(it is also available on the Support tab of the corresponding product page). Install it and restart your computer.
Step 2: Scan
- A Launch the Mystic Light utility by clicking on its icon on the Dragon Center home tab.
- B A list of detected compatible devices appears at the top of the control panel.
Step 3: Personalize
- A To set the operating mode of the backlight of any device, click on its icon.
- B Select a color and brightness, a visual effect and its speed, and then click the Apply button.
- C To sync the backlighting of all devices, click on the large circuit icon located on the right upper corner utilities. You can select the color, brightness and visual effect of the backlight as in the previous step.
- D To change the settings for an individual device, click on the red chain icon below its icon so that it changes to gray. A gray broken chain icon indicates that the backlight is this device not synchronized.
For detailed instructions on how to install the Dragon Center software and the Mystic Light utility, see IN THIS MANUAL .
QUESTIONS - ANSWERS
What is Mystic Light?
Mystic Light is a lighting system and application for controlling it. The Mystic Light app can be downloaded from the MSI website or from the Dragon Center (see the download page software for your product). It allows you to customize the color and visual effects of both MSI and non-MSI devices that are compatible with the Mystic Light system.
What is Mystic Light Sync?
Mystic Light Sync is a feature of the Mystic Light app that synchronizes the backlighting of Mystic Light devices.
A list of compatible MSI products can be found, and a list of compatible products from other brands can be found.
What is Mystic Light Extension?
Mystic Light Extension is a feature of the Mystic Light system that allows you to connect backlit devices (LED strips, fans, cases, etc.) to it via the connectors on the motherboard.
- JRGB (4-pin connector; pin assignment: 12V, green, red, blue): to the JRGB connector with a current of up to 3 A (12 V), you can connect non-addressable LED strips of the 5050 format, which glow entirely in any one color.
- JRAINBOW (3-pin connector; pin assignment: 5V, data, -, ground): to the JRainbow connector with a current of up to 3 A (5 V), addressable strips of the WS2812 format are connected, each LED of which can glow with a different color.
- JCORSAIR (3-pin connector; pin assignment: 5V, data, ground): JCorsair's 3A (5V) jack accepts illuminated Corsair Mystic Light devices.
What is RGB motherboard or backlit motherboard?
This is a motherboard that has built-in colored LEDs and Mystic Light Extension connectors through which it can display various visual effects.
How to connect LED strips to a computer?
- Determine the type of tape and locate the corresponding connector on your MSI motherboard.
Note: There are three types of connectors for backlit components on MSI motherboards. - A JRGB (4-pin): This connector is for connecting non-addressable 5050 format LED strips that glow in one single color.
- B JRAINBOW (3-pin): This connector is for WS2812 addressable full color ribbons, each LED can be lit in a different color.
- C JCORSAIR (3-pin): This jack is for connecting Corsair Mystic Light devices.
- Connect the LED strip to the corresponding connector motherboard... Several years can be connected to each other to increase their total length.
- Customize your lighting with the Mystic Light app.
How to set up the operation of LED strips?
Click on the motherboard icon in the Mystic Light app, select the appropriate connector and configure the backlight settings.
How are backlit devices detected by the Mystic Light app?
Please make sure all devices you are using are compatible with Mystic Light system and connected to MSI backlit motherboard. Their corresponding icons should appear in the Mystic Light application window automatically. If it doesn't, try the following:
- Make sure the device is properly connected to computer system... Disconnect and reconnect it if necessary.
- If the problem persists, restart the Mystic Light app.
- If the problem persists, restart your computer and restart the Mystic Light app.
How do I sync the backlights of all Mystic Light devices?
To sync the backlighting of all devices, click on the large circuit icon located in the upper right corner of the Mystic Light utility. In this case, a red circuit icon will appear under the icon of each device. Then you can select your desired color and visual highlighting effect.
How to control the intensity and brightness of light in Mystic Light?
If any component / accessory allows you to change the brightness and speed of the visual effect of its illumination, then after clicking on its icon, the corresponding controls will appear.
(This opportunity not all components / accessories are offered)
How do I turn off the Mystic Light system?
Put all system components / accessories in sync mode and turn off the backlight.
How do I update the Mystic Light app?
How to synchronize the backlighting of memory modules, cpu cooler and other Corsair components / accessories with an MSI motherboard?
Connect all Corsair devices to their respective connectors (memory modules to DIMM slots, fan to JCorsair header or USB header), and then configure them to work using the Mystic Light app.
Please note that Mystic Light may interfere with other lighting control utilities.
Make sure that all other utilities of this kind are closed or removed from your computer.
Error diagnosis procedure
If you encounter errors with the Mystic Light utility, follow these steps:
- Make sure the motherboard is using the latest BIOS firmware. Otherwise, download the latest BIOS version from the appropriate product page and install it using the M-Flash utility.
- Make sure you are using newest version Mystic Light utilities. Otherwise, update it: How do I update my MSI Mystic Light?
- Install the latest drivers and firmware for all devices connected to the Mystic Light system.
