CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9GHz
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9GHz
VR Ready with HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift.
Optimized for gaming at Ultra High game settings and high resolutions.
9th Generation Intel Core Processor.
Performance NVIDIA Graphics Processor
Wireless 802.11 AC Wi-Fi
Gaming Keyboard and RGB 7 Color Mouse Combo
Customer Rating
4 out of 5 stars
computer memory size
8 GB
Processor (CPU) Model
Intel Core i5
Processor (CPU) Manufacturer
Intel
Processor (CPU) Speed
2.9 GHz
Graphics Coprocessor
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
Graphics Description
Dedicated
Hard Disk Size
1 TB
Hardware Platform
PC
Item Dimensions
18.5 x 7.9 x 17.9 in
Item Weight
—
Operating System
Windows 10 Home
Processor Count
6
Technical Specifications
Audio
Headphone Out Quantity
1
Microphone In
Y
Design
Color
Black
Graphics
Discrete graphics adapter model
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti
Discrete graphics adapter memory
6 GB
Memory
Internal Memory
8 GB
Internal Memory Type
DDR4-SDRAM
Networking
Wi-Fi
Y
Ethernet LAN
Y
Wi-Fi
Y
Operating System
OS
Windows 10 Home
Processor
Processor Model
i5-9400F
Processor
9th gen Intel® Core™ i5
CPU Speed
2.9 GHz
Cores/Threads
6
L2 cache
9 MB
Processor boost frequency
4.1 GHz
ShopGeneration
9
Processor threads
6
Storage
Storage Media Type
HDD+SSD
ShopHarddrivecapacity
1000 GB
Total Storage size
1120 GB
ShopSolidstatedrivecapacity
120 GB
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8060A7 is an attractive, affordable and powerful alternative to having build your own gaming PC from scratch, but it’s not a PC without its own compromises.
PROS
Modern design with tempered glass side panel
Competitive pricing
Spacious interior for easy upgrades
CONSLacks USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 ports
The original CYBERPOWERPC Gamer GXiVR8060A6 was one of our all-time favorite budget gaming PCs. We loved it for its expandable chassis, powerful internals, and unique exterior design. That means the 2019 CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8060A7 some big shoes to fill.
The latest version of CyberPowerPC’s Gamer Xtreme features an Intel Core i5-9400F processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 120GB SSD + 1TB hard drive. All for an entry-level price. Let’s see how it stacks up again the latest and budget-friendly pre-built gaming PCs on the market – and most importantly, let’s find out how it earns that sweet pricetag.
Competitive pricing
Spacious interior for easy upgrades
CONSLacks USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 ports
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9GHz
The original CYBERPOWERPC Gamer GXiVR8060A6 was one of our all-time favorite budget gaming PCs. We loved it for its expandable chassis, powerful internals, and unique exterior design. That means the 2019 CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8060A7 some big shoes to fill.
The latest version of CyberPowerPC’s Gamer Xtreme features an Intel Core i5-9400F processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card, 8GB of RAM, and a 120GB SSD + 1TB hard drive. All for an entry-level price. Let’s see how it stacks up again the latest and budget-friendly pre-built gaming PCs on the market – and most importantly, let’s find out how it earns that sweet pricetag.
Design
Measuring 18.5 x 7.9 x 17.9 inches, the Gamer shares a similar footprint to other boutique-built towers, like rival iBuyPower’s Trace 9220, mainstream manufacturer HP’s Omen Obelisk, and Dell’s Alienware Aurora R7. Compared to the Neuron’s option of a mini ITX board, the larger Intel B360 Chipset on the Gamer not only provides more space to add components, but is roomy enough for your hands to move around when making upgrades.
The machine’s internal components are accessible through a removable side panel, that’s screwed by thumbscrews, top provide a tool-less way to access the insides. Once you remove the tinted glass panel, you have access to the motherboard, solid-state drive, RAM, and graphics card. The power supply and hard drive are housed behind the metal side panel on the opposite side.
With a tinted glass, the Gamer looks clean when powered off. When turned on, there’s a lot in the unit to keep you excited, ranging from the RGB backlighting throughout the case, to the liquid-cooed processor. Cable work is excellent, and that keeps things tidy and helps with airflow.
Ports
To keep up with its gaming pedigree, the Gamer ships with plenty of ports to hook all your favorite peripherals. The front ports, accessible on the top of the case, include two USB-A 3.0 ports, audio and headphone jacks, and a power button. Around the back, there’s an even more robust array of ports, including six USB ports, ethernet jack, two legacy PS/2 ports to accommodate your older mouse and keyboard connections, audio and headphone jacks, and video output ports, including DisplayPort and HDMI connections.
