Choosing your next PC can be a rather intimidating process. Do you go with a pre-built or build your own? Do you go with a small form factor or a full size? With the fluctuations of the RAM and the GPU, it is difficult to make a choice. Today, I'm going to take a look at MSI's Infinite X Gaming Desktop which should be a serious contender in the pre-built market. It is a normal-size gaming center with an impressive aesthetic.
As someone who is not usually a fan of most pre-built gaming computers, I really like most of what the Infinite X does. It comes pre-assembled and tested with all the parts a player would need, but at the same time retains the scalability we expect.
The Infinite X is currently available in five configurations ranging from a GTX 1070 to a GTX 1080 Ti. The first three models come with an Intel i7-8700K processor and 16GB of RAM while the last two have the non-"K" variant of the CPU. For storage options, the Infinite X can be configured with different combinations of SSD M.2, a 2.5 "drive and a 3.5" drive. For the motherboard, the Infinite X uses the Z370M Gaming Pro AC from MSI all over the map.
The configuration that I have been sent for review is the VR8RE-006US which has a GTX 1080 and a 512 GB SSD. In addition to these component differences, the rest of the systems should be similar. The power supply of all variants is a 550W 80 Plus aluminum power supply. More on this later.
The GPU and the motherboard are both ready-made components instead of white-label substitutes. This is nice to see and allows a complete upgrade of the system in the future if you find that it becomes obsolete. As MSI manufactures both motherboards and GPUs, this is not surprising.
Let's move on to visit the platform. The entire computer has sharp angles that connect different geometric shapes. This certainly gives the Infinite X a "Gamer" look, but it's not too exaggerated. The default side panel and top panel are matte black metal while the front panel is covered with a shiny black plastic cover. The case comes with a standard side panel equipped with vents for the vertically mounted graphics card. This gives him direct access to fresh air to help the thermals. A tempered glass side panel is also included in the box.
At the bottom of the case we find a standard magnetic dust filter on the power supply and a large rubber foot. This tilts the housing slightly towards the back and allows adequate airflow even in carpeted areas.
As I have already mentioned, if you prefer a glass panel, MSI has included one in the box. This gives you a complete view of the internals through the tempered tinted glass. It attaches with the help of four Phillips screws screwed into a spacer on the side of the case. This slightly compensates the panel to provide the necessary airflow without other ventilation holes. As it is offbeat, I found that he can easily hang on to things when he is being transported. I recommend removing it by moving the case as it is only attached with four small screws.
From the front, we can clearly see this shift in the side panel. The RGB lighting strip is also visible at the front of the case. It consists of several elements that evoke a circuit board pattern and can each be set to a different color. This front panel lighting can also be synchronized with the rest of the case using MSI's Mystic Lighting software.
In terms of front panel I / O, you have ports for headphones and microphones, a USB-C port, a USB 3.0 port and a USB port 2.0. Next to that is a large illuminated power button. I found it extremely fragile and of very poor quality of construction. Every time you turn on the computer, you will remember how cheap it feels. Above all this is a surprisingly slim CD player. For what it's worth, I would have gladly done without it and used the money saved for a good power button. Finally, there is also a brilliant MSI logo in the lower right corner.
At the back of the case we find a very sturdy carrying handle. He felt very solid and I was not afraid when I wore the holster. This is unfortunately something that can not be said for other cases with handles. Below, there is the rear I / Os and as the MSI Z370m is a MATX motherboard, it's a bit limited. We have an HDMI and DisplayPort port for integrated graphics, 10 USB Type A and Type C 3.1 ports, four additional USB 3.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port and the standard six-connector audio configuration of all motherboards. Some extra USB ports and a second ethernet jack would have been nice, but this configuration should fit almost everyone. Since the graphics card is mounted vertically, you must make sure that you have a cable long enough to reach your monitor.
The front and back side panels are fixed with tiny screws and slide in place with metal fins. These screws are easy to lose, so thankfully, MSI has included extras in the accessory kit supplied with the computer. These screws and the sliding wings make the case obsolete and cheap. I would have preferred a hinge and thumbscrews like the side glass panel instead uses here. The money saved by removing the CD player could easily have afforded it since it would only cost a few dollars to implement by MSI.
Inside most cases is painted black except for an unfinished ring around the edge. This sounds like a corner that was cut off unnecessarily because painting it to match the rest of the business would not take a lot of extra work. Besides that, the main thing that stands out is the three separate areas inside the case. At the bottom is a power compartment, then the graphics card, and finally the motherboard and the processor at the top. These three compartmentalized zones are designed to improve cooling. If the GPU is under load, it does not heat the rest of the components. The same applies with the CPU and the power supply.
Looking more closely at the summit, we find some corners that have been cut. The RAM has no visible mark and does not have a heat spreader. Although it does not affect performance, it certainly does not look so good. Cable management in this situation is also difficult. As we will see later, there is not much room on the other side, but I think MSI could have done better here. Granted, this might not be a big deal for the consumer who is looking to buy a pre-built instead of building a PC themselves. The last criticism I had in this area was the CPU cooler. It has only one 92mm radiator and a fan to cool an overclocked i7-8700K. If I had designed the system, I would have put at least one 2x120mm radiator.
