Looking for opinions on this PC.

My desktop PC is getting on in years - it's a 3GHz P4 I bought back in '05 or so. I've got a good NVidia card in it and 3G of RAM, and there's still quite a bit it can do, but it really is starting to cause me some headaches. I'm in the market for a new desktop, and in my shopping around, I've come across this: Newegg.com - CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme 1305LQ Intel Core i7 2600K(3.40GHz) 8GB DDR3 2TB HDD Capacity NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I've not got my heart set on that one, but it's definitely high on the list. I've also run across Falcon computers, and from everything I've read, they give pretty much nothing in the way of disappointment. Their packages are insanely expensive, though - even for their base models.

I think that CyverpowerPC I link above is a good combination of immediate cost, included hardware, and future upgrade-ability.

Any thoughts on what kind of PC to get? Anywhere in the $1000 to $2000 range - even lower end if it's something that allows a lot of room for expansion.

jwalk said:

My desktop PC is getting on in years - it's a 3GHz P4 I bought back in '05 or so. I've got a good NVidia card in it and 3G of RAM, and there's still quite a bit it can do, but it really is starting to cause me some headaches. I'm in the market for a new desktop, and in my shopping around, I've come across this: Newegg.com - CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme 1305LQ Intel Core i7 2600K(3.40GHz) 8GB DDR3 2TB HDD Capacity NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

I've not got my heart set on that one, but it's definitely high on the list. I've also run across Falcon computers, and from everything I've read, they give pretty much nothing in the way of disappointment. Their packages are insanely expensive, though - even for their base models.

I think that CyverpowerPC I link above is a good combination of immediate cost, included hardware, and future upgrade-ability.

Any thoughts on what kind of PC to get? Anywhere in the $1000 to $2000 range - even lower end if it's something that allows a lot of room for expansion.

Not really enough info.

That processor (2600K) is brand new and is the top of the line from Intel.

Generally, the K series is intended for overclockers, although it is only slightly more expensive than a non-K model.

Do you need that much brute power for your needs? What do you do with a PC?

Does say $300 mean much to your budget?

You would have to personally investigate Cyberpower to learn something about their support policies, reliability, etc. Frankly, I've never heard of them and don't know what motherboard is inside.

I'd configure a similar PC through Dell to get an idea on how good the Cyberpower price is.

Dell is usually the path of least resistance for a major OEM builder, all things considered, though you can find horror stories about all brands.

I don't really do much right now with my computer but browse online and send emails, watch movies, and play whatever games I can get to run on a P4 with an Nvidia 9400GT PCI card. I'd definitely be doing more gaming with that rig.

Funny you should mention Dell - my work has a partnership/discount deal with Dell. It's not much, 50 or a hundred bucks off a new PC, but it's something. I'd have to go with an Alienware to get the right hardware included to start gaming right out of the box. For what those cost, I might as well spend the few hundred extra and go with this thing.

As far as detailed specs for that CyberpowerPC, here they are:
General Spec BrandCyberpowerPC ModelGamer Xtreme 1305LQ TypeGaming ProcessorIntel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Memory8GB (4x2GB) DDR3 1333 Hard Drive2TB (2 x 1TB) SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD Optical Drive 1Blu-Ray Player Combo Drive GraphicsNVIDIA Geforce GTX 570 1.2GB PCI Express Graphics AudioSound card - Integrated EthernetGigabit Ethernet Power Supply950W KeyboardXtreme Gear USB Keyboard MouseXtreme Gear USB Mouse Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Special FeaturesAZZA Hurricane 2000 Gaming Tower
240mm Liquid Cooling System Motherboard ChipsetIntel P67 CPU CPU TypeIntel Core i7 CPU Speed2600K(3.40GHz) L3 Cache Per CPU8MB CPU Socket TypeLGA 1155 CPU Main Features64 bit Quad-Core Processor Graphics GPU/VPU TypeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Graphics InterfacePCI Express 2.0 x16 Memory Memory Capacity8GB DDR3 Memory SpeedDDR3 1333 Form FactorDIMM 240-pin Memory Spec2GB x 4 Memory Slot (Total)4 Memory Slot (Available)0 Hard Drive HDD Capacity2TB HDD InterfaceSATA III HDD RPM7200rpm HDD Spec2 x 1TB Optical Drive Optical Drive TypeBD Combo Optical Drive SpecBlu-Ray Player Combo Drive Audio Audio ChipsetIntegrated Audio Channels7.1 channels Communications LAN ChipsetIntegrated LAN Speed10/100/1000Mbps Front Panel Ports Front USB2 Back Panel Ports PS/21 Rear USB2 x USB 3.0
6 x USB 2.0 RJ451 port S/P DIFS/PDIF Out Expansion PCI Slots (Available/Total)1 x PCI Express x16
2 x PCI Express x1
2 x PCI Mouse Mouse TypeUSB Mouse Keyboard Keyboard TypeUSB Keyboard Manufacturer Warranty Parts1 year limited Labor1 year limited

