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SYBER Launches Vapor Xtreme Console With GTX 980 GPU

By - Source: Syber | B 18 comments

CYBERPOWERPC subsidiary SYBER introduced the Vapor Xtreme gaming console packed with Nvidia's freshly-baked GeForce GTX 980 graphics card. This "console" could have been deemed as a Steam Machine had it included SteamOS and the Steam Controller; however, this machine arrives with Windows 8.1 (64-bit) and Logitech's F710 Wireless Gamepad, and it boots directly into Steam's Big Picture mode.

"Thanks to the use of standard off the shelf components, with the SYBER Vapor line of PC Gaming consoles, you will never be locked in to your hardware specifications and experience degraded performance as games become more demanding," the press release said.

The specifications show that the default configuration includes Intel's quad-core Core i7-4790K clocked at 4 GHz, Nvidia's GeForce GTX 980 with 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, 8 GB of DDR3-1600 MHz memory and a 1 TB 7200 RPM SATA 3 hard drive. Powering this "console" is a 450 watt power supply.

The "Xtreme" model also comes equipped with one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports and an audio/microphone jack on the front. On the back, the device includes headphone and SPDIF HD audio jacks, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 4.1 output and a DVI-D port. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to a wired network, and it has Wireless N connectivity.

If the cost of the Vapor Xtreme is out of your price range for a console, the company also offers the Vapor A for $599.99. This model includes an AMD Athlon X4 740 CPU clocked at 3.2 GHz, an AMD Radeon R9 270 graphics card with 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, 4 GB of DDR3-1600 MHz memory and a 500 GB SATA 3 hard drive. This rig is powered by a 250 watt power supply, and it comes with Windows 8.1 and the Logitech controller.

There's also the Vapor I, which costs $100 more than the "A" model. This machine packs an Intel Core i3 processor clocked at 3.5 GHz and Nvidia's Geforce GTX 750Ti with 2 GB of GDDR5 VRAM. Other hardware features include 8 GB of DDR3-1600 MHz memory, a 1 TB SATA 3 hard drive and a 250 watt power supply. Like the other two, this "console" includes Windows 8.1 and the Logitech controller.

The company also stresses that customers can modify the base configuration through CYBERPOWER PC's VenomX service. Customers can change the CPU and the graphics card, add memory and more. However, the SYBER website shows the Vapor Xtreme as "coming soon" whereas the other two can be pre-purchased now. The release date for the Vapor I and Vapor A is October 27, 2014.

The company points out that Vapor Xtreme will be ready for the Linux-based SteamOS platform whenever it becomes available, meaning this console is waiting patiently to become an official Steam Machine. But don't expect that to happen until 2015, as Valve is currently trying to spit-polish the Steam Controller for mass consumption.

That said, you can download SteamOS already, but Valve recommends that the majority of gamers wait until the platform is ready for the general public.

Follow Kevin Parrish @exfileme. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

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  • 0 Hide
    gallovfc , September 19, 2014 12:43 PM
    Why don't you guys set similar machines to test the performance of these consoles ? Then you can left the controller/form factor aspect to it's launch !
    You guys should even set a Core i5 with a GTX770 as a fouth option. ;-)
  • 4 Hide
    jkhoward , September 19, 2014 12:58 PM
    Wait.. you didn't even list the price of this device? Then you said if the price is to much they offer a lower-end AMD console..?
  • 2 Hide
    Lamontiego , September 19, 2014 1:46 PM
    $1499.99 for the Syber Vapor Xtreme
  • Add your comment Display all 18 comments.
  • 2 Hide
    Lamontiego , September 19, 2014 1:56 PM
    Honestly, this is a really good deal if you add up all the parts for a home build type. I would buy it if I had the need. The only issue may be quality in choosing budget parts. A 450 power supply seems incorrect for this type of hardware.
  • 1 Hide
    fonzy , September 19, 2014 3:57 PM
    $1499.99 I almost spit my drink out on my monitor! No one is going to spend that much money on a steam machine. I almost think Valve would have been better off building there own dedicated machine which they could probably get discounted prices on hardware from having a lot more made and then go with a $500-$600 pricepoint.
  • 0 Hide
    Innocent_Bystander , September 19, 2014 4:41 PM
    $1500 is not too bad. I just priced something similar with a Core i5 and a Silverstone Raven case & 600W SFX PSU... it came out almost exactly $1500

    Having said that, the takeaway from this article is that the card is comfortable with a 450W power supply, as opposed to the specced 500W. I suspected as much, but it's nice to see a company doing some testing on it.

