Acer's Nitro 65 arrives at a time when the PC market is undergoing major stress caused by RAM, storage, and other component shortages.

Nevertheless, the Nitro 65's pricing remains reasonable, its performance is spot on, the case is far better than I expected, and it uses (mostly) regular parts that you can upgrade or replace yourself without much effort.

I've been using the PC for a couple of weeks, and while it's mainly been a positive experience, there are a couple of quirks that you need to know about before buying.

Acer sent Windows Central a review unit on loan for testing. It had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.

How much does the Acer Nitro 65 cost?

The Acer Nitro 65 model I'm reviewing, with Ryzen 9 9900X CPU, RTX 5070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD, costs $2,304.99 regularly at Best Buy, although it seems to enjoy frequent sales that drop it closer to $2,100 or less.

I'm always curious to see how that compares to building your own system, so I went ahead and put something together using the same (or as similar as possible) components.

I used a $150 HYTE X50 case (because it's awesome), a $120 motherboard, and left about $200 to $300 for a 1TB SSD. That comes out to $350 to $450 on top of the $1,611 cost at PCPartPicker. Add some RGB case fans and other small accessories, and you're looking at a similar cost compared to building your own system.

If you like the look of the PC but don't need quite as much performance, models with an AMD Ryzen 7 8700F CPU and either an NVIDIA RTX 5060 or an AMD Radeon 9060 XT range from $1,100 to $1,600, depending on available discounts.

Here's a closer look at the specs in the unit I'm reviewing.

Is the Acer Nitro 65 built well with good cable management?

Acer is definitely making money on the Nitro 65, but as I laid out above, the margin isn't as big as some might expect. So, where are the corners being cut to make up the difference?

The first thing that stands out to me is the no-name PSU. It's non-modular, making it harder to upgrade, and it's tough to judge what sort of quality it is.

Acer lists it as 850W 80+ Gold, which just means it's fairly energy efficient and has plenty of power for the installed hardware and for future upgrades. Its actual durability remains questionable. If I were buying this PC, I'd definitely replace the PSU with something else before the one-year warranty ran out.

The other off-brand piece is the Nitro-branded CPU air cooler. But as we'll see, it does a decent job of keeping the 9900X cool under load. If you prefer liquid cooling, the 35L case can easily accommodate the extra hardware.

The good news is that the PC is otherwise well put together and uses standard components that you can buy yourself for upgrades and repairs. No wacky motherboard designs. No off-brand GPUs. No sketchy memory.

Acer uses Kingston Fury Beast DDR5-6000 RGB RAM here in a dual-channel config, the RTX 5070 is a standard Gigabyte WindForce option, and the M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is from Lexar.

Now, there's no guarantee that these exact same components will be used in your model, but I did run some benchmarks to see how the specific parts in my review unit perform. More on that below.

A case for RGB lovers ... with plenty of snazzy glass

Rounded cases seem to be coming into style lately, and the Nitro 65's custom 35L tower is quite attractive. Tempered glass runs from the front to the back along two sides, rounded at the corners. Just below the glass is an embedded RGB strip that diffuses light. It's completely customizable and syncs up with the rest of the lighting.

The other RGB lives in the two main intake fans, the RAM, the CPU cooler fan, and the single exhaust fan. It's more than enough for me, and I appreciate that it can be turned off entirely if not customized to your liking.

Front I/O includes dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) and a single USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1) port, all running at 5Gbps. There's also a 3.5mm audio jack next to the power button. It would be nice to have 10Gbps ports here, but it's not a dealbreaker. The rear I/O is, like a normal PC, dependent on the motherboard and GPU.

Something I love is the inclusion of a magnetic dust cover on the top of the PC. It'd come in most handy with an AiO, but I appreciate it here anyway. The side intake fans have a dual-screen setup — one directly behind the fans and another on the back panel — while the PSU has its own dust cover on the bottom.

These small additions help keep dust out of your PC, and because they're removable, they're much easier to clean than something fixed.

Some pre-built PCs skimp on connectivity, but not here. The Gigabyte motherboard offers Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for cutting-edge wireless, and there's a 2.5Gb Ethernet port to handle wired connections.

How is the Nitro 65's cable management and assembly?

The Nitro 65 comes packed with expanding foam around the CPU cooler and GPU, with an extra foam insert around the GPU to keep it stable; it otherwise has no additional support.

There are no evident problems with assembly, and because it's packed in so tightly, I made no adjustments before booting the PC for the first time.

Pulling off the back panel reveals rather tidy cable management. Zip ties are used, so you'll likely need to clip and replace those if you decide to make some internal changes, but there are a couple of Velcro strips thrown in around the main channels.

Because the PSU isn't modular, there's some snarl below the internal riser, but it's not visible from the front.

As for the visible cabling, it's all properly installed with no extra slack that could block airflow. The GPU power cable has its own exit in the PSU riser, and plenty of cutouts around the motherboard should make for easy upgrades in the future.

Overall, it's a clean look behind the glass, and the cabling that's hidden is actually a lot better than I was expecting.

The Nitro 65 keeps cool under pressure

The Nitro 65 has some solid performance hardware inside, and I'm happy to report it keeps its cool under load. The two intake fans point toward the side of the case, but the rounded front glass helps curve that air toward the back.

I ran a Speed Way stress test on components first with the side glass panel removed. The CPU was able to remain between about 60.8 and 61.6 degrees Celsius, while the GPU sat at about 68 to 70 degrees. It came out to 99.2% frame stability.

With the glass panel back in place, I reran the same test. CPU temps climbed to roughly 63 to 65 degrees Celsius, while the GPU hit about 70 to 72 degrees. That's an expected rise, and it's not out of the ordinary. Frame stability fell slightly to 98.8%.

One note on the CPU cooler: the single fan gets a bit louder than I'd like when it's under load, but it seems to even off with sustained effort. Still, it'd be better if Acer used an AiO liquid cooler here as the standard.

Does Acer's Nitro 65 perform as expected?

I'm focusing less on performance here since the PC uses standard components. The RTX 5070 and the Ryzen 9 9900X perform just like they should.

Here are some benchmarks so you can see how the hardware compares to other stuff we've recently tested.

Note that I've included two Ryzen 9 9900X scores in one graph. The higher score comes from testing we did on an open test bench using an NZXT Kraken AiO liquid cooler. That could explain some of the multi-core performance difference.

As for the Lexar GPU, it reached 6,052MB/s read and 5,063MB/s write speeds in my testing. These aren't the fastest speeds ever for a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, but they're perfectly acceptable for gaming.

I found this PC to load everything quite quickly, no doubt aided by 32GB of DDR5 RAM. I'm also happy to see that there's a minimum of bloatware on the PC, arriving with a rather clean version of Windows 11 Home.

Should you buy the Acer Nitro 65?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You're in search of a capable mid-size gaming desktop with decent cooling and strong performance.

✅ You're a fan of RGB lighting.

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You'd rather save a bit of money and build your own system.

❌ You'd rather take your games on the go with a laptop or handheld.

Acer's Nitro 65 impressed me in more ways than one. The custom case is gorgeous, especially with that rounded glass front, and it has lots of room inside for future upgrades. The diffused RGB strip around the case adds some flair.

Assembly and cable management are, I'd say, above average for a pre-built, and Acer using standard parts (other than the PSU) is a definite boon for those who like to keep their PC running as long as possible.

👉 Best Desktop PCs of 2026: Our top-rated pre-builts for gaming, work, and home use

Extra touches like removable dust screens, internal RGB lighting, and magnetic panel clasps don't go unnoticed.

Bottom line? If you'd rather not build your own gaming PC, Acer's Nitro 65 is something I recommend. It won't cost much more than buying the parts yourself, and it arrives ready to go as soon as it's unboxed. Acer even tosses in an RGB keyboard and mouse to get you started.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), PC shipments in the Asia/Pacific market, which includes China and Japan, are likely to decline by 13.7% YoY (year-over-year) in 2026, which translates to 92.0 million units.

The firm attributed its speculation to component shortages and rising prices, which will likely place pressure on both supply and demand for traditional PCs. While the PC market grew by 11.6% in 2025, translating to 106.6 million units, the trend is now seemingly on a downward spiral as demand wanes following the refresh cycle in 2025.

It was primarily "driven by a strong refresh demand to replace aging devices in conjunction with the Windows 10 end of support and large-scale education deployments."

“Strong demand driven by AI infrastructure is creating significant constraints in the global supply of DRAM and NAND as memory manufacturers shift production capacity away from consumer electronics to meet growing data-center needs,” indicated Maciek Gornicki, senior research manager, Devices Research, IDC Asia/Pacific. “This is disrupting PC supply, with vendors struggling to secure the memory components needed to build new systems."

Related: Omdia speculates PC sales remained strong in 2025, but will struggle in 2026

"We expect these shortages to drive prices higher and soften overall demand. In Asia/Pacific, vendors are anticipated to prioritize mature markets with higher ASPs to protect margins, while emerging economies—particularly Southeast Asia—will face the greatest impact from both product shortages and rising prices, as these markets are more reliant on lowend devices and consumers are especially sensitive to cost increases.”

This report isn't surprising. In January, IDC indicated that the PC market is likely to face challenges in 2026. The ongoing issue with DRAM shortage caused by AI firms buying these components in bulk to facilitate their sophisticated advances in the ever-evolving landscape isn't making the situation any better.

As you may know, AI firms heavily rely on these components for their operations, which are also used in our personal computers. It almost feels like an arms race, but with a more clearly defined winner (and it isn't us).

Memory manufacturers are seemingly more inclined to sell RAM to AI firms as it is more profitable, leaving consumers with the short end of the stick.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

If you're shopping for an NVIDIA RTX 5090 this week, you're probably not having a great time. The flagship GPU, which delivers the most performance possible from any consumer card, has all but disappeared from the biggest retailers in the US.

The mighty 5090, which debuted at a $1,999 MSRP in January 2025, has, until recently, been listed somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000 depending on the make and model. While the cards were certainly selling for more than MSRP throughout 2025, those prices now seem very reasonable.

I spent the morning trying to prove the trend wrong by scraping the big GPU retailers, but it's futile. Amazon? Forget about it. Listings are sitting between $3,800 and $4,500 unless you want to take your chances with a used unit.

Best Buy? There's not a single RTX 5090 in stock. Forget Newegg — prices are lower at Amazon, and that's not saying much. What's worse, none of the RTX 5090s I could find for sale are actually being sold by the retailers themselves. It's all third-party listings being hosted on the likes of Newegg and Amazon.

The only outlier is Micro Center, which is still offering 5090 units for a slightly more reasonable price. The issue, of course, is that once you click through to select a store for pickup — there's no shipping option for any of the listed cards — you'll quickly find that there are only a handful of cards available across the entire country.

So, that begs the question: Where have all the 5090s gone?

In December, I covered rumors about NVIDIA cutting GeForce RTX production by up to 40% in early 2026. The move would be a byproduct of the global memory shortage, which itself is caused by AI firms buying up the supply of DRAM years in advance in order to fulfill the needs of datacenters.

These rumors undoubtedly sparked a bit of a rush on remaining RTX 5090 stock, further exacerbating the issue. With the RTX 5090 now disappearing from store shelves and not being restocked, the reality of the situation is perhaps worse than we imagined.

You might as well buy an entire pre-built PC with a 5090 inside

The PC market is in turmoil, and there's no better proof than the crazy pricing discrepancies between standalone NVIDIA RTX 5090 cards and pre-builts with the GPU inside.

For example, Newegg's in-house ABS brand currently has a Kaze II Aqua pre-built on sale for $4,899.99, and that's before adding an additional 5% ($245) discount. The PC has an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, MSI Ventus RTX 5090 GPU, 32GB of T-Force Delta RGB DDR5-6400MHz RAM (which alone costs $530), a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD, a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, and a 1050W PSU.

That's a lot more value for your money, but I'm not expecting deals like this to stick around very long if RTX 5090 production is indeed in such a rough shape.

If you're a resident of the US and have an NVIDIA account created before January 30, 2025, you can always sign up for NVIDIA's Verified Priority Access program. It's essentially a lottery for RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Founders Edition cards sold at MSRP, but it's worth putting your name in should you not yet have your hands on the flagship card.

(via TechRadar)

Is this a temporary blip in supply lines, or is RTX 5090 stock drying up a signal that the GPU market could be in for a rough 2026? Let us know in the comments section!

It's that exciting time of the year for tech-heads of all kinds, as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) once again threw open its doors and invited the public to see the latest devices in a massive range of categories. Naturally, the Windows Central team was some of the first on the floor in Las Vegas, Nevada, to meet representatives from our favorite manufacturers and see the best of what they had to offer.

There was plenty to see, and much of it (unsurprisingly) involved AI in one way or another. Nevertheless, our top picks of each category stood out with individual strengths and come with a strong sense of excitement for their release, whether current or far off in the future. 2026 looks especially exciting, with new components inside redesigned hardware, and these are our 13 favorites.

Best innovation: HP EliteBoard G1a

Mini PCs have seen an increase in popularity over the last few years, as reliable hardware is now small enough to fit in compact form factors. HP took the idea of a small computer and turned it on its head by creating the EliteBoard G1a, a mini PC that doubles as a keyboard. Just add a monitor and mouse, and you're good to go.

The EliteBoard G1a also has multiple configuration options within the AMD Ryzen AI PRO line, offers up to an integrated AMD Radeon 860M graphics, up to 64GB DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. If that wasn't impressive enough, the memory and storage are upgradeable. We're thoroughly impressed.

Full coverage: HP put a mini PC inside a keyboard, and I love it

Best laptop: Dell XPS 14/16

Not only has Dell reverted back to its XPS naming convention this year following last year's rebrand debacle, which "underperformed," but it also overhauled the latest Dell XPS 14 and 16 laptops. What results are striking and efficient devices.

The latest XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops offer record-setting 40+ hours of battery life, a return to traditional function keys, an effective new cooling system, combined with powerful performance from Intel's new Core Ultra Series 3 processors and Intel Arc graphics. These truly are this year's best laptops.

Full coverage: Dell’s great undoing: XPS returns in 2026 after a year of missteps

Best gaming laptop: Alienware 16 Area-51

Dozens of gaming laptops vied for the best spot at CES 2026, but none of them really compare to the majestic Alienware 16 Area-51. While it offers customizable RGB lighting associated with gaming hardware, its elegant design doesn't look out of place in a more formal setting either.

Then of course, it houses powerful configuration options, up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop graphics, 64GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB SSD. Users even have the option of getting one with a CherryMX mechanical keyboard that offers a far more satisfying typing and gaming experience than most laptop keyboards. Talk about a standout gaming laptop.

Full coverage: Here's what Alienware revealed at CES 2026

Best 2-in-1 laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo

When it comes to 2-in-1 laptops that can be used in both laptop and tablet modes, there was one device that stood miles apart from all the others this year — the ASUS Zephyrus Duo. Where most 2-in-1s focus on efficiency and balance, this new offering is a dual-screen OLED powerhouse designed specifically for intensive gaming and creative workflows, with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop graphics card.

Like its Zenbook Duo sibling, it comes with a magnetic keyboard and a stand that allows the screens to be oriented horizontally or vertically. You can even place the keyboard over the bottom screen and use it like a traditional laptop. It's by far the most versatile and powerful 2-in-1 from CES 2026.

Full coverage: Our favorite dual-screen laptop just got even better

Best Ultrabook: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra

There are plenty of impressive ultrabooks coming to market this year, but the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Ultra makes a case all for itself. Rather than just focusing on getting slimmer, this laptop maintains a thin design while housing some powerful components.

Despite only weighing 2.15 pounds (0.98kg) and being 0.55 inches (13.9mm) thin, it packs up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 (Series 3) processor with integrated Intel Xe graphics, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. It's slim but mighty.

Full coverage: Lenovo's new ultralight laptop blew us away

Best business laptop: HP EliteBook X 14 G2i

As our own Zachary Boddy previously wrote, HP does something utterly unique with its new laptops by letting you choose between Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm processors. On top of that, it offers an ultra-lightweight design that's perfectly designed for office workflows.

It isn't easy for a laptop manufacturer to swap out processors from different companies while maintaining the same overall laptop design, but HP somehow managed it. This freedom to create the EliteBook X 14 variant you want makes it the best business laptop from CES 2026.

Full coverage: HP's next-generation business laptop is so light, I thought I had been sent a dummy unit by accident

Best mini PC: Lenovo Yoga Mini i

Most mini PCs have the same square shape, but the latest Lenovo Yoga Mini i offers an even smaller puck design, which doesn't take up a lot of room and doesn't draw attention to itself.

You can configure the Yoga Mini i with up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-8533MT/s RAM and up to 2TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage. Plus, it offers a good range of ports to fit your connection needs. It's perfect for creating a minimalist PC setup in your home.

Full coverage: Lenovo's new mini PC is so small we thought it was a speakerphone

Best All-in-One PC: Lenovo Yoga AIO i Aura Edition

There were more All-in-One (AIO) PCs at this year's CES than we saw last year, but the new Yoga AIO i Aura Edition offers a unique design we've never seen before. Ambient lighting below the 32-inch OLED screen not only adds a fun effect for your desk, but hides the adjustable stand to make it look like the display is floating.

Designed for creators, this new AIO impresses with the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, up to 32GB of LPDDR5x-9600MT/s RAM, and a 2TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. The OLED display reaches 3840x2160 (UHD) resolution and hits a 165Hz refresh rate while producing a gorgeous color range. It's the most beautiful PC that comes with everything you need.

Full coverage: Lenovo's new Yoga AIO appears to float on lights

Best display: Dell UltraSharp 52

Every year, companies release new displays designed to wow and impress, but the new Dell Ultrasharp 52 curved ultrawide caught our eyes the most, due to its premium specs and massive 52-inch size.

Windows Central's Editor-in-Chief Daniel Rubino already had the opportunity to use this display. As seen in his Dell Ultrasharp 52 review, he praised the 52‑inch 6K, 120Hz screen as a "productivity monster that redefines the single‑monitor workstation." There's no denying it's the most epic display shown off at CES 2026.

Full coverage: This is the world's first 52-inch ultrawide curved 6K monitor

Best gaming handheld: Lenovo Legion Go 2 (SteamOS)

The gaming handheld PC market has steadily received next-gen devices and new variants at CES for the last few years. Among the latest round of reveals was the SteamOS version of the Legion Go 2, which is expected to launch this June.

RELATED: Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Steam Deck
| Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) vs Xbox Ally X

As discussed in my Legion Go 2 Windows vs SteamOS guide, the new variant offers the same configurations as the original Windows version; up to the same AMD Ryzen Z2 SoC, 8.8-inch OLED touchscreen, up to 16GB RAM, and up to 2TB SSD. Many gamers prefer SteamOS to Windows since it is better optimized for handhelds. In some ways, Legion Go 2 (SteamOS) offers a more powerful Steam Deck experience.

Full coverage: New SteamOS Legion Go 2 finally solves the biggest gripe with Lenovo's flagship handheld gaming PC

Best desktop CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D

AMD stole the show when it came to desktop processors, with the reveal of the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, which is an improved version of 2024's 9800X3D.

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D features 8 cores, 16 threads, a 5.6GHz boost clock, 104MB of combined L2 and L3 cache, and a 120W TDP. It's an impressive processor that once more secures AMD's desktop CPU supremacy going into 2026.

Full coverage: Did AMD just make the Ryzen 7 9800X3D obsolete?

Best laptop CPU: Intel Core Ultra X9 388H

Intel came to CES 2026 with a vengeance, showcasing its latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips, which are more than ready to challenge AMD's line of laptop processors. There are currently 14 confirmed Intel Core Ultra Series 3 SKUs with more expected to release this year, but the Core Ultra X9 388H is the mightiest.

With its 16 cores, 16 threads, 5.1GHz boost clock, 18MB cache, NPU with peak 50 AI TOPS, and a default 45W TDP, expect to see the Core Ultra X9 388H chip coming to many of this year's premium laptops that don't have discrete GPUs. It's a massive leap forward for performance, efficiency, graphics, and yes, AI.

Full coverage: Panther Lake is officially Intel Core Ultra Series 3

Best sequel: ASUS Zenbook A16

Last year, the ASUS Zenbook A14 won laptop of the year in our best of CES 2025 awards, and this year's refresh builds upon what made the last model so good, with a larger 16-inch offering — the Zenbook A16 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 silicon.

As a reminder, the Snapdragon X2 Elite offers an insane 80 TOPS NPU, a massive increase over the original Snapdragon X Elite's 45 TOPS. Meanwhile, the Zenbook A16 takes the A14's beautiful design and scales it up. It's faster, sleeker, and manages to be even more impressive than its predecessor.

Full coverage: ASUS introduces the Zenbook A16, a newly expanded 16‑inch option that joins the lineup

All-In-One (AIO) Desktops hardly made an appearance at last year's Consumer Electronics Show, but thankfully, that isn't the case with CES 2026.

Amid HP's wide range of monitors, laptops, and other tech, the OEM revealed the HP OmniStudio X 27, a powerful Microsoft Copilot+ AIO PC designed with several configurations and, notably, the first AIO to feature a NEO:LED display.

This desktop AIO provides everything you need for your PC in one relatively compact purchase, including a keyboard, mouse, speakers, and webcam. Not to mention, it's especially suited for creators thanks to its excellent screen and powerful processors.

But what is NEO:LED, and what does that mean for the HP OmniStudio X AIO's 27-inch display? Let's take a look at the AIO desktop's specs and discuss.

