Digital Storm - Website and Ordering Impressions
Digital Storm's website immediately comes up in a web search, as do their forums. Their current Reseller Rating is 9.61/10 for the last six months and 9.04 lifetime, which is very good. Besides the raw scores, the customer feedback and reviews from buyers are very useful to read before making a purchase. As a testament to their support, many reviewers who had slight problems on arrival still gave them glowing reviews, which is unusual. Digital Storm actively responded to even minor complaints, which we like to see. Reading through their forums also revealed quite a few happy customers and very few complaints. So far, so good.
The website layout is clean and fairly streamlined. The main page shows links to Desktops, Laptops, the forums, Upgrades (installation cost is free for parts purchased through their website), and a "Guide" page that offers advice and recommendations.
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The four desktop enclosures currently offered are shown across the top of that page (but are not clickable, which is a little deceiving), and five platforms are offered that can be customized with any one of the four cases.
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Their most inexpensive systems start at $1200 (Phenom II and DDR2, minus $50 "Instant Rebate") and scale up well above $6000. They have a shipping calculator available prior to ordering, which we really like to see, but it requires a full address and threw an error when we attempted to put in a zip code only. Ground shipping is currently free, and other shipping rates, while high, were not outrageous, with almost zero increase for multiple systems (this may be an error in the calculator, or it's a large price break for dedicated customers ;)). We did notice that it's possible to add configurations to your cart with missing items (e.g. no chassis selected) and it doesn't alert the customer about the error. Presumably, they would catch this after purchase and follow up with a call or email, but the engine could easily prevent this.
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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.