Lenovo makes some of the best gaming hardware you can buy, across a wide range of budgets.
Among the offerings from Lenovo, their budget-friendly series is called LOQ, which sits beneath the well-liked Legion family. Previously, we’ve commended LOQ products produced by Lenovo, such as the 17-liter LOQ Tower, and I was eager to explore what improvements this new generation brings.
The latest version of the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9), boasting an improved design and updated hardware, does not quite measure up to its predecessor in terms of value. Given its price point, you’re likely to discover stronger, more potent alternatives available on the market, and typically, these options will offer greater expansion possibilities as well.
The LOQ Tower remains an excellent choice as both a work and leisure stationary PC, delivering a dependable and quiet 1080p gaming performance. If you’re keeping an eye out, it could be worth grabbing it during sales. Fingers crossed that Lenovo brings more competitive pricing to the next model.
LOQ Tower review: Cheat sheet
- What is it? A compact, 17-liter desktop tower PC designed for gaming.
- Who is it for? Those who want a small, capable, and affordable PC for 1080p gaming.
- How much does it cost? The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) starts at $1,099.99 at Lenovo, but should actually start closer to $900 (Lenovo is more expensive, for some reason).
- What did I like? The sleek and compact design, the consistent performance, the quiet fans.
- What did I not like? The pricing, the limited expansion and upgrade opportunities.
LOQ Tower review: Pricing and specifications
With a starting price of $1,099.99 at Lenovo as per the specifications, but if you explore other sources like Best Buy, the same configuration is offered for $899.99. This includes an Intel Core i5-14400F processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage.
The setup I reviewed, enhanced with an RTX 4060, retails for $1,149.99 at Walmart, but the supply of all configurations is currently inconsistent. Despite this, I find that most models seem overpriced considering their features. Therefore, it’s essential to keep an eye out for sales when making your purchase.
| Spec | Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Up to Intel Core i7-14700F (Raptor Lake architecture, 20 cores, 28 threads, up to 5.4GHz turbo boost) |
| GPU | Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti (Ada Lovelace architecture, 8GB GDDR6 VRAM) |
| Memory | Up to 32GB DDR5 @ 5,600MHz |
| Storage | Up to 1TB M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe Gen 4×4 SSD, up to 2TB 3.5″ SATA HDD |
| PSU | Up to 500W (Fixed, up to 92% efficiency) |
| Ports | 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 (5GBps, 15W charging), 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5GBps), 4x USB Type-A 2.0 (480MBps), 1x Ethernet RJ45, 1x 3.5mm audio jack, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 (GPU, FRL, 3x DisplayPort 1.4 (GPU), 1x HDMI 2.1 (Optional, motherboard, TMDS), 1x VGA (Optional, motherboard) |
| Expansion | 2x DDR5 UDIMM (Up to 5,600MHz), 1x M.2 2280 (Up to 1TB), 1x 3.5″ SATA (Up to 2TB), 1x PCIe Gen4 x16 (GPU), 1x PCIe Gen3 x1 |
| Connectivity | Up to Wi-Fi 6E 2×2, up to Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 17-liters, 376 x 279 x 170mm (14.8 x 10.98 x 6.7in) |
| Weight | ~8kg (~17.6lbs) |
| Warranty | 1-year standard |
Inside the container, you will discover the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9), an accompanying three-prong power cord, as well as a fundamental mouse and keyboard.
LOQ Tower review: Design and build quality
Compared to standard gaming desktops, the Lenovo LOQ Tower boasts a significantly smaller footprint, with an interior space of merely 17 liters, whereas typical mid-to-full-size PCs range from 35, 45 liters, and beyond.
This design maintains a subtle elegance, yet it’s tidy and visually appealing. To be frank, the LOQ Tower appears more like an ordinary office computer refashioned for gaming purposes, instead of a compact gaming PC.
The chassis sports a matte black finish, subtly enhanced by sharp, white LEDs at the front. The power button, too, displays the Legion logo when activated, adding a thoughtful detail. Positioned below this button on the front of the LOQ Tower are its quickest USB ports, including one Type-C and two Type-A ports.
At the back, you’ll discover a variety of additional ports such as four USB Type-A ports that operate at a slower speed, plus four display outputs linked to the separate NVIDIA graphics processor. The arrangement is thoughtful, and the overall construction of this desktop gives a sturdy impression.
While it may not boast the same level of flashiness as many standard gaming desktops, the LOQ Tower appeals to those who prefer a more understated design. This compact tower blends seamlessly into various environments.
LOQ Tower review: Performance and thermals
The Lenovo LOQ Tower is not built for extreme performance, but instead provides sufficient power to run the most recent and impressive PC games at acceptable graphic settings and resolutions without needing significant adjustments.
Regarding its performance, this desktop certainly delivers. The latest models offer several setup options, but mine specifically features an Intel Core i5-14400F processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
This base model retains the RTX 3050 graphics card from its previous version, but boasts enhanced CPU and SSD performance all around. Generally speaking, this computer operates flawlessly whether you’re working, playing games, or designing projects.
Regardless of its compact interior, it performs well at maintaining a reasonable level of coolness without causing excessive noise. Under heavy use, it’s not as quiet as a whisper, but it’s nowhere near the volume of a home-kept aircraft engine.
I tested the LOQ Tower 15 times in a row with 3DMark’s Time Spy benchmark and it achieved a frame rate consistency of 98.1%. This is a decent result – it’s not outstanding, but it’s also far from problematic.
In my practical experience, the Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) functions just as expected given its hardware, and surprisingly matches performance with larger competitors such as the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i (Gen 8), despite being more compact. Both are solid budget choices.