If you've never heard of a NEO:LED display, that's because this is a newer IPS display technology created by LG. The newness of this panel type is what makes the HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO so unique and compelling, since this is the very first AIO to feature this screen type.

RELATED: IPS LCD vs OLED vs NEO:LED vs tandem OLED vs QD-OLED vs QLED vs AMOLED vs Mini LED: Which is the best display?

The big takeaway is that NEO:LED screens offer deeper blacks, a wider color range, and crisper details than typical IPS displays, all while consuming less power, too.

Indeed, HP states that this anti-glare AIO display produces 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3, which are impressive results you'd expect from an OLED panel. Plus, it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, which seems to be the new standard for non-gaming monitors in 2026, rather than the previous 60Hz or 90Hz standards. It conveniently offers auto HDR switching as well.

Processor-wise, the AIO utilizes Intel's latest CPU (central processing unit) along with NVIDIA's entry-level RTX 5050 GPU (graphics processing unit) for gaming, making it perfect for creative workflows. Several configuration options, ranging from 16GB to 2TB RAM and 512GB SSD to 2TB SSD, mean you can find the build that works best for your specific needs.

As part of being an AIO, this device not only comes with an HP 675C mouse and keyboard combo, but also has quad speakers and a tiltable 5MP IR camera with built-in microphones. With all of these features, you'll have everything you need to surf the web, stream shows, listen to music, and attend video meetings.

To improve the experience even further, this AI computer supports helpful features like multi-screen management, adaptive color and audio, and more. It can detect your face to wake when you approach, lock when you leave, and even offers onlooker detection to dim the screen if it senses someone else is looking at the display.

It's even compatible with Thunderbolt Share, Intel's creation that allows two devices to transfer files or use the same mouse and keyboard, simply by connecting two compatible computers with a Thunderbolt cable.

Fitted with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and a healthy range of ports including two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, five USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.0, headphone jack, and RJ45 port, the OmniStudio X 27 AIO provides sufficient connections for your various accessories and other devices.

The HP OmniStudio X 27 AIO is expected to be available for purchase at the HP website this week. It has a starting $1,499.99 MSRP.

What are your thoughts on this new NEO:LED display technology and the HP OmniStudio X 27 All-In-One Desktop? Does this look like an AIO you'd want to use? Tell us about it in the comments.

It might look like a basic PC, but Dell's flagship desktop aims to cater to everyone with its sleek and compact chassis that happens to be packed with some of the most powerful internals you can get in a computer today.

I spent a few weeks using the Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) as my primary computer to ascertain if it's worth the lofty price tag attached to it.

My time with it allowed me to see that it really does offer best-in-class performance, respectable thermal management, plenty of configuration options, and upgrade potential to appease even the most hardcore PC enthusiasts.

Our recommended Dell Tower Plus Desktop (EBT2250) configuration:

This review was made possible by a review unit provided by Dell. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Pricing and availability

Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Dell Tower Plus is a premium tower PC through and through, so you'd usually expect a high price tag to accompany its high-end components.

Being a Dell computer, it's available all over the world and can be purchased directly from Dell, Amazon, Best Buy, and other major tech retailers. Just note that certain configurations are only available at specific stores.

Dell's flagship Tower Plus desktop starts at $699.99 at Dell, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 225, Intel UHD Graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. If you max out every option, you can quickly raise the Dell Tower Plus Desktop to a hefty $3,389.99 at Dell, but you're obviously getting a far more capable PC with more power, memory, storage, and features.

The Tower Plus I specifically tested features an Intel Core Ultra processor with integrated Intel UHD Graphics, a discrete NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD. It's a powerful beast. It sells for $2,238.99, but it was on sale for $1,988.99 at Dell at the time of writing.

What's in the box? — You get the Dell Tower Plus, a chunky power cable, a few manuals, and Dell's entry-level wired keyboard and mouse. If you'd like, you can pay more to get the Dell Pro Keyboard KM5211W and a nicer Dell Wired Mouse when purchasing from Dell's website.

That said, you might be better off going with one of the best PC keyboards or best PC mice alongside your new PC, as the optional keyboard simply does not do the Dell Tower Plus Desktop justice.

The Dell Tower Plus has a very unassuming chassis and puts me in mind of 90s PC cases, but its mostly metal casing exudes quality when you really take a moment to look at it.

Unlike many other desktops on its premium level, this one doesn't have colorful RGB lighting or an edgy sci-fi design. As someone who doesn't really care for the "gamer" aesthetic, this is a major plus.

However, it is worth noting that the "GeForce RTX" on the GPU lights up bright white when the PC is on and shines through the vents on the casing's side. Because of this, I chose to place the Tower Plus on the left of my monitor so the bright lighting didn't shine at me when I used the computer.

Otherwise, the build quality is fantastic, with no glaring gaps or separations between the chassis panels. The Dell Tower Plus Desktop's feet also do an amazing job of gripping onto surfaces, ensuring there's no sliding around on my desk.

A healthy range of ports greets me on the front and back of the device, ensuring that I have enough connections to plug my various accessories and monitors in, as desired.

All in all, this is a phenomenal PC tower that pushes convenience and usability rather than a flashy design.

Performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As a creative individual, I spend many hours working in Photoshop and other programs, so fast and steady performance is important to me. Dell's Tower Plus, with its Intel Core Ultra 7 265K processor and RTX 5070 discrete graphics card, impressed me at every turn.

For example, some of the editing tools and filters I regularly use can take several seconds or even minutes to process on some PCs, but I was able to do these same tasks either instantaneously or within just a few seconds on the Dell Tower Plus. It was so convenient.

I also ran the Dell Tower Plus through several benchmark tests, and even though it isn't the most intense configuration Dell offers, it still excelled and got some of the highest scores of any PCs that Windows Central has ever tested.

The PCIe 5.0 SSD leads to very fast transfer speeds that kept up with any work I was doing. I was even able to transcode a 4K copy of Tears of Steel in just 18 minutes. Some PCs take 45 minutes or more to do the same thing.

This configuration can also easily keep up with the latest AAA gaming, even if this isn't a gaming PC that's specifically been optimized for digital adventures.

The Advanced CPU air cooling combined with dual fan design keeps the Dell Tower Plus cool and performant even during stress tests or when running more intensive programs.

Actually, most of the time, Dell's flagship tower PC is so silent that I could barely hear it running at all, even when gaming or running some benchmarks.

I was able to get the fans to turn up and hit a peak of 65.5 dB when running the most intensive programs; however, these fans only ever came on for small bursts of time and did an excellent job keeping the system cool.

Upgradeability ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dell did a fair job ensuring the Dell Tower Plus Desktop is easily accessible and upgradeable.

To remove the side panel, all I have to do is unscrew the screw at the back of the case and then pull on the locking mechanism. This causes the side panel to pop out.

Helpful illustrated instructions on the interior panel explain how to correctly remove different parts if you do want to upgrade anything.

The internal layout is very similar to the 2024 XPS 8960 Desktop, with everything being easily reachable.

Inside are two massive fans (one pulling cool air directly onto the massive RTX GPU and another pushing the hot air out of the back of the device) and an Advanced CPU air cooling system for the Intel CPU.

Only having two fans may concern some potential buyers, but as I noted in the performance section, this desktop doesn't struggle to keep its components cool. These fans are big and loud when they're needed, but otherwise remain quiet.

Near the top, you'll find two HDD slots, and there are also two SSD slots (one used, one available in my case) between the two RAM slots and the Wi-Fi card for your storage needs.

The power supply is at the bottom, with the Dell Tower Plus Desktop supporting up to 1,000W. The layout makes sense, and nothing is annoying to access.

Software experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐

As you'd expect, this desktop came with Windows 11, which runs very well on the Dell Tower Plus Desktop (as it should, considering this hardware).

Aside from that, Dell does bake in a few different apps and programs onto the Tower Plus Desktop. Unfortunately, McAfee Antivirus and Web Advisor come installed, but you don't have to use these if you don't want to.

There are also other Dell apps like Dell Optimizer and SupportAssist onboard, as well as standard Intel apps like Command Center. Finally, there's Dolby Access OEM, which can help fine-tune any speakers you plug into the desktop.

None of this is too egregious, and most (if not all) can be uninstalled should you wish to free up some space. Some of them are useful, like SupportAssist and Dell Update, which can help keep you updated with all the latest drivers.

Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250): Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy it if ...

• You need a powerful, premium desktop PC for creative work, extreme productivity, and/or gaming
• You want a simple, understated design that's still high quality
• You'd like an upgradable desktop that also offers plenty of ports
• You're willing to pay a premium for a high-end, pre-built desktop with the latest internals

❌ You should not buy it if ...

• You're looking for the best possible value
• You want a flashy design with RGB lighting
• You want a pure gaming PC packed with gaming-specific features

While not vastly different from the previous XPS Dell Desktop, the new Dell Tower Plus (EBT2250) is a fantastic machine that is even more powerful and just as convenient as its predecessor.

Don't let the simple casing confuse you; this is a tiger with a demure design that excels at office productivity, creative work, gaming, and everything else you can throw at it.

NVIDIA's RTX 50-series graphics cards got off to a slow start when they launched in 2025, experiencing supply shortages, spiking prices, and general disbelief in the massive advancements afforded by DLSS 4 and the Multi Frame Generation feature exclusive to the new Blackwell architecture.

While a lot of PC gamers have now been able to get their hands on one of NVIDIA's latest consumer GPUs — prices have been dropping consistently over time to the point where you can sometimes find them for less than MSRP — others have been waiting for a mid-generation RTX 50-series refresh to spend their money.

I'm talking about the SUPER lineup, an upgrade that NVIDIA usually releases about a year after the standard cards are released.

Although NVIDIA hasn't ever officially mentioned a SUPER refresh for its Blackwell GPUs, many have been holding onto their money in the hopes that the new cards will be announced soon.

Those plans might have just been dashed, although this rumor has a good chance of turning out to be false.

According to a post from the UNIKO's Hardware X account (via Videocardz), the SUPER refresh is cancelled "due to the crazy shortage" of 3GB GDDR7 memory modules.

There is indeed a severe shortage of both NAND and DRAM due to the global AI demand. All of those specialized AI GPUs and their data center support system require the same stuff that goes into our beloved consumer GPUs, creating a bottleneck in the supply chain.

Whether or not that bottleneck is serious enough to halt an entire mid-generation refresh from the foremost GPU supplier in the world remains to be seen. It's a rumor at best, but it's still causing some panic.

One of the big reasons that many people have been waiting on NVIDIA's RTX 50 SUPER lineup has to do with VRAM, or a lack thereof in the non-SUPER cards.

Because NVIDIA chose to use 2GB GDDR7 modules in the RTX 50-series (except for the desktop RTX 5050 that uses GDDR6), VRAM amounts are considered underwhelming by many.

The RTX 5060, for example, has just 8GB of VRAM, which simply isn't enough in 2025 to handle the massive demands from many modern titles. A move to 3GB GDDR7 modules would, of course, allow NVIDIA to pack more VRAM into its SUPER GPUs.

UNIKO surmises that the DRAM stock is "probably reserved" for both RTX 5090 Laptop and RTX Pro 6000 cards, which make a lot more money than the mid-range GPU lineup. The Pro 6000, for example, is currently discounted by $650 at Newegg, bringing the total down to ... $8,345.99.

Are GPU prices about to spike again?

Tacked onto the UNIKO's Hardware post is a warning that current models are also about to get a lot more expensive due to rising costs of 2GB GDDR7 modules.

The global AI buildout really can't get enough memory, and because the business is so much more lucrative than the consumer GPU market, it's not a far stretch to think that NVIDIA would rather put any memory it can get its hands on into AI infrastructure.

Although I can't say for sure whether or not the memory shortage will get bad enough to drive up prices on current NVIDIA GPUs, it's currently not the worst time to consider investing in new hardware.

I purchased the RTX 5070 Ti above MSRP earlier this year, and I haven't regretted my decision. All it took was some testing of Multi Frame Generation in DOOM: The Dark Ages to convince me that the card is the real deal.

Now that many models have returned to MSRP, and with Black Friday/Cyber Monday headed our way in a few short weeks, this might be one of the last chances to get a Blackwell card at a reasonable price.

FAQ

It's no secret that mini PCs have exploded in popularity in recent years. They can be used for a wide range of purposes, they take up hardly any space on a desk, and they're generally priced competitively, allowing you to get your hands on powerful computing for less.

At least, that's the idea with most mini PCs. ZOTAC's new MAGNUS EN275060TC doesn't yet have a set price, but it will almost certainly cost more than many of what we consider to be the best mini PCs on the market today.

That's all because of its desktop-class RTX 5060 Ti graphics card. It isn't the first mini PC to feature a discrete GPU, but it is one of the few options that offer the full desktop version.

That might not be a notable achievement on its own; it's the new mini PC's size that really drew my attention. The case measures just 8.27 x 7.99 x 2.45 inches with an overall 2.65-liter capacity, with all components stuffed inside.

Considering ZOTAC's Twin Edge RTX 5060 Ti standalone desktop GPU measures 8.7 x 4.7 x 1.6 inches, the company evidently took the NVIDIA GB206 processor and designed a completely new cooling system to fit inside the cramped internals.

NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti is one of the company's latest graphics cards, which means it comes with all of the latest Blackwell improvements to ray tracing, AI workloads, and upscaling.

DLSS 4 and its Multi Frame Generation tech — exclusive to RTX 5000 GPUs — won me over earlier this year after I tested it extensively on an RTX 5070 Ti. The way it can boost framerates without loss of fidelity is just short of magic.

What other hardware comes in the ZOTAC MAGNUS EN275060TC?

ZOTAC's MAGNUS EN275060TC has a desktop-class GPU, but the rest of the hardware is much more tuned toward a mobile package.

It's centered around an Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX laptop processor with 20 total cores (split between 8 Performance and 12 Efficient), a Turbo frequency up to 5.2GHz, and a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of 13 TOPS.

ZOTAC offers up to 96GB of DDR5-6400 SODIMM RAM, the same used in gaming laptops. It's replaceable after purchase, as are the dual M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSDs.

Port selection looks to be quite generous, with three DisplayPort outputs, one HDMI, dual Thunderbolt 4, five USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), a UHS-II SD card reader, and dual 2.5GbE connections for wired internet.

Wireless internet is also at the cutting edge thanks to Wi-Fi 7 support, which comes bundled with modern Bluetooth 5.4. In typical mini PC fashion, the new MAGNUS has pre-drilled holes ready for mounting.

Why is a desktop GPU better than a laptop GPU?

Why is having a desktop-class GPU important? It's a common misconception that laptop and desktop graphics cards are the same thing. They do, after all, share the same name. Or at least, that's what it looks like at first glance.

NVIDIA doesn't offer a laptop version of the RTX 5060 Ti, so I can't draw a direct comparison. But I can show how the desktop and mobile versions of NVIDIA's GPUs differ using the RTX 5060.

The desktop version uses a GB206 processor, and it has 3,840 CUDA cores, 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a 128-bit memory bus, and a Total Graphics Power (TGP) rating of 150W.

The laptop version of the RTX 5060 uses the same GB206 processor (not always the case, especially with NVIDIA's more powerful laptop cards), but it drops the CUDA core count to 3,328 and the TGP to somewhere between 45W and 100W, depending on the laptop.

Clock speeds are also wildly different. The desktop version hits somewhere around a 2,500MHz boost clock, whereas the laptop version tops out at about 1,000MHz less.

Altogether, you can expect somewhere around 15-20% better performance from the desktop-class card, which is no small amount.

ZOTAC's new mini PC is "coming soon"

While ZOTAC has yet to attach a firm release date and price to its new MAGNUS mini PC for US buyers, I spotted it at LASystems.be with a listing price of €1,704.09. Translated directly to USD, that's about $1,978.

Considering that the price is for a barebones kit, lacking RAM and storage, ZOTAC might have a hard time reaching mass appeal when so many great gaming laptops and great gaming handhelds can offer a stellar gaming experience at a cheaper price.

(via Videocardz)

FAQ

You can't shop for a new PC or components these days without tripping over some sort of AI branding or feature, but actual customers might not be as interested as you expect.

A recent report from Digitimes seems to confirm that, at least when it comes to desktop PC users, Intel's newer AI processors equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) aren't as popular as older models lacking any built-in AI abilities.

The report, which mentions "supply chain sources," says that Intel plans to increase the prices of its 13th Gen Raptor Lake chips by "more than 10%" due to continued demand, even as Intel's newer Core Ultra processors are readily available.

Intel's Raptor Lake desktop chips debuted in 2022 with six initial chips, and the company continued to populate the list of processors up until 2023 with the Core i9-13900KS.

These price changes are expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025. The report doesn't specify exactly which chips will see the price increase, but it does mention a price range of about $150 to $160, which will climb to about $170 to $180.

Looking at Raptor Lake prices at the time of writing, that price hike will likely fall on 13th Gen Core i3 and Core i5 desktop CPUs.

Should Intel decide to raise prices on the more powerful hardware, something like the Intel Core i7-13700K currently sells for about $345, while the Core i5-13400 sells for about $199. Those could climb to about $380 and $220, respectively, if the particular chips are included in the hike.

Why is Intel raising prices of its older CPUs?

Intel's decision to raise prices of its aging 13th Gen desktop CPUs might come as a surprise, but it makes more sense within the scope of the company's entire CPU portfolio and the current consumer market.

The Digitimes report suggests that the consumer reception to AI PCs hasn't been nearly as hot as expected. Intel put a lot of emphasis on AI and productivity performance for its newer "Arrow Lake" chips, and it didn't exactly work out as expected.

Intel execs haven't been shy about calling out the failures of the Arrow Lake generation. Intel CFO David Zinsner stated recently that the company "fumbled the football" with Arrow Lake:

Even Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan has publicly stated that the Arrow Lake processors aren't competitive, aligning with Zinsner's acknowledgement that the chips fell short in terms of both pricing and performance.

With Intel's older Raptor Lake chips offering such a solid value and a familiar "Core i" branding, it's no wonder that more people are turning away from Core Ultra and its AI enhancements.

Intel's troubles have escalated to the point that the US government recently purchased a 9.9% stake in Intel in exchange for an $8.9 billion investment.

Are Intel's 13th Gen "Raptor Lake" chips still relevant today?

Intel definitely cooked up some magic with its 13th Gen processors, and I'm not exactly shocked by the confirmation that there's such high continued demand as Intel's newer CPUs fail to offer substantial improvements to gaming performance.

As I mentioned, Intel went all-in on productivity performance and AI for its Core Ultra chips, so those who are gaming or who simply don't care about AI should find that the Raptor Lake hardware is still totally relevant (aside from the lessened iGPU support, which matters less for gamers with a discrete GPU).

Windows Central Editor-in-Chief reviewed the Core i5-13600K, calling it at the time "the best mid-range desktop CPU, without question."

Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds reviewed the Core i7-13700K, stating at the time that it's "a workhorse for gaming and getting all your work done on time."

(via Tom's Hardware)

AMD's Ryzen 9000 series of desktop processors was officially revealed in June 2024, with the company offering an initial collection of four flagship chips on the Zen 5 architecture.

AMD then added new Ryzen 9000 X3D CPUs with the unique 3D V-Cache — including the awesome Ryzen 7 9800X3D that's immensely popular amongst PC gamers — in early 2025, but it's been about six months since the chips found any new company.

That changes with AMD's recent and quiet release of two new Ryzen 9000 desktop processors (via Tom's Hardware).

The new CPUs, named AMD Ryzen 5 9500F and Ryzen 7 9700F, notably have the "F" designator. That's unlike any other chips so far included in the Ryzen 9000 series.

Whereas even AMD's X3D processors include integrated Radeon graphics, these new F-class chips do without. That means they must be paired with a discrete graphics card to function.

The Ryzen 7 9700F comes with 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock up to 5.5GHz, all while running at a base TDP of 65W.

Comparing the 9700F to AMD's Ryzen 7 9700X, it seems like they're the same, other than the lack of discrete graphics in the former. Clock speeds are the same, cache is the same, and they're both unlocked for overclocking.

The Ryzen 5 9500F is slightly different than its Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 5 9600 siblings. While it has the same 6 cores and 12 threads, it has lower maximum base and boost clocks than the 9600X. It also falls behind the 9600 with its 5GHz max boost (compared to 5.2GHz).

The new Ryzen 5 9500F comes packaged with one of AMD's Wraith Stealth air coolers, which is only otherwise available with the Ryzen 5 9600.

Both new CPUs understandably use AMD's latest Zen 5 architecture and fit into an AM5 motherboard socket. It appears that the Ryzen 7 9700F will be available in North America, while the Ryzen 5 9500F will see a global release.

AMD continues to produce Zen 3 and 4 chips for OEMs

The new Ryzen 5 9500F and Ryzen 7 9700F aren't the only new chips that AMD has recently added to its repertoire. The older Zen 3 and Zen 4 platforms are also getting some love with quiet additions.

X user @harukaze5719 recently spotted listings on Danawa — a Seoul-based comparison and shopping site — with some other new AMD info regarding South Korean availability.

Listed are the Ryzen 5 7400F, Ryzen 5 7400, and the aforementioned Ryzen 5 9500F.

Focusing on the Ryzen 5 7400, it's worth pointing out that this might be the only time AMD has launched an F-series chip after its standard counterpart. The Ryzen 5 7400F launched earlier this year.

Perhaps most interesting is the Ryzen 5 7400's 22MB of combined L2 and L3 cache. That falls out into 16MB of L3 and the usual 6MB of L2.

