Feb 20 2011 - The CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 is a mid-tower desktop PC that is fully customizable. Moderately equipped at $1,250, this midrange setup features an AMD six-core processor, 8GB of memory, and an abundance of storage space via a 30GB SSD and 1TB 7200RPM hard drive. If budget allows, it's worth considering upgrading the video card and processor to make the CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 blazing fast.
Pros
- Six-Core Processor is Fast in Multithreaded Environments
- Excellent Storage
- Available Options
Cons
- A Few Components are Worth Upgrading
Description
- AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Six-Core CPU w/ HyperTransport Technology
- 8GB DDR3 Dual Channel Memory
- Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3 Motherboard (Free Upgrade at Time of Publication)
- AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card
- 30 GB Kingston 2.5 inch SATA Gaming MLC Solid State Disk
- 1TB SATA-III 7200RPM Hard Drive
- XtremeGear Liquid Cooling System 120MM Radiator & Fan
- 700 Watt Power Supply
- CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced Mid-Tower Gaming Case
Review - CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 Desktop PC
Image Courtesy CyberPower
Ever wish you had more control over what components go into your new computer without putting it together yourself? That's where custom PC makers come in. Get all of the benefits of choosing the best motherboard or adding liquid cooling to your gaming rig without installing it yourself. The CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 is an AMD-based setup with a lot of standard features for around $1,250. Of course, since it is customizable, you can trick it out to include only the fastest components, but the $1,250 model in this review is an excellent budget-friendly desktop for more than just casual gaming.
If you use your desktop PC for other tasks in addition to gaming, an AMD six-core processor is a great option. Not only do AMD hex-core processors perform well in multithreaded situations, but they also are a great value for the price. The CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 comes equipped with an AMD Phenom II X6-1090T CPU. The 1090T is definitely no slouch when it comes to performance, but for $40 more, I'd recommend upgrading to the newer AMD Phenom II 1100T. CyberPower also offers an abundance of motherboard options and free upgrades are often available on select components. This is a definite plus, as many PC manufacturers do not disclose what board you are getting with their systems.
The CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 desktop also comes with 8GB of dual channel memory for $1,250. This abundance of memory is a definite asset to the computer and helps ease the burden of running several memory-intensive applications at once.
Since the CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 is geared for gaming, the video card has to excel even in the latest DirectX 11 games. This $1,249 model comes with an AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB GDDR5 graphics card. This card offers smooth gameplay, but if you're looking for advanced performance at the highest settings, you may want to upgrade to the AMD Radeon HD 6950 for $78 or more or add another HD 6870 card to run in CrossFireX configuration.
Next up is storage, and the CyberPower Gamer Dragon 9000 features two hard drives. First is a fast 30GB solid state drive. Albeit, the SSD is small, but it still offers enhanced performance overall and stores the primary operating system. Next is a spacious 1TB 7200RPM SATA-III hard drive for the bulk of your storage capacity. Kudos to CyberPower for providing excellent storage options.
Other notable features include a nice CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced mid-tower gaming case and a 700 watt power supply. If you're making changes to the $1,250 configuration in this review, such as adding a second high-end video card, you'll definitely want to consider upgrading the power supply to a more powerful model. But for most mainstream gamers, a 700 watt model is adequate.
Overall, the Cyberpower Gamer Dragon 9000 is an excellent gaming desktop PC. An abundance of options are readily available, and upgrades are reasonably priced. The Gamer Dragon 9000 features above average components, including a solid state drive and liquid cooling system.