Bolt I: A Digital Storm Undertaking Part II

One Year Update Here

Two Year Update Here

Three Year Update Here


Five Year Update Here
Now with images again!

Awhile back I mentioned that I had ordered a second Digital Storm PC, consider this post to be both my review and its introduction. 

If you want the short version, skip to the very end for the takeaway point.


Background:
I was a very happy first time Digital Storm customer. If you are interested in seeing how happy I was, check out this thread right here for my first Digital Storm Undertaking. So, naturally, when it came time to purchase another computer it was an easy decision to go with Digital Storm. I want to note here, that there is absolutely nothing wrong with my first rig, Mr. Bojangles. In fact he continues to game hard. I actually had a friend come into some hard times recently with a house fire, and since she works from home doing high-end modeling work, I am letting her borrow Mr. Bojangles until she is able to get back on her feet. In the meantime, rather than downgrade back to my 2008 laptop, I decided this might be a good excuse to spring for another DS computer. So, with a little (lot) of convincing the wife, I went for a Digital Storm Bolt. If you've followed me salivating over the Bolt for months on end now, this will be no surprise.

I ordered the system on 11/19/13, I received it on 12/26/13.

Specs:
Of course no review is worth its salt without some specifications, so here I formatted to leave out the borin' stuff.

Chasis:Gunmetal Digital Storm Bolt
Processor: Intel Core i7 4770K
Motherboard: Asus Maximus VI Impact
RAM: 16GB 2133Mhz Digital Storm Certified
PSU: 500W Gold Plus Series DS Certified Bolt Edition
Optical Drive: DVD/CD
Storage Drive 1: 256GB Samsung 840 Pro SSD
Storage Drive 2: 1TB WD Caviar Black
GPU: EVGA 780 TI 3GB SC
OS: Windows 8 64-Bit
Free T-Shirt: Of Course

Pictures:
We actually have a lot of external Bolt pictures floating around the forum. So I don't have a whole lot to add. However, since I firmly believe that a review needs at least one picture, here are a couple of shots.

First up, a side shot showing the Bolt next to a standard 12oz can



Here is a similar shot from the front



Here is one side of the internals, we need more Bolt "guts" photos



And the other side of the ooey-gooey guts



Finally, for some fun here are two comparison shots of Mr. Bojangles (HAF-X)



and




I was hoping to have an actual side-by-side comparison of the Bolt and HAF-X, but I could not due to unexpected delays (more on that below).

The Review

The moment of truthiness.

Instead of breaking things down on a scale of 1-10 like I did with my review from three years ago, I'm simply going to break my overall experience down into three very familiar categories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I'll also throw in some closing remarks.

The Good

I was able to purchase my DS Bolt during the earlier part of the Holiday sale. So, not only was I able to receive a discount and an extra year warranty, I also scored three free games. This was a definite plus. During the payment process I goofed and selected something wrong. DS customer service did not fail to uphold my expectations and this was resolved within 24 hours. Again, this error was my fault, but we got it corrected. The box that the Bolt came in was very fancy, I had not seen the "new" DS boxes before, my other box was from the "before times." The Bolt was very securely packaged, DS didn't cut any corners just because the system is smaller. You still get your owner's binder, disks, and extra components just like you would with a full-sized rig. DS does not cut you short. Granted, there are not as many extra goodies with the Bolt, but that's just due to the proprietary nature of the stand. The T-Shirt's have had a nice design change since I got my first one. I like both, but a fresh look is always a plus.

When I first hooked up the Bolt it started with zero issues. I didn't need to re-seat anything at all. I got into Windows 8 with no issues and everything was just as zippy as I was hoping. I should point out that DS got my overclock to 4.2Ghz which is fine and dandy considering the recent upgrade to Haswell for the Bolt. After that I naturally cracked open the case to see the internals. I saw that while indeed cramped, everything looked very professional. Nothing looked clogged up, or dangerously bent or anything like that, just very close quarters. My "DS Certified" RAM turned out to be ADATA, which I was A-OK with as I've had good experiences in the past. DS also had the RAM running right at 2133Mhz just like I ordered.

One additional major plus, is that Bolt uses OVER 200W LESS at IDLE than Mr. Bojangles did, that is CRAZY!

