If you’re new to gaming, you may want to know which pre-built PC is better for your gaming purposes.
CyberPower and Alienware are both reputable brands that make some of the best gaming PCs on the market.
You may want to know which one wins the day in terms of features and performance.
This post compares these two brands and explores their pros, cons, and differences.
Alienware Vs. CyberPower (Pros, Cons, Differences)
A. CyberPower
CyberPowerPC is among the most popular and reputable gaming PC manufacturers and one of the first options that come to your mind when you think of a gaming rig.
Let’s explore its features:
1. Design
Different models of CyberPower PC share the same minimalistic look featuring RGB lighting and several cooling fans kept in place by the tempered glass and stainless steel.
You can customize the RGB lighting to match your setup and ambient light.
Although they don’t have an optical drive, they offer USB 3.0 external inputs and microphone and headphone jacks.
They also have a transparent side panel that allows you to see the innards.
Plus, you can easily remove it if you want to check the inner workings.
The modern design makes it visually appealing and elegant with clean and minimalistic internals, which can be appealing to many gamers.
The back of the case features a wide variety of ports.
They enable you to connect anything you want to the system, including several USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet, HDMI, and audio ports.
2. Features
Each model of CyberPower PC has unique features and specs, but
they all have some common characteristics that run through all models.
For example, the Xtreme VR model has the following features:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
- Dimensions: 18.5” x 7.9” x 17.9” (46.99 x 20.07 x 45.47 cm)
- Weight: 27 pounds (12.25 KG)
Another popular CyberPower PC model, Ultra 5 RX, has the following features:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: MSI Radeon
Other models, such as the Syber M Xtreme 400, come with a factory-overclocked GPU and a super-fast memory to give you an even better value.
These setups and features allow you to play virtually any game you want by offering good frames even if you play them on ultra-high settings.
In addition, they allow you to customize your system to match your gaming preferences.
3. Performance
Most pre-built CyberPower PCs are known for their speed and ability to handle multiple tasks at a time.
They’re also highly upgradeable, and you can overclock them so you can play lots of different games with them.
Even if some models don’t allow you to play hardcore games on high settings, the powerful GPUs get the job done for many mainstream games.
For example, the CYBERPOWERPC Gamer Xtreme VR Gaming PC doesn’t have enough gaming power for games like Fortnite.
However, it doesn’t let you down if you put the game on lowered settings.
In addition to overclocking ability, most new models are future-proof with advanced technology.
They also have an excellent cooling system that helps them handle heavy tasks with minimal noise and heat.
4. Price And Value
Most CyberPower PCs fall within the affordable range, costing between $1,600 and $3,000 on the official website, while you can find better deals elsewhere.
They also offer gaming laptops that range between $1,000 and $2,500.
The high quality of the components used in some of these models makes them an excellent value for money, especially if you can find lower prices during events such as cyber-Monday.
The accessories, such as the gaming keyboard and mouse, also give you an excellent deal compared to many competitors, especially for beginners.
The free lifetime tech support is another feature that means they’re one of the best options to go for if you look for a pre-built gaming system.
If you want a customized rig, you can get even better deals by picking the best CyberPower components and lowering your overall costs.
CybePower Pros
- Powerful CPU and GPU
- Customizable
- Allow Overclocking
- Tech Support
- Minimalistic Design
CybePower Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Few Spare Card Slots for Future Upgrades
B. Alienware PC
Alienware is another gaming PC that is popular among hardcore gamers because of the options it offers.
The company produces both laptop and desktop gaming PCs, making it a great alternative to CyberPower.
Here’s what it has to offer:
1. Design And Build
Alienware is also known for its unique, sleek, and stylish designs, especially in the Aurora series.
The Aurora R9 is the boldest of all, with a creative design packed with features.
The glass panels and RGB lighting aren’t the only things that make it attractive.
The new chassis has been designed to maximize airflow and cool down the CPU, something Alienware hasn’t been best at.
This way, you can ensure the fans aren’t overworked while maintaining performance and stability after overclocking.
It also features a PSU swing-arm that maximizes airflow by positioning the GPU in the best spot.
Here are its main specs:
- Processor: Intel Core i7- 9700K 3.6Ghz
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super
- Weight: Weight: 39.2lbs(17.86kg)
- Dimensions: 8.7” x 17” x 18.9” (22.28 x 43.19 x 48.16cm)
The gaming laptops, such as the Alienware m15 R6, are among the unbeatable options on the market with aesthetics in mind.
