The thing that got me really infuriated was the additional Video Card. Again, I was told the card was an additional $500+(I don't remember the exact price that was quoted). I questioned the price because on the upgrade center the price is listed as $409, which is a large increase. I was told that this was because the upgrade center parts didn't come with a warranty from DS. http://www.idresses.co.uk
The following is what I sent to Digital Storm customer service, which explains what I went through when purchasing a PC through them. I just sent it today, so I am anxiously awaiting there response.
//////////////////////
I was contacted via telephone today about my order where I wanted to upgrade the hard drive to a 300G velociraptor and add another gtx-285 2GB vram. After some discussion I found out that I would be paying about $200 additional to replace the original 1TB HD with a Raptor. I was told that with the warranty you are charging $300+ for that HD. Wow, that is about $100 OVER the cost of the drive (listed in your upgrade center). That is outrageous!! I know you are going to sell it for more than Frys Electronics etc...($220), but that difference is ridiculous.
The thing that got me really infuriated was the additional Video Card. Again, I was told the card was an additional $500+(I don't remember the exact price that was quoted). I questioned the price because on the upgrade center the price is listed as $409, which is a large increase. I was told that this was because the upgrade center parts didn't come with a warranty from DS.
Even though I was amazed at the increase in cost, I was ok with just getting the additional Video Card through the upgrade center without the additional warranty. I was told by the customer service rep that I could not do that. I was totally confused as to why they were not able to do that.
I asked to speak with someone who could authorize what I wanted to do. I was put on hold for a little bit and I ended up talking with the same Customer Service Rep again, who said they talked with their boss and they would allow me to purchase the additional video card as a separate order, but the video card would not be installed and would not go through the test that the rest of the PC would be going through after it was built.
I am still left wondering why, according to your own website, you claim that you get LIFETIME free labor upgrades when purchased through Digital Storm yet I am unable to buy a video card and have it installed with a brand new pc being built by you.
If this is how you treat customers that are in the process of buying one of your systems I am scared to find out what kind of customer service you provide AFTER the sale has gone through.
It's not like I'm asking you to do anything out of the ordinary. I just wanted to buy a component from you and have you install it, which I should be able to do according to your own words that are printed right on your website!
I have done a LOT of research online and I even have a close personal friend that bought one of your PC's a few years ago and I have heard and read a lot of good reviews about your products AND your customer service. I don't know what to think now, after I had this experience.
I am seriously contemplating on not placing an order with you. I don't want to do that because of all the good reviews I've read. It's just that spending about $2700 on a computer is a LOT of money for me and I don't want to spend it on something that I may have a lot of problems with (customer service related).
Well, I got my response from Digital Storm. Basically the end result is that they are installing and testing the additional video card I purchased from them. They are saying that they are making "an exception" in my case and it is not normal business practice for them to do that.
I am still confused about that because it clearly states (when you are on the configuration page) that you receive LIFETIME free labor on upgrades when you purchase the components from Digital Storm. I'm hoping that this is not a sign of things to come. I've read so many good reviews that I'm putting my faith in them and I went and submitted the order.
There seems to be a misunderstanding. We do offer labor-free upgrades. If one of our staff members said we won't install it for free it was a misunderstanding.
We are more than happy to install it for free. Warranty, etc... is a different story.
I hope that clears it up. If you have any further issues/concerns/questions, please feel free to directly contact us or our management staff at: management@digitalstormonline.com
I have purchased a system myself, dealt with support and have great things to say. I am definitely going to be making my next purchase with DS again. I also have a mate that I recommended to them and he is also happy with the service and product.
I sent Digital Storm an e-mail asking why the just on the shelves issues of Maximum PC and CPU magazine and their web site all show 3 different prices for their 650i system and they did not reply back. The Maximum PC and CPU magazine articles show it for $1599 and $1699 while their website shows it for a minimum of $1815. I guess they don't like questions like that.
Any chassis & custom paint>I would stay with standard & not pay extras.
1000W PSU +$126
Intel i7 920 2.66ghz...choose OC to 4.0~4.2ghz option.
6gb DDR3 triple channels 2000mhz RAM +$332
2x300gb western digital 10k rpm HD in raid 0 +532
Bluray writer +$281
3xGTX 280 SLI, this is the best option since it's on clearance. +681
I think this is way cheaper than 3xGTX 285 and the performance is right there with GTX 285.
creative lab titanium sound card +$221
H20 specialized frostbite cooling stage 3 for CPU & 3 GPU: +$1209.
OC options:
OC to i7 920 2.66ghz to 4.0 to 4.2ghz +$199
OC GPU to max: $45
OC RAM to max: $55.
I used to be an employee at this company, and I would like to warn any potential buyers about the business practices that I had witnessed while working for Digital Storm.
This company is notorious for providing their customers with false information and shady business practices. I have heard of many instances where the CS Reps were ordered to give out fake tracking numbers to appease clients who expected their products to ship within the promised timeframe (8-10 business days, IIRC). Somewhere in Digital Storms building is a stack of free games that came with Video Cards or Motherboards, etc. These are given to the more outspoken customers, but they are products that you, as a customer, have already paid for.