Since the Gamer tops with a GTX 1660 graphics instead of an upgraded RTX 2080 card, you won’t be finding a USB-C port here, making it less future-proof, but still an okay configuration for the price. Though the GTX 1660 delivers enough power to drive virtual reality headsets, its latest sibling the RTX 2080 includes a USB-C port, meaning it can take advantage of the single VirtualLink connecter. For now, you’ll have to do with multiple cables to drive your headset.
Measuring 18.5 x 7.9 x 17.9 inches, the Gamer shares a similar footprint to other boutique-built towers, like rival iBuyPower’s Trace 9220, mainstream manufacturer HP’s Omen Obelisk, and Dell’s Alienware Aurora R7. Compared to the Neuron’s option of a mini ITX board, the larger Intel B360 Chipset on the Gamer not only provides more space to add components, but is roomy enough for your hands to move around when making upgrades.
The machine’s internal components are accessible through a removable side panel, that’s screwed by thumbscrews, top provide a tool-less way to access the insides. Once you remove the tinted glass panel, you have access to the motherboard, solid-state drive, RAM, and graphics card. The power supply and hard drive are housed behind the metal side panel on the opposite side.
With a tinted glass, the Gamer looks clean when powered off. When turned on, there’s a lot in the unit to keep you excited, ranging from the RGB backlighting throughout the case, to the liquid-cooed processor. Cable work is excellent, and that keeps things tidy and helps with airflow.
Ports
To keep up with its gaming pedigree, the Gamer ships with plenty of ports to hook all your favorite peripherals. The front ports, accessible on the top of the case, include two USB-A 3.0 ports, audio and headphone jacks, and a power button. Around the back, there’s an even more robust array of ports, including six USB ports, ethernet jack, two legacy PS/2 ports to accommodate your older mouse and keyboard connections, audio and headphone jacks, and video output ports, including DisplayPort and HDMI connections.
Since the Gamer tops with a GTX 1660 graphics instead of an upgraded RTX 2080 card, you won’t be finding a USB-C port here, making it less future-proof, but still an okay configuration for the price. Though the GTX 1660 delivers enough power to drive virtual reality headsets, its latest sibling the RTX 2080 includes a USB-C port, meaning it can take advantage of the single VirtualLink connecter. For now, you’ll have to do with multiple cables to drive your headset.
Performance
Though CyberPowerPC bills the Gamer Xtreme as a gaming PC, it’s easy to envision small business owners and home users snagging it for productivity tasks given the machine’s options for high-end processors and graphics. Our upgraded reviews configuration ships with a 9th-generation Intel processor, but to keep the price more affordable, the Gamer tops out with an Intel Core i5-9400F rather than the high-end Core i9-9900K on the flagship iBUYPOWER Pro Trace 9240 unit.
The Core i5-9400F processor stacks up well against similar Core i5 and AMD Ryzen 7 systems, thanks to the chip’s 6 cores throttling at 2.9GHz. In fact, the newer chip used here is a monumental upgrade over last year’s Core i5-8400 processors.
For daily computing tasks, using the Gamer Xtreme for web browsing, moderate photo-editing, and heavy productivity tasks, most consumers will appreciate the performance boost with the Gamer’s Core i5 processor. More intensive task, such as video encoding may require more time to complete, but its within the upper-range for budget desktop PCs.
Our unit features a speedy 120GB NVMe solid-state drive coupled with a larger 1TB hard drive to house larger files. While 120GB isn’t the best we’ve seen on a gaming PC, we still appreciate its presence at this price point, delivering fast 1,249 MB/sec read and 1,012 MB/s write speeds. Both drives and the 8GB RAM are easily upgradable should you find yourself requiring more space for your game files and other documents.
Gaming & Virtual Reality
In addition to the Gamer’s strong processing performance, the unit’s entry-level GTX 1660 graphics keeps the unit firmly in the consideration of enthusiast gamers, who don’t need newer features like features like real-time ray tracing and deep learning super sampling (DLSS). Giving up these technologies to hit a lower price sounds like a winning strategy for Nvidia.
In fact, the TU116 GPU raises the question of just how low Nvidia is willing to go with its newest Turing architecture. The 1660 trims things further even opting for readily available GDDR5 instead of the newer GDDR6, along with fewer CUDA cores and few other elements, the result is exactly what you’d guess: a slightly slower but more affordable GPU for mainstream PCs.
Getting more performance at a lower price and support for VR headsets is great. It benefits from some architectural enhancements, higher clockspeeds, and more shade cores, than last year’s GTX 1060 (6GB) GPU. The GPU at the heart of the GTX 1660 is the same as TU116 found in the 1660 Ti, only that two SMs have been disabled, in turn disabling 128 CUDA cores and 8 texture units.
