A New Computer

Having had my computer for close to 4 years, I decided that the summertime was a good time to replace it. I wanted the new one to have the latest Intel 6-core CPU, 12 GB RAM, and 64-bit Windows 7.

First Bad HP Experience

While searching for options and trying to make the build or buy decisions I came across a great deal on the HP site. They had a computer with everything I wanted and with a $400 instant rebate. The price of the computer came lower than the parts I could purchase. So, I bought one. Mistake number 1! Shipping was a disaster, I specifically wanted to receive it after a certain date as I would be out of town and not be able to receive the product. The salesperson assured me that they were not that ahead of schedule. So, I believed him. Mistake number 2.

After an adventurous delivery to a neighbor’s house, I picked it up after returning home. That was a chore with the large and heavy package; I ended up using a luggage cart and took it upstairs a little at a time. It was a diminutive computer in their HPE series.

It seemed to work fine, but at one point I needed tech support. Then, things started getting bad. I will spare you the details but summarize the experience by quoting the support person. He said as a response to my questions almost repeatedly “I cannot tell you that,” or “search our Web site.”

Two hours later, I was talking to a case manager at HP corporate level and after reporting everything I told him that I had obtained an RMA and the computer was on its way back. The customer service destroyed the sale.

The search continued and I decided to buy the parts and build it myself as I had been doing for the last 20+ years. NewEgg.com was my choice for parts and I built a shopping list from the case to the CPU cooler and everything necessary.

CyberPower Experience

Then I stumbled upon CyberPower somehow, I don’t quite know why I went there. I noticed that they were offering computers using the same components for a little more than the cost of the parts. I decided to save some time for myself and ordered the computer from them. It took about 2 weeks but I got exactly what I expected, with full documentation, unlike the HP computer. The workmanship was top-notch. Take a look at the photograph (click to enlarge) of the interior of the box, it looks almost empty!

I had a question and called their tech support line. Within 5 minutes I was talking to Hien, a very knowledgeable person who pinpointed the problem and after a nice chat, I told him that the CPU heatsink seemed nonstandard. He asked for a photo which I mailed to him. Within 30 minutes, he called me back (read again: he called me back!) to apologize for the incorrect cooler and a new one was on its way.

After that, I spoke with Hien a couple of more times on other questions, again, within minutes my problems were solved and questions answered. I am now a satisfied customer of CyberPower.com and will certainly recommend them for your serious consideration. The computer works like a charm and the support answers the phone and my questions.

No more HP for me, you should think twice too!

Configuration:

Intel Core- i7 980 Extreme 6-core CPU
12 GB Corsair Dominator RAM
Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced Mid-Tower Gaming Case
ATI Radeon HD 5670 1GB GDDR5 16X PCIe Video Card
Corsair 750 Watts CMPSU-750TX Power Supply
1TB SATA-III 6.0Gb/s 64MB Cache 7200RPM HDD (Western Digital)
24X Double Layer Dual Format DVD+-R/+-RW + CD-R/RW Drive
Microsoft® Windows® 7 Professional (64-bit Edition)
3-Year Limited Warranty Plus Life-Time Technical Support