The MEG Aegis Ti5 is the latest addition to MSI’s gaming desktop series, adding to the Aegis range of uniquely designed products. The announcement and subsequent launch of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3000 series of graphics cards meant that major hardware manufacturers would release their own versions of desktops to take advantage of the latest and most powerful hardware on the market, but MSI did it with more fanfare than most.
The MSI Aegis Ti5 is arguably the most unique build on the market and not for everyone. And while we initially laughed at the robotic aesthetics, in fact, the PC really caught my eye very quickly. You still get the proprietary RGB lighting, but the Aegis stands out from the others, pursuing the trend of stealthy and minimalist enclosures and glass windows for you to see the hardware.
The RGB lighting is soft enough to follow the shape of the computer. Since the backlight is hidden behind matte plastic, you don’t get the blinding bursts of light that you get with other gaming builds, in fact, this lighting solution is much better when you hold the system unit on a table.
In general, the system unit looks like a work of art, a love letter to sci-fi films, a reference to the future. Of course, the design isn’t the only strength of the Aegis Ti5, which packs intimidatingly powerful components. The configuration we reviewed costs $ 5,900 ($ 440,000 + VAT) for an Intel Core i9-10900K and Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card . Other configurations are available with the Intel Core i7-10700K and the humble Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 .
Since the Ampere architecture graphics cards were released very recently, the market does not yet offer an abundance of ready-made PCs that can compete with the MSI Aegis Ti5. The flagship Alienware Aurora R11 , for example, is offered with a Core i9-10900K, 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD paired with a 2TB HDD, but packed with the most powerful graphics card on the market today, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3090 . This is arguably the best system available today, also cheaper than the MSI Aegis Ti5 at $ 4,420 (Rs 330,000 + VAT), but you don’t get the integrated digital signage and unique design of the Aegis Ti5.
If you want a gaming machine that can grab attention and play easily any game you install on your PC in the next few years, the MSI Aegis Ti5 is hard to beat. You have to part with a lot of money to buy one of these, but in return you get a very powerful PC.
PRICES AND CONFIGURATIONS
Below are the MSI Aegis Ti5’s standard prices for three configurations.
MSI Aegis Ti5 10TE-005EU | RTX 3080 | Intel Core i9-10900K | RAM 128 GB | HDD 3 TB | SSD 2 TB | 5900 $
MSI Aegis Ti5 10TE-006EU | RTX 3080 | Intel Core i7-10700K | RAM 128 GB | HDD 3 TB | SSD 2 TB | 5200 $
MSI Aegis Ti5 10TE-007EU | RTX 3070 | Intel Core i7-10700K | RAM 64 GB | HDD 2 TB | SSD 2 TB | 4500 $
The scarcity of RTX 3000 graphics cards means they come at overpriced prices. In fact, we tried very hard to find new Aegis for sale, but the “Where to Buy” section of MSI’s website simply didn’t have any options available during the review process.
We found desktop configurations on several obscure sites with suspiciously discounted prices for flagship configurations, but we have not used those sites before and cannot claim their reliability.
MSI Aegis Ti5 is an incredibly expensive computer. You are paying not only for the most powerful hardware available right now, but also for an aesthetics that cannot be replicated without major body modifications, so despite being overpriced, it can be well worth it.
TEST RESULTS
Here’s how the MSI Aegis Ti5 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
- Cinebench R20 : 6405;
- 3DMark Time Spy : 16240 | Fire Strike: 29445 | Night Raid: 66820;
- Geekbench 5 :1439 (Single Core) | 10898 (Multi-core);
- PCMark 10 Home : 7506 points
- Total War: Three Kingdoms : 217 FPS (1080p, Low) | 135 FPS (1080p, Ultra);
- Metro Last Light : 197 FPS (1080p, Low) | 118 FPS (1080p, Ultra);
DESIGN MSI AEGIS TI5
Let’s not embellish it: it’s the aesthetics of this PC that will decide whether you want to buy it or whether your preference will fall on the “hidden” design of your future gaming PC. Personally, we believe the new Aegis chassis is unique in current PC build trends, with some distinctive functionalities tied to computer designs.
The computer case bears some resemblance to the transformers, and you will also be forgiven for mistaking the PC for the Bastion from Overwatch. If you look at it long enough, you might even hear GlaDOS order you to “press a button.” The similarities between robotic characters in modern culture may be coincidental, but there is something weird about the way the Aegis Ti5 looks from standing on a table – you will be hard pressed to find a better pre-built computer to play Cyberpunk 2077 , that’s for sure.
