MSI Aegis MSI Aegis RS2 Series Gaming Desktop PC Intel Core Review
The MSI Aegis RS2 packs a brutal 64-core CPU and RTX 5070 Ti into a massive tower. It's incredibly fast, but is it the right pre-built for you?
The 30-Second Version
The MSI Aegis RS2 delivers flagship gaming performance with Intel's 285K and an RTX 5070 Ti. It scores a 91.1 for gaming in our tests. Worth buying if you want a top-spec pre-built, but know it's big and has average reliability scores.
Overview
The MSI Aegis RS2 is a no-nonsense gaming tower built around Intel's flagship 285K CPU and NVIDIA's new RTX 5070 Ti. It's a spec sheet dream, landing in the top 15% for CPU and GPU power in our database. This is a machine designed to crush frames at 1440p or 4K without breaking a sweat.
It's not subtle, and it's not small. But if raw performance for gaming and content creation is your goal, this PC puts the hardware on the table right out of the box. You're getting a 64-core CPU, 32GB of fast DDR5, and a 2TB NVMe SSD—components that would cost a pretty penny to source separately.
Performance
This thing is fast. The Intel 285K is a monster, sitting in the 97th percentile for CPU performance. Paired with the RTX 5070 Ti (87th percentile GPU), it chews through modern games and creative workloads. Our data shows it scores a 91.1 for gaming, so you're set for high-refresh 1440p or solid 4K. The 2TB SSD is also blazing quick. The lowlight? Our reliability score for this model sits at the 52nd percentile, which is just average. It's powerful, but long-term durability might be a question mark compared to some rivals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong cpu (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong storage (92th percentile) 92th
- Strong port (91th percentile) 91th
- Strong social proof (90th percentile) 90th
Cons
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 |
| Cores | 64 |
| Frequency | 3.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | 5070 Ti |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 12 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 2 TB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Build
| Form Factor | Tower |
| PSU | 750 |
Connectivity
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI 2.1 / 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a |
| DisplayPort | 1 x HDMI 2.1 / 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Ethernet | 2.5Gbps |
System
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At $2599, you're paying for premium, current-gen components. You could probably build something similar for a bit less, but you'd lose the convenience and warranty of a pre-built. Given the specs—especially that top-tier CPU—the price is competitive. It's not a bargain bin deal, but it's a fair ask for this level of performance in a ready-to-go system.
vs Competition
Stacked against the HP Omen 45L or Alienware Aurora R16, the Aegis RS2 often wins on pure CPU power. The 285K outmuscles the Ultra 7 chips commonly found in those systems. However, brands like Alienware often score higher in our reliability metrics. If you want a slightly more compact (but still powerful) option, the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is worth a look, though you'll likely trade down in GPU or CPU. The MSI MEG Vision X is a more direct, flashier sibling, but you'll pay a premium for its fancy case.
| Spec | MSI Aegis MSI Aegis RS2 Series Gaming Desktop PC Intel Core | 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 | Intel Core Ultra 9 | 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 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 | Apple M3 Ultra 60-core |
| Form Factor | Tower | Desktop | Mini | Tower | Tower | - |
| Psu W | 750 | 850 | 240 | 750 | 850 | - |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | NVIDIA DGX OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | macOS |
Common Questions
Q: Does this PC have an Ethernet port for a wired connection?
Yes, it includes a standard Ethernet port alongside its WiFi 7 capability for the best possible connection.
Q: How fast is the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor?
It's a 64-core chip with a base speed of 3.7GHz that can boost up to 5.7GHz, putting it in the top 3% of CPUs we've tested.
Q: How big and heavy is this desktop?
It's a full-sized tower, measuring about 19.4" H x 9.1" W x 19" D and weighing nearly 27 pounds, so it needs some real estate.
Who Should Skip This
If you need a compact PC for a small space, look elsewhere. Its 'compact' score is a dismal 44.5. Also, if proven long-term reliability is your top concern, brands with higher scores in that area might be a safer bet, even if you sacrifice a bit of peak performance.
Verdict
Buy this if you want a maxed-out gaming and creation rig right now and don't want to build it yourself. It's for the gamer who wants to play everything at ultra settings or the creator who needs a CPU with 64 cores for rendering. Just make sure you have a big, sturdy desk.