Review of the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9): A High Price Tag

Sure, let’s do this. Here goes my raw and quirky take:

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Hey. So, I just spent who-knows-how-many hours with this Lenovo LOQ Tower thing, and I got thoughts. Buckle up, this might get weird.

First off, Lenovo’s made a name for itself with gaming tech that hits you right where your wallet doesn’t bleed out completely. There’s this lineup called LOQ, yup, that’s actually what they named it, sliding in nicely under the Legion family. I kind of praised their compact 17-liter LOQ Tower before, but this new gen, well, let’s just say I’m not throwing a parade yet.

The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9)—fancy name, huh?—tried to do a glow-up with some new hardware, but, man, it’s like upgrading your socks. You do it because you have to, not because it’s fun. They’ve hiked the price without adding much pizzazz. Honestly, with that price tag, you could snag something more beastly elsewhere. But if you stumble on a sale, maybe you’ll get a smile out of it.

Look, it still does the job if you need a nifty little box for working and playing in glorious 1080p, with fans that whisper instead of screaming. But apart from that? Meh. Lenovo, I’m looking at you. Do better next time.

And why trust me? ‘Cause I practically live on desktop PCs. My desk doesn’t know life without a tower that’s got some gumption and a sound level that doesn’t rival a lawnmower. I’ve been through enough of these things to have preferences, okay?

Speaking of preferences, this review exists thanks to Lenovo dipping into their stock and throwing a unit my way. No strings, just vibes.

Quick guide: what are we even looking at? A small but mighty desktop for games at a cool one thousand dollars, give or take. Sleek? Yes. Consistent? Sure. Overly expensive? Yup.

Now, I’m not an all-knowing being about this stuff, but the design’s straightforward enough to not offend the eyeballs. It’s subtle, no unnecessary flashy stuff. The front perks up with some lights, so there is some flair for you. Ports galore up front too, which is nice for our tech clutter.

Performance? The LOQ Tower cruises smoothly in gaming-kinda situations. My gadget came packed with an Intel i5-14400F and NVIDIA RTX 4060. Chill, reliable, nothing heart-stopping. Crammed internals keep it decently cool but don’t worry, your neighbor won’t mistake it for an aircraft.

I did some nerdy number stuff, 3DMark times fifteen (don’t ask) and things stayed solid. Not earth-shattering, but hey, barely missed a step. For casual gaming, it’s as loyal as an old hound dog.

Upgrade-wise, it’s a bit of a bummer. You gotta go screwdriver-foraging to even peek inside. And don’t get me started on this proprietary nonsense with parts. There’s some space for tweaks, but it’s like fitting new furniture into a dollhouse. The power supply is fixed. Hello, future builders, hear my cries.

And on the brainy bit, don’t even think about crazy AI tasks. The LOQ doesn’t come with AI wizardry, but it won’t wave the white flag if you prod it a bit.

As for software? It’s kind of like a regular desktop pretending to be a gamer. Meh. Some Lenovo apps, nothing too deep, a bit of bloat here and there. Hey, at least Windows 11 doesn’t choke up.

In closing, folks: there’s competition aplenty. Other brands with better price chops, but if understated simplicity is your jam, Lenovo’s got this niche pinned down. Just, y’know, only if it’s on sale. Or maybe risk it with a refurb if you’re feeling audacious.

And hey, I love a good Lenovo piece, but let’s hope the next LOQ step-up packs more punch without the premium slap.