Introduction

A big thank you goes out to Corsair for providing the review sample.

Let's face it, everyone should know who Corsair is at this point. If you don't, you are either new to building gaming PCs or possibly a caveman that has never used a PC. For a manufacturer that doesn't offer graphics cards or motherboards, Corsair offers just about everything else, from system memory and power supplies to cases, coolers, fans, and even custom systems; they nearly do it all. Looking back at what they have accomplished since their founding in 1994, it becomes obvious that they have come a long way. Talk about ancient history; time certainly flies by, doesn't it?


With Corsair's global reach, solid warranties, and diverse range of products, it wasn't going to take long for them to break into the gaming PC market. Enter their Vengeance 5180 that is being reviewed today. It is equipped with an Intel i7-8700, 16 GB of Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO DDR4 memory at 2666 MHz, and an MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ventus, all crammed into a Corsair Crystal series 280X RGB case. To keep things simple, Corsair has focused on one solid all-around system rather than multiple configurations. This should make overall logistics easier and allows them to focus exclusively on one system, giving it the attention to detail that is expected considering its $2399.99 price tag.

Keeping in mind the hardware specifications, it is not hard to see that Corsair has also jumped headfirst into the RGB LED craze for this system. It features two 140 RGB fans in the front along with the Hydro Series 240 mm H100i RGB Platinum and its two ML120 mm RGB fans to go with the RGB-illuminated pump. They even added LED strips to the case for good measure. All told, if you like RGB LEDs, Corsair provides that and then some. That said, everyone is really here to see what this system is capable of, so let's get down to business.

Packaging and Contents

Corsair ships the Vengeance 5180 Gaming PC in a large black box that thankfully has handles on two sides. Honestly, you would be amazed by how many systems arrive in huge boxes with no handles; it sucks. A nice, clean label on the box gives us a quick rundown on the system specifications and included peripherals, which leads us to the next step of popping the top off to reveal the Corsair K55 RGB keyboard (rubber dome) and Harpoon RGB mouse.


Once the keyboard and mouse are removed, we have access to the system, which is encased in soft foam. Meanwhile, a cardboard and foam insert is located behind the tempered glass side panel for good measure. Once everything has been removed, we see Corsair also includes a Netgear AC1200 WiFi USB 3.0 adapter, which is a nice bonus.

• Vengeance 5180 Gaming PC
• Power cable
• Harpoon RGB mouse
• K55 RGB keyboard
• Netgear USB 3.0 AC1200 WiFi adapter
• Miscellaneous literature

A Closer Look

The chassis used by Corsair is their Crystal series 280X RGB, which has two 140 mm RGB fans included in the front. It features three tempered glass side panels located on the front top and left sides. The left side panel has "VENGEANCE THE GAMING PC FROM CORSAIR" etched into it in bold lettering. Honestly, it is tacky and way over the top, but is also typical Corsair. Put another way, they have a very specific brand image, and this system exudes that image in all its glory with that specific tempered glass side panel.


The back is well spaced out thanks to its wider design, with the HDD trays located towards the top left and the power supply on the bottom left as shown in the first image. Both are placed in a separate compartment from the rest of the system, with it featuring a large vented opening with a magnetic dust filter for improved ventilation of the power supply.


The top of the chassis has a smaller tempered glass panel that is raised above the case to allow for the Hydro Series H100i RGB Platinum to expel heat. Meanwhile, the bottom features another opening with a magnetic dust filter for the graphics card. All four case feet lift the system a good bit off the desk surface, so airflow here is just fine as well; however, I would not recommend placing it on a carpet. Finally, the front panel I/O consists of power and reset switches, headphone, and microphone jacks, and two USB 3.1 Type-A ports.


The supplied keyboard is Corsair's K55 RGB. Typing on it feels okay, but certainly leaves much to be desired when compared to a proper mechanical keyboard. However, as far as rubber dome designs go, it is better than I expected, proving more than adequate for gaming. While it may not be to my taste, anyone who hasn't spent a long time with a mechanical keyboard will likely feel right at home. Overall, the K55 RGB offers a solidly built keyboard with fancy lights and software support.


The included mouse is Corsair's older Harpoon RGB. While a bit light for my taste, it works quite well, and I did not notice much of a difference compared to my daily driver, the Mionix NAOS 7000, when gaming. My biggest gripe is that I typically use a palm grip, and with the Harpoon RGB, such a grip wasn't quite an option because of the size of my hands; a hybrid or claw grip was more comfortable. Much like the K55 RGB keyboard, it also lights up quite brightly and works with Corsair's iCUE software.


The RGB LEDs, be it from the fans, pump, or LED strips, look quite good and give the system a nicely illuminated interior without being too bright. Obviously, Corsair's iCUE software allows for complete control of all the LEDs and works well enough all things considered.

A look Inside

Since this is a typical desktop system, tearing it apart is a simple process. Removing the side panel gives you access to the majority of system components, including the motherboard, memory, graphics card, and 240 mm liquid cooler. Speaking of coolers, Corsair uses their H100i Platinum RGB; both fans and pump are RGB-illuminated and match the 140 mm front panel fans perfectly. Accessing the front panel fans is as easy as removing the front fascia of the chassis. It pops off easily enough, giving you access to the dust filter, which doesn't stay in place as well as I would like. While it is magnetic, it just doesn't hold in place as well as other filters on the case.


Removing the right side panel gives you us access to the 2.5" drive bays and the power supply, while the rear of the case features a thumbscrew cover that gives access to the 3.5" drive bays. Cable routing is good with the entire system looking clean in both compartments. The expansion slot cover on this case is not a very charming feature; Corsair uses two thumbscrews to tightly hold it in place against the chassis, while regular screws are used to secure the expansion slot covers and add-in cards. While it works, it feels very inelegant.


With the graphics cards removed, we can see Corsair went with an MSI B360M Bazooka Plus motherboard, which is definitely an entry-level board, although it will do the job here well enough since the system uses an Intel i7-8700, which means it is not configured for overclocking. Pulling out the various components, we see Corsair not only partnered with MSI for the motherboard, but the graphics card as well, supplying their Ventus model GeForce RTX 2080. System memory and SSD are of course supplied by Corsair with the system getting 16 GB (2x8GB) of DDR4 2666 MHz Vengeance RGB PRO, while the SSD is an MP300 480 GB NVMe M.2 drive. Bulk storage is handled by a single Seagate BarraCuda 2 TB 7200 RPM HDD. Last but not least is the Corsair CX750 power supply which offers way more power than this system will ever need.


Taking a closer look at the gaps on the tempered glass front panel, we see Corsair left more than enough space for decent airflow in regards to intake. The gap on the tempered glass top panel, while enough for air intake, does inhibit airflow in regards to exhaust; however, this setup should not result in any problems considering the system's specifications.