Three Core i7 Systems From Botique Builders

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Sigma Gaming Windstorm Mid-Tower(Blue Color with Side-Window)

I haven't called them back yet, as I'm debating what to do now. It's been two and a half weeks already. Was told 30th, then 31st, now another month. So, I was looking around on their website again. I found the blue option is no longer offered, that I can find, anywhere on their site.

The sales person is on lunch conveniently. A little later when I call, I'll see if they have the red version in stock.
 
Update!!

I have to say, amazing. Just amazing. I have never been talked to by anyone from any company, no matter how pissed off, like I have from cyberpowerpc.

I called back after picking another case as they requested I do. They tell me the case I picked is $27 more. The best they can do is up to $6 more. I explain that knowing this beforehand I certainly wouldn't have spent over an hour comparing every single case they offer, since $6 narrows the choices down to a total of about 3 cases.

I asked them specifically what choices DO I have? They told me to look on their website. I explained I was looking at it, however I'm just asking for them to tell me my options. After all, they should know better than me. They tell me one other case. I ask about another, since I see it shows a $5 variance, yet wasn't named. They say yes that one too.

I rub my head in frustration at this point. So, I ask again what cases do I have to choose from.

At this point the guy gets seriously pissed off and says you know what? Exactly what the site says. If it's more, you pay us more.

He tells me that he gave me an offer of $6 leeway, but that expired because I was a smartass. Yes, he sure did say that. I'm a smartass because I simply wanted him to give me, the customer, a complete list of my options. Hmm?

So I ask him about what he just said, in order to make sure I'm clear that he doesn't want to help me after almost 3 weeks of me waiting. He says that is correct and he is going "by the book" and that I have only two options now. Cancel my order, or wait for the original case to come in. Not even to pick the red one anymore.

Wow. I am just amazed. Really. I asked for his supervisor or whoever is above him. He told me he is the sales manager and there is no one above him. I was told no matter how many times I try to call, I'll always get him. He said I could use their form on their site to mail them, however it comes to his mailbox. That's fantastic!

There is a lost more to the very long conversation we had. Most of which was me asking him things like "Let me get this straight, you're doing this because you don't like me? Even though I as your customer am only asking for a list of options?" Getting a response of that's too bad.

I seriously hope that many read this and do not buy from this company. They may have good pricing, but god help you if you ever need to speak with them. This is the first, and the last time I ever order a pre-built machine. The money I was saving is not worth it.
 
I'm sorry to hear about your experience with Cyberpower. I've heard complaints, but never anything to that degree! Communication is very important in the boutique business, and it sounds like he was not speaking very clear to you. For situations such as this, I usally request email because you can lay out everything in black & white without confusion, rather than explain on the phone where things can get a bit twisted up.

Good luck with the rest of your experience with cyberpower, and I hope it takes a turn for the better for you!
 
This is not the first time I've heard about crap like this from them... sorry for your mixup. A customer of mine ordered one from them and waited over 5 weeks to get his only to find it DOA. I hope you fair better =|
 
Hey all...Well I want to share my experience with www.cyberpowerpc.com...

After hearing different things I finally made a decision to go ahead and by a system...

Here is what I ordered:
Gamer Xtreme XT (NO MONITOR)
GXTZ, www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Gamer_Xtreme_XT/detail
*BASE_PRICE: [+1175]
CAS: NEW!!! CoolerMaster Cosmos S Gaming Full Tower 420W Case w/ Transparent Side Panel [+151]
CASUPGRADE: 12in COLD CATHODE NEON LIGHT [+10] (RED COLOR)
CPU: Intel® Core™ i7-920 2.66 GHz 8M L3 Cache LGA1366
CD: LG GGC-H20L BLU-RAY/HD-DVD Reader / DVD±R/±RW Writer [+90] (Black Color)
CD2: LG 20X Double Layer DVD+-RW Super Allwrite + Lightscribe Technology [+11] (Black Color)
CARE: Professional Wiring for All WIRING Inside The System Chasis with High Perormance Thermal Compound [+19]
FREEBIE_OS: FREE! (Halo 2) Game
FLASHMEDIA: INTERNAL 12in1 Flash Media Reader/Writer [+10] (BLACK COLOR)
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE! CyberPower Multi-Purpose Carrying Briefcase ($19.99 Value)
FREEBIE_CU2: FREE! Cyberpower Unleash The Power T-Shirt ($19 Value)
FAN: CoolerMaster V8 Gaming CPU Cooling Fan (Extreme Silent Operation at only 22dBA + Overclock Proof) [+4]
HDD: Extreme Performance (RAID-0) with 2 Identical Hard Drives [-16] (300GB (150GBx2) Gaming Western Digital VelociRaptor 10,000RPM SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache WD1500HLFS [+298])
HDD2: 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM Hard Drive [+59]
KEYBOARD: Logitech Deluxe 250 USB Keyboard (Black Color)
MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
MOTHERBOARD: (3-Way SLI Support) Asus P6T Intel X58 Chipset SLI/CrossFireX Mainboard Triple-Channel DDR3/1600 SATA RAID w/ eSATA,GbLAN,USB2.0,IEEE1394a,&7.1Audio
MEMORY: 6GB (2GBx3) DDR3/1600MHz Triple Channel Memory Module [+88] (($30 off Mail-in Rebate) Corsair)
NETWORK: (Free Upgrade from Killer K1) Killer M1 10/100/1000 Gigabit High Speed Online Gaming PCI Network Interface Card [+150]
OS: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium w/ Service Pack 1 (64-bit Edition)
POWERSUPPLY: 850 Watts Power Supplies [+114] (Thermaltake W0131RU ToughPower 850 Watts- NVIDIA GTX 8800 Certified)
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
USB: Built-in USB 2.0 Ports
VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX295 X2 1.7GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+284] (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA [+5])

