NOTE TO OTHER CUSTOMERS:
If you're reading my review to help you decide if you should buy from Digital Storm or not, be sure not to stop reading at the end of this post!  I encountered problems, yes, but some of the responses to my post helped account for and answer these problems.  So, before let my review sway you, be sure to consider how DS responds to reviews like mine!

-NuWatts, 9/22/09

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ORIGINAL POST (9/21/09):

Well, my first Digital Storm desktop computer arrived a few days ago, and I've finally had the time to try it out some before posting a full review of my DS buying experience.  Be warned: I am meticulous by nature, so this review will be long.  (But it includes pictures for those of you who don't like to read as much!   )

Contents:

I. Pre-Purchase
II. Post-Purchase
III. Unboxing and First Impressions
IV. Set-Up and Usage
V. Final Rating
VI. Suggestions for Improvement

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I. Pre-Purchase

Before I purchased this DS desktop, I had two computers: A 5-year old HP Pavilion a646c desktop and a 2-year old HP Pavilion dv9207us laptop.  Upgrades to my desktop's RAM, graphics card, power supply, and hard drive space had extended its life quite well.  In fact, I'd say that it runs better than my laptop!  Still, both of my computers were always limited in their abilities, and this fact became even more obvious and games demanded more and more of PCs.  Before buying this DS computer, the last computer game I bought was Supreme Commander.  After experiencing how slow my computers were in running new games, I abandoned playing computer games all together.

So, I had been out of the "gaming loop" for over 2 years when I finally decided it was time to get a new computer.  I spent two or three weeks researching into the latest technologies computers were using so that I would be qualified to make an educated choice in finding my new system.

After careful comparisons that included adding up the worth of all included hardware, I finally decided that Digital Storm was worth extending my budget to get the highest quality service available.  Certainly, DS offered me a pre-built system that was much closer to what I wanted than any other computer I had looked at, but a large part of why I went with DS was their highly acclaimed customer service and quality control.

Now, I did encounter some obstacles to getting help with my purchase, but I was eventually able to make the final decision to go ahead and purchase my new system.

And here is exactly what came with the Labor Day sale "Enthusiast 2" pre-configured system that I bought on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 (9/2/09):

Order Contents:
- Digital Storm Desktop 154988 Quantity: 1 $1,822.00

System Configuration:
Chassis Model: Special Deal Hot Seller - HAF 922
Processor: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz (Quad Core) Factory Overclocked to 3.8GHz
Motherboard: EVGA X58 SLI LE (Chipset: Intel X58) (Model: 141-BL-E757-TR)
System Memory: 6GB DDR3 1600MHz Corsair/Mushkin (Digital Storm Certified) (Hand Tested)
Power Supply: 750W Corsair TX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Hard Drive Set 1: Operating System: 1x (1TB Western Digital (7200 RPM) (32MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Optical Drive 1: DVDąR/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x)
Internet Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card(s): 1x NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Sound Card: 7.1 24-bit / 192kHz Decoding High Definition Integrated Audio
Extreme Cooling: H20: Stage 1: Asetek Liquid CPU Cooler
Chassis Airflow: Standard Factory Chassis Fans
CPU Boost: Yes, Factory Overclocked i7 920 from 2.66GHz to 3.8GHz with 100% Stability & Reliability
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) With Windows 7 Upgrade Coupon
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Priority Build: Ship Within 72-Hours After Order Is Successfully Processed
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty
Technical Support: Life-time U.S. based technical support and customer service by our own in-house technicians
Upgrades: Life-time labor free upgrades for component upgrades purchased directly from Digital Storm
Assembly: Hand built by a skilled Digital Storm certified engineer using premium grade components
Stress-Testing: Complete 72-hour processor, memory, and video card stress-test to ensure rock-solid operation
Quality Control: Analyzed by an extremely dedicated production manager that is obsessed with perfection
Special Packaging: Expanding StormShield foam to protect and secure internal component from shipping abuse
Certificate of Ownership: Personalized Certificate of Ownership for your new specialized Digital Storm system signed by own engineers

