CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA882 Review – Entry-Level Gaming with Limitations

Today we’re checking out the Gamer Ultra GUA882, another entry-level prebuilt gaming computer by CyberpowerPC. They have actually recently updated this offering with a slightly better processor so we’ve updated our review as well.

If this is your first prebuilt gaming computer purchase, or you’re just new to computer hardware, it can be a bit tricky to know whether or not something is good. Which is why we’ll be taking a detailed look at all the hardware of the GUA882 in this review, so you can get a better idea of what its good and bad points are before you buy.

Name: CyberpowerPC Gaming Ultra GUA882 Desktop Gaming PC
Date First Available: January 2017 (From Amazon)
Category: Gaming Computer
Price: 

 from Amazon

CyberpowerPC GUA882 Gaming Desktop PC Review

The Gamer Ultra GUA882 by CyberpowerPC is a complete budget gaming computer package, in a pretty showy RGB case with a tempered glass side so you can see all the hardware inside. It comes complete with a gaming keyboard and mouse and Windows 10 operating system.

Note that the GUA882 we are reviewing today actually has nearly identical specifications to the GUA883 model – the only difference between these two computers being the case, presence or absence of an optical drive versus wi-fi adapter, and the amount of RAM. So be sure to consider both options and choose the one that works best for you.

CyberpowerPC GUA882 Review
4/10

PCBA's Rating

It’s at the right price for an entry level gaming computer, but performance value for your money is something the GUA882 doesn’t come with. The older CPU and graphics card mean that this PC will underperform compared to computers that have more modern hardware. It is still capable of playing many games, but you’ll need to get used to playing at lower resolutions and/or on lower settings.

 
⊕ Statement case with LED lighting
⊕ Complete package includes keyboard, mouse and OS
⊕ Ready to play out-of-the-box
⊖ Old hardware which doesn’t perform that great
⊖ Possible low-quality PSU
⊖ May struggle to run newer games

The older hardware can run most games at some level, but to get playable framerates you’ll probably need to lower your screen resolution, and limit gameplay settings to low or medium.

 

GFX

Radeon R7 240 2GB

CPU

AMD FX-6300 Six core

RAM

8GB DDR3

STORAGE

1TB HDD

  • Windows 10 Home
  • 24X DVD±RW Optical Drive
  • Comes with keyboard & mouse
  • 1 year warranty
  • Free lifetime tech support
  • Tempered glass case side panel
  • RGB color changing LED case lighting
  • Read more >>

    Introduction

    We’d definitely class the GUA882 as an entry level machine. The graphics card on this computer is an entry-level model which was released in 2013, so it’s probably not going to handle that well on newer games. The processor is not bad, but also over 5 years old at the time of writing.

    If you’re looking for performance value for money, you’d definitely get better value with a do-it-yourself build (check out our $500 build for some ideas if this sounds like you).  That being said, not everyone wants to do their own computer assembly, so this computer may suit you if you’re just after a pre-assembled gaming option.
    Contents (Click to View Contents)

    Pros

    • Complete keyboard/mouse/case package
    • Prebuilt system, complete with Windows 10 preinstalled
    • Good looking case complete with tempered glass window and RGB lighting
    • Potential for future hardware upgrades
    • 1 year warranty

    Cons

    • No wireless adapter
    • Fans are a little loud and case lighting may not be as bright as pictured
    • CyberpowerPC seem to vary some hardware components, so you don’t know exactly what you’re getting
    • Poor performing graphics card
    • Possible low quality power supply used

    Who Is It For?

    The GUA882 is obviously marketed as a gaming computer, and on the surface it definitely looks like one. Unfortunately though, the hardware it comes with is aged and because of this it will probably struggle to play newer games compared to other computers which use more recent hardware.

    This PC might be a good fit for those who do want to start getting into computer gaming without caring too much about getting the best gaming performance, but do want a computer that looks the part. Just be aware that the older hardware will reach its limits running newer games.

    Who Isn’t It For?

    If you’re after a computer that can comfortably handle playing the latest titles including more demanding games, then the GUA882 is probably not for you.

    There definitely other options that have better performance, the only catch is that they may not be marketed as a ‘gaming computer’ and therefore might not look as good.

    Even some of the ‘general purpose’ desktop computers models that come with much newer hardware in them can potentially give better gaming performance than the GUA882, so these might be a better choice if you value performance more than looks.

    What You Get

    Hardware

    We’re most interested in how the GUA882 performs, so let’s take a look at the hardware inside the GUA882.

