The Best Stormforce Gaming PC
We find the best Intel 11th-Gen-based Stormforce PC
Stormforce is a UK-based custom PC manufacturer, producing prebuilt systems for casual players and gaming enthusiasts alike. Today, we are going to be reviewing several systems and finding the best Stormforce Intel 11th-Gen gaming PC, running through the specs and taking a look at the build quality, before finally benchmarking each model.
Stormforce systems are built with care, feature quality components, and retail at a very competitive price.
Our Top Picks
The Best Intel 11th-Gen Stormforce Gaming PC
In-depth Review
Stormforce Prism RTX 3070 (i9-11900K)
Stormforce Prism RTX 3070 (i9-11900K)
The Stormforce Prism RTX 3070 gaming PC is the top-spec model featuring this GPU. This particular model comes with Intel’s top desktop CPU – the i9-11900K, a CPU regarded as one of the best for gaming. For graphical performance, we see one of Nvidia’s latest 30-series cards – the RTX 3070, a highly sought-after graphics card that produces fantastic results when playing in resolutions of 4K or under.
Let’s quickly run through what you can expect from the internal components. The i9-11900K is Intel’s flagship desktop processer from their latest 11th-generation of chips. The CPU comes with 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base clock speed of 3.5GHz and a max boost of 5.3GHz, making this processor ideal for gaming and hyperthreaded loads, such as streaming. Backing up the CPU, is the RTX 3070, a powerful card that can handle some games in 4K but thrives in the 1440p sphere. Whether you are looking for high FPS in competitive titles, or excellent detail and a steady frame rate in AAA titles, this will do both so with ease.
This is an excellent prebuilt through and through, with no perceived weak spots. To bolster performance and your day-to-day usage, Stormforce has included a 16GB RGB RAM kit from Corsair, with speeds of 3600MHz. This amount of RAM is now considered an optimal amount for gaming and the speeds only help the overall performance. We have a dual-storage solution with the Prism, with a 500GB NVMe SSD as your primary and a 2TB HDD taking care of everything else. While I would have liked to see a bigger SSD over an additional hard drive, the 500GB capacity is going to be more than enough for your operating system and favorite games.
All your components are installed into a solid motherboard. The Asus TUF Z590 is going to provide a reliable and stable base for the PC, while also giving you plenty of room to upgrade down the line. This Z590 also features Wi-Fi, giving you one less wire to worry about. Overall, the Stormforce Prism gaming PC is a quality option, offering high-end performance, and comes wrapped in Corsair’s iCUE 465X TG case. The airflow isn’t exactly award-winning but it is sufficient thanks to the five included 120mm RGB fans.
Performance-wise, this prebuilt PC delivers in all resolutions across a multitude of games we tested. The RTX 3070 is capable of 4K gameplay, with the only dip below that fabled 60FPS coming from the title Outriders. Of course, when RTX is switched on the performance in 4K takes a hit but it is still playable to some degree in a number of games. Where this prebuilt excels is in the 1440p sphere, showing high FPS results regardless of the test, meaning you can enjoy games with RTX on when playing in this resolution without the need to optimize your settings.
Stormforce Crystal RTX 3070 (Intel Core i5-11400F)
Stormforce Crystal RTX 3070 (Intel Core i5-11400F)
The Crystal range from Stormforce targets those who value a bit of value over absolute raw performance. This prebuilt features the RTX 3070 but the range does have more powerful options, however, the price-to-performance of this system is near unbeatable. With the Intel i5-11400F CPU and Nvidia RTX 3070 GPU, you are getting a combination of high-performing mid and high-range components that really deliver for gaming in every resolution.
Inside we have the i5-11400F, Intels more affordable processor from their recent 11th-Gen lineup. The CPU features 6 cores and 12 threads, running at a base speed of 2.6GHz, with the potential to hit 4.4GHz. This processor may not be as powerful as the i9 above but it’s hyperthreaded and will make the PC generally feel quite snappy, while also being able to handle some light-duty tasks. Taking care of the graphics, the RTX 3070, a highly regarded GPU that can deliver in resolutions up to 4K. While the 3070 struggles when utilizing RTX technology in games, it is still playable.