The obvious addition to the new Aegis is the “Gamer Dial”, a control console integrated into the front of the case. This display allows players to toggle between different system performance settings, and can be configured to display system status information, including the temperature and frequency of the processor cores. You can launch games at the touch of a button and choose between different performance modes for better game optimization.
You can also use Dial to control volume and RGB lighting by assigning the appropriate settings in the pre-installed MSI Dragon Center software, you can personalize the panel with different GIF animations, which is especially useful for streamers. We decided to keep the MSI mascot animation preinstalled as there was something charming about this red dragon who thumbs up enthusiastically.
The case design relies on a combination of plastic and metal to make it incredibly durable. The base of the PC appears to be solid metal, which guarantees stability, although we’re a little disappointed by the lack of polished aluminum or glass given the Aegis Ti5’s price tag. The design is windowless, which is not in line with the current trend and therefore does not allow you to see the insides of your gaming system, a profitable argument for those looking for a computer with a futuristic design and RGB lighting, but do not want to follow the crowd.
Integrated into the upper rear of the computer is a sturdy metal handle for transporting the PC, at first we laughed at this decision, but it really was a boon when placing the Aegis Ti5 on a desk. The metal base gives the case an attractive, robust look, but it also means that the relatively small system unit weighs 17 kilograms. The case also has two foldable handles on the sides, when not in use, you can use them to route wires or just hang the headset. The handles are actually pretty practical, if you don’t have a headset stand, that’s it. They also make it look like an adorable rabbit robot, so it’s a win-win design decision.
PERFORMANCE
Not surprisingly, given the technical specifications of the computer, you can run almost any game on it and crank all the graphics settings to the limit. The MSI Aegis Ti5 runs surprisingly smoothly with any AAA game, including Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, you can expect a stable 60 FPS with maximum graphics settings.
We also ran less demanding games such as Wolrd of Warcraft: Shadowlands , which recently received ray tracing. Even with active ray tracing and the additional load of dozens of Chrome tabs on the adjacent monitor, we got a steady 130fps in cities and raids. This is, of course, aided by the downright ludicrous amount of RAM that comes with our Aegis Ti5 configuration.
With 128GB of RAM, you can install Red Dead Redemption II simply on DDR4 RAM. A completely unnecessary amount of RAM for most gamers, who are more than enough 16-32GB of RAM to run demanding games with a few other applications – 128GB of RAM is a server system requirement.
When it comes to Cyberpunk 2077, gaming on the MSI Aegis Ti5 really lives up to our expectations – with ray tracing and DLSS enabled, everything looks amazing and, importantly, smooth. The Aegis also didn’t get too hot, thanks to the surprisingly quiet operation of the MSI AIO’s liquid cooler, which maintains an acceptable temperature level.
It should be noted that the unusual MSI Aegis Ti5 chassis actually hides a micro-ATX case and contains the MSI mATX z490 motherboard. Opening the side panels is straightforward given the intricate design of the case, allowing you to replace and update any internal components as needed. Two of the four available slots are occupied by an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card, which gives you three DisplayPorts and an additional HDMI, so we had no problem connecting the Aegis to three monitors.
A disappointment was the number of USB ports available – it’s quite possible that seven will be enough for most, but we had to plug in a separately powered USB hub to connect all of our peripherals and charging. However, the provided two USB-C ports are a welcome addition, which will be useful for those who use modern peripherals or chargers.
MSI AEGIS TI5 OVERVIEW: SUMMING UP
BUY IF …
You are bored with the ordinary “game” aesthetics . Its unique design will not suit everyone. However, if you want a cool computer without modifying the case yourself, you won’t find anything more interesting than this PC.
You need a high performance gaming system . The MSI Aegis Ti5 in our review is packed with the most powerful hardware components available on the market. If this is what you are looking for, and you do not want to build a computer yourself, here is your solution.
Money is not a problem . This is one of the most expensive PC builds on the market right now, but if you want a computer that can play any game in the next few years then this is a great choice.
DO NOT BUY IF …
You don’t want to spend a lot of money . This is an expensive PC, so if you don’t want to spend a lot on a new gaming PC, you should look elsewhere. However, the MSI Aegis Ti5 offers exactly what you pay for.
You need a regular PC . It literally looks like a transformer head. If you need something simpler, a computer that won’t turn heads should be looked elsewhere.
Conclusion
The MSI Aegis Ti5 is one of the quirkiest computers available on the market, but its features are as stunning as its design. However, the high price tag means this unique gaming system is not available to everyone.