    Hardware Summary
    GFX R7 240 2GB
    CPU AMD FX-6300
    RAM 8GB DDR3
    Storage 1TB Hard Drive
    MBU AMD 760G Chipset
    PSU Unspecified

    Processor (CPU)

    The processor used in the GUA882 is the AMD FX-6300 six core processor, with a clock speed of 3.5GHz which has the ability to be overclocked up to 4.82GHz. Age-wise, it’s an older processor that was released in 2012, which means if you’re looking at purchasing this now, just keep in mind you are getting older hardware, which means it may need an upgrade sooner (particularly if you want to be playing newer games now or in the future).

    Graphics Card (GFX)

    CyberpowerPC have used AMD’s R7 240 graphics card in this computer with 2GB of integrated memory. It’s an entry-level graphics card and was released in 2013, which again makes it an older piece of hardware. Unfortunately, it’s not the best graphics card and you’ll probably have to settle for low and medium settings at best on a maximum resolution of 720p. Newer game titles and larger resolutions will probably be too demanding for this card to handle with decent framerates. The video below explains this a bit better and shows you some of the gameplay quality you can expect from the R7 240. It’s okay for entry-level gamers, but just keep in mind that you won’t be able to increase gameplay settings for most games:

    The video below explains this a bit better and shows you some of the gameplay quality you can expect from the R7 240. It’s okay for entry-level gamers, but just keep in mind that you won’t be able to increase gameplay settings for most games:

    The graphics card is the most important part of a gaming PC, but unfortunately, the R7 240 is an older card and because of this, it’s kind of a let-down for this build. The fact is you can get a much better performing card (for example the GT 1030 which was released in 2017) for only about $10 more in price, but unfortunately with a pre-built computer, you don’t get the luxury of picking your own parts.

    Memory (RAM)

    For system memory, the GUA882 comes with a total of 8 GB DDR3 RAM, which is a suitable amount for a gaming build. No issues here, although you should note that because of the older processor/motherboard combination, you won’t be able to use newer DDR4 RAM with this build unless you upgrade both the processor and motherboard as well. This is not really a problem, but if you’re planning on buying this computer with the idea of upgrading it, you’ll need to stick with the slightly older DDR3 memory type.

    CyberpowerPC don’t specify the RAM configuration that you get with this build, but usually it’s 2 x 4GB RAM sticks for a total of 8GB. CyberpowerPC don’t usually specify a particular brand of configuration of memory because this can vary with the availability of parts. Again, this isn’t usually a problem for most people, but if you’re a bit more picky about the exact model or number of RAM sticks you’re getting then it might be worth doing a DIY build.

    Most motherboards usually have 4 slots for RAM, so even if 2 are taken up with the 8GB RAM that this computer comes with, there are still two empty DIMM slots available for future upgrades if you want to put more RAM in.

    If you prefer to have more RAM, the next model up from this computer – the GUA883 – has pretty much identical hardware to the GUA882 except comes with 16GB of RAM and inbuilt wi-fi instead of the GUA882’s optical drive.

    Storage

    For storage, you get a total of 1TB storage space in the GUA882, on a 7200RPM hard drive.  7200RPM is fairly standard for a hard drive these days – the faster or higher the RPM, the faster the drive operates and will perform.

    Again, the exact brand/model of the hard drive is not specified, which probably means it may vary subject to availability. You’ll still get a 7200RPM, 1TB drive though.

    There’s also room in the case to put in more storage drives (or even a solid state drive) if you want to in the future.

    Other Inclusions

    Optical Drive
    A 24X DVD±RW Dual-Layer optical drive is included.

    Operating System 
    Windows 10 Home 64-bit comes pre-installed.

    Case
    CyberpowerPC have used the Onyx 260 case by Azza and rebranded it as their own.

    This case comes with RGB color changing lighting on the front and CyberpowerPC logo on the side – you can change it between 7 different options (white, orange, blue, green, yellow, purple, red) with the push of a button on the front panel. There’s also the option to make it flash if you’re into that kind of thing.

    It’s also been fitted out with 3 blue LED case fans in the case, so the lighting colors combine together to give a pretty cool effect. Unfortunately, you can’t change the color of the case fans inside the case, but they do provide a good amount of cooling for the components within the case. You also get a DVD read/write optical drive so it’s easy to install or run games from a disc if you need to.

    Here’s a good look at the different color options on the GUA882 case and how to change between them:

    Peripherals/Accessories
    The GUA882 package comes complete with a CyberpowerPC branded gaming keyboard and mouse.

    Support/Warranties
    CyberpowerPC offer a 1 year warranty on parts and labor, and this computer also comes with free lifetime technical support.
    Wifi (not included)
    One small annoyance to be aware of is that there’s no wireless card or adapter in this package. This means if you want internet connectivity, you’ll either have to plug in via an ethernet cable or buy a separate wireless card or adapter in order to get wireless internet connectivity.

