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
MSI Trident X 9th
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The MSI Trident X 9th gaming PC is available to purchase from Currys.
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