Conclusion
...a genuine contender for anyone wanting to downsize their PC, but MSI needs to shave a few hundred off the price tag to warrant consideration.MSI's Trident X 9th comes close to delivering almost everything we would want from a compact gaming PC.
The chassis is a fine choice for those wanting to downsize, integration is tidy throughout, there's scope for upgrades further down the line, and the combination of Core i7-9700K and RTX 2080 guarantees excellent QHD gaming credentials.
Add to the mix a fast M.2 SSD, 32GB of DDR4 memory, an integrated power supply and good connectivity options, and you have a petite PC that packs a much bigger punch than its size suggests.
What's the catch? Well, it's a shame the system can't be placed horizontally, and fan noise might be a deal-breaker for some, but the real stumbling block is the £2,699 price tag. We expect to pay a premium for a compact gaming rig, and MSI will be quick to point out that the equivalent Corsair One fetches £2,850, but even so, we come away feeling as though Trident X 9th is a good PC priced out of reach.
Bottom line: Trident X 9th ought to be a genuine contender for anyone wanting to downsize their PC, but MSI needs to shave a few hundred off the price tag to warrant consideration.
The Good The Bad Smaller than your typical desktop
Excellent QHD gaming credentials
i7-9700K and RTX 2080 are a fine match
Fast M.2 SSD and loads of DDR4 memory
Tidy build with provisions for easy upgrades
Good connectivity options Very expensive
Can't be placed horizontally
Noisy when gaming
HEXUS.where2buy*
The MSI Trident X 9th gaming PC is available to purchase from Currys.
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