Portable Gaming PC? What do you think?

[moheli]

Considering the "Fractal Node 202"?

I was originally looking at the new Pascal laptops... then I found this. I want something that's convenient, capable, cool and lasting. Gaming laptops cost a fortune and they're not exactly cool (temperature-wise) nor near as lasting as a desktop PC. Also, I really dislike Windows 10 which all of them seem to have these days.

I already have the necessary peripherals although I'm not sure about what configurations would be appropriate for such a case, given its form factor. I care very much about thermals during elongated intensive use, although I do not plan on overclocking at all, so please let me know if I may encounter any such problems with this purchase. And I'd appreciate feedback on anything else. Thank you.

Fractal Node 202 Mini-ITX Case
Intel® Core™i5 Quad Core Processor i5-6600 (3.3GHz) 6MB Cache
4GB HyperX IMPACT 2133MHz SODIMM DDR4 (2 x 4GB)
Nvidia® GeForce® GTX 1060 - 6.0GB GDDR5 Video RAM, DirectX® 12.1, G-SYNC
1TB Samsung 850 EVO 2.5" SSD, SATA 6Gb/s (up to 540MB/R, 520MB/W)

Integrated Fractal Integra 450W SFX PSU
Noctue NH-L9i Low Profile, Super Quiet CPU Cooler
2 x 120mm Apache Black Quiet Fan

Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit /w SP1 – inc. DVD & License
3 Year Silver Warranty
£1,368​

 

[Oussebon]

A couple of reviews (which I imagine you already saw) say to beware of the GPU temps and consider adding extra case fans:
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/chassis/84668-fractal-design-node-202/?page=3
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2016/02/11/fractal-design-node-202-review/4

Although if you get a GPU with a squirrel cage / founders edition it will probably fare a lot better than the ones they seemed to be using.

The Obsidian 250D seems to get on a lot better with temps:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7710/corsair-obsidian-250d-case-review/5
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cases/2014/01/21/corsair-obsidian-250d-review/3
But the trade-off is that it's hardly tiny.

 

[moheli]

A couple of reviews (which I imagine you already saw) say to beware of the GPU temps and consider adding extra case fans

That's what I'm hoping the 2 x 120mm Apache Black Quiet Fan will be sufficient for.

And I already have the Obsidian 250D, I bought it from PCSpecialist last year and I don't really like it – currently selling it on Gumtree. It's too chunky and not at all portable and this seems like a better solution for my specific needs than a laptop, I'm just afraid it may not be as feasible. Also, I've not seen those reviews – I made this post as soon as I saw that desktop case. So thanks for those links.

Alright, so I've just looked at those reviews. How is it that this case is generating more heat than laptops with similar specs?!

 

[Oussebon]

I'm no engineer, but I guess the components have a higher TDP/wattage and the ventilation isn't as good. Especially if they were using it with GPU fans that blow air onto the heatsink and dissipates it around the case (look at the R7 270x in the hexus review for example), rather than a blower-cooler type GPU that exhausts the hot air out the back. Also the case is probably designed with noise rather than temps for high end components in mind as it looks a bit HTPC-ish.

 

[moheli]

Well as long as it's not too bad, I should be fine. I'm going to need more benchmarks first. Or just wait for an alternative solution, I guess.

 

[Oussebon]

Well here's with a CPU only: http://ocaholic.ch/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=1636&page=6 Not too bad, given the case, Prime 95, and ambient temps I think.

A lot of case reviews often just do the build and don't measure the temps (not just for this case, but in general). Of those that do measure the temps for this case, it's like everyone's using GPUs with open air coolers.
http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/a...ign-Node-202-Enclosure-Review/3#axzz4IoW1sc5D
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article1464-page5.html (980 strix hitting 90 degrees there...)
Granted it's important to know that the card will get way too hot in a case like this as a lot of people have or buy GPUs like that, but once you've read a couple of reviews telling you that it would be nice to see how it is with a reference design.

I checked more or less every review here: http://www.techspot.com/products/cases/fractal-design-node-202.120589/ and none of them that I saw had blower coolers.

It could be that the difference is quite minimal, but I haven't even found a single review with one to give any insight. It does seem a lot happier with entry-level gaming GPUs - GTX 750 (silent PC review), R7 250 in one of the others, temps were good. That and the CPU-only temp readings do suggest it's a bit more for HTPC rather than well suited for a gaming build.

 

[Frank100]

Hi,

With GPUs in tight spaces I favour the impeller type fans, this is the type Oussebon is describing in his post, where it pushes the air out of the back of the card. I think these are a better bet when there is limited space in the case for the hot air to be pushed away from the card and then expelled from the case.