(oops.. that didn't format very well. The specs are on one of the tabs at the link above.)

jwalk said:

I don't really do much right now with my computer but browse online and send emails, watch movies, and play whatever games I can get to run on a P4 with an Nvidia 9400GT PCI card. I'd definitely be doing more gaming with that rig.

Funny you should mention Dell - my work has a partnership/discount deal with Dell. It's not much, 50 or a hundred bucks off a new PC, but it's something. I'd have to go with an Alienware to get the right hardware included to start gaming right out of the box. For what those cost, I might as well spend the few hundred extra and go with this thing.

As far as detailed specs for that CyberpowerPC, here they are:
General Spec BrandCyberpowerPC ModelGamer Xtreme 1305LQ TypeGaming ProcessorIntel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Memory8GB (4x2GB) DDR3 1333 Hard Drive2TB (2 x 1TB) SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD Optical Drive 1Blu-Ray Player Combo Drive GraphicsNVIDIA Geforce GTX 570 1.2GB PCI Express Graphics AudioSound card - Integrated EthernetGigabit Ethernet Power Supply950W KeyboardXtreme Gear USB Keyboard MouseXtreme Gear USB Mouse Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Special FeaturesAZZA Hurricane 2000 Gaming Tower
240mm Liquid Cooling System Motherboard ChipsetIntel P67 CPU CPU TypeIntel Core i7 CPU Speed2600K(3.40GHz) L3 Cache Per CPU8MB CPU Socket TypeLGA 1155 CPU Main Features64 bit Quad-Core Processor Graphics GPU/VPU TypeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Graphics InterfacePCI Express 2.0 x16 Memory Memory Capacity8GB DDR3 Memory SpeedDDR3 1333 Form FactorDIMM 240-pin Memory Spec2GB x 4 Memory Slot (Total)4 Memory Slot (Available)0 Hard Drive HDD Capacity2TB HDD InterfaceSATA III HDD RPM7200rpm HDD Spec2 x 1TB Optical Drive Optical Drive TypeBD Combo Optical Drive SpecBlu-Ray Player Combo Drive Audio Audio ChipsetIntegrated Audio Channels7.1 channels Communications LAN ChipsetIntegrated LAN Speed10/100/1000Mbps Front Panel Ports Front USB2 Back Panel Ports PS/21 Rear USB2 x USB 3.0
6 x USB 2.0 RJ451 port S/P DIFS/PDIF Out Expansion PCI Slots (Available/Total)1 x PCI Express x16
2 x PCI Express x1
2 x PCI Mouse Mouse TypeUSB Mouse Keyboard Keyboard TypeUSB Keyboard Manufacturer Warranty Parts1 year limited Labor1 year limited

(oops.. that didn't format very well. The specs are on one of the tabs at the link above.)

Here's my take:

Given what you've said, it's gross overkill unless you intend to do much much more demanding gaming and unless several hundred dollars is largely meaningless to you.

Another thing: reading through that list of specs, I see few brand names mentioned other than Azza and Intel. So who knows who makes the individual components.

I also see a mention of "liquid cooling". That's typically for a serious serious overclocker and is likely pointless on this processor which should overclock very well on air cooling.

A no-name 950 watt power supply is suspicious. You don't need 950 watts and it's dubious that it's a high quality supply. If it were, you should see a brand name.


And Alienware is owned by Dell I think.

And I have no idea if Cyberpower is a wonderful firm or thieves. You'd have to investigate that yourself.

