[RyanAces]

Whats up everyone? First of all, I am new to this forum, so if I am not posting in the correct place please bare with me. I have read the rules and guidelines and whatnot, but I still might mess up.

_________________________________________________________________________________
 

 

So, I am considering buying a PC from Cyberpowerpc.com(no, this isn't a plug). I know there are probably better sites with cheaper deals, and, if you guys know of a different site that has the same or a better gaming PC for cheaper than what I'm going to get... please do feel free to link me.

So, first thing, the PC I am considering buying: Link here
Second thing. I am fully aware that it is so much cheaper to just buy the parts and build the PC myself. Let me just disclaim that this is not something I will be doing no matter how many times it's said. There are reasons I am going to just buy it custom made, such as:

1) I don't really have the time to do it myself. Nor do I know anyone who can do it for me, or that has ever built one themselves.

2) I've never built one before... and while I know it is not that difficult, I'd much rather order a custom PC and upgrade it until I need a new one This will give me at least basic experience, and I'll feel more comfortable building one myself in the future.

3) I wouldn't even know where to begin with ordering all the parts, where to find the best deals, what all I would need, nor do I even own tools lmao.

Third thing. Here are the specs of the PC in case you do not wish to click the above link. Also, some of the specs might be missing because I added some things that might not show up when you click the link, so probably better to just reference the specs:
 

Tax Refund Featured Promotions: CM Storm Devastator - LED Gaming Keyboard/Mouse Combo (Black Color w/ Blue Light) Gaming Chassis: Thermaltake Core V31 Black Mid-Tower Gaming case w/ USB 3.0 & removable Drive Bays & Side-Panel Window Laser Engraving: None Lighting: None Extra Case Fans: Default case fans Noise Reduction Technology: None CPU: Intel® Core™ Processor i7-4790 3.60 GHz 8MB Intel Smart Cache LGA1150 Performance Tuning Protection Plan by Intel: None Venom Boost Fast And Efficient Factory Overclocking: No Overclocking CPU / Processor Cooling Fan: Asetek 550LC 120mm Liquid Cooling CPU Cooler - Extreme Cooling Performance (Single Standard 120MM Fan) Coolant for Cyberpower Xtreme Hydro Water Cooling Kits: None Motherboard: MSI Z97 PC MATE ATX w/ GbLAN, 2 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe x1, 2 PCI, 6x SATA 6Gb/s (Pro OC Certified) RAM / System Memory: 8GB (4GBx2) DDR3/2133MHz Dual Channel Memory (ADATA XPG V3) Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 4GB GDDR5 PCIe 3.0 x16 (Maxwell) (Single Card) Sli Bridge: None Freebies: None Video Capture Card: None Power Supply: 600 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready M.2 SATA SSD: None INTERNAL PCI-E SSD CARD: None Hard Drive: 1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 32MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Drive) Secondary Hard Drive: None Hard Drive Cooling Fan: None External Storage: None Optical Drive: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR) Optical Drive 2: None External Optical Drive: None WiDi Router: None Internal Wireless Network Card: 802.11b/g/n 300Mbps PCI-E Wireless Adapter Network Card Sound: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO LCD Monitor: None Cables: None Speakers: None Internal Network Card: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network Keyboard: None Mouse: None Mouse Pad: None Headset: None Headset Hanger: None Gaming Apparel: None Gaming Gear: None Fan Controller/Temperature Display: None Internal USB Expansion Module: None External Wireless Network Card: None Wireless Routers/Hubs: None Docking Station: None Bluetooth: None Flash Media Reader/Writer: None Video Camera: None Power & Surge Protection: None USB Hub & Port: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports External USB ADAPTER: None TV Tuner Card: None Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64-bit Edition) Office Suite: None Security Software: None Professional Wiring: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chassis - Minimize Cable Exposure, Maximize Airflow in Your System Ultra Care Option: Ultra Enhanced Packaging Solution - Protect Your Dream System During Transit Service: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR [3 Year Labor, 1 Year Parts] LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT + ONE (1) YEAR SHIPPING SERVICE PLAN Rush Service: Standard Process Time: Ship within 7 to 12 Business Day
 

Fourth thing. HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS!
 