- Do not run multiple backlight control programs at once. Close (or uninstall) any background programs of this nature to avoid conflicts with Mystic Light.
- If the problem persists, you can report it to MSI by logging into your account MSI.
Which model supports Ambient Link?
Primary Model:
- GAMING Laptop: GT75 / GT63 Titan series, GS65 / GS75 Stealth series, GE75 / GE63 Raider series, GP75 Leopard series, GL73 / GL63 series
With per-key RGB keyboard and 8 th gen Intel processor (or newer). - GAMING Motherboard: MEG Z390 GODLIKE / MEG Z390 ACE / MEG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON AC / MEG Z390 GAMING EDGE AC
- GAMING Desktop: Trident X Plus
- GAMING Graphics Card: GeForce RTX ™ 2080 Ti LIGHTNING Z / GeForce RTX ™ 2080 Ti LIGHTNING / GeForce RTX ™ 2080 Ti GAMING X TRIO / GeForce RTX ™ 2080 Ti GAMING TRIO / GeForce RTX ™ 2080 GAMING X TRIO / GeForce RTX ™ 2080 GAMING TRIO / GeForce RTX ™ 2070 GAMING Z / GeForce RTX ™ 2070 GAMING X / GeForce RTX ™ 2070 GAMING
- GAMING Monitor: Optix MPG27CQ2 / Optix MPG27CQ / Optix MPG27C
- GAMING Case: MPG GUNGNIR 100
- CPU Cooler: Core Forzr XL RGB
- Peripherals: Clutch GM50 GAMING Mouse
Can I Sync the RGB lightings of Ambient Devices such as Nanoleaf light panels and Philips Hue together with MSI device?
Currently the MSI Mystic Light x Nanoleaf Ambient link only syncs during gameplay, such as: ASSASSIN "S CREED: ODYSSEY DLC 2, so if the game is not in progress, these two devices do not sync. But, MSI is also working with other game developers; hopefully, we can release more games to work with MSI shortly.
Yes, MSI has created 9 exclusive preset lighting effects in the “Ambient Mode” tab of MSI Mystic Light, you can access on the default light effects without other additional set up.
Since those MSI exclusive effects are presetting, if you’d like to do customize set up on the Ambient Device, please check on the Ambient Device APP.
Why does the light on the Ambient Devices look like not sync during some effects of the game play?
Due to some different connection and hardware used, in some effects (just few of them) during game play, there is limitation on syncing all the different (brands) devices in the same time, but in order to provide great experience to all MSI users , our team is working towards on the improvement.
MSI Mystic Light Sync technology synchronizes the backlight of different devices
Maternal MSI board X99A GODLIKE GAMING is one of the first on the market to receive support for RGB lighting. However, MSI does not stop there and continues to actively develop this direction. With the support of Corsair, Silverstone, Cooler master and other big names in the market, it introduced MSI's Mystic Light Sync technology.
What is its innovativeness? It allows you to synchronize the lighting of different devices using the mobile or desktop version of the MSI Gaming App utility. However, while the MSI Mystic Light Sync technology works only in the new motherboards of the MSI GAMING line. That is, now you can easily change the color of illumination, for example, a mouse, keyboard and motherboard, as well as change their mode of operation. Some motherboards have at their disposal a 4-pin connector for connecting special LED strips. Their work can also be synchronized using the MSI Gaming App utility.
MSI Mystic Light Sync is currently compatible with the following devices:
- Cooler Master MasterKeys Pro L gaming keyboard
- Corsair Strafe RGB gaming keyboard
- Corsair Scimitar RGB gaming mouse
- G.Skill Ripjaws MX780 RGB gaming mouse
- G.Skill Ripjaws KM780 RGB Gaming Keyboard
- SilverStone PM01 Chassis
- Geil DDR4 EVO X RAM line
- BitFenix Alchemy 2.0 LED strip
- LED strip Phanteks PH-LEDKT
- LED strip SilverStone SST-LS02
If powerful gaming PCs are on fire, then somebody needs it. It means that someone wants them to be. The ultimate desktop is a welcome working tool of a respected PC boyar, who is not used to lowering the bar for graphics quality even in new heavy games or being content with 60 fps. What should be the system of a demanding gamer now, who is not used to being wasted on trifles? Unbridled power, mesmerizing backlight, high-speed monitor, mechanical keyboard and that's all ... In partnership with MSI and ADATA, we decided to test in practice what the platform will be capable of, which is very close in configuration to the progressive gaming PC from our traditional heading "". Meet - Mystic light pc.
CPU
For a powerful game system one of the best processors right now is the Core i7-9700K (8/8; 3.6 / 4.9 GHz). The octa-core model with high clock speeds handles the most demanding projects perfectly.
