Pre-built gaming machines like the CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 are decent alternatives to building your rig, especially now that PC components needed to kit out a beefy system are in short supply. CyberpowerPC is known for highly customized builds, allowing gamers to customize their gaming PCs without actually putting in the work or the skill to do so. iN fact, most of the company’s gaming machines have always made to our Best Gaming PC lists for good reasons.
Our review unit, the SLC8260A8 is a midrange gaming machine in the company’s Gamer Supreme line and packs a punch at a very reasonable price. It arrives with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor, a GeForce RTX 3060 GPU (with 12GB), 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD storage. Well, competing machines like the iBUYPOWER SlateMono 237i max out with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700KF and an RTX 3070 Ti GPU, and for a little more money I feel it’s a better machine altogether.
However, if you’re shopping for a gaming machine that you can use for productivity tasks alike, and you’re on a fixed budget, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 makes a lot of sense. It will run most modern AAA games at over 60 fps in high settings, and it has the space for future upgrades if needed. Let’s see why this machine is a standout in the crowded entry-level gaming PC category.
CyberPowerPC SLC8260A8 Review: Design
Like all other CyberPowerPC Gamer Supreme desktops, the SLC8260A8 uses standardized parts for the chassis with aftermarket equivalents, except for a few branded internal components. Still, it sports the all-familiar mid-tower chassis with a glass front and three RGB rings, and a CyberPowerPC logo up front.
Measuring 24 x 24 x 14.5 inches and weighing 34.8 pounds, this machine has enough space for future upgrades and the larger AMDB550 Chipset makes upgrades even easier. To access the system’s internal components, you just have to remove the transparent side panel held in place by thumbscrews, which is essentially tool-less access.
Port selection is decent, but not excellent since the machine lacks a USB Type-C port that’s becoming standard in both laptops and desktop PCs. Front access ports are located on the top of the machine, they include two USB Type-A ports, microphone jacks, a headphone jack, a power button, a reset button, and a drive activity light-up.
Around the back, there are additional six USB ports, two legacy PS/2 ports for older mice/keyboards, and audio jacks. On the GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card, there are DisplayPort and HDMI connections for multi-monitor setups.
CyberPowerPC SLC8260A8 Review: Performance
With an AMD Ryzen AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB of memory, and 1TB SSD, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 is a machine built to be a productivity workhorse when not used for gaming. While CyberPowerPC sells this machine as a gaming rig, it will sit well in your home office as a productivity hub, provided you don’t mind the RGBs on the case. Given the mid-tier processor used here, you can run intensive tasks such as video editing, media creation, and other productivity tasks without slowing down.
Again, the Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8’s 1TB solid-state drive is speedy enough, meaning you can transfer your large files in a few minutes. The solid-state drive and RAM are upgradeable should you need more space and speed to store your documents, game files, photos, and videos. The HP Envy TE02-0042 offers the same 1TB SSD storage, but comes with a more powerful Intel Core i9-12900 and offers excellent connectivity including USB-Type-C with Thunderbolt 4, for around the same price.
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Gaming on the RTX 3060 (12GB) is good enough for starters, but I feel it’s a little tight for pro gamers or anyone looking to play modern titles at anything above 1080p. For the price, we feel CyberPowerPC would’ve included an RTX 3070 or RTX 3070 Ti graphics card like what rivals are offering. Take, for example, the iBUYPOWER SlateMono 237i, a similarly designed gaming desktop that offers better components including a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700KF processor and a GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU, that make it an impressive pre-built PC now and in the future.
That’s not to say the CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 is a bad machine, there are even other configurations with the RTX 3070 Ti GPU and even higher, but I just feel it would offer a better GPU for the price. In real-world gaming, you’re assured of over 60 fps at high settings, which should be enough for casual gaming. Played at 1080p high settings, Forza Horizon 5 reaches 110 fps, Far Cry 6 averages 102 fps, while Cyberpunk 2077 hits 70 fps – quite acceptable for an entry-level gaming machine.
Bottom Line
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 is a great gaming machine if you’re just getting into PC gaming, or need something that’s up to the task of both a gaming rig and a productivity machine. Also, if you’re not confident with your PC-building abilities, the SLC8260A8 lets you create your own without getting your hands dirty or spending a lot of money putting together the best PC components around.
Also, the Gamer Supreme range is extremely customizable, but it also offers a lot of room for expansion. You can get an incredibly future-proof, kitted-out configuration now, and you’ll still be able to add more later. We just wish its port selection were better and at least an RTX 3070 GPU would go a long way.
If you’re shopping for an affordable gaming machine that will get you into the game with no frills, the CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 is a great choice. However, if you’re buying something for both work and play, the newest HP Envy TE02-0042 deserves a look, since it offers the best of both worlds in a slick, gorgeous design.
The Review
CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8
The CyberpowerPC Gamer Supreme SLC8260A8 is a great gaming machine if you’re just getting into PC gaming, or need something that’s up to the task of both a gaming rig and a productivity machine.
Recommended Configuration
CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Supreme Liquid Cool Gaming PC, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8GHz, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, 16GB DDR4, 1TB NVMe SSD, WiFi Ready & Win 11 Home (SLC8260A8)
PROS
- Exceptional performance, as configured
- Capable of silky-smooth 1080p gaming
- Clean, simple design
CONS
- No USB-C port
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-12-21 at 23:57 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
