In the video titled “Cyberpower, Please Stop: 95°C 9800X3D Pre-Built Gaming PC Review,” the reviewer shares their experience with a pre-built gaming PC from Cyberpower, specifically one featuring the AMD Ryzen 9800X3D processor. The reviewer highlights their excitement about the system’s configuration, which they believed could finally be a recommendable option from Cyberpower. However, they quickly note a significant issue: the CPU thermals are poorly managed, causing thermal throttling that results in a drop of 200 MHz across all cores during high-load situations. This thermal problem overshadows the otherwise positive aspects of the build.
The reviewer emphasizes the growing presence of AMD CPUs in the pre-built market, contrasting it with Intel’s recent struggles. They explain that they purchased the Cyberpower system to evaluate its thermal management and overall value, especially in the context of its pricing. The system was well-priced at $1,865, with only a $200 markup compared to building it themselves. Despite the competitive pricing and the system’s decent specifications, the reviewer expresses disappointment over Cyberpower’s historical issues with thermal configurations.
Upon examining the system, the reviewer notes several positive features, including good cable management and a solid parts list, such as a 240mm liquid cooler and a 32GB DDR5 RAM setup. However, they also identify significant flaws in the case design, which restricts airflow and may contribute to the thermal issues. The reviewer points out that the cooler’s contact with the CPU was inadequate, leading to high temperatures during testing. They elaborate on the importance of proper thermal management, especially for a high-performance CPU like the 9800X3D.
In the testing phase, the reviewer documents alarming thermals, with the CPU reaching temperatures over 90°C and the system exhibiting a significant drop in performance due to thermal throttling. They also note that even when manually setting the fans to 100%, the cooling was insufficient to prevent overheating. The reviewer describes the noise levels from the fans as concerning, with a sudden increase in decibels under load, which would be noticeable to end users.
Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that while the Cyberpower system has many commendable features, the persistent thermal issues prevent them from recommending it outright. They suggest that potential buyers who are comfortable with replacing the CPU cooler might find value in it, but for the average consumer, the thermal management problems are a dealbreaker. The reviewer expresses hope that Cyberpower will address these thermal configuration issues in future models, as they are close to creating a truly recommendable pre-built gaming PC.
