iBuyPower's Trace X gaming PC: a fishbowl for your desk

At a glance:

• The iBuyPower Trace X (RGB R01) combines a glass "fishbowl" design with RGB lighting, priced at $3,450 with AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU, 32GB RAM, and Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU.
• It requires self-installation of the GPU and has limited access to the power supply unit, though it features clean cable management and extensive I/O ports.
• Performance is competitive in 4K gaming and rendering, but generates noticeable noise under load and may require DLSS for demanding ray-traced titles.

Design and Build

The iBuyPower Trace X immediately captivates with its "fishbowl" aesthetic, featuring a glass side panel that reveals a river of RGB light flowing from the base through the top exhaust vents. This design prioritizes visual appeal over practicality, creating a calming gamer ambiance with soft glow from the branded side fans and AW5 360mm AIO liquid cooler. The alluring design makes it a standout on any desk, though its glass surface acts as a fingerprint magnet that requires frequent cleaning to maintain its pristine appearance.

While the Trace X delivers on aesthetics, its practical compromises are evident. The case requires users to self-install the GPU, which arrives in its original MSI-branded packaging instead of a pre-installed bracket. Accessing the power supply unit proves challenging due to tight cable routing beneath the PSU shield, complicating future upgrades. Despite these limitations, the case excels in cable management, with most power cables streamlined down the left side of the motherboard, and features two-thumbcrew front panel removal for easy access to internals.

Performance and Value

The Trace X configuration tested—featuring the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU, 32GB RAM, and Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU—costs $3,450 as of early May 2026. Remarkably, this matches the cost of sourcing identical components through services like BuildCores, challenging the traditional notion that prebuilt PCs carry a premium. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D offers marginal gains over the 9800X3D (just 1% better Geekbench 6 scores and equivalent Cinebench 2024 rendering), making it ideal for gamers focused on benchmark bragging rights rather than real-world performance.

Gaming performance impresses in 4K titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong, with the Trace X even outperforming the pricier HP Omen Max 45L in Black Myth at 4K with DLSS. However, the balance shifts at 1080p, where the Trace X leads by 20% in Cyberpunk 2077, while the HP Omen's RTX 5090 dominates 4K by 20-22%. In demanding scenarios like Total War: Warhammer III's "Mirrors of Madness" benchmark, the Trace X struggles to maintain 69 FPS at 4K. Temperatures peak near 80°C under load—safe but higher than expected with the 360mm cooler—though gaming remains stable without thermal throttling.

Practical Considerations

The Trace X's unique airflow design creates a negative pressure environment with four exhaust fans (rear, top, and two side-panel) versus three intakes. This imbalance contributes to noticeable noise under load, though it effectively expels heat. The Asus X870 Max Gaming motherboard compensates with exceptional connectivity: rear I/O includes dual 40Gbps USB-C, three USB-A 2.0, three 5G USB-A, 10G USB-A, Ethernet, and HDMI (allowing monitor output without the GPU). Front panel connectivity adds a USB-C, two USB-A, and headphone jack.

While the Trace X includes a basic keyboard and mouse, these entry-level peripherals are placeholders for upgrades. The case's AM5 socket promises long-term CPU compatibility, but the GPU installation requirement means users must possess fundamental upgrade skills. For those prioritizing aesthetics and desk presence over maximum airflow, the Trace X offers a compelling alternative to utilitarian designs like its sister brand Hyte's X50. At $2,900 for the Intel Core i9-14900KF "RDY" model, iBuyPower provides a premium option that trades some practicality for visual distinction.