MSI MEG Trident X Review
The MSI MEG Trident X is a gorgeous system with powerful hardware
The MSI MEG Trident X looks great, doesn't take up much space, and runs demanding games at top settings. It's not cheap, however.
FOR
- Powerful performance
- Quiet cooling
- Smart, compact design
- Easy to take apart
AGAINST
- Expensive
- Subpar peripherals
MSI MEG TRIDENT X: SPECS
- Processor: Up to Intel Core i9-10900K, 3.7-5.3 GHz
- RAM: Up to 64 GB
- Graphics Card: Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
- Storage: Up to 1 TB SSD + 1 TB HDD
- Accessories: MSI Clutch GM11 Mouse, MSI Vigor GK30 Keyboard
The MSI MEG Trident X is the perfect example of "you get what you pay for" in the gaming PC world. From a design and performance standpoint, it's hard to ask for more than the Trident X has to offer: an attractive, compact chassis with powerful enough hardware to run the latest and greatest titles in gorgeous 4K resolution. The only real caveat is that you'll have to pay for the privilege: between $2,300 and $3,300, to be exact.
Still, if you're looking to spend upwards of $2,000 or $3,000 on a gaming machine, the Trident X makes a strong case for itself. The games play beautifully and everyday productivity tasks pose no challenge. On top of that, the machine runs quietly and simplifies upgrades.
MSI MEG Trident X at Amazon for $2,449
The mouse and keyboard included with the Trident X are quite lackluster, and MSI's proprietary software doesn't add much to the overall experience. But as long as you can nail down the asking price, the Trident X is one of the best gaming PCs—in fact, one of the best computers period—you can buy, as well as one of the prettiest.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Price and availability
The MSI MEG Trident X starts at $2,300 for a model with an Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB HDD. A mid-range model has an Intel Core i7 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU, 32 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD, and costs $2,800. The highest-end model, which we reviewed, includes an Intel Core i9 processor, an Nvidia Geforce RTX 2080 Ti GPU, 64 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and a 1 TB HDD, and retails for $3,200.
You can pre-order the computer from Amazon, Adorama, or B&H, and orders should begin shipping in late August.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Design
Generally speaking, gaming PCs are built for function, not form. "Big black box with some blue highlights" is usually the best you can hope for. The MSI MEG Trident X, on the other hand, is an attractive, gorgeous machine, full of tasteful angles and colorful lighting. Beyond that, the Trident X is a tiny machine at 15.6 x 15.1 x 5.1 inches and 14.4 pounds.
The Trident X is essentially a rectangular box, though it has some unexpected angles at the front, top, and sides, making it look like a modern art piece. On the front, there are two triangular LEDs.
There is a vent on the left that shows the RGB fan. On the right, there's a swappable panel, depending on whether you prefer opaque plastic or clear glass. (The glass is heavy and breakable. Don't drop it.)
It's almost a shame that I had to install the Trident X on my floor because it's a very beautiful machine.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Ports and upgradability
The MSI MEG Trident X has a lot of ports. On the front, you get a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, and two 3.5mm audio jacks: one for the mic, one for the audio. On the back, you get five USB-A ports, a Thunderbolt USB-C port, five audio ports, an optical audio port, three DisplayPorts, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet port.
While I wish there were fewer ports in the front and back, the total number is generous and accounts for the all-important ones. My only major complaint was that if you plug a USB-C dongle in the front, it will block access to one of the USB-A ports, which could be inconvenient depending on your setup.
To upgrade the machine, all you have to do is disconnect a few screws and remove a side panel. Inside, it's clean and spacious, though you'll need a small screwdriver to remove many of the components. Also, once you start installing your own components, have good luck getting wires as MSI.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Gaming performance
Since our MSI MEG Trident X is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, I wasn't surprised that the system could run demanding games at a steady clip. However, it surprised me that the system can do this very quietly. Although MSI rigged up the cooling system, the Trident X is nearly silent for productivity purposes and remains quiet enough for all but the most demanding games.
In terms of performance, Trident X works beautifully. I tested the system with a 1080p monitor, where it smoothly hovered between 100 and 144 frames per second for every game I played, even as graphics went as high as they went. Whether I was killing enemies in Doom Eternal, building armies in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, building decks in Thronebreaker: The Witcher's Tales, or completing quests in World of Warcraft, performance was smooth and graphics Were gorgeous across the board.
Our benchmarks supported my qualitative experience. On a 1080p monitor with graphics settings turned all the way up, Trident X clocked Assassin's Creed Odyssey at 85 fps, Borderlands 3 at 110 fps, Grand Theft Auto V at 134 fps, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 120 fps. Driven on
We haven't yet reviewed a machine that's directly comparable to the Trident X, but there's a comparison and contrast with last year's Alienware Aurora R10 (which also includes an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU), which made Far Cry. Scored 88 fps for New Dawn and 80 fps for Red Dead Redemption 2, compared to Trident X's 109 fps and 85 fps, respectively. A year's worth of hardware improvements can make a difference.
