AORUS Model S 12th Gen Gaming PC Review

How Much Does it Cost?

There are a fair few options to choose from on the AORUS Model S, with prices ranging from around £1900 to a little over £3500. You can check out the various models, and find out where to buy on the official product page here. You can also check for various versions and their prices on Amazon here. While the core i7 and RTX 3070 made a sweet pairing, the Intel i9 and RTX 3080 model is worth a look too.

Overview

Gigabyte knows what they’re doing when it comes to PC gaming, and I’ve been a long-time fan and user of their graphics cards and motherboards, and I’ve certainly praised many more in my reviews of them in the last decade or so… damn, I’ve been here a long time! However, when it comes to their really high-end stuff, they use their AORUS branding, and as soon as I see AORUS, it’s pretty much telling me this hardware is going to slay when it comes to gaming.

Performance

Of course, the AORUS Model S did not disappoint at all when it comes to gaming. In fact, its performance is impressive in every regard. Now, admittedly, this isn’t the most extreme, high-end or even the latest hardware, but it really doesn’t have to be either. For video rendering and other CPU-heavy tasks, having a choice of Core i7 or Core i9 CPUs is great, as they’re both potent enough for a good workflow. The RTX 3070 is no slouch either, and while the newer RTX 4090 may make it look pale in comparison, this GPU and CPU combo is still a solid choice for gaming at 4K60 or at 2K with 120-144Hz refresh rates, and for Full HD 240Hz.

Fast

There are faster SSDs on the market too, but at nearly 10x the read/write performance of a traditional 2.5″ SSD, you’re hardly going to feel left behind here. It’s a fast-loading and very responsive system overall. For work, gaming, scrolling reddit till your fingers hurt, or whatever you fancy, it’s not going to let you down.

Quiet

What’s more impressive to me, however, is just how cool and quiet this system is. The GPU and CPU use a shared centralised, albeit rather large cooler. It stays surprisingly quiet given the overall performance figures. If you wanted to overclock a little I don’t think that would be a problem, not that performance was lacking anyway. Still, having this up on top of your desktop, even while gaming for a few hours, and it didn’t bother me at all.

Stylish

Plus, the design is really awesome, it’s such a clean-looking and stylish system. In a market that has become obsessed with tempered glass and RGB to the point of most brands looking broadly the same these days, AORUS stands out with something that, ironically, doesn’t stand out. It’s just a big Xbox, and with a name like AORUS Series S, it’s clear that they’re playing off that in their marketing. Not a bad idea though, a kick-ass gaming PC with the cool aesthetics of the Xbox? I’m in!