Cryo Nemesis System Review (Sandybridge, 4.8ghz)

Many experienced enthusiast users would claim that you can never buy a prebuilt system that is as good as one you can make yourself. As a rule of thumb, this is certainly very true. For example, I have my own way of doing things, and I have specific routines I set in place for every system I build. I am not claiming its rocket science, but there is a clear distinction between being able to build a rig and being able to build something very special.

Cryo are a UK system builder who are at the very top of their game. They select the right components, they then put them together in a careful and cohesive manner, and they clearly take time in routing the cables and ensuring that everything is exactly the way it should be.

The biggest failing of any system builder is sloppy attention to detail in the bios, and I often find a page with a setting which is either wrong, or poorly tuned.

Cryo have a routine in place which works well. They spend time selecting a series of components and they work out bios settings to the nth degree. After the bios settings are tweaked and tuned, every system is hand tailored to the specific hardware installed. Every processor will have slightly different voltage and overclocking demands. How good is this routine? well after tweaking this machine myself for a full afternoon, I could find no setting that could be improved.

Sure, this system could be pushed further, by another 200mhz … to 5ghz, but the temperatures rose to a level that could potentially cause long term hardware issues. Cryo are aware that the 5ghz figure needs more cooling than the modest H70 can deliver, and they will offer the option, at extra cost. So 5ghz is possible, but I was able to see why in this instance that the system wasn't pushed any higher. There is no point chasing a clock rating to try and sell more systems, if they fail after 9 months. Next time you see an advert for a Sandybridge system at 5ghz with a £20 cooler installed, remember what I said.

It is this fine ‘balancing act' that ensures Cryo may often be copied in the UK but rarely matched. I have said before that Cryo are the finest system builder in the country and I will reiterate it today.

The selection of components in this build is inspired, because for the asking price, I can think of no better selection. Corsair memory, liquid cooler and 80 plus gold certified power supply. A 1TB storage drive, with Crucial 128GB C300 SSD as the OS/boot drive. Beautiful Lian Li case with windowed mod.

I would even go as far to say, that for the price, this is pretty much as good a system as you could buy and certainly built to a standard that would satisfy even the most demanding enthusiast user. This is worthy of our highest award.

Would I change anything? Yes, I would, I was slightly disappointed with the Lian Li case fans in the PC-8FIR. I never remember them being this loud before but I can only assume that my ears have tuned to the ultra expensive Lian Li X2000F which is the greatest chassis on the market. If you have the cash, then get Cryo to build this system into the X2000F, I am sure they will oblige.

You can buy directly from Cryo PC over here.

Pros:

• beautiful case colour and window mod
• inspired choice of components with no weaknesses
• price is very competitive, especially with the 3 year return to base warranty
• bios is expertly tuned

Cons:

• chassis is a little louder than I could live with 24/7. fans could be changed easily enough.

Kitguru says: The finest system build we have seen at this price.

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