At a bare minimum--configure a similar system at Dell and see where you come out.

Google Cyberpower. For all I know it's a New Egg house brand.

ignatzatsonic said:

jwalk said:

I don't really do much right now with my computer but browse online and send emails, watch movies, and play whatever games I can get to run on a P4 with an Nvidia 9400GT PCI card. I'd definitely be doing more gaming with that rig.

Funny you should mention Dell - my work has a partnership/discount deal with Dell. It's not much, 50 or a hundred bucks off a new PC, but it's something. I'd have to go with an Alienware to get the right hardware included to start gaming right out of the box. For what those cost, I might as well spend the few hundred extra and go with this thing.

As far as detailed specs for that CyberpowerPC, here they are:
General Spec BrandCyberpowerPC ModelGamer Xtreme 1305LQ TypeGaming ProcessorIntel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz Memory8GB (4x2GB) DDR3 1333 Hard Drive2TB (2 x 1TB) SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 7200RPM HDD Optical Drive 1Blu-Ray Player Combo Drive GraphicsNVIDIA Geforce GTX 570 1.2GB PCI Express Graphics AudioSound card - Integrated EthernetGigabit Ethernet Power Supply950W KeyboardXtreme Gear USB Keyboard MouseXtreme Gear USB Mouse Operating SystemWindows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Special FeaturesAZZA Hurricane 2000 Gaming Tower
240mm Liquid Cooling System Motherboard ChipsetIntel P67 CPU CPU TypeIntel Core i7 CPU Speed2600K(3.40GHz) L3 Cache Per CPU8MB CPU Socket TypeLGA 1155 CPU Main Features64 bit Quad-Core Processor Graphics GPU/VPU TypeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 Graphics InterfacePCI Express 2.0 x16 Memory Memory Capacity8GB DDR3 Memory SpeedDDR3 1333 Form FactorDIMM 240-pin Memory Spec2GB x 4 Memory Slot (Total)4 Memory Slot (Available)0 Hard Drive HDD Capacity2TB HDD InterfaceSATA III HDD RPM7200rpm HDD Spec2 x 1TB Optical Drive Optical Drive TypeBD Combo Optical Drive SpecBlu-Ray Player Combo Drive Audio Audio ChipsetIntegrated Audio Channels7.1 channels Communications LAN ChipsetIntegrated LAN Speed10/100/1000Mbps Front Panel Ports Front USB2 Back Panel Ports PS/21 Rear USB2 x USB 3.0
6 x USB 2.0 RJ451 port S/P DIFS/PDIF Out Expansion PCI Slots (Available/Total)1 x PCI Express x16
2 x PCI Express x1
2 x PCI Mouse Mouse TypeUSB Mouse Keyboard Keyboard TypeUSB Keyboard Manufacturer Warranty Parts1 year limited Labor1 year limited

(oops.. that didn't format very well. The specs are on one of the tabs at the link above.)

Here's my take:

Given what you've said, it's gross overkill unless you intend to do much much more demanding gaming and unless several hundred dollars is largely meaningless to you.

Another thing: reading through that list of specs, I see few brand names mentioned other than Azza and Intel. So who knows who makes the individual components.

I also see a mention of "liquid cooling". That's typically for a serious serious overclocker and is likely pointless on this processor which should overclock very well on air cooling.

A no-name 950 watt power supply is suspicious. You don't need 950 watts and it's dubious that it's a high quality supply. If it were, you should see a brand name.


And Alienware is owned by Dell I think.

And I have no idea if Cyberpower is a wonderful firm or thieves. You'd have to investigate that yourself.

At a bare minimum--configure a similar system at Dell and see where you come out.

Google Cyberpower. For all I know it's a New Egg house brand.

I agree!!!

They're their own thing, as best I can tell: CyberPower PC. - Custom Built Gaming PC and Gaming Laptops

Based out of California, and they have dozens of models of desktops and laptops to choose from.

I think that specific model is a Newegg special, though, or being offered on some kid of partnership deal. I'm going through some of their other models right now. I'll see what I come up with and compare it to, say, a comparable Alienware just for giggles.

Out of curiosity, I just looked around Dell.com myself, for the first time in 2 or 3 years.

