The Hunt For Something New: A CyberPowerPC Review
Upgrading my old PC was long overdue. After nearly a decade of upgrades, setbacks, successes, and frustrations, a new PC was the only solution. In August 2023, after researching boutique PC builders, I chose CyberPowerPC. They have been in business since 1998, and recorded nearly half a billion dollars in PC sales as of 2021, demonstrating they are a well-established company in the custom PC market.
Overall, their competitive speed and pricing were offset by issues with their support and warranty. My experience with them, which I hope concluded in April 2025, was a mixed bag—a common occurrence when buying a new PC from a boutique builder. This CyberPowerPC review will delve into the details.
Background: Choosing CyberPowerPC for Your New PC
I was drawn to CyberPowerPC by their reputation. As a well-known company in the boutique PC building space, I felt confident ordering a multi-thousand dollar system from them. For those considering buying a new PC, CyberPowerPC is often a strong contender.
Their website is easy to navigate, polished, and visually appealing. The site features slick graphics and great-looking computer builds. And with a variety of customizable pre-built options, CyberPowerPC caters to a wide range of budgets for your new PC.
Their pre-sales support responses are prompt and helpful. Their sales staff clearly understands what customers are looking for when designing their ideal computers. They address any questions about parts or compatibility through their instant messaging support staff. However, their support hours are 8:30 AM – 6 PM on weekdays, with reduced hours on weekends. Therefore, 24-hour support is not their strength. Also, they handle most support through chat or email on their website.
CyberPowerPC’s value is a major plus when buying a new PC. I had priced out my PC on PC Part Picker (which I highly recommend as a first step when getting a new PC). And CyberPowerPC offered the exact system, on sale, for a few hundred dollars less, all without the hassle of self-assembly. There were no hidden costs, shipping was free, and some add-ons seemed designed for customer peace of mind rather than profit.
Unboxing and Initial Impressions of My New PC
The ordering process and website experience were definite positives. When I received the PC, I was very pleased with the build quality. The cables were neatly tied and well-managed, and the packaging was excellent. There was no sign of damage or a rushed job. The PC’s aesthetics matched what I had chosen on their site almost exactly. The PC arrived as advertised, and everything seemed perfect.
Coming from a PC with some parts over a decade old, I was thrilled with the performance. The computer started up immediately. There were no issues with loose components, and everything was exactly as ordered. This PC was fast, handled everything I threw at it, and had no problems—for the first few months. Then, the trouble began.
My first issue occurred in February/March 2024. For a few weeks, the PC had been randomly locking up, requiring multiple daily shutdowns. Having purchased it just a few months earlier, I assumed it was a software problem. However, the problem worsened, culminating in a loud POP while I was in another room. The studio filled with the smell of burning plastic. That was the beginning of my customer support experience with CyberPowerPC.
The Exploding Power Supply: A Support Challenge with My CyberPowerPC System
Contacting customer support was not a quick process. I communicated almost entirely by email for timing reasons. Their staff was knowledgeable about troubleshooting, to a point, and some of the steps took time to try. The basics included updating drivers and checking cables. But after the power supply exploded, I had to send the PC in for repair.
Because their policy of providing a return label, which is convenient, I couldn’t add insurance to the PC for the return shipping. Once sent, it took about a month to get the PC back. According to their notes, they replaced almost every part in the computer. Spoiler Alert: The one part they didn’t replace turned out to be the ultimate cause of my problems.
The computer was returned and arrived in good condition. The extended warranty I purchased had been effective! All appeared well for a few more months. But then the issue returned: PC crashes, lock-ups, and restarts. I learned what to avoid and how to get a recording done between crashes. Having tried everything I could think of, I contacted CyberPowerPC again, not looking forward to sending it back a second time in under a year. So, I delayed the process.
At the time of purchase, I got the “SERVICE: 3 Years FREE Service Plan (INCLUDES LABOR AND LIFETIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT)” and “WARRANTY: PREMIUM WARRANTY: Standard 1 Year Parts WARRANTY + ONE (1) YEAR SHIPPING”. This was the highest level of warranties offered by the company. But it was insufficient in my situation. The three-year service plan amounted to a technician emailing me “you should uninstall and reinstall your drivers” for the third time. And although the underlying issue had been occurring within the one-year timeframe, that year had passed. I faced a decision: pay $400 for round-trip shipping, plus the risk of them not fixing it, and a new $2000 graphics card, or try to fix it myself? The frustration was significant.
Warranty Woes and Policy Problems with a Boutique Computer Purchase
This brings me to my biggest complaint about CyberPowerPC. The replacement parts were clearly new. Things happen in manufacturing; it’s nobody’s fault. But Nvidia offers a three-year warranty on all their GPUs. The one I purchased was covered, as it hadn’t been available until I bought the PC. Why wouldn’t CyberPowerPC at least match the warranties offered by the individual part manufacturers? This is a crucial point to consider when reading reviews of boutique computers.
Overall, this was a very negative experience, not due to the support staff I interacted with, but because of corporate policies that seemed to avoid providing good customer service whenever possible. When buying a new PC, strong customer service is essential.
The resolution, after more than a year, came from Nvidia themselves. They accepted my proof of sale from a third-party vendor, accepted the faulty card, and sent a replacement unit with minimal hassle. High praise to Nvidia for their customer service. Now, the PC is running well, with no signs of the issues I had for over a year.
I want to commend the support staff at CyberPowerPC. I know these issues weren’t their fault. But CyberPowerPC could improve their customer service by revising their policies.
At The End of The Day: Is CyberPowerPC a Good Choice for Your New PC?
Overall, I would rate CyberPowerPC a 7 out of 10. Their website is excellent, the pre-sales service was great, and their prices are very competitive. The main issues I had with customer support may not affect the average user. But I maintain that their warranties should, at a minimum, match those of the component manufacturers. For those considering buying a new PC, weigh these factors carefully.