On real-world gaming, it delivers impressive frame rates per second (fps) than its closest rivals, especially when played at 1080p. For instance, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey played at 1080 (Very High Quality) yields 64fps, which is better than the Radeon RX Vega 56’s 62 fps, while the GTX 1060 maxes at 57 fps.
The same is replicated in The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt (57 fps, 54 fps, 48 fps) and Warframe (170 fps, 151 fps, 152 fps), respectively. Given that the GTX 1660 can render most modern games with modest graphics, like Civilization VI and Fortnite, at frame rates above 60 frames per second (fps), some gamers will indeed appreciate the smooth game play.
The Gamer Xtreme GXiVR8060A7 is an attractive, affordable and powerful alternative to having build your own gaming PC from scratch, but it’s not a PC without its own compromises. While the Gamer Extreme ships with the latest processor and graphics card on the market, the unit cannot be configured with the best available silicone. This is a compromise made to keep the cost at bay, and enthusiasts still have the choice of a more premium configuration in CyberPowerPC’s Gamer Xtreme Series.
Is there a better alternative?
As configured, the Gamer Xtreme is a competitively priced entry-level gaming PC. For a few hundred dollars more, you can grab the iBUYPOWER Trace 9220 that offers an overclockable Intel Core i7-8700K processor, a true Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 (8GB) Turing graphics card, 16GB of RAM and a 240GB SSD + 1TB hard drive storage.
That’s if you’re willing to deepen your dive into your pockets. If not, both units – the Gamer Xtreme and Trace 9220 are more affordable in their respective categories (entry-level and mid-range), and offer the best value for both gamers and professional creatives.
Should you buy it?
Without the unnecessary need to build your own rig from scratch (you might end up spending more), you can ultimately depend on the choices that CyberPowerPC made. That means you’re getting a handsomely designed, VR-ready system that packs ample performance to get you started.
Hardware
As mentioned earlier, CyberPowerPC have done a great job in optimizing the hardware for gaming in this price range.
Hardware Summary
Processor (CPU)
The GXiVR8060A8 includes a 9th generation Intel i5 processor – the i5-9400F. This is a 6-core, 2.9Ghz (4.1Ghz boost) processor without hyperthreading which was released in Q1 of 2019. The “F” series of Intel’s CPUs do not contain a built in graphics processor meaning you must use a separate graphics card. In this PC, CyperPowerPC have included the Nvidia GTX 1660 graphics card which we will discuss below.
We think this i5-9400F is a great processor for a mid-level gaming PC. It provides enough processing power for gaming and could even support upgraded graphics cards if you choose to do so in the future.
Graphics
The graphics card is the most important component in a gaming PC and the Nvidia GTX 1660 6GB is a great option for this range of gaming PC. When compared with the GTX 1060 3GB used in previous versions of this PC, the upgraded card’s 6GB of video memory allows for larger graphics textures to be loaded which helps with higher resolution and higher quality settings in games.
GTX 1660 users are reporting that popular titles such as Apex legends, Fortnight and Battlefield V are benchmarking at around 80 – 90 average FPS at 1080p or 65 – 75 average FPS at 1440p.
See more gaming benchmarks using the same CPU and Graphics Card combination at the below website
Unfortunately, the GTX1660 6GB just falls a little short of being recommended for 4k gaming. You may be able to tweak the graphics settings in some games, especially older titles, to play at 4k – but to get a good gaming experience at higher graphics settings you will likely want to aim for a higher-end graphics card. The good news is that if you do choose to upgrade the graphics card later, the CPU in this build is suitable for pairing with some of the higher-end graphics cards.
Motherboard (MBU)
The GXiVR8060A8 is specified as having an Intel B360 chipset, and Cyberpower confirmed that these PCs come with a B360M chipset motherboard to suit (with CyberpowerPC’s Amazon offerings, depending on the availability of parts at the time it is built, specific hardware parts brands/models may vary).
Based on the B360 chipset features you may be able to get an idea of what you can expect from a corresponding motherboard. This chipset is the next step up from the most basic H310 set and does include some extra features, however if you’re after overclocking ability down the line, a B360 compatible motherboard may not support it as the B360 chipset features don’t include overclocking.
The B360 should suffice for most people buying a prebuilt gaming PC in this price range unless you really plan on exploring more advanced upgrades like overclocking in the future. The B360 will allow for intermediate upgrades such as future RAM upgrades as the chipset is specified as having dual memory channels (allowing up to 4 RAM sticks).
For those who would want to know all the details of the specific motherboard as a condition of purchasing this PC, we’d recommend contacting CyberpowerPC’s tech team prior to purchasing to confirm the specifics at the time.