As a passionate gamer, I can confidently say that regardless of the setup you choose, the LOQ Tower will effortlessly manage gaming at 1080p without any hiccups. With an RTX 4060 under its hood, it’s not just playable, but you can crank up those settings and still enjoy smooth, reliable performance.
- Forza Horizon 5 — 99 FPS (Extreme preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution/Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency disabled)
- Gears 5 — 94 FPS (Ultra preset, 1080p resolution, uncapped framerate, v-sync enabled)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 82 FPS (Extreme preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Performance, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled)
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 85 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 1080p resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution Transformer Model set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Ray Reconstruction disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Reflex Low Latency enabled)
The main challenge that the LOQ Tower may face is the restricted Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) in most of its setups. However, playing games at Full High Definition (FHD) to Quad High Definition (QHD) can help prevent possible problems. In summary, the LOQ Tower is a dependable partner for gaming, particularly for those who are more casual gamers and prefer something compact and uncomplicated.
LOQ Tower review: Upgradeability
In the process of reducing the size of a desktop computer, flexibility for upgrades tends to be sacrificed the most. Unfortunately, the Lenovo LOQ Tower isn’t able to break free from physical limitations, and Lenovo themselves don’t make things easier by certain decisions they’ve made in this design.
As a researcher, when unfastening the LOQ Tower, it is necessary to use a screwdriver to undo the bolts prior to sliding off the side panel. However, I don’t see any compelling reason why you couldn’t keep the screws detached if you frequently open your PC. Upon removal of the panel, you’ll find a compact interior that offers several expansion possibilities.
Initially, what catches your eye is the unique motherboard structure, based on the Intel B760 chipset. Additionally, it has two slots for DDR5 UDIMM memory modules, allowing you to enhance the system RAM. There’s only one M.2 slot for SSDs (the other is utilized for the WLAN card), but there’s an open bay for a 3.5″ SATA hard drive.
The primary PCIe Gen4 x16 slot is occupied by the compact GPU, leaving minimal room for future GPU upgrades due to space constraints. An unused PCIe Gen3 x1 slot exists, however, it’s likely that your current graphics card will cover this slot as well.
In simpler terms, the main issue lies with the power supply, which is a permanently built unit that employs a unique connector design. Many of the problems I encounter with the LOQ Tower could be addressed if Lenovo were to adopt standard, readily interchangeable components instead.
LOQ Tower review: Software and AI experience
From my perspective as a devoted admirer, the Lenovo LOQ Tower maintains an understated gaming PC vibe in terms of software, offering a familiar lineup of Lenovo applications.
Lenovo Vantage offers fundamental adjustments for your LOQ Tower, though it doesn’t provide advanced performance settings such as overclocking. Additionally, you’ll find essential Nahimic applications for audio customization and the NVIDIA Control Panel; remember that you’ll need to manually install the NVIDIA app to handle driver updates.
On the LOQ Tower, you might encounter ads for Dropbox and McAfee upon setup, which isn’t ideal, but it could be much more cluttered with pre-installed software. Thankfully, it runs on a clean build of Windows 11, making it feel robust and swift.
If you’re interested in learning about artificial intelligence, which is quite prevalent these days, I must clarify that this Intel processor doesn’t come equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for AI tasks. Lenovo didn’t incorporate any additional features either. However, rest assured, there’s an NVIDIA GPU available to cater to your AI requirements.
LOQ Tower review: Score card
| Attribute | Rating & notes |
|---|---|
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐ — The LOQ Tower just isn’t competitively priced when compared to the alternatives. |
| Design | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — This is a clean, compact, cute chassis with enough ports to get the job done, but it’s nothing special, and the interior is too cramped. |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ — While the specs aren’t too impressive, the LOQ Tower is still a reliable performer for 1080p gaming, and it runs cool and quiet, too. |
| Upgradeability | ⭐⭐⭐ — Limited space aside, Lenovo uses proprietary parts to further restrict your options to upgrade in the future, but it is easy to upgrade your memory and storage. |
| Software | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — The LOQ Tower runs Windows well, and Lenovo’s included software is stable, this desktop just doesn’t add anything to the experience. |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐½ — When discounted, the LOQ Tower is a competent and consistent gaming PC with an understated design, but it’s usually overpriced and it’s always a little too limiting. |
LOQ Tower review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if …
- You want a very compact desktop PC with the power for gaming.
- You’re looking for a straightforward, low-cost gaming PC.
❌You should not buy this if …
- You can’t find it on sale.
- Being able to upgrade or expand in the future is important.
Additionally, I evaluated the eighth generation of the Lenovo LOQ Tower, and I gave it a higher score compared to its more recent model. Unfortunately, the latest LOQ Tower doesn’t offer significant enhancements over its previous version, but its price point seems off-target.
As an analyst, I can attest that brands such as iBuyPower offer exceptional value for your investment and are typically more amenable to upgrades down the line. However, it’s undeniable that there is a demand for a sleek, low-profile gaming PC that doesn’t carry the typical gamer aesthetic.
The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) does an excellent job of fitting into the gaming niche with its sleek and uncomplicated design. It skillfully employs its entry-level hardware to ensure smooth gameplay at 1080p. This tower is a reliable choice for beginners and casual gamers, but keep an eye out for deals when purchasing it.
Option 1: The Lenovo LOQ Tower (Gen 9) is available for purchase at Lenovo for $1,099.99. Additionally, you can find it on various other retailers. I’ve even spotted refurbished models, which could be a smart choice if you’re looking to save some money and aren’t afraid of purchasing pre-owned items.
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2025-05-18 18:11