Sub-Total: $1,822.00
Tax: $0.00
S&H: Ground $0.00
Grand Total: $1,822.00

Time of order: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 1:24 AM (Central Time)

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II. Post-Purchase

Over the next couple of days, I quickly received a stream of e-mails from Digital Storm informing me that my system was progressing through the Stages of production.  The last of these e-mail updates I received stated the following:

Originally posted by Digital Storm On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 12:07 PM Stage 5: (Phase 2 Stress Testing) Your order has been passed to our final phase 2 stress-testing team. They run a final batch of tests to verify the integrity and stability of your system. This allows us to ensure that every system we ship will be a rock solid machine for years to come.

A few hours later, Digital Storm attempted to contact me by phone.  However, I work Monday-Friday 10:30am - 7:00pm Central Time, which translates to 8:30am - 5:00pm Pacific Time.  In other words, I work through all of Digital Storm's business hours, making it extremely difficult and frustrating for us to make contact with each other.

When I got home I had received an e-mail stating the following:

Originally posted by Eric On Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM Dear Nathan, We have tested that gtx285 1GB to not be up to our standards , and we don't have any in stock at this present moment we wanted to know if you wanted to take this opportunity to "level up" to a better card for only the price difference in our cost ! for $98, if not we will have to wait till a new shipment comes in which then we can finish you order . Let me know ! Sincerely, Eric

[NOTE: Interestingly, user "Angt" encountered the exact same problem.  Read about it here.>

Ignoring the poor use of English grammar and punctuation (something that I'd expect from an India-based customer support, but not DS), I was partly discouraged, partly encouraged, and partly confused by this message.  I was discouraged because we were about to enter Labor Day weekend, so I knew that this meant more delays on me receiving my computer.  I was encouraged because this seemed to indicated that DS has a very rigorous Quality Control.  And I was confused because I noticed that there were still many of the same pre-configured systems I purchased available for sale, suggesting that they HAD to have more of the GTX285 cards in stock.

Regardless, I wasn't willing to spend an extra $100, so I sent a message in reply simply saying that I'll be patient and wait for them to get more of the GTX285's in stock.

The next day, I was able to slip away from my work for a moment and answer a phone call from DS.  It was Eric, who was calling to inform me that he had made a mistake in the e-mail he sent me.  In actuality, it would cost $61 to upgrade my card to the GTX285 2GB version (as opposed to the 1GB version my pre-configured system had).  Slightly grudgingly, I gave him the go-ahead to upgrade my card and charge me the extra $61, deciding that I'd rather get my computer sooner and with a better card than continue to wait.  Eric also informed me that he had sent an e-mail detailing the information about upgrading, but he warned me that the e-mail mistakenly says that upgrading to the 2GB card would credit my account $61 instead of charging it.

Once I got home, I checked my e-mail to read the message he had sent:

Originally posted by Eric On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 at 12:37 PM Dear Nathan, I was wrong about the pricing it wasnt $98 it actually $61, Here is a copy of the special price they forward me to give you From a GTX 285 1GB Video Cad (Yours currenty) To 1) GTX 295 = Charge +$181 2) GTX 275 896MB = Credit -$102 3) GTX 295 2GB = Credit -$61 Let me know which one you would like. Sincerely, Eric

Did you catch the mistake(s)?
Not only did the e-mail include the error that Eric warned me about over the phone (along with a continued unprofessional use of written English), but it even seemed to indicate that I would be receiving a GTX295 2GB version for the extra $61 instead of the GTX285 2GB that Eric told me about over the phone!

