can manage a seriously high power ceiling, as our Core
i9 and GeForce RTX 3060 build showed. This is a rare
small-form-factor PC with the performance of a full
desktop. There are no pre-configured builds, only bare
bones, so there is DIY work to be done. But the case’s
modular design makes adding components a breeze.
50
GAMING DESKTOP
LENOVO LEGION TOWER 5I (2021)
$949.00 EDITORS’ CHOICE
As impressive as pricey boutique and DIY desktops can
be, the best gaming desktop of the year is one most
shoppers can actually afford. The 2021 Lenovo Legion
Tower 5i delivers a six-core CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX
1660 Super GPU for under $1,000, making it a perfectly
capable machine for mainstream gamers at a very
attractive price. It even has a see-through side panel,
not a given at the price, as well as some customizable
lighting. This isn’t a high-end powerhouse (how could it
be for $949?), but it’s an attainable, well-put-together
desktop for consistent 1080p gaming.
51
BUSINESS/DESKTOP
WORKSTATION
DELL PRECISION 3240 COMPACT
$3,047
What’s the only thing better than a blistering-fast
workstation? A tiny blistering-fast workstation. The Dell
Precision 3240 Compact we reviewed is a flamethrower
for demanding workloads, packing an Intel Xeon
processor and Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 GPU. There are
lesser configurations, of course, since it starts at just $839,
but it more than proved itself capable as a serious
workhorse. All that power in a small rectangle, with
professional features such as ISV certification and an
array of ports, is hard to turn down.