Memory (RAM)
The GXiVR8060A8 comes with 8GB of DDR4, 2400MHz RAM. Reports from customers mostly confirm that this comes in a 2 x 4GB configuration with another 2 slots free on the motherboard. As mentioned in the Motherboard section above, most pre-built systems in this range to not state which model or brand is used.
While 8GB should be enough for gaming and most desktop computing tasks, it is fairly minimum by todays standards will limit the amount of multitasking you can perform. Luckily, an upgrade to 16GB would be very easy thanks to the 2 free slots on the motherboard which most users are reporting. Of course, you could also replace the existing memory sticks and go even higher if you desire.
Storage
CyberpowerPC have gone for the best of both worlds with dual storage drives in this build – a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) for bulk storage space, and a supplementary solid state drive (SSD) for speed.
SSDs perform a lot faster than HDDs and you will notice the difference when it comes to loading times and accessing files on the SSD. It’s nice to see a 240GB SSD in this build, which is a decent amount of space.
To get the best performance from a dual drive setup like this, the operating system along with your most frequently used files should be installed/located on the faster SSD. Use the slower 1TB HDD for media storage (such as movies, photos, files etc) where access speeds aren’t as important, and save your SSD space for game installations etc.
There is no brand specified for the HDD or SSD and these likely vary according to parts availability.
Power Supply (PSU)
As seems to be customary for CyberpowerPC and a lot of other prebuilt PC offerings, specifics on the power supply are not mentioned. We have seen some previous reports from other buyers of an 800W PSU in this unit.
One thing to note with prebuilt PC offerings is that manufacturers may often use a cheaper power supply unit in the build. One potential issue with cheaper power supply units is they can be less reliable – and when/if they fail, have the potential to damage other hardware in your computer as well. We recommend doing your own research on the brand of PSU that comes with your PC and if you find anything that looks concerning, you may wish to replace it with a higher-quality unit that has a better reputation.
Other Inclusions
WIFI and Connectivity
The system specs list an 802.11AC WiFi Adapter which according to the product Q&As can be used with a 5GHz WiFi connection. This looks like it used to be a USB plug-in option, but seems to have been updated to an in-built card that plugs into the motherboard. Remember, parts may vary depending on availability, so if the type of adapter matters to you, seek some more guidance from CyberpowerPC as to what to expect.
An RJ-45 10/100/1000 gigabit ethernet (LAN) port is available on the motherboard.
Connectivity-wise, this thing is loaded with USB ports – you’ll get 6 USB 3.1 and 2 USB 2.0 (all of which along with the graphics capability means it’s VR ready!).
Operating System
A fully licensed, genuine copy of Windows 10 Home edition (64-bit) comes preinstalled on the GXiVR8060A8.
Other
This PC is Virtual Reality (VR) ready – it’s in the name of the product! This simply means it that the graphics card is powerful enough support VR applications and there are enough USB ports available to allow for connection of VR headsets and controllers – basically, you shouldn’t have any issues with running any VR games if you want to.
Case
The GXVir8060A8 uses the same impressive-looking case as previous generations of this PC, which includes a clear side panel allowing you to see inside the case and 4 RGB LED case fans on the front panel.
Some reviews have reported that even though it has quite a number of fans, the case design doesn’t seem to provide the best airflow through it – and hardware inside can run hot if you’re running this at high loading (think intense gaming). If you plan on doing a lot of demanding tasks that may generate heat inside the case, we recommend using hardware monitoring software to check on internal temperatures if you’d like to keep an eye on it.
The front panel of the case can be removed for improved airflow, but be aware that this could allow the internals to get dirtier quickly as dust can be drawn inside.
The color-changing fans are a fully addressable RGB LED that come with a remote control for easy customization according to your mood.
Case dimensions are 7.9″ x 17.9″ x 18.5″ (W x D x H).
Peripherals/Accessories
CyberpowerPC include a wired USB keyboard and 7-color RGB gaming mouse, which includes 7 buttons that can be programmed as gaming hotkeys/macros.
Support/Warranties
This offering comes with CyberpowerPC’s standard 1 year parts and labor warranty, and includes free lifetime technical support.
Performance
Now that we’ve covered the hardware, let’s look at the GXiVR8060A8’s performance in this section.
Usage
Keeping with the theme set by previous models of this gaming computer, we’re again seeing amazing performance per dollar offered by this Gamer Xtreme VR build. The i5-9400F has plenty of processing power to run more demanding games, and the GTX 1660 is (at the time of review) a solid and relatively recent-release (Q1 2019) graphics card that offers excellent performance.
The 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive are standard offerings for gaming PCs these days (and are some of the easiest items of hardware to upgrade), but the 240GB SSD hard drive definitely sweetens the deal and ensures you’ll have lightning-fast boot times.