Also be careful about any 'new' products that are promised. When products are returned to Digital Storm because a card or drive doesn't work, they are replaced by used products that have been dusted off and made to appear like new. Granted, things may have changed since I've worked for this company, but the major impression that I got while working here is that customers are only treated well in person or on the phone, otherwise it's all about taking your money. I know for a fact, because I had been ordered to replace new, but defective parts, with old parts that had been ripped off from RMA'd systems. If you send anything back to Digital Storm, expect it to be replaced by a used and cleaned up item.
I can also attest to the fact that Alex is not a real person. Instead, it is a moniker that is used by several different people. I will spare the real owner of this company some embarrassment, and not mention his real name. Just be warned that Alex Brown is only an alias, and asking for Alex Brown may lead you to several different people before you are taken to someone with any real authority in this small company.
So remember, if you are buying from Digital Storm, Caveat Emptor.
I am glad to see the comment above because it reflects the openness of how businesses and individuals now interact with one-another. I do also agree that it is important to hear from not only the business, but from other sources as well.
I simply want to add my own comments from a management’s perspective only because not everyone may fully understand a situation and even further, make an incorrect assumption from it.
The reference “fake tracking numbers” was when a package was scheduled to ship, but, never actually made it out, which resulted in an invalid tracking number. However, once the package did ship, the customer would receive a new tracking number via email. We’ve implemented a new process a few months ago which has completed ended this inconvenience.
We do strongly state that the 5-10 mark is only an estimate and not a guarantee. This ensures that we don’t sacrifice quality over speed.
We definitely do provide new components with very new purchase. Our return rate is very, very low, but, with any returns, we put the units in the Storm Lounge, use them as Demo units for shows, or sell them as a clearance systems.
“Alex” is just a nick-name used by Harjit in order to keep communication easier such as pronunciation, etc…
I do want to add that, management has definitely taken action to ensure that we provide new hardware for customers and quality of every job is kept consistent.
Finishing off, I do want to strongly re-iterate that the management team behind Digital Storm believes in “imaging the situation from the customer’s shoes.” We believe in making sure our customers are very happy with their purchase, and return back within a few years for their next purchase. Our forums, BBB report, Reseller Ratings, etc… reflect this mission.
If anyone has any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach me directly: 510-490-1122 EXT 156. I would love to sit down and have a chat about any concerns or questions. We want to make sure that any investment our customers make is done with trust.
P.S.
Former employee: If you would like, please give me a call so we could chat about an concerns that we could clear up in order to ensure we maintain the best practices in the industry.
After performing my due diligence researching custom computer builders, I bought a system from Digital Storm. The emphasis was on reliabilty (I use this system in my business to generate income). The system was slightly under $4000.00.
Approximately one year later, the system is limping alomg on the third video card, the second set of DRAM, and the second motherboard. Since the beginning, I found I had to remove the side panel from the case and direct a floor fan at the unit to prevent overheating and subsequent system shut-down. I maintain my office temperature at a maximum of 76 degrees F.
Now their technical support has diagnosed another faulty motherboard. I will be responsible for paying for the installation. Every time I have called the company with my concerns, I must reach the owner [?] Jason for resolution. He apparently feels that these circumstances do not merit any special consideration; yet he also denys that this is routine. DS wanted to charge me for shipping of the replacement parts.
I consider these circumstances unacceptable from any logical evaluation. DS has sold me a product that has demonstrated a consistant history of failure. Yet they continue to attempt to place the onus on my shoulders. Remind you of Microsoft?
As the vice president of my corporation, I find it extremely embarassing to endure the president constantly reminding me: "You should have bought a Dell." I hate to admit that it appears: He is correct.
Absolute worst customer service. The USB ports stopped working in July, had to pay (despite having the platinum warantee) to have new mother board shipped to us. The motherboard was dusty, the label faded and it did not work. Had to pay to ship the entire computer back to the company. $400 and 3 months later we finally have a functioning computer again. I agree with previous post, we should have bought a Dell.
Thanks for the responses. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to make yourself heard at www.resellerratings.com. It also gives the company another chance to try to make things right.
I am in the market myself for a new gaming computer and I was really impressed with Digital Storm, but I checked on Vigor Gaming based what the above commenter said.
I want to just correct him, at the time that you bought your computer maybe Vigor had an AA rating from the BBB, but as of today Vigor Gaming as a "B-" from the BBB.
I think I'm going to buy from Digital Storm, but their prices are a higher than places like CyberPower I just might buy the parts myself, but then again I don't get warranty or tech support and I'm just too busy with my life to mess around with my computer anymore.
I followed your link and indeed you are correct. I just don't get it. 36 months complaints per BBB, Vigor 6 with a rating of B-, DS 15 with a rating of A+, and CP 506 with a rating of B-.
Reseller rating 6 months Vigor = 9.89, DS = 9.51.
I guess the BBB ratings for the three companies have me confused since they give the same rating to a company with 6 complaints and a company with 506 complaints and an A+ to a company which has 2 1/2 times the complaints as a B- company.
Makes me scratch my head.
Alan
PS - As I said above, I think that both companies are great.
The overview comment stated that DS is the only company with an A+ BBB rating. When I bought my computer from Vigor Gaming they had a AA BBB rating and a higher resellers rating than DS.
There is not doubt that DS is a quality company that builds great rigs, but they are way expensive compared to some other builders that are comparable. As I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Vigor Gaming is also a great company of top notch quality with an excellent process and support. There are a few others as well.
