iBUYPOWER Trace 5 MR 181i 2021, Core i9-11900KF, 32GB, 1TB SSD, Radeon RX 6900 XT, Black

The iBUYPOWER Trace 5 MR 181i packs a killer RX 6900 XT and 32GB of RAM, but a 2.1-star rating and bottom-quarter reliability make it a risky buy at $3,500 USD. The GPU is the best part, but the trust just isn't there.

The RX 6900 XT is the star here. It lands in the 81st percentile for GPUs, which means it'll chew through 1440p gaming and handle 4K without too much drama. The i9-11900KF is no slouch either, though it's more middle of the pack for CPUs at the 57th percentile. 32GB of RAM is solid, and the 1TB SSD is about average. The weak spot is compactness, it scores a 17.2 out of 100, so this is a big, heavy tower. At 15.88kg, you won't be moving it around much.

Stacked against the HP OMEN GT22-3080 or the Lenovo Legion Tower 5a, the iBUYPOWER has a stronger GPU on paper. But the OMEN and Legion both have better reliability and social proof in our database. The Dell Area-51 is another option with a more proven track record. The ASUS ROG GM700 is also worth a look if you want a brand with better support. The iBUYPOWER wins on raw GPU power, but loses on trust.

At $3,500 USD, this is a tough sell. The GPU alone is worth a chunk of that, but the reliability concerns and that 2.1-star customer rating make it hard to recommend at full price. You're paying top dollar for a system that some buyers report has graphics card issues. If you can find it on sale, maybe. At list price, you're gambling.

The iBUYPOWER Trace 5 MR 181i is a weird mix. You get an Intel i9-11900KF and an AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT with 16GB of VRAM, which is a serious amount of gaming horsepower. But the whole package is dragged down by a 2.1 out of 5 customer rating and a reliability score that sits in the bottom quarter of our database.

It ships with 32GB of DDR4, a 1TB SSD, and Windows 10 Home. No bloatware, which is nice. But at $3,500 USD, you're paying a premium for a system that some buyers clearly had trouble with.

Skip this if you want a hassle-free experience. The low reliability score and 2.1-star rating mean you might end up dealing with returns or repairs. If you need a dependable workhorse for daily use, the HP OMEN or Lenovo Legion are safer bets. Also skip it if you want something compact, this thing is a tank.

This is for someone who wants a high-end GPU and is willing to roll the dice on reliability. If you're comfortable troubleshooting and don't mind the risk of a return, the RX 6900 XT is a great card. But most people should look at the competition first.