Since it’s built to handle demanding gaming, everyday tasking is a breeze for the GXiVR8060A8.
Where it excels:
Gaming – all recent or older gaming titles even at high resolutions (FHD/1080p and QHD/1440p) on high settings
General web browsing
Home & Office applications (Microsoft Office, PDF readers, Accounting tools etc)
Watching videos, organizing/editing photos
Streaming services (Youtube/Hulu/Netflix/Stan/Amazon Prime etc)
Multitasking in general
It’s also capable of:
Virtual Reality applications and gaming (of course)
Video editing / touch ups
Graphics/processor-intensive applications (modelling, video conversions etc)
May struggle with:
Very high quality/texture gaming at the larger resolutions such as 4K (While this GXiVR8060A8 could handle it, you may need to sacrifice some quality settings in order to get a smoother gaming experience)
What Games Can It Play?
Thanks to the excellent performance of the GTX 1660, this gaming PC should be able to perform well in pretty much any game you throw at it. Expect to be able to run high or ultra high settings while still achieving high framerates.
The 6GB of graphics card RAM means more textures and details can be stored which aids in achieving a higher FPS.
And if you’re looking to get into VR, it’s just a matter of plug-and-play. You should have a great experience since this PC has the required hardware to seamlessly support these more-demanding applications.
Upgradeability
We like that the GXiVR8060A8 is ready to go out of the box, but like most desktops, it’s able to be upgraded in the future if you wish to do so. It’s a great offering out of the box, but here are a few ideas if you’re interested in considering upgrading it either in the short or longer term.
Recommended Upgrades (Short Term/Immediate)
We mentioned previously that prebuilt PCs are notorious for coming equipped with lower-quality power supplies as a cost-saving measure for the manufacturers, so one of our first recommendations for upgrade is to check the PSU your machine has been installed with and do your own research into the brand or model number. If it looks a bit dodgy or you find multiple reports of failure, then you may want to consider upgrading it to a more reputable unit for the sake of the rest of your hardware.
Power Supply Replacement/Upgrade
Lower quality power supplies can potentially shorten the life of other hardware parts or even damage them catastrophically in the event of a PSU failure. For peace of mind, we’d recommend looking to a manufacturer who stand by their product with several years of warranty – we like this EVGA 500W supply that comes with several years’ warranty.
Memory (RAM) Upgrade
Adding more RAM is an incredibly easy upgrade you can do yourself, but you’ll only see a noticeable benefit if this is a current bottleneck in your system. RAM bottlenecking will result in symptoms like stuttering and unresponsive or laggy applications. Checking your current RAM usage can be done by the inbuilt Windows task manager, or use a benchmarking application. The GXiVR8060A8 is equipped with 8GB RAM but can be easily upgraded to have total RAM of 16GB or more.
Other Upgrade Considerations
It’s always a good idea to consider how long you plan on using a particular computer before you commit to buying it. If you think you’ll keep it for a while, it’s worth having a brief think about upgrades during the course of its life in order to keep it functioning at its best. The good news for the GXiVR8060A8 is that it uses a recent-release processor and graphics card meaning you can expect these to keep performing at a high level for you for at least 5 years plus. After that time it is possible that it might start to struggle to perform as well with newly released games that tend to get more and more demanding, and if this is the case you might want to consider upgrades to the processor or graphics card depending on what’s around at the time.
Other potential upgrades you might want to perform might be:
Cooling or Case Upgrade
Some users reported that the case design on the GXiVR8060A8 isn’t the best which can result in a bit of heat inside the case when parts are running at their peak. If this seems to affect you (you can use monitoring software like HW monitor to check internal hardware temperatures), you might want to consider a PC case upgrade; which basically means taking all your hardware from the old case and putting it into a new one. People also commonly do this just for cosmetic purposes – since the case is one of the main things you see, it’s an easy way to completely revamp your PC if you’re after a change of pace!
Value
As we’re writing this review, the price of the GXiVR8060A8 , which we think is exceptional value for money. To build your own computer with the equivalent parts from scratch, you’d pretty much be paying this much just for the parts and operating system software. The GXiVR8060A8 is definitely a good deal and you’re not even paying extra for the convenience of having it pre-assembled and software pre-installed on it for you.
Alternative Products
There aren’t a lot of equal options in this price range that offer such great value, but one possible alternative to consider is Skytech’s Blaze II, which also features the GTX 1660 graphics card. Other pre-built gaming PCs in this price range can’t seem to match the graphics offering in the GXiVR8060A8. A popular alternative is the GTX 1050Ti, which only benchmarks at around 60% of the score that the GTX 1660 gets according to Passmark video card benchmark scores. Even the GTX 1060 (and similarly performing Radeon RX 580) fall short compared to the GTX 1660. The lack of equal alternative options just seems to highlight the performance value on offer with the GXiVR8060A8.
