MSI Shows Off "Project Zero X" PC Build at CES 2025

[T0@st]

MSI's Back-Connect motherboard design provides the foundation of Project Zero X—specific components were not listed when TechPowerUp examined this sleek PC build. A panoramic glass case design houses an all-MSI ecosystem that is "clean and cable-free" thanks to the aforementioned back-mounted layout. Clutter is kept out of view in a rear compartment and the I/O panel is positioned at the back of Project Zero X's enclosure (see photo below). TechPowerUp enjoyed looking at this refreshingly simple arrangement through the case's four-sided glass panel. The build's vertically-mounted MSI-brand GeForce RTX graphics card is positioned next to a signature Project Zero X-branded motherboard.

A product placard mentions that Project Zero X features an integrated "Full-Coverage Heatsink"—providing "comprehensive" cooling coverage across the system. MSI also claims that there are no air circulation dead spots—thanks to a unified airflow design. The cooling system seems to be mostly hidden away inside the enclosure's rear and bottom compartments.




MSI chose to exhibit its older Project Zero (non-X) PC Build as well—this setup looked very traditional when compared to the X's radical approach.



The Project Zero PC build's placard was less secretive regarding component choices—TechPowerUp noted Intel Core's Ultra 7 265K processor, an MSI PRO Z890-S Wi-Fi PZ motherboard, a GeForce RTX 4070 Ti GAMING X SLIM WHITE 12G graphics card and a (patent pending) MAG CORELIQUID A13 WHITE CPU cooler. The MAG PANO 100R PZ WHITE case houses this setup.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[goldman]

if they were gonna do it like that, why not just go ITX?

 

[theglaze]

if they were gonna do it like that, why not just go ITX?

Because it won't save space. Graphics card sets the minimum height.
Even if ITX mobo width is tighter, it would be difficult to get the chassis profile small enough for 240mm rad.
And if ya did that, that rad is also the only exhaust, which will soak up all that GPU heat.

 

[Tannhäuser]

Finally a nice looking board for adults. Thanks MSI!

 

[azrael]

That's just not good enough! They cannot be allowed to rest until ALL components have been moved to the back of the motherboard.

 

[BlaezaLite]

Does look exceptional, must be said.

 

[eidairaman1]

Boring

 

[bonehead123]

Finally a nice looking board for adults. Thanks MSI!

Yea, and to complete that goal, just disable the circus puke on the cooler & GPU, and the heavens will come to a quiet, peaceful rest forever !

Although I'm sure it will be hella-uber-mucho expensive, I might just buy one anyways, just 'cause I like aesthetics

 

[kumoiwa]

I hope more companies adopt this trend, I personally love the stylish look without cables.

 

[lexluthermiester]

This is interesting, conceptually. Not sure I see the general usefulness of it.

 

[starfals]

This is interesting, conceptually. Not sure I see the general usefulness of it.

Exactly. Its not, it will make it harder to build or remove stuff. Having to open both the back and the front... I do like it, but sadly.. computers tend to break from time to time. Its not a piece of beauty that just sits there looking good. It needs to be fixed from time to time. Upgraded too..

 

[Vayra86]

Showing off hardware with glass to force the need to hide hardware behind case plating so you get a better look at hardware you already know.

Honestly a madman couldnt even make it up.

 

[_roman_]

The future will bring more bend mainboard pins topic for the peripherals like fan connectors and such.

I'm not fond of that. People will see the issues when they adopt this. Especially when the first buyer packaging is gone for the mainboards.

 

[Chrispy_]

Yay! More motherboards that only work in proprietary cases

/s

 

[lexluthermiester]

Exactly. Its not, it will make it harder to build or remove stuff. Having to open both the back and the front... I do like it, but sadly.. computers tend to break from time to time. Its not a piece of beauty that just sits there looking good. It needs to be fixed from time to time. Upgraded too..

Good points all.

 

[Chrispy_]

Finally a nice looking board for adults. Thanks MSI!

Why would an adult care what the board looks like?
Here's a photo of one of my adult motherboards:



This is how much most adults care about the aesthetics of their PC, IME. The only adults I talk to who give a damn about RGBLED and tempered glass cases are talking to me about it because they're buying for their kids. Their biggest concern is usually how much more it will cost to get one with the glass and the lights, and what's the minimum they can spend to get that look.

 

[Random_User]

Spoiler

The "boiling dragon"

Exactly. Its not, it will make it harder to build or remove stuff. Having to open both the back and the front... I do like it, but sadly.. computers tend to break from time to time. Its not a piece of beauty that just sits there looking good. It needs to be fixed from time to time. Upgraded too..

