The best desktop computers and PC components will be on display at CES 2025
This year is the 58th annual CES, and this version of the Big Show has nearly buried us with new silicon, PCs, and components to test it all on. Nvidia, of course, introduced consumer-grade "Blackwell"-architecture GPUs in the GeForce RTX 50 series, complete with special capabilities that promise to offer it a significant advantage in dozens of current games, not to mention transformational AI jobs. AMD demonstrated a new 3D V-Cache chip, which it says is the finest desktop CPU for gaming to date. Both AMD and Intel released new, lower-end desktop chipsets for their current platforms.
We even observed Qualcomm Snapdragon processors used in a few desktop PCs. Using new processing technology from all of the big players, innumerable part makers and accessory suppliers had new products to show off, and we got hands-on with as much of it as we could, from totally modular PC cases to self-charging keyboards.
The benefit of this being one of the busiest times for PC hardware at CES ever? We had several possibilities for each of our prized prizes, so only the finest made the cut. We had firsthand experience with each of these winning goods, so you can be confident that they are wise, intentional choices. Here are our top desktop and PC components at CES 2025. (Check out our favorite laptops of the show and our 21 top overall selections.)
MSI MEG Vision X AI placed second.
While we initially saw this system's panel technology at Computex 2024, it returns at CES 2025 as a fully working PC. We don't need to tell you how uncommon it is to have a full-length, vertically oriented touch screen on the front of your desktop tower, which serves as both a conversation starter and a convenience. You may utilize the screen as a second monitor, add app shortcuts, display hardware information, or otherwise personalize it to your satisfaction.
Since this is a real desktop, there's more going on than just the screen: It is powered by Intel's "Arrow Lake" 200S desktop CPUs, liquid-cooled, and all wires and connectors are neatly buried beneath the motherboard for super-clean internals (in keeping with MSI's Project Zero concept). The fully equipped version will cost more than $4,000, but we appreciate the ambition on exhibit.
Best Productivity Desktop PC
HP OmniDesk
There are plenty of powerful workstations at CES 2025, but we chose HP's OmniDesk for its more modest goals. This tower is both small and elegant, due to a faux-wood front panel, which is particularly intriguing given its starting price of $529.99. There's substance, too.
It is compatible with Intel's Core Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 200 Series AI processors, as well as non-AI PC 13th and 14th Gen Core or AMD Ryzen 8000-series G-class CPUs. To top it all off, if you require a less powerful and even smaller desktop, HP offers the extra-compact HP OmniDesk Slim, beginning at $479.99. —MB
Best Content Creator or Power User PC
Origin: Arachnid
Arachnophobic? Not us, at least when it comes to this unavoidable desktop. Origin PC, a Corsair company, unveiled the most impressive PC of the exhibition, the enormous Arachnid. This PC might have easily won our Best Gaming Desktop PC award, but it offers many more customization options than MSI's winning product. And it starts at $7,000, making it solely for the most powerful content creators or the affluent players. Indeed, Origin only creates these models to your exact setup specifications. And it comes in quite a case.
This really one-of-a-kind chassis is divided into left and right zones for the CPU and GPU, keeping their heat and liquid cooling loops distinct. All of the cabling goes through the middle of the Arachnid's "legs," resulting in a very clean, polished appearance.
The best artificial intelligence laptops at CES 2025
Best Mini PCs
ASRock DeskMini B860
Best Graphics Card.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Family
The forthcoming Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series of graphics cards appears to be remarkable on several fronts. However, everyone watching Nvidia's speech was taken aback when the firm announced that its $549 GeForce RTX 5070 could compete with its $1,599 GeForce RTX 4090 in gaming performance.
There's little question that the RTX 5070's performance is mostly due to the strong AI hardware integrated into it, and we doubt we'll see the same level of performance in games that don't support the company's DLSS 4 technology. Nonetheless, even if it just appears in a few games, this is an undeniably brilliant work of engineering that can only benefit players.
Best processor.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950 X3D
AMD's forthcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D is expected to be the company's most powerful consumer CPU. It not only has 16 high-performance Zen 5 CPU cores, similar to the company's current top processor, the Ryzen 9 9950X, but it also has AMD's 3D V-Cache. This provides the CPU with a 64MB pool of SRAM that works as extra L3 cache. This is useful in a variety of circumstances to boost CPU speed, but it is especially advantageous in gaming. These characteristics should place it among the finest CPUs for gaming and content development. —MJAS
Best Motherboard.
