Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

CyberPowerPC - A scam scheme?!

Tags:
  • Overclocking
  • Cyberpower
  • Steam
  • Systems
  • CPUs
Last response: in Systems
Share
May 12, 2014 9:55:59 PM

Apologies if this is the wrong section.

I purchased a PC from CyberPowerPC with the following specs about 3 weeks ago:
http://www.shrib.com/AskTomsHardware

I received it two weeks ago, but sent it back a week ago for repair services.

My problems were:
1.Screen artifacts, probably due to GPU issues, and
2.A slight chance that the CPU is overheating.

When I sent it back, I was still logged in to my Steam account. One of the programs installed in that PC through Steam was 3DMark.

Today, I got this notification through Steam while using Steam on the PC I'm using right now:
http://i.imgur.com/rmIdxg4.png

I figured that CPPC was using 3DMark on my PC to test the GPU or something. Now, NO other PC is logged into my Steam account other than that PC and the one I'm using at this moment. I am certain of that, as I had changed my password and security question as soon as I received my new PC.

BUT, this happened. Look at the achievement that they got in my 3DMark called "OC Madness."
http://steamcommunity.com/id/MolotovMuffin/stats/3DMark

...Wait, WHAT?! Over 50% overclock on my CPU?! What, are they freaking crazy?!

I contacted CPPC on the phone, and the representative confirmed that they began work on my PC, but also stated that they should NOT be doing that kind of overclocking on my PC since it has nothing to do with my issue. I also contacted by email, hoping for more information, but I haven't yet received a reply.

Is this a scam? Are they trying to break my PC on purpose so that I'll be forced to buy another one or buy extra repair services? I've included in my email that I want all the answers, or I'd contact law enforcement (a.k.a. just file a complaint).

I'm just really worried. I do not want to receive a damaged PC that either doesn't work or will last a shorter amount of time due to them messing it up. Is their overclocking justified, or are they doing something they shouldn't be?

More about : cyberpowerpc scam scheme

a b K Overclocking
a c 144 à CPUs
May 12, 2014 9:59:02 PM

Get your money back and build it yourself.
m
0
l
a c 120 K Overclocking
a c 398 à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:02:00 PM

It is under warranty?
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:05:36 PM

i7Baby said:
It is under warranty?


Yes. It's been purchased only around a month ago, and I have three year labor and one year parts warranty.
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:09:17 PM

damric said:
Get your money back and build it yourself.


I think it's kinda too late for that. Dumb me threw away all the packaging. Also, I wouldn't get refund for my OS, since it's been activated.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:18:16 PM

Yeah PC techs in my expierence don't really care about the customer. They'll do whatever they want under the assumption they won't get caught. Your in a rare case where you can prove they are abusing your equipment. Complain to the highest levels of management until they give you a full refund.
m
2
l
a b K Overclocking
a c 144 à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:20:01 PM

Amen to that ^^
m
0
l

Best solution

a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:23:10 PM

^^ Agreed. Keep on complaining until they do something; you have proof of them abusing your property, and they'll probably try to turn you away at first, but be aggressive and I think you'll get it out of them. Get a full refund and take your business elsewhere... that's what I'd do.
Share
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:23:17 PM

Quote:
Is this a scam? Are they trying to break my PC on purpose so that I'll be forced to buy another one or buy extra repair services? I've included in my email that I want all the answers, or I'd contact law enforcement (a.k.a. just file a complaint).


In my experience, when I log into Steam, it will kick me off any other computers. I've never seen two people logged into one account, but maybe that is just my settings.
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:25:33 PM

Thank you for all the answers. I suppose if I can rat it out on them, they'll give me a refund without any packaging. If I sound threatening enough :3
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:26:35 PM

You have the FX8320 @ 3.5. 150% = 5.25.

That's not possible.

I think they disabled Cool n Quiet, which moved the processor from the rest position to a constant 3.5 GHz as a troubleshooting step.

Notice my turbo core speed: http://www.3dmark.com/fs/1020215
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:30:36 PM

Alec Mowat said:
You have the FX8320 @ 3.5. 150% = 5.25.

That's not possible.

I think they disabled Cool n Quiet, which moved the processor from the rest position to a constant 3.5 GHz as a troubleshooting step.

Notice my core speed: http://www.3dmark.com/fs/707955


Well I'm not exactly sure what all that means. I only have 3DMark so I could see what FPS I would get in stuff o.o
I'm not tech savvy at all :p 
Maybe they blew something up. Or something.
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:31:49 PM

Alec Mowat said:
In my experience, when I log into Steam, it will kick me off any other computers. I've never seen two people logged into one account, but maybe that is just my settings.


Yup, different settings. But Valve should take care in typing carefully. I thought I was being pranked when I saw the typo ("Your" instead of "You")
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:33:51 PM

In the world, only 20 people have gone over 5.0

It's not possible, not on that cooling solution. It wouldn't finish the test, trust me.