In the gaming field, it can only compete with the Core i9-9900K (8/16; 3.6-5.0 GHz) with activated Hyper-Threading technology. However, the flagship of the line is much more expensive. It looks better in multi-threaded specialized tasks, but in games it does not offer any serious advantages yet. at Computex 2019, the Core i9-9900KS (8/16; 4.0-5.0 GHz) model can also be included in the pool of potential candidates for a top gaming platform, but in addition to guaranteed operation at 5 GHz with a load on all computing cores of other fundamental it does not bring improvements, and the price of the new item has not yet been announced.
Cooler
The last few generations Intel processors with unlocked multipliers are supplied without a standard cooling system. The manufacturer believes that buyers of enthusiastic models will certainly use original coolers, because basic coolers for such chips are poorly suited even in normal CPU operating modes. Owners of processors with the "K" index will need an original cooler anyway. Still, an 8-core crystal with high operating frequencies and a claimed TDP of 95 W requires more efficient heat dissipation. The range of suitable solutions is very wide here.
For the system under consideration, an MSI Core Frozr L air cooler was used. Medium-format tower model with four heat pipes and a nickel-plated copper base. The radiator block is blown by a single 120mm FDB fan. If necessary, you can fix one more "turntable". The advantages of this model are a good ratio of size and cooling efficiency.
Motherboard
For a progressive system based on the LGA1151 platform, it is rational to choose a motherboard from models based on Intel Z390. The top chipset offers the maximum functionality that will be in demand here. This is both the ability to overclock the processor / memory, and a large number of available PCI Express 3.0 lines for connecting high-speed drives, and USB support 3.1 Gen2, and even the ability to use a pair of video cards in SLI / CrossFireX modes.
In our case, we used the MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON model. In addition to all of the above, this ATX-format board also received a powerful power unit with additional cooling, a large standard heatsink for one of the M.2 drives, an improved Realtek ALC1220P audio codec with a preamplifier and a new Nahimic 3 software enhancer.
The model also offers metal reinforcement for PCI-E x16 slots and memory modules. The manufacturer thought about the standard lighting, as well as connectors for connecting external lighting devices, and in our case they will come in handy.
An already expected bonus - a pre-installed metal panel in the area of interface connectors. A nice little thing that allows you not to forget it during the assembly of the system. As for the assortment of available connectors, here is all the necessary set for connecting peripherals.
Video card
As part of our traditional PC of the Month for progressive gaming configurations, we recommend the GeForce RTX 2080 8GB. However, you will definitely not spoil the gaming platform with an even faster video card. If there is an opportunity to increase the budget for the purchase of an adapter, it is worth doing it. Yet this is the most efficient way increase the number of frames / s in games. In addition, this time we plan to go beyond the usual Full HD mode, and there the requirements for discrete graphics are seriously increasing.
This assembly used the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO - the original model with high factory overclocking and serious hardware modifications. This is a massive 3-slot graphics card with a powerful power unit and efficient TRI-FROZR cooling system.
The cooler is a huge radiator block with seven heat pipes. A nickel-plated copper heat sink is provided at the point of contact with the GPU. memory chips and all power elements also have additional cooling. The design is blown by three fans with a special blade profile (Torx Fan 3.0) and double ball bearings.
GPU initially noticeably accelerated. Instead of the recommended 1350/1545 MHz, the 1350/1755 MHz formula is used here, that is, in the dynamic acceleration mode, the GPU often operates 200 MHz higher than usual for a typical GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
In idle mode, the video card works in passive mode, without emitting any noise. This is especially valuable when it comes to a top-end, highly productive device.
The length of the video card is 327 mm, while the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO is generously flavored with controlled RGB lighting, and for connection additional food a pair of 8-pin and one for 6 contacts are provided.
RAM
16 GB is still sufficient for a powerful gaming platform random access memory... Even the most difficult projects do not yet require more RAM. Moreover, this capacity is enough so that before starting a resource-intensive game, you do not close the browser with two dozen tabs.
As we mentioned, motherboards based on Intel Z370 / Z390 allow you to use high-speed memory kits, not limited to the recommended modes. Of course, this feature is worth using, because the increased bandwidth and reduced latency bring additional frames / s in games.
For the system in question, we used an interesting two-channel set ADATA XPG Spectrix D80 DDR4-3200 (16-18-18) with a total volume of 16 GB. Good starting timings and effective frequency, medium-sized heatsinks, Samsung B-die series memory chips, as well as controlled RGB lighting on the top edge of the modules. According to the manufacturer, this is the world's first kit with hybrid system cooling. In addition to the radiator plates, the module is equipped with a translucent reservoir with a non-conductive liquid. Yes, a marketing gimmick, but for a smartly dressed Mystic Light PC, it's fine. Buying a 16GB dual-channel kit will cost you about $ 140.
DDR4-3200 kits can be considered as starter kits for a progressive gaming system. Intel processors on the LGA1151 platform work well with faster memory, so you don't have to limit yourself to modules of this mode. Fortunately, current RAM prices allow you to choose the right memory right now without seriously hitting your budget.
Storage devices
For the top gaming system, we used a hybrid bundle of drives, consisting of an SSD and ... one more SSD. Yes, in the case of gaming systems, it is already quite possible to do without hard drives... If you do not need to store large amounts of media data, then it is better to use capacious external HDDs for backup.