It looks like the only way you can get a Sandy Bridge processor is to go with an Alienware PC. It seems the well-known Dell XPS series of high performance desktops is going away slowly. Maybe in a few months you can get an XPS PC with a 2600K processor, but I didn't see one now.

All the Alienware stuff seems pointed directly at gaming, as opposed to someone who simply wanted a high-powered PC for some other purpose. The minimum Alienware packages include all kinds of gaming doo-dads and flashing lights that an ordinary user would not need.

And it looked like a 2600k Alienware PC begins around $1700??

There's a big profit margin in that for Dell because the Sandy Bridge motherboards and processors are less costly than the alternative 1366 platform.

I'd guess Dell has realized that PCs are pretty much commodities at most price points and so they try to get back some of their lost margin by pushing you toward Alienware and glitz. All the more reason to try to build your own gaming machine---which I guess the OP in this thread has ruled out.

ignatzatsonic said:

All the more reason to try to build your own gaming machine---which I guess the OP in this thread has ruled out.

I haven't exactly ruled it out, it's just unlikely that I'll go that route.

The eye-catching ad for the Aurora doesn't tell you, though, that they're showing you the potential upgrades, not the base model specs.

As far as components, they break down like this:

Power supply
Aurora: 875W (included)
Cyberpower: 950W

Processor
Aurora: 2600K o/c to 3.9GHz (4.1GHz for 75 bucks)
Cyberpower: 2600K @ 3.4GHz (probably still o/c-able)

OS
Both: Windows 7 Home Premium as standard

Memory
Both: 8GB 1333MHz dual-channel DDR3

Graphics
Aurora: Dual NVidia GTX460s
Cyberpower: Single Nvidia GTX570

Keyboard
Aurora: None (add one for a hundred bucks)
Cyberpower: Yeah, probably some POS, but I already have a Logitech G11

Mouse
Aurora: No (add one for a hundred bucks)
Cyberpower: Yeah, probably some POS, but I already have a Logitech)

Hard Drive
Aurora: 1TB SATA 3GB/s (7200 RPM)
Cyberpower: 2x1TB SATA 3GB/s (7200 RPM)

Warranty
Both: 1yr limited

IDK. It's a tough call. Dell is a more recognized name, obviously, and they have that going for them.

I'm torn. To start adding on to either one of them, it pushes me up over $2000 real quick, and I might as well save up for another month or two and send away for a custom made Falcon or something.

jwalk said:

As far as components, they break down like this:



Processor
Aurora: 2600K o/c to 3.9GHz (4.1GHz for 75 bucks)
Cyberpower: 2600K @ 3.4GHz (probably still o/c-able)



Hard Drive

Aurora: 1TB SATA 3GB/s (7200 RPM)
Cyberpower: 2x1TB SATA 3GB/s (7200 RPM)


IDK. It's a tough call. Dell is a more recognized name, obviously, and they have that going for them.

I'm torn. To start adding on to either one of them, it pushes me up over $2000 real quick, and I might as well save up for another month or two and send away for a custom made Falcon or something.

The base clock on the 2600K is 3.4. With built-in turbo, it is 3.8.

So I don't understand the Aurora overclocking 3.9 unless it is some sort of a warranty that it will clock that high. Of course, everyone on the planet can clock a 2600K to 4.0 (or higher) with a few mouse clicks, by all accounts.

If you want to overclock, you need to confirm you are getting a P67 chipset, not H67.

And I don't understand the $75 additional for 4.1 GHz rather than 3.9. What's that? Maybe an underlying change in RAM? Or motherboard chipset?

I noticed Dell wants an extra $100 just to move from a 1 TB drive to a 2 TB drive, which is hysterical and an example of the markup on this stuff. Of course, they used to charge quadruple the retail price for RAM upgrades also.

If you put a gun on me, I'd go with the Alienware, but I'd realize I was overpaying and I'd pray to the computer gods that I never had any type of interaction with what is laughingly called "Dell Customer Service", you should pardon the expression. I had some first hand experience there a few years ago and swore off all Dell at that moment. I do realize that is just one person's experience and that customer service from all OEMs has gone downhill in the last few years--cost-cutting being what it is.

Good luck. I encourage you to build your own in order to have full control over all parts--never mind the learning experience.