Freshtech Solutions Project 7 GTX 1080 Gaming PC Review

Introduction

Whenever a new piece of hardware is released, it provides systems integrators with the opportunity to conjure up innovative builds which have a unique sense of style. During the past few months, RGB lighting has become incredibly popular and allowed consumers to enjoy an attractive PC based on their favourite colour. While some critics argue the reliance on flamboyant RGB lighting is going to become tiresome after a while, this doesn’t appear to be the case right now. Even if you’re not an advocate of ostentatious colour combinations, the customisable lighting can be switched off to create a more understated appearance. I mention the importance of RGB illumination because Freshtech Solutions latest pre-configured system is built around an intriguing new chassis from Aerocool.

The FreshTech Solutions Project 7 comes with an Intel Core i5-6600K overclocked to 4.4GHz, Corsair Vengeance 16GB LPX DDR4 3000MHz memory and the Zotac GTX 1080 AMP Edition. Not only that, the system is powered by an EVGA 700-watt PSU which opts for a non-modular design, Samsung 850 EVO 500GB boot drive and a secondary 1TB device for mass storage. On another note, the CPU is kept under control by Corsair’s dependable H110i GT liquid cooler and should run at a gentle fan curve. This fantastic combination of hand-picked components is installed in the unique Aerocool Project 7 case and looks spectacular. Even though the price hasn’t been finalised, Freshtech Solutions informs me it should be around £1399. This is higher than initially planned due to the weaker GBP to USD ratio. Whatever the case, the system looks very promising and I cannot wait to examine it in greater detail.

Specifications

• Name: Freshtech Solutions Project 7
• Case: Aerocool Project 7
• Motherboard: Gigabyte Z170X-Gaming 5
• Processor: Intel Core i5-6600K Overclocked to 4.4GHz
• Processor Cooler: Corsair H110i GT Hydro Liquid Cooler
• System Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB dual-channel DDR4 3000MHz
• Main Boot Drive: Samsung 500GB 850 EVO SSD
• Additional Storage Drive(s): Western Digital Blue 1TB 7200RPM
• Graphics card: Zotac GTX 1080 AMP Edition 8GB GDDR5X
• Power Supply: EVGA 700B 700-watt 80+ Bronze non-modular
• Peripherals: N/A
• Monitor: N/A
• Optical Drive: N/A
• Wireless: N/A
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• Warranty: 3-years collect and return (1-year collect, 2-years parts, 3-years labour)
• Price: £1599

Packaging and Accessories

The Freshtech Solutions Project 7 arrives in a substantial box which protects the item exceedingly well. In particular, the durable cardboard is difficult to tear and the precautionary notice ensures the courier adopts a gentle approach. Also, the side handles make it easier to carry and reduce the likelihood of the system being dropped.

Once opened, we can see the main chassis box is securely held in place with foam supports on the top. Given the system’s hefty weight, the foam layers haven’t really got a purpose apart from some light cushioning. Even though Freshtech Solutions could have deployed airbags, it wouldn’t have improved the packaging in a major way and the chassis’ box should be ample. As you can see, the accessories are neatly contained within the motherboard’s box which creates a more enjoyable unboxing experience.

The Aerocool Project 7 chassis packaging is quite mysterious and doesn’t allude about product’s design. Nevertheless, the box is quite strong and able to withstand the perils of delivery rather well.

Before you can access the system, the end-user is presented with a warning message informing them to remove any internal packaging materials. This is a vital step because switching the system on with the foam inserts in place could cause the graphics card’s fans to be damaged as they push against the supports.

The system’s internal protection is impressive and Freshtech Solutions decided to use thick foam pieces around the rear fan, motherboard and graphics card. Ideally, I would have preferred a hardened instapak which tends to move around less freely and has a stronger mounting pressure. Saying that, the included foam inserts provide excellent protection and ensured the unit arrived in mint condition without any hardware faults.

In terms of accessories, the system is bundled with component documentation, driver/software disks, cable ties, SLI bridge, spare fittings, SATA cables, memory packaging, PWM hub, AC adapter, Freshtech installation guide and World of Warships promotion.

CPU-Z

GPU-Z