After a sustained load test of 20 minutes, processor temperatures were about 70 degrees, GPU times were around 60 degrees. They are pretty good, even if in hot weather the processor gets a bit too hot and does not run at full speed. Each chip can work differently, but mine boosted to 4.8 GHz for short periods of time and supported 4.4 GHz. These numbers are pretty good for a 6-core processor and should not be a problem in hogging workloads. Surprisingly my GPU was not overclocked at the factory but a simple boost was very easy to get in MSI Afterburner.
Moving to the back of the case, we see the limited space for cable management. Surprisingly, there are no cutouts for the motherboard, processor or other power cables. They must all be directed from the front. Considering that there is a mount for a 3.5 "drive, there certainly would have been enough room here for that - again, this will not affect performance and not everyone will care cable management, but that seems like an easy solution.
Every PC needs peripherals and the Infinite X comes with some pretty cool in the box. The keyboard is not mechanical and the backlight can not be changed, but it looks and feels better than most keyboards included. The same goes for a mouse. Unless you are in very competitive eSports games and need a very precise mouse, the one that is included will work fine for almost everyone.
Since the Infinite X uses consumer hardware, its performance will be almost identical to that of other systems that we have tested with the same hardware. For detailed performance figures, I refer you to our reviews of the GTX 1080 and 8700K. They should give you a good idea of the power of this system. Amongst the various storage options, my unit had a 512 GB Intel M.2 SSD that achieved read speeds of 1772 MB / s and write speeds of 363 MB / sec. For the entire system benchmarks, my unit got a 19559 3DMark Fire Strike score and a 7578 Time Spy score. Those looking for a setup should have an idea of the level of performance they're looking for or at least a budget how much they want to spend. Knowing one or the other of these elements should help you choose the right model for your use.
With so much power, comes some minor inconveniences. Since the CPU cooler is only 92 mm, the fans and the pump must run at a higher speed to keep everything cool. This results in Infinity X having a low but audible hum, even at rest. During a period of intense charging, the computer can become very strong. Since the thermals are pretty good by default, there is room to adjust the fan curves to keep the system a little quieter.
Another minor problem that I observed was related to the power supply. The fully charged system drew approximately 650 watts from the wall while the power supply is only rated at 550 watts. Taking into account the effectiveness of the 80 Plus Bronze, this puts the power to a near maximum load. Although not dangerous, the power supplies are designed to be efficient at a performance of about 50%. Running the power block at full power can also shorten its life. I was expecting a unit a little more powerful considering the load.
Once you are in Windows, MSI has included some pre-installed programs on Infinite X. There is a Norton Antivirus trial that I recommend uninstalling. Then there are some specific MSI programs to help manage the system. This includes the MSI Command Center, an MSI game program, and the MSI Mystic Lighting software. The Control Center allows you to monitor system temperatures, clock speeds, fan curves, and more. The game program is designed to help optimize system performance to give a better gaming experience, but I have never felt the need to use programs like this one. Finally, the Mystic Lighting software controls all aspects of RGB lighting in the case. This includes the GPU, the internal casing lighting and the front panel pattern. The lights can be set to solid colors, patterns or any of the many effects included.
For someone who may not be familiar with the MSI ecosystem, all of these programs can be confusing. I would have liked to drive everything together in one-piece software, as this would make it easier to find the setting you're looking for.
The last important thing to review is pricing. As revised, our test unit costs $ 1900. If you built such a system yourself with the same components, it would cost you between $ 1,600 and $ 1,700, depending on market prices. It follows that the Infinite X has a price premium of about $ 250 compared to a standard version. This may be a bit high for some, but you get the right case, a one year warranty, full system integration and validation, and it removes the hassle of component supplying and ensure compatibility.
Obviously, seasoned PC builders will hesitate before such a system, but for those who have just entered the PC gaming scene, it offers a compelling deal. MSI has many competitors in this market, including HP, Alienware, Origin and Lenovo. Since they all use similar components, the performance will be the same everywhere. As always, you should look around to find the best deal, but if Infinite X from MSI is an option for you, it would be hard to go wrong. It makes some sacrifices along the way, but overall it matters. It would make for a very capable and elegant gaming machine that you can simply buy, plug in and go.
Business Shortcuts:
- MSI Infinite X (GTX 1070, NVMe 256GB + 2TB SSD Hard Drive) on Amazon, Newegg
- MSI Infinite X (GTX 1080, 512GB NVMe SSD) on Amazon
- MSI Infinite X (GTX 1080 Ti hard drive, 512 GB NVD SSD + 2 TB HDD) on Amazon
For: Built with real gaming hardware. The vertical GPU mount looks good and helps the thermals. Beautiful RGB lighting capabilities.
Cons: Poor cable management, minor manufacturing quality issues with the case.
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