ASUS ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi
Motherboards are all about usefulness per square inch, and the greatest ones fit as many capabilities as possible into the limited area available. This is why the Asus ROG Strix B850-I Gaming WiFi stands out.
It's an AMD AM5 Mini-ITX board with a tiny additional PCB that sits on top of the main motherboard, providing one extra M.2 slot for ultra-fast SSDs than you'd typically see on a board of this size. It also includes Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, a multitude of high-speed USB ports, and the high-end Realtek ALC4080 audio codec. Not to mention that it's built on the brand-new AMD B850 chipset (also introduced at CES) and has a powerful power supply, making it ideal for overclocking your AMD Zen 5 CPU even in a restricted Mini-ITX PC chassis.
Best Storage Product (Internal Component)
Crucial P510
Laptops with PCI Express (PCIe) 5.0 M.2 slots were unusual... until today. More than a few were introduced at CES, and we expect these ultra-high-speed storage slots to gain traction in the market during the next year.
That's why we're highlighting the Crucial P510, the world's first PCIe 5.0 internal SSD designed just for laptops. The P510 reduces the enormous heat created by its high-performance Gen 5 rivals by making careful use of power conservation and remaining below the highest potential throughput speeds of PCIe 5.0.
This allows it to be used in the latest generation of laptops with PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots, as well as desktop PCs that support the standard. The SSD is available in 1TB and 2TB sizes, with an inbuilt heat spreader and the possibility of an additional heatsink. The P510's architecture similarly has a single side covered with NAND modules, making installation straightforward.
Best Storage Product (external drive)
ADATA SE940
This one was an obvious choice. ADATA claims that the SE940 is the world's smallest USB4 external SSD, which alone establishes its credentials. Given our previous positive experiences with the SE series as superb value-for-money, semi-rugged external SSDs, we were drawn to the SE940 right away.
This little drive, based on an SMI controller, boasts read/write rates of up to 4,000 Mbps and is housed in a beautiful gold-metal shell with a lanyard loop to prevent it from being misplaced. Perhaps most intriguing of all? It is expected to be available in capacities of up to 8TB. This USB-C-equipped drive resembles ADATA's golden child, and with good reason.
Best PC Case.
Corsair Frame 4000D Modular case.
The Corsair Frame 4000D is a development of the company's famous 4000D chassis, with various configurable options to enable you to make the case your own. The case ships with an eye-catching punched-and-bent aluminum front plate that increases ventilation. However, this front should eventually be swappable with one of many other front panels in wood, glass, and metal finishes to suit your preferences. (Corsair demonstrated a variety of prototype ideas at CES.)
The motherboard mounting tray is also interchangeable, and the chassis can accommodate case fans ranging from normal 120mm to big 200mm. Those elements of the chassis are unique enough, but Corsair also provides an optional side-panel display attachment called the Xeneon Edge ($249.99). It enhances the case's outside with a touch display capable of playing creative animations, displaying hardware information, and much more.
Best PC Power Product
Thermaltake SFX 1200 Watt
We really don't need to say anything about this award winner other than the product name—1,200-watt SFX! (If you know, then you know.) Thermaltake was already among the few businesses pushing the boundaries of the SFX compact power supply industry with its last attempt, an SFX-L (extended length) supply.
This SFX 1200W variant increases peak wattage while reducing the form factor to a straight-up, shorter SFX. This is all the power supply we can imagine anybody would need in any compact form factor PC that requires SFX, even with a high-end CPU and one of the upcoming GeForce RTX 5090 cards. Pricing and availability need to be determined; nonetheless, this will be a popular item.
Best PC Cooling Products
Thermaltake TS120, TS140 EX RGB
These lock-together, cable-reducing PC case fans offer one thermal advantage that distinguishes them from the legions of cooling-fan manufacturers that have now embraced various types of edge connections. Thermaltake's newest models include embedded temperature sensors, allowing you to get a live temperature probe at each fan position.
Previously, this involved running and routing a large number of fine wires, as well as attaching individual probes. You can now monitor temperatures at the top and bottom of the case, as well as the front and rear, using the sensors included with these fans.
This allows you to experiment with your fan curves based on more specific data than simply overall case temperature, adjusting for the least noise or the greatest performance. These fans are available in black or white and will cost $89.99 (120mm) or $94.99 (140mm) for a three-pack when they ship later in the first quarter.