Another comment is that the mark up is not the difference between newegg prices for the individual components and the build price. It is the difference that you would pay between the two options. The mark up is the difference between what a manufacturer pays for the ccomponents, build, and overhead and what you pay for the rig. No OEM pays newegg prices for the components that they use. They pay much less. So the markup is much higher than stated in the article.
Horrible cable management options.
Special HDD mounting screws that are a pain to remove.
The center cooling is a pain to change the fan.
Sharp edges.
LOUD. (no really, it's l-o-u-d)
Dusty.
and the worst of all, warm.
The only pro I can think of is the ease of installing watercooling. Silverstone sells a 240mm (120mmx2)rad support that bolts right to the top. That is nice, but this case DOES NOT belong in ANY "no-holds-barred, top of the line system."
I bought mine for 330 bucks when it first came out and HAPPILY sold it on craigslist for less than half that amount. Bleh.
I will have saved enough $$$ by July for my first boutique system and I believe I know where I'm headed. :)
I am concerned with the noise, though. I'm guessing since DigitalStorm is so very obviously an industry expert on high-end systems that you've ruled-out sound dampening through various methods for one reason or another?
I agree with Alex and others here that the power supply may be a primary culprit, it was in the same vicinity as the video cards and the noise was hard to isolate. I'll see if I can further isolate it before I pack it up, but in that case going with an alternate PSU supplier (Christoph Katzer may have some views here) would of course help out.
I wanted to thank AnandTech for the review opportunity.
I do wish to comment on system noise. From our experience, the PC Power and Cooling 1200W PSU is the main culprit. Under stress, the unit can become very loud.
We are looking at ways to lower the noise from our high-end systems. No one wants a loud system, and we agree.
There's no reason a liquid cooled system should be that loud.
You guys should review a computer from Puget Systems. They're even higher rated than DSO, and are known for their quiet computers. I have a friend who bought a system there and he won't stop talking about them, lol
Mainly because the case they used (assuming its the same as mine) comes with 2x top side fans, a front side fan, a underside fan, the radiator/pump, and the GPU fans.
I just configured a system very close to this one on Puget's site (minus one GTX 285, they only offer SLI systems), and the cost was $6589. With another GTX 285, that would bump it up to just over $7000, about $1000 more than the system reviewed here. The option's always open for the future, but unless they could demonstrate a clear performance or warranty support advantage, it'd be a hard sell.
Apples and oranges, dude. Puget Systems liquid cools the video cards. Take that out and their $6500, I saved a quote on the website. Plus they have 2x the radiator size. If you use a smaller radiator, then Puget is $5400.
Actually, I did take out the liquid cooling on the video cards. It's still more. Doesn't mean it's bad, just pricier. Actually, I notice the prices have shifted just since I did the last config. a few hours ago, and changed $5 again between the time I configured this system and put it into a cart.
Puget Deluge
P6T Deluxe
i7 965
6GB DDR3-1600
2x GTX 285
2x 300 GB Velociraptor
1x 1.5TB WD Green
LiteOn Blu-ray, Pioneer DVDRW
P183 w/liquid cooling
Silverstone 1200W P/S
Koolance 345AT
Liquid cooling on video cards None
Vista Ultimate
3 Year Warranty parts
Price: $6376.27 + $153 shipping = $6529.27
Add the third GTX 285 to match this one, and you're at that $7000 number.
I actually http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=29...">reviewed a PC from Puget Systems a while back and pretty much can echo what Matt said. They did provide excellent support in my experience and were very good at communicating what was happening. Pricing is more than I'd be willing to pay, but then I'm not their target audience.
Amazing performance,but overkill for most people. Still, I would love to have one. Wonder how SLI HD4670x2 cards would compare to the triple GTX285 in performance and power usage.
The price seems relatively reasonable considering a 3 year warranty.
I brought my PC from DS. Even watercooled, thanks the all the extra fans, it is a LOUD system, but it also stays quite cool. Had an nforce releated freezing issue for a while, but to be fair, it was rare and took months for me to track to a cause (Either Overvolted RAm or a 1:1 RAM-FSB ratio fixed the problem). Support is all around great, forums are more active then some other competitors, and you can find answers to your questions quite quickly.
As long as you know you are paying a premium for your system, and don't mind the extra noise that comes with cooling, then DSO is the way to go. I'd definatly buy my next PC from them after my experiance with this one.
After owning a PCP&C 'Silencer' 750, and experiencing a PCP&C 1000W unit, I will guarantee you that the PSU is the loadest thing in that case BY FAR.
A Corsair HX1000, Thermaltake Toughpower 1200, Cooler Master Real Power 1000W, Enermax Galaxy Evo or Revolution 85+, just off the top of my head, would be much better choices in terms of noise without sacrificing quality.
I have a friend who's a packaging engineer. I laughed when I first heard the title, but I've learned that solid packing methods are critical to insure product quality remains unchanged through tranist.
As we can see from the shipping box exterior, heavy boxes like these are subject to extremes during transit. I was very impressed to see Digital Storm using injectable foam packing ON THE INSIDE of the system. This packing prevents the heavy components (graphic cards, oversize air coolers, etc) from the forces of gravity. Imagine a typical shipping box sliding down a 20 foot chutes in shipping hub.