    Performance

    Let’s take a look at the performance and benchmarks of the CyberpowerPC Gamer Ultra GUA883.

    Usage

    The GuA882 is marketed as a gaming computer, but realistically, the R7 240 graphics card in it is pretty poor by current standards. That’s not to say it’s entirely a write off because it can still handle gaming but if you want to play more demanding games you will most likely have to limit your gameplay settings to low or medium. The processor as well is an older model which CyberpowerPC tend to use in a lot of their entry-level gaming PC options.

    Users should understand though, that if you plan on playing more demanding and/or newer game titles, you’ll most likely have to limit your gameplay settings to lower or medium settings so that the processor and graphics card in the GUA882 can handle it.

    If you do plan on using this computer for more demanding games then you may find yourself being limited by the graphics card and processor in this machine. At this point, major upgrades like a newer graphics card and/or processor (and maybe motherboard) may be necessary to increase performance.

    Where it excels:
    • Playing older and less demanding game titles (circa 2013 or prior)
    • Everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, watching videos, and running office applications
    • Good amount of storage
    • Looking good with its custom case lighting
    It’s also capable of:
    • Playing some newer game titles on 780p or lower resolution (low to medium settings)
    • May be able to play less demanding games in full HD resolution with low game quality settings
    • Streaming gameplay
    May struggle with:
    • Running demanding programs (e.g. photoshop, CAD programs etc.)
    • Heavy gaming/tasking – heat management within the case may become an issue
    • High-resolution gaming (e.g. 1080p/Full HD, 4K) on medium or high settings – it’s unlikely the graphics card will be able to handle this

    <Click here to view CyberpowerPC GUA882 Reviews on Amazon>

    What Games Can It Play?

    For gaming performance, the GUA882 should be able to comfortably handle many entry level games, and by limiting the screen resolution to HD and gameplay settings to low/medium, it should be able to play all of the titles listed below to some degree:

    Assasin’s Creed Syndicate, Arma 3, Black Desert Online, Battlefield 1,   Battlefield 4, Beam.ng drive, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3, Counter-Strike: GO, CIV V, Crysis, Dark Souls, Dark Souls 3, Darwin Project, Deadpool,  Destiny 2, Dota 2,  Dead or Alive 5, Dying Light, Far Cry 4, Dead Rising 3, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,  Diablo, Dragon Ball Fighter Z, Dying Light, Fallout 4, Far Cry Primal, Final Fantasy XIV, For Honor, Fortnite,  Fortnite Battle Royale, Forza Horizon 3, FIFA 18 Ultimate Team, Forza Motorsport 6, Gears of War 4, GTA V, H1Z1, Homefront: The Revolution, Killing Floor 2,League of Legends,  Mirror’s Edge Catalyst,  Mad Max, Mass Effect: Andromeda,  Metal Gear Solid V, Minecraft, Mortal Kombat X, Naruto Shippuden, NBA 2K17, Need For Speed, Need for Speed Payback, Outlast, Outlast 2, Paladins Titanfall 2,  Rainbow Six Seige, Resident Evil Revelations 2,  Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Rust, Rocket league,  Skyrim, Starcraft, Star Wars Battlefront II,  Spintires,  Street Fighter V, Skyrim: Elder Scrolls V,  The Crew: Wild Run, The Evil Within 2, The Sims 4, Trials of the Blood Dragon, Tom Clancy’s The Division, Unravel, Unreal Tournament, World Of Warcraft, and more.

    Check out some gameplay examples on youtube of people using the FX-6300 processor and R7 240 graphics card to get an idea of what kind of gameplay experience you can expect from the GUA882:

    GTA V in HD Resolution

    Fortnite Online Gameplay

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 in HD

    Resident Evil 7: Biohazard in HD

    Just keep in mind that because of the entry-level R7 240 graphics card, you can’t expect to be able to play on high settings for all games without experiencing lag or low framerates.

    If this becomes a problem, you can upgrade the graphics card, but within limits. Because this is a entry-level computer, putting in an expensive graphics card might not be the best idea as you’ll most likely then be limited by the FX-6300 processor. In this case, you’d be better off doing a graphics card and processor upgrade at the same time.

    Upgradeability

    Being an entry level computer, the GUA882 probably wasn’t designed with upgrades in mind, but it is possible if users choose to work with this computer as a base for future upgrades. Let’s take a look at some possible upgrade pathways.

