For any PC gamer, the ultimate rite of passage is building your very own gaming computer. However, sometimes it’s easier and affordable to have someone else do all the work. The CyberPowerPC Gamer GXiVR8060A5 is one of those boutique-built systems that have satisfying hardware for any PC gamer’s needs, living in an aggressively styled, tower chassis that screams ‘gamer’ from any angle.
We first reviewed the Gamer Xtreme GXIVR8020A5 a few weeks back and really liked what it had to offer, but the lack of an SSD weighed heavy on the wallet. CyberPowerPC now offers the GXiVR8060A5 with the same 1TB hard drive, but they have added a 120GB SSD and, they do manage to toss a GTX 1060 inside, maintain the same great CPU, and the reasonable price. The high-grade Gamer Xtreme of today dominates the iteration previously reviewed, but it’s worth the extra buck.
If you’re planning on diving into the glorious world of PC gaming, or taking a break from consoles, the Gamer GXiVR8060A5 is a great place to start.
Design
The Gamer GXiVR8060A5 has the same looks as its predecessor, with a standard tower measuring 17.9 by 7.9 by 18.5 inches (HWD). It carries the same black aluminum case, with red LEDs across the panel. The sides and front panel are made of tinted tempered glass doors, that lets you access and view interior components easily.
Did I mention there are LEDs everywhere? Of course, it’s a gaming rig and we expected some bling, signed by a trio of concentric circles on the front panel. Despite the prevalence of light, they fit so well into the overall design without making the system ostentatious, and the tempered side with a view of interior components is easy on the eyes.
Ports
As early as 2016, PC manufacturers decided that we don’t need optical drives on notebooks, and by late last year, they had affirmed it that we don’t need the same on desktops PCs, as well. It was cast on stone, and you don’t have an optical drive on the Gamer GXiVR8060A5, not as long as you can download all your games from digital services like Steam and Origin.
For now, you can do with a couple of easy access ports on the upper deck –two USB 3.0 ports, microphone and headphone, a reset button and Power button. Around the back are more ports including: four USB 3.1 Type-A ports, audio ports, an Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports (for connecting the bundled keyboard and mouse).
There’s also a HDMI and DisplayPort on the graphics card for connecting to external displays. For a VR-Ready system with HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift, having more ports is a bonus. Wireless connectivity comes via an 802.11AC Wi-Fi adapter.
Performance
Last year’s models of CyberPowerPC’s gaming desktops already came with all the components to toss performance on their favor, but the Coffee lake upgrade puts the newer models on a newer echelon of power. With two more processor cores in tow, the latest Gamer Xtreme features an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8400 (2.8GHz, 6-Core) processor, 8GB RAM, 120GB SSD + 1TB hard drive and Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1060 (3GB) graphics card. To say the GXiVR8060A5 is the best in CyberPowerPC’s line for the category is almost an understatement. For now, it would be impressive to see what numbers the Gamer would crunch with double the RAM and another 1060 inside.
The 120GB SSD helps the Gamer Xtreme splint to life when powered on, but unfortunately it’s too small to store most of your files and games. Luckily, the 7,200RPM 1TB hard drive is spacious enough, and the inclusion of a drive that spins faster than the traditional 5,400rpm helps shorten load times. While not the most silent, the fans are fairly quiet, although the fans on the GPU begin to whine when under heavy loads. In fact, it’s kind of incredible how a powerful gaming computer can remain so quiet.
Gaming Performance
The GeForce GTX 1060 (with 3GB) graphics card helps the Gamer Xtreme hold its own against competing rigs, eking out smooth playability at 1080p resolutions. As expected, it doesn’t fare as well on 3D gaming and falls short of systems outfitted with GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 GPU and 16GB, as they have more potential topping up frame rates. And, you’ll spend more to get there.
Nevertheless, you can play a good deal of modern titles at the mentioned resolutions and the Gamer Xtreme won’t bat an eye. It puts a great show on modern games played at 1920-by-1080 (1080p), including: Assassin’s Creed Unity (55.2 fps), Far Cry Primal (63.1fps), Hitman (57.7fps) and The Witcher 3 (64.7). In all instances, the GTX 1060 outperforms AMD’s RX 470, which isn’t surprising though.
VR Ready
If you hadn’t already guessed from the extra ports on the front and back, the Gamer GXiVR8060A5 is a capable virtual reality (VR) machine. The latest generation i5 and the GTX 1060 are around the basic requirements for both Vive and Oculus. For that, it’s a perfect exit from gaming consoles and, you won’t be spending too much for that matter. Therefore, if you’ve always fancied a reasonably priced desktop that packs enough power to drive a VR headset, you can easily start here.
Bottom Line
PC gaming conjures images of beastly designed rigs with impossible intertwined lighting and cooling setups. The CyberPowerPC GXiVR8060A5 manages to catch the aggressiveness in a standard tower while retaining the attitude of a custom-built system in both style and function. It has plenty of power, and the fact that the components can be swapped out makes it quasi-future proof, for anyone who needs a system that can grow into something bigger in future.
If you’re not in the head space to go the DIY route, the CyberPowerPC Gamer GXiVR8060A5 is one of the most compelling options.