PC Specialist Vortex S3 System Review w/ i7-10700K

1. Introduction2. PCSpecialist Vortex S3 Closer Look3. Performance: 3DMark & Cinebench4. Performance: Gaming Benchmarks5. Performance: Memory, SSD & PCMark106. Performance: Thermals, Noise & Power7. Closing Thoughts8. View All Pages

Ever since the launch of Intel's 10^th Gen Intel Comet Lake-S desktop processors, we have been looking forward to getting our hands on a pre-built using one of these CPUs. The combination of the Intel Core i7-10700K processor and the Samsung 970 EVO Plus M.2 SSD inside the PCSpecialist Vortex S3 makes using the system for general day to day tasks feel very smooth and snappy.

While the CPU performance may not much of an improvement over the previous 9th Generation 8 cor, 16 thread Core i9-9900K, it is a little more affordable now. The 8 core part in the 10^th Generation line-up is no longer the flagship CPU, however, it is still classed as a high-end processor and during our performance tests, it showed excellent performance in both gaming and productivity workloads.

Since this is not the flagship CPU in the 10^th generation range, it probably explains why PCSpecialist didn’t pair the i7-10700K with a true high-end graphics cards such as the RTX 2080 Super or RTX 2080 Ti, and instead went for an RTX 2070 Super in the Vortex S3, which we'd consider a solid choice for high refresh 1080p or 1440p gaming.

However, during the purchasing process of a PCSpecialist system, components selection can be tweaked, so if you have a little more cash in the budget, you could opt for a slightly more powerful graphics card to get more out of the i7-10700K CPU. Or alternatively, if your budget is tight, you could swap out the i7-10700K for a 6 core 12 thread i5-10600K, which you could argue is actually a better match for the RTX 2070 Super in this situation.

On the other hand, the Intel Core i7-10700K CPU will give the system more longevity and potential to take advantage of future upgrades. While on the subject of upgrades, if a few months down the line after purchasing the Vortex S3, you begin to run out storage space with the 1.5TB stock capacity, you will find there is plenty of space inside the chassis to add more, with two 3.5-inch bays and additional 2.5-inch mounts available.

Although 1.5TB may not be a huge amount of storage these days since game installs are often above the 100GB mark now (COD: Modern Warfare, we are looking at you!), it should be enough to keep you going for a while. Something that immediately impressed us about the Vortex S3 was the fact that PCSpecialist had chosen to only install SSD storage devices, so there are no traditional mechanical HDDs to slow down performance. If you are thinking of adding more storage in the future, we would suggest sticking to SSDs if your budget will allow.

In terms of aesthetics, PCSpecialist has gone with an understated appearance balanced with some subtle RGB lighting via the pre-installed Cooler Master 200mm fans up front and matching fans on the all-in-one CPU cooler installed at the top of the system. We quite like the stealthy black and silver interior appearance and contrasting RGB fans. However, if RGB is not your thing, the lighting effects can be disabled using the Asus Aura Sync software that comes pre-installed.

PCSpecialist choice of case for the Vortex S3 works great for this system with its large front mesh panel allowing for a healthy amount of cool air to enter the case and keep system temperature under control. An alternative solid acrylic front panel is also supplied with the case, however, we prefer the mesh panel as it diffuses the RGB lighting and looks better in our opinion, as well as providing excellent thermal performance.

Overall, the Vortex S3 is a very capable PC for both gaming and productivity tasks. In its default configuration, it would suit users who need it for work during the day and also enjoy some smooth, high FPS gaming in the evenings. Paired with either a 1080p or 1400p high refresh rate monitor, it would make for a solid gaming system. However, for a smooth 4k gaming experience, a more powerful graphics card would be recommended. In its current configuration, it's a great all-rounder.

The PCSpecialist Vortex S3 system is available to purchase directly from PCSpecialist for £1649 HERE.

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Pros:

• High-performance CPU.
• Good gaming performance at 1080p or 1440p resolution.
• Great storage drive selection.
• Understated stealthy interior appearance.
• Excellent thermal performance.

Cons:

• Struggles with 4K resolution gaming performance.
• Storage capacity a little low considering the size of modern games.

KitGuru says: The PCSpecialist Vortex S3 provides good value at its launch price, so those who don't have the ability or confidence to build their own system will be getting good value from this system. It's an ideal PC for users who want something for more than just gaming and the new Intel platform is expected to offer an upgrade path for the future, so it should last.

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