TechRadar Verdict
Budget gamers looking for low-to-mid-range 1080p performance should give the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i a shot. Starting at $1,149, the Intel Core i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD is more than enough for playing competitive online titles alongside the best AAA games available. Just be mindful that the case lacks any real dust filtration for maintenance while also having only one USB-C port.
Pros
- +
Respectable 1080p performance
- +
Quiet when pushed to the max
- +
Approachable entry price
Cons
- -
Lacks dust filtration
- -
Only one USB-C
- -
Included keyboard and mouse aren't gamer-friendly
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Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : One-minute review
Compared to it’s bigger 7i sibling, the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is a smaller budget pre-build that starts at $1,149. This gaming desktop is well suited for anyone looking for a rig that handles 1080p gaming without much noise and is big enough to upgrade later on.
The base configuration features an Intel Core i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. Gamers who want to play newer AAA titles at mid-to-high settings in 1080p like Black Myth: Wukong or aspiring competitive gamers in need of high frame rates for games like Valorant should definitely keep this in mind. Everything from CPU to GPU alongside storage or RAM can be configured to more powerful components - for an extra cost of course - to suit your needs.
Outside of performance specs, the Legion Tower 5i has some extras that help it stand out amongst the fierce competition. Cooling is handled by several 150w fans alongside a VRM heatsink which keeps the desktop from overheating. Like the 7i, the rig stays quiet even during the most demanding tasks.
The front panel Lenovo logo and fans feature ARGB lighting which grants users control of each LED individually. This adds a bit of flair to the desktop but not as much as the i7 which featured lighting on the GPU and CPU. Finally, the Legion Tower 5i features Nahimic 3D audio for virtual surround sound.
Everything including performance, lighting and Nahimic are controlled through Lenovo’s Vantage application that comes packed in. For added measure, there’s also a keyboard and mouse included in the box.
The Legion 5i’s design does carry over certain problems of the bigger 7i. Though the mesh bezel at the front of the desktop allows proper airflow, maintenance is going to be a bit of a pain as there’s no dust filtration capabilities available.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of ports available sans a single USB-C which users may find issue with. In an age where USB-C is the current standard for many mobile devices, mouses, keyboards and headsets, this means users may need to stock up on adaptors or get a hub.
If those issues don’t matter more than the gaming experience, the Legion Tower 5i should be kept in consideration. It’s 1080p performance is respectable, well ventilated design that’s peaceful sounding and upgradability that potential buyers will appreciate.
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i: Price and availability
- How much does it cost? Starts at $1,149/ £1,080 / AU $1,799
- When is it available? Now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5i is available now in U.S., UK, and Australia territories starting at $1,149 / £1,080 / AU $1,799. Potential buyers can purchase the pre-build gaming desktop through Lenovo’s online store or various other retailers depending on the territory.
In the U.S., there are five configurations available that range between the previously mentioned starting price and $2,399. That higher-priced tier will get you an Intel Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage.
For those living in the UK, there’s only one buildable option that ranges between £1,080 and £2,187. At the lower end, users will get an Core i7 14700F, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 1TB SSD in storage. The higher £2,187 configuration grants an Intel i9, Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super, 64GB RAM and 2TB SSD.
Four customizable configurations for Australia range between AU $1,799 and AU $5,359. At the lower end, potential buyers can get an Intel i5, Nvidia RTX 4060, 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. An Intel i7, Nvidia RTX 4070 Super, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD alongside an extra 2TB HDD in storage is available at the highest configuration tier.
Value: 4 / 5
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Specs
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Lenovo Legion 5i (Review Configuration) | Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel i7 / Nvidia RTX 4070 Super Configuration) | Lenovo Legion 5i (Intel i7 / Nvidia RTX 4070 Ti Super Configuration) |
| Price: | $1,149 | $1,899 | $2,399 |
| CPU: | Intel Core i5 14400F | Intel Core i7 14700F | Intel Core i7 14700F |
| Graphics: | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Super 12 GB GDDR6 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Super 16 GB GDDR6 |
| RAM: | 16GB DDR5-5600 | 32GB DDR5 | 32GB DDR5 |
| Storage: | 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD | 1TB SSD |
| Ports: | 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 2.0, 1x Headphone (3.5mm), 1x Microphone (3.5mm), 3x Audio connector (3.5mm), 1x Lighting switch, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45) | 4x, USB 3.2 Gen 1 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 2.0, 1x Headphone (3.5mm), 1x Microphone (3.5mm), 3x Audio connector (3.5mm), 1x Lighting switch, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45) | 4x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 2.0, 1x Headphone (3.5mm), 1x Microphone (3.5mm), 3x Audio connector (3.5mm), 1x Lighting switch, 1x Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| Wireless: | Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6E, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Weight: | 14kg (30.86 lb) | 14kg (30.86 lb) | 14kg (30.86 lb) |
| Dimensions | (mm): 205 x 396.9 x 425.9mm, (inches): 8.1 x 15.62 x 16.76”, 26L | (mm): 205 x 396.9 x 425.9mm, (inches): 8.1 x 15.62 x 16.76”, 26L | (mm): 205 x 396.9 x 425.9mm, (inches): 8.1 x 15.62 x 16.76”, 26L |
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Design
- Roomy enough for future upgrades
- Has ARGB lighting
- Dust maintenance will be a problem
The mesh front grill featuring the Legion logo with ARGB lighting sets a nice impression of something that could fit in an office space as well as a gaming set-up. The all-black colorway blends really well with the lighting as the mesh design also manages to lend a level of aggression.