High-speed, high-capacity M.2 PCI-E x4 drives are still quite expensive. The cost of such SSDs is quite justified when you really need the most productive device of the maximum volume, but in the case of a gaming system, such an SSD is not necessary. It is quite enough to use a productive drive for the system partition, on which all accompanying application programs... In our case, we used a 256 GB ADATA XPG SX6000 Pro. The model only costs a little over $ 50. The SSD uses a Realtek RTS5763 controller and Micron's 64-layer 3D TLC memory. The declared read / write speeds up to 2100/1200 MB / s, the number of I / O operations at the level of 190,000/180,000 IOPS. The absence of a DRAM buffer allows this model to be classified as a mid-entry-level solution in its class. Interesting options include a thin aluminum plate covering the memory and controller chips. It may slightly improve heat dissipation, but it is not covered with an additional sticker that impairs heat transfer when using an external heat sink.
If you want to get more for a small surcharge, the ADATA XPG SX8200 Pro may be more interesting - a popular model due to its price / performance ratio. Interestingly, in both cases, the manufacturer offers a 5-year warranty for these SSDs.
For installing games, virtually any SSD of a suitable size is suitable. In our case, we used a 1 TB ADATA Ultimate SU800. The drive is based on the Silicon Motion SM2258 controller and Micron's 3D TLC memory chips.
After noticeable price reductions, 1TB models can be purchased for ~ $ 120-130. Please note that even if you are targeting affordable SSDs with SATA interface, it is not necessary to choose 2.5 ”devices, especially if the motherboard has 2-3 M.2 connectors. There are already many compact M.2 drives on the market that cost no more than classic 2.5-inch drives.
Among the most affordable SSDs, you probably come across models based on flash chips with 3D QLC architecture. There are no serious contraindications for them. When used as game storage, their disadvantages are not critical. However, the difference in cost with 3D TLC-based models is often still minimal, and therefore they do not provide any special advantages.
A 1TB SSD will be enough to install at least one and a half dozen current games. If you still want to have an even larger drive, then the 2 TB models, although they no longer look too expensive, even the most affordable versions of such a capacity on the 3D QLC still cost from $ 300.
Power Supply
For systems with a GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, NVIDIA recommends using a 650W or more power supply. Indeed, this is a reasonable minimum for a configuration similar to the Mystic Light PC. Better system to equip this class with a 750-800 W unit, but we are not looking for easy ways, once again emphasizing that the components used for assembly are nothing more than possible options, and not specific recommendations.
As an experiment for the assembled PC, a 650W Corsair CX650 block was used. The model complies with the 80 Plus Bronze standard. Well, let's add a little intrigue, evaluating in practice whether this block will cope with our system. Preliminarily, we note that this is a version of the power supply unit with a stationary fastening of power cables. Yes, definitely not the most suitable option for those who are used to maintaining exceptional order inside the system unit. However, due to the design features of the case, this is not important in our case.
Frame
We assembled the gaming system in a case with the militant name MSI MPG GUNGNIR 100. This new model Taiwanese manufacturer.
The medium format Middle-Tower has a very discreet exterior design. Connoisseurs of simple stylish solutions will surely like the strict lines without lurid design delights. Model belonging to the series gaming devices at first glance, the tinted side wall, made of tempered glass 4 mm thick, gives out. The era of modest windows-portholes is already over, with such a panel all the interior decoration of the case can be seen at a glance.
The layout of the working area of modern buildings is simple and functional. Maximum interior space, no brackets for archaic 5.25-inch devices and clutter of hard drive cages.
According to the design of MSI MPG GUNGNIR 100, the compartment for the power supply and a pair of HDDs is insulated with a metal casing. To cool the system, three 120mm fans are initially preinstalled on the front panel of the case. Another one of the same diameter is fixed on the back wall, while it also has controllable A-RGB backlighting.
A place is provided behind the working pallet for storing interface and power cables. The case will also help control with additional lighting, the kit provides an additional hub for 8 outputs for A-RGB tapes.
MSI MPG GUNGNIR 100 is not yet available in Ukraine. This model is expected to be on sale in August. The estimated retail price of the case is $ 120-130.
Thrust bracket
We also used an acrylic support bracket to support the graphics card as a useful add-on kit.
The MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO comes with a metal corner that serves the same purpose. Still, the video card weighs more than 1.5 kg, so additional fixation will not be superfluous, even despite the reinforced PCI Express x16 slots of the motherboard. Rather, it is a safety net during transportation, but in the case of the Atlas Mystic ARGB, it is also a source of additional lighting. There are four ARGB LEDs at the clip-on edge to support Mystic Light Sync. The bracket itself is laser-engraved with the MSI gaming series logo, which should be effectively illuminated while the system is running. The Atlas Mystic ARGB is also, alas, not on the free sale yet. The estimated cost of such a decorative "holder" is $ 20.
