Review - PC Specialist Vortex SF Gaming PC

Consoles might still be the go-to gaming machines for the general public, but gaming PCs are gaining more popularity as time goes by. Now it’s not just the hardcore gamers who are building or buying a PC for their gaming needs. Even A-list celebrities are getting in on the action. That video of Henry Cavill building his own gaming PC was surreal, to say the least.   

 

Those that can’t or don’t want to build their own PC prefer to buy a pre-assembled gaming PC. And this is the best time to buy them as they have become more affordable – with many models boasting powerful processors and better graphics.  

 

Online gaming platforms like Discord and Steam have greatly contributed to the rise in popularity of gaming PCs. These apps have tens of millions of users. They give easy access to the latest games and offer a platform to chat and share tips. Some of the latest developments with Windows 10 have opened up the possibility of playing with friends who only have a console.  

 

Today, we’re going to review one of the best gaming PCs on the market; PC Specialist Vortex SF. But first, let’s talk about what really defines a gaming PC.  

What is a gaming PC? 

A gaming PC is essentially a traditional desktop PC with a powerful processor and dedicated graphics card – allowing users to play the latest games without a hitch.  

 

With a gaming PC, you’ll be able to: 

 

• Experience smooth gameplay at 60fps in Full HD thanks to premium AMD and NVIDIA graphics cards.  

• Effortlessly run the most demanding games with the help of powerful Intel and Ryzen processors. 

• Enjoy crystal clear graphics thanks to powerful GTX and Radeon graphics cards that can easily deliver 60fps in Full HD.  

• Squeeze every bit of performance out of your PC without overheating it. 

• Savour faster load times of your games due to lightning-quick SSD (solid-state drive) storage.  

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Specifications 

 

Processor	Intel Core i7-9700F / 3 GHz
RAM	16 GB
Storage	2 TB HDD + 240 GB SSD
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM
Operating System	Windows 10

Design 

The tower chassis looks and feels really good. Its design is minimalistic and looks professional, setting it apart from most over the top gaming PC designs. In short, it looks like a premium tower.  

We weren’t expecting top-notch construction from the Cooling Master case but were left surprised by the build quality. Its side panel doesn’t rattle and snugly fits in, the plastic side window looks elegant, and the fans are really quiet. All in all, the case is more than functional and the chassis is well-rounded. Good job PC Specialist!  

Performance 

Now let’s get into what matters the most in a gaming PC: the performance. We’ve got the powerful 9th generation Intel Core i7 clocked at 3 GHz Octa-Core processor, 16 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM graphics card, 2 TB HDD, and 240 GB SDD. These specifications speak for themselves. There’s nothing that this beast can’t handle.  

 

You can easily run popular games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Minecraft, PUBG, GTA V, League of Legends, Overwatch and Rainbow Six Siege. 

 

The highlight is the amazing processor Core i7-9700F. It has sky-high peak frequencies, improved multi-core Turbo Boost ratios, eight cores, and solder-based thermal interface material that makes heat transfer and overclocking a breeze. This is an all-round champion that deserves its spot as one the best gaming CPUs on the market.  

 

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti incorporates Turing’s improved shaders, its unified cache architecture, support for adaptive shading, and a full complement of video encode/decode acceleration features. It has a GDDR6 memory and consumes modest power. The GTX 1660 Ti’s target audience is 1080p gamers and it massively delivers on that front. At 1080p, the GTX 1660 Ti zips along and averages well above 60fps in most games.  

Connectivity 

The PC Specialist Vortex SF may be a gaming PC first and foremost, but that doesn’t mean it falls behind connectivity. For audio connections, it has a 3.5 mm jack. For video connections, there is an HDMI, a DisplayPort, and a DVI. As fas as USB connections are concerned, there are three USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports.   

 

There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port and Dual-band AC Wi-Fi. This should put all connectivity worries to bed once and for all.  

Verdict 

The PC Specialist Vortex SF gaming PC has got everything that a serious gamer would want or need. Its got a quality build, fast processor, powerful graphics card, and consumes modest power. Most important of all, it’s relatively affordable. You don’t have to worry about getting into massive debt in order to buy this beast.