Inferno 805 uses IN WIN’s tempered glass 805 chassis and is ready for VR; arriving with the Intel Core i7-6700K, 32GB DDR4, NVIDIA GTX 980Ti and super-fast SanDisk M.2 storage.
Product on Review: Stormforce Inferno 805
Manufacturer & Sponsor: Zoostorm
Street Price: £1549 GBP
This year we’ve seen both 4K and VR take centre-stage in the world of gaming. Users who have a desire to experience either of these two tiers will need a system capable of delivering strong performance. There are generally two routes to take when investing in a computer system, you can either build the configuration yourself by selecting the components and constructing the system or you can let a desktop supplier take care of everything. Today we’ll be looking to one such supplier called Zoostorm.
In the spotlight today is the Stormforce Inferno 805; a VR-ready computer system designed by Zoostorm. Inferno 805 makes use of the Intel Z170 chipset and therefore takes advantage of the Intel Core i7-6700K. As well as a quad-core processor, Zoostorm has also included 32GB DDR4, NVIDIA’s GTX 980Ti and some M.2 storage to deliver excellent performance for the most demanding of 3D processing tasks.
About Zoostorm
Zoostorm is the 4th largest desktop brand in the UK and over our 20 year history we have grown to be the most recognisable and successful local brand in the UK.
We offer a full range of devices from Gaming systems, entry level desktops, small form factors, All-In-One systems, through to Windows and Android tablets, 2-in-1s, touch screen laptops and media players. We are also able to offer custom SKU ranges, direct dispatch and management of the end user warranty process.
We offer a full range of devices from Gaming systems, entry level desktops, small form factors, All-In-One systems, through to Windows and Android tablets, 2-in-1s, touch screen laptops and media players. We are also able to offer custom SKU ranges, direct dispatch and management of the end user warranty process.
Technical Specifications
Below are the technical specifications supplied directly by Zoostorm:
OS
Windows 10
CPU
Intel Core i7-6700K
CPU Cooler
Thermaltake Water 3.0 LCS
RAM
Kingston HyperX Fury 32GB 2400MHz DDR4
Motherboard
ASRock Z170 Pro4S
GPU
KFA GeForce GTX 980Ti
SSD
512GB Sandisk X400 M.2
HDD
4TB WD Blue 7200RPM
PSU
FSP 750W
Case
IN WIN 805
Weight
11KG
Warranty
1 Years Warranty
Windows 10
CPU
Intel Core i7-6700K
CPU Cooler
Thermaltake Water 3.0 LCS
RAM
Kingston HyperX Fury 32GB 2400MHz DDR4
Motherboard
ASRock Z170 Pro4S
GPU
KFA GeForce GTX 980Ti
SSD
512GB Sandisk X400 M.2
HDD
4TB WD Blue 7200RPM
PSU
FSP 750W
Case
IN WIN 805
Weight
11KG
Warranty
1 Years Warranty
Closer Look: External
Zoostorm package the Inferno 805 in a large double-reinforced cardboard box. Inside, care has been taken to ensure the configuration arrives intact – there are polystyrene supports and a material sheet covering the entire chassis.
Speaking of the chassis, Zoostorm are using the IN WIN 805. The 805 is a mid-tower chassis which uses a combination of aluminium and 3mm tempered glass. The end result is an elegant enclosure which will look great in any environment. The glass panels utilise a smoked finish to partly conceal the inner workings and add some stealth to the aesthetic.
Up at the top of Inferno 805 there is an assortment of ports and buttons to take advantage of. These include the following:
• 2x USB 2.0 Ports
• 2x USB 3.0 Ports
• Headphone and Microphone Jacks
• Reset Button
• Power Button
It’s great to see such an abundance of USB functionality on in an easy-to-reach location.
Around the back of Inferno 805 there are further ports which offer even more functionality. In the upper section, the ports directly from the motherboard provide:
• 2x USB 3.0
• 1x PS2 Keyboard/Mouse Combo
• 1x HDMI
• 1x DVI
• 4x USB 3.0
• 1x Gigabit LAN port (via Intel I219V)
• 7.1 Channel Hi-Def Audio Jacks (via Realtek ALC892)
Again, quite an assortment of ports are available on the rear IO section of this system.
Below this we also have the graphics card (KFA GTX 980Ti). On the rear IO of this card we have a selection of video out ports to choose from:
• 1x HDMI port
• 3x Displayports
• 1x DVI port
And then we also have the power supply at the bottom which is an FSP 750W PSU which is 80 Plus Silver rated – this just requires a kettle-type power cable.
Closer Look: Internal
After detaching the thick-tempered glass panels on Inferno 805, we are met by a rather sleek and very well-organised computer system. Although the cables are mostly out of the pathway of airflow, we still feel a few areas could be somewhat neater. But in general, Zoostorm has kept things tidy and should we need any extra cabling, it’s all tucked away carefully behind the motherboard tray.
Taking a closer look at the components selection, at the very heart of Inferno 805 is the Intel Core i7-6700K processor which touts a 4GHz base clock and up to 4.2GHz Turbo Boost. The 6700K sits on an ASrock Z170 Pro4Smotherboard which as its name suggests utilises the Intel Z170 chipset and cooling this chip is the Thermaltake Water 3.0 Performer closed loop all in one liquid cooler. The radiator and fan combo for this solution occupies the rear exhaust cooling fan location. The noise emitted from this cooler is noticeable during load but it does offer excellent thermal performance.
Immediately next to the CPU and its cooling block we have 32GB of Kingston HyperX Fury2400MHz DDR4. Bearing the CPU and memory in mind, this system is more than equipped for gaming, video/photo editing and content creation.