Newton's Law at work here, the large components want to keep moving as the box comes to an abrupt halt, the custom molded foam insert pervents that from happening. This is CRITICAL for a pre-built high end system, as they in particular contain heavy components inside.
A big thumbs up to Digital Storm on the packing...
red coolant, black + red evga classified x58 and red + black dominator gt ram...
I would be proud to show off that system, no matter if its prebuilt or not
It's actually better for the consumer and the company that the margins are higher. This incentives the company to work hard to support the customer and keeps them in business for the term of the support. Overclocked watercooled systems tend to require more hands on and support than the average rig and if the margins were thin then the customers to support engineer ratio would be much different. I'm glad to actually see gross margin calculation although it *may* hurt their sales to the people who think it's "too high" because support is not of any value until you need it.
Although for the budget minded, of course building one is going to be cheaper, but if you're time is of any value and building computers isn't "fun" then this is a great deal with an acceptable margin.
Wow on the performance benchmarks! It's sad that it's so loud but I'm sure it'll keep a bedroom warm on a cold winter day.
I do have to say after seeing this I'm going to check them out. I'm tiered of dealing with Dell and my homebuilt systems that tend to be a time sink.
Thanks and keep up the great work on these reviews!
I purchased my system from Digital Storm about 2 years ago now. At the time I purchased my system, their entry level systems started at around $699. It's a bit of a shame to see that more entry level customers will simply be priced out of the opportunity to experience the build quality that goes into a Digital Storm system, but I could understand why a builder would abandon those price points.
A few things have changed since I bought my system aside from the price range of the systems for sale. For one thing, My owner's binder did have basic benchmark scores hand recorded by the technician running the stress testing and benchmarks. So I guess you might consider the current owner's binder a bit of a step backward from the point of view of the author of this article. On the other hand, they have dome some nice things to dress it up. In particular, that certificate of ownership definitely falls into line with the things they do to help make their customers feel special.
The website has improved dramatically over the past couple of years. Those info links are something that was steadily being improved on during the time I was active on their community forums and it looks like they have really made some progress with the format of their site. The fact that the system configurator does not alert the potential buyer to incompatible selections or incomplete builds, is something that the management at Digital Storm had once been very keen on implementing in their site. I'm a little surprised to see that has yet to come to pass.
The accesories bundle hasn't changed much, but that internal packing material is something that I had hoped to see them adopt and even suggested it a couple of times on their forums. Looks like they were listening to those of us that suggested improving the internal packaging to protect against shipping damage. That is one thing I will say about Digital Storm- they really do listen to their customers. Even if it takes months for the ideas suggested to be formed into some sort of action, if something a customer suggests makes sense, odds are, that suggestion in some form will see implimentation.
When it comes to the interior, if nothing has changed, customers shelling out $1200 can expect that same sort of ultra clean build as someone spending $8,000. That's something that I always admired about the company. No customer is an unimportant customer, and entry level builds recieved the same level of care as the high ticket items.
I have seen several reviews of Digital Storm systems on multiple sites over the past two or three years now, and one thing that never really comes across in those reviews, is what it is like to be a Digital Storm Customer. If a reviewer went through the entire buy process, they would quickly understand why even those that had minor issues give this company such high marks. You get taken care of, no matter what, and you are made to feel special by their customer service reps and community of fellow customers.
I would not recomend them to anyone that already has the skills (and time) to plan and build a system with decent cable management, and the knowhow to overclock it, but for those that do not, and have the means, I really do not have a problem recommending them based on my experience there.
http://www.sendfreetext.info send free text http://www.uktrollbeads.co.uk uk troll beads Even though I was amazed at the increase in cost, I was ok with just getting the additional Video Card through the upgrade center without the additional warranty.
I am still left wondering why, according to your own website, you claim that you get LIFETIME free http://www.incase-mate.co.uk/ in case mate http://www.promdresses-sale.co.uk prom dresses sale http://www.ultraseksy.com Sexy Dresses sent Digital Storm an e-mail asking why the just on the shelves issues of Maximum PC and CPU magazine and their web site all show
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52 Comments
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viciki123 - Monday, February 22, 2010 - link
http://www.weddingdressonlineshop.co.uk/24-tea-len...">http://www.weddingdressonlineshop.co.uk/24-tea-len...Jillian - Thursday, December 29, 2011 - link
The thing that got me really infuriated was the additional Video Card. Again, I was told the card was an additional $500+(I don't remember the exact price that was quoted). I questioned the price because on the upgrade center the price is listed as $409, which is a large increase. I was told that this was because the upgrade center parts didn't come with a warranty from DS. http://www.idresses.co.ukdjrobr199 - Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - link
The following is what I sent to Digital Storm customer service, which explains what I went through when purchasing a PC through them. I just sent it today, so I am anxiously awaiting there response.//////////////////////
I was contacted via telephone today about my order where I wanted to upgrade the hard drive to a 300G velociraptor and add another gtx-285 2GB vram. After some discussion I found out that I would be paying about $200 additional to replace the original 1TB HD with a Raptor. I was told that with the warranty you are charging $300+ for that HD. Wow, that is about $100 OVER the cost of the drive (listed in your upgrade center). That is outrageous!! I know you are going to sell it for more than Frys Electronics etc...($220), but that difference is ridiculous.
