iBUYPOWER launches Core i7-packin' Paladin XLC desktops

Nearly a month to the day after iBUYPOWER launched its gamer-centric M865TU gaming laptop, the outfit has now given the desktop gamers in attendance something to consider. The liquid cooled Paladin XLC series is comprised of three well appointed models, the XLC V1, XLC V2 and XLC V3. All three of 'em are stored in the monstrous Coolermaster HAF 922 (the V3 gets a HAF 932), while even the lowest end model gets a Core i7-920 processor. Other specs include up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM, as many as three NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285 GPUs, upwards of 1TB of HDD space, optional Blu-ray support and Windows Vista Home Premium. The trifecta can be ordered now for $1,399, $2,159 or $4,299 in order of mention.

Gallery: iBUYPOWER launches Core i7-packin' Paladin XLC desktops

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[bighap @ Jul 1st 2009 4:37PM]

That's a beast!

[Quix @ Jul 1st 2009 4:47PM]

My last PC before I went all-Mac was a homebuilt rig. The only nice case (read: didn't look like cheap crap) I could find on the market was the Coolermaster Wavemaster. Now the Wavemaster is gone and Coolermaster is making this tacking looking LAN PartyBoy junk???

*sigh*

[murmermer @ Jul 1st 2009 4:47PM]

This may be the ONLY computer Vista works properly on...

[nzo @ Jul 1st 2009 4:52PM]

@Quix

CM still makes (and always has) good looking cases. Check out the ATCS 840

[Ypoknons @ Jul 1st 2009 4:52PM]

@Quix:
1. I don't like the look of these either, but looks are subjective and function (airflow, bays) is not.
2. If you like the Mac aesthetic more, try the Silverstone Fortress FT01 and FT02 (with aluminium unibody construction), Coolermaster ATCS 840 or for something different, the Thermaltake BMW Level 10. I'd say the level of design for custom cases has hope up, not down - there's the minimalist, LAN Boy, and Lian Li (who are in a world of their own ;) ) schools.

[The Walrus @ Jul 1st 2009 5:06PM]

Quix: And that matters why? This article is about performance, not something that is shiny

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jul 1st 2009 5:23PM]

No, Walrus, it is about a computer. A god damn hideous one.

[The Walrus @ Jul 1st 2009 5:47PM]

What does it matter if it's hideous? Why does a computer need to be pretty? How does it affect it's performance at all?

You want something pretty? Buy a painting

[lawyer bird @ Jul 1st 2009 6:18PM]

@The Walrus

I don't know, I'd just prefer to not fill my house with ugly shit. That's all.

[The Walrus @ Jul 1st 2009 6:32PM]

Am I the only one who thinks that a computer is meant for computations and not for looking good?

[Quix @ Jul 1st 2009 7:17PM]

I'm betting Walrus drives a Pontiac Aztek. Because it gets him from Point A to Point B.

I guess there are always buyers willing to pay for ugly crap.

[Boards of Canada @ Jul 1st 2009 7:24PM]

Im with walrus though... Your monitor better be looking ok (love my 30inch dell) but the computer go under the desk. Better have power and stability for a good price than a nice aluminium case. When I am rendering, I am not waiting staring at the computer. Let the stylish comp to the receptionists.

Still some crazy flashy gaming rig are quite repulsive, long live the black boxes!

[GRAMMAR POLICE @ Jul 1st 2009 8:11PM]

Because, Walrus, the PC is ubiquitous. It is everywhere. And there are a billion types to pick from and, WAY more often than not, they can be seen very easily in most setups. So, this being a hideous piece of eyesore, I'd sacrifice a small amount of computing power and go with another brand if it meant I didn't have to look like some nerdass shit with my SUPER ELITE gaming rig. Your logic is absurd.

Why paint a room? Am I the only one who thinks a room is for living in and not seeing?

[Kiv @ Jul 1st 2009 10:00PM]

The people here saying that the looks don't matter wouldn't apply that logic to sports cars. As long as it goes fast it can look like crap?
(not that I think this case is either pretty or hideous) There are people out there that want to have something that looks nice.

The real point though is that people are saying the looks dont matter as if this were just a generic black blank-looking case. The real situation is that this is one of those cases that's TRYING to look awesome. So it's screaming for everyone to comment on its aesthetics. And here we are.

[crescentdavid @ Jul 1st 2009 11:44PM]

If you're worried about the looks of thing ... substitute an Ikonic Zaria ... look for it ... and save $39. http://www.ibuypower.com/ibp/Images/Case/Big/A10_2.jpg. The thing a lot of people don't seem to understand about the PC world is the concept of CHOICE. You really can go with more that 4 or 5 models with little configuration options.

Really.

[Frankenstein Black @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:25PM]

Curse you iBuypower! You make DIY'ing impossible (and cost foolish), with these awesomely spec'ed, LOW PRICED rigs!
HOW DO YOU DO IT?!

PS Yea I know, the average DIY rig builder can't match your bulk component discount purchases...

[Yan @ Jul 1st 2009 4:41PM]

Currently operating on one of their older PCs. It's power still surprises me and has yet to let me down.

