[Gamer's Choice] SkyTech Shadow II Gaming Computer Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5

[Gamer's Choice] SkyTech Shadow II Gaming Computer Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5

[Gamer's Choice] SkyTech Shadow II Gaming Computer Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5

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The perfect combo to price and performance, SkyTech Shadow II combines Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB with AMD newest Ryzen 5 1400 CPU to deliver the best value performance ratio. From our benchmark records, this processor delivers faster performance than some Intel i5 systems. Combine with Ryzen chipset and Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti 4GB, this powerful machine is not only meant for gamers, but also suited for designers that are power hungry.SkyTech Gaming team are driven to bring the best quality components to ensure durability and stability. Unlike most prebuilt gaming PC out in the market, we do not use generic Power supplies due to high risk of power failure over time. We also use industry high performance G.Skill gaming memory that comes with lifetime warranty. We guarantee you will be impressed the moment you receive this beautiful PC.*Optimized Gaming at 1080p.*Newest Ryzen Engine Chipset from AMD*Powerful Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 TI 4GB Graphics* Includes USB Wifi, Keyboard, and Mouse*Very Powerful Multi-Threading / ApplicationStock Capability/Games tested at 1080PBattlefield 1: Medium to Ultra Settings 68-80 FPSThe Witcher 3: Medium to Ultra Settings: 60-80 FPSOverWatch: Mixture of Epic & Ultra Settings 84-100 FPSDoom: Mixture of High to Ultra Settings with AA x8: 50-80 FPSCounter Strike Global Offensive: Very High Settings 125 to 185 FPSSpecificationProcessor: AMD Ryzen 5 1400 4-Core 3.2GHz ProcessorMotherboard: A320 Micro-ATX MotherboardVideo Card: GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4G (Brand Varies)Memory: 16GB DDR4 2400 Gaming Memory with Heat Spreader (Not Generic Memory)Power Supply: 500 Watt Smart 80 PLUS Certified PSUHDD: 1TB HDD 7200 RPMOperating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64-bit [GAMER'S CHOICE] Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-001 Gaming Computer Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5 1400,GTX 1050 TI 4GB, 1TB HDD,16 GB DDR4, WINDOWS 10 Home

Specifications

Brand	SkyTech
Operating System	Windows 10
RAM Memory	16 GB
Processor Type	AMD Ryzen 5 1400
Processor Speed	3.2 GHz
Hard Drive Capacity	1 TB

[Gamer's Choice] SkyTech Shadow II Gaming Computer Desktop PC AMD Ryzen 5

POWER TO

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AMD POWERS MANY OF THE PRODUCTS YOU LOVE – FROM MICROSOFT^® XBOX ONE^™ X AND SONY PS4^™ PRO, TO POWERFUL RYZEN^™ POWERED PCS, AND WINDOWS^® 10-BASED LAPTOPS, 5K IMACS AND MORE.

Compete and create with the new AMD Ryzen™ 5 processors.
Whether you’re gaming, editing, or designing, the AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400 processor gives you incredibly fast compute power and industry-changing features for your most demanding tasks.
The Ryzen Advantage
Discover the AMD Ryzen advantage, giving you outstanding performance in gaming and content creation.

	CORES/THREADS	CPU MAX SPEED	CACHE (L2+L3)	TDP
AMD Ryzen™ 5 1600X Processor	6/12	4.0 GHz	19 MB	95W
AMD Ryzen™ 5 1600 Processor	6/12	3.6 GHz	19 MB	65W
AMD Ryzen™ 5 1500X Processor	4/8	3.7 GHz	19 MB	65W
AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400 Processor	4/8	3.4 GHz	10 MB	65W

