Video game company Konami is entering the PC gaming market with the release of its high-end gaming rig.
Konami calls its gaming rig series Arespear, where the “Are” stands for Advanced Revolution of Esports. The gaming rig sports a compact form factor that is eerily reminiscent of an Apple Mac Pro. The Japanese tech giant is releasing three models with different hardware configurations.
Although many said that the Arespear lineup looks like a Mac Pro, there are significant design differences. For one, the Arespear lineup has a flat black side panel that features a curved front with a silver finish. The three models are C300, C700, and C700+.
Konami Arespear specs
The Arespear C300 is the entry-level model with a starting price of US$1,750 [AU$2449.49]. The rig has an Intel Core i5-9400F processor with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card. The model has 8GB of DDR4 memory and a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD for storage.
While the Core i9 is a decent processor, the GTX 1650 is widely criticized for its performance and efficiency. Considering these hardware specifications, the rig should be able to handle most titles but in a limited graphics setting.
Konami is entering the desktop PC business https://t.co/nUcVEAYmAc pic.twitter.com/2cgV5G0Uz4
— PC Gamer (@pcgamer) July 29, 2020
The Arespear C700 and the C700+ have an almost identical hardware spec. There are only minor changes in configuration and pricing. Both rigs use the same Intel Core i7-9700 processors. Both rigs also utilize a powerful Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card a 16GB DDR4 memory clocked at 2666MHz.
Both C700 and 700+ models come with a 512GB NVMe SSD storage and Windows 10 operating system installed. The configuration of these rigs will put them in the high-end sector. However, despite the marketing from Konami, they are not exactly premium rigs.
Aesthetics over performance
The Arespear C700+ features an acrylic cutout window that allows owners to see its innards. It also has RGB backlights that add flair to the entire build. Although these are welcome additions, some have noted that Konami is preferring aesthetics over performance.
The PC gaming market is an extremely competitive market. Established brands like Alienware and Asus ROG are popular in the ready-to-use rigs. On the other hand, the market is also known for its personal builders. Many in the community usually buy individual hardware parts and assemble it, instead of buying a full rig.
Although Konami is a rookie in the desktop gaming market, the company is established on the hardware side. Considering the price point of the Arespear series, it is essentially an aesthetic build rather than one aiming for performance.
Image courtesy of GAMEVIL Inc./Wikimedia Commons