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If you follow NerdNet on youtube, you know I (Editor of NerdNet) don’t just use my systems for video editing and design—I sneak in some gaming too. That’s why I get excited when a desktop can handle both like a champ, and today we’re looking at one that delivers: the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i.
Why Creators Should Care About Gaming Desktops
One of the perks of being a video creator is that powerful gaming hardware often overlaps with what we need for editing, animation, and design. Still, when it’s time to upgrade, many of us default to custom builds, assuming prebuilt systems are overpriced and underpowered. And to be fair, that used to be true. But the Legion 5i surprised me.
Solid Specs Right Out of the Box
Let’s break down what you get:
- Intel i7-10700 CPU (8 cores)
- NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super
- 1TB PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD
- 16GB DDR4 RAM (2933 MHz)
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
- RGB fans for that gamer aesthetic
Honestly, this config is more than capable of handling heavy creative workloads and AAA gaming. But what about future-proofing?
Upgradeability That Doesn’t Suck
This is where many prebuilt systems fail—non-standard parts, weird case layouts, and proprietary cooling solutions. Fortunately, the Legion 5i avoids all that.
- 650W Power Supply: Enough headroom for future upgrades.
- RAM Slots: 4 DIMMs, expandable up to 128GB.
- PCIe Slots: Limited to one free slot (aside from the GPU), but for most creators, that’s totally fine.
Do keep in mind that Lenovo frequently updates the specs on these machines, so always check the latest configuration before purchasing.
The Real Cost of Convenience
With the included mouse and keyboard, the Legion Tower 5i comes in at $1799.99 with free next-business-day shipping.
I compared this to building a similar system with name-brand parts, and the DIY route came out to about $1,695. Sure, that’s nearly $100 cheaper—but don’t forget shipping, the time it takes to build, and the hassle of setting everything up. Also, Lenovo often runs weekend sales that can drop the price below what it costs to DIY.
Connectivity and I/O
The I/O on this machine is mostly solid:
- Back Panel:
- 1x mic jack, line-in, line-out
- 1x Ethernet
- 4x USB-A
- 1x USB-C
- 2x USB 2.0
- GPU Ports: 3x DisplayPort, 1x Thunderbolt, 1x HDMI
- Front Panel:
- Combo mic/headphone jack
- 2x USB-A
The only thing really missing here is a built-in SD card reader, which many creators would appreciate—but an external USB reader will get the job done.
Real-World Performance
Editing 4K footage in Premiere Pro? Smooth as butter. And for gaming, 3DMark predicts 60+ FPS in GTA V at 1440p Ultra with the RTX 2070 Super. This is a machine that can hustle through creative workflows by day and dive into high-end gaming by night.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a content creator or gamer—or both—and want a system that’s ready to rock right out of the box, the Legion Tower 5i is a strong contender. It’s upgradeable, priced fairly, and built to handle modern workflows.
If you’re looking for even more power, check out the Legion Tower 7i, which can be configured with a 10-core i9, RTX 3070, 32GB RAM, and liquid cooling. At the time of writing, some 5i units with RTX 3070s have existed but were sold out—so keep your eyes peeled!