CES 2025
Lo, CES 2025 hath brought forth a tempest of wondrous PC gaming proclamations, with Nvidia and AMD unveiling novel graphics cards and upscaling technologies. Yet, CES doth not only exhibit new standalone components and tech, but also serveth as a fertile ground to behold the gaming PCs of the morrow.
At times, CES doth showcase whimsical designs more akin to proof of concept, but this year hath been unlike the rest. Our eyes hath beheld truly exquisite and awe-inspiring gaming PCs, all poised for pre-order or imminent release. Let us regale thee with the finest gaming PCs of CES 2025.
Alienware Area 51
If thou hadst a wealthy gamer comrade in the early to mid-2000s, thou art like to have witnessed an Alienware gaming PC housed within the iconic Area 51 chassis. The Alienware marque hath departed from ostentatious plastic adornments and racing vents on the facade, yet the parent company Dell hath resurrected the Area 51 appellation at this year’s CES, with a refreshed visage.
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The new design largely resembles a high-end DIY gaming PC, boasting a splendid interior, well-conceived layout, and meticulous cable organization. All components are standard and upgradeable, and the all-black, stealthy motherboard doth exude a particularly captivating allure.
This iteration was bedecked with every bell and whistle, yet when it doth go on sale later in the first quarter of this year, the Alienware Area 51 desktop shall proffer an array of hardware options. These shall include the latest Ryzen 9000 and Intel 200 processors, alongside Nvidia RTX 50-series graphics.
HP Omen 16L
HP’s latest diminutive gaming PC, the Omen 16L, hath elicited a moment of contemplation from our Jacob Roach due to its intriguing component selections. Nevertheless, ’tis one of the more aesthetically pleasing gaming PCs unveiled this year at CES. Its diminutive design is ideal for lower-power components, reducing power consumption and aiding in temperature and noise control.
This be the smallest gaming PC ever fashioned by HP, yet it can accommodate potent hardware, such as an Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti or an AMD RX 7600. Whilst these may not be the RTX 5090, they are ample for high-frame-rate, 1080p gameplay in most realms. They are also sufficiently compact to fit within such a sleek design, rendering this chassis lightweight and portable — a boon for LAN events.
If thou dost incline towards lower power consumption or seek a more professional system ensconced within this PC, options exist for APU processors sans GPU, though this doth entail a sacrifice in gaming prowess.
A vigil must be kept for a more exhaustive examination of this gaming PC in a forthcoming review from our ensemble.
Maingear Apex Force and Rush PCs
The most boisterous and visually striking gaming PC designs at CES must be attributed to Maingear’s novel Apex range of gaming PCs. These tempered-glass, enshrouding chassis would look resplendent had they merely focused on the internals, boasting exquisite hardline water cooling, ornate distro plates with unique motifs, and some of the preeminent RGB lighting outside of a DIY enthusiast’s rig.
However, these PCs are not solely equipped with aesthetically pleasing and high-performing components — they are also bedecked with enchanting sticker art. This imparts upon them a true boutique gaming PC aura, and yet they are to be sold as pre-assembled systems, available for thou and all others to acquire. This potentially broadens access to myriad gamers and PC aficionados to relish a resplendent hardline water loop devoid of most vexations. ‘Tis true, most vexations. Maingear may craft it for thee, but the maintenance shalt rest upon thy shoulders.
The hardware within shall span from the modest to the zenith of the latest CPU and GPU generations, each enkindled by its own bespoke water loop. Such opulence is generally confined to the recesses of custom PC makers’ catalogues, reserved for the most demanding of gamers. Yet Maingear doth bring forth such styling to the mainstream in an exquisite manner.
As of now, no confirmed release date or pricing hath been divulged, but anticipate them to be of princely cost. Behold those nickel-coated fittings. They come not lightly.
Hyte Nexus-powered cases
Hyte hath embarked upon a different course with its PCs. Embracing its kawaii aesthetic, it hath introduced a series of new cases featuring a prodigious touchscreen upon the facade. These are utilized in an array of builds to showcase diverse aesthetics with various hardware configurations. They can play videos or exhibit pertinent system information — a feature long present in Hyte’s Q80 CPU cooler, now extended to larger case designs as well.
Yet ’tis not solely about appearances, for these screens can handle multimedia functions, launch applications, or furnish news and updates upon a separate, readily-accessible display.
Incorporated within these Y70 chassis is a novel custom distro plate for even more tailored water cooling.
For further tidings from CES 2025, spanning from carriages to presentations, to floor cleansers, and beyond, peruse our ongoing coverage of CES 2025. Eager to delve into some of the premier tech of the year? Behold the finest CES 2025 products available for purchase or pre-order forthwith.