Well, I wasn't going to leave any room for confusion, so I sent the following reply:

Originally posted by NuWatts On Fri, Sep 4, 2009 around 8:30 PM To Eric, In addition to the conversation we had over the phone today (9/4), I wanted to send you a message to confirm the details of my response to your offer. I confirmed that I would like to upgrade my computer's graphics card instead of waiting for you to have the GTX 285 1GB in stock.  It was my understanding that I will be paying an additional $61 to upgrade to the GTX 285 2GB. Now, you already explained over the phone that the e-mail you sent me accidentally indicates that my account would be credited $61, and that instead, it will be charged $61.  However, I also noticed that your message indicates that this option would upgrade my card to the "GTX 295 2GB".  Now, I suspect that this might be a typo, since the first option you listed would upgrade my card to the "GTX 295" for $181. Here is the list of options you sent: --- 1) GTX 295 = Charge +$181 2) GTX 275 896MB = Credit -$102 3) GTX 295 2GB = Credit -$61 [You already explained the -$61 was a mistake.] --- So, I assume that I will be paying $61 for the GTX 285 2GB video card.  Obviously, I wouldn't mind if the $61 pays for a GTX 295, but I'll leave that up to your end to figure out. I can be contacted by e-mail and occasionally by phone if needed.  Thanks.

After Labor Day weekend, I received two messages from Digital Storm.  The first was a reply from Eric:

Originally posted by Eric On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 12:38 PM Dear Nathan, Yeah that email was a huge typo lol it was $61 for a GTX285 2GB not anything else. Sincerely, Eric

Well, I'm glad you found the situation humorous, Eric.  I'll join you in your mirth as long as there aren't any more problem with my computer...


The second e-mail I received that day was a new status update:
(Note: This will be important later!)

Originally posted by Digital Storm On Tue, Sep 8, 2009 at 11:32 AM Dear Nathan, Congratulations once again, the status of your amazing new Digital Storm system has been updated! Stage 6: (Quality Assurance) Dear Nathan, Your system is undergoing a very detailed quality control analysis. A Digital Storm Quality Inspector is tasked with inspecting your machine from missing screws, loose cards, checking for special requests, verifying the configuration, and double checking our stress-test results. Our Inspectors are trained with a eye for detail and insure that every system leaves our facility with the art of perfection. Sincerely, Digital Storm Sales Department

Finally, at on "Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 6:03 PM", I received a e-mail from Digital Storm confirming that my order had been shipped.

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III. Unboxing and First Impressions

AT LAST, it's time to cover the details of my unboxing experience and first impressions of the computer itself!  This is the part with pretty pictures!  :D

UPS first attempted to deliver the computer to me on Mon, Sep 14, 2009.  But again, since I work during all normal business hours, I wasn't there to sign for it.  I arranged for someone to be available at my house and sign for it the next day, which is when it was successfully delivered.  However, I was busy that day, so I wasn't able to actually begin opening the box until the day after that.

So, on Wed, Sep 16, 2009, two full weeks after I first placed my order, I FINALLY got to open my new computer!

As is abundantly obvious by now, I'm very meticulous and have an eye for detail.  So, I took a picture of every step of the unboxing process, allowing me to show here on this forum exactly what I received and what condition it was in.

First, the box:

First impression: Great Scots!  It's HUGE!!

Now, let's see what's inside:

[Click any image to enlarge it.>

I decided to start with the white box tucked in on the right.  It ends up that there were two of them:


I started with the Digital Storm Personalized User Manual on the right.  It had the Vista manual, Windows 7 upgrade coupon, Certificate of Ownership... looks good.  Well, if anything IS wrong with the computer, I'll get a close up of that certificate so that we'll know who to blame. 

And at the back of the manual, I had all my disks and a rebate coupon for Corsair memory:


The other box included all my accessories and other manuals along with a convenient bag to put them all in (which I immediately used):


Now, back to the actual computer:


Again... It's HUGE!  But the box does look so awesome.  There was a little wear and tear on the box due to shipping, and the clear tape on the top had completely split open, but I was fine with that as long as the actual computer wasn't damaged.

