It only takes systems like the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master GMA2200A to unravel the online cliché of Ryzen chips being less powerful against their Intel counterparts. From time-to-time, a debate pops up online tieing the affordability of Ryzen-equipped systems with mediocre performance, but that’s utterly untrue.Take for instance the latest entrant into the midrange gaming category, that is purely equipped with Ryzen’s CPU and GPU, and still delivers impressive gaming performance.
While the Gamer GMA2200A isn’t the most powerful gaming rig you can find in the market today, it still offers a solid feature-set for the price. It subtly fuses the latest AMD Ryzen CPU and AMD RX 580 graphics card, and can hold its own against pricier desktops, especially those fitted with GTX 1050 & 1060 graphic cards. For seasoned gamers, it may not be the ultimate answer to your 3D gaming needs, but for budding enthusiasts who’re beginning to take PC gaming seriously, it’s hard to find a better-balanced system than this.
Design and Build
As expected of a boutique-built gaming system, bling is well cut for both work and play. The Gamer GMA2200A packs cool components into a fine-looking tower chassis, that looks great on every angle. The front panel has patterned diamond grills that are underlain by ambient lights, and the rest of the case gets LED lighting that resonates with the game tempo. It also gets a transparent glass side panel that’s becoming common among custom PCs, and it does a good job in providing a clear view of the system’s interior component layout embossed in an orange motif.
This tower profile will occupy considerable space on your desk, but it isn’t too big that what you’re getting from rivals. Measuring 18.6 by 17.6 by 7.8 inches (HWD) and weighing 32 pounds, the case gives you enough room for future upgrades – though you can still get various case options in the market, both small and big. Compared: this case is bigger than what you’d find on systems like the Acer Aspire GX-785-UR19 (18.24 by 15.67 by 6.89; 18.43 pounds), but remains smaller than full tower cases found on full-tower gaming PCs, like the iBUYPOWER Ultra Gaming PC (21.38 by 12.5 by 25; 30 pounds).
Inputs and Storage
Rounding off the connectivity portfolio here are: one USB 3.1, microphone, and headphone – and the Reset button on the on the top of the front panel. The back hosts – four USB 3.0, four USSB 2.0, RJ-45 Ethernet, 7.1 Audio channel; one HDMI, DisplayPort and a DVI port on the graphics card. Wireless capability is missing, but you can always grab a USB adapter, they don’t cost much.
As it is, there are easy access ports – two USB 3.1, microphone, and headphone – and the Reset button on the on the top of the front panel. At the back, you have more ports – four USB 3.0, four USSB 2.0, RJ-45 Ethernet, 7.1 Audio channel; one HDMI, DisplayPort and a DVI port on the graphics card. It skimps on built-in Wi-Fi, so you’ll have to buy a USB adapter separately.
CyberpowerPC always offer a generous array of ports on their desktops, and here is no exception. On the front panel is a side-opening flap, and underneath is an optical drive, which most manufacturers are taking down lately. Let’s face it, while we’re buying most of our games lately from digital services like Steam or Origin, you sometimes find the needs to access your old games or movies from DVDs. Plus, the way its placed, it doesn’t affect the system’s austerity.
For storage, the system’s 2TB 7200rpm hard drive is more than enough for storing your games, movies and downloads. We at least expected even a 120GB SSSD for the operating systems, but it’s among the few sacrifices thy had to make to have the system cheaply. If you won’t be throwing an SSD into the system later, but need one, the CYBERPOWERPC BattleBox Essential GMA3600A leverages good storage and speedy performance thanks to a 1TB hard drive paired with a 120GB SSD. Bundled into the package is a RGB 7 color gaming keyboard and mouse combo.
Performance and Gaming
The CYBERPOWERPC GMA2200A is a midrange gaming PC, but its feature set comes closer to what you’d find on more pricier systems, that often cost more. We’re looking at an AMD Ryzen 7 1700 CPU, AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB) graphics card and 16GB DDR4 system memory. This is AMD’s new top-end chip, which has a base clock speed of 3.0GHz (which totals to 16 threads), and is a direct competitor to Intel’s Core i7-770K. That chip’s base clock is 3.0GHz, but it can stretch to 3.7GHz as needed, and gets better wattage than its rivals.
A combination of a latest CPU and gobs of memory, enable the Ultra GMA2200A deliver smooth playability on most modern games at impressive frame rates. In fact, it gives you more computer than what you’re paying for, as it cruises into the same ballpark as most premium gaming PCs. When not playing, the components will let you complete video or photo editing projects without hiccups.
As expected of a gaming PC, the real ball starts to roll during gameplay. And this system does shine well. It’s a VR Ready system with HTC VIVE and Oculus Rift, which is a feature set you can rarely find among competitors. Most of its immediate competitors are equipped with GTX 1060 graphic cards, but the AMD Radeon RX 580 (4GB) graphics card delivers impressive frame rates per second (FPS), and being VR-Ready is a notable bonus. For instance, it delivers 67 FPS on Grand Theft Auto and 69 FPS on fallout 4, which are playable frame rates at native resolutions.
A Gaming PC with Ryzen Speed
In 2017, manufacturers have churned out capable systems, and we’ve seen premium components trickle into the market at reducing amounts of money. True, it’s now possible to buy a system like the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master GMA2200A at incredibly low prices, but the feature set remains strong. Looking at it, I see a system that challenges the conventional cliché of where the intersection of performance and budget should lie.
For much less than you’d pay for most high-end gaming machines, you’re getting a system that is adept to handling heavy workloads. This side has been Intel’s territory for a while, but we’re now seeing AMD challenge it, with the composition of high-end gaming and luxury gaming desktops, for much less. All these point towards a system that will be better utilized if you find a software that uses all its core, worth having at the top of your list.
Recommended Configuration
CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme VR Liquid Cool Gaming PC, Intel Core i9-14900KF 3.2GHz, GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12GB, 32GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, WiFi Ready & Windows 11 Home (GXiVR8780A4)
The Review
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master GMA2200A
The CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Master GMA2200A features AMD’s latest Ryzen 7 1700 CPU and AMD RX 580 4GB graphics card, that translate to solid gaming performance. The gaming aesthetic notwithstanding, the system suffices for both play and work, especially if you need to edit a couple of media projects.
PROS
- Solid performance
- VR Ready System
- Elegant case design
CONS
- Lacks an SSD
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
