CyberPower offers a wide range of gaming desktops. They also have 70 starting configurations on their website that are exclusive to retailer-specific models like the Gamer Xtreme GXi11400CPG ($769.99 as tested). This affordable mid-tower offers high-end touches like a tempered glass window and twin RGB-lit fans, while its fast Intel Core i3 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card make the perfect pairing for gaming.
Although the PC is nicely built and provides satisfactory performance, it can’t quite unseat our Editor’s Choice pick for value gaming rigs, the NZXT BLD Starter PC Plus, which offers better performance and a longer warranty for not much more money.
PROS
- + Solid 1080p gaming performance for the money.
- + Snazzy-looking case.
- + Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
CONS
- – Only 8GB of memory, on one DIMM.
- – No front USB-C ports or flash-card reader.
- – The core i3 CPU lacks Hyper-Threading support.
Related: IBuyPower Gaming PC
Buy on Budget, but not ultra budget
The Gamer Xtreme GXi11400CPG offers a preconfigured tower with a four-core, four-thread Intel Core i3-9100F processor (3.6GHz clock, up to 4.2GHz boost); a 6GB GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card; 8GB of DDR4-2400 memory; a 512GB PCIe solid-state drive; and Windows 10 Home at a discount price.
The specs for this build are of the mid-tier. They can handle less expensive parts (namely, Intel’s Pentium-branded CPUs and Nvidia’s 4GB GeForce GTX 1650 Super or AMD’s Radeon RX 5500 XT). For performance and cost, the GTX 1660 Super would have been a better option.
The CyberPower configuration is an alternative to the Dell G5 Gaming Desktop, which I found on the site for a similar price. For the PC player, a step up may be the Asus ROG Strix GL10CS that I found on Newegg. This computer also has a faster Core i5-9400F CPU than the NZXT BLD Starter PC, but it costs $849 instead of $899 for ASUS.
I checked the price of a CyberPower PC on Newegg in order to see if it was cheaper than its asking price. I determined that I could save $720 by building it myself, or just $50 more than the retail price. Only a small premium is required to have your computer assembled, installed with a clean copy of Windows 10, and also covered with a warranty.
If there is a problem with your CyberPower equipment, you can reach out to their support team and they’ll take care of it. If you’re on your own, you’d have to do the research and find the right individual parts vendors.
CyberPower provides three years of labor support and lifetime technical support for tower replacements in addition to a warranty for parts for one year.
Design and Features
The Gamer Xtreme uses a CyberPower Onyxia chassis that’s designed for durability and middle ground look. It is 18.5 by 8.2 by 17.6 inches with a big, bold look. Just inside, there is a large and roomy interior. Steel makes up the internal structure and most of the exterior panels while the front and left panels are made of tempered glass.
The blacked-out inside looks much better than bare steel. It can have the side effect of making things too dark, but that’s not an issue with this Gamer Xtreme; its three 120mm fans are brightly lit in RGB colors and fun patterns. The CyberPower has software-level lighting controls, but the wireless remote included with the system is a handy feature.
The panel on the left side contains four screws that make interior access easy. An Intel B360-based ASRock MicroATX motherboard is in the middle of the case. It is an ASRock model, but it has a CyberPower logo on the heatsink, so it’s likely an ASRock B360 Pro4.
Memory for gaming computers is of high-quality. For example, this memory module from ADATA has a capacity of 8GB and costs less than a typical desktop memory option. Above the memory slots, Intel provides a factory heatsink and fan for the Core i3-9100F CPU.
The cooling setup on these cards is not very impressive, but it does the job. A GTX 1660 Ventus XS OC graphics card will fit in this case perfectly.
It’s important to recognize the M.2 slot that the graphics card uses to hold an Intel 9462 wireless card, which provides wireless internet and Bluetooth 5. The included antennas are easily attached to the back of the motherboard. The natural airflow means that the Gamer Xtreme’s 256GB SSD will not suffer from overheating.
This tower has a compartment for four 3.5-inch drives. It also has two slots for 2.5-inch drives which must be mounted onto the power supply with their brackets, just as you would do with any other tower that doesn’t have the 4 extra drive slots.
The power supply is the 600W Thermaltake Smart series unit with an 80Plus Gold certification. It does not have modular cables that can be detached if they’re not used, but CyberPower does a tidy job of cable routing and tidying up the unused ones.
Port Variety
The front edge of the tower has a USB 3.1 Type-A port and separate headphones and microphone jacks. I would also like to see a USB-C port and a media card reader on this side for good measure. It has four USB 3.1 ports (three Type-A and one Type-C), two USB 2.0 ports, and an Ethernet jack, plus headphone, line-in, and line-out audio jacks.
The motherboard doesn’t have an HDMI port because the Nvidia GTX 1660 (which has one HDMI and three DisplayPort video-out connectors) doesn’t have integrated graphics, so there’s no need for a separate port.
Cooling System
The airflow in the Gamer Xtreme is simple yet efficient. With two 120mm fans drawing air in from the right side and another sending it out through the rear, gamers can be sure there is never a shortage of freshness and coolness.
The noise level isn’t too noisy, but it’s quieter than I would have expected given the amount of power it has. Gaming for extended periods didn’t seem to increase the noise much, if at all, and I had to strain my ears to hear the fans on my CPU and graphics cards.
Final Verdict
CyberPower sold the GXi11400CPG to gamers who needed cutting-edge performance. The strength of this computer is in its premium features that provide for a cutting-edge 1080p experience.
It requires more than 8GB of memory, but that’s not a big deal to add down the line. The only problem with this PC is how much better performance and a longer warranty it provides for not much more money.
This CyberPower won’t make you wish you spent extra, but if your budget is tight, then this is the model for you.