Once taken out of its box, here's what you've got:


Removing the styrofoam protection and plastic covering, the glory of my new computer is finally revealed:

One last time: My gosh... IT'S HUGE!  Luckily, I got myself an even larger new desk the previous weekend, so I was set to go.


Now for the details inspection where it matters - inside.  Removing the left side panel (I discovered later that both side panels can be removed - a very nice feature), I found the protective StormShield right where it should be:

Hmm... something looked off.  I went ahead and removed the StormShield to get a closer look:

Do you see it now?  Let's get an even closer shot:


First impression: ..... not impressed.

That's right, the hard drive had not been locked in place, so it was free to bounce around in shipping.  Upon further inspection, I found the cause of the trouble:

The rear left corner of the hard drive had not been correctly inserted into the hard drive holder.  The other three corners had been locked into place correctly; compare to the other side:


Here's the holder once I had removed the hard drive, with the "wheel" that had not been inserted removed:


The hard drive suffered some minor exterior scratches, and the holder itself was bumped up in a few locations.  I took pictures, but I won't bother posting them here because the damage is really pretty insignificant; I seriously doubt that it will affect the hard drive's performance.

HOWEVER, I was extremely disappointed that I such a simple detail was overlooked, a detail that may have potentially damaged the hard drive and/or cords that attach to it.  Let's review one of the things I paid for, shall we?

Originally posted by Digital Storm Quality Control: Analyzed by an extremely dedicated production manager that is obsessed with perfection

and

Originally posted by Digital Storm Stage 6: (Quality Assurance) Your system is undergoing a very detailed quality control analysis. A Digital Storm Quality Inspector is tasked with inspecting your machine from missing screws, loose cards, checking for special requests, verifying the configuration, and double checking our stress-test results. Our Inspectors are trained with a eye for detail and insure that every system leaves our facility with the art of perfection.

Apparently, the hard drive doesn't count as a "card", so it's OK for it to be loose.

Well, I inserted the hard drive correctly into one of the other holders and decided to move it up a spot.  Here's what it SHOULD have looked like when I opened it:

*Sigh*

Well, let's move on past that unfortunate experience...


My other big impressions about the inside of the computer itself was:

1) Nice water cooling system for the CPU.
2) Three more slots for RAM; excellent.
3) Is that the graphics card at the bottom?  THEY MAKE THEM THAT BIG?!?   Sweet.


So, overall first impression: Looks like a good system, but very disappointed about the hard drive assembly.

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IV. Set-Up and Usage

Lastly, here's a picture of my computer set-up and turned on along with a few points/thoughts I've come up with since I've started using it:


Appearance:

*Again, it's very large, but I've got the room for it.  Also, I know that this means there's plenty of room to expand easily, which was one of my main concerns, so I'm OK with it's size.

*The extra LED fans that were installed on the side and back of the chassis are nice, but the bright blue clashes with the covert red LED built into the front fan.  Additionally, there should be a way to turn the LED lights on the fan off.  There's a button on the top of the chassis to turn the front red LED lights off, but I have found no way to turn the blue LEDs off without unplugging the fans entirely.

*The placement of the top optical drive makes it a little difficult to insert and take out disks when you have something plugged into the front USB or audio ports.  Not a big deal; just a little annoyance.

Performance:

*Boot-up is REALLY fast!  I like that a lot.

*There's something very satisfying about seeing Task Manager list the usage of eight Processor cores.

*I immediately went out and bought Crysis.  It plays with all settings on Very High (the best possible) without slowing down.   Over about 12 hours of playing (not all at once, of course) the game did crash twice on me.  Not sure what the cause is.

Other:

*I've realized that I now need to get a good keyboard and mouse in order to fully compliment this powerful work of machinery.  I don't want too many extra features on the keyboard, and I'd definitely like to spend less than $100 total on the mouse and keyboard.  Any suggestions?