Of course, running games at 1080p is only part of the equation. With similarly demanding graphical settings in 4K, Assassin's Creed Odyssey scored 52 frames per second, Borderlands 3 scored 43 frames per second, Grand Theft Auto V 45 frames per second, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider 44 frames per second. Seconds earned. Neither of these numbers meets the 4K/60 fps gold standard, but this metric should be achievable if you're willing to make some compromises in textures, stretching distances, and similar settings.
Compared to the Aurora R10, the Trident X enjoyed mixed success in the 4K category. The Aurora R10 achieved 71 fps on Far Cry: New Dawn and 41 fps on Red Dead Redemption 2, while the Trident X clocked 77 fps and 30 fps, respectively.
From both a qualitative and benchmarking standpoint, the Trident X is a powerful machine that runs demanding games smoothly even at high settings. It's obviously not the most powerful thing on the market, but it's good enough to handle any game you can throw at it.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Overall performance
Like most gaming devices, the MSI MEG Trident X doesn't impress with everyday productivity, internet browsing, and media streaming activities. Even with three tab-filled instances of Microsoft Word, Slack, MSI Dragon Center, Spotify, and Chrome running simultaneously, along with dozens of background processes, I'm basically letting the system exceed 10% of its value. Couldn't get the system to use CPU and 15%. It's RAM unless I was playing a video game. Movies and TV shows streamed beautifully; The music was played without any interruption. I used the Trident X as my primary work system for two weeks, and I never missed a beat on an important assignment or high-resolution Livestream.
In terms of metrics, the Trident X was able to copy 5GB files from a thumb drive at a rate of 1,275 Mbps in 4.0 seconds. The Aurora R10 took 5.4 seconds or 920 Mbps. Transfer speed isn't the end of all productivity tasks, but it's a good metric for how well the system performs overall, and 5GB in 4 seconds is pretty fast.
Similarly, the Aurora R10 outperformed the Trident X in some synthetic benchmarks, such as the Geekbench 4.3 test (40,378 for Trident X, 52,626 for Aurora R10). On the new Geekbench 5.2 test, Trident X earned 10,490, but we don't have a system to compare it to yet.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Software
MSI MEG Trident X comes with a fairly clean installation of Windows 10, with just a few additional MSI programs and Norton Security Suite. For controlling Trident X's lighting and monitoring its performance, the MSI Dragon Center is a good enough program. You can also use Dragon Center to switch between profiles optimized for certain tasks, such as "Extreme Performance," "Silent" or "Creator Mode." That's fine, although you can disable the program completely and not miss much.
But it's Norton that earns me the most. Norton is an incredibly invasive program that puts a layer of security between you and every single page or file you want to view online, which makes it as easy as downloading a file that you've found yourself in a mess of information. uploaded in. If you find the software unpleasant, you may not even turn it off; You have to uninstall it completely. It's an incredible pain to use, especially since you don't even get the full version of the program, just a free trial that tells you to sign up over and over again. Get rid of it and use the built-in Windows Defender, which has gotten a lot better in recent years.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Peripherals
No matter which version of the MSI MEG Trident X you buy, it will come with an MSI Clutch GM11 mouse and MSI Vigor GK30 keyboard. Without going into detail on either one, the mouse is fine; There is no keyboard.
The Clutch GM11 is technically a gaming mouse, though it's stripped of the features that often make gaming mice great. It consists of two thumb buttons, a button that adjusts dots-per-inch (DPI) sensitivity, and RGB lighting in the MSI logo on the palm rest, as well as in an LED strip under the mouse. You can use the Dragon Center software to reprogram its buttons. but that's about it. There's no textured grip, tunable weight, swappable panels, wireless capabilities, or software profiles. Best of all, it gets the job done; At least, it's a placeholder until you can invest in a fancier more.
The Vigor GK30, on the other hand, is one of the more obnoxious gaming keyboards I've used lately. It clearly wants to be a premium mechanical gaming keyboard but takes every shortcut along the way. The no-name, linear key switches pull off the neat trick of being extremely soulful and extremely loud. My partner actually complained that the keyboard kept him awake all over the apartment and behind a locked door, which is new.
Instead of per-key lighting, you get a handful of distinct areas with dull LEDs. Like the GM11, you can't program your own profiles; Unlike the GM11, you can't manipulate the GK30 via software at all, which means you'll have to rely on cumbersome, limited keyboard shortcuts to change colors and brightness instead. There are no discrete media controls and no wrist rest.
If you are planning to invest in the Trident X, you can do so with the GM11 mouse. But set aside another $150 or so for one of the best gaming keyboards out there. You'll be glad you did.
MSI MEG Trident X review: Verdict
Between its stunning appearance and strong performance, this machine earns a solid recommendation in our MSI MEG Trident X review. While the Trident X probably isn't the last word in 4K gaming systems, it also isn't nearly as expensive as high-end gaming systems get.
On the other hand, it's not cheap either, and $3,200 is still a lot of money to drop on a PC. Alienware offers a wider range of Aurora R11 price options and an equally attractive (albeit very different) chassis. Rest assured that if you get the Trident X, you will be able to play your favorite games at extremely high settings, and you will be able to do so for years to come.
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