PC games in the living room don’t get better than on CyberPower’s Syber Vapor

Highs

• Works as a viable console replacement out of the box
• Solid connectivity
• Performs well for its price
• Offers numerous customization options

Lows

• Initial cost might seem prohibitive to the console faithful
• Still stumbles in the most demanding games

With the Winter Steam Sale in full swing, there are a few questions that are fresh on the minds of PC gamers. What happened to the release of Steam OS? Why is Big Picture such an unstable mess? And when, if ever, will we see our first glimpse of Half Life 3?

While the first two are up to interpretation and the third will probably only be answered after the Second Coming, the missing answers haven’t been enough to stop the influx of party-ready PC/console hybrids that have shown up just in time for Santa to leave one under the tree.

Steam OS or no, the CyberPower’s Syber Vapor is well equipped to do the job it’s built to accomplish. With a 3.5GHz Core i3 processor, eight gigabytes of DDR3 RAM, a GTX 750Ti graphics card and one terabyte of available storage, the Vapor I is prepped for anything you have to throw its way and proves there’s might be something to PC/console hybrids after all.

Chunky, but loveable

The first thing we noticed about the Vapor I is that of the various Steam Machines we’ve reviewed over the past few weeks, this PC is considerably heavier than its cousins. At a shelf-crunching 36 pounds, the Vapor will be a hefty addition to anyone’s collection, though once it’s installed you won’t have any reason to move it again.

Measuring 13.8” long, 13.5” across, and 3.8” deep when laid on its side, the Vapor is a bit chunkier than most other entries in its class and noticeably larger than both the Xbox One and PS4. It’s still quite small for a gaming PC, though, and fits well enough in most home theaters.

Green LEDs line the Vapor’s exterior but fortunately aren’t bright enough be an annoyance, and while the case itself isn’t exactly sleek, the functionality this rig provides overrides our minor gripes about the system’s size and weight. It’s a simple, functional unit that looks slick without overdoing its style.

Ports! Ports! Get yer ports here

Connectivity is just the first of many areas the Vapor shines brighter than Rudolph’s nose. Let’s start with video. HDMI 1.4 and DVI-D are supported by the video card, which means the Vapor can handle resolutions up to 1440p.

Next to the video outputs we found four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0, and an array of audio output and input options powered by a Realtek 7.1 channel surround sound chip integrated into the motherboard.

BY CHRIS STOBING