[OneLove @ Jul 1st 2009 8:37PM]

they buy power.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 1st 2009 4:41PM]

Lol ripoff

[T D @ Jul 1st 2009 4:42PM]

I browsed around their site a few months ago, and that's exactly what I have to say about them...

[kjb434 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:52PM]

It's ripoff if you are capable of custom building a system like this yourself, but if you aren't, iBuypower is a good place to purchase this type of rig instead of Alienware.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 1st 2009 4:58PM]

I have realized the error of my ways.

[kjb434 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:42PM]

I would wait until they start offering Win7 or a free upgrade to Win7.

[blueangel00100 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:42PM]

Now if only they could use a pretty case...

[manifest3r @ Jul 1st 2009 5:10PM]

it looks better not rendered :D

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?ISList=11-119-197-S01%2c11-119-197-S02%2c11-119-197-S03%2c11-119-197-S04%2c11-119-197-S05%2c11-119-197-S06%2c11-119-197-S07%2c11-119-197-S08%2c11-119-197-S09%2c11-119-197-S10%2c11-119-197-S11&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16811119197&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=COOLER%20MASTER%20HAF%20922%20RC-922M-KKN1-GP%20Black%20Computer%20Case%20-%20Retail

[SewerShark @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:48AM]

No, still ugly.

[Sisyphus @ Jul 1st 2009 4:48PM]

Has anybody ever purchased from iBUYPOWER?

I see them all over the place, and from what I can tell, they seem to have pretty reasonable prices vs. do-it-yourself.

[kjb434 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:55PM]

The biggest complaint about them I've read is that the customer support isn't too stellar.

If you can or know someone who can help build a rig like this, go with them because the individual pieces can be purchased at good prices.

To me iBuypower is a good way to buy a complete rig and then you can tinker with it yourself. I like how they offer purchasing a blank system where you install what you want from the get go.

[Alan Lau @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:37PM]

All you need to know about IBuyPower: http://www.resellerratings.com/seller2001-p1-s2-d1.html#reviews

[DWells55 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:48PM]

That case is tacky, ridiculous, over-the-top, and absolute overkill.

I'm so using it for my next build.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 1st 2009 4:59PM]

The HAF 932 is one of the most popular fulltower cases... it has great cooling and lots of room and other features... I believe it might even support dual psus.

[Haikibutsu @ Jul 1st 2009 5:00PM]

Forgot to add, I have a CM 690 and I'm happy with it.

[paul34 @ Jul 1st 2009 5:07PM]

Well, it's still way, way less ridiculous than a lot of "gamer" cases.

[DWells55 @ Jul 1st 2009 5:40PM]

I also own a RC690 for my current build and love it. Nice look to it and really easy to work with. Cable management is great, I've never had such a clean looking PC. My only complaint is that despite the plastic tray and rubber gaskets, one of the hard drives is audibly vibrating. It's not bad enough to warrant the effort of trying to fix it though.

[htd @ Jul 1st 2009 4:55PM]

I am cheap, I will stay with my cheap refurb dell xp 435 mt with i7 920, 6G and 4850, which only cost me $600.

also it's weird that they say up to 12G RAM when most MB that supports i7 can go 24G.

[troy @ Jul 1st 2009 7:53PM]

There are 2 kinds of motherboard.

[victorvalkov @ Jul 1st 2009 4:57PM]

In Soviet Russia, Paladin XLC laughs at Crysis!

[Absolute92 @ Jul 1st 2009 4:59PM]

what type of games are people using this for, wtf 12 GB of Ram, I going to look at youtube videos later.

[Jon @ Jul 1st 2009 5:11PM]

"I can build that for $15 bucks and a 6-Pack"

[bublik @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM]

nice...

[Jon @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM]

"I can build that for $15 bucks and a 6-Pack" , Where are you guys ? .. Oh wait this isn't a Dell Post

[gfar @ Jul 1st 2009 5:12PM]

YES!
I'll buy any product whose name starts with a lower case "i" followed by an upper case letter!

[Seraph @ Jul 1st 2009 5:17PM]

If you've ever had to deal with iBuyPower's in-house techs, you will never purchase from them again. Dealt with them a few years ago. They may have improved since then, but at the time, talking with them was like conversing with a signpost.

[bk7 @ Jul 1st 2009 5:23PM]

Im looking at that Coolermaster HAF Case on their website, and it does not show the integrated screen.
Is that a iBuyPower mod or is there an actual way of doing that myself (without cutting bits out of the case)?

[Zamboni @ Jul 1st 2009 5:59PM]

It's the NZXT Sentry LX fan controller. It's a $59 option on their custom machines.

http://www.nzxt.com/products/sentry_lx/

[tgluak @ Jul 1st 2009 6:10PM]

You can buy them to fit in any case, it fits in the 5.25 bays.
I am sorry that I can't remember who makes them.

[Vision33r @ Jul 1st 2009 5:30PM]

Where's Divine Shield?

[Erik @ Jul 1st 2009 5:31PM]

Yes hes back! :D

[Tubalcain @ Jul 1st 2009 5:57PM]

Paladins kill Jumpers.

[danknerd @ Jul 1st 2009 6:01PM]

What no 9800GT (single slot) for PhysX on the V3 with its 3xGTX285 SLi... I will pass then.