (VR Ready)
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
CPU Cooler: Digital Storm Vortex 120mm Radiator Liquid CPU Cooler
Chassis Fans: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
Internal Lighting: Remote Controlled LED Lighting System (Multiple color options and lighting effects)
Boost Processor: Standard Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 Automatic Overclocking

+ASUS VG248QE 24" Full HD 1920x1080 144Hz 1ms HDMI Gaming Monitor (buying on amazon)
+CM Storm Octane Keyboard and Mouse (buying on amazon)

TOTAL: $2261.16

Now my current budget is $2170.90, but I’m one paycheck away from reaching around $2500. That said, is there a custom build that would about match what Digital Storm is offering at a lower price?[strike] In addition, I’d like to see a build with air cooling alternative to DS’s liquid cooler since I’m quite new to all this and I’m afraid it’s too much maintenance.[/strike]

+Update 09/29/16: I did some more research on cpu coolers and I'm willing to also consider an appropriate AIO CPU cooler. I'd like to hear your opinions on air cooler vs liquid coolers.
 
Solution
Seeing as you want an air cooler, I've included one instead of a water cooler. I've also put in an i7-6700k so that you can do some overclocking. I also added a fairly nice motherboard. This build's storage is mostly the same as the prebuilt and so is the RAM. The PSU I've included is a lower wattage, but it's very high efficiency, probably better than what's in the prebuilt. I've included an equivalent GPU, OS, and a case. I've also included a CD writer since the prebuilt has one. The only thing it's missing is LEDs, but those shouldn't cost more than $10-15 if you want them.

If you wanted you can adjust the parts and go cheaper or more expensive.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel...
Seeing as you want an air cooler, I've included one instead of a water cooler. I've also put in an i7-6700k so that you can do some overclocking. I also added a fairly nice motherboard. This build's storage is mostly the same as the prebuilt and so is the RAM. The PSU I've included is a lower wattage, but it's very high efficiency, probably better than what's in the prebuilt. I've included an equivalent GPU, OS, and a case. I've also included a CD writer since the prebuilt has one. The only thing it's missing is LEDs, but those shouldn't cost more than $10-15 if you want them.

If you wanted you can adjust the parts and go cheaper or more expensive.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor ($328.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A GAMING M5 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2666 Memory ($78.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($93.88 @ OutletPC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.71 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 1080 8GB ROG STRIX Video Card ($669.98 @ NCIX US)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 Blackout Edition w/ Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($94.99 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA P2 650W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Asus DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS DVD/CD Writer ($18.88 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home OEM 64-bit ($84.88 @ OutletPC)
Total: $1684.26
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-28 15:55 EDT-0400
 
Solution
If you're new to PC gaming, you can spend ALOT less for a comparable experience. You really don't benefit much as a gamer from what DS is trying to sell you.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($227.99 @ SuperBiiz)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: MSI Z170A PC MATE ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($112.88 @ OutletPC)
Memory: GeIL EVO POTENZA 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($68.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX300 525GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ B&H)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($45.71 @ OutletPC)
Video Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GAMING X 8G Video Card ($689.99 @ B&H)
Case: NZXT S340 (Black/Red) ATX Mid Tower Case ($66.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 650W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Other: Microsoft Windows 10 Home - Full Version (32 & 64-bit) / USB Flash Drive ($132.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $1575.50
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-09-28 16:41 EDT-0400

This is a better optimized use of your money, the gaming performance will be withing 1-2% of what they were giving you.


And to be fair, you can still go down about another $300 for an experience within 15% of the above.
 


 


 
All I can say is whatever you do make sure you do NOT buy from Digital Storm. They web site looks slick, it looks like they build a killer machine, but they don't. I recently spent $5K on a PC (i7 6700 Skylake, Z170 Asus MB, Twin GTXC 980 Strix cards, PCI-E HDD and an M.2 HDD, liquid cooled, the works). Almost immediately the CPU and Graphics cards were overheating. Tech support via telephone could not help. Eventually the machine got so hot it simply shut down. After almost a month I finally got my machine back from them and as soon as I fired it up I could hear the internal fans off balance and grinding. The fan on the lower Strix card was impacting the PCI-E HDD and I have to keep the side open to keep adjusting. Do yourself a favor. Build your own, that way you know for sure it was built right and not by some hack who just puts it together for a living.