Gaming System Review: Überclok's Ion

By Thomas Soderstrom
published

Conclusion

The Überclok Ion pushed some impressive performance numbers in a few benchmarks, but was completely obliterated by our “home built” system in others. And this is where we must tell you that it wasn’t a completely fair comparison.

The problem, of course, is that when we overclocked our system, we forfeited the warranty on all affected components. Conversely, Überclok’s price reflects a warranty policy that covers not just parts, but shipping in both directions. A few service deliveries could easily wipe-out any profits Überclok made on the original sale, and that fact puts enormous pressure on the company to deliver a system that remains reliable for a full three years. Your $1,760 buys $1,100+ in components and a $600 insurance policy against any potential problems.

Naturally, experienced system builders will likely look past the Ion’s warranty coverage, choosing to spend that extra money on go-fast hardware. But don’t underestimate the allure of a fire-and-forget setup when you’re recommending a system to friends—especially if you’d rather not be the designated support line.

Überclok’s system configurator allows buyers to step up to a double HD 4850 CrossFireX solution, complete with X48 Express motherboard upgrade, for around $330. Such a system would have easily beaten our home-build, and the price difference is still less than $600. If you’re all about gaming, that’d be route to take for the best bang for your buck.

Überclok brings the best of what makes home-built systems special to buyers who can’t build it themselves, with three years of service and support putting value in their price structure.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • kitsilencer
    Sensible, still-under-warranty overclocking. Those words don't belong together.

    Overclocking should be about using liquid nitrogen, pushing pash 5.5GHz, and shortening the lifespan of the chip to 3 hours. Not years.

    But still, I'd buy this PC.
    Reply
  • ap90033
    Uh why worry about Three Year Warranty? WHat you do is build it then sell it after a year or two and put that $600 you would have had to use on the Above system and you have a brand new latest and greatest system.

    I do this every year or two and end up paying out of pocket $300 or so and for around 8 years now I always have a very current system in warranty...
    Reply
  • ap90033
    Oh and kit, overclocking is so much more accepted and used. A lot of people overclock a little for say a 10% gain but keep it safe...

    Why would you only want your chip to last three hours anyway? Thats STUPID! Goof...
    Reply
  • randomizer
    ap90033Why would you only want your chip to last three hours anyway?E-peen of course!
    Reply
  • kitsilencer
    Of course E-peen. Plus I'd get featured as an article.
    Reply
  • kittle
    kitsilencerOf course E-peen. Plus I'd get featured as an article.15min of fame for a chip with a 3hr lifespan?

    each to their own....
    Reply
  • ThePatriot
    Entertaining a niche market...... clever move.
    Reply
  • guyladouche
    kitsilencerSensible, still-under-warranty overclocking. Those words don't belong together.Overclocking should be about using liquid nitrogen, pushing pash 5.5GHz, and shortening the lifespan of the chip to 3 hours. Not years.But still, I'd buy this PC.
    It's warrantied by Uberclock, not by the component manufacturers--hence the addition of $600 to the price tag for the insurance (aka warranty). So if something like the CPU dies, getting it replaced (for free apparently) has nothing to do with the manufacturer.
    Reply
  • guyladouche
    It's a nice idea, but I don't see this going anywhere because of the terrible problems they could likely encounter with need for support/returns. One simple BSOD loop would require the entire rig to be shipped back for analysis (if the user isn't computer-savvy, which is likely the demographic they're aiming at). I wonder if the $600 overhead (in addition to whatever profits they make on the system as a whole) will recoup it? I remember "back in the day" when monarch computers would custom-build systems (no overclocking) and they went belly-up with all the returns and warranty-service (granted, if things are built carefully, there are rarely any needs for services after sale).
    Reply
  • skalagon
    $600 security for $1100 components is retarded. This is only usefull if the entire pc dies. However its likely that only maybe 2 parts will die completely within the 3 year warranty time and even that is a long shot. So lets say two parts die,the cpu and the hardrive and Uberclock replace them. That means youve paid $600 for two parts worth about $270 together.
    Granted the stock parts would not be overclocked but with the spare $600 you can buy a quadcore, a better gpu, a larger hardrive and better ram, so it will probly be faster. There is no point buying this pc except if you plan on spilling a pint of water onto it. (or i suppose just so you can say "it's overclocked man!")
    Reply