Since the GTX 1080's release, we?ve been inundated with systems utilising this astounding piece of graphics hardware. Even though the performance is staggering, the asking price in the UK remains extremely high, especially for custom models with a substantial factory overclock. Unfortunately. the GTX 1080 can cost more than an entire budget gaming system and recent price hikes have cemented the card's position as a niche product. The overwhelming majority of people cannot justify spending so money on the GTX 1080 and opt for a less powerful solution. In the past, cheap graphics cards have struggled to provide an enjoyable gaming experience due to the consistent stutter, and jarring frame dips. Thankfully, the situation has improved and GPUs like the RX 460 and the GTX 1050Ti can cope with modern games at modest settings.

After spending quite a lot of time reviewing elite-grade systems, it's refreshing to critique something which can be purchased by a wider audience. The highly-respected system integrator Freshtech Solutions agreed with this approach and decided to send an entry-level gaming rig. More specifically, the Freshtech Solutions Aerocool DS230 utilises an Intel Core i5-6500, 8GB Corsair Vengeance LPX 3000MHz DDR4 RAM and the Zotac NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB Mini. Additionally, the system is powered by a 600-watt Corsair CX600 PSU and comes with a 240GB Hynix Sl300 boot SSD. Please note, an operating system isn't provided with the default package and the lack of a secondary drive may prove problematic. Nevertheless, the configuration is going to have some concessions to maintain an affordable price point. Whether or not the right areas have been prioritised remains to be seen.