Summary/Overall Impressions
The GXiVR8060A8 keeps with CyberpowerPC’s reputation of great performance value for money with this GXiVR8060 series, and we’re pleased to see updates to the graphics card and processor that will ensure this PC will stay relevant for many years to come. If you’re a casual or serious gamer looking to play at full HD resolutions at the highest quality settings without compromising framerates, this is the prebuilt option for you. Despite some reports of poor case airflow leading to potential increased heating of parts, savvy users can easily monitor this to ensure it doesn’t develop into a larger issue, so we’d still recommend this as a solid buy for gamers of any level looking to purchase in this price range.
GFX
|
GTX 1660 6GB
|
CPU
|
Intel i5-9400F
|
RAM
|
8GB DDR4 2400MHz
|
Storage
|
1TB HDD | 240GB SSD
|
MBU
|
Intel B360 Series
|
PSU
|
Unspecified (reported as 800W)
|
Processor (CPU)
The GXiVR8060A8 includes a 9th generation Intel i5 processor – the i5-9400F. This is a 6-core, 2.9Ghz (4.1Ghz boost) processor without hyperthreading which was released in Q1 of 2019. The “F” series of Intel’s CPUs do not contain a built in graphics processor meaning you must use a separate graphics card. In this PC, CyperPowerPC have included the Nvidia GTX 1660 graphics card which we will discuss below.
We think this i5-9400F is a great processor for a mid-level gaming PC. It provides enough processing power for gaming and could even support upgraded graphics cards if you choose to do so in the future.
Graphics
The graphics card is the most important component in a gaming PC and the Nvidia GTX 1660 6GB is a great option for this range of gaming PC. When compared with the GTX 1060 3GB used in previous versions of this PC, the upgraded card’s 6GB of video memory allows for larger graphics textures to be loaded which helps with higher resolution and higher quality settings in games.
GTX 1660 users are reporting that popular titles such as Apex legends, Fortnight and Battlefield V are benchmarking at around 80 – 90 average FPS at 1080p or 65 – 75 average FPS at 1440p.
See more gaming benchmarks using the same CPU and Graphics Card combination at the below website
Unfortunately, the GTX1660 6GB just falls a little short of being recommended for 4k gaming. You may be able to tweak the graphics settings in some games, especially older titles, to play at 4k – but to get a good gaming experience at higher graphics settings you will likely want to aim for a higher-end graphics card. The good news is that if you do choose to upgrade the graphics card later, the CPU in this build is suitable for pairing with some of the higher-end graphics cards.
Motherboard (MBU)
The GXiVR8060A8 is specified as having an Intel B360 chipset, and Cyberpower confirmed that these PCs come with a B360M chipset motherboard to suit (with CyberpowerPC’s Amazon offerings, depending on the availability of parts at the time it is built, specific hardware parts brands/models may vary).
Based on the B360 chipset features you may be able to get an idea of what you can expect from a corresponding motherboard. This chipset is the next step up from the most basic H310 set and does include some extra features, however if you’re after overclocking ability down the line, a B360 compatible motherboard may not support it as the B360 chipset features don’t include overclocking.
The B360 should suffice for most people buying a prebuilt gaming PC in this price range unless you really plan on exploring more advanced upgrades like overclocking in the future. The B360 will allow for intermediate upgrades such as future RAM upgrades as the chipset is specified as having dual memory channels (allowing up to 4 RAM sticks).
For those who would want to know all the details of the specific motherboard as a condition of purchasing this PC, we’d recommend contacting CyberpowerPC’s tech team prior to purchasing to confirm the specifics at the time.
Memory (RAM)
The GXiVR8060A8 comes with 8GB of DDR4, 2400MHz RAM. Reports from customers mostly confirm that this comes in a 2 x 4GB configuration with another 2 slots free on the motherboard. As mentioned in the Motherboard section above, most pre-built systems in this range to not state which model or brand is used.
While 8GB should be enough for gaming and most desktop computing tasks, it is fairly minimum by todays standards will limit the amount of multitasking you can perform. Luckily, an upgrade to 16GB would be very easy thanks to the 2 free slots on the motherboard which most users are reporting. Of course, you could also replace the existing memory sticks and go even higher if you desire.
Storage
CyberpowerPC have gone for the best of both worlds with dual storage drives in this build – a traditional hard disk drive (HDD) for bulk storage space, and a supplementary solid state drive (SSD) for speed.