    It'd be better with a 600W though... less noise from the PSU fan under load.

    And that God awful LED light on the front... someone didn't think this was going in dark living rooms, apparently.

    That's why I build my own.
  • 2 Hide
    antemon , September 19, 2014 10:37 PM
    i know pretty much everyone is gonna say "hurrduur I can make the same PC for a fraction of the price"

    counterpoint 1: you also get a warranty from the manufacturer

    counterpoint 2: that is one snazzy looking case...
  • 2 Hide
    HKILLER , September 19, 2014 11:20 PM
    GTX 970 has a much better value compared to 980 unless you really wanna go 4K...
  • 0 Hide
    Marco Washa , September 20, 2014 12:35 AM
    A very good machine :) 
    Is there a typo in the "HDMI 4.1"? Is it a 1.4, ins't it?
  • -1 Hide
    Menigmand , September 20, 2014 11:28 AM
    A case so ugly it's an excrement to the eye
  • 1 Hide
    mont35 , September 20, 2014 3:46 PM
    $1.499. That shit will stay right there on the dam shelf for that price. ..SMH!!
  • 0 Hide
    alextheblue , September 20, 2014 7:12 PM
    Swap the 980 for a 970 and use the saved cash on an SSD.
  • 0 Hide
    pierrerock , September 20, 2014 9:09 PM
    Vapor I comes with an I3 and a GTX 750ti for 699$ while vapor A comes with a lesser CPU (X4 740) but with a better GPU (R9 270) for 599$

    Hum ? logic ?
  • -2 Hide
    PossumJones , September 20, 2014 10:49 PM
    This article made me throw up in my mouth, Thx Tom's
  • 0 Hide
    photonboy , September 21, 2014 8:45 PM
    $1500 is a very reasonable price.

    If you use PCPARTPICKER and try to build your own system with these specs you spend at least $1350 (including Windows and the controller).

    For the extra $100 or $150 you get a much smaller, pre-built computer that hopefully is also much quieter.

    I'd personally save almost $350 by using a GTX970 and i5-4690, then spend $60 to add a 120GB Sandisk SSD but if we just compare the specs as given it really is reasonable.

    Here's hoping for a $999 setup in the next year with a GTX970, i5 and SSD/HDD combo.
  • 0 Hide
    Adam Wykes , September 24, 2014 8:11 AM
    What reviewers don't seem to understand is that this kind of machine is WAY too powerful to be a steam machine (as are the reference steam machines Valve shipped, which is kinda funny). This is a gaming PC in a small form factor with some UI rice and a controller. What's the difference, you ask? Steam Machines, when they debut, will be targeting the lower end of the market (sub $500) in order to directly compete with the consoles their UI is designed to compete with. If Valve wanted to compete with Microsoft in the high-end space, they would made a desktop environment the default and not put so much emphasis on Big Screen mode, and instead focused on performance and an integrated, smarter Wine wrapper.

    In order to compete with consoles price-wise, you have to dodge the Windows tax. That's what the SteamOS is designed to do, and it succeeds it enables OEMs to build systems with a controller included that beat all next-gen platforms at sub $500 price points. Nothing else matters, because SteamOS can't compete at the mid- or high-end of the market - it simply lacks the compatibility of Windows.
  • 0 Hide
    ludogiuly , September 25, 2014 7:16 AM
    I was wondering if my 450 power supply could handle a gtx980. I guess this means yes... unless they underclocked it a little bit??...

    Also, what about my i5 4570? Should be fine right?
  • 0 Hide
    fcabanski , October 7, 2014 11:56 AM
    A similar build is around $1300 with a larger HD, larger SSD, and more RAM. As for the warranty, all the parts are warrantied by the manufacturers. Paying $1500 for that machine is paying too much.
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