Compare that to the Ryzen 5 7400F's 32MB of L3 and 6MB of L2 (for a total of 38MB), and it seems like AMD has decided to cut the biggest chunk of cache in half for the new 7400 chip.

With the already released Ryzen 5 7400F seeing availability only in the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China regions, it makes sense that the Ryzen 5 7400 will follow suit.

AMD wasn't satisfied with only adding new Zen 4 and Zen 5 chips. It's been about nine years since AMD introduced Zen 3, and the architecture that simply won't quit also just received a new chip in 2025.

Spotted by X user @momomo_us, the Ryzen 5 5600F is headed to the Asia Pacific and Japan region. It joins its global sibling, the Ryzen 5 5600, which launched in 2022.

The Ryzen 5 5600F features 6 cores, 12 threads, a boost clock up to 4GHz, and a 3GHz base clock. Its L2 and L3 caches combine for 35MB, and it runs at a 65W TDP.

It's essentially a nerfed version of the Ryzen 5 5600, coming in with lower max and base boost clocks. Interestingly, both the 5600F and 5600 lack integrated graphics; talk about a confusing naming scheme.

In any case, AMD's refusal to let its older generations wither is notable. AMD's Ryzen 5000 series now has more than 20 different CPUs using a mix of Vermeer and Cezanne silicon, and Zen 3 has been on the go for nine years.

When NVIDIA and AMD launched their most recent graphics cards, they both came with features only available with the latest hardware.

In NVIDIA's case, that meant that DLSS 4's Multi Frame Generation was only available on RTX 5000 cards, while Enhanced Frame Generation only made it back to 40-series hardware.

For AMD, it meant that FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) 4.0 was only available for RDNA 4 GPUs, including the flagship Radeon RX 9070 XT. Those with an RDNA 3 GPU or older were out of luck.

Well, that just changed thanks to the hard work of some enthusiastic Radeon owners and a leaked set of Int8 files used for FSR (via Wccftech).

This all began when AMD accidentally released the entire source code for FSR 4 on GitHub last month. The blunder was quickly discovered and nabbed by savvy users, and until now, the story has mostly been cold.

That is, until posts recently began popping up on the Radeon subreddit containing proof that FSR 4 was running on GPUs that it technically shouldn't run on.

Reddit user AthleteDependent926 created the post that kicked off a lot of experimentation, and it's causing a lot of excitement amongst AMD Radeon GPU owners.

How is AMD's FSR 4 running on old GPUs that don't technically support it?

AMD's FSR 4 is currently officially limited to the latest RDNA 4 GPUs due to their FP8 support. The lack of FP8 support on RDNA 3 (and older) cards was a major block unless a user was running Linux, where it could be forced; Windows users were left out completely.

AMD's accidental GitHub leak contained files that allowed savvy users to compile their own DLL for FSR 4.

Rather than using FP8, a custom FSR 4 DLL using Int8 files was produced, making it compatible with RDNA 2 and 3 GPUs as well as some NVIDIA RTX 30-series cards. Windows users, by employing Optiscaler (which is a handy way to replace upscalers in games), have reported success in replacing FSR 3.1 with FSR 4.

The results I've found on Reddit are quite impressive, although running FSR 4 on older cards isn't perfect. As AthleteDependent926 explains:

Reddit user nuubcake11 followed up the original post with some testing in Cyberpunk 2077.

Running the game on an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX of the RDNA 3 generation with FSR 4 enabled "is working via Optiscaler."

With FSR 3.1.5 enabled, the user saw roughly 84 FPS at 1440p with all settings maxed and ray tracing enabled. Switching to the custom version of FSR 4, frame rates dropped to about 79 FPS.

Losing single-digit frames seems to be a common experience, but users seem to be happy with the tradeoff. FSR 4 removes most of the shimmering in small details.

Another gamer tried Cyberpunk 2077 on an RX 6800 XT from the RDNA 2 generation using CachyOS and FSR 4. As they noted, FSR 4 was able to "come out superior" with sharper images, although performance was a bit weird.

RDNA 2 hardware seems to add some ghosting issues when running on Windows, so it seems like RDNA 3 is still the best way to go if you don't have one of the latest RDNA 4 cards.

What exactly is AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution?

FSR is AMD's answer to NVIDIA's DLSS, in that it upscales graphics and adds frame generation capabilities.

While AMD relied on advanced spatial upscaling algorithms for versions up to FSR 3, FSR 4 made the jump to machine learning.

This change has contributed greatly to FSR's abilities, and FSR 4 is indeed a big improvement compared to FSR 3. You can see in the video below how much of a difference there is.

AMD has not officially announced that it's bringing FSR 4 to its older AMD Radeon hardware, and that makes sense considering the performance tradeoffs that most users are seeing with this unofficial port.

Whether or not AMD takes a different stance now that this unofficial FSR 4 workaround is out in the wild, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I've been a little busy working through the gaming backlog and, well, working, to spin it up in a while, but one of my favorite competitive multiplayer shooters is VALORANT. So, when I learned that HP was making a limited-edition VALORANT PC, I leapt at the chance to be among the first to get their hands on it.

This is the HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition, a pre-built tower based off the HP OMEN 35L (2024) I reviewed and praised. It's the introductory fanfare for the OMEN 35L Stealth Edition coming later this year as the official PC for Riot Games' VALORANT and League of Legends esports tournaments.

Yes, I have the OMEN 35L VALORANT Edition on my desk, and I'm honestly impressed by all the detail in this design throughout the case and internal components. This isn't some unobtainable showpiece, either — the HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition is now available for preorder for $1,829.99 at BestBuy.com, and you can even configure your own from $1,672 at HP.com.

A capable pre-built tower with an even sleeker design

To the surprise of absolutely no one, this desktop is based off the standard HP OMEN 35L, and that's a good thing. It's one of the better pre-built towers for gamers and creators, with a beautiful design, excellent performance, and a wide range of available configurations.

Being a limited-edition variant, though, this OMEN 35L makes some notable changes to the design. I'm honestly surprised by how in-depth this collaboration is, because few elements seem to remain untouched.

The matte black case is marked by various red accents and details, and the glass side panel is adorned with various etched symbols. There's also a new glass front panel, with a tasteful gap behind it to allow for airflow. Even the internal components enjoyed the VALORANT treatment, with color-matched elements and subtle details throughout.

HP and Riot Games also include a magnetic VALORANT Gun Buddy accessory in the box, which can attach to any of the metal panels of the OMEN 35L... or anywhere else you want, honestly. No one is going to buy this PC just for this little accessory, but it's still a fun addition.

A lot of licensed limited editions would only ever appeal to hardcore fans of that franchise, but this PC looks great even if you're not a VALORANT fan. It also helps that there's a really capable desktop at the center of it all, although this OMEN 35L is far from the most powerful you can actually buy.

It's powered by an Intel Core i7-14700F, up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (16GB), up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 4TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage. It may not be the cutting edge on every front, but that's more than enough power to compete with the best in VALORANT.

The configuration that I think will appeal to most people is the one offered for $1,829.99 at BestBuy.com, with an RTX 5060 Ti (16GB), 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage under the hood.

HP and VALORANT are going hand-in-hand from now on

The VALORANT Edition is obviously the news of the day, but HP previously announced an OMEN 35L Stealth Edition that's coming in the near future. Riot Games chose HP as its partner for its esports tournaments, and it's the sleek, matte black Stealth Edition that professional VALORANT players will be using to compete with each other.

I'm planning to review that Stealth Edition, and I'm probably more excited than I should be for it, but I also didn't expect HP to release a separate VALORANT Edition targeting hardcore fans outside of esports tournaments. The former is meant to blend into the background, so everyone focuses on the match, but the latter is perfectly over-the-top and just as capable.

HP isn't gatekeeping either version, though. You can actually preorder the HP OMEN 35L Stealth Edition for $2,589.99 at HP.com right now, and the fact the VALORANT Limited Edition is available at HP and Best Buy in multiple configurations reassures me stock isn't too limited (but you probably shouldn't wait too long, regardless).

It's tiring to see one-of-one special edition PCs that no normal person will ever be able to have, so it's refreshing to see HP put in the work to make a proper limited-edition design and offer it to the masses. The HP OMEN 35L VALORANT Limited Edition honestly does look awesome, too; it's a little on the pricey side, but it is a custom licensed design, so I expected as much.

IFA 2025, the annual tech convention hosted in Berlin, was a huge event for Lenovo. From a new TrackPoint-less ThinkPad in a Glacier White color scheme to new foldable phones to AR glasses, gaming handhelds, and laptop prototypes, the company showed off a full gamut of new hardware.

Luca Rossi, Lenovo's Executive Vice President and President of Intelligent Devices Group, hosted the IFA keynote speech before sitting down in a roundtable discussion at which I was present.

The topic? AI and AI PCs, of course.

Despite growing concerns about AI causing an explosive market bubble, the fact that only about 5% of AI pilot projects make it beyond an incubation stage, or that AI is stealing jobs from young professionals at an alarming rate, Lenovo's senior leadership believes AI PCs are primed to completely take over the market.

All PCs will be AI PCs within five years — here's how that happens

Putting Lenovo's AI PC progress into perspective, so far in 2025, global AI PC penetration has hit roughly 5%. Lenovo's share of that is about 30%, and Rossi claims that the percentage will likely rise to 50% in a year or a year and a half.

What comes after that? "Every PC will be an AI PC in four, maximum five years" is Rossi's prediction.

It's easy to assume that it's the killer AI features and apps that are driving that growth. Unfortunately, those don't yet exist. And if they did exist, Rossi doesn't believe that the vast majority of consumers would actually grasp and seek out AI capabilties.

Right now, the AI PC market is largely being driven by hardware.

AI PCs "are typically very sleek, very nice with 12 hour battery life," explains Rossi, "so they are very compelling, even if you take out the AI element." I can't argue with that, and the 2025 ASUS Zenbook A14 — one of the best Windows laptops we've ever tested even without considering the AI aspect — is proof.

There's also the matter of Windows 10's end-of-life fiasco that is forcing many users to upgrade PCs prematurely. Nevertheless, Rossi believes that AI PC growth will continue after the Windows 11 upgrade wave settles, even if that growth is slower than expert predictions.

PC hardware is ready for AI; now the software must catch up

AI PCs only really arrived in 2024, making a big splash as Microsoft announced Copilot+ laptops with AI features unique to Windows 11.

At launch, only Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Systems-on-Chip (SoC) had a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) powerful enough to run the Copilot+ features. Intel and AMD were quick to catch up, and you can now easily find Copilot+ PCs with all three brands of CPU inside.

Rossi aptly brands 2024 as the year that the groundwork for AI hardware was established. 2025 can be seen as the year where that hardware matured, with stronger NPUs more capable of running AI locally without tapping the cloud.

The near future, says Rossi, is now the software's time to come into its own. He names Microsoft and Adobe as being leaders in this area, but many of Lenovo's Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) are also clamoring to make use of local AI hardware.

When pressed about one "must-have" AI app that becomes the main selling point of an AI PC, Rossi says that's still to come.

Rossi's argument is that NPUs are a relatively new innovation that have only been on the market for a couple of years. The software hasn't had time to mature. Rossi compares the AI software situation to that of the early days of phone app stores, when it was hard to find that one app that really made a difference.

👉 Related: Best AI laptops in 2025

Compare that to now, and there are countless hundreds of apps that we all rely on to function in the modern world.

Returning to Copilot+ PCs, despite all of the marketing around Microsoft's initiative, it has failed to capture the attention of the masses. My colleague, Richard Devine, recently expressed his opinion about Copilot+, stating that he still doesn't care about it after a year of availability.

The future of AI computing is intent-based

While we're still waiting on the AI app that makes AI PCs a must-have, Rossi explains that he foresees computing moving toward an "intent-based world."

The operating systems for which Lenovo currently builds hardware, including Windows and Android, aren't going anywhere. At least not yet. But Rossi imagines a form of advanced assistant called "super agent" that blends brands and ecosystems, all the while delivering that intent-based future.

Rossi explains that super agents are already a reality in China, where AI seamlessly blends AI across desktops, laptops, wearables, and phones.

With Lenovo's dual-ecosystem OEM role and its CPU partnerships, Rossi believes Lenovo is in a unique position to pioneer this future of AI computing.

How will this new approach affect hardware design? It will be a slow progression of change, says Rossi. We'll still have the notebooks we know and love, but voice, gesture, and contextual awareness will begin to take over for keyboards and mice.

Rossi believes that wearables, like AR glasses, have the most potential for AI integration. Humans are already used to eyeglasses, they're comfortable to wear, and they could deliver AI directly within our field of view.

Of course, hurdles like compute power, battery life, and lens technology refinement must be taken into consideration.

It's all gas and no brakes for Lenovo's AI ambitions

If Lenovo's forecasts are correct, the AI PC market will eventually consume the PC market as we know it today. Super agents will seamlessly blend platforms and devices, and AI software will be too good to not be using.

Are you excited about that future, or are you skeptical of the envisioned AI future? Let me know in the comments section below!

Recently, at the Deutsche Bank 2025 Technology Conference, Intel’s CFO David Zinsner admitted that it had “fumbled the football” with its Arrow Lake CPUs, particularly on the high-end desktop side.

So, what exactly went wrong with Arrow Lake? Let’s break down what Zinsner was referring to and whether Intel’s next generation of CPUs, Nova Lake, could turn things around.

Intel’s candid admission at Deutsche Bank 2025

At the conference, Zinsner candidly acknowledged the company’s missteps with its Arrow Lake desktop CPUs, particularly in the high-end segment. He admitted the lineup fell short on both pricing and performance, leaving Intel trailing behind expectations.

Despite that, Zinsner shared cautious optimism for Intel’s next generation of CPUs, Nova Lake. He suggested it will be a more complete lineup, with stronger offerings at the high end to make up for Arrow Lake’s shortcomings.

It was refreshing to see him take the criticism on the chin and acknowledge that Intel made mistakes with Arrow Lake. Whether Nova Lake delivers on his optimism, though, remains to be seen.

Arrow Lake’s rocky launch and the fixes that followed

Arrow Lake launched in October 2024 as Intel’s first full desktop lineup under the new Core Ultra branding. But it didn’t take long for the name to feel like just branding, as reviews reported inconsistent performance. In some cases, Arrow Lake even fell behind the previous generation, Raptor Lake, especially in gaming benchmarks.

The problems ran deep. Arrow Lake was Intel’s first desktop chip to use a multi-die configuration, and it dropped simultaneous multithreading from its P-cores (performance cores responsible for handling demanding tasks). This change reduced efficiency in multithreaded workloads, and the limited lineup of chips only added to the disappointment.

Intel attempted to patch things up with BIOS updates and Windows fixes. While these updates brought some improvements, they were small and inconsistent. By the time the fixes landed, the damage to Arrow Lake’s reputation had already been done.

Pricing, SKUs, and AMD’s competitive edge

One of the biggest problems was pricing. Intel’s flagship Core Ultra 9 285K launched at $589, while AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D came in at $479 and still outperformed it in gaming. The Ryzen 9 9950X also matched the 285K in productivity but cost less, making Intel’s top-end chip difficult to recommend.

The Core Ultra 5 245K was underwhelming, and there was no direct Core i3 replacement for budget buyers. The only bright spot was the Core Ultra 7 265K, which came close to 285K performance at a noticeably lower price.

Against AMD, the gap was clear. The Ryzen 9000 series (Zen 5) delivered better performance-per-dollar in both gaming and productivity, while AMD’s X3D models dominated gaming thanks to 3D V-Cache. For many buyers, it was the obvious choice.

Intel’s Arrow Lake launch ended up offering fewer options, weaker performance, and ongoing issues. Even after price cuts, the damage was already done, and most people had an easier time recommending AMD.

Looking ahead to Nova Lake

It’s worth taking with a grain of salt, but Intel’s CFO David Zinsner has said that Nova Lake will be a more complex set of SKUs, with a focus on high-end desktops.

Zinsner appears determined to challenge AMD directly, especially around its 3D V-Cache advantage. The challenge is timing. By the time Nova Lake arrives, AMD’s Zen 6 CPUs could already be around the corner, making it harder for Intel to close the gap.

That doesn’t mean the effort isn’t worthwhile. Strong competition keeps the industry moving forward, and with U.S. government investment backing Intel, it could still find new ways to surprise AMD and the broader market.

Many gamers may not be fully aware, but HP isn’t just making printers and productivity-focused PCs — the company also maintains a significant presence in the gaming industry.

HP’s OMEN and HyperX brands have continued to grow in scale and ambition, and have also increasingly separated themselves from HP’s more mundane consumer efforts. Case in point, the dedicated event at which HP announced a slew of new gaming hardware and accessories.

I was invited to attend this unique event by HP, and arrived early to go hands-on with the brand-new HP OMEN PCs and HyperX audio gear. I came away impressed and intrigued, especially by the beastly OMEN MAX 45L gaming desktop that pulls out all the stops.

Gaming to the MAX with a new flagship desktop

The HP OMEN 45L is dead; long live the HP OMEN MAX 45L, the most absurdly powerful pre-built desktop PC to ever come out of HP’s laboratories.

On the inside, you’ll find some insane hardware… but not entirely unfamiliar. The OMEN MAX 45L is powered by the latest from AMD and NVIDIA, up to the Ryzen 9 9950X3D and GeForce RTX 5090, to be exact. You can also get crazy amounts of RAM and plenty of PCIe Gen5 SSD storage, but none of that is what makes the OMEN MAX 45L special.

Much of that you can also find in the refreshed HP OMEN 35L (which I’ll talk more about later), but this desktop’s overwhelming presence is due to its unique cooling solution. HP’s “CRYO CHAMBER” brand has returned, but you haven’t seen it like this, yet.

I’ll admit, the OMEN MAX 45L does look odd in person. It’s like a normal gaming desktop wearing a hat, but it’s all for a purpose. Different paths for airflow and improved use of ambient air result in substantially improved thermals, and in turn allow users to truly max out this PC’s hardware.

HP has already impressed me with the depth and granularity of its overclocking and power management features with recent OMEN hardware, but the OMEN MAX 45L goes a step further by letting you overclock the memory, CPU, and GPU — and HP was very excited to tell me there are no artificial limitations here. You can really push this hardware to the max.

It’s this promise of truly “extreme” performance thanks to the OMEN MAX 45L’s overclocking capabilities that presumably justifies its position at the top, but I’ll have to test it for myself to see if it really earns that distinction.

Leaving behind the RGB and flying under the radar

The biggest surprise of HP’s event, though, was how much I really loved the new “Stealth Edition” OMEN 35L. The OMEN 35L hasn’t changed much since I reviewed it, apart from a spec bump to the latest AMD and NVIDIA internals, but this version takes the same hardware and slots it into a sleek, nondescript, matte black case devoid of RGB lighting and bold glass.

I was a fan when I covered the product’s announcement, but this desktop looks even better in person. It’s clean, and it makes a lot of sense why Riot Games chose this specific computer as the standard for its VALORANT esports league.

I love RGB lighting as much as the next gamer, but there’s also a depressing lack of “sleeper” hardware that HP is filling here — and the positive reception has apparently already been immense.

I don’t expect this OMEN 35L to be a drastic departure from last year (apart from slightly improved performance and hopefully more stable software), but I am very interested to check out the Stealth Edition.

A different approach to AMD and Intel laptops?

One of the more interesting things I learned during this HP event is how the company is approaching AMD and Intel SKUs for its OMEN gaming laptops. I recently reviewed the flagship HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) and liked it well enough, and now it's getting an AMD variant — with a twist.

The original OMEN MAX 16 is powered by Intel Core Ultra HX-series CPUs, Intel's most powerful mobile chipsets. The downside is that the integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) isn't powerful enough to enable full Copilot+ PC status, making them lesser AI PCs in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Instead of using the AMD equivalent, like what's found in the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) I reviewed, the new OMEN MAX 16 is actually powered by AMD Ryzen AI chipsets. That means less raw power, but far greater efficiency and a whole lot more smarts for artificial intelligence features.

HP told me it's because it found people want that choice, and many value battery life enough to trade some CPU performance for it. I'd certainly make that choice, so I'm all for HP's slightly more unique approach here. The standard, mid-range HP OMEN 16 is getting the same AMD/Intel treatment, too.

Leveling up your audio with new HyperX accessories

HyperX joined the fun during this Level Reforge event, too, showing off two new wireless gaming headsets and two new microphones. I got to check them all out to varying degrees, and I think this is an exciting lineup for a few reasons.

Possibly the most interesting of the bunch to me personally is the HyperX Cloud Flight 2, a new multi-platform, mid-range headset. It's ultra-light and made of plastic, so it's not the most premium feeling, but HyperX is doing some interesting things here.

All the basics are covered — angled 50mm drivers, Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, an Xbox-specific version with added features (like a built-in chat mixer), up to 125 hours of battery life, an upgraded 10mm boom microphone, and more.

On top of that, though, HyperX designed the headband cushion, earcup cushions, and magnetic faceplates to all be easily removable and replaceable. More than that, the headset's RGB lighting actually covers the entire area underneath those faceplates, allowing light to shine in through cutouts; that opens a lot of possibilities for customizing your headset, and HyperX is looking into expanding those options for consumers.

There's even an internal microphone so that you can continue to do voice calls without the awkward boom microphone attached, which a lot of headsets that claim to double up as wireless headphones lack.

I also tried out HyperX's new flagship Alpha 2 wireless headset, which immediately feels extremely polished and premium with its understated, RGB-less, metal-infused design. It's sleek and comfy, the audio sounded excellent in my limited testing, and HyperX is promising a ridiculous 250-hour battery life.