This is the first and foremost important question I have(the reason I made this topic): 

1. The case that comes with the PC is the Thermaltake Core V31 Mid-Tower Case. However, for $13 LESS, I can get the CYBERPOWERPC X-Titan 200 Case. Which, I actually like the X-Titan better cosmetically. Here are the specs for each:

Thermaltake Core V31 Mid-Tower Case (THE CASE THAT COMES WITH IT)

Model Core V31 P/N CA-1C8-00M1WN-00 Case Type Mid Tower Dimension (H x W x D) 470 x 208 x 506 mm
(18.5 x 8.2 x 19.9 inch) Net Weight 7.1 kg Side Panel Transparent Window Color Exterior & Interior : Black Material SPCC Cooling System Front (intake) : 
120 x 120 x 25 mm Turbo fan x 1 (1000rpm, 16dBA) 
Rear (exhaust) : 
120 x 120 x 25 mm Turbo fan (1000rpm, 16dBA) Drive Bays -Accessible : 
2 x 5.25", 1 x 3.5" (Converted from one 5.25" drive bay)
-Hidden : 
3 x 3.5" or 3 x 2.5"
2 x 2.5" (2 behind the M/B tray) Expansion Slots 8 Motherboards 6.7" x 6.7" (Mini ITX), 9.6" x 9.6" (Micro ATX), 12" x 9.6" (ATX) I/O Port USB 3.0 x 2, HD Audio x 1 PSU Standard PS2 PSU (optional) LCS Upgradable Supports 1/2", 3/8", 1/4" water tube Fan Support Front: 
1 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm
1 x 140mm or 2 x 140mm
Top: 
1 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm or 3 x 120mm
1 x 140mm or 2 x 140mm or 3 x 140mm
Rear: 
1 x 120mm
Bottom: 
1 x 120mm or 2 x 120mm Radiator Support Front: 
1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm
1 x 140mm or 1 x 280mm
Top: 
1 x 120mm or 1 x 240mm or 1 x 360mm
Rear: 
1 x 120mm Clearance CPU cooler height limitation:
155mm
VGA length limitation: 
278mm(with HDD rack)
420mm(without HDD rack)
PSU length limitation: 
180mm (With Bottom Fan)
220mm (Without Bottom Fan)
 

CYBERPOWERPC X-Titan 200 Case (THE CASE I LIKE BETTER FOR -$13)

Case Type Full Tower Model No. CyberPowerPC X-Titan Case Material Metal Window Yes Power Supply Standard PS2 PSU (Optional) Drive Space Accessible:9x5.25" / Hidden:3 x 3.5" or 2.5" Motherboard Size Standard ATX / Micro ATX (9.6" x 9.6" (Micro ATX), 12" x 9.6" (ATX)) Expansion Slots 7 Expansion slots (supports high-end graphic card) Front Panel Switch Power / Reset / Adjustable fan speed control for performance mode or silent mode. Front Access Ports 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x HD Audio/AC'97 Cooling Fan Space • Excellent thermal performance with optimized air flow. Up to 6 x case fans:
• 2 x 120mm fan - front (optional) AND 1 x 120mm fan - front (optional)
• 2 x 120mm fan - top (optional) 
• 1 x 120mm fan - rear (optional)
• 1 x 120mm fan - bottom (optional) Led Display Power / HDD Shipping Weight 24 lbs Dimensions (L)510mm*(W)200mm*(H)530mm
 

So, which case is better? Is it worth it to get the case I like(the Titan) better cosmetically? Or do the specification differences of the Thermaltake outweigh my preference of the appearance of the Titan? What are the differences?

2. Is this a solid gaming rig? Do you guys see any problems with it? Have any recommendations?

Thank you for taking the time to read, and sorry for the huge post. I'll keep checking back!

Edited by phillpower2, 16 April 2016 - 04:17 AM.
Working link inserted into content.

[Advertisements]

Best Answer

   RyanAces,

 

The case supplied is better as it has a better cooling fan arrangement, easily solved by having the less expensive case cooling arrangement upgraded.

 

Additional points of note, the power supply that is included is described as Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply, protect your investment by upgrading the PSU to a minimum of bronze rated quality brand = 600W output.

