Lenovo LOQ Tower Gaming Desktop Review: A Budget-Friendly Alternative to the Legion
In the ever-evolving world of gaming PCs, choosing the right desktop can be a daunting task, especially with the plethora of options available. Lenovo’s recent entry into the budget gaming market, the LOQ Tower 17IRR9, seeks to provide gamers with a cost-effective alternative to its more powerful sibling, the Legion Tower 5i. While it borrows many design elements and features from the Legion series, the LOQ Tower comes at a lower price point, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious gamers. However, this affordability comes with certain trade-offs that we will explore in detail.
Design and Build Quality
At first glance, the Lenovo LOQ Tower resembles the Legion Tower 5i, sporting a sleek, modern design that is both appealing and functional. The chassis features a minimalist aesthetic with RGB lighting accents, which can be customized to enhance your gaming setup. The build quality feels solid, albeit slightly less premium than its Legion counterpart, which incorporates more robust materials.
The internal layout is designed for efficient airflow, an essential feature for gaming desktops that often run hot under load. However, the LOQ Tower sacrifices some expandability options found in the Legion series, which may limit future upgrades. For instance, while both models support various GPU configurations, the LOQ Tower's PSU and cooling solutions may not accommodate the highest-end components without additional modifications.
Performance Overview
Equipped with mid-range components, the Lenovo LOQ Tower offers a commendable gaming experience for its price. It typically comes with options for Intel’s latest CPUs and NVIDIA’s RTX graphics cards, providing enough power for most modern games at 1080p and even 1440p resolutions.
In practice, the LOQ Tower handles popular titles like "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II" and "Apex Legends" with respectable frame rates, making it suitable for casual gamers and those who prefer competitive gaming. However, gamers looking for ultra settings or 4K gameplay might find the LOQ Tower lacking compared to more expensive builds. The thermal performance during extended gaming sessions is generally good, but the cooling fans can become noticeably louder under heavy loads, which is something to consider if you prefer a quieter environment.
Underlying Technology and Features
Delving deeper into the technology that powers the Lenovo LOQ Tower, we find a balance of performance and cost-saving measures. The LOQ Tower utilizes a combination of Intel’s Alder Lake architecture and NVIDIA’s Ampere GPU technology, which together deliver solid performance for gaming and multitasking. The motherboard supports DDR4 RAM, which, while not the latest standard, still provides adequate performance for the intended use cases.
One notable feature is the inclusion of Lenovo’s Vantage software, which allows users to optimize system performance, monitor temperatures, and customize RGB lighting. This software enhances user experience, making it easier to tweak settings without diving into the BIOS.
However, Lenovo has made some compromises in terms of storage options. The LOQ Tower typically comes with a smaller SSD compared to the Legion Tower 5i, which might necessitate additional storage solutions for users with extensive game libraries.
Conclusion
The Lenovo LOQ Tower 17IRR9 stands out as a budget-friendly alternative to the Legion Tower 5i, offering solid performance for casual gamers without breaking the bank. While it borrows many elements from its more expensive counterpart, potential buyers should be aware of the sacrifices made in terms of build quality, expandability, and some performance aspects.
For gamers seeking an affordable entry point into the gaming desktop market, the LOQ Tower is a compelling option, provided they are mindful of its limitations. Whether you are a casual gamer or someone looking to dip your toes into PC gaming, the Lenovo LOQ Tower offers a balanced blend of performance, aesthetics, and value.