That headset will be going up against the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I reviewed, though, so the performance will have to be top-notch to justify its higher price tag of $299.99 at HP.com.

I did check out both of the new HyperX microphones, too, although I wasn't really able to test them. The premium FlipCast for $229.99 at HP.com could be a fantastic option for those who want to get into content creation of any kind but aren't quite ready to invest in a full (often expensive) XLR-based setup; the FlipCast also boasts USB input for casual plug-and-play, as well as a smart and attractive design with a dynamic LED meter.

I actually have the HyperX FlipCast in to review, so you can expect my in-depth thoughts on it in the coming weeks. I don't have the SoloCast 2 yet, but I am excited to eventually check it out. This is HyperX's most affordable USB microphone, and it looks like it'll be a direct competitor to the AVerMedia VERSATI go (AM310G2) I reviewed and loved.

It'll be interesting to see if the SoloCast 2, which costs $59.99 at HP.com, can offer the same level of quality and features as that microphone.

A fun and creative way to show off new products

I do want to spare a moment to talk about the event itself, because this wasn't your normal tech briefing. HP got a bunch of well-known Twitch streamers and content creators together in a game-show format, with the goal being to "reforge" a broken blade by excelling at a variety of mini-games.

Beyond the awkward, forced jokes of the beginning, this event was actually really enjoyable to watch. The games were fun, and the synergy between teams and the excellent hosts led to some hilarious moments.

In between event beats, HP announced its new products with flashy commercials and casual interviews between obviously passionate (and often nervous) nerds, which made the products feel like they were truly made for gamers, by gamers.

HP seemed very pleased about the reception to the event, too, as this was the first time the company has ever attempted something like this. I and many others had plenty of feedback to give for future iterations, and it does seem like we can expect Level Reforge to return next year.

I always appreciate engaging with a company that actively seeks out criticism, too, and I chatted with various HP OMEN and HyperX leads and engineers on new and existing hardware.

For example, one of the demo areas used the HP OMEN Transcend 32 OLED monitor I reviewed, but had been afflicted with a dreaded forced pixel refresh. I had an open and shockingly productive conversation with a member of that team about my review and all my criticisms for what is genuinely a great monitor, and it reassured me that future HP OMEN monitors will actually be better because of feedback from actual users.

Thank you, HP, for inviting me out to Level Reforge. I had more fun than I honestly expected I would. As for what comes next, stay tuned to Windows Central for my reviews of the new HP OMEN and HyperX gear!

HP has been steadily growing and improving its OMEN line of gaming hardware in the last few years, and the brand has become a consistently good option for consumers.

Now, the OMEN family is quite a bit larger, with HP announcing a handful of hardware refreshes — and an entirely new product to sit at the very top of the lineup.

2025 is giving us a new HP OMEN 35L desktop (including a very interesting new edition), a refreshed HP OMEN 16 laptop, and the absolutely ridiculous HP OMEN MAX 45L desktop.

There's some interesting stuff going on here, so let's dive in.

First, we have the all-new HP OMEN MAX 45L. Similar to the HP OMEN MAX 16 (2025) I reviewed, this tower is meant to be the best HP can offer to those who demand the greatest performance.

Equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D (16 cores, 32 threads), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 (32GB VRAM), 128GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of PCIe Gen5 SSD storage, the OMEN MAX 45L is a monster for gaming, creation, and artificial intelligence workflows.

What makes this desktop "flagship" level, though, is more than just the components inside. Toolless entry into the roomy chassis allows for easy upgrades of the standard parts, you get a high-powered motherboard that enables in-depth CPU, GPU, and RAM overclocking, HP improved its "CRYO CHAMBER" cooling technology (which includes 360mm liquid CPU cooling), and the 1,200W PSU is now fully modular and even includes unique features like automatic fan cleaning.

This tower is massive and it's bound to be expensive, but it should offer some of the best and most consistent performance you can expect out of a modern gaming PC, and compete with PCs like the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 10) I just reviewed. I do wish the OMEN MAX 45L got the same "pair up to three wireless HyperX accessories without a USB dongle" feature as the MAX 16 laptop, though.

Before I jump into the new OMEN 35L desktop, a brief mention of the third OMEN product HP announced today.

The HP OMEN 16 gaming laptop has also been refreshed, but it's a simple spec bump to the latest internals, including up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti.

I reviewed the HP OMEN 35L (2024), and I honestly loved that desktop. It wasn't perfect (mostly on the software/firmware front), but its compact chassis was gorgeous. HP hasn't messed with that design for 2025, but the OMEN 35L is getting treated to many of the same on-paper components as the OMEN MAX 45L.

Performance won't be as good thanks to less space for airflow to keep everything running cool, but a lot of people will be more than happy to accept that compromise. The most exciting part about this year's OMEN 35L, though, is the new Stealth Edition.

Designed for esports but aimed at anyone who wants a more understated design, the OMEN 35L Stealth Edition boasts all the same specs as the standard version, but does away with the glass-clad, RGB-lit chassis in favor of a blockier, all matte-black design.

It's a gaming PC that doesn't look like a gaming PC, and I personally think it's awesome. It's an even better version of the reasons I loved the Dell XPS Desktop (8960) we reviewed. I'm willing to be a lot of people will be drawn to the Stealth Edition.

In other news, HP also announced some new HyperX gaming accessories, so be sure to check those out, too. Stay tuned, because as you're reading this I'm in Los Angeles with HP, going hands-on with these new products. My initial impressions will be appearing on Windows Central soon.

PC gaming elitists will always tell you to build your own gaming PC, usually with the "you'll save so much money" argument, but that's not always the best option.

There are plenty of excellent pre-built towers that provide a reliable, capable, and hassle-free PC gaming experience, even if you want something able to play all the most demanding PC games or handle the most intense workloads.

That's where rigs like the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i come in. Lenovo has become one of the most consistent sources of pre-built gaming hardware thanks to its matured Legion brand, and the Legion Tower 7i rests at the pinnacle of its desktop family.

I adored the last Legion Tower 7i enough that I actively chose it over the barrage of enticing hardware that came across my desk in the months following my review. Now Lenovo has updated its flagship desktop with a refreshed design and the latest internals, and it's just as amazing.

... I just wish it wasn't quite this expensive.

My Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 10) review

Design ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

Lenovo didn't overhaul the Legion Tower 7i's design with the latest generation, but I don't feel like it had to. It's understated enough to blend into any setup, but still has enough style to fulfil its "gamer" aspirations.

Lenovo did make the Legion Tower 7i more compact, though, shaving off a little height and length without compromising on performance, cooling, or features. This is a 34-liter chassis now, but it's still larger than desktops like the HP OMEN 35L I reviewed.

You get the same number of ports, too, but the bandwidth has been upgraded. One of the 5GBps USB Type-A ports on the front is now a 10GBps USB Type-C port, and the 20GBps USB Type-C port on the rear is now a full-fledged 40GBps Thunderbolt 4 port with Power Delivery 3.1 and DisplayPort 2.1.

Upgradeability ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The Legion Tower 7i is as easy to open as ever, with just two thumbscrews keeping the side glass panel on. Inside you'll find a pretty standard Intel Z890 motherboard with helpful barcodes to find support documentation for various parts.

Despite the reduced internal volume, the Legion Tower 7i also boasts plenty of upgrade and expansion opportunities. You get 4 UDIMM RAM slots (which also support CUDIMM RAM for overclocking), 4 M.2 SSD slots (which also support PCIe Gen5 SSDs), 2 3.5" HDD bays, as well as one each of PCIe 5.0 x16, PCIe 4.0 x16, and PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slots.

Some of it is a little difficult to access with the sheer size of the NVIDIA GPU, but everything you could want is there.

Performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

As you'd expect from a flagship desktop, the Legion Tower 7i is packed with powerful hardware. My configuration is rocking an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K (24 cores), an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB VRAM), 64GB of dual-channel, 5,600MHz RAM, and 2TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD storage.

That's pretty much the best Lenovo offers right now, but an RTX 5090 configuration is likely on the way (not that I recommend it, unless you really need the extra VRAM and don't mind paying hundreds more for it).

You can upgrade this tower with up to 128GB of UDIMM RAM, and you can use more advanced CUDIMM RAM if you'd like to overclock it. It also supports PCIe Gen5 SSDs for the absolute fastest read and write speeds, but Lenovo doesn't offer a configuration that comes with those SSDs pre-installed (at least right now).

That's a shame, because this tower's only real "weakness" is the fact that both of its 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSDs are slower than average; they're not slow, but many other gaming PCs and laptops definitely boast some more impressive scores.

• Forza Horizon 5 — 146 FPS (Extreme preset, 4K resolution, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution/DLSS Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency disabled) | 196 FPS (Max settings, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency enabled)
• Gears 5 — 130 FPS (Ultra preset, 4K resolution)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 135 FPS (Extreme preset, 4K resolution, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Performance, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation disabled)
• Cyberpunk 2077 — 84 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 4K resolution, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution Transformer Model set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Ray Reconstruction disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled) | 188 FPS (Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset, NVIDIA DLSS Multi-Frame Generation set to 4X, NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction enabled)

You definitely don't notice when actually using the Legion Tower 7i, though, which absolutely smashes everything I could throw at it. It's a powerhouse that can crank settings up to the max at 4K.

Lenovo also updated the Legion Tower 7i's thermal management system, and I never struggled with thermal throttling of any kind. It's also a quiet system, with the fans at full blast easily drowned out by any gaming headset.

Software & AI ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lenovo's Legion ecosystem is mature and the Legion Tower 7i does now benefit from technically being an AI PC thanks to the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) baked into its processor, but I do feel this is one area where Lenovo took a step back.

The new Legion Space launcher is clean and easy to navigate, but it does feel bereft of more powerful features. Beyond very basic GPU overclocking, simple performance profiles, and RGB lighting customization, you're not given a lot of control over your hardware (you won't find much more in the BIOS, either).

This thing is expensive, even compared to other RTX 50-series desktops

The Legion Tower 7i has never been an affordable desktop PC, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50-series is notoriously expensive. Still, this latest tower is pricey, even compared to other pre-built PCs.

This Alienware Aurora PC with an Intel Core Ultra 9, GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage is $3,149.99 at BestBuy.com, and the equivalent Legion Tower 7i configuration is $3,799.99 at Lenovo.com. Alienware's not particularly known for being value-driven, either.

There's also this ASUS ROG G700 with a Core Ultra 7 for $2,749.99 at BestBuy.com, while the comparable Legion Tower 7i will run you $3,099.99 at Lenovo.com.

The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 10) offers top-notch performance and cooling that even rivals the significantly larger and more expensive Alienware Area-51 PC we reviewed, but if all you care about is on-paper specs, than you can get similar hardware for hundreds less.

Legion Tower 7i review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want the best Intel and NVIDIA hardware you can get.
• You believe better cooling is worth having a larger PC.
• You need a lot of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, on your desktop.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're willing to put in the time and effort to build your own PC.
• You're looking for the best possible value in a pre-built PC.

There's a reason I kept the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) for as long as I did, and the latest generation boosts the performance and decreases the size. It's an excellent tower with a lot of room to grow with you over the years.

I do wish Lenovo's software offered more in-depth settings and controls, though. This desktop PC is also pricey, so be sure you want the best (or wait for a good sale to come around).

Once again, though, Lenovo has made my favorite pre-built desktop gaming PC. If you'd like to consider one for yourself, the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 10) is now available from $2,699.99 at Lenovo.com.

You're sitting in Starbucks (other coffee shops also available) sipping your latte, and next to you, someone parks themselves and unpacks their PC. Nothing unusual, right?

It's time, once again, for one of those threads where someone has been spotted in said coffee shop using a ridiculous PC. At least this time it's not an iMac!

I direct you to the Reddit post below, where, in all its glory, sits someone happily using an all-in-one PC when a laptop would surely be so much more convenient.

pcmasterrace from r/pcmasterrace/comments/1m3iu9r/someone_brought_their_aio_computer_to_starbucks

I'm not sure if I'm more amazed someone did this at all, or that they're sat on the smallest table imaginable while doing it. If I was sat that close to a screen that size, I feel like my eyes would start burning.

Further questions arise, mostly around transportation. What kind of bag do you need to move something like that around?! Or are you just walking the streets with an AIO under one arm?

Is it a flex? I'm not sure. If it was an iMac, I'd possibly lean in that direction, the "hey look at me using a massive Apple computer, I'm the best" type of angle.

Obviously this could also be the only computer this person has, but even so, I'm not sure anyone could ever convince me to carry a desktop machine to a coffee shop. I'd rather just not work at that point!

Then again, the HP Envy Move AIO was explicitly designed to be used in more than one place. Niche, perhaps, but the need seems to exist.

Comment from r/pcmasterrace

The responses to the Reddit post are plentiful, some including other examples like the outrageous setup seen above. Full marks for effort on that one, must be dragging about a cart full of PC gear!

In any case, we're being light-hearted here. You do you, whatever you take to your local Starbucks. Desktop, iPad, laptop with additional monitors, work how you want to work, so long as you're not getting in the way of others.

But mostly I want to open it up to you, the readers. I can honestly say I've never witnessed anything this outrageous in a coffee shop, cafe, or any other public setting. The closest has been someone using what looked like an MSI Titan while eating breakfast.

But I'm curious to know what other folks might have seen out there. The weird, wacky, and wonderful of mobile PC setups that you've seen dragged around in public. Hit the comments below and share the wealth!

As endless as this discount-driven week might feel, we are in the final hours of Amazon Prime Day (or Prime Week, as we've affectionately named it), and time is running out on its price-slashing mania. Trust me, I'm just as exhausted by the relentless onslaught of "lowest-ever" and "the best AA batteries I've used" headlines, but this discount means something special to me.

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals

Mini PCs do not get the respect they deserve. In fact, I don't think most people have ever used one, or perhaps even known that Windows 11 options were available in a similar vein to Apple's Mac mini. We're big advocates of these pint-size Geekom units, but the biggest thing keeping me from recommending my model was its astronomical price — until these A8 Max AI deals went live.

No monitor? Where's the rest of it?

Mini PCs aren't completely ignored. When I first shared how I was sick of laptop docks and spaghetti cables, it garnered a healthy amount of attention and a totally fair reaction to the price of the Geekom A8 Max AI. Almost a thousand dollars is a lot to ask for a laptop processor contained in a shell the size of a sandwich when you don't get a monitor, keyboard, or any kind of mouse.

Geekom's Prime Day deal certainly helps things with a 20% discount, bringing the mini PC down to a much more reasonable price, but there's still an issue for people who don't have spare peripherals lying around their home or office. Personally, I still use a previously reviewed Alienware's 27-inch 240Hz "AW2723DF" gaming monitor, and it happens to also be on sale.

Better than Steam Deck? But, this isn't a console

Good point, and no, a mini PC isn't supposed to be an alternative to a handheld gaming PC like Valve's highly praised Steam Deck or, my personal favorite, the (temporarily at Walmart) $549.99 ASUS ROG Ally. However, these portable PCs have undoubtedly shown the value of integrated graphics in mobile processors. In particular, the Radeon 780M-equivalent chip used in the "Z1 Extreme" ROG Ally.

I've spent an almost embarrassing number of hours playing my library of PC games on a Steam Deck and, more recently, the ROG Ally, and I can tell you without getting into nerdy spec sheets that the latter is more powerful. So, when I saw that both models of the Geekom A8 Max AI mini PC use the same integrated graphics chip as ASUS' handheld, I knew that I'd be fine for occasional gaming in whatever's holding my obsession.

Essentially, if you can play it on a Steam Deck, then you can play it on the Geekom A8 Max AI. It comes with Windows 11 Pro installed, and I even dual-boot into Fedora KDE (don't tell anyone) to check on the progress of Valve's Proton compatibility layer that runs Windows games on Linux PCs. This little box does it all, and I always come back to Windows for that familiarity and compatibility.

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day this week, several of my favorite Geekom mini PCs are on sale. These small Windows computers are usually inexpensive, but these discounts make them super cheap.

The Geekom Air12 Lite usually sells for $189.00, but right now, you can get it for just $139.00 at Amazon.

If you need a computer with a bit more power, I recommend grabbing the Geekom IT13, which usually sells for $699.00 but is now only $599.00 at Amazon for Prime Day.

Of course, if you want, you can also look at all of today's Geekom Prime Day deals at Amazon.

• Geekom Air12 Lite: was $189.00 now $139.00 at Amazon
• Geekom IT13: was $699.00 now $599.00 at Amazon
• Geekom A8: was $529.00 now $499.00 at Amazon

Why I can easily recommend Geekom mini PCs

Over the last few years, I've tested dozens of mini PCs, including several from Geekom.

To be clear, there are a lot of cheap and shoddy mini PCs on the market that I suggest you stay away from, but Geekom mini PCs stand out as excellent choices thanks to their metal chassis, solid performance, and wide range of ports.

Best of all, mini PCs usually aren't nearly as expensive as some desktops and laptops on the market, so you can meet your computer needs without spending as much when you get a Geekom.

Because of these factors, I regularly recommend Geekom mini PCs to friends and family. I even gave my dad a Geekom IT13 last month for Father's Day because I was so impressed with this model after reviewing it.

Since these computers are so small, it is very easy to find a place for them, even in a crowded student apartment or office.

What's more, Geekoms come with mounting plates so you can attach them to the back of compatible monitors to keep your desk clean and clutter-free.

Now, part of what makes mini PC inexpensive is that they typically don't have the highest-tier CPUs (central processing units) or GPUs (graphics processing units), but that doesn't stop them from being gaming devices.

I've specifically used Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta) and NVIDIA GeForce NOW to stream games like Cyberpunk 2077, Dragon's Dogma II, and more on Geekom mini PCs. It's a far more affordable way to get PC gaming in your home.

The final thing I'll point out about Geekom mini PCs is their healthy range of ports. Typically, most Geekoms come with at least one RJ45 LAN port, two HDMI ports, and then a smattering of USB-A and USB-C ports.

Between all of these options, I've never had a problem connecting monitors and PC accessories to my mini PC. Plus, Geekoms come with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi cards, so you can connect more peripherals that way.

If you just need a basic computer for simple internet browsing and show streaming, the Geekom Air12 Lite will suit your needs just fine. Plus, selling for only $139 at Amazon, makes it very easy on your wallet.

However, if you want a mini PC with a bit more power, you should consider the Geekom IT13 ($599.00 at Amazon) or the Geekom A8 ($499.00 at Amazon).

They're both fantastic devices that each have 32GB RAM and a large 1TB SSD storage capacity. The difference is that the A8 is powered by AMD processors while the IT13 is powered by Intel (and it's blue). Both offer limited upgradeability and also feature Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 for your convenience.

If you're having a hard time deciding between them, I say go with the IT13. I love that it is blue instead of grey or black, plus it's at a greater discount right now.

AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a CPU that I always recommend for PC gamers looking for a stellar upgrade, and it continues to drop in price in 2025.

Last week, Newegg's 4th of July sale had it down to a $369.99 sale price, which at the time was the lowest of the year.

Amazon has gone ahead and one-upped Newegg one day ahead of Prime Day, dropping the 7800X3D price to just $341.

Why I can easily recommend the Ryzen 7 7800X3D to PC gamers

It's a true testament to AMD's Ryzen prowess that the 7800X3D is still such a hot item. Despite being "replaced" by the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the 7800X3D is still holding strong when paired with even the most powerful NVIDIA RTX 5000 and AMD Radeon 9000 GPUs.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has 8 cores and 16 threads, a 5.0GHz max boost clock speed, and a 120W TDP.

The secret to the 7800X3D's success lies in its 3D V-Cache, a feature that's unique to AMD's X3D hardware. It works by stacking additional L3 cache on the CPU die, allowing the CPU to benefit from 96MB of cache that's quickly accessible.

👉 Related: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D

While 3D V-Cache doesn't do much for productivity work, it directly benefits gaming performance. I have an X3D chip in my gaming PC, and there's no way I'm switching anytime soon.

While the newer 9800X3D does offer between 8% and 22% performance uplifts compared to the 7800X3D, based on our in-house testing, you'll pay about $470 for the newer chip.

That's roughly $130 more than the discount price of the 7800X3D, which makes it very easy for me to recommend the older CPU, especially when it remains so potent for gaming.

Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D when it launched in 2023, remarking:

"True to its word, the average temperature of the 7800X3D seems to hover around the low-to-mid 80°C region when it's under stress, but my radiator fans were barely doing any work. The talk about power management holds true; AMD is squeezing every bit of power out of this CPU like diamonds out of coal."

The current $341 sale price at Amazon is outstanding, and I don't know if it will get any cheaper during the rest of the week.

When is Amazon Prime Day?

Amazon's Prime Day 2025 runs from July 8 until July 11, making it a full four-day event.

Major competing retailers, including Newegg, are hosting their own sales events to draw attention away from Amazon, and I urge everyone to shop around before checking out.

👉 Related: Early Prime Day PC build deals are live — Major savings on NVIDIA RTX GPUs, AMD Ryzen CPUs, fast storage, and more

Newegg currently has a FantasTech Sale running until July 13, while Best Buy is hosting a Black Friday in July event that also runs until July 13.

Amazon Prime Day has arrived, and with it comes competing sales from other major retailers like Best Buy and Newegg.

That's great news for anyone who wants to upgrade their PC with a new graphics card, processor, SSD, or memory, as I'm seeing some deep discounts from all categories.

While some deals do require an Amazon Prime membership, there are plenty of deals available for all, membership or not (especially if you're shopping at Newegg or Best Buy).