SSDs perform a lot faster than HDDs and you will notice the difference when it comes to loading times and accessing files on the SSD. It’s nice to see a 240GB SSD in this build, which is a decent amount of space.
To get the best performance from a dual drive setup like this, the operating system along with your most frequently used files should be installed/located on the faster SSD. Use the slower 1TB HDD for media storage (such as movies, photos, files etc) where access speeds aren’t as important, and save your SSD space for game installations etc.
There is no brand specified for the HDD or SSD and these likely vary according to parts availability.
Power Supply (PSU)
As seems to be customary for CyberpowerPC and a lot of other prebuilt PC offerings, specifics on the power supply are not mentioned. We have seen some previous reports from other buyers of an 800W PSU in this unit.
One thing to note with prebuilt PC offerings is that manufacturers may often use a cheaper power supply unit in the build. One potential issue with cheaper power supply units is they can be less reliable – and when/if they fail, have the potential to damage other hardware in your computer as well. We recommend doing your own research on the brand of PSU that comes with your PC and if you find anything that looks concerning, you may wish to replace it with a higher-quality unit that has a better reputation.
Other Inclusions
WIFI and Connectivity
The system specs list an 802.11AC WiFi Adapter which according to the product Q&As can be used with a 5GHz WiFi connection. This looks like it used to be a USB plug-in option, but seems to have been updated to an in-built card that plugs into the motherboard. Remember, parts may vary depending on availability, so if the type of adapter matters to you, seek some more guidance from CyberpowerPC as to what to expect.
An RJ-45 10/100/1000 gigabit ethernet (LAN) port is available on the motherboard.
Connectivity-wise, this thing is loaded with USB ports – you’ll get 6 USB 3.1 and 2 USB 2.0 (all of which along with the graphics capability means it’s VR ready!).
Operating System
A fully licensed, genuine copy of Windows 10 Home edition (64-bit) comes preinstalled on the GXiVR8060A8.
Other
This PC is Virtual Reality (VR) ready – it’s in the name of the product! This simply means it that the graphics card is powerful enough support VR applications and there are enough USB ports available to allow for connection of VR headsets and controllers – basically, you shouldn’t have any issues with running any VR games if you want to.
Case
The GXVir8060A8 uses the same impressive-looking case as previous generations of this PC, which includes a clear side panel allowing you to see inside the case and 4 RGB LED case fans on the front panel.
Some reviews have reported that even though it has quite a number of fans, the case design doesn’t seem to provide the best airflow through it – and hardware inside can run hot if you’re running this at high loading (think intense gaming). If you plan on doing a lot of demanding tasks that may generate heat inside the case, we recommend using hardware monitoring software to check on internal temperatures if you’d like to keep an eye on it.
The front panel of the case can be removed for improved airflow, but be aware that this could allow the internals to get dirtier quickly as dust can be drawn inside.
The color-changing fans are a fully addressable RGB LED that come with a remote control for easy customization according to your mood.
Case dimensions are 7.9″ x 17.9″ x 18.5″ (W x D x H).
Peripherals/Accessories
CyberpowerPC include a wired USB keyboard and 7-color RGB gaming mouse, which includes 7 buttons that can be programmed as gaming hotkeys/macros.
Support/Warranties
This offering comes with CyberpowerPC’s standard 1 year parts and labor warranty, and includes free lifetime technical support.
Performance
Now that we’ve covered the hardware, let’s look at the GXiVR8060A8’s performance in this section.
Usage
Keeping with the theme set by previous models of this gaming computer, we’re again seeing amazing performance per dollar offered by this Gamer Xtreme VR build. The i5-9400F has plenty of processing power to run more demanding games, and the GTX 1660 is (at the time of review) a solid and relatively recent-release (Q1 2019) graphics card that offers excellent performance.
The 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive are standard offerings for gaming PCs these days (and are some of the easiest items of hardware to upgrade), but the 240GB SSD hard drive definitely sweetens the deal and ensures you’ll have lightning-fast boot times.
Since it’s built to handle demanding gaming, everyday tasking is a breeze for the GXiVR8060A8.
Where it excels:
Gaming – all recent or older gaming titles even at high resolutions (FHD/1080p and QHD/1440p) on high settings
General web browsing
Home & Office applications (Microsoft Office, PDF readers, Accounting tools etc)
Watching videos, organizing/editing photos
Streaming services (Youtube/Hulu/Netflix/Stan/Amazon Prime etc)
Multitasking in general
It’s also capable of:
Virtual Reality applications and gaming (of course)
Video editing / touch ups
Graphics/processor-intensive applications (modelling, video conversions etc)
May struggle with:
Very high quality/texture gaming at the larger resolutions such as 4K (While this GXiVR8060A8 could handle it, you may need to sacrifice some quality settings in order to get a smoother gaming experience)
What Games Can It Play?
