Intel Alder Lake is right here and set to rework the PC gaming panorama. System builders are eager to indicate off what they’ll do with Intel’s new gaming powerhouse too, significantly when paired with Nvidia’s high-end graphics playing cards. We have already checked out new techniques from Corsair and HP utilizing the identical Core i9 12900K you will discover inside this machine, however Velocity Micro has taken a special method to these two techniques, transport this Raptor Z55 pre-baked with a 5.1GHz all-core overclock (that is the P-cores, the E-cores are clocked at 4GHz). That is a powerful feat, as you will see shortly.
It is not low-cost although. The ticket value for this machine? A cool $4,999.
That is corresponding to the $4,700 HP Omen 45L and $4,999 Corsair One i300. These are high-end techniques, make no mistake, and system builders are nonetheless determining the easiest way to indicate off what Intel’s Alder Lake is able to whereas nonetheless being profitable. You may configure these builds to your finances and desires, so do not be too delay by that price ticket—consider it as a flagship demo of the builder’s abilities.
The opposite factor to keep in mind is the continuing silicon disaster, making it difficult to assign an affordable price to any system utilizing a high-end graphics card. I imply, simply how a lot ought to the RTX 3080 Ti on this system price? The launch value is a identified entity, however you completely cannot get the EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FTW3 version on this machine for $1,200 proper now. Nowhere close to, in actual fact. It is laborious to keep away from the present graphics card inflation principally. There is a comparable concern with DDR5 RAM proper now as effectively, significantly when it is barely speedier than the norm.
So, neglect the price a second, and as a substitute experience what Velocity Micro has created with this method. It is a machine meant for the long run. It is overclocked out of the field, brilliantly cooled, has a surprisingly understated aesthetic, and spacious sufficient for growth afterward. It is a 4K monster you should buy at present and luxuriate in for years to return, principally.
Velocity Micro Raptor Z55 Specs
CPU: Intel Core i9 12900K @ 5.1GHz
GPU: EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti FTW3
RAM: 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR5-5200
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Grasp
Storage: 2TB Samsung 980 Professional NVMe SSD
Entrance I/O: 1x 3.5mm audio, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C
Rear I/O: 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 5x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-C, 10GbE LAN, HD Audio, 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
PSU: EVGA 850W SuperNOVA
OS: Home windows 11 Residence
Dimensions: 20.25 x 20.5 x 8.25 inches
Weight: 30lbs
Guarantee: 1 12 months
Worth: $4,999
The complete specification options loads of recognizable manufacturers, from the aforementioned EVGA graphics card to the 2TB Samsung 980 Professional PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. The case and the CPU cooler are each Velocity Micro branded, with the previous being a custom-built aluminum chassis with loads of area for cooling and a facet window so you’ll be able to gaze upon all of your costly {hardware}.
The Raptor Z55 comes with two followers within the roof and an exhaust on the again, in addition to the triple-fan radiator for the CPU cooler. This rad is mounted facet on pulling air by way of a grill on the right-hand facet of the case, though that facet window does not prolong ahead sufficient to actually present this off, which is a disgrace, as a result of it is mesmerizing if you pop the facet off, which is a tool-free affair.
Velocity Micro has clearly spent effort and time getting the acoustics of this machine proper, and even when working at full bore, it is by no means actually loud. That triple-fan CPU cooler implies that it is fast to return to regular temperatures too, which is an efficient factor as a result of the CPU can run actually sizzling when pushed.
In testing, the 5.1GHz overclock produces some significantly spectacular outcomes, however it will probably additionally attain 111°C when doing so. That is significantly sizzling, however you truthfully would not understand it from the sound of the rig working. It is price noting that it does not attain that temperature when gaming, topping out at 100°C, and general the typical is way decrease at round 60°C, however nonetheless, it is stunning to see it get so sizzling.
In case you have not guessed it already, this can be a significantly quick machine. That CPU overclock coupled with the overclocked RTX 3080 Ti (it boosts to 1,800MHz versus the 1,670MHz of the usual RTX 3080 Ti), make for a very potent pairing. You are not going to have any issues working your video games on this machine, even at 4K with all of the settings ramped up as laborious as they’ll go.
Horizon Zero Daybreak managed an exceptional 91fps at 4K, whereas Metro Exodus working with RTX ray tracing on hit a powerful 78fps. Hitman 3’s Dubai degree noticed a median body charge of 127fps. All three of those scores high the benchmark charts and are sooner than the HP Omen and Corsair One machines, which is spectacular given the previous has an RTX 3090. It is not a clear sweep although, with the non-RTX runs of Metro Exodus being slower than the Corsair One.
When you’re taking a look at this machine for some extra critical quantity crunching alongside its gaming prowess, then the excellent news is that the combo of 32GB of DDR5-5200 and that 5.1GHz overclock equates to some phenomenal throughput. Cinebench R20 managed to interrupt by way of the 10K barrier for the primary time, and the X264 benchmark recorded a powerful 81fps too.
The CPU check from Hitman 3 lagged the opposite two machines although, as did the single-core efficiency from Cinebench R20, which suggests the all-core overclock means single-core efficiency does not fairly hit the 5.2GHz heights of the chip managing its personal clocks. Nonetheless, single-core efficiency isn’t referred to as upon as of late.
If there’s a downside with this Raptor Z55, it is that, if something, it is a bit too reserved. It is an superior machine, have little doubt, however that is primarily on the within. And whereas that is perhaps sufficient for loads of consumers, it lacks that ‘one thing particular’ to actually make it stand out from the rising crowd of high-end machines.
After reviewing the Corsair One i300 so just lately, it is that compact PC that stands out for me. So, although it trails this machine in loads of the benchmarks (albeit by just a few proportion factors at most), it is the system I would suggest for the cash. Appears to be like are essential in any case it could appear.
Not that this machine is anyway missing within the efficiency stakes. And in reality, the Velocity Micro machine goes to be rather a lot simpler to improve over time than the Corsair is, however if you’re taking a look at dropping $5,000 on a high-end PC pure logic is not at all times going to be sufficient. What is obvious from the Raptor Z55 is that Velocity Micro is aware of the best way to construct gaming PCs, and the extent of element right here is phenomenal.
