MSI msi Codex R2 Gaming Desktop: Intel Core i5-14400F, Review

A perfectly average gaming PC that gets the job done. It won't blow your mind, but it will run your games without any fuss.

The MSI Codex R2 is the definition of a solid, no-frills gaming PC. It's not going to win any beauty contests or break benchmark records, but for around $1,170, it gives you a competent RTX 4060 rig that's ready to play right out of the box. The one thing you need to know is this: it's a straightforward, middle-of-the-pack performer that gets the job done without any flashy AI gimmicks or over-the-top designs.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from an i5-14400F and an RTX 4060. In our database, the GPU lands in the 61st percentile, which means it's perfectly fine for 1080p gaming and can dabble in 1440p with some settings tweaks. Nothing here is a surprise, good or bad. It runs modern games smoothly, the 1TB NVMe SSD is fast for loading, and the 16GB of DDR5 RAM is the bare minimum we'd recommend for a new system today. It's a predictable, reliable combo.

At $1,170, the value proposition is simple. You're paying for the convenience of a complete system. You could potentially build something slightly better for the same money, but you'd have to hunt for deals and put it together yourself. If your time is worth more than the savings, this is a fair price for what you get.

This sits in a crowded field. The HP Omen 45L often has better build quality and cooling for a similar price, but you might get a slightly weaker GPU. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is a direct competitor that frequently goes on sale, sometimes undercutting the MSI. Then there's the Dell Alienware Aurora, which is more expensive but offers better support and a unique design. The MSI's main advantage is its simplicity and the fact it includes peripherals. If you want more polish, look at the Omen. If you want the absolute cheapest path to an RTX 4060, watch for Legion sales.

Skip this if you're a performance chaser or a tinkerer. The i5-14400F will hold back future high-end GPU upgrades. If you're looking for the fastest frame rates or love tweaking every component, you should build your own PC or look at systems with a more powerful CPU like an i7 or Ryzen 7. Go get an HP Omen or a custom-built PC instead.

We recommend the MSI Codex R2 if you want a straightforward, no-surprises gaming PC that works right out of the box and you don't want to build it yourself. It's a competent machine for the money. However, if you're even slightly tech-savvy or patient, you can find better deals or build a more balanced system. This is the gaming PC you buy when you just want to stop researching and start playing.