Every year, the expectations for a pre-built gaming PC generally remain the same, from desktops with the latest processors and graphics cards to updated RAM and storage.
Of best budget gaming pc for high-end builds, there’s simply no escaping the potential of Moore’s Law. Sure, form factors can change, but it all comes down to benchmark numbers, price, feature set, and customer service options like warranties. Then there are the pre-build builders who decide to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into their boutique offices to create something completely out of this world.
This includes the CLX Hathor Duo PC (opens in a new tab).
Known for creating some of the best gaming pc available pre-builds that combine power with excellent customer service, the division of systems integration company Cybertron International has already impressed us with the CLX Beetle Last year.
The gaming PC offered everything anyone paying around $5,000 for one could ask for. The CLX Hathor Duo PC crosses the line even further with a 24-core Intel Core i9-12900K processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition32GB of RAM and 1TB of NVMe storage plus an additional 4TB Seagate Barracuda hard drive.
The PC itself even came enclosed in a large wooden shipping crate (although this feature costs extra).
These specs are good enough to play the best pc games at maximum settings with high resolutions and refresh rates. In our standard 1080p tests for Cyberpunk 2077benchmarks averaged 130 fps on ultra settings (including ray tracing) alongside 187 fps on lower settings.
This means that gamers with a 4K display resolution should be able to explore the world of Night City above 60fps, which is stunning to say the least. Regardless of what is thrown at this beast of a machine, he can handle it without breaking a sweat.
But wait, there’s more
main computer
CPU: Intel Core i9-12900K
Chart: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Founders Edition 16GD6X
RAM: 32GB GSKILL Trident Z5 RGB 5600MHz
Storage: 1 TB Samsung 980 PRO NVMe / 4 TB Seagate Barracuda HDD
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Intel NUC Compute Element
CPU: Intel Core i9-12900
RAM: 32GB Kingston FURY 3200MHz DDR4
Storage: 500 GB Samsung 980 Pro NVMe / 2 TB Kingston FURY NV1 NVMe M.2 SSD
Capture card: The Cat 4K60 Pro
However, inside the CLX Hathor Duo PC is actually an Intel NUC compute element that can be used for streaming only. This PC that sits under the beefy RTX 4080 Founders Edition features a 16-core Intel Core i9-12900 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2.5TB of combined SSD storage.
The idea is that streamers will be better able to offload system resources for streaming without buying another computer, and it helps that the second PC has an El Gato 4K60 Pro which will also work well for console gamers. Remember that using the CLX Hathor Duo PC will require the Synergy application to use a mouse and keyboard on both computers. Users who don’t want to pay the annual license for this will need a pair of mouse And keyboards.
The CLX Hathor Duo PC also requires two monitors for the gaming PC and the streaming PC. In testing, we used two of the best gaming monitors and the installation worked fine. If two monitors seem a bit too much, the recently released Alienware AW2723DF uses picture-by-picture, which can save desktop space.
The CLX Hathor Duo PC also requires two power outlets to run the gaming desktop and NUC enclosed in the rather remarkably constructed case which is filled with beautiful RGB lighting. Turning on the streaming PC is as simple as pressing the NUC button under the PC. For more measure, CLX has also included an 8K capture card.
As a gaming PC, the CLX Hathor Duo PC comes in three ATX Full Tower prints, including White, Vice Edition, and Sakura print. The front and side glass panel allows users to view the full RGB color display when the desktop is powered. For more measure, there’s a small RGB bar near the power button and NUC on the front. This can be changed by pressing the M button for a small multi-color animated light or C for a solid color light under a USB-C port.
Speaking of ports, there are two USB-A ports at the top near the power button and two at the bottom front. Of course, there are more ports on the back for gaming PCs and NUC PCs. These are more than enough to put together setups for various gaming or streaming needs. The ATX Full Tower configuration also includes convenient maintenance slots for cleaning dust and easy upgrading.
“The perfect gaming PC for professional streamers doesn’t exist—”
This is how the CLX Hathor Duo PC fared in our reference test suite:
PC Mark 10: 9676
3DMark Timespy: 26,231 | Night Raid: 92,714 | gunshot: 44 107
Single-core GeekBench 5: 2155 | Multi-core: 23,816
CinebenchR20: 37,880
Total War: Warhammer 3 FPS 200 fps (Ultra 1080p); 448fps (1080p low)
Cyberpunk 2077: 130FPS (1080p Ultra); 187 frames per second (1080p low)
Dirt 5: 247FPS (1080p Ultra); 300FPS (1080p low)
After creating hi-res video content by recording to the NUC and optionally editing the 4K or 8K video on the gaming PC itself through Premier Pro, the process was very seamless, making it the ultimate workstation. of the game streamer. Besides gaming and creating streams, cutting high-resolution video content on a single desktop is especially convenient.
It all starts at $3,999, but the unit CLX sent me is around $8,000. Add up to three years of warranty on parts and a free lifetime warranty on labor, the entire CLX Hathor Duo PC makes a lot of sense for gamers who like to stream their gaming sessions via Twitch, but especially for those who want to do it professionally.
That’s not even counting the amount of software available on the gaming PC and NUC. There are various performance-based software that users can use with customizable RGB lighting. On the NUC comes standard with OBS Studio which is the streaming standard for most Twitch streamers.
The CLX Hathor Duo PC is a pure monster of a gaming computer. On its own, it has all the power that justifies its relatively high price. However, what takes this gaming PC beyond simple benchmark measurements is the Intel NUC compute element which allows for greater efficiency during live streaming sessions without the need for a second PC. desktop or laptop. Simply put, this could potentially be the future of PC game streaming, and it’s gorgeous.