_PRICE: (+2452)
_view_: detail
$2,452.00 x 1 $2,452.00
Coupon: INSTANT (5% Discount) -$122.60
SUBTOTAL $2,329.40
Sales Tax (8.25%) $192.18
Shipping: Pick Up (CA residents only) $0.00
GRAND TOTAL $2,521.58

I have a friend who purchased a system a year ago...he lives in Vermont who had a good experience and the system he is using today is the same system with no problems. I hadn't heard anything that overwhelmingly convinced me to not move forward. I placed the order on 3/24. On 3/25 I received a phone call from a cust. service rep. He informed me that the GTX295 and Coolermaster V8 were out of stock. If I wanted to wait for the GTX295 my machine wouldn't be ready until mid-april as that card was back ordered and they had many machines in the same situation. The Coolermaster V8 they had no idea when this would be available and suggested for a little less ($4?) the Vigor Monsoon III. I changed the CPU Cooler out and decided to wait for the GTX295. The cust serv. rep told me the system would more than likely be ready around the April 15th...as they were only getting about 30-40 GTX295s in stock per week. Just the other day I received a email from Cyberpowerpc that let me know my new target date for pickup should be the week of the 6th.

Prior to making a purchase online I called their sales phone twice just to see how quickly I could get through and what type of help I could get in configuring my system.

I also used the "Chat" function...This area sucked...I waited 45 mins for a response and the help was largely useless...

Overall I have been satisfied with the response and support. I will update as I get more information and move through the process...
 
Some guy just called me saying he was from cyberpowerpc. He didn't give his name or position with the company. He said his reason for calling was to "quell" the situation. Said what can I do to resolve this? He also apologized.

I asked him, since I don't work for his company or know what his abilities are, what can you do for me? He responded saying he apologized, that is all he can do.

Ok let me get this straight. You apologize, ask what you can do, then tell me an apology is all you can do? Yes.

Hmm.

He also tells me that "Phillip" has been reprimanded, as he was wrong for giving me a case upgrade. I ask him I need to get this straight, the one person who did try to help me without treating me badly, you reprimanded? Yes.

Hmm. I ask him about this "Steve" person, as he is the one I had the problem with. Again I was told that Steve was following procedure.

Later in the conversation I stated again that the one person who helped me was punished by the company, and asked if nothing was being done about Steve? He said everyone in the department was reprimanded. Strange. I had one problem, with one person. A problem with how I was treated. Now the entire department is at fault?

I told him it was a slap in the face as a customer. I said your whole purpose of this call was to get me to stop putting my account of how I was treated on the internet, etc. by telling me you are sorry and informing me that "Steve" was doing his job correctly and "Phillip" was not. Letting me know that everything Steve did was according to how cyberpowerpc operates, and that informing me of this, along with an apology is all he can do to resolve the situation.

He then informed me that cyberpowerpc sees the case upgrade as a resolution. Also that when Steve told me I could not contact anyone except Steve about how I was treated, this was also following company procedure.

I don't know about anyone else out there, but I have never had a job where a customer could not reach someone above the offender to complain.

Well, undisclosed person, the case upgrade was only done to compensate me for my wait time. My entire purpose of continually attempting to get my account of things out there(the internet) was to reach someone who could help me with how I was treated.

The call ended with him telling me that the company has followed "procedure" and good luck to me, my lawyer, and with my case. I simply suggested to him that if he wishes my account of things to not go further, that the company not give me anything else to report, such as mistreating me, or cause more issues with my order.