*Testing by AMD Performance labs as of March 3, 2017 on the following systems. PC manufacturers may vary configurations yielding different results. Performance may change with different driver versions. Socket AM4: Ryzen™ 5 1400 processor (6c12t), Fatal1ty AB350 GAMING K4, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics adapter, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-2933 RAM, Samsung 850 PRO 512GB SSD, Windows 10 RS2 operating system, Graphics driver 21.21.13.7878 :: 03_02_2017. Socket 1151: Z270 SLI, Core i7-7400 processor, with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics adapter, 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2933 RAM, Windows 10 RS2 operating system, Graphics driver 21.21.13.7878. :: 03_02_2017. Video Encoding: Compared to the Ryzen 5 1400, the Core i5-7400 achieved 75% (average of 595.5/701.5=85%, 1192.5/1348.0=88%) the video encoding performance in Handbrake and 87% (236.1/313.9=75%) the performance in Adobe Premiere CC, for an average video encoding performance of 81% relative to (or 19% slower than) the Ryzen 5 1400. Inversely, the Ryzen 5 1400 is up to (100%/81%=123%) 23% faster than the Core i5-7400 at video encoding. Content Creation: Compared to the Ryzen 5 1400, the Core i5-7400 achieved 91% (1366.1/1503.9=91%) the performance in POVRay, and 79% (550.8/701.3=79%) the performance in Cinebench, for an average content creation performance of 85% relative to (or 15% slower than) the Ryzen 5 1400. Inversely, the Ryzen 5 1400 is up to (100%/85%=118%) 18% faster than the Core i5-7400 at content creation. 1080p gaming: Compared to the Ryzen 5 1400, the Core i5-7400 achieved 88% the performance in The Division (Inversely, the Ryzen 5 1400 is 100/88=114%, or 14% faster) , 129% the performance in Alien: Isolation, 114% the performance in Battlefield 1, 109% the performance in Ashes of the Singularity, 90% the performance in Civilization 6, 103% the performance in Doom, 125% the performance in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, 101% the performance in Overwatch, 109% the performance in Mafia 3, 105% the performance in F1 2016, 108% the performance in Watch Dogs 2, and 118% the performance in Sniper Elite 4, for an average 1080p game performance of 108% relative to (or 8% faster than) the Ryzen 5 1400. Inversely, the Ryzen 5 1400 is up to (100%/108%=93%) 7% slower than the Core i5-7400 at gaming. VR Performance: Both the Ryzen 5 1400 and Core i5-7400 dropped less than 1% of frames in the Price of Freedom, Serious Sam, and Raw Data game benchmark tests. RZN-59
© 2017 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved. AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Ryzen and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Windows , Microsoft, Xbox and Xbox one are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and other jurisdictions. Adobe, the Adobe logo, Creative Cloud, the Creative Cloud logo, Lightroom, and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.

ModelBrandSkyTechSeriesShadow II
Quick InfoTypeGaming & EntertainmentForm FactorDesktopUsageConsumerColorsBlackOperating SystemWindows 10 Home
CPUCPU TypeRyzen 5CPU Speed1400 (3.20 GHz)
GraphicsGPU/VGA TypeNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
MemoryMemory Capacity16 GB DDR4
StorageHDD1 TB
DisplayScreen SizeNo Screen
Additional InformationDate First AvailableAugust 09, 2018

The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is an elegantly designed desktop with gamer aesthetic and gaming-themed color placed in check. With its AMD Ryzen 5 1400 processor, 16GB DDR4 memory and Nvidia GTX 1060 it’s a powerhouse for HD gaming. For less than $900, it’s a sure promise of gaming prowess in entry-level gaming desktops. It’s no match against its brother, the Skytech Legacy (RTX 2070) Mini, but it has the brute strength to give an impressive performance for its price. We recommend it as our Editor’s Choice for budget entry-level gaming desktops.
Pros
Attractive design
Great performance
See-through side panel
Plenty of storage – 1TB HDD
Upgrade ready
Cons
Lacks a Solid-state drive
Lacks a card reader

Just like the Skytech Archangel 1050Ti Gaming desktop, we reviewed last year, the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is a gaming desktop for the entry-level enthusiast or beginner. Hardcore gamers will not find a home here, but users who want to test the gaming world would enjoy its power. The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is much better value than the Skytech Archangel 1050Ti thanks to its GTX 1060 graphics card and updated AMD Ryzen 5 1400 processor. If you’re looking for a productivity PC with gaming potential and the ability to push high-frame rates, the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is a great choice.
Design and Features

Skytech has been known for its over-the-top gaming designs which the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 desktop takes up. That means those who are more partial for gaming-themed desktop computers will find the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 desktop’s see-through panel, red RGB-lighting, and Decepticon looks attractive. While the design and color scheme represents yet another red-and-black chassis in the sea of red and black themed gaming desktops, its creative design and side panel are a crowd-pleaser.

The red lighting piercing through the etched images on the front face of the desktop gives the sensation that the PC is ready for battle. A pair of raised, black rubber feet along the bottom lift the PC from sitting flat on the floor/desk. Meanwhile, the ceiling is home to a couple of ports and the power button which we honestly appreciated for their convenient placement. We discuss the former on the ports section.

Like the Omen desktop, the Skytech gaming desktop boasts of tool-less design. The side panel pops open effortlessly; that’s thanks to four thumb screws holding the glass in place. This gives you easy access to the interior, especially if you’d like to upgrade or customize. Elsewhere, the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 measures 19.3 x 18.6 x 7.9 inches and weighs 29.9 pounds placing it on the heavier side of the spectrum. However, it’s slimmer than other desktops. It packs a larger footprint compared to the MSI Trident X (15.6 x 5.1 x 15.1 inches HWD). Other Skytech desktops like the Skytech RTX 2080 oracle X desktop weigh in around the same (18.7 x 8.27 x 18.5 inches and 31 pounds,)
Ports

The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is not bursting with ports, but it definitely enough slots, jacks, and inputs to support a modest gaming battle station. While the front face of the PC has no ports (presumably to maintain its aesthetic appeal), the ceiling is packed with a host of ports. You’ll find two USB 2.0s, a single USB 3.0 port, a headphone and microphone jack (each separate from the other), and a power button. The location of the USB ports is prime for easy access while transferring data or files.

