Cyberpower or Velocity Micro?

[imported_Wish]

Howdy,

I'm currently computer shopping and need some advice. I'm looking to purchase a multi-purpose gaming system from a company instead of building it myself, and have narrowed it down to two: Velocity Micro, and Cyberpower.

When I configure the same AMD 64 X2 4400 system on both sites with almost identical hardware and software, the Velocity Micro is about $3000+, and the Cyberpower is about $2300.

Cyberpower provides more options to choose from on their site, but Velocity Micro does provide a good many (probably just as many as I need).

I've read numerous articles on each company and their products, leaving me with the following impression:

Cyberpower reviews tend to be good to poor. Their systems are less expensive (which is nice), but their customer service and support sound consistently horrible (I don't know as much about fixing computers as I would like, and value support).

Velocity Micro company reviews tend to be extremely good. Their systems cost more (tough on an art teacher's salary), but their professionalism, customer service, and customer satisfaction are very impressive.

Both companies have systems in 'top ten' rankings on popular PC websites.

Should I go with the much cheaper and potentially troublesome Cyberpower, or the solid and much more expensive Velocity Micro?

Thanks for any input.

* wish *

 

[EagleEye]

You kinda answered you own question there. I think you need to determine if the extra $700 is worth the customer service. To me, it isn't, but it is more an individual question that you need to anwser yourself.

 

[phaxmohdem]

Check out Boxx Technologies. I think you'll find a good comromise on price/support/quality there. If I were going to purchase a pre-built higher end system, you can bet your bottom dollar it'd be from them.

 

[Ken90630]

I don't know too much about either company, but I do know this: It costs good money to pay competent, professional support staff to man tech support phones. Particularly if it's 24/7. I believe this is one of the reasons why Apple computers cost so much -- their customer support is consistently rated head & shoulders above all other computer companies. Presumably it's because they pay their people well and their people perform accordingly. Are their computers still overpriced from a hardware standpoint? Yes, but they'd be less so if you weren't also paying for the privilege of having great support if/when you need it. Quality support personnel deserve to be paid decently, and that pay has to come from somewhere. So it comes from us, the consumers, in the form of a higher initial purchase price that gives them enough profit to use to pay their quality people with. This is my hypothesis, anyway.

By contrast, anyone who's ever bought a bargain-basement machine from some of the well known companies for $400 or something, and then needed tech support, will prolly vouch for the fact that the tech support for that "$400 computer" is often pretty lacking. The reason for that should be obvious.

Having said that, my guess is that maybe you're paying more up front with Velocity Micro for the same reason. Perhaps that 'better' tech support is built into the initial price. And I do remember reading, I think, that VM's tech support is here in the states rather than India or some other offshore locale. Assuming you're here in the states, that would be a good thing.

Whether or not having the option of 'better' tech support (if indeed it is) is worth an extra $700, I dunno. That's your call. My guess is you'll get some other responses here saying to go with the cheaper machine from Cyberpower and just use the Anandtech forums as your free tech support. There are pro's & cons to that as well.

Even though you said you've narrowed your choice down to those two, you might consider Monarch Computer in Georgia if you haven't already. My guess is that they'd prolly beat either of your other vendor choices by quite a bit in price. And they have a pretty decent reputation for tech support as well. Parts options might not be as plentiful, however. I dunno.

Hope this provides some useful food for thought.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Ken90630
I believe this is one of the reasons why Apple computers cost so much -- their customer support is consistently rated head & shoulders above all other computer companies.

:Q

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: Ken90630
I believe this is one of the reasons why Apple computers cost so much -- their customer support is consistently rated head & shoulders above all other computer companies.

:Q

Are you questioning that statement, or ????

:Q

EDIT: After further thought, perhaps I should have said, "... consistently rated head & shoulders above the well-known, big box vendors like Dell, Gateway, Compaq, Sony, eMachines, et al." That's actually what I meant, as those are the companies Apple always smokes in the reader surveys in computer magazines, Consumer Reports, etc. The margins are usually pretty significant.

I'm certainly no Apple fanboy, but they couldn't have the reputation they have for tech support if it was poor. Just look how much Dell's reputation has suffered the last few years with regards to their tech support. Word travels fast.

 

[daniel1113]

Yes, I am questioning that statement. In all of the reviews I have read, Apple is usually rated in the top tier for support, but I have never seen a review that placed Apple "heads and shoulders" above any of the big-name vendors. Link?

 

[phaxmohdem]

I question your questioning as questionable at best. Now back to the question at hand...

 

[imported_Wish]

Now I'm thinking of just building it myself. However, I have zero (zero) >zero< *zero* experience with that; I have never removed a side panel from a computer. But! It seems like a fun project, and ya' have to learn somehow. Or I'll chicken out and buy it from one of those vendors. Either way, I've got about $2300 I'd like to spend on one.

* wish *

 

[phaxmohdem]

Might as well. There are plenty of people here wiling to help you out shoudl hit hit a snag or have a question.

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Yes, I am questioning that statement. In all of the reviews I have read, Apple is usually rated in the top tier for support, but I have never seen a review that placed Apple "heads and shoulders" above any of the big-name vendors. Link?

Heh heh, I figured you were gonna say something like that. Naturally, I don't happen to have any links at hand, and I'm up to my eyeballs in home improvement projects right now so I don't really have time to dig some up. But since I will appear evasive if I just say, "trust me -- I know what I've read many times," I will make an effort to find some survey links when I get time. What I'm talking about is large reader surveys (tens of thousands of people) done by various computer magazines and also Consumer Reports, for the last few years, so they've all been in magazines rather than online. If I can find links to some surveys that are available online, I'll post 'em or PM you with them.

I will also say that I don't (ever) post statements like that for no reason. If I hadn't seen the aformentioned results over & over & over again, I would not have posted what I did. In fact, I have never seen a customer support survey in the last three years where Apple didn't smoke every other company in the survey. But I can't force you to take my word for it, so we can always just agree to disagree if necessary.

Again, though, I'll see what I can dig up when I get time. Or, you could expend the effort and maybe just Google "computer tech support survey" or "computer support survey" or the like. If you can find a credible survey that shows Apple not smoking the competition, I'd be interested to see it. I mean really, who's gonna even come close? Dell? Hah! Not since they outsourced support to India. Gateway? Double hah! eMachines? Pleeeeze. Sony? I think not. Compaq? :laugh: :laugh:

Ken

PS: Before anyone new to this thread falsely accuses me of being an Apple "fanboy," read my previous posts. I am not an Apple fanboy in any way -- I'm simply defending their reputation for top-notch customer support (that admittedly costs a king's ransom).

EDIT: I sincerely apologize for sort of hijacking this thread. I hate when others do that, and it wasn't my intention. Hope I can be forgiven.

 

[xgsound]

Always check with http://www.resellerratings.com/index.pl before using a online vendor.

For DIY the vendors used most here are: newegg.com, zipzoomfly.com, and monarchcomputers.com.

With HP and Emachines offering AMD64 units from $500 skt 754 3400+ to $900 skt 939 X2 3800+ at national retail outlets, even they have to be considered. For gaming they take a 6600GT for sure before a PS upgrade is required as I understand it. Even with a $100 PS plus your a higher end video card, that's not $2300. Jezz, you could get two and have change.

It's not as much fun though!


Jim