When shopping for a reasonably priced gaming PC, the number of available choices can be a bit overwhelming, which is why it’s exciting when we come across desktops like the MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US. This AMD-powered machine can max out just about any 1080p or 1440p games, and its parts are simple to swap.
Everything but the monitor comes with the box, and the desktop itself is already configured to maximize performance. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and a mid-range Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, you get the best of both worlds, performance, and price, in the Aegis ZS.
If you’re looking to stay under two grand (and this PC can fall to a lower sale price during seasonal events), the Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US is one to keep an eye on, even if it’s a bit of barebones.
Editors’ Recommendations
MSI Aegis ZS Specifications
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7700 |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4-3200 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Case | MSI MPG Gungnir 120R |
| Networking | RealTek 8821CE 802.11ac |
| Front Ports | USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, separate headphone and microphone jacks |
| Rear Ports (Motherboard) | USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 4x USB 2.0, HDMI, DisplayPort, audio jacks, PS/2 |
| Video Output (GPU) | 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Dimensions | 24.5 x 22.75 x 12.25 inches |
Design
For the Aegiz ZS, MSI went for its line of cases and built a gaming PC in the MPG Gungnir 120R. This is a mid-tower chassis made from black aluminum and tampered glass, with a honeycomb grille in the middle that makes it appear split between the two. It isn’t very unique; we’ve seen similar designs in some pre-builts like the CyberpowerPC Gamer Xtreme GXiVR8080A4. It’s a minimalist design choice and I think MSI should have gone for a slightly revamped design like most competitors.
The rest of the design is less daring, with the left side of the case consisting of a dark tampered glass window, which lets you marvel at the colorful lighting inside from the fans and the CPU cooler. The right side is metal and hides all the cable management. If you’ve seen the MSI Aegis RS, this case will all be familiar to you.
For cooling, there are three 120mm intake fans located at the front of the case behind a dust filter. There’s also a 120mm fan at the rear that serves as both the exhaust and cools the radiator for the all-in-one liquid cooler. At the top of the case, there’s room for a 240mm cooler and even a dust filter for fans. I just wish MSI had gone with this option across more configurations.
Ports and Upgradability
The Aegis ZS offers a comprehensive selection of ports for various peripherals and accessories. It includes multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB Type-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and audio jacks. The inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensures robust wireless connectivity options.
One of the standout features of the Aegis 7NUC-607US is its high level of customizability. The motherboard supports a wide range of components, including additional RAM slots, PCIe slots, and M.2 slots for further expansion. This means users have the flexibility to upgrade and tailor the system to their specific needs.
MSI Dragon Center software provides an intuitive interface for customizing the RGB lighting, adjusting fan speeds, and monitoring system performance. It also offers one-click overclocking for those looking to push their system to the limits.
The internals should be easy enough to update or repair. MSI is using standardized parts in the Aegis ZS, and most of them are either made by MSI itself, or in the case of the RAM and power supply, XPG.
Gaming Performance
When you’re on the hunt for a gaming PC, one thing matters above all else: performance. The MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US packs a solid feature set for both gaming and productivity: AMD Ryzen 7 7700 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD. The Nvidia RTX 4060 is a mid-range desktop graphics card based on the AD107 chip and uses the Ada Lovelace architecture. It’s an upgrade over the RTX 3060 from last year and combines 3,072 shader units and 8GB of GDDR6 memory. That’s just as much as you’d need to run modern titles at good frame rates at 1080p and 1440p resolutions.
Without DLSS, the Nvidia RTX 4060 performs slightly behind the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, but it competes well with an AMD Radeon RX 6650 XT. It’s well suited for 1080p gaming range, and the performance is sometimes sufficient for 1440p gaming, as well, although older games are more suitable for this resolution. Also, some compromises in terms of graphical fidelity might be necessary for the latest games.
Running Shadow of the Tomb Raider is no sweat for the RTX 4060 graphics processor, which runs at 163 frames per second at 1080p on the highest graphics preset. Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most demanding games for PC of the moment, it runs at 90 frames per second (fps) on the highest preset in 1080p resolution – meanwhile, the frame rate drops to 26 fps when played at 4K resolution.
If you’re more of an esports gamer, then you better have a high-refresh monitor to take advantage of the Aegis ZS’s speed. When playing a few rounds of Overwatch on 1080p Epic graphics settings, it averages 178 fps. Meanwhile, in Final Fantasy XIV, the framerate averages 195 fps for areas with few player characters.
Productivity Performance
Beyond gaming, the MSI Aegis ZS is a decent choice as a productivity workhorse. It features an AMD Ryzen 7 7700 processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB M.2 NVMe storage. That’s enough pep to run most of your productivity tasks without slowing down. If possible, you can pair it with a high-refresh monitor like the Samsung Odyssey G55A (1ms, 165Hz) and you’ve got yourself a powerful combination for gaming and productivity tasks.
If you’re a professional creative or artist, a higher-end configuration is better. However, for the hobbyist who wants to game and stream, edit a few YouTube videos, or dive into 3D modeling, this midrange MSI Aegis ZS configuration is a perfect choice.
MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US Review: Verdict
The MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US is a mid-tier, rather affordable gaming PC with bog standard parts that allow you to make upgrades down the line.
Most of the parts, at least in the model we reviewed, are MSI’s own. That means that years down the line when this PC isn’t playing games the way you want anymore, you can buy new parts from MSI or another company – and extend its gaming life.
Unless you plan on ray-tracing or driving your CPU to its limits, the MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US is a great gaming PC for about any use case. Its hardware is powerful enough to run modern games at high framerates, its parts are standardized and easy to replace, and it’s a good value for its performance and built quality. MSI nailed it with this one.
Recommended Configuration
MSI Aegis ZS Gaming Desktop, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, RGB Fan Cooling, Wi-Fi 6E, Keyboard & Mouse Included, DIY Friendly, Windows 11 Home-Adv: 7NUC-607US
The Review
MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US
The MSI Aegis ZS 7NUC-607US is a great, powerful, and value-filled PC for 1080p gaming that’s very easy to upgrade and is fairly affordable than competitors.
PROS
- Fairly affordable
- Standardized parts make for easy upgrades
- Decent pack-in mouse
CONS
- Needs better CPU cooling
- Limited lighting customization options
Review Breakdown
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ARS Guide SCORE