 

There is no OS included, if you do not already have WIndows installation media and an unused product key you will need to add circa $100 to the overall cost unless you intend using a free OS such as Linux.

 

Couple of tips for you, please do not use over size text when posting as it implies that you are shouting, use coloured text to highlight any particular points that you would like to emphasize and to ensure that you receive notification of any reply to your thread please click on the Follow this topic tab, top right corner above your OP.

[phillpower2]

Best Answer

   RyanAces,

 

The case supplied is better as it has a better cooling fan arrangement, easily solved by having the less expensive case cooling arrangement upgraded.

 

Additional points of note, the power supply that is included is described as Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply, protect your investment by upgrading the PSU to a minimum of bronze rated quality brand = 600W output.

 

There is no OS included, if you do not already have WIndows installation media and an unused product key you will need to add circa $100 to the overall cost unless you intend using a free OS such as Linux.

 

Couple of tips for you, please do not use over size text when posting as it implies that you are shouting, use coloured text to highlight any particular points that you would like to emphasize and to ensure that you receive notification of any reply to your thread please click on the Follow this topic tab, top right corner above your OP.

[RyanAces]

Thanks for the response! Glad to be here.

As far as the case goes, I think I very well might end up sticking with the default one for the simple fact that I'd hate to have problems with over heating. But otherwise, I may look into upgrading the cooling arrangement if it's not too expensive.

Also, it seems odd that they'd only include a 80W power supply when the recommended for a safe system is 600W! But thank you so much for pointing this out! I'll definitely be upgraded.

I did notice that the OS was not included. If you glance at the system specifications list I posted, you should see that I did upgrade to Windows 10 Home 64-Bit. Also, some other upgrades such as Extended Shipping Warranty, Internal Network Adapter, Ultra-Enhanced Shipping Care, etc.

And finally, I will make sure not to include big text in future posts. I was just trying to make the thread as easy to read as possible as there was so much information to pack into one post. Thanks for the tip!

If anyone has anything else to add, please let me know!

Edited by RyanAces, 18 April 2016 - 11:31 AM.

[phillpower2]

Power Supply: 600 Watts - Standard 80 Plus Certified Power Supply - SLI/CrossFireX Ready 

 

 

Crossed wires regarding the PSU, the one listed is a generic 600W power supply but it only has up to an 80% output efficiency rating so it may only put out 520 to 550W a lot of the time, you need clean and stable power and a quality brand minimum of bronze rated PSU is a must, see the links in my sig below for more info.

 

If you glance at the system specifications list I posted, you should see that I did upgrade to Windows 10 Home 64-Bit. 

 

 

Sorry but I got lost half way through and missed it 

 

• Excellent thermal performance with optimized air flow. Up to 6 x case fans:

• 2 x 120mm fan - front (optional) AND 1 x 120mm fan - front (optional)

• 2 x 120mm fan - top (optional) 

• 1 x 120mm fan - rear (optional)

• 1 x 120mm fan - bottom (optional)

 

 

 

The information for the case cooling is vague to say the least so I did a bit of research and found the info here cannot say if the spec has changed since the post was made though.

 

You are welcome btw  

[RyanAces]

So is there a power supply listed that you recommend? These are the two that are directly above the one I had selected (and slightly more expensive):

EVGA 80 PLUS Power Supply
http://s.cppc.co/spe...s-305-107&f=www
 

Corsair CX650M CX Series Modular 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://s.cppc.co/spe...s-121-141&f=www

Would you recommend either one of these?

[phillpower2]

The EVGA is not bronze rated the Corsair is, it is also a good price at only $16 more   see CX Series™ CX650M specs here

[RyanAces]

Thank you so much! I will definitely be adding the Corsair. So:

- Windows 10 64-bit OS
- Professional Wiring

- Internal Wireless Network Adapter
- Shipping Service Plan Warranty
- Enhanced Shipping Care
- Corsair CX650M Power Supply

Also... after all that, I actually decided to upgrade and go with an even more EXPENSIVE CASE. Lol. But I like it better than both of the above cosmetically, and I think it's better even than the Thermaltake.