LED Strip Light
To ensure that the internal illumination of the case was probably enough, we decided to play it safe by adding a compact decorative RGB strip - Phanteks RGB LED Strip 400mm.
A strip of specified length with a set of LEDs and small magnets is easy to attach, for example, to top panel housing. To enhance brightness, of course, you can use any RGB tapes, both 12-volt with 5050 elements, and addressable versions with a 5V supply voltage. Additional lights are not expensive.
General estimate for the system unit
| CPU | Intel Core i7-9700K (8/8, 3.6 / 4.9 GHz, 12 MB L3) | $430 |
| Cooler | MSI Core Frozr L | $68 |
| Motherboard | MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON (Intel Z390, ATX) | $210 |
| Memory | ADATA XPG Spectrix D80 DDR4-3200 16GB (2x8GB) | $140 |
| Video card | MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO | $1380 |
| Storage devices | ADATA XPG SX6000 Pro 256GB, M.2, PCI-E x4 | $55 |
| ADATA Ultimate SU800 1 TB 2.5 ″ SATA | $150 | |
| Power Supply | Corsair CX650 650W | $85 |
| Frame | MSI MPG GUNGNIR 100 | ~$130 |
| bracket | Atlas Mystic ARGB | ~$20 |
| RGB tape | Phanteks RGB LED Strip 400mm | ~$20 |
| Total | $2688 |
Periphery
For a powerful gaming system, choosing a monitor with an increased refresh rate seems like a logical decision. Spending serious money to buy a platform, you want to enjoy the game, in practice using the advantages of powerful hardware.
In our case, we used the MSI Optix MAG271CQR. 27 '' curved gaming model with 2560x1440 resolution, fast 1ms VA, wide color gamut and 144Hz refresh rate. The monitor supports the FreeSync function, allowing you to dynamically synchronize the picture on the screen. Moreover, the model was included in the list of MSI monitors compatible with NVIDIA G-Sync.
With such a diagonal and 1800R curvature, only minimal bending of the panel is barely noticeable, so those who look with caution at curved monitors do not need to worry about this. At the same time, the combination of 27 ”diagonal and WQHD resolution can be considered almost ideal for a gaming monitor. On the one hand, we have a fairly large panel with an optimal physical pixel size. On the other hand, the 2560 × 1440 resolution allows you to get excellent fps on top-end hardware at high graphics quality settings. It is unlikely that it will be a revelation for someone that 4K sometimes remains an unbearable mode even for the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti.
Returning to the functionality of the model, let's note the rather narrow top and side frames. The stand allows you to adjust the angle and height of the screen (0–130 mm). In the lower position, the panel is raised above the work table by about 80 mm.
For MSI Optix MAG271CQR brightness is declared at 300 kD / m². According to measurements, in the central part we fix 330 kD / m². The color gamut is really expanded.
Of the curious monitor options, we can also note a segment with additional RGB-backlighting on the rear panel. Of course controlled and synchronized according to the Mystic Light protocol.
To connect signal sources, the monitor provides three video inputs - DisplayPort and a pair of HDMI. One joystick is used to control the parameters.
Mouse
The system used game Mouse MSI Clutch GM50. A relatively new asymmetrical model equipped with optical sensor PixArt PMW-3330 with 7200 dpi max resolution and Omron switches.
Considering the dimensions (120x67x42 mm), the most comfortable mouse will seem to owners of medium-sized palms. MSI Clutch GM50 has six programmable buttons and controlled RGB lighting. The profile of the dragon is placed in the central part, the segment at the lower edge and the scroll wheel are also highlighted.
The sensitivity switch key allows you to select one of five preset modes (400/800/1600/3200/6400 dpi); for more precise settings and adjustments, you will need to use the proprietary Gaming Center application. There you can also select lighting effects and change the polling rate.
Keyboard
Another required peripheral attribute is the keyboard. Here we used the already proven solution - MSI Vigor GK80.
It is the top model in the manufacturer's lineup with Cherry MX RGB Red mechanical switches and abundant backlighting. The WASD key block stands out against the general background with caps with a metallized coating, moreover, the kit includes pads with a rubber corrugated coating.
For convenience, a palm rest is included. We examined the capabilities of MSI Vigor GK80 in detail in a separate section.
Headset
The voice acting in the system is entrusted to MSI Immerse GH70. This is also the oldest model in the manufacturer's family of gaming headsets, with which we have already had time. A pair of 50mm neodymium drivers provide balanced sound. Separately, we note a durable metal headband, replaceable pads with a different type of material, as well as a complete carrying bag.
MSI Immerse GH70 offers its own Hi-Res DAC with 7.1 virtual multichannel, which can be useful in certain genres of games. In our case, for the Mystic Light PC, the additional illumination on the outer side of the bowls will also be very appropriate, which can be synchronized with the illumination of other elements of the system.
Mat
By some oversight, the mouse pad used does not have additional RGB lighting. Such a model is already in the MSI range, but the Agility GD60 was announced only a couple of months ago, so it has not yet reached us. MSI GAMING SHIELD MOUSE PAD was used for temporary substitution.
