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My overall feelings towards the Chillblast Fusion Raptor gaming system are positive. Chillblast's component choice is smart and well-balanced for gamers who want an extra bit of processor horsepower. And the choice of micro ATX components will appeal to users who like to dabble with more space-efficient systems.
Overall performance of the system is strong and well balanced. The 4.4GHz overclocked Core i7 4790K posts excellent results in CPU-heavy workloads, while the efficient GTX 960 graphics card delivers positive gaming results at 1920×1080.
Some users may have preferred less investment in the CPU and more in the GPU, but there are gamers who will welcome the i7's multi-tasking benefits when streaming online and editing their game recordings. 16GB of memory is smart for longevity with future open-world titles.
Thermal and power results are nothing to cause concern. The system pulls relatively low amounts of power under all conditions. Even gaming only sees the system drawing 210W from the wall. Nvidia's excellent Maxwell architecture can be thanked for the positive power numbers, while a mixture of strong coolers and a well-designed case make for positive thermal readings.
Noise output is where I feel that the system could be stronger. The pair of 120mm Corsair fans operate at a similar level irrelevant of load. I would prefer them to spin down under lower loads and only increase when the thermal levels are being pushed.
That said, the system's noise output is far from intrusive, but it certainly isn't silent either. The Phanteks Enthoo Evolv's aluminium panels transmit vibrations in a noticeable way, so it is not just the sound of airflow that is discernible.
A slight niggle stems from the system's storage configuration. While this is a minor issue that is easy to fix, I would still prefer Chillblast to put the default save locations for unimportant (in terms of speed) directories on the HDD. This will benefit less computer-savvy users who don't want videos and music eating away at valuable SSD space.
The Fusion Raptor starts at £1,099 directly from Chillblast and can undergo slight levels of tweaking to suit personal requirements. Buying the components separately from OverclockersUK would create a similar bill, so I feel that Chillblast's asking price is most certainly fair and is deceptively competitive. That's especially true when the 5 year warranty and excellent build quality are factored in.
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Pros:
- Smart choice of components.
- Competitive asking price, especially with the 5 year warranty.
- Phanteks Enthoo Evolv mATX chassis is unique and well-designed.
- Solid power consumption and temperature numbers.
- Excellent build quality and cable management.
- Plenty of capacity for future upgrades (large PSU, strong CPU cooler, feature-heavy motherboard).
Cons:
- System could be quieter by default.
- Default drive configuration could be simpler for less-experienced users.
KitGuru says: The Chillblast Fusion Raptor is a well-priced offering that gives gamers and power users a strong balance between GPU and CPU performance. And for users who value the space efficiency of a mATX chassis, Chillblast's selection of the Phanteks Enthoo Evolv is likely to be a well-received decision.