The thing that got me really infuriated was the additional Video Card. Again, I was told the card was an additional $500+(I don't remember the exact price that was quoted). I questioned the price because on the upgrade center the price is listed as $409, which is a large increase. I was told that this was because the upgrade center parts didn't come with a warranty from DS.
Even though I was amazed at the increase in cost, I was ok with just getting the additional Video Card through the upgrade center without the additional warranty. I was told by the customer service rep that I could not do that. I was totally confused as to why they were not able to do that.
I asked to speak with someone who could authorize what I wanted to do. I was put on hold for a little bit and I ended up talking with the same Customer Service Rep again, who said they talked with their boss and they would allow me to purchase the additional video card as a separate order, but the video card would not be installed and would not go through the test that the rest of the PC would be going through after it was built.
I am still left wondering why, according to your own website, you claim that you get LIFETIME free labor upgrades when purchased through Digital Storm yet I am unable to buy a video card and have it installed with a brand new pc being built by you.
If this is how you treat customers that are in the process of buying one of your systems I am scared to find out what kind of customer service you provide AFTER the sale has gone through.
It's not like I'm asking you to do anything out of the ordinary. I just wanted to buy a component from you and have you install it, which I should be able to do according to your own words that are printed right on your website!
I have done a LOT of research online and I even have a close personal friend that bought one of your PC's a few years ago and I have heard and read a lot of good reviews about your products AND your customer service. I don't know what to think now, after I had this experience.
I am seriously contemplating on not placing an order with you. I don't want to do that because of all the good reviews I've read. It's just that spending about $2700 on a computer is a LOT of money for me and I don't want to spend it on something that I may have a lot of problems with (customer service related).
Thank you for your time,
Robert
djrobr199 - Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - link
Well, I got my response from Digital Storm. Basically the end result is that they are installing and testing the additional video card I purchased from them. They are saying that they are making "an exception" in my case and it is not normal business practice for them to do that.I am still confused about that because it clearly states (when you are on the configuration page) that you receive LIFETIME free labor on upgrades when you purchase the components from Digital Storm. I'm hoping that this is not a sign of things to come. I've read so many good reviews that I'm putting my faith in them and I went and submitted the order.
Matt Campbell - Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - link
Thanks Robert. Let us know how things turn out.djrobr199 - Thursday, December 3, 2009 - link
this is there response :)bullet Posted: Today at 2:15pm
@djrobr199,
There seems to be a misunderstanding. We do offer labor-free upgrades. If one of our staff members said we won't install it for free it was a misunderstanding.
We are more than happy to install it for free. Warranty, etc... is a different story.
I hope that clears it up. If you have any further issues/concerns/questions, please feel free to directly contact us or our management staff at: management@digitalstormonline.com
softysung - Friday, June 5, 2009 - link
I have purchased a system myself, dealt with support and have great things to say. I am definitely going to be making my next purchase with DS again. I also have a mate that I recommended to them and he is also happy with the service and product.snookie - Monday, June 1, 2009 - link
I sent Digital Storm an e-mail asking why the just on the shelves issues of Maximum PC and CPU magazine and their web site all show 3 different prices for their 650i system and they did not reply back. The Maximum PC and CPU magazine articles show it for $1599 and $1699 while their website shows it for a minimum of $1815. I guess they don't like questions like that.softysung - Friday, June 5, 2009 - link
They don't publish any email addresses... did you try using their request help page (http://www.digitalstormonline.com/sendmessage.asp)">http://www.digitalstormonline.com/sendmessage.asp)I called em and they said they do offer those systems, just call them and they will help you out mate.
eternalkp - Sunday, May 31, 2009 - link
why i7 965 & 3xGTX 285? that's why it's so expensive.I would select this system:
http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.as...">http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.as...
Any chassis & custom paint>I would stay with standard & not pay extras.
1000W PSU +$126
Intel i7 920 2.66ghz...choose OC to 4.0~4.2ghz option.
6gb DDR3 triple channels 2000mhz RAM +$332
2x300gb western digital 10k rpm HD in raid 0 +532
Bluray writer +$281
3xGTX 280 SLI, this is the best option since it's on clearance. +681
I think this is way cheaper than 3xGTX 285 and the performance is right there with GTX 285.
creative lab titanium sound card +$221
H20 specialized frostbite cooling stage 3 for CPU & 3 GPU: +$1209.
OC options:
OC to i7 920 2.66ghz to 4.0 to 4.2ghz +$199
OC GPU to max: $45
OC RAM to max: $55.
this system will be quiet and goes for $5,500
grand total of $
MustWarnOthers - Thursday, May 28, 2009 - link
I used to be an employee at this company, and I would like to warn any potential buyers about the business practices that I had witnessed while working for Digital Storm.This company is notorious for providing their customers with false information and shady business practices. I have heard of many instances where the CS Reps were ordered to give out fake tracking numbers to appease clients who expected their products to ship within the promised timeframe (8-10 business days, IIRC). Somewhere in Digital Storms building is a stack of free games that came with Video Cards or Motherboards, etc. These are given to the more outspoken customers, but they are products that you, as a customer, have already paid for.
Also be careful about any 'new' products that are promised. When products are returned to Digital Storm because a card or drive doesn't work, they are replaced by used products that have been dusted off and made to appear like new. Granted, things may have changed since I've worked for this company, but the major impression that I got while working here is that customers are only treated well in person or on the phone, otherwise it's all about taking your money. I know for a fact, because I had been ordered to replace new, but defective parts, with old parts that had been ripped off from RMA'd systems. If you send anything back to Digital Storm, expect it to be replaced by a used and cleaned up item.
