Readers and writers alike love PC gaming. But in 2023, when it comes time to open our wallets and buy a gaming PC with the highest specs, we want to cry. I love seeing unique systems like the MSI MEG Trident X2 13th gaming PC. I also like to see companies push out a combination of form, function, and performance. I wouldn't expect to be charged extra for a pre-assembled PC that doesn't require a lot of work, but I didn't expect this.

The Trident X2 is a flagship-class gaming PC by any measure, and with a Core i9 13900KF, RTX 4090 (open in new tab), and 64GB of DDR5 memory, you have to think so. And it looks like a serious PC. Personally, I'm a bit on the fence about its appearance. It appears to be an older generation Trident chassis with a black box glued to the sides.

However, there is a certain subtlety to it. There are no tempered glass side panels, and aside from the front-mounted touchscreen and RGB strips, its appearance is fairly unassuming. I do, however, prefer this case to the latest ones that look like they could have come straight out of a Transformers movie.

Now let's talk price. It is ridiculous to say the least. Vendors in the US are selling the Trident X2 with these specs for $5,999. Ouch. A similar Alienware system configured would cost $5,379, and that doesn't take into account Dell's frequent discounts. Any system that makes Alienware seem cheap is definitely too expensive. As of this writing, the Trident X2 is on sale at Newegg for $4,801 (opens in new tab), a 19% discount. While this is more attractive, the price is still too high compared to too many competing systems.

In Australia, the system is even more exorbitantly priced; popular dealers such as JB HiFi and Harvey Norman sell it for A$12,499 (opens in new tab). No thanks. I recently reviewed the Mwave Respawn system (opens in new tab). It had similar specs and was relatively inexpensive at AU$7,699. Similar systems are widely available for less than AU$8,000.

The MEG Trident X2 13th is not for sale, as the MSI has cool features and an eye-catching design, but is 50% more expensive than many systems that are just as good, if not better in some areas. The console's price is a tenth or less in some areas.

But just because the price is crappy does not mean it is a crappy system. Prices are sure to come down in the coming months. Let's see what's under the hood.

Before we get into the specs, though, I want to talk about a unique feature of the Trident X2. The eye-catching screen on the front of the case is what MSI colorfully names the "Human Machine Interface" (HMI). This is a 4.5-inch touch screen that can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used to display system status and monitoring information.

It can also be used to launch apps, control music libraries, and control many functions of compatible MSI monitors. I would control it via the monitor, but it's still cool. Of course, it is also compatible with MSI's Mystic Light RGB app.

Is HMI a game changer? No, of course not, but enough to be genuinely interesting. Imagine something like this in an Android OS.

Turning to the core components, there is much to like. Intel's Core i9 13900KF is a powerful CPU, cooled by MSI's 280mm AIO cooler; the GeForce RTX 4090's ability to push pixels is the best we've seen to date; and the GeForce RTX 4090's ability to push pixels is the best we've seen to date. This is the MSI Ventus 3x model, which sits below the Gaming and Suprim models in MSI's product range.

MSI has opted to install 64GB of DDR5-4800. An odd choice for a gaming PC, but not so odd if you include one of the RAM-intensive apps in your tasks. Gaming favors speed over high capacity, and 32GB of DDR5-5600 or 6000MHz makes more sense for a gamer-friendly rig.

This spec Trident X2 comes with a 1000W Gold rated PSU, enough power to drive the RTX 4090 and other components. a Samsung 2TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and a Seagate Barracuda 2TB HDD will needs. At this price, an 8TB or larger HDD would be more appropriate.

MSI has naturally included their own Z790 motherboard. My disappointment is the rear I/O: there are only six USB ports, one 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C, three 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and two USB 2.0. Of course, there are front ports, one Gen 2 Type-C and two Gen 1 Type-A, which is almost identical to those found on mid-range B760 boards. [Dual LAN with Intel I226V 2.5G and I219V 1G. Networking is handled by an Intel AX211 WiFi 6E; HDMI 1.4, audio ports, and a PS/2 port round out the I/O.

Most of the TridentX2's components are off-the-shelf from MSI. Aside from the unique case and HMI touch panel, it is no different from gaming PCs available at PC stores and select stores. In that respect, I wish they were upgradeable.

MSI can upgrade the storage on the Trident X2, but nothing else. There are screws on the other side of the case covered with invalid warranty stickers, and even if you choose to ignore them, as I did, access to the internal components is more difficult than with a regular DIY PC because the motherboard is located behind a large CPU radiator. It is not impossible to remove the motherboard, but I would not buy this system if I had the confidence or knowledge to get deep into the PC case in the first place. Also, you don't want to void your warranty.

Even if you were to upgrade only the RAM, there is no option in the BIOS to enable XMP or adjust the speed.

As one would expect from a system with these specs, performance is very good, but there are caveats.

System Performance

The relatively slow DDR5-4800 with 64GB can adversely affect memory speed sensitive apps and games. Until recently, 2x32GB of RAM inevitably ran slower than 2x16GB because of the strain it places on the CPU's memory controller. There is little need for 2x32GB for gaming or general purpose systems, which should have the faster 2x16GB memory. [Of course, some users can take advantage of the extra memory when combined with the power of the RTX 4090, Nvidia's Studio drivers, and software that supports CUDA, but such users probably would not look at such a system focused on gaming

Trident

We expected the Trident X2 to be on the noisy side. While not exactly quiet, it was better than expected and the CPU did not get too hot; MSI has set the 13900KF's power limit to Intel's default specification, which avoids the worst of the unleashed chip's power and heat excesses, but this does mean that the Trident X2's CPU performance is a bit behind that of comparable Mwave systems.

Composite and 1440p gaming performance

4K gaming performance

Gaming is where the Trident X2 shines. cores, and more, it delivers the highest performance for any application.

The Trident X2's gaming performance also falls a bit short of the Mwave system, although the Mwave system has a higher-clocked MSI Suprim X GPU and benefits from a longer CPU boost clock. Still, the Trident X2 is a mega gaming system.

At its core, the MEG Trident X2 13th is a powerful PC: the Ventus RTX 4090 rips through 4K games with ray tracing enabled; the 13900KF is Intel's best CPU (ignore the limited edition 13900KS); 64GB of DDR5 memory on board.

The touch screen is an easy-to-use option. Its unusual design will not be to everyone's taste, but it is a good-looking system. It also has good cooling performance. I wish it were a little easier to upgrade and had more I/O options; more USB ports and faster LAN would be nice. ......

Then reality set in.

I can't get over that ridiculous price, and to be fair to MSI, prices fluctuate; it's still early in the RTX 40 series and 13th generation product cycle. In other words, the Trident X2 has a long shelf life. If MSI were to bring the price down to a more affordable level, my conclusion would be different, but at this price I cannot recommend the Trident X2.

Shop around. You can find something equally good, 1-10 games, a decent monitor, ...... You get the picture.