Cyberpower or Newegg

[dredj]

Hey all.

I am planning on building a new gaming rig soon. I put a bunch of parts into my newegg bin and came up with some numbers, but I had a friend recommend cyberpowerpc.com before buying from newegg, he said he saved nearly $300 on an identical set up. So I built an i7 960 system with SLI and such. Matched the pieces on newegg, even taking advantage of certain combo deals, plus a free game that I would be BUYING with the cyberpower system ($59) and turns out the cyberpower system was about $375 cheaper than the parts in newegg. Plus I'd have to pay tax from newegg cause I live in TN.

Question is, is this odd? Everywhere I've read says that prebuild PCs always come at a premium. I have no problems building any computer, but if I can save this much money, how do people use newegg now??

 

[MadAdmiral]

You're not getting the same computer. Cyberpower's will come with a POS PSU, board, RAM, case, and HDD. It's also likely you're not looking at the same parts. You're also paying Cyberpower to give you a build that was put together very badly. I would NEVER recommend buying from them. It would be atonishing if you put together the exact same build and ended up paying more by building it yourself.

I would also be remiss if I didn't point out that the i7-960 is a waste of money. You're going to spend a good $200-300 on a slightly overclocked i7-930. Also, starting a build with dual cards is a bad idea as you spend more money for similar performance and lose an upgrade path. Also, given what you're likely spending, nVidia is a bad idea. ATI owns the high end market right now.

I would highly recommend following the guidelines from the link in my signature. I know I can throw something together at any budget that would destroy whatever Cyberpower could sell you.

 

[dredj]

Ok, this is the kind of advice I'm needing then. I know this list is not very readable, but I must be missing something. As I have never used this company before (I've always built my own from newegg) I'm interested in other's perspectives on this. Here's the current (somewhat everchanging) build:

Configuration
•CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-960 3.20 GHz 8M Intel Smart Cache LGA1366•HDD: 128 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk (Single Hard Drive)•MEMORY: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module [+18] (Corsair or Major Brand)•MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI Support) Asus Rampage III Extreme Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX LGA1366 ATX Mainboard - Overclockable w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, IEEE1394a, USB3.0, Bluetooth, SATA-III, RAID, 4 Gen2 PCIe, 1 PCIe X1, & 1 PCI [+218]•SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO•VIDEO: * NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+189] (EVGA Superclocked [+15])
•*BASE_PRICE: [+2425]
•BUNDLE: None
•BLUETOOTH: None
•CD: Asus BR-04B2T 4X Blu-Ray Player (BLACK COLOR)
•CD2: 24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive (BLACK COLOR)
•CAS: Coolermaster HAF-X Gaming Full Tower Case w/ 1x230mm Red LED Fan, 1x200mm Fans, 2xFront USB 3.0 Port
•CASUPGRADE: None
•CS_FAN: Default case fans
•CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-960 3.20 GHz 8M Intel Smart Cache LGA1366
•FREEBIE_CU: FREE Game: Just Cause 2
•FAN: Asetek 570LX Liquid Cooling system w/ 240MM Radiator and Dual Fans (Extreme Overclocking Performance + Extreme Silent at 20dBA)
•FREEBIE_MB: Power of 3 Rig Game Coupon - Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil, or Dark Void (with purchase of any Asus Motherboard)
•FREEBIE_VC: None
•FA_HDD: None
•FLASHMEDIA: INTERNAL 12in1 Flash Media Reader/Writer (BLACK COLOR)
•FLOPPY: None
•GAMES1: StarCraft II Wings of Liberty [+59]
•GLASSES: None
•HDD: 128 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk (Single Hard Drive)
•HDD2: 1.5TB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 32MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Single Hard Drive)
•HDD3: None
•IEEE_CARD: None
•KEYBOARD: Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard [+83]
•MOUSE: CoolerMaster Storm Sentinel Advance 5600 DPI OLED Gaming Mouse + FREE! CoolerMaster HS-M Weapon of Choice M4 SSK Mouse Pad [+46]
•MONITOR: None
•MONITOR2: None
•MONITOR3: None
•MULTIVIEW: Xtreme Performance in SLI/CrossFireX Gaming Mode Supports Single Monitor
•MB_ADDON: None
•MEMORY: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module [+18] (Corsair or Major Brand)
•MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI Support) Asus Rampage III Extreme Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX LGA1366 ATX Mainboard - Overclockable w/ 7.1 HD Audio, GbLAN, IEEE1394a, USB3.0, Bluetooth, SATA-III, RAID, 4 Gen2 PCIe, 1 PCIe X1, & 1 PCI [+218]
•MODEM: None
•NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
•OS: Microsoft® Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit Edition)
•OVERCLOCK: No Overclocking
•POWERSUPPLY: * 1,000 Watts - CoolerMaster Silent Pro Gaming Power Supply [+98]
•PRINTER: None
•PRINTER_CABLE: None
•RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
•SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
•SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
•SPEAKERS: None
•TEMP: Aerocool Touch 2000 Dual Bay Touch Screen Fan Control
•TVRC: None
•USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
•USBHD: None
•USBFLASH: None
•USBX: None
•VIDEO: * NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+189] (EVGA Superclocked [+15])
•VIDEO2: * NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 1.5GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+189] (EVGA Superclocked [+15])
•VIDEO3: None
•VC_PHYSX: None
•WNC: None
•_PRICE: (+3355)


There is an auto 5% off plus the shipping is $65 so it'll be about $3252.25

Let me know what you can find...

