All things Computex 2024 this week here at Tom's Guide. The biggest IT event of the year continues to surprise us with amazing PC-focused products, and our team on the ground in Taiwan is bringing some eye-catching camera work to the show floor.
Yesterday at Computex Day 3, we were all over the amazing Asus TUF Gaming A14 laptop, a mid-range PC case that contained Lego Wolverine and a racing cockpit simulator that Jason England will have imagined in his deepest dreams in months.
We’re now in the thick of day four of Computex and the stakes continue to rise. Scroll down for some great images of some outrageous but absolutely impressive PC tech that our TG team got to test out in Taipei today. Spoiler: One of the entries includes the current president of Taiwan semi-interacting with an MSI Claw.
Essencore Custom Steampunk PC
There’s not much to say about this wooden-framed PC. In fact, it could be several things. First, it looks absolutely amazing, somehow combining the atmosphere of The Jetsons and The Matrix. Second, it’s hard to imagine a world where this becomes a real product that ordinary people can buy.
It's more than a shame.
Ice Magic Z1A
Dual-screen laptops often look a bit odd, but in terms of improving productivity, they can be very useful. The Alder Lake-powered Z1A may not offer the best specs in the world, but it’s still very stylish.
In terms of specs, we’re looking at a duo of 14.1-inch 16:9 IPS displays, with a pixel count of 1,920 x 1,200. The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics solution won’t set the world on fire just yet. At least this laptop is pleasantly light. Even with its two panels, it weighs just 1.8kg (63.4 oz) and will be available in both Windows 11 and Linux models.
Also, PSA: His keyboard tells you “Stay hungry, stay stupid” – so there's something to think about.
MSI MEG 321URX QD-OLED Monitor
There’s a lot more to this QD-OLED display than the fact that it holds the title of worst product ever. For one thing, it offers straight-up Terminator functionality.
Enter AI Sky Sight. This incredibly advanced technology uses artificial intelligence to automatically detect the location of an enemy on the screen in one of Steam’s best games before highlighting them on this futuristic screen.
The MEG 321URX also has a few other interesting features that are worth highlighting. The first of these is “OLED Care 2.0,” which promises to significantly reduce the chances of OLED screen burn-in, which can damage the display.
This stunning 31.5-inch 4K display (which offers a 240Hz refresh rate) also features a “SpectrumBar” with “Mystic Light” and “Glow Sync.” In the real world? This display can mimic the colors on screen. In any game you’re playing with soft ambient lighting.
Acer Swift 14 AI
Acer’s new Swift 14 is a thin, light, and extremely portable machine, and as is the current trend, this puppy has some cool new AI features. And when you do use them, the way the company notifies you when the NPU is training is pretty sweet.
When these NPUs are being tested, a small indicator light on the laptop’s touchpad will start glowing. This feature may get annoying after a while, but we’re working on it for now. Acer’s AI laptop will be available in both AMD Ryzen AI 300 and Intel Lunar Lake versions.
Guardian Encryption 1
As awesome as Computex is, one problem the event regularly throws up is that it showcases stunning custom PCs that you’ll never get the chance to actually own… unless you try to squeeze the Nangang Exhibition Center display unit into an incredibly large backpack. And the Sentinel Cypher may be no different.
This beautiful platformer exudes a serious Fallout vibe, with an aesthetic that looks like it's been through an atomic blast, but it still manages to run. Nvidia and Intel must be impressed with Essencore's work, because it's unlikely that either company will ever see an RTX 4070 or Intel Core i7-14700K in such a uniquely beautiful platform again.
Z10DS Screen
It’s a fairly new concept: a tempered glass display that can be attached to your PC. Coolness aside, this detachable display might not be appealing to hardcore gamers. While the functionality of this panel is commendable, a 1080p/60Hz display that covers only 62% of the sRGB color gamut is unlikely to really appeal to display enthusiasts. Still, the concept is pretty cool.
MSI Claw 8 AI Plus gets the presidential treatment
The strangest incident that happened on the fourth day of Computex 2024? Current Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te at the MSI Claw booth.
As someone reporting on the massive IT event from the frozen shores of the UK, this reporter finds it hard to imagine a scenario in which Rishi Sunak carries a vaporous OLED surface for cameras in the run-up to Britain’s first general election since 2019.
To be honest, the new MSI Claw 8 AI Plus seems worthy of such a big PR event. This upgraded laptop should be a big upgrade over the OG model thanks to Intel’s latest Lunar Lake chip.