I'm using my nine years of experience covering Prime Day and two decades of PC building expertise to bring you only the deals that are actually worth your time and money.

Quick links

• Prime Day deals from all categories at Amazon
• Top deals on PC and gaming hardware at Best Buy
• Best tech deals so far at Walmart
• Deep tech discounts available at Target
• Best FantasTech PC hardware deals at Newegg
• Countless PC build and laptop discounts live now at B&H

🔥 Best Prime Day PC build deal so far 🔥

Best Prime Day GPU deals

Best early Prime Day CPU deals

Best early Prime Day PC storage & RAM deals

Amazon Prime Day 2025: Frequently Asked Questions

The original Amazon Prime Day kicked off on July 15, 2015, and it has since grown to massive proportions. This year's event runs officially for four days, but the deals have already started.

Have some questions about the upcoming summer sales event? Here are some answers to common Prime Day questions.

When is Amazon Prime Day 2025?

Amazon's Prime Day was originally just one day long, but it soon grew to two days. For 2025, it has once again doubled from 48 hours to 96 hours, meaning it runs from July 8 until July 11.

It officially begins on July 8 at 12:01 AM PDT and ends at midnight PDT on July 11, but you can expect to see plenty of deals in the lead-up to the main event.

Which countries are taking part in Prime Day 2025?

Amazon Prime Day 2025 arrives on July 8 in 20 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Other participating countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Türkiye.

Do I need an Amazon Prime membership?

If you're shopping at Amazon during Prime Day 2025, you will certainly want a Prime membership in order to take full advantage of all of the best deals.

Not already a member? You can quickly sign up for Amazon Prime for $14.99 per month or $139 annually (taxes not included).

Keep in mind that Amazon offers a 30-day trial of its Prime membership program, which is an ideal way to cash in on big savings without having to make as big of a commitment.

Prime members receive perks beyond discount prices, like fast and free shipping, video and music streaming access, games and streaming perks, grocery discounts, and more.

👉 Amazon Prime memberships explained: Benefits, costs, exclusive deals, and other FAQs

Do other retailers host competing sales during Prime Day?

Absolutely — other major retailers almost always take advantage of the extra attention to online deals spurred by Amazon Prime Day to host their own competing sales events.

For example, Newegg is advertising its "FantasTech Sale" that is expected to run from July 7 until July 13, eclipsing Prime Day.

Best Buy is currently hosting a "Member Deals Days" event to which Best Buy Plus and Total members can take advantage.

As always, I'm constantly on the lookout for better competing deals than what Amazon has to offer. Traditionally, it hasn't been Amazon offering the best laptop deals, with retailers like Best Buy and Walmart often having deeper savings on our favorite PCs.

NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPU is here, and laptops from major brands with the new card are appearing online.

NVIDIA has so far released laptop versions of its Blackwell GPUs for the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, and RTX 5060. The new RTX 5050 Laptop GPU is the least powerful card so far from NVIDIA, but that doesn't mean it won't be popular.

Laptop makers are undoubtedly going to use the new RTX 5050 as often as possible in new gaming laptops, if only for the opportunity to keep gaming PC prices as low as possible.

But how much of a decrease in performance does the RTX 5050 Laptop GPU have compared to the RTX 5060?

There's not a whole lot of info to work with yet, as no one has had a chance to actually test the new laptop GPU, but NVIDIA lists some specs on its website.

The RTX 5050 Laptop GPU has 2,560 CUDA cores, a significant drop compared to the 3,328 CUDA cores in the RTX 5060 Laptop. It does, however, have a higher boost clock.

Just like the 5060, the RTX 5050 Laptop card has 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM, a 128-bit memory bus, and a power draw up to 100W with an additional 15W from Dynamic Boost.

Compared to its RTX 4050 Laptop GPU predecessor, the new 5050 comes with the same number of CUDA cores, a higher maximum boost clock, more (and faster) VRAM, a wider memory bus, and far more AI TOPS.

Being from the Blackwell generation, the RTX 5050 Laptop GPU supports all of NVIDIA's latest features, including DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, the latest ray tracing cores, and the latest Tensor cores. This is a major advantage over the RTX 4050.

X user @realVictor_M shared a screenshot of RTX 5050 Laptop GPU power compared to the RTX 5060 and 5070 mobile cards, pulled from Chinese launch documents.

Using 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme, Time Spy, and Port Royal tests, it appears that the RTX 5050 Laptop GPU is roughly 18% to 22% slower than the mobile RTX 5060, depending on the test.

Performance will differ depending on the specific laptop's cooling capabilities and power allowance, and it'll likely be more crucial than ever to ensure the RTX 5050 in your laptop of choice is capable of hitting its full potential.

The most affordable RTX 5050 gaming laptop I've spotted so far comes from Acer, which just introduced new Nitro V 16 AI, Nitro V 16, and Nitro V 15 models starting at $899.99. They're expected to go on sale later this year, starting late July and August. MSI's Katana 15 with an RTX 5050 mobile GPU is also now listed at Walmart for $999.99.

In a follow-up post on X, user @realVictor_M noted that MECHREVO's RTX 5050 laptops launched at 240 yuan less than the RTX 5060 version; that equates to about $33 USD, so not a big difference.

It'll be interesting to see the average price difference in US markets once all of the new RTX 5050 laptops have launched.

An NVIDIA RTX 5050 for desktop PCs arrives in July

Alongside its new mobile RTX 5050 GPU for laptops, NVIDIA also unveiled a desktop version.

It's set to debut at an attractive $249 price point in the "second-half of July" according to NVIDIA, but rumors from reliable X user @Zed__Wang suggest it could arrive instead as early as July 1.

While the RTX 5050 Laptop GPU had a predecessor in the RTX 4050 Laptop hardware, the new desktop version of the RTX 5050 has nothing comparable from the RTX 40-series generation.

NVIDIA has shared some specs for the desktop RTX 5050, and I've included the RTX 3050's specs to compare.

The new desktop RTX 5050 runs on a single 8-pin power connector, and it includes three DisplayPort and one HDMI output along the back.

There's no news so far regarding a review program for the new desktop RTX 5050, and if rumors are true about a surprise July 1 launch, there will be many buyers going in completely blind.

That won't be the first time NVIDIA has pulled the same stunt, as the RTX 5060 launched in May without any reviews to read.

So, you've decided to build your first PC. Welcome to the club! PC building is a rewarding hobby, and you are about to gain some knowledge about a PC's inner workings that will stick with you for years to come.

Speaking from experience — I've been building and tinkering with systems since the early 2000s — PC building can be nerve-wracking. You're dealing with expensive and fragile hardware, which, when assembled, can continue to be fickle.

To make your PC build go as smoothly as possible, I've laid out my top 7 rules that newcomers should follow.

7. Don't save money on a cheap power supply unit

This is a problem that I see many beginner PC builders fall into, and the worst part is that it's completely avoidable.

Power supply units (PSU) vary a lot in price and durability, with the cheaper options almost always offering a shorter life before requiring replacement. Of course, any PSU has a chance to fail, but you don't need to make the odds any worse by opting for a cheap option.

A faulty PSU simply needing to be replaced is the best-case scenario. Worst case? Other parts of your PC, including expensive pieces like the CPU or GPU, get fried when the PSU goes down.

Just because a PSU is affordable doesn't mean it's the best option for your PC. I strongly recommend spending a bit of extra money on a highly-rated PSU to give yourself extra peace of mind.

As a starting point, I recommend checking out PSU models from Corsair and be quiet!.

6. Choose a PC case with lots of space inside

Although it can be tempting to attempt a unique PC design for your first build, working with a cramped or unorthodox case isn't something I recommend for newbies.

Your first build should be all about getting familiar with how a PC fits together and operates, and a case with lots of room inside is the best way to learn.

👉 Related: Top 5 desktop PC case features that I can’t live without — and neither should you

A PC case you might consider "standard" — also known as a mid-tower case — will fit most ATX motherboards (and anything smaller), so that's taken care of.

There's more space to make (and correct) mistakes, there's more room to work on cable management, and it's a lot easier to see what you're doing.

5. Watch instructional videos to see how intricate steps are performed

There's nothing wrong with getting some outside help for your first PC build, and fret not if you don't have someone in your life with experience to pass on.

There are countless instructional videos available online that cover all steps of the PC building process, and watching a handful of them before starting your build can save you a lot of frustration (or worse) down the line.

I especially recommend watching how-to videos covering intricate steps, like seating a processor in the motherboard socket, connecting cables to your motherboard, and installing dual-channel RAM.

These steps, if not performed correctly, can cause damage to hardware that isn't usually covered by the RMA process. Take the time to do them properly, and you'll be much better off in the long run.

4. Work on cable management in your PC case

It can be tempting to throw all your hardware into a PC case, hook it up, and start gaming, but finding the right channels for cables is always recommended.

Not only does proper cable management improve the aesthetics of your PC, but it also helps improve airflow. Fewer cables mean fewer blockages that can collect dust and detritus.

A PC with proper cable management — especially on the back side where the power supply unit (PSU) is located — is also much easier to work on.

Whether you're making repairs or upgrading parts in the future, you'll be glad you took the time to neatly organize your PC's internals.

3. Wait for all PC parts to arrive before starting the build

I've been guilty of disobeying this rule in the past, and I don't blame you for wanting to start on a new PC build as soon as a couple of pieces are in hand.

However, I've learned over the years that it's best to wait for everything to arrive before building. That way, you know exactly what you're working with, and you can plan your build accordingly.

You won't forget where you left off, you won't misplace any fasteners or cables, and you won't make your build any harder than it has to be.

For example, say your PC case, motherboard, and GPU arrive first. It might be tempting to fasten the mobo into the case and slap a GPU into it, but you'll have a much easier time waiting for the CPU and cooler.

That way, you can install the CPU in the motherboard, add a cooler, and drop the entire package into the case rather than scrounging around in cramped spaces.

2. Don't panic if your PC doesn't boot on the first try

The no-POST dread is something that just about every PC builder has felt at one point or another, and I know it's a terrible feeling.

In my experience, a PC not booting on the first try after a fresh build is usually user error rather than faulty hardware. The best thing to do is keep a clear head and forge on with some troubleshooting.

Some motherboards have a built-in status light that can give you a clue as to what is the matter, and your mobo's user manual should be able to decipher whatever it's displaying.

Beyond that, I recommend checking that power cables for the motherboard and CPU are firmly seated. These usually have tight allowances, and they might not be pressed in all the way.

Next, you'll want to check that your RAM is seated properly. Don't be afraid to try other slots to rule out faulty hardware.

Also, double-check that your CPU cooler is plugged into the right header on the motherboard; this could be a safety measure to prevent your processor from overheating.

1. Take your time when building your PC

If there's one piece of advice I don't want any first-time PC builders to ignore, it's to take your time with the process.

This hobby involves a lot of expensive hardware that's easily damaged, and rushing through a build almost always leads to mistakes. While some might be remedied easily, others can be costly.

The urge to get your PC up and running as quickly as possible isn't easy to ignore, but you'll be glad you took the time to do it right once you're gaming.

More tips for first-time PC builders

These are my top 7 rules that I urge all beginner PC builders to follow, but I'm sure there are plenty more worth mentioning.

Are you just now taking an interest in PC building? Have you been building PCs for decades? What wisdom would you like to share with our readers? Let me know in the comments section below!

There are thousands of different PC cases available to pick from for your first (or next) system build, and the variety can cause some trepidation as to what should be valued most.

"Which PC case should I get?" is a question that I often see posed by newcomers to the PC build world, and, unfortunately, there's not a single right answer I can offer that covers everyone.

I can, however, offer some guidance regarding the features that I value most after a couple of decades of building custom PCs.

Whether they make the PC build and future maintenance easier or they let your performance hardware reach its full potential, here are my top 5 features I think every PC case worth your money should have in 2025.

5. Tempered glass side panels

PC hardware, such as memory (RAM), graphics cards (GPUs), motherboards, and coolers, has become increasingly aesthetically intricate over the years, and bundling your system behind steel panels is usually the wrong move.

Unless you're going for a silent build with insulated case panels or a stylized mesh build, the PC case you choose should have a tempered glass panel (or two) to help show off your hardware.

👉 Related: HYTE Y60 review: Create a slick-looking PC with vast amounts of tempered glass

And make sure it's tempered glass and not plastic (usually acrylic) used in the construction. While plastic panels are lighter and less prone to breaking, they scratch more easily, they can get foggy over time, and they don't have the same premium look as tempered glass.

4. Accessible dust filters for case venting

Any good case is going to have air moving through it constantly (see Feature #1), and with that air comes dust and detritus.

Unless you want to frequently clean out your PC case — trust me, even the most ardent PC dusters will eventually see some buildup — buying a model with built-in filters is something I strongly recommend.

This is especially true if, like me, you live with pets. Cats are particularly notorious for wanting to sit on or around a PC due to the heat it produces, and their hair is fine enough to get through larger mesh coverings.

👉 Related: Best PC cases for airflow, cooling, cable management, and more

While you can certainly devise your own sleek filtering to fit your PC case, it's almost guaranteed that it won't look as good as if it comes pre-installed.

This feature isn't always readily advertised on product pages, so be sure to check out reviews for cases that have made your shortlist.

Bonus points go to removable screens; remove them, run them under water, let them dry, and pop them back into place for easy cleanup.

3. Modern port selection on the front panel

In your desktop PC, most of the physical I/O connectivity is handled by the motherboard. There you'll generally find multiple USB ports, Ethernet, audio outputs, and more.

But because the motherboard's ports all point out the back of the PC, you want to be sure that your case has the right connectivity on the front to handle your most-used peripherals.

In general, a good PC case in 2025 should have at least a couple of USB-A 3.2 ports, USB-C 3.2, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Believe me, that doesn't seem like much, but they're almost guaranteed to come in handy.

2. Easy cable management

Proper cable management isn't just about aesthetics. It can also affect how your PC performs.

A PC case cluttered with cables is going to stagnate with elevated temperatures, no matter how many fans you have pushing air into the system. A cluttered case is also no fun to work in, and future upgrades can suffer.

PC cases have come a long way on that front in recent years, and there are many options that come out of the box with everything set up for proper cable management.

👉 Related: NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025) review — The one I've been dreaming about, but it might not be right for you

How well a case handles cable management is something that you can often judge from product images (at least as long as they're detailed enough to show the internal layout).

However, this is usually one of the main areas covered by testers, and again, I recommend reading reviews.

1. Proper airflow to keep your hardware cool

If you only want to follow one point from my list, make it this one. A case without good airflow is not worth your time and money.

Compact and specialized PC builders are likely prepping a retort right now, and, yes, I agree that there are standout situations where airflow takes a backseat.

For the average PC builder, however, getting a case that doesn't choke your performance hardware is the most important aspect of a new system.

So, how do you know if a PC case offers good airflow? There are a few clues to watch for.

First, you want a PC case with at least one large mesh or filtered front panel to handle primary air intake. It should have mounts for multiple fans (if fans don't come pre-installed).

Second, the case should offer an unobstructed path for air to move from the front intake to the rear exhaust. This is where proper cable management plays a role in airflow.

Third, you might want to consider a case with bottom and/or top venting. If you're using an air cooler for your CPU, adding a few fans to the top of the case can help push out the hot air that's naturally rising.

And if you opt for a liquid-cooled AiO setup, the top venting can be used for the radiator's heat exhaust.

More tips on how to choose the best PC case for your next build

These five features that I think every PC case should have are a starting point for would-be PC builders, and I'm interested to know what other tips you, the reader, have to offer.

Please be sure to drop some comments in the section below!

NZXT's PC cases are some of the most attractive options out there, and the company has redesigned its H9 Flow lineup for 2025.

The three new PC cases include the H9 Flow, H9 Flow RGB, and H9 Flow RGB+, with the biggest differences between the models being the included fans.

I received the new top-end NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ ahead of the launch, allowing me plenty of time to get to know the case.

After transplanting my gaming PC into the new case, I'm here to provide some insight into what it's like to use, how well it keeps performance hardware cool (and at what volume), and the extra goodies you don't usually see from the outside.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample from NZXT. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

NZXT H9 Flow RGB (2025): Cheat Sheet

• What is it? A premium PC case designed for maximum airflow while sporting plenty of glass to show off your build.
• Who is it for? PC enthusiasts who need a huge case with lots of glass and included fans.
• How much does it cost? The standard H9 Flow starts at $169.99, the RGB model jumps to $209.99, and the H9 Flow RGB+ I reviewed costs $289.99.
• What did I like? Easy internal access, easy cable management, tons of airflow.
• What did I not like? No adapters for the NZXT Control Hub, no fine screens for the front fans.

• Back to the top ⤴

NZXT H9 Flow RGB (2025): Pricing and specifications

NZXT launched its updated H9 Flow cases for 2025 on May 20. They're available in white and black finishes, and they're made from steel and tempered glass.

The standard H9 Flow starts at $169.99 and includes one rear exhaust fan and three individual F140Q fans along the angled case section.

The H9 Flow RGB starts at $209.99 and upgrades the front three fans to an F420 RGB Core setup while keeping the same non-RGB rear exhaust fan.

The H9 Flow RGB+, which I'm reviewing here, starts at $289.99. It has the same F420 RGB triple-fan setup along the front, another F420 RGB setup on the bottom, and an F120 RGB Core exhaust fan.

Black and white models are all available at Newegg, but you can also buy directly from NZXT.

Here's a look at the specs that make up this PC case.

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NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025): How I tested

The best way to test a PC case is to build a full PC inside, and that's exactly what I did with the new NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025).

I approached the review from the same angle as any regular buyer, and I've been sure to include my opinions regarding ease-of-build, internal layout, and extra features.

Beyond that, once I reassembled my PC inside the case, I took a look at supporting software, thermals, airflow, noise, and future expansion possibilities.

There's no paper analysis here: this is an in-depth look at the new NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ case.

NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025): What I like

To kick off the new PC build, I disassembled the H9 Flow RGB+ as far as the (mostly) toolless entry allows. It's unlike other cases that have a side panel or two that pull away.

The top panel, held in place with thumb screws, is removed first. This frees up the side glass and side metal panels for removal. While the front glass, rear panel, and angled fan section remain in place, you otherwise have full and easy access to the PC's internals.

There is a hinged panel held in place with screws along the far side, and it has pre-drilled holes for attaching 2.5-inch SSDs. It swings out of the way to not impede access while building.

The cabling that comes attached to the case — front panel, fans, etc. — is bundled up neatly at the bottom of the case, ready to be plugged in. The RGB for the included fans is plugged into the Control Hub and ready to go. More on that in the next section.

The transplant from my old PC case to the new NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ was largely painless. The H9 comes with offsets already in place for an ATX board, but included in the companion hardware is everything you need for other types of boards.

You could put a smaller motherboard into this case, but I think it looks great with a larger ATX board. The case is also set up for rear-mounted motherboards, though I can't comment on how easy the reverse setup is to install.

Just to the right side of the motherboard riser is a tall, narrow slot made for cable passthrough. The slot comes covered, perfect if you're using a smaller motherboard.

For my ATX board, however, it's best removed. NZXT includes a smaller piece that can be reinserted around the cables for a cleaner look. It's a nice addition that shows attention to detail.

With the motherboard fastened in and the cables passed through to the front, I began plugging in. Much to my delight, the dreaded F_PANEL hookups come as a single connector rather than a bunch of smaller plugs. Nice.

Because the motherboard sits on a raised section, there's plenty of space for cutouts along the top and bottom for easy cabling.

The usual USB, power, and SATA connections only have to pop their heads out to be plugged in, leaving the rest of the cable hidden.

There's a ton of space behind the motherboard to work, the included HDD bay is easily removed with a thumb screw (further opening up the space), and it's almost impossible to clog the area with cables as long as you're OK with a few minutes of cable management along the included channels with Velcro straps.

I absolutely love the vertical PSU mount that sits about halfway up the case. No longer do you have to scrounge around the bottom of the case in cramped quarters, hoping to hit the right input. I've never had an easier experience getting everything plugged in after the PSU was installed.

This design, with the PSU behind the motherboard rather than below, could quickly become cramped. But NZXT has largely done a great job with the layout, avoiding overlaps.

The NZXT Control Hub for the fans and lighting is the piece closest to the PSU, and even with the block installed, you can access all headers in the hub.

Although the H9 Flow RGB+ is advertised for PC enthusiasts who presumably have a lot of building experience, there's no reason why a newcomer can't enjoy the spacious layout and smart cutouts inside the case.

If anything, building in a case this size will be easier than the cramped internals of a budget offering.

I didn't sit and plan the build; I plunked everything inside and hoped for the best. Despite a lack of planning, I didn't have to take any reverse steps to get something to fit properly.

In terms of how well the case is laid out for builders, I have to give NZXT full marks. I've used a fair share of cases in my time, but I've never used one with so much clearance that was so easy to work with.

With the PC fully built inside the H9 Flow RGB+, I could turn my attention to its other features.

The H9 Flow RGB+ is the new high-end option, sporting a row of three fans (F420 RGB Core) along the bottom of the case, the same F420 Core three-fan setup in an upright, angled orientation near the front, and a single rear-mounted exhaust fan.

These fans work out of the box with NZXT's CAM control software, providing easy customization for lighting and speeds.

The case has plenty of clearance below the bottom fans, all thanks to the chunky feet that keep it stable and prevent sliding around. Directly below the fans is a pull-out dust filter that can be easily cleaned.

