The case is pinched inward slightly in the middle, suggesting the X-shaped cross section which gives the system its name and can also stand vertically, if you prefer, on a small stand. Inside, the 14-litre case is necessarily rather densely packed with components, but the internal layout allows for much easier access to key components than most cube-shaped Gaming PCs. The 1 TB hard drive and 120 GB Samsung 840 EVO SSD are both within easy reach and connecting cables can be plugged and unplugged without tying one’s fingers into knots. The case also includes a slot for a slim slot-loading optical drive, although the drive itself is an optional extra on this PC. Sadly, the overall look of the case is rather unimpressive, thanks to its plastic construction which would really stand out when placed next to most home AV equipment. Take a look at The case does offer limited support for liquid cooling options, but Chillblast has opted for a Scythe Schuriken low-profile cooler, incorporating a quiet 100 mm fan. This is quite adequate for the installed 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5-4570 processor, which doesn’t support overclocking. Graphics support is provided by an EVGA-branded nVidia GTX 760 graphics card – The lack of overclocking limits general computation speed and the graphics card is one of the least powerful on offer. With scores of 6334 and 4386 points in PCMark 7 and PCMark 8 Home respectively, it’s the slowest system overall for general use. It also comes with only 8 GB of installed memory. However, this PC is capable of playing most games at high resolution and with decent, if not the very highest, quality settings – and at a price that’s considerably lower than any other. Wired2Fire’s Hadron system, for example, offers very similar gaming performance but costs £300 more. The Fusion Xcalibur includes a keyboard and mouse – in this case it’s Logitech’s MK520 wireless combo. You also get Chillblast’s excellent two-year collect-and-return warranty, with five years warranty offered on labour.
