Is there a better alternative?

If you’re in the market for a gaming system, there are better alternatives at $2,999. Mainstream gaming towers, like HP’s Omen Obelisk and Dell’s Alienware Aurora R8, come with similar 9th-gen Intel Core i9 processors coupled with newer RTX 2080 graphics. These PCs also cost less than the ProArt’s entry price. However, if you need a powerful workstation in a compact package, there are relatively few alternatives.

　　The Corsair One Pro i180 is perhaps the closest competitor to the ProArt. As a more premium alternative, the Corsair ranges up to a more powerful Intel Core X extreme processor and upgraded RTX 2080 Ti graphics, making it a more well-rounded and versatile system for both work and play. However, at a cost of $4,999, it comes with a significantly heftier price.

　　Another good option is the tiny Mac Mini. Though it lacks discrete graphics, we found its performance to be admirable, especially given its size.

　　

How long will it last?

The ProArt PA90 has plenty of power, but its reliance on an older graphics architecture means you might hit that bottleneck in the future. Given its more limited internal upgrade potential, the ProArt feels and acts more like a laptop. Thankfully, if you need more graphics performance, Thunderbolt 3 support gives this PC a lot of flexibility. Adding an eGPU may be an easy way to upgrade the ProArt’s performance, but desktop real estate occupied by the external graphics enclosure negates the space-saving benefits of this PC’s compact form factor.

　　

Should you buy it?

Yes, as long as you have the need for unique PC like the ProArt. Few workstations are as stylish and as powerful, and though it’s not for tinkerers, creatives will quite happy with the simplicity and the performance.