Along the top of the case is where up to a 420mm AiO radiator can be installed, with plenty of space to spare. The same setup in my last case had the AiO dangerously close to the motherboard's VRM cover, but that's no longer the situation.

The PC's ports are located along the bottom front edge of the case rather than the top. As someone who keeps their tower on a desk, this is a perfect setup. No more cables snaking down from the top of the PC.

The panel includes dual USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), USB-C Gen 2x2, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The USB-C Gen 2x2 port is interesting, as it's not the usual USB-C port. The "2x2" part of it means you're doubling the usual 10Gbps bandwidth to 20Gbps.

There aren't a ton of devices that can make use of the port — the ADATA Elite SE880 SSD I reviewed comes to mind — but it'll work fine with any standard USB-C device.

NZXT's CAM software is fuller than I expected, with performance, accessory, and system metrics available alongside controls for lighting and fan speed.

There are a few preset fan models — Silent, Performance, Fixed, and Default — but most users will no doubt use the customization tool to adjust fan curves to their liking.

The RGB lighting has a ton of different presets, plus there's a palette color picker with access to basically every color imaginable.

Finally, I tested thermals inside the new case. With the included fans set to the default "Silent" mode, there was no risk of overheating.

Granted, I am using an AiO to keep my CPU cool, which pushes any hot air out of the case before it has a chance to collect inside. But the RTX 5070 Ti puts out a fair bit of heat itself, on top of the heat generated by the motherboard, RAM, and storage.

I first ran a rather undemanding game (Diablo 2: Resurrected) for 10 minutes to check temperatures. My sensors showed a maximum temperature of 42.5°C on the mobo sensor with Silent mode enabled. With Performance mode enabled, temperatures dropped to 41°C at max.

I then booted up DOOM: The Dark Ages to put my PC to the test. With Silent mode enabled, the mobo sensor hit 41.5°C maximum. With Performance mode enabled, temperatures dropped to 38°C maximum.

• Back to the top ⤴

NZXT H9 Flow RGB+ (2025): What I don't like

NZXT's H9 Flow RGB+ (2025) is an easy recommendation for PC builders, but there are some quirks and annoyances that you should know about.

Most pressing is the stock fan noise. Setting the fans to Performance mode has them top out at around 2,000RPM, with noise climbing to about 65dBa. It's not as loud as a vacuum cleaner, but it's close. It's easy to hear even when wearing a headset.

The good news is that the fan curves can be customized through the NZXT CAM app. And as I explained in the previous section, there's not a huge gap in heat even when using the Silent fan preset.

I never saw noise climb beyond 49dBa with the fans at 1,000RPM, and it seems like the system can keep itself cool at those speeds. At the lowest, I measured 40dBa, which is better than my previous case.

Another issue I have is with the NZXT Control Hub for RGB lighting.

As I understand it, buying the hub separately gets you a number of adapters for use with non-NZXT products. When it comes within the case, however, there are no included adapters.

That means I need to go out and buy a splitter for my Cooler Master AiO if I want its fans and pump header to sync with NZXT's built-in system fans. It's certainly annoying when you're spending nearly $300 on a case.

As a pet owner, I love the slide-out screen on the bottom of the PC. It has a fine mesh that will catch particles, and it's easy to remove and clean.

The rest of the fans are covered with a steel mesh that's not nearly as fine. And because there's a tiny gap between the two pieces of glass at the front edge, I expect to have to clean the PC more often than before.

Finally, the case leaves your GPU hanging. Because it's designed to house fans along the bottom, there's a massive gap that can't be spanned with my usual GPU support.

I'll have to get creative with something larger that doesn't get in the way of the fans, but it'd be nice if NZXT included something to get started.

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NZXT H9 Flow RGB (2025): Also consider

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NZXT H9 Flow RGB (2025): My final thoughts

✅ You should buy this if ...

• You want a massive case with ample room for the latest and greatest PC performance hardware.
• You want maximum airflow in a case that's aesthetically beautiful.
• You're a stickler for cable management and love RGB lighting.

❌ You should NOT buy this if ...

• You want the quietest case possible.
• You'd rather spend your budget on performance hardware rather than aesthetics.
• You don't have a lot of space to spare for a huge PC case.

Sitting down to build a new PC is always exciting, but jumping into a case that's new on the market and unproven can cause some anxiety.

But after transplanting my gaming PC into the NZXT H9 Flow RGB+, it became clear that my worries were unfounded.

This is a gorgeous PC case with easy access throughout. Smart design decisions like the swing panel for SSDs, the mid-mounted PSU, and the dual-chamber spacing behind the motherboard contribute to the ease of use.

You'll be in heaven if you love proper cable management, and there's more than enough airflow to keep my gaming hardware cool.

Stock fan settings might be hilariously loud, but they're easily fixed through the NZXT CAM app. There you'll also find RGB settings for the included fans. It's just too bad that adapters for non-NZXT RGB hardware aren't included.

Considering the H9 Flow RGB+ for 2025 costs about $290, it's mainly reserved for enthusiasts who don't mind spending more on their gaming PC.

And if you already have a bunch of fans ready to go from an older build (or you prefer less RGB), you can drop the price down to about $170.

I can easily recommend even the most expensive H9 Flow RGB+. It's that good. As long as you have the budget and the space, this should be near the top of the list for your next PC build or upgrade.

If you love the design but want to save money and space, be sure to check out the NZXT H6 Flow instead.

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Lenovo makes some of the best gaming hardware you can buy, across a wide range of budgets.

The most affordable lineup Lenovo offers is LOQ, positioned below the popular Legion family. We've praised Lenovo LOQ products in the past, including the compact, 17-liter LOQ Tower, so I was interested to see what the latest generation provides.

The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) refines the design and is powered by newer hardware, but ultimately fails to be as good of a value as what came before. With how Lenovo has priced this desktop, you can usually find better, more powerful alternatives — and you'll usually have more expansion options.

The LOQ Tower is still a great compact desktop for work and play, with a reliable and quiet 1080p gaming experience, though, so it is worth looking out for sales. Here's hoping Lenovo is more aggressive with the next version, though.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by Lenovo. Lenovo had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

LOQ Tower review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A compact, 17-liter desktop tower PC designed for gaming.
• Who is it for? Those who want a small, capable, and affordable PC for 1080p gaming.
• How much does it cost? The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) starts at $1,099.99 at Lenovo, but should actually start closer to $900 (Lenovo is more expensive, for some reason).
• What did I like? The sleek and compact design, the consistent performance, the quiet fans.
• What did I not like? The pricing, the limited expansion and upgrade opportunities.

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LOQ Tower review: Pricing and specifications

The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) technically starts at $1,099.99 at Lenovo, if you just look at the source, but the same configuration was available for $899.99 at Best Buy. That's with an Intel Core i5-14400F, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.

My review configuration, which upgrades to an RTX 4060, could be purchased for $1,149.99 at Walmart, but availability on all configurations is spotty now. All models I've seen feel overpriced for what they offer, though, so you definitely want to look for sales.

In the box, you'll find the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9), the included three-prong power cable, and a basic mouse and keyboard.

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LOQ Tower review: Design and build quality

The Lenovo LOQ Tower is much more compact than your average gaming desktop, coming in at just 17 liters in internal volume, while mid-to-full-sized PCs can be 35, 45, and even larger.

This design is understated, but clean and attractive. Honestly, the LOQ Tower feels more like your standard office PC made over to specialize in gaming, rather than a gaming PC that has been shrunk down.

It's a matte black chassis, with the front gently accented by sleek, white LEDs. The power button also lights up in the Legion logo, which is a nice touch. All of the LOQ Tower's fastest USB ports are lined on the front below that power button, including your one Type-C port and two Type-A ports.

On the rear, you'll find an assortment of other ports, including four, slower USB Type-A ports and the four display outputs connected to the discrete NVIDIA GPU. Everything is well-positioned, and this desktop feels solidly constructed.

It certainly isn't nearly as flashy as most full-sized gaming desktops, but a lot of people would rather have a more subtle tower, and the LOQ Tower can feel at home basically anywhere.

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LOQ Tower review: Performance and thermals

The Lenovo LOQ Tower isn't designed to be a powerhouse, but rather offer enough power to play all the latest and greatest PC games without having to nuke the graphical settings or resolution.

On that end, this desktop delivers. The latest version has a few configurations available, but my model is powered by an Intel Core i5-14400F, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.

The entry-level model actually has the same RTX 3050 GPU that powered last year's version, but there's a nice bump in CPU and SSD performance across the board. In general, this desktop runs very smoothly whether you're working, gaming, or creating.

Despite the cramped internals, it also does a solid job keeping itself cool without making an absurd amount of noise. It's not whisper quiet under load, but your neighbors won't wonder if you keep a pet airplane in your home.

I ran the LOQ Tower through 3DMark's Time Spy benchmark 15 times consecutively, and it returned a framerate stability of 98.1%. That's what I'd call a "good" score — not exceptional, but certainly not cause for concern, either.

Benchmarks confirm what I saw in my real-world usage, too: the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) performs exactly as it should with this hardware, despite being smaller in size than competitors like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8) we reviewed (another decent budget option).

Whichever configuration you get, the LOQ Tower will handle gaming at 1080p without any issues. With the RTX 4060, you can even push those settings up and still get great, stable performance.

• Forza Horizon 5 — 99 FPS (Extreme preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution/Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency disabled)
• Gears 5 — 94 FPS (Ultra preset, 1080p resolution, uncapped framerate, v-sync enabled)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 82 FPS (Extreme preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Performance, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled)
• Cyberpunk 2077 — 85 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution Transformer Model set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Ray Reconstruction disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Reflex Low Latency enabled)

The biggest bottleneck the LOQ Tower will encounter is its limited VRAM in most configurations, but gaming at FHD to QHD will help avoid potential issues. Overall, the LOQ Tower is a reliable gaming companion, especially for more casual gamers who want something small and simple.

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LOQ Tower review: Upgradeability

When downsizing your desktop PC, upgradeability is often where you lose the most. The Lenovo LOQ Tower can't defy physics, but Lenovo doesn't help matters with some of the choices it made here.

Opening the LOQ Tower does require a screwdriver to loosen the bolts before sliding the side panel off (although I don't see any reason you can't leave the screws off if you open your PC a lot), revealing a cramped interior with a handful of expansion options.

The first thing you'll notice? The proprietary motherboard design built on the Intel B760 chipset. You'll also see two DDR5 UDIMM slots, so you can upgrade your RAM. There's only a single M.2 slot for SSDs (the other is used for the WLAN card), but there is an empty bay for a 3.5" SATA drive.

Your one PCIe Gen4 x16 slot is taken up by the tiny GPU, and your options for upgrading that GPU will be very limited by how much available space you have. There is an empty PCIe Gen3 x1 expansion slot, too, but it'll probably be covered by your graphics card.

The biggest offender here is the power supply, a fixed type unit that uses a proprietary connector design. A lot of my complaints with the LOQ Tower would be allieved if Lenovo would use standard, easily upgradeable parts.

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LOQ Tower review: Software and AI experience

The Lenovo LOQ Tower continues its feel of being a normal desktop PC masquerading as a gaming PC when it comes to software, where you'll find the usual array of Lenovo apps.

Lenovo Vantage gives you some basic settings to control your LOQ Tower, but don't expect any in-depth performance controls, including overclocking. Beyond that, you'll also find basic Nahimic apps for audio controls and the NVIDIA Control Panel; you'll need to install the NVIDIA app for driver updates on your own.

Unfortunately, you'll also find a Dropbox ad and McAfee preinstalled on the LOQ Tower, but I've seen far worse bloatware. It's a clean build of Windows 11, and feels stable and smooth.

If you're curious about artificial intelligence, which seems to be everywhere nowadays, you won't find any of that here. This Intel processor doesn't boast a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks, and Lenovo didn't add anything of its own. Of course, you can still rely on the NVIDIA GPU for your AI needs.

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LOQ Tower review: Also consider

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LOQ Tower review: Score card

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LOQ Tower review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want a very compact desktop PC with the power for gaming.
• You're looking for a straightforward, low-cost gaming PC.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You can't find it on sale.
• Being able to upgrade or expand in the future is important.

I also reviewed the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 8), and I rated that desktop higher than the newer version. The new LOQ Tower doesn't really improve much over its predecessor, but the pricing simply misses the mark.

Brands like iBuyPower will provide more bang for your buck, and will usually be easier to upgrade in the future. That being said, there's absolutely a market for a compact, understated gaming PC that doesn't look like a gaming PC.

The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) fills that niche nicely with its clean and simple design, and it does make great use of its entry-level components to make gaming at 1080p a breeze. It's a really solid tower for beginners and casual gamers, but you'll probably want to shop around for a good deal on it.

You can find the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) for $1,099.99 at Lenovo, and you can also find it from an assortment of retailers (I've also seen refurbished models, which may be a great way to save money if you're brave).

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During HP's annual Amplify conference, the tech company announced literally dozens (25 if I counted correctly) of new AI PCs that will start launching sometime in Spring 2025.

Considering their impressive specs, it's very possible that some of these HP devices will make their way onto our list of the best AI laptops.

For now, I've rounded up the HP AI PC laptop, 2-in-1, mini PC, AiO (all-in-one desktop), and gaming laptop that offers the most interesting features and specs. Check 'em out.

EliteStudio 8 AiO G1i — Everything you need in one place

Our editor-in-chief Daniel Rubino already posted a first look at this new HP Elite Studio 8 AiO Gl1 AI PC and walked away wishing he'd had a computer like this in college.

As with any AiO, it comes with a keyboard and mouse. Plus, the monitor houses the actual computer as well as a webcam. So, you get everything you need in one device with this purchase.

It's available in either 23.8-inch FHD or 27-inch QHD 75 Hz IPS display versions. As for the other specs, it sports the new 15th Gen Intel Core Ultra Processors (5, 7, or 9) with NPUs that can reach up to 13 TOPS.

• RELATED: AI PC guide | Copilot+ PC guide | TOPS guide | NPU guide

Configuration options also allow user to choose between an integrated Intel UHD Graphics or the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5000 Ti Series graphics cards.

It also has 64GB RAM DDR5-5600 SDRAM slots, with the choice of having up to a 2TB SSD.

With different configuration options to choose from and some impressive specs, this can be the perfect desktop that provides all you need in one spot.

OmniBook 7 Aero 13 — An ultraportable AI laptop

There's something satisfying about having an ultra-thin and light laptop. They not only look sleek but are excellent portable devices for work trips and on-the-go business people.

HP's latest OmniBook 7 Aero AI laptop offers a 13.3-inch display and measures in at a super slim 11.70 x 8.31 x 0.69 inches (43.18 x 211.07 x 17.52mm) while weighing less than 2.20 pounds (~1.0 kg).

This AI laptop comes with either an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 CPU (central processing unit) with up to 50 NPU TOPS or an AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 with up to 50 NPU TOPS. Meanwhile, the integrated GPU (graphics processing unit) is either an AMD Radeon 860M or an AMD Radeon 840M.

Configuration options include 16GB or 32GB LPDDR5x-7500 RAM and either 512GB or 1TB SSD.

Meanwhile, this laptop provides two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a headphone jack for your connection needs.

HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a mini Next-Gen AI PC — A small form factor computer

If you're like me and appreciate having a computer with a small form factor, then the HP EliteDesk 8 Mini G1a Next-Gen AI PC might just be for you.

This mini PC is small but mighty, housing a next-gen AMD Ryzen AI 300 series APU, integrated AMD Radeon Graphics, two SODIMM Slots that can hold up to 64GB RAM, and up to 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD.

It doesn't skimp on ports, either. Altogether, it offers two USB-C ports, four USB-A ports, two DisplayPort 2.1, an HDMI 2.1, an RJ45, and a headphone jack.

Even so, it only measures 177 x 181 x 34 mm (6.97 x 7.13 x1.35 in) and only weighs 1.42kg (3.13 lbs). Plus, it doesn't take up much room on a desk and can easily be traveled with.

HP OmniBook X Flip 14 2-in-1 — Versatility and plenty of configuration options

I'm always interested in a reliable laptop that also functions as a tablet, and the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 2-in-1 looks like it fits that category. It might even make it on our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops.

It has several configuration options for you to choose from like your choice of either an Intel Core Ultra 7 200 Series processor capable of up to 47 NPU TOPS or an AMD Ryzen AI 7 or 5 300 Series processor capable of up to 560 NPU TOPS. There are also three integrated Intel Arc Graphics cards or two AMD Radeon 800M integrated graphics cards to choose from.

As for memory and storage, it can have up to 32GB RAM and up to 2TB SSD. Meanwhile, the 14-inch display can either be a 3K touchscreen OLED, a 2K touchscreen OLED, or a 2K IPS panel.

You can even get an optional stylus with this 2-in-1 for note-taking, drawing in creative programs like Photoshop, or simply navigating around on the screen without leaving fingerprints.

All of these options will allow you to build the exact 2-in-1 to meet your specific needs. Plus, that Atmospheric Blue chassis looks cool as hell.

HP OMEN 17 — Gaming with AI-boosted processors

Last but not least, the HP OMEN 17 is a gaming laptop that also serves as an AI PC. It features up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 CPU and a powerful NVIDIA RTX 5070 Laptop GPU to take on the newest games with the latest and greatest graphics.

Due to it having an AMD AI CPU, high TOPS, and a Copilot button on the keyboard, this is technically a Copilot+ PC as well as an AI PC that can handle gaming.

The display itself is a 17.3-inch IPS display with your choice of getting a panel that can either provide QHD resolution (2560 x 1440) with up to a 240Hz refresh rate and 3 ms response time or a different IPS panel that provides FHD resolution (1920 x 1080), a 144Hz refresh rate, and 7 ms response time.

Your various gaming needs are also met with up to Wi-Fi 6, up to Bluetooth 5.4, and a smattering of helpful ports. These include a USB-C port, three USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an RJ45 LAN connection, and a headphone jack.

HP has an AI PC for any situation

HP has AI PC solutions for you to choose from in 2025 regardless of if you need a desktop, an AiO, a laptop, a 2-in-1, or even a mini PC.

These devices will start going on sale sometime in Spring at various prices depending on their configurations. Keep an eye out and you can grab one of these sweet new products for yourself when they launch.

HP's Amplify 2025 conference is underway, and alongside a host of new hardware, the company has unveiled some new and refreshed AI software headed onto its compatible PCs.

I'm most interested in the updated HP AI Companion, as it appears to want to do a lot of the same things Windows 11's Copilot+ can do, especially in a professional setting.

Also looking to take a bite out of Microsoft's suite of AI tools is HP's updated Poly Camera Pro software, which feels a lot like Windows Studio Effects and its reliance on an NPU to make you look your best.

I'm taking a look at these two new AI features before getting into some of HP's other, less AI-focused projects announced at Amplify 2025.

HP's updated AI Companion brings local AI assistance to your laptop

Microsoft's Copilot is one of the most recognized AI assistants around, and the more advanced Copilot+ available on specific Windows 11 PCs keeps everything local while introducing more potent tools.

HP is seemingly looking to take a bit out of Copilot's sandwich by announcing updates to its HP AI Companion. HP says:

"This research assistant can securely analyze sensitive files, query offline business reviews on the go, and seamlessly call on the intelligence of AI for all of your everyday tasks."

That sounds a lot like Copilot, and indeed there are a number of similarities between HP AI Companion and Copilot+ at a quick glance.

HP's suite of AI tools is designed to run locally — just like Copilot+ — to improve security and performance. And just like Copilot+, it requires an NPU with at least 40 TOPS of power to run locally.

Notably, you'll need one of HP's great AI laptops with at least 32GB of RAM for local AI work, whereas you can get away with 16GB for cloud AI.

The HP AI Companion is built using the Phi 3.5 LLM for on-device calculations, while it taps GPT-4o for any assistance from the cloud.

Listed are Windows 11 Home, Pro, and ARM versions, so it's expected that the AI Companion will work across HP's Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm AI PCs. It appears that compatibility and features will roll out throughout 2025.

Here's a look at the major features expected in HP's AI Companion, as pulled from HP's official press release.

• Library: Build curated libraries of your personal content or even sensitive documents that you can ask AI Companion to Analyze securely. Libraries are always created and saved on your device.
• Analyze: Select a specific Library for AI Companion to analyze and assess your personal content to get actionable insights.
• Ask: Experience the power of AI-powered tools and knowledge at your fingertips without a library created. Explore new concepts, find answers to your questions, discover information, or just converse with your intelligent AI Companion.
• Snip to Prompt: Within the Ask assistant using cloud mode, take a screen shot of your screen and use for added prompt context. Save time searching for information or even analyzing data.
• Perform: Perform assistant works in the background to automatically update and make ongoing adjustments like maintaining system drivers, BIOS and firmware. Ask AI, via text or voice, to adjust settings like the screen brightness or volume or even receive troubleshooting assistance on HP products.
• Voice: Speak your thoughts, ideate or even ask a broad range of questions to your AI Companion by simply using your voice within the Ask, Analyze and Perform assistants. Additionally, have the peace of mind that your voice always stays on device.
• Spotlight: Showcases key ISV partners to exemplify the power of AI PCs and workflows.
• Keylogger Protection: Maintain privacy with keylogger protection powered by Wolf Security.

Seeing individual companies like HP create proprietary AI toolboxes for local use on Windows laptops doesn't come as a surprise, as Copilot+ isn't able to offer the same level of customization per brand.

In this case, HP is focusing more on professional use, especially with ISV hints and extra AI keylogging protection tied into HP's enterprise-level Wolf Security.