I haven't had a ton of time for gaming since getting the computer, but I've played a few so far and needlessly to say the Bolt has handled them excellently. I did upgrade to Windows 8.1 as soon as I got it, since I barely missed DS changing over to 8.1 instead of 8, and that has helped performance as well. So, this soon in performance-wise everything has been great. I will of course give some updates once I've had the system for more of an extended period. But right now I have no complaints about the Bolt's horsepower.

The Bad

Let me preface the next two sections by saying that I am an avid DS fan. I've stuck around the forums because I like DS and their product (I also like my fellow forum-goers!). That being said, if I didn't share the negatives of my experience, I'd be doing a disservice to both DS and future customers. If you read these sections please read my closing remarks as well.

So, while performance has been great and I have had no issues my experience as a whole has had some negatives. These are a bit unfortunate as I did not deal with these kinds of issues with my first order.

Getting the Bolt was a bit of a pain. I ordered the Bolt in pretty much exactly the same time of year as I did Mr. Bojangles, yet the Bolt took far longer to arrive. The problem started when I found out that my GPU was back-ordered. Now, the issue wasn't that the GPU was back-ordered, it was how DS handled it that I didn't like. 14 days after ordering, and after being in Stage 3 for a few days, I received a very short call from someone at DS telling me to call them back. I wasn't given a reason, just call. When I did call, the person I spoke to had no idea why I had been called. This was frustrating because I had taken time to call at work. A bit later they called me back, my GPU was back-ordered. Now here is my frustration, why did it take 14 days to find out that a core component of my PC was back-ordered? Furthermore, why did it not only pass stage 2, but enter stage 3 and sit for a few days before I was notified? (As an aside, according to the wording of Stage 2 it should have never passed into Stage 3 with an out of stock component). So, I choose to wait it out, since DS expected to have the item in stock less than one week later. I then asked the technician how many days it would be before the PC shipped, once they had the part, I was told within 5 business days. The PC did not ship until business 8 days after the part arrived (which I confirmed). This wasn't a huge deal, but it meant the PC arrived on Christmas Eve and since I wasn't home I didn't get it until the day after Christmas.

Now, the GPU issues don't end there. Shipping and processing delays are something we just have to deal with. Though I wasn't pleased with DS' timeframe, I understand these things happen. However, I was given the wrong GPU. What I ordered, specifically, was the EVGA 780 Ti Superclocked with reference cooling. This is what is on my receipt and that was the exact image on the configurator. What I received was the EVGA 780 Ti Superclocked with ACX cooling. Now, I realize that these are basically the same card. However, it doesn't matter since it isn't what I ordered. I ordered the reference card for a specific reason, and was never told that I wasn't getting one. In fact when I was on the phone I verified that the backordered card was what I wanted, I was not told it was the ACX version. So essentially, I was given the card I did not order. I understand it might seem like I am splitting hairs here, but the issue is that DS misrepresented my order (and I have paper proof) and never once told me about it.

Finally, the Bolt has not been nearly as quiet as I was hoping for, or even expecting based on other reviews and videos. In fact when I first got it, it was LOUD. I mean, far, far louder than my SLI-580s had ever been, and this was at idle. Well, it turns out that for whatever reason all the fan controls had been shut off in the BIOS, so the CPU fan was running at max constantly. I changed this, and temps are fine. So it wasn't even necessary from a temperature perspective. I have no idea why DS shipped me a PC with maxed out fans, but it wasn't the best first impression. That being said, even after changing the PC fan to a more tolerable setting, my Bolt is still on the loud end of things. Maybe I am missing something in the BIOS, but it just seems a lot louder than it should be (I haven't verified which fan it is specifically that is making all the noise, its hard when the whole PC is so small, ). |
(Update: It was a combination of the PSU fan and the Turbo Mode in the BIOS causing the problem, a resistor + some default edits largely erased the noise issue)

Two out of three of my game codes didn't work. I don't blame DS for this though, and I was able to rectify it via game company.

The Ugly

The Bolt lid is finicky. Maybe I'll get better at it with time, but its certainly a bugger at the moment. It definitely makes opening up the computer more of a challenge than I am used to. However, this is on my end. Of course, the thing is, it appears as though DS' techs might have also had issues. The inside of the Bolt had quite a few scratches. I very much doubt these were caused by me, as I had no problems getting the case off the first time, just back on. Plus, there were too many of them to have occurred solely from me removing the lid once.