Thanks to the excellent performance of the GTX 1660, this gaming PC should be able to perform well in pretty much any game you throw at it. Expect to be able to run high or ultra high settings while still achieving high framerates.
The 6GB of graphics card RAM means more textures and details can be stored which aids in achieving a higher FPS.
And if you’re looking to get into VR, it’s just a matter of plug-and-play. You should have a great experience since this PC has the required hardware to seamlessly support these more-demanding applications.
Upgradeability
We like that the GXiVR8060A8 is ready to go out of the box, but like most desktops, it’s able to be upgraded in the future if you wish to do so. It’s a great offering out of the box, but here are a few ideas if you’re interested in considering upgrading it either in the short or longer term.
Recommended Upgrades (Short Term/Immediate)
We mentioned previously that prebuilt PCs are notorious for coming equipped with lower-quality power supplies as a cost-saving measure for the manufacturers, so one of our first recommendations for upgrade is to check the PSU your machine has been installed with and do your own research into the brand or model number. If it looks a bit dodgy or you find multiple reports of failure, then you may want to consider upgrading it to a more reputable unit for the sake of the rest of your hardware.
Power Supply Replacement/Upgrade
Lower quality power supplies can potentially shorten the life of other hardware parts or even damage them catastrophically in the event of a PSU failure. For peace of mind, we’d recommend looking to a manufacturer who stand by their product with several years of warranty – we like this EVGA 500W supply that comes with several years’ warranty.
Memory (RAM) Upgrade
Adding more RAM is an incredibly easy upgrade you can do yourself, but you’ll only see a noticeable benefit if this is a current bottleneck in your system. RAM bottlenecking will result in symptoms like stuttering and unresponsive or laggy applications. Checking your current RAM usage can be done by the inbuilt Windows task manager, or use a benchmarking application. The GXiVR8060A8 is equipped with 8GB RAM but can be easily upgraded to have total RAM of 16GB or more.
Other Upgrade Considerations
It’s always a good idea to consider how long you plan on using a particular computer before you commit to buying it. If you think you’ll keep it for a while, it’s worth having a brief think about upgrades during the course of its life in order to keep it functioning at its best. The good news for the GXiVR8060A8 is that it uses a recent-release processor and graphics card meaning you can expect these to keep performing at a high level for you for at least 5 years plus. After that time it is possible that it might start to struggle to perform as well with newly released games that tend to get more and more demanding, and if this is the case you might want to consider upgrades to the processor or graphics card depending on what’s around at the time.
Other potential upgrades you might want to perform might be:
Cooling or Case Upgrade
Some users reported that the case design on the GXiVR8060A8 isn’t the best which can result in a bit of heat inside the case when parts are running at their peak. If this seems to affect you (you can use monitoring software like HW monitor to check internal hardware temperatures), you might want to consider a PC case upgrade; which basically means taking all your hardware from the old case and putting it into a new one. People also commonly do this just for cosmetic purposes – since the case is one of the main things you see, it’s an easy way to completely revamp your PC if you’re after a change of pace!
Value
As we’re writing this review, the price of the GXiVR8060A8 , which we think is exceptional value for money. To build your own computer with the equivalent parts from scratch, you’d pretty much be paying this much just for the parts and operating system software. The GXiVR8060A8 is definitely a good deal and you’re not even paying extra for the convenience of having it pre-assembled and software pre-installed on it for you.
Alternative Products
There aren’t a lot of equal options in this price range that offer such great value, but one possible alternative to consider is Skytech’s Blaze II, which also features the GTX 1660 graphics card. Other pre-built gaming PCs in this price range can’t seem to match the graphics offering in the GXiVR8060A8. A popular alternative is the GTX 1050Ti, which only benchmarks at around 60% of the score that the GTX 1660 gets according to Passmark video card benchmark scores. Even the GTX 1060 (and similarly performing Radeon RX 580) fall short compared to the GTX 1660. The lack of equal alternative options just seems to highlight the performance value on offer with the GXiVR8060A8.
Summary/Overall Impressions
The GXiVR8060A8 keeps with CyberpowerPC’s reputation of great performance value for money with this GXiVR8060 series, and we’re pleased to see updates to the graphics card and processor that will ensure this PC will stay relevant for many years to come. If you’re a casual or serious gamer looking to play at full HD resolutions at the highest quality settings without compromising framerates, this is the prebuilt option for you. Despite some reports of poor case airflow leading to potential increased heating of parts, savvy users can easily monitor this to ensure it doesn’t develop into a larger issue, so we’d still recommend this as a solid buy for gamers of any level looking to purchase in this price range.
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC, Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9GHz
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