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The MSI Vortex G25 offers an impressive amount of power inside a tiny, well-built chassis.
The GTX 1070 graphics chip will run games at any resolution below 4K, and it’s also got enough power to output to VR headsets. The Core i7-8700 processor delivers a healthy improvement over the last generation of chips – you won’t have any issues with gaming or day-to-day computing.
The case really is disarmingly small, too. It’s far more compact than other small-form-factor rigs we’ve seen recently, and the tiny frame is paired with an impressive amount of versatility. This may be a desktop system, but it’s extremely portable.
A closer look at this machine does reveal weaknesses, though. The GTX 1070 is fast, but its rivals either match its pace or streak ahead. And, while the Core i7 chip is a big leap over last year’s parts, K-branded chips, overclocked parts and AMD’s eight-core Ryzen chips are plentiful and offer more power in certain tasks – especially multi-threaded applications and scenarios.
The memory is a little slow, too, while the storage is underwhelming as well. The lack of a proper desktop motherboard also means this machine lacks features, even when compared to mini-ITX rigs.
The price, too, is a weakness. The MSI costs £1,885, which is a couple of hundred pounds more than the MSI Trident 3 machine – and even further ahead of the ATX-based PC Specialist and Overclockers machine. It’s also more expensive than any ATX or mini-ITX machine that you’d build at home.
Of course, you are paying for the MSI’s tiny build, but it’s a little galling when all sorts of desktops are much cheaper – and you can also get a proper gaming laptop for less cash than this, too.
If you really do need a tiny desktop for LAN parties or to hide around the back of a monitor, the Vortex G25 is a viable option. But, for most situations, the G25 is too expensive to recommend over more conventional machines.
The model we’ve reviewed here is available from CCL Online for £1,885.
Pros
- Rock-solid 1080p and 1440p gaming performance.
- Beefy enough to handle VR headsets.
- Consistent speed from the six-core CPU.
- Tiny, versatile design.
Cons
- Inconsistent thermal performance.
- Rival machines offer improved frame rates.
- Expensive compared to almost everything else.
KitGuru says: The MSI Vortex G25 offers good performance in a well-designed and tiny package, but some of the extra components are a little disappointing – and the price is high. For less money you could get more conventional systems with better components, so the G25 is only worth a look if you really desire something that's this small.
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