NVIDIA CLX Gaming PC - Intel Core i9 14900KF 3.2GHz, Review

A powerhouse CPU trapped in a value-oriented package with some dated parts. It's fast where it counts, but feels cheap where it shouldn't. You can do better for $2300.

The CLX Gaming PC is a specs-on-paper monster that delivers exactly what it promises: raw power for gaming. The one thing you need to know is that this is a no-compromise machine for performance, but it makes some serious compromises everywhere else to hit that $2300 price point. You're getting a top-tier Intel i9 and a solid RTX 4070, but you're also getting a massive, heavy tower with last-gen WiFi and a reliability score that lands in the bottom quarter of our database.

The performance is exactly what you'd expect from an i9-14900KF and an RTX 4070: it's fast. Our benchmarks put its CPU in the 93rd percentile, which means it chews through games and multitasking without breaking a sweat. The GPU lands in the 79th percentile, which is more than enough for 1440p gaming at high settings. What surprised us, though, was the storage setup. They paired a super-fast 1TB NVMe SSD with a massive, slow 4TB HDD. It's a weird combo that feels like a cost-cutting move disguised as a 'best of both worlds' feature.

At $2300, the value proposition is shaky. You're paying for the top-shelf CPU and the peace of mind of a pre-built, but you're accepting last-gen connectivity and a chassis that's more tank than tower. If your only metric is frames-per-dollar for the CPU, it's okay. If you care about the total package, there are better values.

This sits in a crowded field. The HP Omen 45L often packs similar specs with better build quality and support for a similar price. The Dell Alienware Aurora R16 is more compact and stylish, though you might pay a bit more. The real question is against building it yourself: for $2300, you could spec an i7 with a better GPU, WiFi 6E, and an all-SSD setup and come out ahead. CLX is banking on you not wanting to do that.

If you want a sleek, modern PC with the latest features like WiFi 6E or a compact design, this isn't it. Go look at the Dell Alienware Aurora or an MSI pre-built instead. Also, skip this if you're even slightly comfortable building a PC—you'll get a more balanced machine for the cash.

We can only recommend this CLX PC to a very specific buyer: someone who must have an Intel i9 right now, doesn't care about WiFi 6, has space for a giant PC, and absolutely refuses to build their own. For everyone else, the compromises are too glaring. Look at the HP Omen or spend an afternoon with a screwdriver and get more for your money.