However, the plastic construction can be a bit of a disappointment as an all-metal chassis would be a better fit for the price.
That said, the extra-thin chassis has accommodated a surprisingly wide range of hardware components with a unique lid design.
The Alienware m15 R6 has the following specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-11800H
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 (3200 MHZ)
- GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Weight: 5.93 pounds (2.69 kg)
2. Performance
The unique looks aren’t the only thing Alienware excels at.
The feature-packed systems make sure you use a powerful system that enables you to multitask without losing its stability.
The powerful graphics cards, the high-speed memory capabilities, and the plethora of ports offer a pleasant gaming and computing experience.
In addition, most models guarantee overclocking and support custom upgrades.
They also feature an SSD storage that helps them boot incredibly fast and allows you to perform a wide range of actions, from everyday computing to hardcore gaming and video editing.
The laptops are nothing short of a monster gaming PC, capable of running anything thrown at them.
The graphics cards and high-resolution screens with high refresh rates guarantee smooth scrolling and gaming.
3. Price And Value
The best thing about Alienware PCs is that they come in various configurations to fit any budget.
And are they good value for money? Absolutely.
With all the future-proof and upgradable features, you’ll invest for many years to come and will be spending within your budget.
The products in the Aurora series start at a little over $1,000 for the ALIENWARE AURORA R12 to $1,250 for the ALIENWARE AURORA RYZEN™ EDITION R14.
Although building your customized setup is always cheaper, you may not have the knowledge and experience to build your PC.
Plus, it may be time-consuming to gather all the components that fit each other.
Alienware Pros
- Compact and Unique Design
- Powerful Specs
- Customizable and Upgradable
Alienware Cons
- Weak Cooling System
- Too Plasticky
Alienware Vs. CyberPower
Now let’s explore how these Alienware and CyberPower compare and which one takes the crown.
1. Design And Looks
CyberPower and Alienware can look similar, with specific models featuring tempered glass and RGB lighting.
However, they have different approaches to design and looks, with Alienware being even more minimalistic than CyberPower.
Here’s where they differ the most: one is angular, and the other is more compact and oval.
Which one wins the competition is only a matter of taste.
Both are aesthetically pleasing, but Alienware doesn’t let you see the internal components, unlike CyberPower with its glass side panels.
Alienware keeps everything enclosed.
That’s where the heating problem comes from.
The perforated cover was designed to ensure the computer has airflow, which may not be enough.
In addition, Alienware looks more plasticky and basic, something that some gamers don’t appreciate.
2. Features
Both brands offer an incredible mix of features with high-quality and super-fast components.
They feature a wide range of ports on the front and back of their cases, most of which are lightning-fast.
Their graphics cards also offer some useful ports, such as HDMI and ports for dual monitor setups.
They’re highly customizable and come with different combos.
Some come with core i5, some with i7’, some feature Ryzen GPUs, and others come with Nvidia GeForce.
That said, the common thread between these two brands is that some of their products are future-proof, and you can be 100% sure that you own the technology of the future.
3. Performance
With the same processors used by both manufacturers, it’s difficult to say which one has a better performance.
Both of them are powerful gaming PCs with 3.6GHZ CPUs and can perform multiple tasks at once.
Even if one model doesn’t have the recommended specs for a particular game, you can still play the game with lowered settings.
With these PCs, it seems that your gaming performance hinges more on your gaming skills and internet connection than on which of these two brands you own.
However, users have reported two weak points for Alienware models.
The first one is the weaker cooling system paired with the enclosed case design.
You may need to upgrade to a stronger cooling system and PSU.
Plus, more options for upgrading are available for CyberPower than Alienware.
For example, upgrading the PSU may not be possible for some models because the motherboard features a proprietary plug rather than the standard 24-pin.
4. Price And Value
Both brands have used high-quality components in their PCs, making them a good bang for your buck.
However, Alienware is more expensive, although it doesn’t have an incredibly better setup and features.
On the contrary, it uses plastic in some parts, including the case covers, which can certainly be replaced by metal.
It’s a weak point that has some users thinking it can’t stand the test of time as powerfully as CyberPower.