The rear holds the bulk selection of ports including some courtesy of the GTX 1060 graphics cards. I’m talking about the Dual-link DVI, DisplayPort (version 1.4), and HDMI. Also housed at the rear are four USB 3.0 ports and a single USB 2.0 port.
Performance

Top-notch performance is important because this gaming computer puts the AMD Ryzen 5 1400 processor front and center of this PC. The AMD Ryzen 5 1400 is the lowest Ryzen 5 quad-core processor in AMD’s Ryzen lineup which includes the Ryzen 5 1500 and Ryzen 5 1600 processors. The Ryzen 5 1400 has a base frequency of 3.2 GHz and can reach up to 3.4 GHz via Turbo (up to 2 cores). The good news is that the processor paired with the GTX 1060 graphics card is designed to handle games and applications to guarantee top-notch gaming performance.
Memory and Storage

Under the hood, working together with the processor of this beast is 16GB of DDR4 memory. Considering 8GB is normally considered the standard amount of memory required to handle most tasks, graphics workloads, and gaming, the 16GB memory on this PC is more than enough. First and foremost, the 16GB makes it easy for this device to multitask. It easily tears through 40 Google Chrome tabs, 1080p YouTube video, and Spotify all while a game runs in the background. Ideally, with 16GB you should be able to do basic tasks such as web browsing, office productivity, stream music, and video online, all the way up to gaming and video rendering. Skytech outdid themselves here. Should you feel the need to upgrade the memory though, you can boost it up to 32GB.

The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is saddled with a 1TB and 7200RPM hard drive which is rather spacious storage. It can easily store multimedia files, games, music and movies without straining. Still, if you want blazing-fast transfer rates, we recommend adding a solid-state drive. A 256GB SSD would be a good amount to start with considering SSDs are pricey storage options.
Gaming Capacity

Thanks to an Nvidia GTX 1060 graphics card, the Skytech gaming SHADOW-002 does exactly what it sets out to do. The GTX 1060 can hold its own in graphics performance and gaming. It excels FHD and 1440p performance, producing silky smooth frame rates, with at least 60 fps on games like GTA V. The card faces competition from AMD in the form of Radeon RX 480. Both have great gaming performance and produce almost similar frame rates in some games.

Moving on, the GTX 1060 is Nvidia’s cheapest and VR-Ready graphics card, which is great for users looking to buy a headset soon. The card also adds another layer of ports to the rear of the desktop. You get three DisplayPort connectors, an HDMI 2.0b port and a DVI port here. The DisplayPort 1.4a connectors are ready for HDR gaming, too.

We took the GTX 1060 card through its paces to see how it performs in various games Here are a few benchmark scores:

Title	Frame rates 1440p
Dirt Rally	69.5 fps
Rise of the Tomb Raider	47.6 fps
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor	89.3 fps
Hitman	49.5 fps

From the benchmark scores, it’s undeniable that the GTX 1060 is a great graphics card, offering plenty of potential for overclocking while also being an impressive performer in VR. On the whole though, while it is great, there are better GPUs out there (RTX 20 series GPUs) and the GTX 1060 can’t compete with such. So if want high frame rates, graphically-intensive games are out of the question, unless you seriously lower both the settings and your expectations.
Conclusion

The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 is a ready-to-go-gaming desktop that’s a good fit for its category. For its price, it sports a stylish modern gaming design, RGB backlighting to set the mood, a rich feature set, and plenty of ports for easy connectivity. We loved that its easy to access the inside through the tool-less side panel and the side through a glass side panel that gives the desktop its character. The inside is straightforward and cleanly assembled and you can upgrade the components whenever. On the whole, the Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 delivers outrageous GTX 1060 grunt and blistering CPU speed in an attractive, super-compact chassis. We recommend it among the top picks of our Editor’s Choice entry-level gaming desktops.
Are there other alternatives?

At this price point, there are a couple of alternatives. The first is the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8500A desktop that sells for roughly the same amount our unit is tagged for. Admittedly, this CyberpowerPC offers better value than our unit thanks to a more modern feature set. Inside it packs a Intel i5-9400F processor, 8GB DDR4 memory, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (6GB) graphics card, 120GB SSD and 1TB HDD for storage. Looking at the specifications, it has a better processor and graphics card and comes with 120GB SSD. Between the two desktops, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8500A is definitely the better choice here.

For around the same price as our PC, the SkyTech Shiva gaming PC delivers better performance thanks to a better assembly of features. If you’re an avid gamer, you’ll benefit from the remarkable 1080 and 1440p gameplay it offers. Inside, the SkyTech Shiva desktop packs a Ryzen 5 2600 6-Core 3.4 GHz processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6G graphics card, 500G SSD storage, and 16GB DDR4 memory.
Should you buy it?

Yes. The Skytech Gaming ST-SHADOW-II-002 certainly is worth your hard-earned money and it’s got the performance to back it up. However, if you have an extra 40 bucks, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR GXiVR8500A is the value budget gaming PC to go for.