I can also attest to the fact that Alex is not a real person. Instead, it is a moniker that is used by several different people. I will spare the real owner of this company some embarrassment, and not mention his real name. Just be warned that Alex Brown is only an alias, and asking for Alex Brown may lead you to several different people before you are taken to someone with any real authority in this small company.
So remember, if you are buying from Digital Storm, Caveat Emptor.
DigitalStorm - Saturday, May 30, 2009 - link
I am glad to see the comment above because it reflects the openness of how businesses and individuals now interact with one-another. I do also agree that it is important to hear from not only the business, but from other sources as well.I simply want to add my own comments from a management’s perspective only because not everyone may fully understand a situation and even further, make an incorrect assumption from it.
The reference “fake tracking numbers” was when a package was scheduled to ship, but, never actually made it out, which resulted in an invalid tracking number. However, once the package did ship, the customer would receive a new tracking number via email. We’ve implemented a new process a few months ago which has completed ended this inconvenience.
We do strongly state that the 5-10 mark is only an estimate and not a guarantee. This ensures that we don’t sacrifice quality over speed.
We definitely do provide new components with very new purchase. Our return rate is very, very low, but, with any returns, we put the units in the Storm Lounge, use them as Demo units for shows, or sell them as a clearance systems.
“Alex” is just a nick-name used by Harjit in order to keep communication easier such as pronunciation, etc…
I do want to add that, management has definitely taken action to ensure that we provide new hardware for customers and quality of every job is kept consistent.
Finishing off, I do want to strongly re-iterate that the management team behind Digital Storm believes in “imaging the situation from the customer’s shoes.” We believe in making sure our customers are very happy with their purchase, and return back within a few years for their next purchase. Our forums, BBB report, Reseller Ratings, etc… reflect this mission.
If anyone has any further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach me directly: 510-490-1122 EXT 156. I would love to sit down and have a chat about any concerns or questions. We want to make sure that any investment our customers make is done with trust.
P.S.
Former employee: If you would like, please give me a call so we could chat about an concerns that we could clear up in order to ensure we maintain the best practices in the industry.
thos - Thursday, July 30, 2009 - link
My experience with Digital Storm:After performing my due diligence researching custom computer builders, I bought a system from Digital Storm. The emphasis was on reliabilty (I use this system in my business to generate income). The system was slightly under $4000.00.
Approximately one year later, the system is limping alomg on the third video card, the second set of DRAM, and the second motherboard. Since the beginning, I found I had to remove the side panel from the case and direct a floor fan at the unit to prevent overheating and subsequent system shut-down. I maintain my office temperature at a maximum of 76 degrees F.
Now their technical support has diagnosed another faulty motherboard. I will be responsible for paying for the installation. Every time I have called the company with my concerns, I must reach the owner [?] Jason for resolution. He apparently feels that these circumstances do not merit any special consideration; yet he also denys that this is routine. DS wanted to charge me for shipping of the replacement parts.
I consider these circumstances unacceptable from any logical evaluation. DS has sold me a product that has demonstrated a consistant history of failure. Yet they continue to attempt to place the onus on my shoulders. Remind you of Microsoft?
As the vice president of my corporation, I find it extremely embarassing to endure the president constantly reminding me: "You should have bought a Dell." I hate to admit that it appears: He is correct.
Jennifer555 - Friday, November 6, 2009 - link
Absolute worst customer service. The USB ports stopped working in July, had to pay (despite having the platinum warantee) to have new mother board shipped to us. The motherboard was dusty, the label faded and it did not work. Had to pay to ship the entire computer back to the company. $400 and 3 months later we finally have a functioning computer again. I agree with previous post, we should have bought a Dell.Matt Campbell - Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - link
Thanks for the responses. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to make yourself heard at www.resellerratings.com. It also gives the company another chance to try to make things right.kingkong80 - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - link
I am in the market myself for a new gaming computer and I was really impressed with Digital Storm, but I checked on Vigor Gaming based what the above commenter said.I want to just correct him, at the time that you bought your computer maybe Vigor had an AA rating from the BBB, but as of today Vigor Gaming as a "B-" from the BBB.
http://www.la.bbb.org/businessreport.aspx?companyi...">http://www.la.bbb.org/businessreport.aspx?companyi...
I think I'm going to buy from Digital Storm, but their prices are a higher than places like CyberPower I just might buy the parts myself, but then again I don't get warranty or tech support and I'm just too busy with my life to mess around with my computer anymore.
Salan - Saturday, May 30, 2009 - link
HiI followed your link and indeed you are correct. I just don't get it. 36 months complaints per BBB, Vigor 6 with a rating of B-, DS 15 with a rating of A+, and CP 506 with a rating of B-.
Reseller rating 6 months Vigor = 9.89, DS = 9.51.
I guess the BBB ratings for the three companies have me confused since they give the same rating to a company with 6 complaints and a company with 506 complaints and an A+ to a company which has 2 1/2 times the complaints as a B- company.
Makes me scratch my head.
Alan
PS - As I said above, I think that both companies are great.
