For the average consumer, building a PC sucks.
In theory it’s a great idea. Get the components, plug them in, turn on the computer, then game all day. But it’s never that simple.
Back during COVID lockdown days, I had the bright idea to dust off my decade-dormant computer building skills to assemble a PC from scratch.
After weeks of research, acquiring parts, getting the overall voltage wrong and sending back parts, getting more parts, realizing the parts I got didn’t all fit in the case I’d selected, finding new parts that would fit and would work with my power supply, I was ready to assemble my machine. I spent evenings routing cables and carefully placing components in the case and had that fabled moment when I turned it on for the first time.
And nothing happened.
Well, not nothing. I got enough feedback on the monitor I’d hooked up to know that things had power. My components weren’t bad. I’d just done a bad job hooking them up.
Eventually, after many more nights of research and trial and error, I got the PC working. But it was not, as they say, a labor of love. It was an exercise in sunk-cost fallacy where there was no way I was abandoning my machine after spending that much time and effort to get it online.
I sent it off to my son at college. When it came back to me broken six months later, possibly from a bad video card, possibly from a blow power supply, all its fancy neon lighting dark, I didn’t have the heart to even diagnose the issue. It’s still sitting in pieces in the other room.
All of this to say—I know what makes a good gaming PC and I wish I had the acumen to build and maintain one. But I don’t.
That’s why I’m glad Starforge Systems exists.
What Is Starforge Systems?
Founded in 2022 by a group of online content streamers, they set out to create a company that builds the gaming rigs that you want to make, how you’d make it (assuming you had the time and talent). US-based, down to the technical support, they absolutely love building computers. They’re so proud of their work (and confident in their skills) you can select the option to watch them build your PC live!
Plus, your kids will have heard of them, which always gets you additional points.
They have three levels of PC available: Core, Enthusiast, and Voyager, all built with name-brand components (no generic blank-label parts here). The Enthusiast and Voyager systems are water cooled for maximum performance. Every Stormforge Systems PC comes with a display window case that shows off their exceptionally clean builds and brilliant LEDs.
What’s refreshing for those that are shopping for a PC enthusiast is that each system has a benchmark score for the most popular games on the market right now (like Modern Warfare III), eliminating any guesswork when it comes to what you’re getting for your money.
No matter what tier you pick, you’re not getting a bad PC, just more or less capable from a gaming POV. All three categories of PC have various builds to choose from sporting progressively faster AMD and Intel processors and graphics cards. The cards they’re using are all excellent as well, ranging from the AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT (which, despite being an older card, is perfectly serviceable for the beginning gamer) to the bleeding edge GeForce RTX 4090.
But anyone who’s built a PC knows, getting good parts is only half the battle. You have to install them in a way that optimizes airflow, with good cable management, and tested performance so that you can be certain when you turn on your computer, you’ll get something other than a BIOS screen with a flashing cursor.
That’s where Starforge Systems really shines. Every system is built in a Lian Li display case so the components are on full display. That means that there’s no room for spaghetti cables or malfunctioning LEDs. They’re making computers that you’ll want to keep on your desk, not hide away under it. And they test and update each system so that when you unbox it, you’re getting a fully-functional PC.
Unboxing
Once you’ve selected your build, Starforge gets to work—possibly with you watching, as getting to watch your PC be built on a live stream is an option, though this does add extra time. Then they double-box your completed system and send it your way.
I was impressed with the thorough packaging job. Starforge uses expandable foam to cradle the components in transit. Anyone who’s gotten a PC shipped knows that it can be murder on internal components. Things are jostled loose or worse as delivery drivers seem to see a “Fragile” label as a personal challenge.
Once I got the Enthusiast system out of its packaging and the foam removed (though who knows how I’ll get it back in there to return it to them after this review), I was happy to see that everything was as well-seated and minty as when the PC was put together.
Looking over the build I came away impressed. It wasn’t just that the parts of the PC you could see through the display window were clean and organized. That attention to detail extends to the back of the motherboard as well, with the cabling carefully organized and smartly routed. Simply put, this is how everyone should build PCs.
Plugging everything in, it worked as expected and was blessedly whisper quiet—the water cooling is fantastic for keeping the noise down and well-worth upgrading to the Enthusiast tier.
Performance
I’m no streaming gamer but for my decidedly non-pro needs, I came away impressed. I plugged in my Logitech G X52 Professional H.O.T.A.S. (I’m a sucker for a superior flight stick) and fired up Star Wars Squadrons. My own custom-built system had issues keeping up with even lower framerates and howled like a banshee. The Enthusiast Horizon II Super barely blinked when I turned everything up to max and started taking out TIE Fighters. And I had the tower right on the desk next to me and hardly noticed.
I think the most telling endorsement of the power of these systems is that throughout my time with the Starforge Systems unit there was never a time when I came away from a task or game frustrated (well, except when I inevitably died). They don’t just build PCs to fit a certain price category, but build the best PC they can to fit in a budget…just like you’d do. That means no skimping on RAM and using fast SSD storage instead of HDDs (which honestly should be outlawed at this point).
Where Can I Get One?
Starforge Systems range from $999 to $4,399 (with $100 off right now for Black Friday and Cyber Monday). While that seems like a vast chasm of price points, it’s fairly simple to break down. The most expensive Voyager II Elite PC in their arsenal is for the dedicated streaming gamer that’s looking to do multiple tasks that require considerable PC resources (like simultaneously streaming and playing games with the levels maxed out). The Horizon II Core, their least expensive PC at $999, provides the beginning gamer with more than enough power to play their favorite game without frustration.
My recommendation, though, is the Enthusiast Horizon II Super for $1,649. It’s $400 more than the most expensive Core rig but gives you so much more in terms of thermal management. That means you can get more out of your PC components and they’ll last longer. Plus it has more LEDs, which is always fun.
All PCs come with a 2-year warranty and support is US-based, so you won’t be stuck in an endless phone tree, trying to navigate to someone who isn’t reading from a script. That’s worth a premium as much as anything else on this list.
Get started on the Starforge Systems website, they’ve got even more to choose from than I’ve mentioned here, including custom-built systems with fun aesthetics. If you’re looking for a gaming rig but don’t want the stress of building one yourself, this is the only stop you need.
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