What’s more, CyberPower comes with lifetime tech support, although the customer service isn’t that speedy, according to some customers.
On the other hand, the customer service with Alienware is much better.
The Verdict
Pro gamers are against getting a pre-built gaming PC because they’re more expensive than custom-built ones, and you don’t have much control over the specs.
That said, if you don’t have enough time or knowledge to search for the best components, consider your budget, preferences, and taste in visual features and choose a pre-built PC.
Both of these brands can be good choices while the scale is a little tipped toward CyberPower.
Here’s a table comparing two popular PCs made by these two brands.
The prices are from their official websites:
| Alienware Aurora Ryzen Edition | GAMER ULTRA 6700XT | |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen™ 9 5950X | Intel® Core™ Processor i7-10700F 8/16 2.90GHz |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 10 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon™ RX 6800 XT 16GB GDDR6 | MD Radeon™ RX 6700 XT 12GB GDDR6 Video Card (Single Card) |
| Memory | 16GB, 2x8GB, DDR4, 3200MHz, XMP | 16GB (8GBx2) DDR4/3200MHz Dual Channel Memory (ADATA XPG Z1) |
| HDD | 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD | 512GB MSI M372 SERIES PCIe NVMe + 4TB SATA III Hard Drive Combo (Combo Drive) |
| Wireless | Realtek RTL 8822CE Wi-Fi 5 (2×2) MIMO 802.11ac Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.0 | None |
| Keyboard | Multimedia Keyboard-KB216AW – UK (QWERTY) | CyberPowerPC Multimedia USB Gaming Keyboard |
| Mouse | Optical Mouse MS116AW | CyberPowerPC Lyra 01 RGB 6-Color w/ 7 Button USB wired, |
| Price | $1,249.99 | $1,909 |
How To Choose A Gaming PC
If you don’t know how to choose a gaming PC, regardless of whether it’s pre-built or customized, you may get confused with the plethora of available options.
Here’s what you need to consider:
1. Physical Features
You may think that being into looks isn’t a pro thing, but there’s more to physical features than just beauty.
The first thing you should consider is the size of the gaming PC because if you have space limitations, you’ll have fewer options.
Pre-built PCs can take up lots of room, so you may want to consider the dimensions before choosing one.
Another thing you should consider is whether you should go for a laptop or desktop PC.
While laptops offer portability, desktop PCs have better specs.
Plus, you won’t get much upgradability with laptops, something that’s vital in gaming.
Finally, while gaming laptops cost more than desktops, you’ll have some added costs, such as a monitor.
2. GPU
The graphics card is the heart of any gaming PC, whether it’s a laptop or desktop PC.
It processes all the visual elements involved in a game, so speed is a vital factor here.
The faster the GPU, the more smoothly you can play your games.
Features such as frames per second (fps) and resolution are the basic features to look for.
Go for a GPU with 4k resolution and 60 fps if you want to be future-proof.
In addition, some GPUs allow for dual monitor setups, which come in handy with multiplayer games.
3. CPU
While the GPU takes care of all graphical tasks, making the videos look good, the CPU controls all of your actions within the game.
If you want to use your gaming PC for other computing tasks, a high-capacity CPU comes in handy to allow for multitasking.
Most high-end gaming PCs come with an Intel Core i7 processor, but an i5 may also be good if you don’t want to splurge.
However, the higher the core, the better the performance.
4. RAM
Random Access Memory stores all short-term data that your computer needs to operate and perform the tasks at hand.
If you want to build a customized gaming PC, you should ensure that it matches your motherboard and CPU.
If they’re not compatible, you can’t get the best performance out of your RAM.
Modern computers use DDR4 RAMs that offer high transfer rates, lower voltages, and larger capacities.
Capacity and speed are the other two major factors to consider.
The higher the capacity, the better your RAM’s performance will be for gaming purposes, especially for streaming games.
Go for 16GB and even 32GB RAMs to prepare for the future and streaming games.
RAM speed is measured in MT/s (mega-transfers per second) or megahertz (MHz).
The faster the RAM, the faster it will respond to read and write requests, improving performance.
5. Hard Drive
You need hard drives to store your games and other data required for running your PC.
You could choose between HDDs and SSDs.
Make sure to consider capacity, speed, form factor, and if they’re internal or external.
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