Look at my score, scroll down to the Turbo clock. It's 1.5 GHz. That's lower than the default speed, because it took the clock reading when it was in a low power state.

I believe that's what caused that notice. There's no way they OC'd over 5. It's not possible. Trust me.

You can log into 3DMark on your Steam account and view the results.
http://www.3dmark.com/results

Top right corner.

You should see your results, if it's on 5.25, jebus, I have no idea what they are trying to do. That's insane. I doubt it's there.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a c 144 à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:36:10 PM

I did 5.2GHz on air. See signature validation. Do research. Return when you know what you are babbling about.

Real overclockers post results here:

http://hwbot.org/benchmark/3dmark11_-_performance/ranki...

Literally hundreds of submissions with over 5GHz FX chips.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:40:57 PM

I don't believe it. Log into the 3D Mark account and check.

Even if you could, once, I doubt they did it.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a c 144 à CPUs
May 12, 2014 10:43:08 PM

You can not believe all you want. Anyone that knows anything about overclocking knows that hwbot is the authority overclock database.
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:45:10 PM

Alec Mowat said:
I don't believe it. Log into the 3D Mark account and check.

Even if you could, once, I doubt they did it.


Huh, maybe you're right. In fact, the score they got is significantly worse than what I got when I tried Fire Strike. I had a 6486, but out of the three tests they did, the highest one is only 3280. I guess they're actually making something perform worse, although I still don't see how they would have gotten the achievement.

My result: http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2076987

Their results:
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2137157
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2137175
http://www.3dmark.com/fs/2137190

But isn't it still getting worse? They're getting half the score I got on my PC.
m
0
l
May 12, 2014 10:58:11 PM

damric said:
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/7899656

Pretty bad when a $350 rig beats that.


I'm pretty sure that there are big differences between 3DMark 11 (what you used) and 12 (what I used). Also, I'm pretty sure that Fire Strike test is pretty darn demanding. But that's just what I think as a tech-newb.
m
1
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 13, 2014 9:55:33 AM

It's not overclocked

Processor
AMD FX-8320
Reported stock core clock
3,500 MHz
Maximum turbo core clock
2,147,483,647 MHz


I am therefor correct. The cool n quiet sent probably the wrong clock speed (as in my example), and hit that achievement in error.

Over reaction, good sir. They still shouldn't be using your software, but it is a good troubleshooting tool none-the-less
There's no way they hit a stable 5.25 in a day.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a c 144 à CPUs
May 13, 2014 10:48:03 AM

MoarPony said:
damric said:
http://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/7899656

Pretty bad when a $350 rig beats that.


I'm pretty sure that there are big differences between 3DMark 11 (what you used) and 12 (what I used). Also, I'm pretty sure that Fire Strike test is pretty darn demanding. But that's just what I think as a tech-newb.



You are right. Maybe I need glasses.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 13, 2014 4:02:39 PM

MoarPony said:
i7Baby said:
It is under warranty?


Yes. It's been purchased only around a month ago, and I have three year labor and one year parts warranty.


Maximum turbo core clock
2,147,483,647 MHz

I just want to point out that they managed to overclock to 2 billion Mhz. I didn't notice that before. Seems like the processor is damaged and these tests were legitimate.

I unselected the current answer because it was a false accusation. After examining the facts, we determined that they did not abuse your hardware. In fact, the hardware is at stock speeds and reporting invalid clocks, which indicates a hardware problem or potentially WMI.
This is appropriate troubleshooting, IMHO.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 13, 2014 11:10:32 PM

I see you point. But I do have some questions.

1. If the problem is the cpu then why did the achievement happen when it was sent to service, not when the OP first ran the 3dmark

2. Do the techs have any business logging into his steam account? Do they know he has 3dmark? Do they not have tools of their own.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 14, 2014 9:43:45 AM

1. The CPU gave a reading of 2 Billion Mhz. That's scientifically impossible. They potentially tried a different CPU to see if they would get the same results regarding the CPU overheating. That reading is impossible though, it cannot be accurate. It's clearly a mistake, could even be caused by packet loss when sending the data to 3D mark.

2. It's easy to tell what programs he has installed. The Steam account automatically logs in by default, and 3D Mark is a great tool for benchmarking and troubleshooting. I imagine if they didn't use his already installed applications, they would been required to install something themselves. Most likely a time saving strategy.
Could also be an older tech who does not really understand what Steam is.
m
0
l
a b K Overclocking
a b à CPUs
May 14, 2014 9:53:27 AM

You would be surprised at the number of complaints I've heard about CyberPower over the years. It is to the point that I warn peole away from them. If they don't want to or can't build there own, there are plenty of decent custom builders out there.
m
0
l
August 4, 2014 2:54:51 PM

Do NOT buy from CyberpowerPC. Yes, their prices are actually quite nice but if you have to RMA something odds are you going to get fleeced and have something inferior sent back to you. They did it to me twice and if you google it you will find 100s of others talking about it...even on their OWN forums!
m
1
l
!