Salan - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - link
HiThe overview comment stated that DS is the only company with an A+ BBB rating. When I bought my computer from Vigor Gaming they had a AA BBB rating and a higher resellers rating than DS.
There is not doubt that DS is a quality company that builds great rigs, but they are way expensive compared to some other builders that are comparable. As I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Vigor Gaming is also a great company of top notch quality with an excellent process and support. There are a few others as well.
Another comment is that the mark up is not the difference between newegg prices for the individual components and the build price. It is the difference that you would pay between the two options. The mark up is the difference between what a manufacturer pays for the ccomponents, build, and overhead and what you pay for the rig. No OEM pays newegg prices for the components that they use. They pay much less. So the markup is much higher than stated in the article.
Alan
Earballs - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I owned that case. I HATED it.Horrible cable management options.
Special HDD mounting screws that are a pain to remove.
The center cooling is a pain to change the fan.
Sharp edges.
LOUD. (no really, it's l-o-u-d)
Dusty.
and the worst of all, warm.
The only pro I can think of is the ease of installing watercooling. Silverstone sells a 240mm (120mmx2)rad support that bolts right to the top. That is nice, but this case DOES NOT belong in ANY "no-holds-barred, top of the line system."
I bought mine for 330 bucks when it first came out and HAPPILY sold it on craigslist for less than half that amount. Bleh.
Jackattak - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Thanks for the great, informative review, Matt.I will have saved enough $$$ by July for my first boutique system and I believe I know where I'm headed. :)
I am concerned with the noise, though. I'm guessing since DigitalStorm is so very obviously an industry expert on high-end systems that you've ruled-out sound dampening through various methods for one reason or another?
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Best, Jackattak
Matt Campbell - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I agree with Alex and others here that the power supply may be a primary culprit, it was in the same vicinity as the video cards and the noise was hard to isolate. I'll see if I can further isolate it before I pack it up, but in that case going with an alternate PSU supplier (Christoph Katzer may have some views here) would of course help out.DigitalStorm - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I wanted to thank AnandTech for the review opportunity.I do wish to comment on system noise. From our experience, the PC Power and Cooling 1200W PSU is the main culprit. Under stress, the unit can become very loud.
We are looking at ways to lower the noise from our high-end systems. No one wants a loud system, and we agree.
Warm Regards,
Alex
Digital Storm
Clauzii - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Might sound stupid, but is using Fanless impossible?I mean, say, 2(600W),3 or 4 PSUs depending on machine type?
yessir22 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
There's no reason a liquid cooled system should be that loud.You guys should review a computer from Puget Systems. They're even higher rated than DSO, and are known for their quiet computers. I have a friend who bought a system there and he won't stop talking about them, lol
gamerk2 - Monday, May 25, 2009 - link
Mainly because the case they used (assuming its the same as mine) comes with 2x top side fans, a front side fan, a underside fan, the radiator/pump, and the GPU fans.Hence, a lot of noise for a lot of cooling.
Matt Campbell - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I just configured a system very close to this one on Puget's site (minus one GTX 285, they only offer SLI systems), and the cost was $6589. With another GTX 285, that would bump it up to just over $7000, about $1000 more than the system reviewed here. The option's always open for the future, but unless they could demonstrate a clear performance or warranty support advantage, it'd be a hard sell.yessir22 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Apples and oranges, dude. Puget Systems liquid cools the video cards. Take that out and their $6500, I saved a quote on the website. Plus they have 2x the radiator size. If you use a smaller radiator, then Puget is $5400.Matt Campbell - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Actually, I did take out the liquid cooling on the video cards. It's still more. Doesn't mean it's bad, just pricier. Actually, I notice the prices have shifted just since I did the last config. a few hours ago, and changed $5 again between the time I configured this system and put it into a cart.Puget Deluge
P6T Deluxe
i7 965
6GB DDR3-1600
2x GTX 285
2x 300 GB Velociraptor
1x 1.5TB WD Green
LiteOn Blu-ray, Pioneer DVDRW
P183 w/liquid cooling
Silverstone 1200W P/S
Koolance 345AT
Liquid cooling on video cards None
Vista Ultimate
3 Year Warranty parts
Price: $6376.27 + $153 shipping = $6529.27
Add the third GTX 285 to match this one, and you're at that $7000 number.
JarredWalton - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I actually http://www.anandtech.com/systems/showdoc.aspx?i=29...">reviewed a PC from Puget Systems a while back and pretty much can echo what Matt said. They did provide excellent support in my experience and were very good at communicating what was happening. Pricing is more than I'd be willing to pay, but then I'm not their target audience.aguilpa1 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
They have good stuff but boy you PAY for it.frozentundra123456 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Amazing performance,but overkill for most people. Still, I would love to have one. Wonder how SLI HD4670x2 cards would compare to the triple GTX285 in performance and power usage.The price seems relatively reasonable considering a 3 year warranty.
Clauzii - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Yes, they should definately do that.gamerk2 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I brought my PC from DS. Even watercooled, thanks the all the extra fans, it is a LOUD system, but it also stays quite cool. Had an nforce releated freezing issue for a while, but to be fair, it was rare and took months for me to track to a cause (Either Overvolted RAm or a 1:1 RAM-FSB ratio fixed the problem). Support is all around great, forums are more active then some other competitors, and you can find answers to your questions quite quickly.As long as you know you are paying a premium for your system, and don't mind the extra noise that comes with cooling, then DSO is the way to go. I'd definatly buy my next PC from them after my experiance with this one.
