While dedicated PC builders can be skeptical about pre-built PCs, there are situations when buying a rig that’s already been put together has advantages. Not everyone has the knowledge, time, or will to put together a high-end gaming PC, and that’s where pre-assembled builds come in.
One of the disadvantages of the bigger pre-built brands, like Dell’s Alienware or HP’s OMEN line, is that they often use proprietary parts, specifically designed for their systems. This can make upgrading more difficult. Smaller shops like ABS use commercially available off-the-shelf components, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
ABS, founded in 1990, specializes in built-to order PCs for business or gaming use. We recently got our hands on their Precision Xtreme build, which is offered in a few different configurations.
You can check out different ABS systems on Newegg.com.
Xtreme Specs
The sample unit we tested was the top-end variant of the Precision Xtreme, with the following hardware specifications:
- Intel Core i7-8700K @ 3.70Ghz CPU
- 8GB DDR4-2666 T.FORCE Delta-R RAM (x2)
- EVGA Z370 FTW Motherboard
- EVGA Nvidia GTX1080 Ti GPU
- Teamgroup 240GB SATA SSD
- Toshiba 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
- EVGA 600W 80+ Bronze PSU
- EVGA CLC 240 Water Cooler
With specs like these, the ABS Precision Xtreme checks all the boxes you’d expect in a high-end gaming PC. It has a top-of-the-line GPU, plenty of RAM, and a powerful Intel processor. This PC also uses the popular storage configuration that has the Operating System and mission-critical software on the smaller solid state drive, with a secondary larger hard drive for games and other media.
I like that ABS stuck with EVGA hardware whenever possible. In my experience, EVGA releases reliable tech, so this is a definite plus. Moreover, most of the visible EVGA parts share an aesthetic, which we’ll get to in a bit.
Xtreme Looks
Much like all of the internal components, ABS uses off-the-shelf parts for its computers’ chassis. For the Precision Xtreme, they went with the Fractal Design Meshify C, with an added ABS logo. This case is a conventional modern case design, featuring a PSU shroud and tempered glass panel siding. What makes it stand out is the stamped front panel mesh, which is shaped into an irregular geometric pattern. To really add some flash, ABS has retrofitted the chassis with three APEVIA fans (two behind the front panel, one at the case’s rear) which glow cool white when energized.
The APEVIA fans aren’t the only light-up elements in the Precision Xtreme. Team Group’s T.Force Delta-R RAM sticks are RGB capable, and can display a variety of patterns and vibrant colors – including the same cool white as the fans. However, fresh out of the box, the sticks are set to rainbow cycle, which contrasts heavily with those other lights. Fortunately, this is easily remedied. Team Group’s Blitz utility is available from their website and, once installed, makes it easy to set any color desired. Still, having the RAM come pre-set to a matching color as the fans would go a long way in terms of presentation.
I mentioned before that using all those EVGA parts created a shared aesthetic for the Precision Xtreme. That’s because EVGA are masters of pulling off metallic color schemes for their products, and that shows here. The Z370 FTW is a beautiful motherboard , and it’s perfectly complemented by EVGA’s iteration of the GTX 1080 Ti, alongside the CPU heat-exchanger component of the cooling loop. Most of the other visible parts are black, or other greyish metals. With all lights set to bright white, these elements combine for a very clean “shades of grey” kind of appearance, and it looks great.
Xtreme Performance
We put the Precision Xtreme through its paces with a few hours in both State of Decay 2 and Total War: Warhammer 2. The system behaved pretty much the way you’d expect one with this level of hardware to perform. In State of Decay, on Ultra settings, we had a pretty consistent FPS between 70 to 100, and the system stayed well within normal temperatures. In Warhammer we had a much broader range of performance.
With Settings on high, frame rates dipped into the 50s in the largest battles, with thousands of combatants on screen, and soared as high as 120 on the world map.
Xtreme conclusions
There are a broad range of pre-built PCs out there, so it’s understandably hard to know exactly what brand to go with. With the ABS Precision Xtreme, you know exactly what you’re getting, because each one is made with parts you already know and trust.
The Precision Xtreme is available in a few packages with different RAM, GPU, and storage options. These PCs perform exactly how a system in this class should, with no major flaws or errors.
Once the presentation is perfected with software, the ABS Precision Xtreme is a great example of an attractive, high performance gaming PC.
For more ABS pre-built systems, visit their store on Newegg.com.