- AZZA Genesis 9000 w/ USB 3.0, EZ Swap HDD, 2x 230mm fans, Dual Power Supply Support [+71] (Black Color) Please do check it out! 

Also! Lighting.

- RGB Multi-Color 16 Million color LED 3x Interior light Strip (top, side, bottom) w/ RF Controll [+29]

This should be my final post. All of the listed above additions will be combined with the specs I listed in the OP if they weren't already added. That will be the final product. If you think all is well, or if you have ANYTHING else to point out, please let me know. Otherwise, thanks so much for all the help! I'll check back soon.
 

Edited by RyanAces, 20 April 2016 - 11:15 PM.

[phillpower2]

Looks like you are good to go 

 

Plenty of room in the AZZA case with a good cooling fan arrangement which is most important 

 

Let us know how the new rig performs and how you find the customer service at CYBERPOWER, the information will help others that may read your thread looking for build ideas for themselves.

[RyanAces]

Phillpower, I just wanted to thank you ONCE AGAIN for your advice. After reading a lot of bad reviews about Cyberpower, I am incredibly weary about the system I have on the way. Of course, I'm stubborn, and wanted to see for myself. Worst case scenario, I will ask for a refund and ship the system back to them.

The reason I am writing this is because it seems the very core of all the problems people have with CP is they order computers with the "default" PSU's, like I almost did, and they end up frying their system within days, weeks, or months. Had you not told me to upgrade the PSU, I would've possibly been severely screwed! Thank you SO much! This is a great thing you're doing here.

Now, it is my full intention to update you guys on my overall experience. I will continue coming back to post updates and let you know how everything goes! As of right now:

*Latest update*
I finally placed my order on 5/4/16 with some tweaks from the build shown above. I decided to go with the i5 6600K instead of the i7 4690, and I upgraded to a GTX 970 instead of the GTX 960.

As of right now, the supposed "Expected Ship Date" is 5/18/16... however the Assembly Date, Quality Control Date, and Final Quality Control date, are still unlisted. I'm hoping this doesn't mean that there are parts on back-order or something to that effect. I plan to call to find out!

*A random update*
I had a run-in with the CP sales department, or rather, their customer service department who directed me to their sales department, who can only be contacted by email.

The reason I had this run-in is because(and you're not going to believe this) I had my system completely configured, ready to go, IN MY SHOPPING CART- however I forgot to add the Internal Wireless Network Adapter, so I backed out to correct that. So I go back, change everything around, include the Internal Wireless Network Adapter which is $19, and then notice that somethings not right: The price was $50 more than it should have been!

I double check everything. EVERY SINGLE THING within the system was still the same. Baffled, because it had only been two minutes since I had been to the shopping cart... I close out of everything and go back to CP's homepage. To my amazement, the z97-i7 configurator that I was starting with went up $50 in price! That happened in literally 2 minutes time, and with the EXACT SAME parts. The base price was initially $925, and when I got back to the main page, the base price was now $975.

Needless to say, I was furious. Why in the [bleep] would I spend $50 more on the SAME EXACT THING I was just about to pay for? Because I simply backed out and went back to change one single detail, and two whole minutes had passed? So I called, reluctantly, to ask them if there was any way they could waive the $50, and I'd purchase the computer outright.

The customer service rep I spoke to wasn't helpful at all. He literally just said "we can't waive the price, there's no supervisor for you to contact, you can contact the sales department but they won't waive the price either," and then we got off the phone. Not only that, but he more or less accused me of being a LIAR. His exact words were "we don't raise the price on the same product, something must have changed." I offered to send him proof, and he then decided to back peddle. So, I wrote an email to the sales department, with screenshots proving that the price went up $50. It's now the 8th and I haven't heard back from them.

There's a happy ending, however, and the jokes on them! I went through their computer deals, customizing them the exact same way as I had the z97-i7 configurator customized, thus building basically the same computer.

To my luck, not only did I end up paying $25 less then I originally would have(because I got free shipping, free Windows 10, and an even bigger coupon code discount)- but I got a better motherboard, a slightly better processor(the 6600K series instead of the 4900 series), better RAM manufacturer, better hard drive manufacturer and MORE hard drive space(a combo drive instead of just the 1TB).