Exactly! The "old" ATX standard had the wires cables in main chamber, due to ease of accessibility. It was required only to open one of the "doors"/panels, to reach the component. Now it requires both sides to be simultaneous "within the reach", have a room/access.
Also, the back side connectors, mean the case/chassis now ought to be more spacious, in order to let the wires/cables being attached, without the bending/deformation. This will only lead to even bigger case footprints, as the "main" chambers cannot really be shrunk, below the 360/480mm fan/radiator compatibility.

 

[bug]

The name reminded me of: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project-X

 

[_roman_]

Why would an adult care what the board looks like?

I do care for my DIY thing.

As I wrote several times about htat topic. There were pictures with bend pins on the backside for that nonsense of this standard. Even on the press pictures.

I prefer ordinary atx mainboards with 90 degree 20 or 24 pin ATX connectors and 90 degree those 8 or 6 pin cpu connectors.

I never understood why those case connectors are on the bottom. They should be on the top.
Those pins for Reset, power on, power led, usb for the front case, audio for the front.

 

[Chrispy_]

I do care for my DIY thing.

As I wrote several times about htat topic. There were pictures with bend pins on the backside for that nonsense of this standard. Even on the press pictures.

I prefer ordinary atx mainboards with 90 degree 20 or 24 pin ATX connectors and 90 degree those 8 or 6 pin cpu connectors.

I never understood why those case connectors are on the bottom. They should be on the top.
Those pins for Reset, power on, power led, usb for the front case, audio for the front.

I'm an engineer (by qualification, if not by current occupation) so I value functionality and performance. To me there is beauty in something that is designed well, crafted well, and made from good quality materials. Zero-performance decorative frills made out of cheap plastics and twinkly lights that require buggy software to operate are of no interest to me, neither are massive space-wasting fish tanks designed to show off the twinkly lights. The fact they also cost extra irks me, because unless you actually have infinite budget, money spent on decorations is money not spent on better quality, higher-performance hardware. When the PC is going out of sight under a desk, it's the performance and how little noise it makes that matters, not the pretty rainbow lights.

As for the location and orientation of the connectors, I definitely agree with you on that - it's something that shows how outdated the ATX standard is. However, the ATX standard is the foundation on which compatibility of parts is based, and for that we should be thankful. Without it we'd be stuck in the same proprietary OEM hell that Dell/HP prebuilts are. I don't understand why front panel connectors are on the bottom edge though. That's not part of the ATX standard, to my knowledge, and it's a pretty dumb place to put them.

At some point in the next few years, I suspect we'll see an ATX revision that still uses the basic motherboard standoff locations, but prioritises graphics cards as the centrepiece of a PC. With CPUs typically pulling 50-150W in common loads and GPUs pulling up to 500W, it makes no sense that GPUs should be crammed into a tiny expansion slot that is nowhere near exhaust fans, while the CPU gets the premium real estate with lots of open space and usually a plethora of exhaust options in at least two directions.

 

[bug]

I'm an engineer (by qualification, if not by current occupation) so I value functionality and performance. To me there is beauty in something that is designed well, crafted well, and made from good quality materials. Zero-performance decorative frills made out of cheap plastics and twinkly lights that require buggy software to operate are of no interest to me, neither are massive space-wasting fish tanks designed to show off the twinkly lights. The fact they also cost extra irks me, because unless you actually have infinite budget, money spent on decorations is money not spent on better quality, higher-performance hardware. When the PC is going out of sight under a desk, it's the performance and how little noise it makes that matters, not the pretty rainbow lights.

Agreed. I see the value of extra frills, but they should be an optional extra imho.

As for the location and orientation of the connectors, I definitely agree with you on that - it's something that shows how outdated the ATX standard is. However, the ATX standard is the foundation on which compatibility of parts is based, and for that we should be thankful. Without it we'd be stuck in the same proprietary OEM hell that Dell/HP prebuilts are. I don't understand why front panel connectors are on the bottom edge though. That's not part of the ATX standard, to my knowledge, and it's a pretty dumb place to put them.

Whether the connection are at the top or at the bottom, you don't get enough freedom of placing the case (i.e. it fits on your desk or under it, but not both places). Probably the proper design would a panel that you can install both ways.

At some point in the next few years, I suspect we'll see an ATX revision that still uses the basic motherboard standoff locations, but prioritises graphics cards as the centrepiece of a PC. With CPUs typically pulling 50-150W in common loads and GPUs pulling up to 500W, it makes no sense that GPUs should be crammed into a tiny expansion slot that is nowhere near exhaust fans, while the CPU gets the premium real estate with lots of open space and usually a plethora of exhaust options in at least two directions.

My hope is that, since the RT technique requires fewer passes, once GPUs can shed their rasterization capabilities, we will be able to get back to GPUs that don't need 300W+ to operate. Won't happen for another decade though.

 

[Arctucas]

Finally a nice looking board for adults. Thanks MSI!

Get rid of the LED lighting, make it all basic black, then maybe...