Poly Camera Pro expands its AI video collaboration tools

HP's new AI Companion isn't the only addition that feels familiar to anyone who's been paying attention to AI tools in Windows.

Poly Camera Pro is an updated AI-powered tool for your camera(s), building on some of the features available for Windows Studio Effects (WSE) with a more collaborative spin.

Like WSE, Poly Camera Pro employs your PC's NPU to handle local real-time video adjustments and effects.

Compatible with Windows 11 Home, Pro, and ARM, HP says the new camera tools will be available on some of its OmniBook, OmniStudio, ProBook, EliteBook, ProStudio, EliteStudio, and mobile workstation PCs.

Poly Camera Pro isn't entirely new but has received several fresh features expected to arrive in Spring 2025. Here they are, as laid out in HP's press release:

• Magic Background: Powered by the NPU, AI helps you restyle your background with preset aesthetics or custom text and color prompts. Because it’s working with your original background, Poly Camera Pro will retain your perspective and lighting so you still look like you belong.
• Multi-camera Support: Share content from a variety of sources – multiple cameras, app screens and windows, streaming videos and images.
• Presenter Overlay: Create custom video streams by layering your digital content and camera sources with presenter overlays and picture-in-picture.
• Streaming Integration: Enjoy native streaming instantly with YouTube, Real-time messaging protocol (RTMP), and more without having to leave Poly Camera Pro.

HP Go offers seamless 5G everywhere

HP Go isn't exactly an AI tool, but it is a new feature that's coming to HP's AI PCs starting with the Qualcomm-powered EliteBook 6 G1q and more later on in 2025.

HP Go should be a big deal for those who often use 5G wireless on their laptop, as it can seamlessly move you between carriers depending on which one is offering the best connection at your location.

At its core, HP Go is an eSIM profile that's set up and ready to go; all you need to do is turn on your laptop and start working.

👉 Related: Best 5G laptops in 2025

It will automatically recognize when you're too far from Wi-Fi for a reliable signal, at which time it'll switch to 5G.

With T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon on board, whichever carrier has the best connection will be the one that serves your laptop with internet access.

Pre-built desktop PCs with the RTX 5070 Ti GPU inside might be your best way to get the new hardware. NVIDIA's mid-range 5070 Ti launched on February 20 at 9 AM EST, and, as expected, individual cards sold out almost immediately. It's the same situation I saw with the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 launch, with limited availability and scalpers sucking up a lot of the hardware that did make it to retail outlets.

You're not alone if you didn't manage to snag a standalone RTX 5070 Ti on launch day (or the days following), and I have an alternate solution. Pre-built gaming PCs might not be exactly what you were looking for, but they generally stay in stock longer and offer a better chance of getting the new GPU sooner rather than later.

I found some pre-built RTX 5070 Ti PCs worth sharing on launch day, and I'll keep the list updated as more options become available.

Best RTX 5070 Ti pre-built PCs

Most of these pre-built PCs launched alongside the standalone RTX 5070 Ti GPUs, but some are still listed as "Coming soon." I've been sure to note availability for each PC, and you can click through to check it out even if it's not yet ready to sell.

It's all too easy to state that everyone should build their own gaming PC, but many would much rather play it safe and let the professionals do it for them.

Not all pre-built gaming towers are created equal, but the HP OMEN family has steadily improved its reputation among gamers. Now, the HP OMEN 35L provides a new ultra-powerful, high-end option in a relatively compact, mid-sized case. Plenty of power, blossoming artificial intelligence capabilities, and a beautiful (and easily upgradeable) design help this black-and-white desktop carve out a space for itself.

I've been using the new HP OMEN 35L — powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) platform — for a few weeks now, and I'd be very happy to call this tower my own. Sure, there have been a handful of frustrations, and you always have to give up something when you shrink everything down, but the OMEN 35L is a capable, reliable bit of kit that won't be driven to its knees by even the most challenging of PC titles. You don't have to pay an absurd amount to get through the door, either.

This review was made possible thanks to a review sample provided by HP. HP had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

HP OMEN 35L review: Pricing and specifications

• The OMEN 35L has lots of AMD and Intel configurations starting from $1,300.
• The flagship comes in at $2,899.99, but you can configure higher.
• This desktop feels like a great value, especially if you want an Intel PC.
• Value rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

The HP OMEN 35L's latest variant may be powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2), but this desktop PC is actually available in a wide array of configurations, including with AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA hardware inside. The HP OMEN 35L starts from $1,299.99 at HP with AMD Ryzen and AMD Radeon hardware, and those who'd prefer Intel and NVIDIA internals can get the HP OMEN 35L from $1,399.99 at HP. Finally, the HP OMEN 35L with AMD CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs can be had from $1,369.99 at HP.

I'm reviewing the newest model, though, which pairs the best from Intel with the best from NVIDIA (except for the new NVIDIA RTX 50 Series, which are basically unobtainable). This HP OMEN 35L starts from $2,019.99 at HP with a Core Ultra 5 and RTX 4070 SUPER; my specific review sample is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of SSD storage for a whopping $2,899.99 at HP.

A wide range of configuration options makes the OMEN 35L easy to adjust to your needs, and this pre-built gaming PC is well-priced overall. That's especially true for the Intel variants, actually, as they all boast the highest-end Intel Z790 (or Z890 for the Core Ultra platform) motherboard, which gives you much more flexibility for future upgrades and expansions.

In the box, you'll find the HP OMEN 35L (in either two-tone white-and-black or just black), and the detachable power cable. This tower does not come with a keyboard and mouse in the box by default. The OMEN 35L is covered by HP's 1-year limited warranty.

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HP OMEN 35L review: Design and build quality

• The OMEN 35L is a 35 liter desktop, but it does a good job disguising it.
• This is a clean, two-tone design with easy toolless access on both sides.
• You also get a healthy selection of ports on the top and rear.
• Design rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

I've seen plenty of eccentric and luxurious PC cases, but the HP OMEN 35L may be my favorite among the mainstream, pre-built options. This microATX PC masks its 35 liters of internal volume with more compact dimensions than some of its biggest competitors, like the Alienware Aurora R16 or beefy Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8). You can get this desktop in the traditional all-black colorway, but I much prefer the two-tone, white-and-black "panda" design of my review sample.

The HP OMEN 35L is sleek and beautiful, with tasteful branding and thoughtful design elements. The tempered glass panel can be removed without tools, allowing you to access the internals, but the opposite metal panel can also slide off to reveal all of the color-matched cables that HP has hidden behind a shroud for a cleaner look. The five OMEN fans, Kingston FURY RAM sticks, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU all boast RGB lighting that you can customize in the OMEN Gaming Hub, and even the CPU's liquid cooler can be outfitted with either RGB lighting or a configurable LCD display.

This is a handsome tower, and I can't find any weaknesses in the build quality. The chassis is all metal apart from the tempered glass side panel, and every piece feels sturdy, precisely cut, and carefully constructed. HP still uses 10% recycled metal and 20% post-consumer recycled plastic (where it's used) in the OMEN 35L, too, and the paint is water-based.

HP also packed the OMEN 35L with plenty of ports, but there are some oddities here. First, let's cover what you do get. On the top and to the left of the centered power button, you'll find a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack for headsets. Neatly spaced on the rear panel, you'll find a pleasantly surprising USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort 2.1 and HP Sleep and Charge, a second USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two more USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, four USB Type-A 2.0 ports, RJ45 Ethernet port, and microphone, audio in, and audio out ports.

You may have noticed something missing — despite all AMD and Intel models boasting integrated graphics, the OMEN 35L lacks any display outputs on the motherboard (even though both companies offer iGPU-less SKUs). If your GPU dies, or you want to disconnect it for troubleshooting, you're out of luck. The new Intel Core Ultra configurations still lack those ports, but now we get a Thunderbolt 4 port with DisplayPort 2.1 support; it's not all that common to see Thunderbolt on desktop PCs, so the OMEN 35L is a little unique in that regard.

The GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER GPU features its own display outputs, of course, including three DisplayPort 1.4 ports and one HDMI 2.1 port.

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HP OMEN 35L review: Performance and thermals

• The HP OMEN 35L is one of the earlier desktops powered by Intel Core Ultra.
• Performance is good, but this Intel platform isn't exceptional for gaming.
• Thermal management is at least great, and an NPU opens up new avenues.
• Performance rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The HP OMEN 35L sitting on my desk is among the first pre-built gaming PCs to showcase the new Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) platform, which debuts the new AI and efficiency-focused chips on desktops. Don't worry — gamers who'd rather use the tried-and-true can still equip the OMEN 35L with AMD Ryzen 8000 Series and Intel Core 14th Gen CPUs. For the purpose of this review, though, I'll be focusing on the new stuff.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K inside my OMEN 35L review sample is a 20-core chipset that pairs 8 performance cores with 12 efficiency cores. A first for desktops, it also includes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with up to 13 TOPS of AI performance — not enough to make this a Copilot+ PC, but enough to enable new AI experiences without relying on the NVIDIA GPU (meaning better efficiency and more resources for your graphics card).

We reviewed the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, and my thoughts on its little sibling is pretty much the same. This is an excellent chipset for productivity, the efficiency gains are great (even if they're not as important for a desktop PC), and the NPU helps future-proof this desktop for the increasingly AI-dominant future. On the other hand, there's no significant uplift in gaming performance versus last-gen Intel and AMD silicon, it's expensive, and it requires a new motherboard. At least those latter two points aren't as much of a concern with a pre-built PC (and the motherboard in the OMEN 35L gives you plenty of expansion opportunities).

When you consider the benchmarks, you learn that the HP OMEN 35L isn't breaking records in any category. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265K is a strong, reliable performer and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is obviously an extremely capable GPU, and the OMEN 35L never fails to make use of either.

However, the OMEN 35L never really meaningfully pulls ahead of the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8) I reviewed and was using before this review sample came in, which is powered by Intel 13th Gen (not even the latest 14th Gen). In productivity and modern AI tasks the OMEN 35L is a beast, but for those who chase every last frame-per-second while gaming... Well, this tower is still a great performer, it's just not the best.

• Forza Horizon 5 — 129 FPS (Extreme preset, 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution / AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution / Intel XeSS disabled) | 159 FPS (Max settings, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to “Auto,” NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation & Reflex Low Latency enabled)
• Gears 5 — 101 FPS (Ultra preset, 4K resolution, uncapped framerate, v-sync enabled, Ultra textures installed)
• Cyberpunk 2077 — 81 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to “Auto,” NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction & Frame Generation disabled) | 88 FPS (Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction & Frame Generation enabled)
• Counter-Strike 2 — ~160 FPS average / 150-220 FPS (Very High preset, 4K resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled, AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution disabled)

I played a number of games on the HP OMEN 35L and it never once broke a sweat at the highest settings, even if it never really felt like an upgrade over the PC I had before. I wasn't able to experiment with the built-in overclocking support thanks to a BIOS issue, though (more on that below).

Thermally, the HP OMEN 35L is excellent. There are five internal fans, with the front two doing a great job pulling in cool air, and the rest working to exhaust all the pent-up heat. There's a 240mm liquid cooler on the CPU, too, and plenty of heat sinks for the SSD and voltage regulators. I never had to worry about thermal throttling, and the HP OMEN 35L never got so loud that it was distracting.

When running this tower through the 3DMark Time Spy gauntlet (50 consecutive loops with no breaks), the OMEN 35L maintained a 99.1% frame rate stability between its worst and best loops. There's obviously headroom to play with overclocking.

The OMEN 35L is also a quiet system overall, but it's worth mentioning that the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i is quieter still. Both PCs can be dead silent when idling, but the soft, whining whir of the OMEN 35L's fans can be heard much sooner when you begin using the PC, and at full blast HP's tower is more sonically obtrusive thanks to the higher pitched frequency. I've also noticed some occasional coil whine.

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HP OMEN 35L review: Upgradeability

• HP used standard parts for the OMEN 35L, making it easily upgradeable.
• You also get completely toolless access on both sides and clear labels.
• This is a microATX PC, though, so space for expansion is limited.
• Upgradeability rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just to get it out of the way, the HP OMEN 35L is a microATX PC, meaning its motherboard is smaller than a full-sized tower. That helps achieve this compact stature, but inevitable leaves less space for expansion slots and upgrades. HP has still done an exemplary job at least making the OMEN 35L easy to access and upgrade, and that's important by itself.

For one, HP used standard parts for the OMEN 35L. The fans, power supply, and liquid cooling system may all be OMEN branded, but you don't have to worry about any odd proprietary approaches. To get inside, you simply loosen the thumb screws and slide the panels off. Yes, I said panels; the main panel with the tempered glass screen is a given, but the opposite panel can also be removed to expose all the hidden cables.

This is a full-fledged Intel Z890 motherboard, so the OMEN 35L is well-equipped to handle whatever the future holds (the Intel 14th Gen models come with an Intel Z790 board, and the AMD models with a more entry-level AMD B650). Individual parts are clearly labeled, which is always a nice touch, and there's a dedicated BIOS reset switch. On this motherboard, you'll find a PCIe Gen5 x16 slot (occupied by the NVIDIA GPU), a spare PCIe Gen4 x4 slot, four DIMM slots that support up to 128GB of dual channel RAM, and three M.2 slots — two for SSDs and one for your WLAN card. There's also a single bay for SATA hard drives.

The massive RTX 4080 SUPER GPU does partially obscure your free PCIe slot, and the second M.2 2280/2260 SSD slot is hidden behind it, but the latter is at least still very much useable (you'll have to be careful about heatsinks, though). Everything else is well laid out and simple to access. HP is willing to give you up to 4TB of SSD storage and 64GB of Kingston FURY RAM in its configurator, but the skies the limit when it comes to upgrades. Just remember that, if your GPU is having issues, or you need to disconnect it for some reason, the only display output connected to the CPU is the Thunderbolt 4 port.

There's a great 850W 80 Plus Gold power supply in here, which is ATX 3.1 and fully modular. You can upgrade to a 1,000W power supply for an extra $50 if you want more juice for the future.

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HP OMEN 35L review: Software and AI

• The OMEN 35L suffers from the same software woes as other HP products.
• There's too much preinstalled bloatware, including promotional links.
• I also experienced a number of odd bugs and frustrations.
• Software rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

The HP OMEN 35L is powered by Windows 11, which should come as no surprise, but I unfortunately can't quite claim it's a flawless experience. For one, HP continues to preload its consumer devices with far too much bloat, including buried promotional links and apps that you have to hunt down to remove and far too many random HP programs that really don't need to be so fragmented. Add in the additional DTS, NVIDIA, OMEN, and Intel apps, and your starting apps list looks pretty busy.

You do get integration in the OMEN Gaming Hub for optimization and customization, and the OMEN 35L supports DTS:X Ultra and DTS Headphone:X surround sound technologies, so those are benefits you won't get when building your own PC.

Once you uninstall everything you don't need, you may still run into some issues. My OMEN 35L regularly refuses to turn the display off according to my power settings, for example. I've also woken the OMEN 35L from sleep multiple times only to find that my monitor is detecting no input from it; only unplugging and reconnecting the monitor to the desktop can fix it (this monitor does not exhibit this issue with other PCs). The LCD display on the liquid cooler flat out refuses to display specifically system info, which is the exact widget I'd prefer... So I set it to a clock, instead.

Do you know how long it has been since I've had a PC completely crash without me doing anything? Well, it happened twice with the OMEN 35L, and only one instance was helpful enough to provide a Blue Screen of Death.

To be clear, all of the above issues are infrequent or once-off in my weeks of usage — the majority of the time, this PC is as smooth as its price tag says it should be. There's just one other problem, though. As I mentioned before, the HP OMEN 35L does support overclocking the CPU and RAM, but you need to go into the BIOS to enable the Extreme Memory Profile (XMP) for the memory and unlock the "Extreme" profile in the OMEN Gaming Hub for the best performance. Doing that was more of a chore than I expected, and I'm not the only person to experience the below problems.

Just getting into the HP BIOS was an exercise in patience, as absolutely nothing I tried (or found across the internet and various forums) worked, even after disabling Fast Boot. Eventually, I resorted to using Recovery Mode, which worked; finally, I was inside the BIOS... Except my keyboard wasn't being recognized. None of my keyboards, actually, both wired and wireless, regardless of the USB port I used (the OMEN 35L also doesn't come with a keyboard and mouse in the box, so I couldn't test that).

I could still interact with the BIOS with my mouse, so that was fine, but unlocking the "Extreme" performance profile requires a confirmation PIN, which I had no way of inputting. This keyboard bug is likely why I couldn't get into the BIOS without the Recovery Mode in the first place — my key presses weren't being recognized. At least the OMEN 35L is an AI PC, right?

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HP OMEN 35L review: Also consider

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HP OMEN 35L review: Score card

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HP OMEN 35L review: Final thoughts

You should buy this if ...

✅You want an attractive, compact, and powerful PC

The HP OMEN 35L is one of the best looking pre-built gaming PCs you can buy, it's more compact than similarly capable alternatives, and it's packing plenty of power. Is it the most luxurious, the smallest, or the fastest? No, but the OMEN 35L is an excellent combination of all three.

✅You need flexibility in your PC

HP made some smart decisions with the OMEN 35L — toolless access on both sides, standard components, clear labeling, and a high-end motherboard (at least on all Intel models) gives you plenty of room to upgrade this PC as you go. There are also lots of configuration options to get the perfect computer right off the bat.

You should not buy this if ...

❌You're after the best possible gaming performance

Intel Core Ultra's debut on desktop has led to better efficiency than ever and better performance with AI tasks and features, but it hasn't led to a meaningful increase in gaming performance. Those after every frame they can find are better off with Intel 14th Gen... Although it may be worth waiting for new AMD and NVIDIA hardware to arrive, too.

If it weren't for the various software bugs and BIOS-related frustrations, the HP OMEN 35L may have usurped the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i as my all-time favorite pre-built gaming PC despite not boasting as much raw gaming power. I adore this two-tone design, and HP has done a great job making it easy to access and upgrade. It's a reliable, capable, and efficient gaming system with a lot of room to grow, and you're given plenty of options before you pull the trigger, too.

Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) isn't the slam dunk for gamers Intel may want you to think it is, but it doesn't stop the OMEN 35L from shredding through anything you can throw at it. While it may be tempting to wait and see what companies can do with new hardware from AMD and NVIDIA (I understand completely), the OMEN 35L is one of the easiest pre-built systems for me to recommend right now. With some firmware and driver updates, it could become even better.

You can buy the same HP OMEN 35L I've been reviewing for $2,899.99 at HP, or you can configure your own HP OMEN 35L and tweak the components, memory, storage, power supply, wireless modem, and more from $2,019.99 at HP.

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NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs from the new "Blackwell" era launched on January 30, and, as predicted, they sold out everywhere immediately. Worse, it could be weeks or months before stock returns to any level, never mind stable. You're not completely out of luck, and I'm not talking about caving in to scalpers and their unrealistic prices.

I completely understand the appeal of these GPUs, especially if you're coming from hardware that's more than a few years old. Those who didn't manage to land a new GPU on launch day might not be able to wait any longer, which is why I've put together this list of pre-built gaming PCs featuring the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080.

I'll keep the listings updated regularly, as I don't doubt that there will be more RTX 5000 pre-built gaming PCs coming to market in the near future. Also, be sure to check out our live blog on where to buy RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 for a lot more information.

Best pre-built gaming PCs with RTX 5090 and RTX 5080

A lot of these pre-built PCs are set to go on sale on January 30, and I'm not expecting to see stock last long. Nevertheless, I'm leaving the links up so you can check in as many times as you want. More options will undoubtedly filter out in the coming days, and I'll keep this list updated. I've noted which GPU is inside each PC to help you shop.

Every year, Windows Central sends a crack team of reporters to CES to dig up all of the best — and worst — innovations, refreshes, and product announcements. While there's usually a wide variety of new tech on display at CES, our focus on PCs, concept devices, and gaming hardware keeps our hands full with notable announcements.

While the press is generally early to the show in Las Vegas, CES 2025 officially kicked off with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's keynote speech on January 6. The show runs until January 10, but the major announcements have all been revealed, and we're hard at work recapping the show.

The opposite of what I put together here is Windows Central's Best of CES 2025 Awards, which my colleague Ben Wilson has filled with highlights from the show. I've taken a different approach here, collecting all of the biggest disappointments and head-scratchers we saw at CES 2025.

Alienware's Area-51 gaming desktop returns with two RAM slots

Dell's Alienware brand has been around for decades, and one of its most recognizable sub-brands was resurrected at CES 2025. The Alienware Area-51 announcement marks the return of the flagship gaming PC, which Dell says is more upgradeable than ever before. There's some truth to that statement, but there are some design choices standing in the way.

After years of using a proprietary motherboard shape that was nigh impossible to upgrade yourself, the new Area-51 comes with a standard(ish) ATX board. It's still a proprietary Alienware design, so you'll need to buy a separate mounting harness if you ever want to replace it with a motherboard from a different brand, and it has two RAM slots.

That's the line that caused me pause, as I've never seen a full-size (80L!), high-performance PC that doesn't give users the option to split RAM into four sticks. If you're interested in spending $4,499 or more on a pre-built gaming PC, I recommend checking out MAINGEAR's new APEX FORCE models, also announced at CES 2025.

👉 Read more: The Area-51 returns as Alienware's flagship gaming PC — why does it only have two RAM slots?

Lenovo's Yoga Book 9i 14 (Gen 10) didn't get the upgrades I wanted most

One of my biggest surprises of 2024 was how much I loved using a dual-screen laptop. The two top contenders in this form factor — the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i 14 (Gen 10) and ASUS Zenbook DUO — received refreshes at CES 2025, with the former laptop getting more of an overhaul than the latter.