*I suspect this is an annoyance caused by Vista 64-bit, but I've noticed that many programs I've installed (including Crysis) are not showing up in the "All Programs" listing under the Start menu.  It won't even find Crysis if you search for it using the Start menu search bar.  The only way I've know of to open the game is to open the "Games" window through the Start menu (which I don't really like) or to insert the disk and click "Play".  Any tips on how to fix this?

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V. FINAL RATING

Purchasing: 2/5 **
Customer Support: 2/5 **
Delivery: 3/5 ***
Hardware QC: 2/5 **
Software QC: 4/5 ****
System Performance: 4/5 ****
Overall Rating: 3/5 ***

(Note: "QC" stands for "Quality Control".  I gave the "Hardware QC" a pretty low rating because I believed the hard drive had been inserted incorrectly by DS.  In a reply to this post, I have been told that this is due to shipping abuse, and that DS is taking measures to prevent this problem, so I am willing to give DS the benefit of the doubt in this case.) - 9/22/09
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VI. Suggestions for Improvement
Most importantly, DS simply can't boast such high standards in Quality Control if they can't even install a hard drive correctly.  Sure, it's not as bad as a receiving a defective motherboard, but this can't be blamed on the manufacturer.  A very simple check would have revealed that the hard drive was not locked in place.

--> Spend a little more time physically checking the installation of hardware.  Also, figure out who's signature this is on my certificate and let them know they missed one:

P.S. Why is there no signature on the "Packaging" line?  No one packed my computer?  Anyone else missing a signature on their certificate?


Second, DS can't boast such high standards in their Customer Support if:
1) they have extremely limited business hours for phone contact, making it difficult for working people to contact them; and
2) e-mails use poor English writing levels and are riddled with incorrect information.

--> I know its not an easy thing, but the time customer support is available needs to be extended to either evenings and/or weekends.  Eventually, 24/7 support would be ideal, of course.

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As long as the computer itself provides continued high-performance, I will be adequately satisfied.  However, I seriously hope that Digital Storm increases their business hours soon so that people like me will be able to contact them for support when needed.  Also, the quality of their support itself needs to match the claims made on their website, and the same goes for Quality Control.

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Sorry about the super-long review, but I wanted to be completely open and completely honest.  I look forward to any sort of response from anyone!


Edited by NuWatts - 22 Sep 2009 at 10:37pm

Yeah, Crysis and a number of other games seem to forget about placing a desktop shortcut, and as Harleyman posted, you have to bore down into their directories using Windows Explorer or the Start Menu, and right-click Send to Desktop.

Wow very professional review with lots of attention to detail,acute knowledge of the English language, reasons for the ratings it received with pictures for evidence . If I didn't know any better I would say your my colonel from the army very well done.

OK I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but your Windows 7 upgrade code is SHOWING, I mean I could totally steal it and be an ass about it, but I'm nice enough tell you about it here. I would suggest deleting the image or something because I can read that ez. Welcome.

NuWatts,

Originally posted by harleyman I assume that Crysis went on another HDD than the OS..     Right click your My Computer Icon   Select Explore   Select the drive that Crysis sits on   Find the game and expand all the files   Once you find the EXE. file right  click it ans select...Send copy to desktop..     Done

Actually, I have yet to add another HDD to my system.  I plan on eventually transferring my old 250GB HDD to my new computer just for some extra media storage, but right now, I'm only using the 1TB HDD that came with the system.

And that's why I really don't understand why it's not showing up under All Programs or even searching from the Start menu.  Now, I do know where the game's files are [C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis], but the game files are surprisingly scattered and difficult to sort through.  I've so far been unable to find the ONE .exe file that opens Crysis.

However, even if I did find it and successfully made a shortcut on my desktop, that still doesn't solve the problem of it and other programs not showing up in the Start menu like they should.  Any clues on how to fix this?

I like the way DS is handling and responding to your review. Now on another note, what camera did you use to take those picture?

@Tugmaster,