The additional components may not be high-end like the Prism PC above, these are solid, reliable components. Stormforce has included 16GB of 3200MHz Corsair RAM and it works wonders for general use and gaming. As this is built to give you the best possible gaming experience for the price, we only see a 500GB SSD, unfortunately, no additional storage, meaning this may be an area you upgrade first in the future. Still, 500GB is more than enough for most, giving you ample room for your operating system and favorite games.
As you can imagine, the performance of the Stormforce Crystal was excellent and closely matched our results for the top pick. Of course, both feature the GPU so we only saw a notable difference in the CPU-intensive games, such as CS:GO. Regardless, you can still achieve over 240 FPS in max settings when playing most esports titles. 4K gaming, again, completely plausible, however, this is only with RTX turned off.
Stormforce Crystal RTX 3060 (Intel Core i5-11400F)
Stormforce Crystal RTX 3060 (Intel Core i5-11400F)
Let’s be honest, the majority of us gamers play in 1080p and 1440p and that is where the Stormforce Crystal RTX 3060 gaming PC excels. The Crystal range finds a balance between price and performance by combining some of the latest components to form an effective gaming experience.
Powering this system is the Intel i5-11400F CPU, a reliable mid-range chip that features 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base speed of 2.6GHz, with the potential to hit 4.4GHz. This CPU is going to make your PC feel quite responsive and also has the ability to tackle some lightweight loads. For graphics, we have the RTX 3060, Nvidia’s value champion. This card may not be able to handle the likes of 4K but it works wonders when playing in 1080p or 1440p.
Stormforce has included 16GB of 3200MHz Corsair RAM, an optimal amount for gaming, and should bolster your overall performance. We also see a 500GB SSD, unfortunately, no additional storage, meaning this may be an area you upgrade first in the future. regardless, 500GB is more than enough for most, giving you plenty of room for your OS and favorite games.
When it comes to gaming, the Stormforce Crystal RTX 3060 performs exceptionally in 1080p and reasonably well in 1440p. You can expect high FPS in your competitive shooters and can play single-player AAA titles in max settings without an issue. 4K gaming is possible with some games but not recommended as it can be very hit and miss.
Stormforce Onyx GTX 1660S (Intel Core i5-11400F)
Stormforce Onyx GTX 1660S (Intel Core i5-11400F)
Stormforce’s Onyx range is built to get the most out of a smaller budget but still follows the same stringent quality control as the more premium systems. For those that are restricted by a budget or just happen to game in 1080p, the Stormforce Onyx GTX 1660S gaming PC is going to offer more than enough performance to keep you playing at a high FPS without compromising on settings.
Featuring inside the Onyx, we see Intel’s 11th-Gen i5-11400F CPU, an affordable processor with 6 cores and 12 threads running at a base speed of 2.6GHz, with the potential to hit 4.4GHz. The CPU is a fairly popular mid-range CPU for its value and with its hyperthreading, your PC is going to feel quite responsive for both general use and gaming. Backing up the CPU is the old but reliable GTX 1660 Super, which at one time was a highly sought-after budget option. This GPU is a beast in the 1080p sphere and will push over 240 FPS in esports titles such as CS:GO and fortnite. This card can also produce results for some games in 1440p but this is pushing it to its limit. For all other titles, you can expect stable FPS over 60 while playing in high settings.
Additionally, this system comes with 16GB of RAM which is a great capacity for gaming and will future-proof your setup for some time. We also see a 500GB SSD, giving you plenty of room for your operating system and favorite games. Ideally, the storage would be a bit bigger but this is a relatively cheap area you can upgrade in the near future when needed. Despite being a budget-focused system, the motherboard has built-in Wi-Fi, and like the other systems, this comes with Windows 10 pre-installed.
When it comes to actual gaming performance, there isn’t a game this can’t play in 1080p. You can expect high frame rates in your competitive titles and at least a stable 60+ FPS in AAA single-player games. There is scope in the 1440p sphere with this prebuilt but you are likely to need to tweak graphical settings to get a stable frame rate of 60 and above.
Final Word
With a Stormforce gaming PC, you are going to be getting a quality product, constructed with care, and fully tested. All the Intel-based systems above deliver excellent gaming results, catering to a wide variety of budgets and gaming needs. An added bonus when going with Stormforce is their customer care and impressive warranties. You are covered for any hardware issues you may come across but this should be very rare thanks to high levels of quality control before any system leaves the warehouse.