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Budget gaming machines like the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A are always a good option for anyone just getting into PC gaming while keeping a reasonable budget. This particular model features an AMD CPU and GPU, which helps keep costs down while still offering reliable 1080p gaming performance.
The Gamer Master GMA3100A is a no-frills budget gaming PC through and through – among the few budget gaming PCs that have remained appealing since launch – so don’t expect the latest hardware or top-tier gameplay, but the design and styling remain superb; it’s the same you’d find on some of the latest pre-built gaming PCs. On the plus side, the case is compact and looks great with a transparent glass front and side panels.
The CyberPowerPC Gamer Master reviewed here is one of the best budget prebuilt gaming PCs for running games at medium to high settings at a 1080p resolution. And its case size makes it great for upgrades later on when you need something faster. While it gets a decent number of ports, I just wish it had USB-C ports to compete with the latest rigs around; still, it’s a nice option for budget-minded gamers.
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A Specs
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- Graphics Card: Radeon RX 6400 (4GB)
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 500GB SSD
- Ports: 5 x USB 3.1 | 4 x USB 2.0 | 1x RJ-45 Network Ethernet 10/100/1000 | 802.11AC Wi-Fi | Audio: 7.1 Channel
- Video output: 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
Design & Features
CyberpowerPC’s Gamer Master GMA3100A is, in many ways, a nice-looking mid-tower, though it’s compact enough to fit on most desks. The chassis is a black metallic box with glass on the front to showcase your RGB fans and a tempered glass side panel to show off the beautiful internals and cable work.
At 23.23 x 22.09 x 13.43 inches and weighing 34.7 pounds, the Gamer Master is fairly compact. The Alienware Aurora R14, newly redesigned to be a more conventional size, is 23.2 x 8.86 x 20.1 inches, slightly smaller. To access the system’s internal components, you need to remove the transparent side panel that’s held in place by thumbscrews, and you’re done.
Port selection is decent, but not excellent, since the machine lacks a USB Type-C port that’s becoming standard in both laptops and desktop PCs. Front access ports are located on the top of the machine. They include two USB Type-A ports, microphone jacks, a headphone jack, a power button, a reset button, and a drive activity light-up.
Around the back, there are an additional six USB ports, two legacy PS/2 ports for older mice/keyboards, and audio jacks. On the Radeon RX 6400 graphics card, there are DisplayPort and HDMI connections for multi-monitor setups.
Gaming Performance
Our CyberpowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A desktop has an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 processor, a 4GB AMD Radeon RX 6400 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 500GB SSD. It’s well-equipped for mainstream gaming and content creation. The Radeon RX 6400 GPU plays Assassin’s Creed Valhalla at 1080p at 54 fps on average, which is 8% faster than the GTX 1650, still far from what you get with the latest Nvidia RTX 5000 Series GPUs.
The Gamer Master’s performance is behind recently released prebuilt gaming PCs like the iBuyPower SlateMeshA5N4601 with an AMD Ryzen 5 and the Skytech Shadow with an AMD Ryzen 7; both have an RTX 4060 graphics card that gives them an edge over our review model. The Master GMA3100A is the cheapest in this category, costing just under $800, and you can always find it on sale.
The similar load-outs of these competing machines translate to similar results in benchmark tests, where the Master GMA3100A stays behind the competition due to the 2022-released Radeon RX 6400 GPU, which doesn’t match up to the RTX 4060 in the iBuyPower and the Skytech.
CyberPowerPC’s Gamer Master GMA3100A is surprisingly well-rounded, especially for 1080p gaming
In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest quality preset), the CyberPowerPC’s 53 fps at 1080p is still below the standard 60 fps, but that’s almost the same performance you get with the Nvidia GTX 1650-powered machines.
Horizon Zero Dawn (Favor Quality) registers similarly close results, the Gamer Master GMA3100A averaging 46 fps at 1080p, but the iBuyPower fares better with 143fps, which is expected from the RTX 4060 GPU.
With Far Cry 6 (Medium Quality), you get RX 570-like performance, a little slower than the GTX 1650, but that’s common for budget systems. With just 51 fps on average, this is decent for a budget machine, but a newer card will yield better fps even on modern titles.
Used as a productivity machine, the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A is a capable machine that’s more than usable for content creation and can handle some light video editing. Plus, the spacious case design makes for a good productivity machine that will fit on a small desk, provided you can look beyond the RGB lighting on the case.
CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A Review: Verdict
In a lot of ways, I think the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA3100A is a good enough first gaming and productivity PC for someone looking to play at 1080p and nothing more. For less money than you’d spend on mainstream gaming PCs, you get the brawn of an AMD Radeon RX 6400 in a sleek, well-crafted, and upgradeable case that lights and looks great on any desk.
The case itself is easy to open when you’re ready to try your hand at an upgrade (more RAM and storage would be a good start), but even if you never upgrade it, this PC has enough power to play AAA titles at good framerates without breaking the bank. Plus, it arrives meticulously packaged with a serviceable mouse and keyboard in a single box that’s easy to open.
But if you’re looking for more power out of a prebuilt gaming PC, there’s the CyberPowerPC Gamer Master GMA2700A, which offers even better gaming performance with an AMD Ryzen 5 7600 CPU and Nvidia RTX 4060 (8GB) for just over one grand. It offers more wiggle room both as a gaming and productivity machine, better than you’re getting with the Radeon graphics card.
If you’re shopping on a tight budget, however, the Gamer Master GMA3100A is easily one of the most appealing budget options to get you into PC gaming, at least for now.
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