iBuyPower Chimera 2 Gaming PCs Feed the Flames

By Geoff Duncan Published November 19, 2009

Boutique PC Maker iBuyPower is celebrating its 10th anniversary by rolling out its new Chimera 2 gaming PC just in time for the end-of-year holidays. Available in five customizable forms (the Chimera 2-F, Killer Chimera 2-F, Chimera 2-E, Chimera 2-Q, and Killer Chimera 2-Q), the system caters to serious gamers at any budget point, and offers innumerable configuration options so players can be sure to get exactly the capabilities they desire…so long as their credit lines can support it.

iBuyPower Chimera 2 desktop gaming rig — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Chimera 2 systems feature either Intel Core i5, Intel Core i7, or AMD Phenom II x4 processors, support up to 16 to 24 GB of DDR3 memory, and are available with multi GPU graphics solutions from either ARI or Nvidia; the systems also ship with Killer NIC low-lag Ethernet, the Creative Labs SoundBlaster X-Fi card, and a wide range of peripherals from companies like Logitech, SteelSeries, and Razer. The systems sport power supplies up to 1200 Watts, offer liquid cooling options, and plenty of storage capability: 7 internal 3.5-inch drive bays and 4 external 5.25 bays for optical drives. All systems ship with Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit.

iBuyPower Chimera 2 desktop gaming rig (right side) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Prices for Chimera 2 systems start as low as $1,000, but as with all custom builds prices escalate quickly with horsepower, options, and capabilities. The one thing that doesn’t seem configurable is the flame-on case design. Love it or hate it, looks like Chimera customers are stuck with it.

iBuyPower Chimera 2 desktop gaming rig (open) — Image used with permission by copyright holder

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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