PC Specialist Vortex Enforcer review

PC Specialist has used Cooler Master’s CM Storm cases in the past, and with good reason. They combine keen styling with decent build quality, and the case that houses the Enforcer – which takes a starring role in its latest desktop package – is no different.

Its bulging front is divided into a bottom section, with plastic slats across meshed sections illuminated by red LEDs, and a top section housing a sturdy door.

Stylish fins set off the side panel’s window nicely, and the top offers a recessed storage area as well as a pair of USB 3 ports, two USB 2 sockets and 3.5 audio jacks. There’s a card reader behind the door too.

Interior

The side panels feel sturdy, and the impression of quality continues on the inside. This is finished in matte rather than bare steel, and has a raised motherboard tray, which has helped PC Specialist keep the system impeccably tidy. This is important, because the case isn’t the biggest available, and the lack of cable tangle and the compact CoolIT Eco A.L.C. water cooling unit ensure the Enforcer’s upgrade options are all easy to access.

There are two DIMM sockets free, which can handle an additional 24GB of DDR3 RAM, and the Asus P8P67 Pro motherboard provides pairs of PCI and PCI Express x16 sockets, one of which runs at 8x speed if two graphics cards are used. There’s also a spare PCI Express x1 slot.

Five vacant 3.5in hard disk bays face the side of the case for easy access, and there are also two free 5.25in bays equipped with tool-free clips. That’s a good amount of upgrade room.

Performance

The components inside this fine chassis have an equally impressive specification. Intel’s Core i5-2500K has been pushed right out of its mid-range comfort zone thanks to an overclock that hits 4.8GHz, and it’s accompanied by 8GB of RAM.