 

[MadAdmiral]

All I really needed is the budget... Here's a monster $3,000 PC that would destroy that build:

CPU/Mobo: i7-930 and Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R $484
RAM: G.Skill Trident 3x2 GB 2000 mhz CAS Latency 9 $185
GPU: 2x HD 5970 $1,360
SSD: 2x Intel X25-M 80 GB $438. Could swap in two OCZ Agility 2 120 GB for about $200 more.
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1 TB $75
Case/OS: HAF 922 and Windows 7 $180
PSU: Corsair 850W Modular $160 after rebate. If you're really worried about having enough power, the 1000W version is $50 more.
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $18
HSF: Noctua NH-D14 $90

Total: $2,990 ($3,232 with the 120 GB SSDs and 1000W PSU)

 

[dredj]

I see that you favor the 5970. Is the scaling very good since it's considered quad-GPU? Also, what are your views on the Corsair H50 instead of the Noctua?

 

[MadAdmiral]

The scaling is actually fairly good. Unlike nVidia's GPUs which have great scaling that falls off after two cards, the 5970 maintains the decent scaling even though it's four GPUs. I believe it's in the range of 65-70%.

Besides, you don't really need two 5970s. A single one is more than capable of playing every game out there with max details at 5760x1080 (three 1080p monitors in Eyefinity). Unless you plan on going the full six screen Eyefinity immediately, one would be just fine. I just threw the second one in there to prove a point. I'd recommend leaving it out until you need it or get it for a lot less.

The H50 is a waste of money. It's expensive compared to equivalent air cooling solutions (the Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus is $30, Scythe Mugen 2 Rev. B is $35). Generally, water cooling is to be avoided unless you're willing to spend the money to do it right, which is typically a good $500. The Noctua is easily the best air cooler on the market.

 

[dredj]

Awesome advice. You're getting a best answer, sir. It's hard to break from being a, as I hate to say, fan boy of Nvidia. I've been considering 5970 for some time. I like the memory choice, too. It seems the Noctura won't have many clearance issues since the pipes are pretty tall. OC'ing a 930 seems very doable with this monster. Thanks much for your advice.

 

[dredj]

Best answer selected by dredj.

 

[pc_sc]

I'm in the same situation as dredj: trying to decide why I should build my own PC with Newegg when Cyberpower is about the same price. I see this thread is "solved" but I hope I can still post. Here are my specs (prices listed are from Newegg as of 8/22/10):

AZZA Solano 1000 - $94.99
Intel Core i7-930 2.80GHz - $289.99 (see note 1)
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R - $209.99
G.SKILL NQ 12GB (6 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (see note 2) - $289.99
Thermaltake CL-W0075 Liquid Cooling System - $89.99 (see note 3)
EVGA Nvidia GTX-470 - $309.99
Thermaltake TR-800P TR2 BRONZE 800W PSU - $104.99 (see note 4)
Two hard drives (system and storage):
WD Caviar Black 1TB SATA3 64MB 7200RPM - $89.99 Each, $179.98 total (see note 5)
Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD Drive - $18.99
Zonet ZEW1642 Wireless Card - $17.00
V7 CK0M1-6N6 Keyboard/Mouse combo - $18.99 (see note 6)
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OEM - $99.99

Shipping: $27.18
Newegg Total: $1,752.06

CyberPower Total (incl. shipping): $1,750.00


Note 1: CP will provide the i7-940 2.93GHz. Newegg does not list this mobo for some reason.
Note 2: CP says it will be "Corsair or a major brand" ram.
Note 3: CP provides the Asetek 510LC Liquid Cooling System/Fan.
Note 4: CP lists "Xtreme Gear" PSU.
Note 5: CP does not list the hard drive brand they will supply.
Note 6: CP lists an "Xtreme Gear" keyboard & mouse.

I understand that I won't know the brand I'm getting on some of the CyberPower components but I'm still surprised their price came so close to a build-it-myself system from Newegg.

Am I missing something here? I'm leaning towards buying the CyberPower PC because it seems like it will be worth it to get a 3 year warrantry, phone support and a system that will be ready to use (hopefully) as soon as I get it.

I look forward to any comments. By the way, this PC will be used for hi-def video editing, not gaming.

 

[Guest]

Just wanted to point out that you can choose your brand for most parts from CyberPower as well, for a few more bucks that is. So i don't really see what kind of problems you'd get with getting bad brands from them? What components is it that your worried about that you can't chosse good brands for? the wires?? 😉

And one more thing, if you like a real big bang for the buck you be best of with getting 2 x GtX 470 in SLI.

check this out and you get why: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-radeon-hd-5570-gaming,2697-6.html

And also check this article: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-460-sli-geforce-gtx-480,2694.html

Just an word of advice

Ohh and take the i7-950 wich is on a promo right now and costs about the same as 940 😉

Hope that helped you a bit and i think that as long as you choose your brands on every part you'll be fine!

/Eric

 

[coldsleep]

Not that you can't post in a solved thread, but you're more likely to get more attention if you post your own thread.

For a non-gaming rig, I'm unsure that you really need the GTX 470. I don't have any info about the PSU Cyberpower is using, though perhaps some googling would bring up something useful. One of the problem with inexpensive PSUs that doesn't get talked about as much is that they can be much noisier and much less efficient (low efficiency = heat = fan has to work harder = noise), which may or may not be disruptive for you.

 

[Guest]

True that Should have kept my eyes a bit more open, and then maybe i would have seen that this was infact a solved thread. About the PSU, you can choose what psu you wan to, it might cost a few bucks more but at least you know wha you get.

Guessing that video editing requires a bit video power as well and since the 470 and 460 really is the most bang for the buck maybe it could be worth it.

 

[pc_sc]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. And to clarify, I need a GTX 470 because I'll be using Adobe Premiere CS5 for editing and it takes advantage of special features in the 470 for real time HD editing.