MSI MEG AEGIS Ti5 10th RTX 3080 Gaming PC Review

How Much Does it Cost?

Well, much like all PC hardware right now, finding a really accurate price is harder search than the work done at CERN. With graphics cards sold out, pre-made systems are the new target and have flown off the shelves. Some retailers have jacked prices too, so uhm… I don’t know.

Alza are showing it for £4300-ish while EXCaliberPC have it around $3300, but again, each has a different RAM and storage configuration to the one we tested. As such, it seems my version is out of stock. I’ve never ordered from those two stores so can’t really common on their trust worthiness.

Keep an eye on the MSI gaming store on Amazon for your best chance.

Overview

Let’s get right to it, stock may be out, but this isn’t going to be a cheap system. It’s extremely powerful and has some of the best hardware on the market housed within. I doubt the custom case is going to come cheap either, especially with that trick OLED control on the front panel. Plus, the graphics card, motherboard, etc, are all MSIs own high-end models, not the OEM parts we often see in pre-built systems.

Design

Of course, you’re paying for a truly unique looking system. Sure, you could go a create your own mod, but it is nice to see something original like this. It’s not as crazy as it seems either, as it still uses unmodified mATX motherboards, has room for huge graphics cards, an ATX power supply, and has upgradable storage and RAM options. All the hardware is arranged to ensure it gets good airflow too. The liquid cooled CPU, the GPU fans, the PSU, they all pull air directly from their respective sides of the case.

The additional RGB lighting is really nicely done too. Rather than just shiny fans and LED strips, MSI has placed unique lighting panels around the case to give this a really cool aesthetic. It’s not overly bright either, it doesn’t need to be, it just adds touches of colour where it’s needed.

The OLED control panel on the front is completely pointless, nobody needs it, I don’t think anyone really asked for it, but I still love it. I may only use it as the occasional volume wheel and RGB changer myself, but it’s still just a fun thing to have. A tactile interface is a welcome change from just another bit of desktop software or a macro.

Performance

It’s bloody fast. Case closed. OK, to elaborate, if you stick a high-end Intel Core i9-10900K under a decent liquid cooler and boost its brains out, it’s going to deliver a great level of performance; and it does. Of course, if you pair that with the MSI RTX 3080 graphics card, one of the fastest gaming cards on the market today, then guess what? There isn’t a game out there that you want to able to enjoy! From a bit of video rendering to high-resolution ray traced gaming, this system can do it all.

Should I Buy One?

What did surprise me about this system is that it feels awfully familiar. I recently reviewed the MSI P100X 10th, which has the same CPU and GPU, but in a much smaller form factor. That PC was fast, and ultra-stylish, but the size limited the PSU, fan size, etc. With the AEGIS, MSI was able to dial up the clock speeds and add more impressive cooling, allowing it to deliver every more impressive performance from the same hardware. Alas, if you want this system in a more professional looking form factor, check out the P100X here. Of course, if you want one of the most interesting looking gaming PC’s we’ve seen in quite some time, the AEGIS is an excellent choice.