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HotHardware’s Biwin, ZOTAC and MSI gaming PC giveaway is closed. The entry period ended April 10, 2026, and HotHardware announced Alex W as the winner on April 17. The prize was an AMD-powered PC with a ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5070—not an all-AMD system.
Status: Closed. Entries were limited to U.S. and Canadian residents and ended April 10, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST. HotHardware’s announcement and winner update names Alex W as the winner.
Who won the HotHardware giveaway?
HotHardware announced Alex W as the winner on April 17, 2026. The announcement says the winner was asked to provide full contact details so the system could be transferred after HotHardware filmed the build process. The published page does not establish that the PC was ultimately delivered.
What was in the prize PC?
The promotion described a custom, hand-built HotHardware gaming PC sponsored by Biwin, ZOTAC and MSI, connected to LANFest philanthropic activity at PAX East. The listed configuration was:
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| Component | Published configuration |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, 16 cores, with 3D V-Cache |
| Graphics card | ZOTAC GeForce RTX 5070, 12GB GDDR6 |
| Memory | Biwin Black Opal DW100, 48GB DDR5-6000 |
| Storage | Biwin Black Opal NV7400, 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD |
| Motherboard | MSI MAG X870E Gaming Motherboard |
| Cooling | AIO liquid cooling |
| Power supply | MSI A850GS PCIe 5, 850W |
| Case | MSI MPG VELOX 300R AIRFLOW PZ |
Why it was called an AMD gaming PC
AMD supplied the Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, and the listed MSI X870E motherboard places the build on an AMD platform. The graphics card, however, was NVIDIA-based: ZOTAC’s GeForce RTX 5070. The giveaway title therefore describes an AMD-powered PC, not a system with an AMD Radeon GPU.
#1 Best Overall
- Fearless ROG Design – The G700’s dual-glass chassis showcases iconic ROG design with the ROG Slash and Aura Sync RGB lighting. Its 58L capacity supports triple-slot GPUs.
- Unstoppable Power – Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0 storage for seamless gaming and multitasking.
- Optimized Thermals – Stay cool with a quad-fan system, while dust filters and efficient airflow ensure long-term reliability.
- Advanced Connectivity – Game without lag with 2.5Gbps Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and versatile ports. Dolby Atmos audio and AI noise cancellation enhance sound and communication.
- Ready for Upgrades – Designed with tool-less access, easily swap out components, ensuring future-proof performance for years to come.
HotHardware mentioned DLSS and ray tracing in describing the RTX 5070, but the giveaway page provides no gaming benchmarks, thermal or acoustic measurements, or power-consumption results. Its “top-tier” performance language should be read as promotional description rather than a measured finding. The listed CPU is high-end, but the RTX 5070 would set the graphics ceiling in games limited by GPU performance.
Giveaway dates and eligibility
- March 27, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST: Entries opened.
- April 10, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST: Entries closed.
- April 17, 2026: HotHardware announced Alex W as the winner.
- Eligible residents: United States and Canada.
The published article also says winners were responsible for applicable taxes and tariffs and had to provide proof of identification to claim the prize. It gives no prize valuation from which to calculate a tax amount.
Rank #2
- System: AMD Ryzen 5 5500 3.6GHz 6 Cores | AMD B550 Chipset | 8GB DDR4 | 500GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | Windows 11 Home
- Graphics: AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB Graphics | 1x HDMI | 1x DisplayPort
- Connectivity: 4 x USB-A 3.2 | 4 x USB-A 2.0 | 1 x LAN | WiFi 5 | Bluetooth 5.0 | 7.1 Channel Audio
- Tempered Side Case Panel | Custom RGB Lighting | Keyboard and Mouse
- 1 Year Parts & Labor Warranty, Free Lifetime Tech Support
Can you still enter, and what did entry require?
No. The promotion’s published entry window has ended, so any surviving “enter here” wording or Gleam widget on the original page is historical and should not be taken as evidence that entries remain open.
The page confirms that entry was handled through an embedded Gleam widget and points readers to official rules, but its accessible text does not reproduce every entry action, limitation, alternate entry method, odds provision, or disqualification condition. It is not possible to establish those details from the announcement alone.