    Recommended Upgrades (Short Term/Immediate)

    The GUA882 doesn’t really need any upgrades out of the box, although we would recommend maybe replacing the power supply unit, which could likely be a cheaper brand. It can be worth swapping this out for a more reputable brand as we’ve heard many stories about low-quality supplies failing catastrophically and damaging other parts of hardware at the same time. If you feel the need, a wireless adapter could be useful as well.

    • Wireless adapter installation
      Since it doesn’t come with wireless connectivity out of the box, a USB wireless adapter like this one is one of the easiest ways to get the GUA882 connected wirelessly.
    • Power Supply Replacement/Upgrade
      You may want to research into the brand of PSU that your computer comes with and if it looks like it could be dodgy, then replace it. Check out our guide for replacing a PSU if you don’t want to risk possible damage from having a low-quality power supply unit fail. EVGA is a brand of PSU that we’d recommend as their products come with a great warranty.

    Future Upgrade Pathways

    Other upgrades that you may want to think about will depend on your budget and performance that you are trying to gain.

    For the GUA882, the hardware that will limit you the most is probably the graphics card, followed by the CPU processor. Upgrading to a newer graphics card is easy, but the performance by the upgraded card that you install would probably then be bottlenecked by the older processor that is in the GUA882.

    If you then wanted to upgrade the CPU in the GUA882, you might also need to upgrade to a motherboard that is compatible with your new CPU as well, which also would mean upgrading to the latest RAM standard. These kind of quickly mounting costs are one major reason why it is better to start with the most modern hardware you can from the beginning.

    • Upgrade graphics card
      The R7 240 is the most limiting factor on the GUA882, so in order to boost performance you might want to put in a more recent budget video card that offers great performance, like the GT 1030

     

    • CPU upgrade
      The older FX-6300 processor is the next item for upgrade after you swap the R7 240 graphics card to a more powerful card. If you choose to upgrade the CPU, it will likely require you to upgrade the motherboard as well due to slot compatibility (and also the RAM because the existing DDR3 RAM may not be compatible with newer DDR4 RAM types required by newer CPUs and motherboards).

    Other Upgrade Considerations

    As we already mentioned, the amount of money that you need to spend to update the GUA882 to newer hardware quickly can get out of hand where you could end up spending the same amount to buy an entirely new computer. This is why it’s important to consider the age of hardware that comes in any prebuilt PC before you buy it.

    Pricing/Value

    Overall, CyberpowerPC’s GUA882 is okay value for money, although the GUA883 model seems to be slightly better value for money due to the larger RAM it comes with. At the time of writing you would probably need to spend the same amount or more just to buy the individual hardware components to put together this PC yourself (and that’s not even including the labor to assemble it and extra costs like an operating system).

    The only problem we have with recommending the GUA882 is that you can get much more gaming performance for this amount of money – by choosing a PC that doesn’t use older hardware, you can get a lot better gaming performance with the same budget.

    So while the GUA882 is not an unfair deal, it just doesn’t make sense to us to use 5+ year old hardware in a new prebuilt PC, even if it is an entry-level offering.

    Alternative Products

    Unfortunately, it seems that may other entry-level prebuilt gaming PCs are all using older hardware like the R7 240 graphics card, so there aren’t many good options out there.

    If you do like the GUA882, it might be worth also considering the nearly identical GUA883 model, which comes a sleeker-looking case, double the amount of RAM, and in-built wi-fi, but no optical drive.

    If you’re seeking better performance for the money and are willing to sacrifice looks, we’d recommend checking out something like the HP Pavilion Desktop Computer. Although it doesn’t look like much, it has a better processor and the integrated graphics on this  PC outperform both the FX-6300 and the R7 240 by a decent amount.We’d guess that gaming performance from this PC out of the box would be similar if not better than the GUA882 (especially with some extra RAM put into it).

     

    GUA882’s hardware performance benchmarks versus this similarly priced HP Pavilion tower. Source: CP Benchmark and Video Card Benchmarks

    Summary/Overall Impressions

    CyberpowerPCs Gamer Ultra GUA882  is an entry-level gaming computer that most people do seem happy with, but after taking a closer look at the hardware that it comes with we think you can definitely get a better performing computer for your money. The R7 240 graphics card is low-end and old, and the FX-6300 processor that it comes with is also getting old – meaning that it will struggle to play newer game titles as it’s just not up to spec.  However, it does come in a flashy-looking case and can comfortably handle most entry-level games. If you’re interested in better performance for your money, we think that a better option could be to start with something like the TC-780 and save up for a newer graphics card to put into it. Alternatively if you’re really wanting to get the best bang for your buck you can always build your own gaming computer from scratch by following our $500 gaming PC build.

