The pace Nvidia set with the release of its Pascal graphics architecture last fall Intel continued it with its new seventh-generation ‘Kaby Lake’ CPUs: Both are completely redefining the level of performance we can expect for ever-decreasing amounts of money. Among the first computers we’ve seen that fuses both technologies is the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Supreme SLC8480A, a gaming desktop that, is muscular enough for almost all processing cores, can also hold its own against gaming rigs that cost thousands of dollars more.
It bears a somewhat conservative style, even coming across as sedate against the flossy Asus ROG GT51 our top pick for high-end gaming desktops. It’s grown-up gaming desktop PC, that you’ll appreciate now and for years to come, for as long as you can afford it.
Clean, Cool Design Inside
Built into a sturdy white body, the Gamer SLC8600A is relatively unassuming if you look at it head-on, but there’s a lot to see and like inside once you start poking around. Its white frame stands 18.3 by 8.3 by 18.5 inches (HWD), with tempered glass on the side flanks. In fact, the left side a near-full window, while the right is slightly backed as a cutout window. Looking at the case you’ll realize that it isn’t a small-form-factor, but it happens to be on the smaller side for traditional towers. For size comparison, the Skytech Archangel stands 25 inches tall, 12.5 inches wide, and 21.38 inches deep, taking up much more space.
CyberPower, just like other boutique manufacturers, sometimes go overboard on the bling, but here the design is rather restrained, and I can say –elegant. The back, upper-front, and top panels are perforated for airflow, and the LED-lit front, and top-mounted fans show through the mesh. Still, it’s appearance is more conventional when you compare it with the likes of the Asus ROG GT51, which mimics a Transformer fresh of the latest Sci-Fi movie.
Inside, the liquid CPU cooler stands vertically and vents out the top and upper-front, with much of it going through the top for more ventilation. The bottom of the case is raised from the ground by about 2 inches by front and back feet, so you won’t worry of accidental spills as the bottom case is above surface level. By raising the case, the bottom vent gets more room to breathe and a removable filter above it keeps off debris and dust.
Lighting on the is customizable for up to ten LED color zones, though there’s a slight learning curve for newbies, but once you spend some time poking around, you should have steady feet. For starters, to change the colors, hold the light button for about a second and release before it entirely shuts down to breathe mode, repeat that and it will change to an array of different colors. Typical with gaming rigs, its color and effects for the interior LED light strip, the LED ring around the power button and slim strip on the top of the front panel can all be changed.
Connectivity and Storage
The system doesn’t have an optical drive, which is fine given that these days you occasionally need to play from DVDs, as most PC games can be downloaded from digital services like Steam and Origin. Plus, having one on the front would be a scratch on the case’s stylish austerity. As it is, there are easy-access ports on the top panel (towards the front): two USB 3.1, microphone and headphone, and also a Reset button.
On the back, it’s a completely different story, it’s there you find the rear panel ports: two USB 2.0, four USB 3.1, one RJ-45 Network Ethernet, and Audio 7.1 channel. The graphics card is yet another part of the system with more ports comprising: three DisplayPort, one HDMI, and one DVI, which allow you to connect even to a 4K external monitor.
The massive 480GB SSD (for Windows and programs) and a 3TB 7,200rpm hard drive for storing files are neatly tucked out of sight in the drive cage, and the cabling is well done without any clutter. Bundled into the package is a RGB 7 Colors gaming keyboard and mouse, alongside 802.11AC Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity.
Raw Power for Gaming and Productivity
With its raison d’être being exquisite planning and design, and premium components, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer SLC8480A rules. Although you can’t see the hidden water block, the machine is a powerhouse on almost all fronts, and the Kaby Lake CPU delivers even more overhead. As configured out of the box at 4.2GHz, the seventh-generation Intel Core i7-7700K processor, 8 GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 and 32GB DDR4 memory are more impressive on most fronts.
For general performance, this system gives you more computer than you pay for, giving it a hang-on among the high-end desktops we’ve tested recently. As it is, multimedia projects should be a breeze, that’s if you need to work on video or photo editing while not gaming.
Gaming and 3D performance is where the Gamer SLC8480A really separates itself from the pack. Most of its immediate competitors are fast desktops equipped with GTX 1080s in SLI, but the 1080 upgrade steers the CyberPower Gamer to the into the game, delivering among the best frame rates per second (FPS) in the category. Set to Ultra quality settings and 1080p resolution, the CyberPower Gamer and its GTX 1080 GPU doesn’t struggle to soar 279 frames per second on Heaven test and 174 frames per second, far ahead of the usual 60 fps target.
To get a grip of its resilience, bumping the same tests up to a 4K resolution, indeed very demanding for any system, it still managed to hit 109 fps on Grand Theft Auto V and 110 fps on Fallout 4. These are still smoothly playable frame rates, and not far off the typical GTX 1080 tI scores across the board, but still impeccable compared to other desktops using this graphics card. The fact that it sticks so close to gaming rigs high up in the category like the Origin Chronos, make it a more desirable system given the price differences.
A Capable Desktop Gaming PC
Sure, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Supreme SLC8480A compares well with rigs that cost almost double and represents good value with its premium components. It is undoubtedly competitive in 3D gaming, and on productivity tasks, it can comfortably stand its ground against competitors higher in the price-tier (aside from multimedia projects and video transcoding that yield more from the number of cores than clock speed) like the Asus ROG GT51. Certainly, when prices soar critics may complain that they can build one of these systems for less on their own money, but that’s just a bluff –components used on this system are pricey.
Even if that was still the case, the extra buck you’re paying for the builder’s expertise, technical support and more importantly, a high-end system that you’ll need to spend months working on and fallbacks along the path. This CyberPower Gamer falls squarely into the high-end category, not only for impressive frame rate at 1080p, but also decent ones at 4K, and additional processing capabilities you’ve never had before for the price. Factoring all this together and throwing into the mix forward-looking potential, we have no qualms naming the Gamer SLC8480A as one of our top pick for high-end gaming desktops.