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What just happened? NZXT, the US hardware maker best known for making some very impressive PC cases, has introduced a service that involves renting out mid-to-higher-end PCs for a monthly subscription. The scheme could certainly benefit those unable to afford the upfront cost of a full PC build, but its long-term value is questionable.
It feels like almost everything is subscription-based these days, so it's not too surprising to see NZXT join the monthly payment party with NZXT Flex, a subscription-based service for desktop PCs.
Being able to rent PCs isn't something new, but most of the companies that have been doing it for years are business-focused services. NZXT says its gamer-oriented subscription plan is a first of its kind as it comes with a lifetime warranty, regular refresh upgrades, 24/7 tech support, and the ability to cancel at any time without any extra costs.
NZXT Flex offers three PC models at different price points, each based on its NZXT's Player Series PC. Even the entry-level rig should be able to handle most gaming demands, especially if users have a 1080p monitor: an Intel Core i5-1440F combined with an RTX 4060, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 500GB M.2 SSD in a H5 Flow case. This costs $59 per month. However, the NZXT Flex website has this first option down as using a Core i5-12400F and RTX 3050. It's unclear if this is an error or if the company will be updating the website specs at some point.
The next tier swaps in an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, RTX 4070 Super, H5 Elite case, and a 1TB M.2 for $119 per month, while the top option includes a Core i7-13700F, RTX 4070 Ti Super, 32GB of DDR5 and H7 Flow case for the not unsubstantial amount of $169 per month.
PC hardware can go out of date fast, which is why participants in the program will receive regular refresh upgrades every two years. NZXT says component-level upgrades are not yet supported but will be soon.
While avoiding paying a large upfront cost is always welcome, and the regular upgrades sound enticing, those monthly costs will add up fast. Staying on the most expensive option for two years will cost a total of $4,056, while the RTX 4070 Super level would be $2,856 – much more than it would cost to buy a similarly specced (or better) PC outright.
The flip side of the argument is that the program could be useful for those with a potato PC who want to try a high-end model for a month or two, perhaps as a tester to see if buying one would be worth it, or even just to play a new demanding game. In the latter case, however, Nvidia's GeForce Now Ultimate RTX 4080 tier, which can run on almost anything with a solid and fast internet connection, could be a better option. The cloud streaming service offers the likes of 4K gaming and 240fps for most new titles, and it's currently half-price at $9.99 per month.