    Despite the above, for entry-level gamers who are looking for a nice-looking prebuilt computer, the GUA882 delivers and will run most games at an acceptable level. We would recommend doing a power supply upgrade to protect your purchase and maybe even a graphics card and processor upgrade further down the line if you want to take your gaming to the next level though.

    If you are able to save a few hundred more dollars, there is a CyberpowerPC computer that we do recommend and does offer good performance – although its a little more expensive. If this sounds interesting to you, be sure to check out our full review of the GXiVR8020A5 here!

    <Click here to view the CyberpowerPC GUA882 on Amazon>

    Reference: Other Specifications

    Show details

    CyberpowerPC have mentioned that the PCs they build can change from time to time and the exact brand of some hardware components change based on the availability of parts. This is a bit of a downside from our perspective, as you may not know exactly what you’re getting in terms of parts – but this may not bother the majority of users (since you’ll always get at a minimum the parts they’ve specified details for).

    The specifications below are based on the best information available on this product that we could find at the time of writing but bear in mind this may vary if CyberpowerPC adjust their offering.

    Model Number:

    GUA882

    Operating System:

    Windows 10 Home

    CPU:

    AMD FX-6300 six core 3.5 GHz.  AMD 760G Chipset

    Graphics:

    Graphics Card: R7 240 2GB graphics card

    Full graphics card specifications can be found here.

    Motherboard:

    GUA882 is advertised with the following connectivity options:

     8 x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | Audio: 7.1 Channel | Keyboard and Mouse 

    CyberpowerPC appears to use different motherboards in this computer depending on availability of parts.

    The specs below are for the Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 which is the most recent motherboard we’ve seen used in this computer. If the particular motherboard used is important to you, we’d recommend confirming this with the seller which one you’ll be getting before purchasing on Amazon.

    CPU: AM3+ Socket

    Chipset: AMD® 760G+SB710

    Form Factor: Micro ATX – 24.4cm(L) x 24.4cm(W)

    Memory: 4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets supporting up to 32 GB of system memory (supports 1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 MHz memory modules)

    Expansion Slots: 1 x PCIe x16 (Gen 2),  1 x PCIe x1, 1 x PCI

    Output Support: 1 x D-SUB, 1 x DVI, 1 x HDMI (from onboard graphics), supporting a maximum resolution of 1920×1200

    Audio: VIA® VT2021 codec

    Gigabit LAN: Realtek® GbE LAN chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)

    SATA: 6 x SATA 3Gb/s connectors supporting up to 6 SATA 3Gb/s devices

    IDE: 1 x IDE connector supporting ATA-133/100/66/33 and up to 2 IDE devices

    USB: Up to 8 USB 2.0/1.1 ports ; Up to 4 USB 3.0/2.0 ports

    Internal I/O connectors:
    • 1 x ATX 24-pin power connector
    • 1 x ATX 8-pin 12V power connector
    • CPU x 1 / System x 1 FAN connectors
    • 1 x Front panel audio connector
    • 1 x Front panel connector
    • 1 x IDE connector
    • 2 x USB 2.0 / 1.1 connectors; 1 x USB 3.0/2.0 connector
    • 6 x Serial ATA 3Gb/s connectors
    • 1 x Serial port connector
    • 1 x Clear CMOS jumper
    • 1 x Parallel port connector
    • 1 x S/PDIF Out header

    Details above were taken from here.

    Back I/O ports:

    1 x PS/2 keyboard/ mouse port
    2 x USB 3.0/2.0 ports
    4 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
    1 x HDMI port
    1 x DVI-D port
    1 x RJ45 LAN jack
    1 x 3 audio jacks (Line In/Line Out/Microphone)

    Case Front I/O Ports:

    2 or 3 x USB 2.0 (The case has 4 USB ports total. The CSAZ-260 case has 3 USB2.0 and the CSAZ-260X has 2 USB2.0 ports)
    1 or 2 x USB 3.0 (The case has 4 USB ports total. The CSAZ-260 case has 1 USB3.0 and the CSAZ-260X has 2 USB3.0 ports)
    1 x Microphone
    1 x Headphone (HD Audio)

    Full case specifications can be viewed here.

    Memory:

    Internal memory: 2 x  4 GB DDR3

    Storage:

    Total storage capacity: 1000 GB, Storage media: HDD, Hard drive interface: SATA. 7200rpm

    Power Supply:

    Unspecified (but reported by other users to be 500W)

    Wireless:

    Nil

    Optical Drive:

    24 x DVD±RW Dual-Layer Drive

    Dimensions/Weight:

    7.8 (W) x 18.6 (H) x 17.6 (D) inches

    28.3 pounds

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