Skip to main content

CyberTronPC Thallium review

CybertronPC’s Thallium is like raw ore: powerful but unrefined

Cybertron PC Thallium
CyberTronPC Thallium
MSRP $4,099.00
“Like raw plutonium, the Thallium is extremely powerful but hardly refined.”
Pros
  • Powerful hardware
  • Attractive case
Cons
  • Enclosure has questionable features
  • Can be loud at full load
  • Not the best value

Skylake shootout 

We pitted this system against four other Skylake desktops. For the full scoop, including processor and gaming benchmarks, check out our comparison.

It wasn’t long ago that most enthusiast PC builders were using off-the-shelf enclosures to build their fantastically powerful — and expensive — rigs. That’s slowly changed, however, with the introduction of custom cases by companies like Falcon Northwest and Origin PC. CybertronPC, which uses off-the-shelf enclosures built by other companies, is at a disadvantage from the start.

That’s not to say the Corsair Graphite 780T used to build our Thallium review rig is a bad case. It’s large, spacious, simple to open, and attractive. But it also lacks refinements I’ve come to expect. The case panels and fan guards, for example, are too easy to open – they pop away with the slightest tug. If you’re building your own rig at home, that can be handy. But it’s disconcerting when the rig you’ve paid $4,000 for sheds its front fan guard the moment it’s unboxed.

Fan noise was also an issue, and again, the case is the likely culprit. The Corsair is designed for very high air flow, but that also means there’s little separating the user from the fans. We recorded relatively high noise as a result. At full load the Thallium put out 46.2 decibels, compared to 39.6 from the Origin Millennium. That’s a big gap.

While the Thallium’s build quality leaves a bit to be desired, its performance doesn’t. The unit we received came with an overclocked Intel Core i7-6700K and two GTX 980 Ti graphics cards, along with 16GB of memory. In our comparison against other Skylake systems it consistently performed well, especially in game performance, where it usually led by a few frames per second.

And, because CybertronPC uses off-the-shelf components, there’s significant degree for customization – even more so than other boutique custom PC builders. You could end up with a Thallium that’s drastically different from the one we tested, with an entirely different enclosure.

Ultimately, I think most users will be better off with a somewhat less configurable, but more finely tuned, computer. The Origin Millennium is the standout in this area, but the Falcon Northwest Talon is also great if you want a smaller rig. The Thallium is a performer, but it can’t match the precision quality of the competition.

Highs

  • Powerful hardware
  • Attractive case

Lows

  • Enclosure has questionable features
  • Can be loud at full load
  • Not the best value

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew S. Smith
Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…
The 6 best PC cases in 2024

The case you put your PC parts in is just as important as the parts themselves. The best PC cases allow plenty of air through, keeping your components cool, while keeping things as quiet as possible. RGB illumination, tempered glass, and crazy designs? Just the cherry on top. We picked six cases that excel in terms of design and performance, ensuring your rig stays cool and quiet while looking the best that it can -- some of which also made our list of the best PC cases for airflow. Although we didn't set any strict limits, we have options at various prices, so you should be able to find a case regardless of your budget.

Read more
How to buy a gaming PC for the best performance and value
asrock killed overclocking intel skylake nonk gaming motherboard

A gaming PC is a big investment -- and in the case of a gaming desktop PC, it can be a big piece of equipment, too. That's why consulting a comprehensive gaming PC buying guide like this one is a great way to figure out what you need and where you should focus your budget. Between your graphics card, processor, RAM, and storage, there's a lot to consider, but not all of it requires the same level of investment. That's why we're here to show you how to buy a gaming desktop.

Putting together a gaming rig for the first time is daunting, but it doesn't have to be difficult. As long as you know what to look for and where to look for it, you can buy the pre-built gaming PC of your dreams or even build your own gaming rig. Either way, with our know-how, you'll surely end up with a gaming PC that fulfills all your wants and needs.
How big a PC do you want?
This PC is so big it has two computers inside! Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

Read more
Intel isn’t giving up on GPUs yet
The Intel logo on the Arc A770 graphics card.

Intel hasn't said much about its graphics cards lately. We saw the launch of the Arc A770 and A750 late last year, and the A580 just a few months ago, but after the departure of Raja Koduri from Intel's graphics division earlier this year, the future of Intel Arc has been a bit patchy. It now appears Intel is still planning to deliver on its road map, though.

A slide shared with Japanese gaming outlet 4Gamer shows that Intel is planning to launch a next-gen GPU in 2024. This lines up with Intel's initial road map, which promised that gamers would see next-gen Battlemage GPUs some time in early 2024.

Read more