Rank #3
- 8-Core 16-Thread Processing Power – Powered by the Ryzen 7 4700LE processor with Zen 2 architecture, delivering 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock up to 4.2GHz. Effortlessly handle multitasking, streaming, content creation, and demanding applications simultaneously without slowdowns.
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Graphics – Equipped with 8GB GDDR6 dedicated VRAM and real-time ray tracing support. Experience smooth 1080p gaming at 55-60 FPS in AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077, 70+ FPS in Fortnite, and 90-100 FPS in Apex Legends with DLSS enabled. The 8GB buffer handles modern game textures comfortably – a step above 6GB variants
- High-Speed Memory & Storage – Paired with 16GB of DDR4 3200MHz dual-channel RAM (16GB), the PC ensures responsive multitasking—whether streaming while gaming or editing videos. It also includes a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD for lightning-fast boot times, quick game loads, and ample storage for your game library, creative projects, and files.
- Next-Gen WiFi 6 Connectivity – Stay connected with the latest WiFi 6 technology for faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network efficiency. Whether you're gaming online, streaming 4K content, or joining video conferences, enjoy stable, high-speed wireless connectivity.
- Ready-to-Use Value Desktop – Pre-built and ready to go right out of the box. Perfect for gamers, students, content creators, and home office users seeking reliable performance without the hassle of building a PC themselves. The mature AM4 platform with DDR4 memory offers excellent value and proven stability.
What the announcement does not establish
The page does not state a total prize value, warranty terms, shipping details, or a final delivery confirmation. It also does not identify exact retail models for the RTX 5070, motherboard, or AIO cooler; specify the 48GB memory kit arrangement; or provide full component-level specifications for those items. Readers should not infer these details or treat the announcement as a performance review.
For safety, use the original HotHardware announcement to check the promotion’s status. The page’s identification requirement applies to the announced winner; it is not a reason to send payment, passwords, cryptocurrency, or financial credentials to anyone claiming to represent the giveaway.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- POWERED BY RTX 5070 12GB + RYZEN 7 9700X - The GeForce RTX 5070 12GB GDDR7 graphics card pairs with an 8-core AMD Ryzen 7 9700X processor to drive smooth 1440p and 4K gameplay, giving this gaming PC the headroom for modern titles, streaming, and creative work.
- 32GB DDR5 6000MHz MEMORY & 1TB NVMe SSD - 32GB of high-speed DDR5 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe solid state drive deliver quick load times, smooth multitasking, and generous storage, keeping this prebuilt gaming desktop responsive under heavy workloads.
- BUILT-IN 11.3-INCH Smart DISPLAY - An integrated smart screen shows real-time CPU and GPU temperatures, usage, and weather while you play, adding a distinctive and functional touch to your battlestation.
- 850W 80+ GOLD POWER SUPPLY, 360MM LIQUID COOLING & WiFi 7 - An 850W 80 Plus Gold certified power supply provides stable, efficient power with headroom for future upgrades, while a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, WiFi 7, and an ARGB mid-tower case keep the Ryzen 7 CPU cool and connected in a clean build.
- READY TO PLAY OUT OF THE BOX - Arrives fully assembled and tested with Windows 11 Home pre-installed, so your prebuilt gaming computer is ready to set up in minutes. Assembled in the USA, and backed by a one-year limited warranty and lifetime free technical support.
Rank #4
- POWERHOUSE 8-CORE GAMING PERFORMANCE — Driven by the AMD Ryzen 7 8700F with 8 cores and 16 threads, boosting up to 5.0 GHz for smooth, responsive gameplay and the ability to handle AAA titles, streaming, and background tasks all at once
- NEXT-GEN BLACKWELL ARCHITECTURE — The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 is powered by NVIDIA's cutting-edge Blackwell GPU architecture, delivering a massive generational leap in rasterization and ray tracing performance so you can experience your games the way they were meant to be played.
- Simplistic Design: Enjoy the latest generation of Windows 11 Home for your everyday needs. *MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business use.
- Cool While Gaming: In conjunction with an ARGB fan Air Cooler, the Codex R2 features four system cooling fans; three in the front and one in the rear to pull in cool air and push heat out of the PC.
- Turn on the Bright Lights: With the built-in RGB lighting, take your gaming experience to the next level by pressing the MSI LED button to cycle through lighting options. Customize lighting even further with MSI Center software.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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