Inexpensive, cheerful and quite functional. Carpet dimensions - 320 × 220 × 5 mm. The textile surface has a special texture for the normal operation of optical and laser sensors. The rubberized base keeps the mat well on the smooth work surface. A large print with the logo of the gaming series will not let you forget about the manufacturer of the system components.
General estimate for peripheral devices
| Monitor | MSI Optix MAG271CQR (27 ″, 2560 × 1440, VA, 144 Hz, FreeSync) | $470 |
| Keyboard | MSI Vigor GK80 | $180 |
| Mouse | MSI Clutch GM50 | $60 |
| Playing surface | MSI GAMING SHIELD MOUSE PAD | $10 |
| Headset | MSI Immerse GH70 | $85 |
| Total | $805 |
System assembly
Assembling the system is a simple event as a whole, rather even exciting, especially when it comes to a new gaming platform. The sequence is probably well known to users who are more or less addicted to hardware. We will not dwell on the general sequence, but note only some of the nuances of assembling a specific system.
Traditionally, the process begins with operations performed outside the case, namely, installing the processor into the motherboard and fixing the cooling system.
To mount the MSI Core Frozr L cooler on the LGA1151 platform, you first need to assemble a bracket with guides, which are fixed with plastic washers. The final platform goes under the printed circuit board.
We twist all the way metal racks with protective plastic dampers that do not damage the tracks on printed circuit board... On uprights with female thread, the fixing plate is fixed with screws.
Despite the crowded cooling elements, there is enough free space around the processor socket to install this element. After this stage, it's time to apply thermal paste and, after removing it from the heat sink protective film, install the heatsink assembly onto the CPU cover.
The structure is fixed by means of a pressure plate with stamped guides. The radiator is securely attracted by a pair of supplied screws.
Now it remains to fix the fan with a pair of metal brackets. Despite the average dimensions of the MSI Core Frozr L, the design still slightly blocks access to the outer slot for memory modules. Considering that we are using a dual-channel RAM kit, this nuance is absolutely not a problem.
If you want to increase the amount of RAM by installing four modules, the cooler fan can be slightly shifted upwards, although in this position the efficiency of airflow will partially decrease.
The board has two connectors for M.2 drives. Both ports allow you to install both SATA and PCI-E drives. Since in our case a fairly high-speed SSD with a productive controller is used, it is logical to install it in a slot with additional cooling. First, unscrew the three screws and install the SSD in the seat.
We do not remove the standard radiator plate; it should not noticeably impair the heat transfer to the main cooler block. We return the motherboard heatsink to its place, it contacts the SSD plate through a heat-conducting gasket.
After installing the CPU, memory modules, M.2-drive and fixing the processor cooler, the entire assembly unit can be put into the case, having previously prepared the stands for fixing the motherboard. Recall that the plug on the interface panel in our case is permanently fixed, so you won't forget it during assembly in a hurry.
The rest of the process is pretty familiar. There are no difficulties with installing a video card. Despite the large dimensions of the adapter, there is more than enough free space in the case to install the device and connect additional power. But with the latter, a certain incident arose.
The fact is that for the tuned MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO, you need to connect power cables with two 8-pin connectors and one 6-pin connector, while the Corsair CX650 unit has only a pair of eight-pin connectors. To get another 6-pin, I needed to use an additional adapter from the Molex connector. Well, this was the first call and a reason to make sure that the power supply is sufficient for the platform.
Note the peculiarity of installing an acrylic bracket to support the video card. To attach it, it is necessary that at least three more free slots remain in the housing underneath the adapter after installing the adapter. The Atlas Mystic ARGB occupies three compartments and is secured with three screws. In this case, the slot covers in the housing do not need to be pulled out. It is enough to first unscrew the standard screws. After installing the holder, the plugs will be fixed in their positions.
The thrust stand, which is in direct contact with the video card, is also fastened with screws. The connection does not look very practical, given that the stand itself and the bracket are made of acrylic. But in terms of functionality, there are no problems here. Technical holes in the panel allow you to choose the most suitable position of the rack for specific model video cards.
MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON is ready for overclocking experiments. An indirect confirmation of this is the use of a combination of 8 + 4 connectors to connect additional power. This became another test for the used power supply unit. As it turns out, the Corsair CX650 only offers one 8-pin connector for the EPS12V processor channel. One adapter from 8 contacts to 8 + 4 × 2 came to the rescue.
Separately, we note the mounting of 2.5-inch drives. The body has four slots for installing devices of this format. A pair is located on the boundary casing of the PSU compartment, two more are located on the back of the pallet. In order not to overload the main work area, we moved the ADATA Ultimate SU800 drive to the rear side of the panel. Additional brackets are provided to secure the devices, which are suspended on three rails and held down with a single knurled screw. It is very convenient, because no additional tools are needed for manipulations.
Almost all power wiring can be done behind the pallet, there is enough free space, and the technological holes in the panel allow you to perform the necessary communications.
