We’ve tested out another product from the firm, the enthusiast-level Navigator PC, after reviewing the fantastic Starforge Systems Voyager II PC a few weeks ago. How does it compare to other mid-tier options in Starforge’s lineup, and is the entry-level model worth it?
As I mentioned in my earlier review, I’ve been eyeing Starforge as a builder for a while, and the Voyager II PC, which is part of its top-tier Creator stack of PCs, really pleased me. I entered the Navigator with the expectation that I would also be impressed. The Navigator line of PCs appears to be positioned in the middle ground between top-tier Ryzen or Intel CPUs and off-the-shelf graphics cards like the RTX 4090. Instead, the components are a little more affordable but still rather potent, with the goal of enabling 1440p gaming at high framerates.
We should point out that although the review below will use benchmarks from an AMD RX 7800 XT, you will see that our images have an RTX GeForce GPU. To be completely transparent, shortly after the Navigator device was sent (more on that later), the components in the Navigator build were modified to include the AMD GPU mentioned above in place of the outdated RTX 4070. In order to provide the most realistic assessment we could, we changed the GPUs here using a sample of our own RX 7800 XT, reflecting what you would actually purchase if you decide to purchase the PC.
SPECS
Observations and Unboxing
Just like the Voyager that came before it, the Navigator was flawlessly packed. I’m really certain that my pricey buy will not come broken because I worked for ten years in a music store that transported instruments worth thousands of dollars to clients all over the world. I know that my purchase will be packed with care and attention. The XPG Invader X case, which is shipped in a separate box and is nicely packed with an absurd amount of bubble wrap, is the same carton that the PC is packaged in.
Expandable foam is used to keep the pieces within the PC in place. This foam forms around all the nooks and crannies of the PC, protecting the expensive equipment in case the box is dropped—which it will, despite all the flimsy stickers on the sides.
There are three models in the Navigator PC line: the base model (reviewed), Pro, and Elite. The quality of the GPU, CPU, storage space, and other components are what differentiates the different PCs from one another. In order to do our study, we examined the entry-level model, which includes the previously mentioned AMD RX 7800 XT GPU, a custom Bitspower 240mm CPU liquid cooler, and a Ryzen 5 7600X CPU (see the specs above). With its two tempered glass panels that allow you to view into the RGB paradise that Starforge has created, and its flawless cable management—which is partly due to the use of special Cablemod extensions—the case, the XPG Invader X, is a wonderful fit for this PC.
You can always choose to update your PC case with custom UV printing, though, if you’d want something with a little more individuality. This does increase the price by approximately $199, but it gives the rig a more distinctive look than just a black case on your desk. There are other themes to choose from, such as the SMITE printing that we featured in our review of Voyager II or the brand-new Old School RuneScape design that transports gamers to Gielinor.
Sadly, the XPG case lacks the Platelight slots that allow Starforge’s Voyager line to shine, but you can always upgrade to the O11 Dynamic later on if you so want (or even purchase the case directly from Starforge – there are many of options available). Alternatively, if you simply want to add some flair to your gaming area, you may buy the Acrylics and the Platelight individually and place them on your desk, shelf, and other surfaces.
Issues and Support
So you recall when I told you about the Navigator PC’s shipment to us and how its specifications changed immediately thereafter? It was true at the time because the RTX 4070 was the card that came with the rig when the initial Navigator was shipped. Regretfully, during the testing phase, a catastrophic component failure occurred in our initial test system, preventing it from discharging any electricity, even after being disconnected from the surge protector for several days.
After informing Starforge about the issue, we attempted a number of troubleshooting techniques, ranging from the common practice of depressing the power button on the casing to attempt discharging any residual charge from the motherboard to removing the motherboard battery to reset the CMOS. Since the RAM and CPU debug lights were both on and the rig had not lost any charge in the days following the initial failure, none of these worked.
To their credit, Starforge was quite quick to respond. After figuring out that the problem was with a component, we had another rig at my house in less than a day, which is why the specs changed 24 hours later. We were then prepared to start testing again. It greatly instills trust in me regarding the kind of help a customer will receive should they encounter such problems.
The fact that we’re writing a review may have contributed to some of that response, but in my experience working in customer-facing positions—remember, I worked retail for more than ten years before landing a writing job—quick service and a willingness to make things right are institutional. If it’s ingrained in one area, it will probably be carried out everywhere.
Remember that a large number of the system builders were employed by the now-defunct Artesian Builds, which collapsed due to the owner’s blatant inexperience and mistakes, particularly in his interactions with clients. The people who work at Starforge probably want to avoid having its customer service practices ever be compared to those kinds of practices.
I’m very optimistic that you should be well taken care of in the end based on my experience, though your mileage may vary with customer support should you need to need their assistance.
Navigator Benchmarks for Starforge Systems
The system will undergo internal checks and burn-in tests, just like any other PC builder, to make sure it’s in top functioning order before shipping. Every time it creates a PC, Starforge performs this in an effort to identify potential problems before the device reaches your hands.