This is amazing really.
 
Just an update...

I called Cyberpowerpc earlier today to verify my machine would be ready by next week. I spoke with Andrew who informed my machine was ready an I could pick it up as soon as I wanted to...

I left work a few hours early to drive out and pick up the machine. I work in San Bernardino and Cyberpowerpc is in Baldwin Park...about 48 miles away.

As a side note I was rear ended on the freeway on my way to pickup the computer. Traffic had come to a screeching halt ahead of me and I was able to stop with no problems...unfortunately the girl behind me wasn't able to...and thus I was rear ended. I drive a 2007 Lincoln Mark LT...when the CHP Officer arrived he asked me if I had even been hit...the only evidence on my vehicle was a busted hitch plug and a scratch on the bumper. The poor girl was driving a 2 month old Nissan Versa...her car was in VERY bad shape...almost undriveable. You would never know I had been in an accident...good old American engineering for ya. We were both mercifully ok...although I do have a bit of a headache at this point.

I arrived at Cyberpowerpc at around 4:45pm PST. I walked into the front counter and told them I was there to pick up my computer. William greeted me and informed me he would need a copy of my drivers license and the credit card I used to make the purchase online. 2 minutes later he gave me a copy of the invoice and asked me to verify the items on the list.
I quickly perused the list and was satisfied the items were correct. I signed the invoice and William sent me to the back to "Will Call". I waited about 10 mins before a person, Mr. Kong, came up to the door with my system on a handtruck. He carried the items down the steps and loaded it into the backseat of my Truck.

When I got home I took the system out of the box and verified all the items...Everything was in order with the execption of the following...

I paid $5 more for the EVGA version of the GTX295. The card installed is an MSI card.
The 200mm side case fan had been removed due to the Monsoon Vigor being so deep that the top of the CPU Cooler presses into the fan.The fan was set aside in a seperate box...I just would have liked to have been told about that before hand.

All other components are exactly as requested/ordered. The MSI GTX295 was actually on the invoice they gave me to verify...so I can't complain too much when I read right over that...and signed the invoice...again...the could have mentioned it to me...but its kinda "meh" to me.

I plugged it in and it booted right up. No problems.

I ran through all the windows settings to get my preferences in place. It has rebooted a few times as Windows continues to update critical patches, etc.

I have installed WOW so far...and am waiting for the updates and patches to finish downloading.

SO FAR I'm very pleased. The only complaint I have at the moment is that the rear stock 120mm Case fan is loud...it sounds like its on top speed. I'm going to have to get a fan controller and temperature monitor. There are 4 case fans not counting the missing 200mm side fan...One Front, Bottom, Top and Back. Im guessing since im not going to overclock this that I should be ok...I NEED to find a way to turn down that back fan though.

The system is fast. It shuts down in about 8 secs from when I click "Shut Down" and reboots in about 16 secs when I press power.

I will give more detail on graphic, internet, gaming experience after I've had a few days to mess with it.

PS- If anyone would like to email me feel free to at fence82246@gmail.com. I can send you pictures of my accident if anyone would like to see those! But more specifically I can give you photos or info on my system and experiences.

Rating as of this moment 4.5/5 Stars (.5 Star Deduction for a different GPU and not informing me of the Fan and GPU changes)
 
Just another update...

Reading on THQ forums I was able to find out that the Asus P6T Mobo has a software pkg you can install that allows you to set various fan profiles for speed control provided the fans are connected to the mobo...in my case they are. So the "Loud" fans are turned down in speed when the system is running cooler. If I allow the fans to run at "normal" top speeds the system is between about 39c-44c. If I turn them way down to around 40% of top speed the temp rises to around 51-53c. I don't know how much of a difference this should really make in performance...I'm going to have to do some more research...but I didn't have any noticeable performance differences. Even as the systems runs quieter and warmer...I did'nt have any difference in frame rates in WoW (World of Warcraft). I consistently get 44FPS with all settings on the highest. In some areas it will drop to around 20FPS (Dalaran).
I need to install COD4, World in Conflict, and Fallout 3.

 
The pc from cyberpower finally came. It was really dirty with nasty black fingerprints, smudges, and scratches all over.

The case insert for the mobo was not installed correctly. I had to remove the mobo. Pop the insert into place correctly. Then reinstall the mobo.

They also bent the metal on the ATI card when they screwed it into the case, incorrectly. I removed the card and the metal faceplate. Hammered it back into correct shape. Put the plate back on the card and reinstalled the card correctly.