When arranging the power cables, we evaluated the presence of a special fixing plate in the case. A trifle that facilitates the assembly of the system. The casing presses the conductors and, in addition to the aesthetic effect, makes it very easy to close the side wall of the casing.
We do not use hard drives in this configuration. If necessary, you can install a pair of HDDs using a basket with special brackets-sleds.
On the reverse side of the pallet, an A-RGB hub is standardly fixed, which allows you to connect up to eight addressable backlight sources. The ribbons will remain lit even if the corresponding connector is not provided on the motherboard. Basic control modes are available directly on the hub. But in our case, the MSI MPG Z390 GAMING PRO CARBON has a corresponding connector, so you can control the parameters through Mystic Light.
Of the additional options, we note the presence of a dust filter on the bottom panel in the area where the power supply is located.
As for the controls, on the upper edge of the case there is a large power key illuminated along the perimeter, a drive activity indicator, a cold restart button, two audio jacks for headphones / microphone / headset and a pair of USB 3.1 Gen1 ports in the classic Type-A format. Note the rather large distance between the interface connectors, which allows you to freely connect flash drives with any case size.
In work
We traditionally begin the assessment of the final PC with measurements of the temperature parameters of various nodes. This is especially important for a powerful gaming platform, because it contains enough heat-absorbing components.
Of course, the video card remains the largest source of heat in a gaming system. The declared thermal package for the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is 250 watts. Moreover, this is the TDP value for basic version adapter with recommended frequencies. In our case, we use a model with a thorough factory overclocking, which increased the declared consumption to 300 watts. However, as practical tests have shown, the cooling system of the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO does an excellent job. Obviously, a massive cooler and three fans are absolutely not superfluous here.
In rest mode, the temperature of the GPU is kept at 40-45C. In this mode, the cooler switches to passive mode, stopping the fans. Under gaming load, the GPU temperature rose to 75C, and the peak fan speeds were around 1500rpm. For a boosted GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, these are very good indicators, besides, subjectively, the video card works very quietly.
As you can see, the GPU Boost mechanism dynamically accelerates the GPU up to 1965 MHz. Very soulful auto acceleration.
As for the processor, at rest the temperature fluctuated within 35-40C. Under load in the AIDA64 stress test, the CPU temperature rose to 70C at a fan speed of 1300 rpm on the cooler.
Recall that for the organization of cooling, four 120-mm fans are placed inside the case. Three of them are located behind the front panel and work for air intake, while one fan is provided for the exhaust on the rear panel. Setting up the latter is worth paying more attention to. Given this configuration and the location of the fans, it is worth setting an algorithm that increases the speed to maximum values which maintains noise comfort. Peak for the installed model - 1900 rpm. If you play with a closed headset, then there are no questions at all, if without it, then 1500-1600 rpm will be optimal in terms of the efficiency of removing warm air and the level of noise emitted. However, everything is individual here. In any case, here you will have to experiment, taking into account also the temperature indicators inside the room.
Note the good temperature regime M.2 drive ADATA SX6000 Pro. The huge extra heatsink definitely did a good job here. In rest mode, the temperature of the SSD was about 39-40C, and under typical load it did not exceed 50C.
Considering the consumer properties of the system, we note that in the rest mode system unit consumed about 50-60 watts of electricity. In the most resource-intensive games, which create a high load on the video card and processor, the power consumption fluctuated between 460-490 W. That is, the formally used 650 W PSU is enough for the PC to work in normal mode. However, there is not much room for overclocking experiments in this case. And at the maximum declared modes, using a power supply is not the best best idea, even without regard to the fact that the units provide maximum efficiency at a load of 50% of the nominal. Overall, we would still recommend using 750-800 W models for this class of system.
Additional lighting is a separate setting item. There is a lot of it here, but it's still Mystic Light PC. The illumination used makes it possible not only to indicate belonging individual components systems to a cohort of gaming devices. Here you can create a mood with the help of lighting.
In our case, almost all elements of the platform have controlled lighting, both internal components and peripherals... RGB LEDs are located on the motherboard (interface panel shroud and right edge of the PCB). We placed the 400mm Phanteks ruler at the junction of the top and front panel of the case, it helps a lot to flood the interior with light.
Equipped with intensive illumination MSI graphics card GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO. Here the LEDs are located on the end of the adapter and the casing of the cooling system. The latter are practically invisible with the classic arrangement of the video card in the case, but their lack is perfectly compensated for by the laser-engraved plexiglass thrust bracket, which almost becomes a key element of the illumination of the system. It is clearly visible through the tinted glass of the side panel of the case, setting the overall tone of the interior lighting.
The illumination of the ADATA XPG Spectrix D80 memory turned out to be bright as well. LED lights are pushing their way through the miniature reservoirs of liquid. Such water blocks are a controversial aid in cooling modules, but they work quite well as light diffusers.
In the context of interior lighting, we also note two segments on the front wall of the case. Curiously, the triangular plastic pieces are removable. If desired, they can be replaced with original 3D printed parts. The necessary blank models are available on the manufacturer's website.