For graphics delivery this system takes advantage of the KFA GTX 980Ti. We’ve reviewed quite a few GTX 980Ti graphics cards and they’re more than up to the challenge of handling VR and ultra-high definition gaming. Later in the review we’ll test out the 3D performance.
As is common nowadays, Inferno 805 uses a solid state drive for its primary storage. Rather than use a SATA-based SSD this configuration uses a SanDisk X400 M.2 drive which comes with 512GB of capacity. This drive isn’t immediately noticeable since the graphics card completely conceals it – M.2 drives do have a tendency to generate more heat than other SSDs and therefore rely on good airflow inside the chassis to manage temperatures, so we’d have preferred an M.2 located in a more accessible slot. Perhaps Zoostorm could change the motherboard selection in future to assist with this.
Incidentally, the IN WIN 805 makes use of twin 120mm cooling fans for intake cooling – these fans are LED ready and emit a warm red glow once powered up.
On the subsequent pages we’ll be testing out Inferno 805 to reveal the performance available.
Benchmarks: Temperatures
For our first benchmark test we observe the max. CPU/GPU temperatures of the system during a 20-minute run of Unigine Heaven 4.0. To report back on the temperatures we use RealTemp and GPU-Z which provide the peak figures.
Benchmarks: Boot Time & Power Consumption
In this test we observe how fast the boot into Windows 10 is by using a digital stopwatch. Power consumption is another important observation, for this we observe the wattage from the wall while the system is running Heaven 4.0.
Benchmarks: Cinebench R15 & x264 HD
CINEBENCH can measure systems with up to 64 processor threads. This test scene contains approximately 2,000 objects which in turn contain more than 300,000 polygons in total, and uses sharp and blurred reflections, area lights, shadows, procedural shaders, antialiasing, and much more. The result is displayed in points (pts). The higher the number, the faster your processor is.
Benchmarks: PCMark 8
PCMark 8 combines performance benchmarking with battery life measurement and includes tests based on popular Adobe and Microsoft applications. Whether you are looking for long battery life, or maximum power, PCMark 8 will help you find the devices that offer the perfect combination of efficiency and performance for your needs. It’s the complete PC performance benchmark for home and business.
Benchmarks: 3DMark & Heaven 4.0
The new 3DMark includes everything you need to benchmark your hardware. With three all new tests you can bench everything from smartphones and tablets, to notebooks and home PCs, to the latest high-end, multi-GPU gaming desktops. And it’s not just for Windows. With 3DMark you can compare your scores with Android and iOS devices too. It’s the most powerful and flexible 3DMark we’ve ever created.
Benchmarks: DIRT Rally, DOOM, SW Battlefront, BF4
Inferno 805 uses a single GTX 980Ti for graphics delivery, in this section we test the latest gaming titles to see how effective the 3D capabilities are at 4K resolution. We report on the average framerate using FRAPS.
Benchmarks: SteamVR Performance Test
The SteamVR Performance Test measures your system’s rendering power using a 2-minute sequence from Valves Aperture Robot Repair VR demo. After collecting the data it determines whether your system is capable of running VR content at 90fps and whether VR content can tune the visual fidelity up to the recommended level. For machines that are not VR Ready the tool can help determine whether capabilities are bound by Graphics Card, CPU, or both.
Conclusion
2016 is the year of VR and as such system integrators/designers are forming configurations that are ready to tackle the demands that come with such a class of gaming. The Inferno 805 is not only capable of taking on VR but also 4K gaming. Not all systems are able to cope with triple-A gaming titles at 3480×2160 with high-detail presets but we’re pleased to report that Zoostorm’s system can entertain such usage. The results on the preceding pages speak for themselves.
Inside the elegant IN WIN 805 tempered glass/aluminium chassis, well-respected brands have been used for the construction of the system configuration – a move which will only reassure the customer. Seated at the centre of Inferno 805 we have the Intel Core i7-6700K which is based on Skylake architecture and although no overclock has been pre-applied, this chip offers great performance over previous generations.
Looking at the storage, Zoostorm has chosen reputable hardware for the primary and secondary drives. Using NVMe storage courtesy of the Intel Z170 chipset, this system uses the SanDisk X400 M.2 for the OS drive – the 512GB model to be more specific. This will be ample for the core software packages while a WD Blue 4TB drive seeks to tackle the bulk of storage. The only thing we’d have liked to see from the ASRock Z170 Pro4S is a better placed M.2 slot – currently the drive sits directly underneath the graphics card and will not benefit from case airflow cooling.
While our experience with this system is a positive one there are areas for improvement. Under load the cooling fans from the cooler, case, PSU and GPU create considerable noise and at a cost of £1549 GBP we expect more than just one year of warranty – though we do believe Zoostorm are working to extend this in the near future.
In a nutshell, the Inferno 805 is a stylish computer system which is packed with excellent hardware; this hardware in turn delivers some great performance in the latest gaming titles with VR being a prominent fixture.
Pros
+ Classy design
+ Reliable brands/components used
+ Good processing power
+ Offers good 3D performance
+ Lots of storage
+ Is VR ready
+ Uses fast primary storage drive
Cons
– LED lighting is fixed
– M.2 drive lacks airflow
– Noisy under load
– Just one-years warranty
+ Classy design
+ Reliable brands/components used
+ Good processing power
+ Offers good 3D performance
+ Lots of storage
+ Is VR ready
+ Uses fast primary storage drive
Cons
– LED lighting is fixed
– M.2 drive lacks airflow
– Noisy under load
– Just one-years warranty
Click here for an explanation of our awards at Vortez.net.