For some reason there was masking tape inside the case's door. I had to take 10 screw off to get the door's inside panel off to reach the tape. Yes I did have to remove it. The tape was blocking the area of the door where the front fan intake is. Can't have that.

It is supposed to have "Dominator" modules installed. First thing I saw was the side of the module with part information. I knew right away this was not Dominator memory. Those numbers looked like XMS numbers first glance. Exactly like XMS numbers, however they didn't show up on Corsair's website.

I did some digging on the part number(CM3X2G1333C9D6). It turns out this is really TR3X6G1333C9. That's right, XMS modules!

XMS part numbers on one side and "Dominator" printed on the other side. Pathetic. Cyberpower isn't the only company doing this either. These companies teamed with Corsair can get away with this since the manufacturer can call their product whatever they want. This wasn't going to slide past me unnoticed. I'm sure others will as well. Shady business.

This makes me frown on Corsair as well since the companies make deals with each other. Makes me sad. Especially since I've been a Corsair fan since 1998 and haven't used anything else. Have never had a Corsair module die.

I was really hoping I wouldn't get screwed, but again Cyberpower hasn't let me down in that area. Wasted money for the Dominator option that could have gone twards the good stuff.

Safe to say I won't be buying a pre-built machine again. Ever. EVER! Stick with what you know or you'll get burned like I did. I've always built my own rigs, and this is my punishment for going against what I know.

Off to shop for new modules.
 
[citation][nom]irzyxel[/nom]The pc from cyberpower finally came. It was really dirty with nasty black fingerprints, smudges, and scratches all over. The case insert for the mobo was not installed correctly. I had to remove the mobo. Pop the insert into place correctly. Then reinstall the mobo. They also bent the metal on the ATI card when they screwed it into the case, incorrectly. I removed the card and the metal faceplate. Hammered it back into correct shape.... Safe to say I won't be buying a pre-built machine again. Ever. EVER! Stick with what you know or you'll get burned like I did. I've always built my own rigs, and this is my punishment for going against what I know.Off to shop for new modules.[/citation]

Your obvious attempt to slander Cyberpower (and Corsair, for that matter) would be amusing if it wasn't so pathetic.

Only an idiot would spend that much money on a product, take it upon himself to fix assembly mistakes, clean up dirty fingerprints, accept fraudulently marked parts (the memory), just accept things that can't be fixed (the scatches), and then say "Well, I won't do that again.

Loser.
 
To Irzyxel, send the PC back. I'm surprised you didn't cancel the order outright after being treated the way you were. You'll be out the shipping charges both ways, plus the 15% restocking fee. I bet you'd still be able to build a better computer yourself with the money that's left over. Most importantly, CyberPowerPC won't have your money anymore.
Right now, complain as you might, they are laughing all the way to the bank.
 
I configured a system from all three sites and also Newegg with the following specs in mind:
Core i7 920 (funny enough Alienware charges $1300 for the i7 965)
1000w Power Supply (cheapest available)
Vigor Monsoon III (no air cooling available at Alienware, stuck with standard)
Windows Vista Home Edition
1TB Hard Drive
3x 2GB DDR3 Memory 1333 (Alienware only offers 1066)
DVD+R 20x
Radeon 4870x2 2GB
Case: Antec 900 or equivelant
Gigabyte x58 Motherboard

The prices were as follows (before shipping costs):
Newegg - $1520 (I used the same components as the Cyberpower build, probably could have saved a bit more with other brands)
Cyberpower - $1500
AVA Direct - $2000
Alienware - $2600

I'm definitely going to keep Cyberpower in mind for my next build. AVA Direct is a bit expensive, and Alienware is laughable.
 
You're right. We should commend companies for ripping people off, treating customers like dirt, doing crap work, and using cheap tricks to sell lesser products. Good job Cyberpower! I took the hit so I could tell people about a horrible company in the hopes that I save them from a bad experience. Only a fool would defend them.
 
Another update...

I updated the BIOS and had a moment of panick. The system would not reboot after the BIOS updated...I kept getting an error with "No operating system found". I finally realized I had to go into BIOS and tell it to treat my drives as RAID-0. Booted no problem after that...

Also had to change my BIOS settings so it would recognize my memory as 1600 not 1066. No appreciable difference in performance with the change in memmory settings.

Minor problem with the rear fan. I contacted Cooler Master and they are RMAing a new one to me. I contacted customer service with Cooler Master and asked them if they were aware that if you install almost any after market CPU cooler (barring something like the Asetek system) that they side 220mm fan would no longer be able to be installed...this includes the Cooler Master V8 and V10. Marvin in customer service told me that Cooler Master is aware of this as a problem...but they haven't done anythign about it yet. Incidentally CM is in Chino, CA...about 22 miles from where I live.