Matt Campbell - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Thanks for the feedback!HOOfan 1 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I wouldn't be suprised if the leaf blower of a power supply you got was louder than anything else in the case.NicePants42 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
After owning a PCP&C 'Silencer' 750, and experiencing a PCP&C 1000W unit, I will guarantee you that the PSU is the loadest thing in that case BY FAR.A Corsair HX1000, Thermaltake Toughpower 1200, Cooler Master Real Power 1000W, Enermax Galaxy Evo or Revolution 85+, just off the top of my head, would be much better choices in terms of noise without sacrificing quality.
aigomorla - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
and u are one of the few who does not own a classified to know how picky it is with psu's.I personally went though 3.
The enermax revo does NOT work 50% of the time.
HOOfan 1 - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - link
That is EVGA's fault though....not Enermax'sNot being a rabid overclocker, but instead a rabid PSU hound, I would rather get a Gigabyte mobo and a nice quiet quality PSU.
NicePants42 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Of course I meant 'loudest'. Yay for edits.Hauk - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I have a friend who's a packaging engineer. I laughed when I first heard the title, but I've learned that solid packing methods are critical to insure product quality remains unchanged through tranist.As we can see from the shipping box exterior, heavy boxes like these are subject to extremes during transit. I was very impressed to see Digital Storm using injectable foam packing ON THE INSIDE of the system. This packing prevents the heavy components (graphic cards, oversize air coolers, etc) from the forces of gravity. Imagine a typical shipping box sliding down a 20 foot chutes in shipping hub.
Newton's Law at work here, the large components want to keep moving as the box comes to an abrupt halt, the custom molded foam insert pervents that from happening. This is CRITICAL for a pre-built high end system, as they in particular contain heavy components inside.
A big thumbs up to Digital Storm on the packing...
san1s - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
red coolant, black + red evga classified x58 and red + black dominator gt ram...I would be proud to show off that system, no matter if its prebuilt or not
rbarone69 - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
It's actually better for the consumer and the company that the margins are higher. This incentives the company to work hard to support the customer and keeps them in business for the term of the support. Overclocked watercooled systems tend to require more hands on and support than the average rig and if the margins were thin then the customers to support engineer ratio would be much different. I'm glad to actually see gross margin calculation although it *may* hurt their sales to the people who think it's "too high" because support is not of any value until you need it.Although for the budget minded, of course building one is going to be cheaper, but if you're time is of any value and building computers isn't "fun" then this is a great deal with an acceptable margin.
Wow on the performance benchmarks! It's sad that it's so loud but I'm sure it'll keep a bedroom warm on a cold winter day.
I do have to say after seeing this I'm going to check them out. I'm tiered of dealing with Dell and my homebuilt systems that tend to be a time sink.
Thanks and keep up the great work on these reviews!
Tyler Lowe - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
I purchased my system from Digital Storm about 2 years ago now. At the time I purchased my system, their entry level systems started at around $699. It's a bit of a shame to see that more entry level customers will simply be priced out of the opportunity to experience the build quality that goes into a Digital Storm system, but I could understand why a builder would abandon those price points.A few things have changed since I bought my system aside from the price range of the systems for sale. For one thing, My owner's binder did have basic benchmark scores hand recorded by the technician running the stress testing and benchmarks. So I guess you might consider the current owner's binder a bit of a step backward from the point of view of the author of this article. On the other hand, they have dome some nice things to dress it up. In particular, that certificate of ownership definitely falls into line with the things they do to help make their customers feel special.
The website has improved dramatically over the past couple of years. Those info links are something that was steadily being improved on during the time I was active on their community forums and it looks like they have really made some progress with the format of their site. The fact that the system configurator does not alert the potential buyer to incompatible selections or incomplete builds, is something that the management at Digital Storm had once been very keen on implementing in their site. I'm a little surprised to see that has yet to come to pass.
The accesories bundle hasn't changed much, but that internal packing material is something that I had hoped to see them adopt and even suggested it a couple of times on their forums. Looks like they were listening to those of us that suggested improving the internal packaging to protect against shipping damage. That is one thing I will say about Digital Storm- they really do listen to their customers. Even if it takes months for the ideas suggested to be formed into some sort of action, if something a customer suggests makes sense, odds are, that suggestion in some form will see implimentation.
When it comes to the interior, if nothing has changed, customers shelling out $1200 can expect that same sort of ultra clean build as someone spending $8,000. That's something that I always admired about the company. No customer is an unimportant customer, and entry level builds recieved the same level of care as the high ticket items.
I have seen several reviews of Digital Storm systems on multiple sites over the past two or three years now, and one thing that never really comes across in those reviews, is what it is like to be a Digital Storm Customer. If a reviewer went through the entire buy process, they would quickly understand why even those that had minor issues give this company such high marks. You get taken care of, no matter what, and you are made to feel special by their customer service reps and community of fellow customers.
I would not recomend them to anyone that already has the skills (and time) to plan and build a system with decent cable management, and the knowhow to overclock it, but for those that do not, and have the means, I really do not have a problem recommending them based on my experience there.
Matt Campbell - Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - link
Thank you for the feedback - we love to comments from real customers.ertt - Friday, August 27, 2010 - link
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