So far I'd rate their customer service 2/5(I didn't have to wait on the phone for more than a few seconds or I'd rate it 1) and their sales 0/5(since they haven't even gotten back to me).

I'll keep y'all posted!

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Cyberpower PC Rating (09 MAY 16)

PC Performance - TBD
Packaging Quality - TBD
Shipping Time - TBD
Customer Service - 2/5 They are pretty impatient and impersonal. 
Sales Department Service - 1/5 I don't even think they read their emails.
Prices - 5/5 I did the math. I only paid about $167 more for my PC than I would have paid if I'd built it myself.

Overall - TBD

Edited by RyanAces, 13 May 2016 - 12:18 AM.

[phillpower2]

Thanks for the update/s RyanAces 

 

It is sometimes like playing Russian roulette with custom build companies and if you don`t do your homework before pulling the trigger you can get burnt  luckily for yourself you asked for guidance first and by sharing the information here you will hopefully help others avoid the same potential pitfalls, never dealt with CP myself but will mention that yours is not an isolated incident and wherever you are in the world you will always get folk that do not value your custom as they should.

 

BTW: I am of the opinion that there should not be any PSUs available that are not a minimum of bronze rated and covered by anything less than a three year warranty.

[RyanAces]

BTW: I am of the opinion that there should not be any PSUs available that are not a minimum of bronze rated and covered by anything less than a three year warranty.

In response to this... I agree for the most part. However, I'm curious if the reason they leave those PSU's on the shelf has something to do with people who use CPPC to build low-end office computers, or just computers for like video streaming and stuff like that, that have very low-end processors and GPU's. I mean, if that's the case, I can fully understand, however...

I find it incredibly wrong that CyberpowerPC would have these crappy, almost faulty(when it comes to building gaming PCs) PSU's selected in the DEFAULT SETUP.

So then you get people like me, who are complete noobs when it comes to computer customization(who have never had any reason to look into PSU's) buying computers that probably wont even start... or will fry all the parts attached to the motherboard within a couple of months.

I mean, they can't be making money from people sending these computers back to be repaired, can they? Most of the time, it's covered under the warranty. Even if you have to pay for shipping(I selected the shipping service warranty just in case), it's not like they receive that money- UPS does. So why do they always push these PSU's on unsuspecting customers? If you go to CP's website and select ANY of their "Gaming PC Special Offers," you wont find one of them that doesn't have a generic PSU included in the package.

After you informed me about upgrading my PSU, I did A LOT of digging, and there are literally countless bad reviews about CPPC's with "faulty parts," or PC's that simply don't even turn on when people receive them. However, without fail, every single person that wrote those complaints had XtremeGear or Thermaltake PSU's, nothing Bronze certified. I even saw one guy with like a 1000W XtremeGear that had the same exact problem as the others, which is kinda hilarious because he ordered a 1000W PSU that still wasn't even Bronze, but I also feel bad for him lol.

Almost every one of them had CPPC repair their system, free of charge. So to me, it's mind-blowing that they still include these PSU's in their gaming rigs. They MUST know that these PSU's are the cause of their problems, and 9/10 times they are. The cheap PSU's fry the parts attached to their MOBOs, and then they're sending their PC's back and getting all of their parts replaced with new parts, sometimes even upgraded parts.

Any ideas as to why this goes on? Are they actually benefiting from recycling parts or something like that?

Edited by RyanAces, 12 May 2016 - 12:12 AM.

[phillpower2]

Apologies for the late reply, got side tracked yesterday 

 

In answer to your question, CP are no different than many companies around the world that offer budget, mid range and high end hardware and it is up to the end user to decide what they wish to purchase, you made the right call on asking for a second opinion on your proposed build but unfortunately many others do not and end up disappointed, I am a complete nag when it comes to PSUs as I see no point in spending out a large amount of cash on all other hardware but scrimp on the most important component that is the PSU, the CPU may be the heart of the machine but the PSU is the motor that needs to provide it with clean and stable power, one reason why the efficiency rating of a PSU is so important is because there is no point in having a power supply with a claimed output of lets say 500W if it is only capable of actually producing 500W when under extreme load and then only for a matter of seconds before dropping down to around 360W, a random example here branded as 500W but if you cross reference the power supply info here the PSU was only capable of producing 360W when independently tested.