The interior scratches are not the problem though, its the cross-shaped scratch on the outside of the case that bothers me. You can't see it in the photos above, but on the "back" (not pictured) side of the case, there is a sizable and noticeable scratch shaped like a cross or a + sign, depending on your angle. I would bet a lot of money that this did not happen in shipping, it looks like someone was cutting something on top of the case, or scratched things up with a screw-driver. If you can imagine what a cutting board looks like when you are done, its like that. Its also far, far too precise to be a random shipping cut, it almost has 90 degree angles. I can deal with the interior scratches, but this one peeves me a little bit. I'm normally not a hardcore cosmetic guy with computers, but having a scratch like that on my PC before it even leaves the box is a bit much. Especially since I love the Bolt case so much.
(UPDATE: Digital Storm replaced the exterior "shell" of the Bolt at no cost to me, scratches have been resolved!)

Closing Remarks

Ok, so it might seem like I hated my DS experience from reading all that above. I didn't and I don't. I still recommend DS just as much now as I did before. There were just a few bumps along the way this time that I felt needed to be shared. I definitely enjoy my Bolt so far and as you can see, most of my issues are with things other than performance or stability. So please don't let my comments above dissuade you from making a purchase with Digital Storm, they have a lot to offer and will work to make things right.

I'll definitely be sticking around, and I'll definitely be recommending DS just as much as ever. I might not be able to recommend the Bolt much longer, but thats only because it looks like its about to be replaced by the Bolt II.

This Bolt has been named: Mrs. Bojingles. Because it seems to fit more than Mr. Bojangles Jr., but also remains unique and carries on my silly tradition.





Edited by Tidgxor - 31 Dec 2018 at 2:31pm

Sorry to hear about some of the "bad" above - I'm sure if you contact Alex, he'd make sure everything was to your satisfaction (if you haven't already done so). I'm sure there's a lot going on around the holidays at DS and some things fall through the cracks as everybody's trying to complete systems as quickly as possible without any issues.

Glad to hear that overall it was a positive experience and you are enjoying your new system!!

Thanks for the share and the pics!!

Return it before your 30 window runs out. You still have time. Have DS make it right.

I'll address Alex first.

Alex,
First off, thank you for your response as always.

* Backorder Delay:

I understand that you were probably loaded down with orders. My main concern wasn't the delay itself, it was just how it was handled. It made me loose a little faith in the accuracy of the "Stages" system, but I know DS is working to improve these issues all the time.

* ACX Cooler:

I think it is fantastic that DS offers upgrades like that. I also agree that the ACX cooler is considered an upgrade. I am not unhappy with my ACX GPU, I just do not like that something was changed without my consent, even if it is an upgrade. Luckily the reason I wanted the reference card was minor, so all is well in the end. I just wanted to bring my perspective to the table.

ALSO, I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE PRICING! First step of being a good customer, admitting when you are wrong.  I miscalculated when I was comparing the prices at the time of my order, to the prices as they are shown now, I didn't allow for a certain change. So, I have removed that portion of my review. Because I was wrong.

* CPU Fan Speed:

This one stumps me as well. I can only guess that maybe it wasn't changed back after benchmarking? Either way, its fixed now.

* Noise:

I'm going to look more into the noise and will update accordingly. I know the Bolt won't be silent, but I wasn't expecting it to be louder than my SLI-580s using a X-58 CPU. Again, I will try a few things and get back to everyone on this. Thank you for the PSU blower suggestion.


* Scratches:
I will email you a photo of the exterior scratch. I suppose there is a very small chance that I scratched the interior up myself, but those aren't a concern. Its the exterior scratch, and I have no idea how in the world I would have scratched while it was still in the box, which was when I first noticed it. The interior ones are a non-issue though, I'll probably scratch the inside up myself over time

* Conclusion:

Alex, thank you for the warranty upgrade. This was very generous of you and not expected nor required.

I bolded and underlined that so that people notice that DS does indeed care about its customers.


Edited by Tidgxor - 10 Jan 2014 at 10:17am

Glad things are working out, for the most part.   Good that DS has your back. 

Those Ring Dings?   I can wait, just need a tracking number. 

The psu fan suggestion by Alex is worth a look.  We have seen a couple of forum members  complain of the noise from that little bugger.  A 12oz ball peen should set it straight. 

Seriously, best of luck and I love the Bolt.  If I was able to, there is a good chance that would be it. 