Finishing with the interior, it is worth noting the illuminated fan on the rear panel of the case. The channel for controlling the illumination of the "turntable" is connected to a common hub, so the illumination is synchronized with that for the thrust bracket of the video card and both segments on the front wall of the case.
All peripherals are also flavored with controlled backlighting. And the keyboard, and the mouse, and the headset, and even the monitor. Due to circumstances beyond our control, only the rug was left without RGB, but this is fixable.
Surprisingly, one Dragon Center app is enough to control all this variety of lighting. All connected devices with illumination are displayed in the Mystic Light tab. Available here individual settings for each product. It is also possible to combine the illumination of all connected elements. The number of available modes in this case will be reduced, but this is the price for the general synchronization.
Performance
It's always nice to talk about the possibilities of the top-end configuration. The 8-core Core i7-9700K processor is very good for everyday consumer tasks. The processor has the declared frequency formula of 3.6 / 4.9 GHz, but in fact, even with the maximum load on all computing cores, the CPU operates at 4600 MHz, accelerating to 4900 MHz in single-threaded tasks.
The Core i7-9700K may not be the best choice for serious multi-threaded computing, where capabilities are often determined by the number of cores / threads available, but eight fast cores are enough for typical home tasks. This is confirmed by the good performance in the comprehensive PCMark test.
For a platform of this class, DDR4-3200 RAM is very appropriate. Recall that this mode is not standard even for top Intel processors, however, on motherboards with Intel chipsets Z370 / Z390 similar modules work without any problems.
Dual channel mode allows you to get throughput at 45 GB / s. And in the case of the 16-18-18-36 timing formula, we have a fairly low latency for working with RAM. In general, it is very strong point Intel processors. AMD's Zen / Zen + platform has never been able to achieve such latency metrics. It will be very interesting to see how the situation changes in the case of the Ryzen 3000. Considering the layout of the new AMD chips, the RAM latency is unlikely to be impressive, yet the controller is moved outside the crystals with processing cores. To smooth out this feature, the new chips provide for an increased cache memory, so the intrigue remains. In any case, we look forward to new ones. AMD processors... With an increase in performance per clock and an increase in clock frequencies, it is possible that they will be able to provide maximum fps in games. So far, Intel chips are often faster in these tasks.
Returning to our platform, let's note the speed indicators of the DATA SX6000 Pro drive. It does not claim to be the leader in its class, but it is noticeably faster than SATA drives. This applies to both linear transfers and the speed of work with 4K blocks. Not surprisingly, M.2 PCI-E drives are becoming more popular and have recently been squeezing out SATA drives. However, despite the noticeable decline in SSD prices over the past year, PCI-E models of significant capacity are still quite expensive. It is for this reason that we used the optional 1TB ADATA Ultimate SU800 SATA drive to install the games.
Even the results of a simple express test show that the capabilities of this model are much more modest than those of the system drive. Even so, SSDs like these are great for installing and storing games. When starting games or loading the next location / level, the difference in performance is often leveled. The processor needs time to process the incoming data stream, and therefore the drive is no longer a limiter. Of course, if the budget is not limited, you can also use a high-speed SSD for games, but you will have to catch the difference in download speed armed with a stopwatch. It is rather important here to get rid of hard disk, trusting the SSD, and the type of interface of the latter in the context of the gaming system is of secondary importance.
The capabilities of a gaming PC are highly dependent on the graphics card. And here, in our setup, there is definitely nothing to complain about. The ephemeral TITAN RTX aside, the 11GB GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the most powerful gaming graphics card without any discounts or exceptions. Faster than the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti can only be a tuned version of the adapter. This is exactly what the MSI GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Gaming X TRIO is. Due to a very serious factory overclocking, it can even be ranked among the cohort of the most productive modifications in its class.
Recall that the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is based on a 12nm TU102 chip with NVIDIA Turing architecture. The graphics processor with a bulky 754 mm² die contains 18.6 billion transistors. In the case of the RTX 2080 Ti, 4352 calculators, 272 texture units and 88 rasterizers are activated in the chip. In addition, the processor contains 68 RT-cores for hardware rendering of ray tracing and 544 tensor cores for matrix calculations, which in the context of graphics are often used to support DLSS (Deep Learning Super-Sampling).
The GeForce RTX 2080 Ti performs equally well both with games without DXR support, and with so far few projects that have received hybrid rendering with ray tracing and DLSS.
In the popular 3DMark Time Spy test, the system scores over 13,000 points. These numbers say little until you compare them with your PC's results.
The system successfully passes the resource-intensive specialized stage with Port Royale ray tracing, providing more than 40 fps here. And if you use DLSS, productivity is significantly increased - by more than 40%. For video cards of the GeForce RTX series, this is an effective tool for increasing fps, although it is important for developers to skillfully use it in their projects. In practice, the first iterations were not always successful. Of course, in test problems it is easier to provide a high gain, but even + 10–20% in real games can also be considered a good bonus.
