Hoping to capitalize on demand for high-powered, virtual reality gaming-capable PCs, Lenovo rolls out two new models at a conference in Europe. The reaction is immediate – and mixed.

(Plus, get the specs on the new machines below.)

“Lenovo’s ‘VR Ready’ gaming PC is a potent portable console killer,” raves SlashGear.

“Lenovo’s newest gaming PC might look like a Cylon’s robot dog best-friend, but the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is actually aimed at gamers looking to take 4K play out with them.”

The PCs were unveiled at Gamescon 2016 in Germany. The Verge also picked up on the Cylon theme.

“Lenovo’s new VR-ready gaming PCs look like damn Cylons,” reads The Verge headline.

“Lenovo has announced a pair of new gaming PCs: the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube and the all-in-one IdeaCentre AIO Y910. Both conform to the established gaming PC aesthetic, using red and black coloring, industrial textures like faux carbon fiber (and more).”

Engadget notes the Cube is portable and the IdeaCentre Y910 is an “all-in-one pack bleeding-edge Intel chips and graphics.”

ZDNet notes the Cube is not a lightweight, weighing in at 16 pounds.

Yet CNET notes Lenovo “shrinks its gaming desktop down.”

“One of the best-kept secrets in PC gaming continues to be Lenovo’s line of gaming laptops and desktops — for years, the company, best known for ThinkPad and Yoga laptops, has put out a series of decent, if not flashy, game-ready laptops and desktops,” CNET adds. …


The specs

Here are the specs on the machines as provided by Lenovo:

  • IdeaCentre Y710 Cube goes anywhere you do

Ideal for gamers who want to stay competitive no matter where they play, the IdeaCentre Y710 Cube comes with a built-in carry handle for easy transport between gaming stations. Housed sleekly within a new, compact cube form factor weighing only 7.4 kg, it features up to NVIDIA®’s latest GeForce® GTX 1080 graphics, up to 6th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM to handle today’s most resource-intensive releases. The IdeaCentre Y710 Cube lets players confidently handle 4K gaming, VR and high-quality streaming with massive computing capabilities in real time, as well as multitask between editing a spreadsheet and streaming a movie.

The IdeaCentre Y710 Cube comes with up to lightning-fast Killer™ DoubleShot™ Pro Wi-Fi, Windows® 10 Home, up to integrated Dolby Audio™ and up to 2TB HDD (hard disk drive) or up to 256GB SSD (solid state drive) storage, letting gamers enjoy their entire gaming libraries. For those who want even more control over their gaming setups, the Cube also comes with the option of an integrated Xbox One™ Wireless receiver with one Xbox One controller. The receiver supports up to eight Xbox One controllers simultaneously for gaming sessions with friends. Additionally, the system offers players the option to bundle peripherals like the Lenovo Y Series Gaming Mechanical Keyboard and Precision Mouse.

  • IdeaCentre AIO Y910 offers massive power without the mass

Proving a true gaming rig doesn’t need to take up an entire room, the IdeaCentre AIO Y910 captures the power of state-of-the-art PC desktops in an all-in-one (AIO) form and fits conveniently in places where bulkier PC can’t. Built entirely within a 27-inch Quad High Definition (2560×1440) borderless display, it cuts down on the sprawling hardware and cables that clutter traditional towers – without cutting down on game performance.

Up to 44 percent1 of gamers use their gaming PCs for everything from productivity to entertainment. As both a pro-gaming, VR-ready PC and a high-end desktop for efficient productivity, the IdeaCentre AIO Y910 gives players the features they demand in a sleek AIO desktop. With up to NVIDIA’s latest GeForce GTX 1080 or AMD® Radeon™ RX 460 graphics, up to 6th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, up to 32GB DDR4 RAM, and up to 2TB HDD or up to 256GB SSD, the IdeaCentre AIO Y910 is a great personal gaming powerhouse, family PC or video entertainment center.

With fewer pieces to manage, the IdeaCentre AIO Y910 is simple to set up and ready to play right out of the box. It’s adaptable, too – an easily detachable back panel allows for one-step access to the AIO’s core components, allowing for quick and easy upgrades for the increasing number of gamers – nearly 50 percent1– who like to continually tweak their systems. Twin 5W Harman Kardon® stereo speakers produce impeccable sound, while Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi reduces in-game lag. An ultra-thin display featuring 144Hz refresh rate and 5ms response time deliver that tactical edge when every millisecond counts.