CES 2026: The eTeknix team is here at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, bringing you coverage of the latest, greatest, and next-generation of PC hardware, components, gaming tech, and much more! While we’re currently on the show floor taking many pictures and having meetings, we will endeavor to update our live gallery throughout the day, which you can check out here!
MSI
MSI is one of the biggest and the best PC brands in the world, with a truly staggering range of products that span just about every aspect of the PC ecosystem. From all-in-one AI PC solutions, to gaming monitor, from gaming chairs, to AIO coolers, they have something for absolutely everyone. Furthermore, it’s no secret that their hardware is heavily geared towards the enthusiast and prosumer end of the market, with a strong focus on high-end and flagship performance, and their offerings at CES 2026 are no exception.
Unveiled at CES 2026 was the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 32G LIGHTNING Z, marking the return of a legendary flagship after a seven-year hiatus, re-establishing MSI’s dominance in the ultra-enthusiast market. I won’t bore you with the details of the RTX 5090, this is a card we know well.
However, this model comes with a reinforced PCB housing a 40-phase VRM and dual 12V-2×6 power connectors, the LIGHTNING Z is capable of drawing a staggering 800W in its standard configuration, while a specialized “XOC” BIOS allows extreme overclockers to push that limit to an incredible 1000W… and even a 2500W mode for LN2 overclocking. No, we’re not joking.
It’s headlined by the world’s first full-surface 8-inch display panel integrated directly into the shroud. This allows users to monitor real-time system statistics or display high-fidelity animations through the Lightning Hub software, but it’s more of a flex and showoff thing really, and you know it.
Underneath its carbon-fiber exterior, the card utilises a next-generation liquid-cooling AIO system with a full-cover cold plate and a hybrid-fin radiator with zoned heat exchange sections, all driven by a high-pressure pump and Lightning Fans.
The LIGHTNING Z has already cemented its status as a record-breaker, claiming first-place positions in 17 major overclocking benchmarks at its debut. Professional overclockers have already used the platform to reach a world-record GPU frequency of 3,742 MHz, pushing memory speeds to a cap of 36 Gbps. To support these extreme efforts, MSI introduced a companion mobile app, Lightning Overdrive, which provides real-time tuning and monitoring from any device.
More to follow!
Live Gallery
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