Is there a better alternative?

Though you’ll be able to configure other build-to-order PCs with similar specifications as our dual-GPU Aventum X review unit, none can match the power and capabilities of Digital Storm’s flagship with its support for HPC processors. Our $9,503 review unit is, for example, $1,845 more expensive than a similarly configured Falcon NW Mach V with an Exotix paintwork finish. You just won’t find see-through glass panels on the Mach V, leaving Falcon Northwest’s design to hide, rather than showcase, the insides.

　　If you don’t need a dual-GPU setup, HP’s Omen Obelisk comes with a large, single-glass side panel and can be configured with up to a single RTX 2080 GPU starting at $1,999. Given that most games won’t be able to unlock the potential of an NVLink-bridged multi-GPU setup just yet, going with a single-GPU setup may negate the need for more complex liquid cooling designs and save you significant money in the process.

　　Asus’ ROG Strix GL12CX, which comes with a slightly weaker 9th-Generation Intel Core i7-9700K processor and a single RTX 2080 GPU, is priced at $3,299, but comes bundled with a mechanical keyboard and mouse. Asus’ pricing is more comparable to the base Aventum X. At a similar price, the entry-level Aventum X comes with weaker specifications that include a single GeForce GTX 1050 GPU, making it pricier and bulkier compared to the Strix. When compared to our upgraded review unit, the Strix is a third of the price, while delivering similar performance under most situations.

　　With support for four liquid-cooled GPUs and two all-glass side panels, Origin PC’s Genesis is the Aventum X’s closest competitor. When configured similarly to our Aventum X unit, the Genesis costs $8,203, which is $1,300 less than what Digital Storm charges. The Genesis comes with a more generous lifetime labor warranty, but falls short in terms of pure performance. It has just five storage bays instead of the Aventum X’s eight and doesn’t ship with factory overclocking options or HPC support.

　　

How long will it last?

For serious gamers who want to hang on to their investments for the long haul, the Aventum X comes with the potential and performance that will last you for years of gaming. It’s equipped with the latest processor from Intel and comes with two of Nvidia’s most powerful consumer graphics cards. As more games unlock the potential of Nvidia’s RTX series cards, like ray tracing and more advanced AI-based rendering, the Aventum X will begin to show its value as a future-proof system that you can buy today for tomorrow’s games. And when newer components arrive, the Aventum X comes with plenty of room for upgrades.

　　

Should you buy it?

The Aventum X is an insanely powerful PC that won’t slow down no matter what you throw at it. But by crafting the most powerful PC, Digital Storm has priced the Aventum X out of the reach of most gamers. If you do have the cash, for all of its excesses and decadence, the Aventum X is an unrivaled performance in an attractive design that will not leave you wanting for more. Until developers build in NVLink and ray tracing support, the Aventum X remains a beautifully expensive proof of concept that showcases the potential for the future of gaming.