Thanks for the comments! 

Yes I imagine the Bolt doesn't make much noise next to the Borg cube.

Can you unplug the external psu fan or stall it with your finger while the Bolt is screaming?   

Don't break a nail doing it.

I'll bet it's that fan.   

Doesn't that rack psu have its own internal fan? Most do. I'm thinking that external fan is single speed and there to help it along because of the tight spacing. Just thinking.

Thanks for letting me know Alex!

As for the noise, I think my shell is supposed to come sometime tomorrow. So I'm going to open it up and try a few things to determine where the noise is coming from. I really wish I was exaggerating about being able to hear it from two rooms away, but sadly I am not. My last rig from DS was very quiet even under extreme loads, so maybe I've been spoiled, but this is far louder than I would have ever anticipated based on the reviews. I can't even properly voice chat in games because its so loud.

The Bolt is currently in a high-airflow area (more-so than the HAF-X was). The ambient temps are normally around 65 degrees, so I don't think its overheating due to environment. It actually isn't "overheating" per se, as stability has been good, it just sounds like a broken space heater at times, haha.

I'll post back here after I've tried the funnel trick.

Originally posted by Alex It's the new exterior shell that is on the way. .

Let's hope the psu fan is easily replaced.   The ones I worked near were, and right on the back end.    At least you now know.





Edited by bprat22 - 20 Jan 2014 at 1:15pm

The ones I saw, years ago, were controlled internally like most units. That's probably why when you removed the external fan the noise increased... a little more heat because the 'helper' fan wasn't there.    As far as noise... it was always a noisy environment like a telephone Central Office, where a noisy fan wasn't a big issue.   

Not sure if it's normal or not, but I would be surprised DS felt it acceptable. The fans used to just pop out of the end, after 2 or 4 screws were removed, and they just connected with stab-on plugs to the pwb inside.   

See what Alex says. Just a fan might work but I'm not up on the latest units.

Like the other fans, you could just stall it for a few seconds to check the noise for sure. Replacing the psu is doable but some work being a small form case.

Edited by bprat22 - 20 Jan 2014 at 4:35pm

Yep, I noticed the all black case in your pics. It used to be the Sparkle 500w Gold, sp1500 I think.   Here's their site.

http://www.sparklepower.com/proIPCPS_1U2U.html

I would get a new psu unless they allow you to just do the fan without damaging the unit. Pretty sure it just pulls out.  There is a thumb grip on it if I'm not mistaken. 

The ones I messed with were , obviously, older more industrial types.

Good luck to ya and let us know.

Edited by bprat22 - 21 Jan 2014 at 7:29am

I'd also be curious what psu they're now using. Just gotta know these things. looks like the same one in Bolt 2.

@bprat22 I have a second question in with technical support about the PSU model, I'll let you know what I hear back about it. 

@Alex,

Well I'm getting some conflicting information. I contacted technical support, who were very quick to get back to me. However, after I described the noise issue (including hearing it two rooms away and it making voice chat hard) I was told that the noise level was standard, and that that was one of the most common complaints they receive for the Bolt. I was also told that its one of the louder systems on the market. So, going by this, its normal for the Bolt to be this loud, and there's nothing out of the oridinary. I did send a follow-up email asking if I could do anything, but I haven't heard anything back.

On the other hand, in this thread you've stated that the Bolt should never be that loud, and if you go by the reviews from DS customers no-one at all mentions the Bolt being this loud. In fact, even most professional reviews list the Bolt as being quiet.

So I'm honestly a  bit confused as to whether something is wrong, or if the Bolt really is supposed to be this loud, which would honestly be the loudest personal computer I have ever been around.

Props to technical support for the quick response though, as well as to you for your responses thus far.




Edited by Tidgxor - 21 Jan 2014 at 5:08pm

@Tidgxor,

I have never heard a Bolt be as loud as you're describing. Yes, the Bolt has a small buzz noise if you get really close to it in a very quiet room, but it's not very loud.

We can have it come in for service for a closer look if you would like. Many times, technicians will agree that you can hear it running, it's not whisper quiet.

Just an update:

Still no word on what model the PSU is.

DS is thinking that the PSU is operating normally, but that the ACX on the 780 Ti might be pushing more heat than normal straight into the PSU causing the 40mm fan to roar even louder than necessary.