Testing this iBUYPOWER "RDY Trace X" gaming PC proves how great a pre-built rig can be, even with these caveats

Building your own gaming PC is a rewarding adventure, but arguably one of the most intimidating for newcomers, based on how expensive the individual parts can be. Compatibility concerns may also seem obvious to experienced rig builders, but getting started can feel confusing, which is why I've happily championed pre-built PCs to anyone who'd rather skip the process entirely.

iBUYPOWER has been around for as long as I've been working here, though its US-based operations haven't given me much opportunity to get my hands on its inventory to see if the experts behind it are up to snuff. That's changed this year, as an extra-special international offering gives me the chance to get up close and personal with a sample of its RDY Trace X R01 and the high-end parts inside.

Why you should trust me

Why you should trust me

Ben Wilson

I've built more custom desktop PCs than I can remember, but I've picked up pre-built alternatives when it made sense, too. Working with both has given me insight into what matters most.

How much does the iBUYPOWER RDY Trace X R01 cost?

Image 1 of 3

You can buy the iBUYPOWER RDY Trace X R01 for $2,799 at the official online store, though common sales tend to drop it from this standard price. At the time of writing, a $500 discount brings the RDY Trace X R01 to $2,299.

Alternatively, Best Buy stocks the Trace Gaming Desktop for $2,349.99 with matching specs despite the missing "R01" name tag. iBUYPOWER maintains an Amazon presence, though the AMD-based Trace X R01 isn't currently listed.

For now, the iBUYPOWER storefront has the best price on the RDY Trace X R01 with the specs matching my sample. Whichever you choose, you'll get a full-size mechanical keyboard and wired mouse included in the box.

Is the iBUYPOWER RDY Trace X R01 well made?

Image 1 of 6

iBUYPOWER shipped this sample PC from California to my sleepy little town in the United Kingdom, and the gigantic RDY Trace X R01 still arrived safe and sound. Nothing had come loose in transit, and the ASRock Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card was boxed separately, surrounded by a sea of foam padding. Yes, you need to install the GPU yourself, but it's one of the easiest components to handle. Seriously, there's no need to be nervous about it.

Simple instructions are attached to the glass case, while another sticker covers the motherboard ports, including a helpful hint to use the GPU's video-out ports rather than the integrated option — a common mistake. Otherwise, a checklist from the assembly team claims that RAM profiles are already active in the BIOS and temperature stress tests have been performed. Ball studs hold the rear panel in place, while the glass front slides off for closer inspection.

Image 1 of 6

Zip-tied PCIe power cables for the GPU hang inside the case, ready for the Radeon card, which installs much like an old-school SEGA or Nintendo game cartridge might (showing my age there). After that, a couple of case screws hold it in place, and the twin PSU cables connect with a "click", letting you know they're safely flush. After this, the rest is all software-related setup, as the PC turns on using the power cable provided in the accessory bag.

I'm not a huge fan of the case fan orientations, which are all set up for intake, leaving any internal hot air to vent through the remaining spaces. It's a "positive pressure" method, essentially forcing heat out of those gaps in the PC case. If I wanted to tinker, I'd probably reverse the rear case fan and the furthest-rear ceiling fan for some exhaust, but this is technically fine for anyone who just wants to play some games.

How do games run on the RDY Trace X R01?

Any gaming PC asking over $2,000 should be capable of pushing modern AAA games to the higher end of their graphical settings, and it should be able to do so at 1440p (2560x1440). Running benchmarks at 1080p (1920x1080) is a common standard, but I'm not particularly interested in the lofty numbers that would come of that. I'm looking for an average of 144 FPS, and what it takes to get there — FSR upscaling or otherwise.

I tested Cyberpunk 2077 since it feels like the new face of "Can it run Crysis?" and any review would feel strange without it. It's an interesting result, particularly as I've had no previous experience with AMD's Radeon 9070 XT GPU, and was half-expecting something worse. At 1440p with no FSR upscaling or frame generation on "High" settings, Cyberpunk 2077 hit an average of 146 FPS. That's a good start for native rendering.

Image 1 of 3

There was some obvious performance headroom in Cyberpunk, so I pushed it further with a leg up from AMD's FSR tech. Sure enough, switching to the Ray Tracing Ultra profile with FSR 2.1 Super Resolution set to Auto and FSR 3.1 Frame Generation on gave an average of 196 FPS. So, you can play Cyberpunk 2077 in its highest fidelity on the RDY Trace X R01 with minimal effort.

Stepping back into the real world for a moment offers some clarity: this PC is running one of AMD's all-time best gaming CPUs, paired with its highest-tier Radeon GPUs — it shouldn't be surprising that it runs games well.

Still, hands-on testing is better than marketing fluff, so I booted up Black Myth: Wukong's benchmark app. Its default settings push for 1440p with FSR Super Resolution upscaling from 75%, with ray tracing disabled and frame generation enabled, for another average of 196 FPS. Activating Full Ray Tracing with the Very High subsetting drops that to 67 FPS. There's room for tweaks here.

Image 1 of 3

Counter-Strike 2 runs miles above 144 FPS at either High or Very High settings, with the former averaging 320 FPS while the latter hit around 250 FPS while spectating a Deathmatch on the Inferno map at 1440p. With that, you could push closer to 4K (3840x2160) and still expect a smooth framerate, with a potential helping hand from FSR upscaling.

Marvel Rivals averages 133 FPS at 1440p with High settings and FSR4 Super Resolution set to Quality, but it can push to 234 FPS with FSR3 Frame Generation enabled. It's a testament to the raw ability of the Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU and a hint of how AMD's improved FSR tech can help deliver a generous number of extra frames. I prefer to avoid "fake frames" where possible, but the RDY Trace X R01 seems comfortable in this 1440p @ 144Hz sweet spot without them.

Should you buy an iBUYPOWER RDY Trace X R01?

You should buy this if ...

✅ You want an easy approach to high-end PC gaming

✅ You're open to future customization and light tinkering

You should not buy this if ...

❌ You want a silent gaming PC in a quiet room

❌ You're uncomfortable with self-installing components

After getting my hands on one of iBUYPOWER's pre-built gaming PCs, I don't have qualms about its build quality or quality control. The only real downsides are its remarkably loud fans under load and the usual gripes a complete novice will encounter when setting up a brand-new Windows 11 PC. The software pains are Microsoft's fault, but the hardware is nevertheless good for the price.

Personally, I'd opt for a different case fan layout to give the RDY Trace X R01 a more traditional way to exhaust hot air. Still, the maximum temperatures it reaches are technically within sensible limits. Installing your own graphics card is also relatively straightforward, especially with the included instructions, so the entire experience is a great shortcut for gamers.