CLX CLX SET Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5 8400F 4.2GHz Review
The CLX SET packs an RTX 5060 Ti into a mini tower for strong 1440p gaming, but its mid-range CPU and questionable reliability give us pause.
The 30-Second Version
The CLX SET Gaming Desktop is a compact mini tower that delivers excellent 1440p gaming performance thanks to its NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti GPU. It comes well-equipped with 32GB RAM and a 2TB SSD, but its mid-tier AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and concerning reliability score are drawbacks to consider before buying.
Overview
If you're hunting for a compact gaming desktop that doesn't take up half your desk, the CLX SET with an AMD Ryzen 5 8400F and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is a solid contender. It's a mini tower, which is a nice middle ground between a full-sized behemoth and a tiny console-like box. For around $1,700, you're getting a 6-core CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB NVMe SSD, which is a pretty balanced setup for 1080p and 1440p gaming. People searching for a 'small form factor gaming PC' or a 'prebuilt with RTX 5060 Ti' will find this CLX model checks a lot of boxes right off the bat.
Performance
The star of the show here is the RTX 5060 Ti. In our database, its performance lands in the 75th percentile for gaming desktops, which means it's comfortably above average. You can expect smooth 60+ fps at 1440p with high settings in most modern titles, and it'll crush 1080p. The AMD Ryzen 5 8400F is a capable 6-core chip, but its 49th percentile ranking tells the story: it's a mid-range workhorse, not a speed demon. It's perfectly fine for gaming, but don't expect it to blaze through heavy multi-threaded workloads. The 2TB NVMe SSD is a great perk, scoring in the 79th percentile for storage, so load times will be snappy.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- RTX 5060 Ti delivers excellent 1440p gaming performance. 83th
- 2TB NVMe SSD provides tons of fast storage out of the box. 82th
- 32GB of DDR5 RAM is more than enough for gaming and multitasking. 79th
- Compact mini tower form factor saves desk space. 74th
- Includes WiFi 6 for solid wireless connectivity.
Cons
- CPU is mid-tier and may bottleneck the GPU in some CPU-heavy games. 19th
- Reliability score is low (20th percentile), which is a concern for long-term use.
- At 51 pounds, it's surprisingly heavy for a 'mini' tower.
- Cooling system for the CPU isn't specified, raising questions about noise and thermals.
- Component brands may vary, so build quality isn't consistent.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 8400F |
| Cores | 6 |
| Frequency | 4.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 16 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | 5060 Ti |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 16 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 2 TB |
Build
| Form Factor | Mini |
| PSU | 600 |
Connectivity
| HDMI | 1 HDMI, 3 Display Ports |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Ethernet | 802.11ax Wireless LAN |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At $1,683, the CLX SET sits in a competitive spot. You're paying a premium for the compact form factor and the RTX 5060 Ti, which is a new and capable GPU. You could potentially build a similar-performing full-sized tower for a bit less, but you'd lose the convenience of a prebuilt system and the smaller footprint. It's a fair price if the size is a priority for you.
vs Competition
This CLX goes head-to-head with some big names. The HP Omen 45L often has better cooling and a more polished design, but you'll pay more for it. The Dell Alienware Aurora R16 is another compact favorite, usually with stronger after-sales support but also a higher price tag. If you don't care about size, something like the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i might offer better CPU performance for similar money. The CLX's main draw is packing the RTX 5060 Ti into a smaller box at this price point, but you trade away some peace of mind on reliability compared to those established brands.
| Spec | CLX CLX SET Gaming Desktop - AMD Ryzen 5 8400F 4.2GHz | HP OMEN HP OMEN 45L Gaming Desktop, Intel Core Ultra 7 | MSI MSI - EdgeXpert Mini Desktop - Arm 20 core - 128GB | Dell Dell Tower Plus Desktop Computer | Lenovo T Series Towers Legion Tower 5a Gen 10 (30L AMD) 90YJ001LUS | Apple Mac Studio Apple - Mac Studio - M3 Ultra - 1TB SSD - Silver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 8400F | Intel Core Ultra 7 265K | ARM | Intel Core Ultra 7 265 | AMD Ryzen 7 7700X | Apple M3 Ultra |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 32 | 128 | 32 | 32 | 96 |
| Storage (GB) | 2048 | 2048 | 4096 | 1024 | 2048 | 1000 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core |
| Form Factor | Mini | Desktop | Mini | Tower | Tower | - |
| Psu W | 600 | 850 | 240 | 750 | 850 | - |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | NVIDIA DGX OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Is the CLX SET good for gaming?
Yes, it's very good for gaming, especially at 1440p resolution. The RTX 5060 Ti GPU is the key component here, delivering smooth high-frame-rate performance in modern titles.
Q: How does the CLX SET compare to an Alienware Aurora?
The Alienware Aurora often has better build quality, cooling, and customer support, but it's usually more expensive. The CLX SET offers a similar compact form factor and the new RTX 5060 Ti at a potentially lower price point, but with less brand reliability.
Q: Can you upgrade the CLX SET gaming PC?
Yes, as a standard mini tower, it should have room for upgrades. It has 4 RAM slots (2 are used) and space for additional storage. Just note that component brands may vary, so compatibility isn't guaranteed.
Q: What are the dimensions of the CLX SET desktop?
It measures 23" H x 15.75" W x 22.25" D and weighs about 51 pounds. It's a compact mini tower, but it's still a substantial piece of hardware.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this CLX if long-term reliability is your top concern—that 20th percentile score is hard to ignore. Also, look elsewhere if you need a PC for heavy CPU tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or streaming, as the Ryzen 5 8400F will hold you back. In those cases, consider a system with a Core i7 or Ryzen 7 from brands like HP Omen or Lenovo Legion that offer better CPU performance and more consistent build quality.
Verdict
Should you buy the CLX SET Gaming Desktop? It's a good fit, but with caveats. If your main goal is getting strong 1440p gaming performance in a compact case, and you're okay with a mid-range CPU, this CLX does the job. The 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM are fantastic starting points. However, the low reliability percentile is a real red flag. We'd feel more comfortable recommending this to someone who values the specific specs and size over long-term brand trust, or to a buyer who plans to upgrade components themselves down the line.