[RyanAces]

Yes, Phill! I'm with you on all of the above. After you pointed out that I needed a better Power Supply... I researched for several hours. I saw so many TERRIBLE reviews for CPPC, and I had a gut feeling on each of those reviews that the fault lay with the person writing it, not Cyberpower. Low and behold, each person that listed their specs in their negative reviews had crappy generic PSU's or off brand motherboards, or didn't list their PSU's at all(meaning they probably didn't see the importance of them in their build).

Anyway, here's that update I promised!

Arrival Condition: 5/5
My PC was assembled and shipped via UPS without any problems. In fact, it arrived on the absolute exact 'Expected Ship' date listed in CPPC's 'Order Status' page, which appeared immediately after I placed the order, and that was pretty much exactly when I expected it to arrive with standard shipping.

The product was shipped in two different boxes. One box contained the PC, which was packaged VERY sturdily with the gaming keyboard/box tucked snugly next to it. The other box contained manuals, driver DVD's for the MOBO, GPU, and Wireless Network Card. The smaller box also contained a Windows 10 recovery disk and manuals for each individual component, and the gaming mouse/box within.

Order Process/Wait Time: 5/5
I placed the order on 5/3. That was when I could see the 'Expected Ship' date of 5/18. It arrived in the warehouse on 5/4. On 5/12, the PC was assembled. On 5/13, the PC reached it's 'Final Quality Control' stage and was shipped. The computer did in fact arrive late afternoon on 5/18.

To give more detail... the 'Order Status' page lists the following:
Order#
OrderFile#
Warehouse Date
Assembly Date
Quality Control Date
Final Quality Control Date
Tracking#
Order Timestamp
Price
Shipping Method
Notes - Where you're updated on when they send you emails, finish QC, etc.
Sales Post Date - the date you purchased the PC
Expected Ship Date - the date you should receive the PC
Shipping Date - the date the PC is actually shipped from the warehouse

Customer Service: 4/5
I will say that this is somewhat expected, as you are getting a gaming PC for not much more then what you'd pay if you built it yourself, but the customer service department for this company is lacking severely in professionalism. What I mean by this is they are very, very impatient, impersonal, and almost robotic. Like, they're ready to end the call/chat literally the second you begin talking to them. I understand they probably have a ton of customers waiting for them in line, but there should be a balance. Not that this matters to me, but the CS reps sound like they may be from India as a side note. All that said, however, they are able to answer pretty much any and all questions you have and were in no way rude outside of just being way too impatient. They are not exactly rude or anything like that, just lacking in social skills. The wait times were very very short. I think the longest I ever had to wait to speak to a representative was like 1 minute and 45 seconds. They assign each individual customer a "case manager" who you are transferred to each and every time you contact them, which I think is a pretty excellent idea to make things easier on both parties. Overall, it wasn't bad. It wasn't great. But it was good.

Just to give more detail as to my experience: After ordering the PC, I kind of felt uneasy about the fact that I didn't select a specific manufacturer for my GPU. Though I know the GTX 970 reference card, and most third-party manufacturers of the card, are good/decent... I was still weary. So, I contacted Customer Service to ask if I could change it. Unfortunately, they could not... as it had already arrived at the warehouse. That said, if you plan to make any changes to your order, make sure you do it very quickly! Anyway, after I asked if I could change it and he said no, he persistently kept asking me if I wanted to cancel the order and be refunded to start over... in other words, just rushing and being very impatient. I also contacted them to confirm each individual part, and they kept trying to end the chat. This was annoying, but they did their jobs, and I was satisfied overall.


Assembly/Wiring/Components: 5/5
As per the one page memo that came with the PC, I removed the side panel of the case to inspect the inner components. I then removed the expanding foam that comes with the 'Enhanced Packing Solution.' Everything was still securely fastened and locked into their correct locations. All parts seemed stable, clean, and brand new. The wiring was good, with barely any cords showing through on the "display side" of the case. I was also very relieved to find out that I received the white MSI GTX 970 OC addition GPU even though I didn't specify the manufacturer with my order. While I know there are better versions of the GTX 970 out there, I was very worried that I was going to get something whack or a brand I'd never heard of, but that wasn't the case.