As mentioned previously, only the fans and Legion logo are lit unlike the 7i which has CPU and GPU lighting too. Though the mesh on the front looks terrific, it does come at the cost of function in terms of maintenance. It might be a bit difficult to clean every nook and cranny as dust accumulates over time. Thankfully, the case is big enough for upgrades over time in the CPU, GPU and storage area as well.
There are loads of ports available on the Legion Tower 5i, including 8 USB-A ports of various power delivery capabilities alongside standard audio and ethernet ports. Those are split between the top panel and the rear with two USB-A ports alongside singular jacks for headset and microphone. It’s a shame that there’s only one singular USB-C, which at this point and time is a bit strange. There are plenty of accessories like controllers, VR headsets, mouses, keyboards and headsets that use USB-C alongside most modern mobile devices.
For potential buyers who have devices that require USB-C, some adapters or hubs are going to be required. One thing for sure is that the included keyboard and mouse within the package isn’t going to make serious gamers happy as they lack the function of even the most budget gaming centered input devices. However, those who are new into PC gaming might find some usage at the start before moving on.
Design: 3.5 / 5
Lenovo Legion Tower 5i : Performance
- 1080p performance is fantastic
- Isn’t loud even when pushed
One of the first games I played on the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i was Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2. Though the lower 8GB of VRAM on the RTX 4060 prevented the ability to play the game at max settings, it looked great at mid-to-low settings and provided consistent 60 frames per second at 1080p resolution. This was consistent with other games played with high visual fidelity on the gaming desktop.
Cyberpunk 2077 at Ultra settings gave us 82 fps and dropped to the mid-60s when using mid ray tracing settings. Playing the ultra resource intensive Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 provided around 30 fps on mid to low settings too.
Here's how the Lenovo Legion 5i performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
3DMark: Speed Way: 2578; Fire Strike: 21744; Time Spy: 10060
GeekBench 6: 2362 (single-core); 11791 (multi-core)
Total War: Warhammer III (1080p, Ultra): 85 fps; (1080p, Low): 226 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p, Ultra): 82 fps; (1080p, Low): 127 fps
Dirt 5 (1080p, Ultra): 97.43333333 fps; (1080p, Low):198.2666667 fps
Handbrake (1080p, Fast): 5:33
There are a few ways to get more performance out of the Legion 5i as well. The first is through Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology which uses artificial intelligence to bump up resolutions. This is a great way to get 1440p resolution without the worry of frame rate drops. The other way is through the Lenovo Vantage application which allows for some overclocking for CPU and GPU performance.
On the esports side of things, playing games at recommended settings at 1080p provided great results as well. For example, playing Valorant on those settings pushed us into the 200+ frame rate range. I saw similar results for other titles including Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone. Games that are somewhat in the middle between visual fidelity and competitive performance like Forza Motorsport were able to run on recommended settings at 60 fps.
When it comes to general computing tasks, the Legion Tower 5i is speedy where it counts from using Google Chrome to music streaming services like Tidal. Creatives will be happy to know that Adobe Suite software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro works great for media that stays within the 1080p range. When it comes to Premiere Pro, trying to edit complex 4K video may lead to some issues in regards to sluggish prformance.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should I buy the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i?
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
| Value | The Lenovo Legion 5i works as an approachable 1080p gaming desktop for $1,149.99. Buyers who want a performance bump can upgrade the base configuration for a price. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | While similar to its bigger 7i sibling in design, the 5i is smaller and unfortunately has less ARGB lighting. Then there’s the issue with the lack of dust filtration and a single USB-C port. However, it still provides a sleek exterior with otherwise adequate features. | 3.5 / 5 |
| Performance | If high frame rates for esports games like Fortnite, Valorant and Call of Duty matter most, this is a viable option. Bigger graphically intensive AAA games run well at 1080p. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Average rating | For a budget 1080p gaming rig, the Lenovo Legion 5i offers great performance with room to upgrade later. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any foundational issues like having a single USB-C and lack of dust filtering. | 4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
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How I tested the Lenovo Legion 5i
- Tested over a week and some change
- Games played include Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2, Black Myth: Wukong and Forza Motorsport (2023)
- General computing tasks including Google Chrome and Adobe Creative Suite
I spent over a week using the Lenovo Legion Tower 5i, putting it to the test across various tasks. During work hours, I managed everyday computing using Google Chrome, running multiple tabs for apps like Asana, Google Docs, and Hootsuite. For content creation, I leaned on Adobe Premiere and Photoshop to design graphics and produce short-form social media videos.
To evaluate its high frame rate capabilities, I played fast-paced games like Valorant and Fortnite. Pushing the system further, I tested graphically demanding titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Black Myth: Wukong. Additionally, I also ran Forza Motorsport (2023) and Starfield to assess how the Legion Tower 5i handles diverse gaming experiences and visual performance.
I’ve spent the past several years covering monitors alongside other PC components for TechRadar. Outside of gaming, I’ve been proficient in Adobe Suite for over a decade as well.
First reviewed October 2024
