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Chillblast Fusion Master Intel Skylake Gaming PC Review

Rating: 9.0.

The near-simultaneous launches of Windows 10 and Intel’s Skylake processors means a new generation of hardware and software is upon us. The Z170 chipset in particular which has launched with Skylake brings a new set of technologies to desktop computers, particularly faster M.2 PCI-Express storage and DDR4 memory. Chillblast has been quick off the mark in shipping a retail Skylake PC to us and it also runs Windows 10 as standard. With a water-cooled Intel Core i7-6700k chip, a Z170 motherboard, 512GB Samsung SM951 M.2 PCI-Express SSD, 16GB of DDR4 memory and a GeForce GTX 980, this specification sets a new standard for high-end gaming PCs.

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It’s only a few short weeks after we published our extensive coverage of Intel’s 14nm Skylake Core i7-6700k and Core i5-6600k products but we’ve now received our first desktop gaming PC built around the new chips.

The Chillblast Fusion Master has Intel’s quad-core Core i7-6700k Skylake processor and an Asus Z170 Pro Gamer motherboard based on the new Z170 chipset, which notably adds support for DDR4 memory and increases the bandwidth available to M.2 storage devices, with 4 PCI-Express 3.0 lanes, to offer up to 32Gb/sec.

The system takes full advantage of both of these new features. Firstly, it has a 16GB dual-channel kit of 3000MHz CL15 DDR4 memory. In the M.2 slot on the Z170 Pro Gamer, there’s s 512GB Samsung SM951 M.2 SSD, which is (just about) the fastest PCI-Express SSD you can buy for a consumer PC. There’s also a 2TB Seagate SSHD as well for additional storage.

Cooler Master's MasterCase 5 is used to house the system, and continuing the link between Chillblast and the aforementioned component company, the power supply is a Cooler Master VS Series V750. And lastly, Windows 10 Home is installed on the Samsung SSD.

In our review of the Skylake chips, we noted a slim performance improvement of around 10 per cent over the Devil’s Canyon Core i7-4790K processor. Although some may be disappointed that the overall gains aren’t greater from a processor that represents both a node shrink and a new architecture, a gaming PC with an Intel Core i7-6700k undoubtedly offers the fastest gaming performance on the planet, particularly when it’s overclocked.

When coupled with a high-end video card, fast storage and enough memory, a Skylake gaming PC like the Chillblast Fusion Master represents next-generation performance. Let’s see how fast it really is.

System Configuration:

  • Cooler Master Master Case V
  • Intel Core i7 6700k
  • Cooler Master Nepton 240M CPU Cooler
  • Corsair Vengeance 16GB 3000MHz DDR4 RAM (2x8GB)
  • Asus Z170 PRO GAMER
  • Zotac NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
  • 512GB Samsung SM951 M.2 SSD
  • 2TB SSHD Secondary Drive
  • Cooler Master VS Series V 750W
  • Windows 10 64-bit

Price: £1699 inc VAT

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13 comments

  1. You’d be silly to spend £1600 on this when you can build a more powerful system for £100-200 cheaper.

  2. Most people pay to have stuff done for them, that’s the point; not everyone has the time to sit down and build. No one needs to know how a computer works or is put together to use it; it is no different than an automobile.

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  4. Building a PC is relatively easy. It mostly involves plugging/connecting things together as instructed in the hardware manuals. It just looks, and sounds more complicated than it actually is, and goes a long way in teaching the builder how, and what can go wrong with a system. I’m completely self taught from a young age, and i’m now a full time IT engineer.

    If you learn even the basic concepts of PC hardware, it goes a long way in helping you to help yourself when something goes wrong, AND ultimately saves you money. Akin to learning how to change a flat tire, or a faulty headlamp bulb on an automobile. If you don’t learn the basics, you’re going to be paying a lot of money for an otherwise relatively simple task.

    It’s not that “no one needs to know” its just that some people are too lazy to learn.

  5. What warranty does your self-build come with?

    I’m too too busy/lazy to learn how to subsist entirely on food I grow and rear myself. Instead I “overpay” by shopping at Waitrose. Feel free to judge me on that too.

  6. It comes with the hardware manufacturers warranty. The same one you’ll get from resellers, unless you foolishly pay for an additional guarantee package, like on site, or return to Base. Yes, I will gladly judge you since you shop in Waitrose.

  7. exactly. The build has zero warranty and you have no one to turn to if your system develops a fault.

    what is it about waitrose that you are most strongly against? the high standards of animal and environmental stewardship they demand from suppliers, or the fair price they pay to them?

  8. You are speaking of a system as a whole with a baseline warranty, such as a system that is pre-built. Of which, an additional guarantee package can be provided, at cost, by re-sellers. You know the type of insurance package that Curry’s, or one of the main electronic retailers will try to sell you at the checkout? It is not usually required since the manufacturers warranties exist. The only bonus from something like this is say for the likes of a Fridge-Freezer or Washing machine…..if it breaks down, they will offer a pick-up and replace scenario. Now that is useful. As I have experienced when my washing machine decided to flood the kitchen. I made sure I knew what went wrong, so that maybe I could repair it myself if there is a next time, and not have to get the extended warranty again.

    Each component in a Personal Computer however, is (or at least should be) chosen by preference and thus also carries an individual standard manufacturers warranty for each component you decide to purchase. Pre-built or not.

    In case you weren’t aware, with PC hardware, different manufacturers offer different lengths of warranty. For example; a graphics card from ASUS might have a 3 Year Warranty, where as other manufacturers will carry a 5 year, or even a lifetime warranty. Most RAM modules carry lifetime warranties. They all differ. This actually means that you really don’t have to purchase in an additional warranty package for a full pre-built system (a majority of these don’t come as standard anyway, and require additional cost after buying the system and paying for the building of the system)

    If something fails within a PC, you only have RMA the failed component, (as long as it is still in warranty) and get it replaced. The trepidation for most people comes in how to go about figuring out what has failed. This goes back to what I was saying. Learning some of the basics ~ especially when you are investing a lot of money in hardware, and knowing what you are getting yourself into, goes a long way to saving money, and who doesn’t like to save some money? Hence why I wouldn’t shop at Waitrose either; but hey, it’s just my opinion…each to their own. I personally think all supermarket chains are as bad as each other.

    When I was young, I bought pre-built systems, learnt about them when they broke down, and replaced the parts myself. Now I just build my own outright, and they don’t break down as much either.

  9. Unless you are a computer expert or know one, how do you tell which is the failed component? You can’t and have no one to turn to, hence the warranty which all reputable system builders provide as standard, no matter how many times you try to lie claiming otherwise.

    Suggesting we all train ourselves as white goods repair people is identical to your PC argument, and is therefore defeated by the same counterarguments I have provided. Cost is not the only consideration.

  10. I’m not going to continue a discussion with somebody who says that I lose, am lying, or any other immature attack. That’s just trolling. I won’t reiterate on things that you choose not to pick up on either. If you read back on this discussion… I wasn’t arguing. I simply have my opinions and have shared them here. Take it or leave it.

  11. It is sincere, valid argument which is not what trolling is. I have picked up everything and refuted it, including your “lie” about reputable system builders’ inclusive system warranty, thus you “losing”.

  12. Good luck with your pre-built system if you decide to get one…. You’ll need it.

  13. that is hypocritical and makes no sense. It will have an inclusive warranty and will require zero special skill on my part to maintain, thus taking “luck” out of the equation. However, over time living with it I have the option and opportunity to learn about maintaining it, like you did, should it interest me, because I am tech savvy and highly intelligent.