Everything was connected properly. All of the parts that I ordered were there. Not a single incorrect part or component. The ONLY problem I had, which I didn't even bother striking a star over, was the fact that the GPU has a very very slight "hang" on the left side. It's so slight that it's mostly unnoticeable unless you pay close attention... however, I was somewhat disappointed because my AZZA Case actually has a dock that is meant to hold it upright, but they installed it one bar too low. The Power Supply Unit was installed in the 'case recommended' location, instead of it's secondary location the case allows for, which I was glad about. The AZZA Genesis comes with the option for "Reverse ATX," which they used. I was happy with this, because my CPU is watercooled while my GPU is not.

Sales Department: 2/5
I already talked about this a little in my last post, but I wanted to bring it up again. The Sales support for CPPC is literally non-existent, far as I'm concerned. I emailed them the day I ordered my computer, and basically never received a reply. The reason I emailed them is because the day I was going to make the purchase(of a different, not as good setup), the base price literally jumped up $50 right under my nose. I was extremely upset about this at first, because it was literally the same exact product, so I emailed them. Never did I receive a reply. It worked out in my favor in the end, because I was able to use a different configuration to actually get a WAY better deal that I otherwise wouldn't have noticed... but still. Jacking the price up $50 for no reason? Not replying to customers regarding sales? I'd probably give them a 3 if they'd of just replied to me. I decided to give them a 2/5 because they do have a great website with great features, and some pretty great package deals.

PC Perfomance/Overall Experience: 5/5
So... my personal feelings about the whole experience. I am absolutely extremely happy with my decision to order from CPPC, and would do it again in the future/recommend others use the company as long as the research each individual part that comes with their PC. Though I did post some nitpicky things above, this company delivered on the things that REALLY mattered. My computer was delivered in excellent, working condition. There was not a single ding, scratch, or smudge on the case or any of the components. The PC had the appearance of being brand new, even though it had to have been handled to be assembled. The fact that I ordered a GTX 970 without specifying a manufacturer, and still got a very well known company like MSI was a huge relief. To me, that means that this company really isn't trying to screw you wherever they can.

The shipping was on time, everything was great. I've had no problems whatsoever, except one VERY minor problem that I'd like to point out: The motherboard comes with built in RGB LED lights. After downloading the "MSI Gaming App" designed for controlling the lights on the motherboard as well as different fan speed modes, I noticed that I wasn't able to change the LED light color on the motherboard. I'm supposed to be able to, but instead the section that controls them is grayed out. I contacted MSI about this, and they said that this is a problem with the BIOS configuration, and that I need to reset the CMOS. That said, I'm not really sure if this is a problem on MSI's side, or something that was done by CPPC when they configured the BIOS. Either way, it's really not a big deal and I'll eventually get around to resetting the CMOS to see if it works.

Final Rating: 4.8 / 5.0
It'd be biased of me if I said that this company couldn't use improvement in some departments, but overall I see no major problems whatsoever. Everything happened the way it should have. I would absolutely recommend using this company for custom PC builds. They are very cheap compared to most companies, and they deliver. They have probably the best customization I've seen out of any online PC building company. You can literally order the exact kind of computer you want, and they're ALWAYS up-to-date on prices and the best parts. They offer many, many accessories, utilities, and variations as well.

The computer I am sitting on, writing this review right now, is EXACTLY what I had envisioned in my mind, and that is a good feeling... to get the exact product you wanted built for you, and done right. The fact that I got free shipping, a free Skorpion K1 Mechanical keyboard, and a free CyberpowerPC gaming mouse(which is AWESOME btw) are all just bonuses that made the experience that much better.

Just a side note: My computer starts faster than 94% of computers(19 seconds), according to Glary Utilities. Also, I'm in the top 89% performance wise according to 3DMark.

Just a side note... 



 







 

Edited by RyanAces, 31 May 2016 - 11:18 PM.

[phillpower2]

Hello RyanAces,

 

Glad to hear that you are happy with the new computer and thank you for taking the time and trouble to share your experience with dealing with this particular company and for highlighting how others may have gone wrong regarding poor quality PSUs,