Ive ordered 3x Cooler Master Fans to be added to my cases. This is to make up for the big one im missing...i'll be added 2 to the top and 1 to the bottom.
 
Oh...for the record...I REALLY REALLY considered AVA Direct. I liked the fact that I wouldnt have to pay sales tax...

Also with AVA I could be very specific as to which HDD I received (Cyberpower only let me select specific models for the SSD or for the Raptors...all other HDD options were generic althoug they told me they typically use Hitachi, Seagate, and Maxtor)

For that matter you can be very specific as to all of the various components.

After it was all said and done though...the systems came down to pricing...I was looking at almost $600 more for the AVA system...

Thats like saying for the same money do you want the 9800GT or the GTX295 card?

I like what AVA had to offer...it just came down to price...I might have gone with AVA had the price gap been narrower...say $100-150 range.

I also checked out all the companies on www.bbb.org ( National site...use the URL search). Cyberpowerpc was a B- rating and IS BBB accredited...AVA Direct is a C+ and IS NOT BBB accredited.

AVA http://www.akron.bbb.org/newsearch2.asp?ComID=02720039000361

Cyberpowerpc http://www.la.bbb.org/businessreport.aspx?companyid=13080817

I do a TON of research before I decide to spend my hard earned dollars...hopefully this information will benefit someone else in their buying decision(s).

 
Just tried to get that AVAdirect build... you cannot build it on website. Barebones does not allow you to choose a liquid cooling, and gaming custom does not offer the ThermalTake case...

So what's the point... you should have ask them for a link to that build they proposed otherwise it's just fake.
 
These guys get destroyed by Geekbox - although I think the online pricing is off, but if you live in Utah it's pretty much the only place to go. Shameful wiring from the manufacturers of the systems above too. Digital Storm builds a decent rig too, but I think they are way more expensive.
 
You guys don't know the half of it. Actually right now is the best time to buy an Alienware computer. You can get the X58 just as in this review here in august/sept for $2500, that is only $200 more then the build by Tom's.
However, do you want to order a computer from a company with the worst customer service track record in the industry? Thier salesmen lie to you, customer service lies to you also. Check out what Alienware did to me!!
On Monday 8-31-9 i called Alienware to order the X-58 Special at $1199. Told the sales lady my computers browser would crash everytime i clicked on the customize button, so i needed her to talk me through it. She named off each component and option and i told her what i wanted. Upgraded the CPU to 3.06GHZ, left the ram at 3GB (a mistake), upgraded the duel nvidia 250's to duel Nvidia 285's, chaged the harddrive from the 7300rpm 500gb to the 10,000rpm 300GB viloceraptor ( wanted more speed, don't need Raid or that many GB's) and got the noise dampering and regular audio and everything else standard. It cost $2350ish before tax. I study Tom's a lot, built my last 3 myself. This is a great build at a good price. Here is the problem, realized that for what i do the duel Nvidia 285 was over kill and i called back to switch to a single Nvidia 285 and upgrade ram to 6GB. The Nvidia 285 is more then most people ever need, even gamers. I could have even went back to the Nvidia duel 250'S and probably been fine.
Well the customer service guy (Franklin) tells my even thoough only 13 hrs had passed that my system was in production phase 4 and that to change it now would add a week to the build and shipping date. He then told me that the Nvidia 285 wasn't available by itself (even though i was given that option the day before. He then told me that the duel Nvidia 250 option was out of stock because they had sold so many of the systems at $1199. He told me that the ram was overpriced at the addition cost of $150 for 3 more GB and i would be better off to leave computer lone and buy more ram later. Knowing he was a lair, i was angry and told him to cancel the order, that i would buy one somewhere else. Three days later on 9-3-9 i get an email from Alienware telling me my system was in production phase 2(which is finance) and showing me the 9 phases i have to go through. I call them and say wtf? I cancelled this order because your sales people are liars. Thye tell me that no one would lie to a customer and it was just a misunderstanding. They are now having a builder at phase 4 call me to make sure i am happy with the build. Just like Dell these guys are hiring car salesmen wanna bee's who will lie and cheat and sell thier own mother to make the sale. They are cheats and liars and i would not trust them. The only part of Alienware that is still a respectable company is the build and test dept. They still build great computers.
 
Anyone buying a computer from AVA Direct I suggest you open it up first thing and make sure all components are new.
I paid $4200.00 for a custom Clevo laptop stuffed with used/refurbished components and was threatened by Misha Troshin from AVA Direct after posting a bad review online.
Two years later they still refuse to do a damn thing to fix it.
http://avadirect-ripoff.blogspot.com/
 
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