The Yoga Book 9i notably got its dual displays upsized to 14 inches (from 13.3 inches), and they each now have up to a 120Hz variable refresh rate (up from a flat 60Hz). Lenovo also managed to lower its weight despite having larger screens and battery size.

Unfortunately, one of my biggest gripes about the Yoga Book 9i — especially after using the Zenbook DUO's fully integrated design — is how the keyboard kind of feels like an afterthought. There's still no backlight, no physical touchpad, and no internal storage solution when you're on the move.

My wishlist with a redesigned keyboard and stand setup will have to wait at least another year.

👉 Read more: Are foldable laptops dead? Lenovo and ASUS focus on dual-screen PCs, with no sign of their pricier counterparts.

Lenovo's Legion Pro 7i 16 (Gen 10) loses its rear port bank

One of the first gaming laptops I ever tested with a bank of ports hiding behind the display hinges came from Lenovo's Legion brand. The feature immediately became something I recommended keeping near the top of a list, and more gaming laptops picked up the feature as they were refreshed.

Why do I love this feature so much? It keeps your more permanent cables — like HDMI, AC power, and USB-A — pointing out the back, reducing clutter and making the laptop easier to handle. It's especially important for those who usually use a gaming laptop at a desk.

Lenovo's new most powerful gaming laptop announced at CES 2025, the Legion Pro 7i 16 (Gen 10), was redesigned to make extra room for a buffed cooling system required by Intel and NVIDIA's latest performance hardware. The rear port bank was a casualty in the process.

👉 Read more: Lenovo redesigned its flagship gaming laptop to handle RTX 5000 GPUs, losing one of my favorite features in the process

NVIDIA's RTX 5090 costs $2,000

NVIDIA received a Windows Central Best of CES 2025 Award for its new RTX 5000 "Blackwell" graphics cards, from which the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 were unveiled. However, the announcement didn't come without some literal groans from the in-house audience and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's keynote speech.

I'm talking about the flagship GeForce RTX 5090, which caused a stir when its $2,000 price tag was revealed. This was the most important spec in the eyes of a lot of PC gamers, and while we were all expecting a high price, a $400 premium compared to its RTX 4090 predecessor doesn't sit well.

At least NVIDIA is promising RTX 4090 performance from the RTX 5070, which comes in at a $549 MSRP. There's a lot of AI work and frame generation going on behind that claim, but will it really matter if visual fidelity isn't impacted?

👉 Read more: NVIDIA unveils RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs — here's what they cost

Acer's Nitro Blaze 11 is enormous ... with a price to match

I'm reserving final judgment until after I can see what this thing can do, but for now, the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 gaming handheld seems like a gag. I mean ... just look at the promotional photo Acer uses. Does that thing not look massive?

Acer introduced the 11-inch Nitro Blaze alongside the 8.8-inch Nitro Blaze, and a lot of the specs, aside from system dimensions and screen size, look the same. There's still a relatively limited 55Wh battery in the larger handheld — the ASUS ROG Ally X has an 80Wh battery, for reference — and there's no higher-spec CPU available.

Acer is clearly trying something new here, going for an oversized system that will please those who crave a larger display but who don't want a full laptop. The Nitro Blaze 11's saving features will likely be the built-in stand and detachable controllers, but will the $1,100 starting price be too much of a deterrent? We'll know more when the handhelds launch in Q2 2025.

👉 Read more: Specs and prices for Acer's new AI PC gaming handhelds have been revealed — They're a lot heftier than I expected

Dell does away with decades of brand recognition

What's the best thing to do with decades of brand recognition? A name that a lot of the general public associates with laptops, whether they follow PC news or not? You scrap it and start fresh with some of the most boring and generic names possible!

Following in the footsteps of HP's 2024 PC rebrand, Dell announced at CES 2025 that it's retiring XPS, Precision, Latitude, OptiPlex, and more names in order to simplify its lineup in the age of AI PCs. What are the cool new names, you're asking?

Well, there's the new Dell brand of PCs made for everyday school, work, and play. Yeah, that's right. "Dell" is the name of the new consumer laptops. A step up from those are Dell Pro laptops made for professionals in the commercial market. And finally, Dell Pro Max laptops are a mix of high-end hardware for the consumer and commercial markets.

Furthermore, each brand has Base, Plus, and Premium tiers, resulting in something like a Dell Pro Max 16 Plus. Is that enough adjectives? Will Dell's risky rebrand pay off? I guess we'll see when the new PCs start shipping in February 2025.

Dell does away with decades of brand recognition and names its new laptops "Dell" with Pro and Pro Max variants.

👉 Read more: Goodbye, XPS: Dell joins HP in rebranding its entire laptop range for the AI PC era

AMD no-shows its RDNA 4 GPUs

We received a pre-show press kit from AMD to get a jump on the news coming out of CES 2025, but some of it didn't align with the company's live presentation. Where did the RDNA 4 GPUs go?

Tom's Hardware reported on the omission, claiming that representatives from AMD blamed the lapse on a lack of time in its 45-minute presentation. Here's a quote from AMD executive David McAfee, as reported by Tom's Hardware:

"Just to set the record straight to begin with, the lack of RDNA 4 in this press conference has nothing to do with product development or any of that. The chips are in the lab, and they are performing well. It's hitting all the targets in terms of performance and power."

I knew that AMD wasn't interested in battling against NVIDIA for space in the high-end GPU market, but the complete omission has definitely rubbed fans of Team Red the wrong way. Here's hoping the new GPUs — including the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT — blow us away when AMD finally shows them off.

👉 Read more: AMD previews RDNA 4 desktop GPUs at CES 2025

When I'm asked to recommend a pre-built gaming PC, I usually start off by mentioning MAINGEAR. I've tested a couple of models over the years, and both times, I've come away very impressed with the build quality, assembly, and support. The PCs are built by hand in New Jersey, and the difference between something assembled on a line is immediately evident.

MAINGEAR traditionally offers a number of pre-built models as well as a deep configuration tool that lets you select everything going into your PC. And while the current PCs are quite fetching, they have nothing on the new APEX FORCE and APEX RUSH that MAINGEAR just announced at CES 2025.

There's not yet a confirmed release date or confirmed pricing, but you can put in a $100 (fully refundable) deposit should you want to get to the front of the line for when these PCs start shipping.

MAINGEAR's new APEX gaming PCs push pre-built limits

MAINGEAR's APEX lineup might sound familiar; the RUSH is a refresh of an older model, while the FORCE is completely new. Let's start with the new PC.

It's a full-tower model using a Phanteks NV9 case, complete with expansive tempered glass side panels and illumination around the edges. There's room inside for dual 420mm radiators (each measuring 60mm thick) kept cool with three 140mm fans.

The radiators are hooked up to MAINGEAR's custom dual-cooling loops; there are separate loops for the CPU and the GPU. It frankly seems a bit overkill, but I'm not complaining, especially since the PCs will come with NVIDIA's new RTX 5000 GPUs and the latest CPUs from Intel and AMD.

Fixing and tweaking a custom cooling loop can be stressful, but the FORCE has a quick-access panel for drain ports alongside the pump to make it as easy as possible. In classic MAINGEAR style, it offers many customization options for tubing materials, color, fittings, sleeves, and more.

We reported on MAINGEAR's patented MG-RC tech, which was revealed at CES 2024, and it makes an appearance here. It moves a lot of the motherboard's cable connections to the back of the board, resulting in a cleaner look when viewed through the side glass. MAINGEAR sent me some images of a model that it built using red and blue coolant with silver tubing, but keep in mind that everything can be customized.

Here's a look at the specs going into the FORCE and its RUSH sibling.

Turning now to the APEX RUSH, it returns with a mid-tower Lian-Li O11 EVO RGB chassis with front and side tempered glass for a wide look at the internals. It's a gorgeous case that gets even better with MAINGEAR's custom artwork options. Cyber Gamer, Good Fortune, and Vaporwave Drive are the three options available, but, of course, there are more standard designs with a black case. As with the APEX FORCE, you can customize the colors and materials that go into the custom cooling loop.

The APEX RUSH has one liquid cooling loop that hits the CPU and the GPU. It's cooled by dual 360mm radiators, each with three 120mm fans, and there's a rear intake fan for positive pressure to prevent dust buildup inside. Need to tweak your loop? Easy-access panels hide the pump and drains.

You'll get access to the latest hardware from Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA when configuring your APEX RUSH, and MAINGEAR is offering up to 8TB of M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD storage and 96GB of DDR5 RAM.

As I mentioned, MAINGEAR hasn't yet decided on a firm launch date or pricing, but you can put down a fully refundable $100 deposit in order to snag a place in line.

Intel's "Arrow Lake" desktop AI processors were officially announced on October 10, 2024, following a lengthy delay. They arrive in five flavors, ranging from Core Ultra 5 through Core Ultra 9. We got our hands on CPUs from both ends of the performance spectrum, and following plenty of testing, it became clear that power efficiency was the target with these new chips.

As it turns out—revealed in a new blog post on Intel's website—raw gaming performance did not shape up as intended when the chips arrived in reviewers' hands. Intel has now concluded an investigation into the issue that began on October 26. Five major performance issues were discovered, and four fixes have already been pushed out via Windows 11 and BIOS updates.

Intel's five primary Core Ultra Series 200S fixes

Intel points out in its blog post that "editorial conclusions on gaming performance were more polarized, with noteworthy statistical variation from one article to the next." That aligns with what Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson had to say in his Core Ultra 5 245K review:

"Intel's new Core Ultra Series 2 might seem unusual to some enthusiasts, with gamers expecting a generational leap that was never actually promised. Instead, we get a productivity breakthrough with a dedicated NPU finally making its way to desktops as power efficiency becomes the overall target in this generation."

Intel started investigating why gaming performance quoted by reviewers wasn't the same as what was seen in its own testing, and it's now wrapped up after discovering five primary issues.

Here are the five root causes with quotes pulled from Intel:

1. Missing PPM Package: "Intel incorrectly scheduled this Windows Update package for user/retail availability, not reviewer availability." — Resolved in Windows 11 build 26100.2161
2. Intel APO Could Not Take Effect: "The missing Intel PPM placed the processor into an aberrant state where APO could not take effect." — Resolved in Windows 11 build 26100.2161
3. BSOD When Launching Easy Anti-Cheat Titles: "A known issue between Windows 11 24H2 and the April 2024 (or older) Easy Anti-Cheat driver bundled with PC games." — Resolved via an updated Epic Games Easy Anti-Cheat driver.
4. Select Performance Settings Misconfigured in Reviewer BIOSes: "Consistency of VIP settings not sufficiently re-validated or enforced by Intel." — Resolved in BIOS updates for Z890 motherboards.
5. New BIOS Performance Optimizations: "Intel has additionally identified a small selection of performance optimizations that are recently developed, or were not ready for the motherboard BIOS images released thus far." — Unresolved but expected to be fixed via BIOS update in January 2025.

The Core Ultra 200S lineup includes the Core Ultra 5 245KF, Core Ultra 5 245K, Core Ultra 7 265KF, Core Ultra 7 265K, and Core Ultra 9 285K, and it looks like these root causes can affect all chips.

Intel strongly suggests going through the crucial updates as soon as possible to negate the performance issues. Windows 11 version 26100.2314 (or newer) is where you should be, and your motherboard BIOS should also have the latest drivers. These can usually be sourced from your motherboard manufacturer's official website.

How much of a performance boost can you expect with these updates?

Unfortunately, a mix of any of these five issues could be plaguing your Arrow Lake desktop CPU, so it's hard to say exactly how much of a performance increase you'll see once the bugs are gone.

Intel states that it will deliver a more comprehensive update on the situation at CES 2025, with a closer look at performance improvements. With AMD's Ryzen X3D CPUs cornering the PC gaming market, Intel had better hope that it will have some overly positive news to share in a few weeks at CES.

What you need to know

• AMD officially launched the Ryzen 7 9800X3D desktop processor using the Zen 5 architecture.
• The new CPU features AMD 3D V-Cache technology that significantly boosts gaming performance.
• The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available to buy starting at $479, $30 more than the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D.

The much-anticipated Ryzen 7 9800X3D has officially launched following months of rumors and speculation. It comes on the heels of AMD's standard Ryzen 9000 desktop chips, released in August 2024, which Senior Editor Ben Wilson favorably reviewed.

Wilson also reviewed the new Ryzen 7 9800X3D, calling it "the best gaming CPU" and handing it a Windows Central Best Award. That's despite a higher launch price (by $30) than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D predecessor, which is still available today.

I'm still expecting to see more Ryzen 9000 X3D chips to launch in the future, but I'd be surprised if the 9800X3D doesn't remain the most popular choice for gamers for a long time.

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"Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU"

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone who's been following the latest Zen 5 rumors that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has surpassed its predecessor to become the best new CPU for PC gamers.

Senior Editor Ben Wilson tested the 9800X3D using an MSI MPG X870E Carbon WiFi motherboard, Liquid Freezer III 360 cooler, and G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB DDR5 RAM. In his Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, he stated:

"Make no mistake: the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU, politely dethroning its predecessor as the new king of the hill as a cache-heavy monster. However, it's not winning any awards for productivity. It isn't worth installing into a PC that spends most of its time crunching numbers in Microsoft Office and Teams since the 9900X and 9950X dominate that category, but it's a far better pick for gamers than anything from Intel's modern productivity-centric offerings.

Unfortunately, those who'll benefit most will need to spend a sizeable amount of cash on a new motherboard and RAM upgrades, making the 9800X3D MSRP hike sting a little more than a cute $30. Nevertheless, this is the new meta for PC gaming, and nothing else can challenge its ability to deliver monstrous FPS counts if you can pair it with a capable GPU to enjoy the latest AAA titles loaded with visual luxuries."

Like the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D, this is a processor intended mainly for gaming. Its productivity scores, as Wilson states, aren't exceptional, falling behind even the Core Ultra 5 245K in a bunch of productivity benchmarks. Here's a look at the results.

As expected, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D's performance absolutely shines in games. As you can see below, it pulls far ahead of Intel's latest Core Ultra 9 285K flagship in demanding games. That's despite the Core Ultra 9 having more cores, more threads, a higher clock speed, and a higher TDP.

Wilson also pulled a bunch of real-world benchmarks from the games listed in the chart above for a better idea of where performance lies. These are some of the most demanding games out there right now, but it's clear that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D has no problems running them.

Standout metrics include the Ryzen 7 9800X3D reaching a 52% performance increase in Cyberpunk 2077, as well as a 43% increase to performance in Far Cry 6. Even the new Call of Duty Black Ops 6 hits a 41% increase compared to Intel's Core Ultra 9 285K.

Is it worth upgrading to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is undoubtedly tempting for any serious PC gamers. I know I've had my eye on the new chip since rumors began, and based on the positive reviews I plan on putting together a PC upgrade plan.

I'm coming from a Ryzen 7 5800X chip, which is now a few generations old. In fact, it's using an older AM4 motherboard socket and DDR4 RAM, which means I'll need to upgrade the motherboard and memory when I make the chip change. If you're working with a Ryzen 5000 chip, you'll need to do the same. Whether or not that makes financial sense right now only you can say. If you are looking to upgrade to the new Zen 5 chip, have a look at top motherboards for the Ryzen 7 9800X3D to get you started.

If you're already working with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, chances are you don't see much need to upgrade to the 9800X3D. Your upgrade path will be easier due to the 7800X3D using the AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM, but the $479 MSRP for the 9800X3D no doubt seems a bit steep when your 7800X3D is still so potent.

Here's a quick look at the Ryzen 9800X3D and 7800X3D specifications.

Where to buy the Ryzen 7 9800X3D

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is now available for purchase at major online retailers like Best Buy, Newegg, B&H, and Amazon.

You're looking at the same $479 launch price across retailers, and that's expected to stick for the time being. It's always within the realm of possibility that the new CPU will drop in price for Black Friday or Cyber Monday if there's any stock left to discount.

If you're buying at launch, here are the retailers currently offering the chip at $479.

• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Best Buy
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Newegg
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at Amazon
• See AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D at B&H

Are there pre-built PCs with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D?

I'm expecting to see plenty of pre-built gaming PCs have the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as a centerpiece, but at the time of the chip's launch, your options are limited. With the standalone CPUs now sold out everywhere I look, a pre-built might be your next best option.

I first spotted a couple of custom PCs from iBuyPower. There are set models starting at $2,099, but you can configure them with a ton of different hardware centered around the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The lowest price I could configure was $1,346, and there's almost no limit to what you can add if your budget allows.

CyberPowerPC is so far the only other builder I spotted featuring the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. There are six pre-builts available at the time of writing, each with a different case and liquid cooler. Prices start at $1,685 for the 9800X3D, RTX 4060 Ti GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.

👉 See CyberPowerPC's Ryzen 7 9800X3D pre-built PCs

Is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D still available to buy?

Yes, the predecessor Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still available to buy. It is, however, more expensive now than it was at launch. In some countries, including Canada where I'm located, it's practically impossible to find. That's a testament to its lasting power and popularity.

With the best price I can find hovering around $476 at Amazon — or around $570 at Newegg and Walmart — you might as well buy the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D for about the same price.

My recommendation changes if the price of the 7800X3D suddenly drops following the 9800X3D launch. There's also Black Friday and Cyber Monday heading our way in a few weeks, which is usually a great opportunity to save significantly on PC parts and upgrades.

Not everyone needs to invest thousands of dollars into a high-end gaming PC or a vast assortment of premium accessories — in fact, most people need the exact opposite. The majority of PC users simply want a straightforward, cost-effective way to browse the web, check emails, video conference, and stay on top of their digital lives without worrying about the little stuff.

For those people, this HP All-in-One is a true one-stop solution, as it's a 27-inch monitor with a desktop PC built-in, and includes the keyboard, mouse, webcam, mics, and speakers. Even better, it's enjoying a very solid discount for Amazon Prime Day, and is currently available for just $769.99 at Amazon (EXPIRED.) You don't need to spend a penny on anything else, as this AiO does it all.

• Shop all of Amazon's October Prime Day deals

🎃The best early Black Friday deals🦃

• 💾Seagate Xbox Expansion Card (1TB) | $129.99 at Best Buy (Save $70!)
• 📺Amazon Fire TV Stick | $24.99 at Amazon (Save $25!)
• 🎮ASUS ROG Ally (Z1 Extreme) | $499.99 at Best Buy (Save $150!)
• 💻Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (Ryzen 5) | $329.99 at Best Buy (Save $250!)
• 💽AMD Ryzen 7 5800X CPU (8-core) | $164 at Amazon (Save $285!)
• 📺LG C4 OLED 4K TV (42-inches) | $899.99 at Best Buy (Save $500!)
• 💻Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge (X Elite) | $799.99 at Best Buy (Save $550!)
• 💻Dell XPS 13 (X Elite) | $999.99 at Best Buy (Save $500!)
• 🎧Sony ANC Wireless Headphones | $228 at Walmart (Save $122!)
• 💻HP Envy 2-in-1 14 (Ryzen 7) | $649.99 at Best Buy (Save $400!)

No fuss, just a solid desktop PC for you or your family

HP has been making great all-in-one desktop PCs for years, and there are a lot of good reasons why so many casual users have one in their home. Unlike a traditional "tower" desktop PC, you don't need a bunch of extra accessories and the initial set up process is a cinch. Whether it's your PC for school or work, a computer for the whole family, or even the PC you set up for your parents or grandparents, this HP All-in-One gets the job done.

This HP All-in-One boasts a decently sized 27-inch IPS panel, with HP focusing on neutral colors that are clear and easy on the eyes. You also get a FHD front-facing webcam for video conferencing like Zoom or Google Meet, and it boasts dual microphones to record your voice. There's even an IR sensor, so you can skip the PINs and passwords and securely log on to your PC with Windows Hello facial recognition.

It's easy to plug in a headset or pair of headphones if you want, but you shouldn't need it — built-in speakers will help you hear the other side of a video call loud and clear. A wireless keyboard and mouse are also included in the box and is connected to the HP All-in-One straight away, removing one more obstacle during the famously annoying set up process.

If you care about what's on the inside, this HP All-in-One is powered by a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 with Iris Xe graphics, 12GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. What does this mean for the casual user? It means this isn't a gaming PC by any means, but you have more than enough power to ensure the PC boots up, wakes up, and logs you in quick, and feels smooth whether you're web browsing, on a video call, or checking your email. If you do want to do some gaming, this PC should do fine with casual games like Minecraft, too.

There's a decent number of ports on the back, too, including five USB ports (one being USB Type-C), a HDMI port if you want to hook up a second monitor or TV, and an Ethernet port so you don't have to worry about connecting to your internet wirelessly. There is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 support, though, so wireless internet and accessories aren't an issue.

With all that said, securing this HP All-in-One 27 for just $769.99 at Amazon (EXPIRED) is a steal. Just be sure you know what's up with Amazon Prime Day, as you may need to use your free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime to take advantage of this sale.

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

We at Windows Central are scouring the internet for the best Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals, but there are plenty more discounts going on now. Here's where to find more savings:

• Xbox controller deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Xbox SSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming headset deals: Walmart | Dell | Target | Best Buy | Amazon 
• MicroSD storage deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming handheld deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Copilot+ AI laptop deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Monitor deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Mini PC deals: Walmart | Target | Best Buy | Amazon | Newegg 
• Gaming keyboard deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg 
• Gaming mice deals: Walmart | Best Buy | Amazon | Dell | Newegg