When the AMD RX 7800 XT and Ryzen 5 7600X CPU are paired, customers can benefit from all of Team Red’s capabilities, including ReSize Bar. Fortunately, our setup already had this enabled (because AMD just extended ReSize Bar to Nvidia GPUs as well).
While the RX 7800 XT runs well at 1440p and offers good framerates at that resolution, you’ll still get plenty of performance if you’re using a 1080p panel instead. When I played it earlier this week, games like the recently released Stormgate never dropped below 100 frames per second. Similarly, Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s Unreal Engine 5-powered Hero Shooter, ran smoothly at 3440×1440 on its highest settings (though Lumen was at High and we used FSR 2’s Quality setting).
The most graphically demanding game currently available for the Navigator, Cyberpunk 2077, also performed admirably. Although we observed an average of 50 frames per second at 1440p with the Ultra Ray Tracing option, this can be enhanced by adjusting a few settings or by utilizing the AMD FSR 2 Performance preset. If your display has the necessary technology, AMD’s FreeSync can also help you with this during games. The framerates available are much over 100 frames per second when Ray Tracing is off.
When we tested Total War: Pharaoh’s battle benchmark, which measures both GPU and CPU performance, we observed comparable results, with both 1080p and 1440p achieving an average of more over 160 frames per second. Comparably, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail displays above 100 frames per second at both resolutions on Maximum settings.
The Navigator was also put to the test with 3DMark’s Synthetic Gaming benchmarks, which are intended to strain the hardware to the limit. Performance is excellent and just in line with what I would anticipate from a PC with these parts, though I do wonder whether the CPU is somewhat delaying TimeSpy’s and Port Royal’s results. Although an increasing number of gaming applications rely on the GPU, features like Ray Tracing still require the CPU to do some heavy lifting, so an even more powerful CPU may squeeze out even more performance from those apps.
To push both single and multicore rendering, we used Cinebench 24 to evaluate the CPU independently during our testing. Given that the Ryzen 5 7600X was never intended to be a productivity powerhouse, the results here indicate that the CPU is the part of the computer that is lagging behind. The trade-off here makes some sense, though, since the Navigator line of PCs, in contrast to its Voyager sisters, is marketed as a gaming-focused device rather than a gaming and content production machine.
It’s encouraging to find that the NVMe SSD passes the CrystalDiskMark test, which measures performance over the minimum 3500MB required to read the specs lists. Although 1TB is just insufficient for most modern gamers, I really wish it was at least 2TB. Nevertheless, it’s a speedy SSD. Fortunately, if you later decide to purchase an SSD on sale, there is plenty of space on the motherboard.
Conclusions and Judgment
What does this leave us with then? We can price out a comparable system to determine what the markup would be if you choose to construct one yourself, as Starforge Systems builds its rigs using off-the-shelf parts. When pricing out a precise model system with PC Part Picker, the Starforge Navigator PC comes in at 1799.99.
A comparable setup can be assembled for slightly more than $1500 USD, according to PC Part Picker; however, this does not include the bespoke Cablemod kit, which can cost an additional $50–$99, depending. Here, the $200–$300 build charge makes great sense, especially since the Starforge setup includes a 2-year warranty in case something goes wrong with your PC after you buy it.
The premium price is justified by Starforge’s superb build quality; these computers are so skillfully constructed and cable-managed that I would regret ever having to disassemble them in order to change a cable or add a new part.
The performance seems to be comparable to what you’re getting, and overall, I support the choice to choose the 7800 XT over the RTX 4070. I wouldn’t if the base model included the 4070 Ti Super or even the more potent RTX 4070 Super. Although you can’t use Nvidia’s DLSS 3 features, the RX 7800 XT is still a great 1440p GPU, and FSR 3 frame creation is becoming even more popular.
I really enjoy the case; it’s not too big that it takes up a lot of space, yet it still has plenty of RGB and room for upgrades. One criticism I do have is that Starforge could have too many fans overall; seven fans in a case is a lot, and this is coming from someone who lives in a desert where summer temperatures have reached 120 degrees F. If you’re worried about your components overheating, this is an excellent problem to have. Under load, it sounds like a jet engine spinning up when all the fans are rumbling. I suppose it’s better to have too many fans than too few.
Ultimately, the Starforge Systems Navigator is a high-caliber computer. Even though I believe the CPU prevents it from being really outstanding, this is still an excellent PC for light productivity and gaming. If my friends and relatives are in the market for a new rig but don’t want to deal with building it themselves, I feel completely comfortable suggesting Starforge because the price feels right and we received excellent customer service when our old rig encountered a problem.
The Navigator, with its excellent 1440p performance, is a suitable mid-range PC for people who can’t quite afford the higher-end model but don’t want to go with the cheapest one. If you take care of it, this system can live far past the 2-year warranty period. It’s also ideal for future upgrades to the SSD, GPU, and other components.