I've no experience of using the Fractal 202 but from looking at the reviews and looking at the layout and dimensions of it I don't know that I would pick it as a gaming PC. I don't know the details of the thickness of the panels, their composition and other heat dissipation factors but it looks like it was designed for style over substance. I do appreciate it is very portable though.

PCS doesn't offer that many mini ITX cases and the Obsidian is the one I would pick for gaming of those available. A case PCS doesn't offer that is of a similar size to the Obsidian but has a neat carry handle built into the lid is the Corsair Graphite 380T. PCS does allow you to send them the case and they will build your PC into it. I would expect the 380T to have adequate cooling such that you wouldn't need extra case fans.

With that case you'd be free to have whatever components you wanted and expect them to remain cool. Perhaps worth a look?

Frank100

 

[Oussebon]

With this configurator: http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/computers/intel-skylake-sff-gaming/ there isn't an option as with the desktops to have a chassis sent in. I wonder if it's just a omission from the configurator or whether it's deliberate due to the confines of m-ITX builds and cases? I guess the answer would be to phone them.

 

[moheli]

Too much hassle, after all. Might as well go back to the MSI GT62VR, it maintains incredibly cool temperatures during elongated intensive use – in fact, much better than I'd initially anticipated. Check out these benchmarks here if you're interested. I just wish we could configure it though, I'd prefer an SSD only instead of an SSD/HDD setup as well as 8GB instead of 16GB. sigh

Hopefully this thread will be helpful for anyone else interested in the Fractal Node 202.

 

[moheli]

Back to square one, lads.

I decided against a gaming laptop because, after my first few weeks in University, I found myself needing something more practical in portability. Gaming laptops are generally fat and heavy except the MSI GS63VR but, besides price, there's quite a few things I dislike about it. And any gaming laptop with such a form factor would be inefficient in heat management so I bought myself a cheap Chromebook. Now that I finally have myself a portable workstation that I'm happy with, I just need a gaming rig. And I only play with controllers.

Since then, I've also sold my previous PC and my options are as follows:

1. Buy the aforementioned "Fractal Node 202" and a few wireless peripherals since it will be hooked to my TV. Always worry about heat management which may lead to premature hardware failure.

2. Buy a proper gaming desktop but its larger size would cause problems elsewhere. First of all, it would end up behind my TV so I'd have to reach around every time I want to power it on. Secondly, its wireless range would be obscured. Thirdly, aesthetically, its positioning would be awkward and its cabling management horrendous. And fourthly, it would be on a carpet floor so I'll have to worry about dust management which would lead to heat build-up which may lead to premature hardware failure.

3. Discard my Steam library and my investment in PC games (all my saves T_T), buy a console so I save myself some money but pay monthly for online services.

I'm really bummed out right now.

 

[Oussebon]

I take it you didn't go ahead with this https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/foru...egative-pressure-for-fans&p=372874#post372874 then? (I don't mean that in a critical way, just to understanding the situation)

Always worry about heat management which may lead to premature hardware failure

I don't think the heat will cause premature hardware failure - the Node's temps aren't great but that's quite different to saying that your GPU will melt itself within 2 years - you might just find yourself setting a more a aggressive fan profile to ensure you profit as much as possible from the boost clocks on Pascal but that's about it. Certainly with something like a GTX 1060. And going for a blower cooler GPU (if that's what PCS confirm they are stocking or if you source your own) will also help.

2. Buy a proper gaming desktop but its larger size would cause problems elsewhere. First of all, it would end up behind my TV so I'd have to reach around every time I want to power it on. Secondly, its wireless range would be obscured. Thirdly, aesthetically, its positioning would be awkward and its cabling management horrendous. And fourthly, it would be on a carpet floor so I'll have to worry about dust management which would lead to heat build-up which may lead to premature hardware failure.

Having a PC on a carpet floor isn't necessarily fatal. I had to have mine on a carpet before and just put a small board under it so it wasn't getting the underside vent obscured and took it outside once every year or so to dust it down. As for the wireless range it should still be quite viable even behind a TV.

While the factors you outline can result in less than theoretically ideal performance, they're hardly crippling flaws.

 

[moheli]

Yeah, I had quite a few requests regarding the Corsair Graphite 380T and, on top of that, the "black" variant has run out of stock on Amazon UK and I'm not sure when it will next be available. So PCSpecialist just wasn't having it. And my opinion of it has changed since then.

Given your review of my options, I guess my first option would be more effective given my circumstances but my second option more practical and future-proof. What about the CoolerMaster Elite 130? I know that, unlike the Fractal Node 202, it can board the "H60 Hydro Cooler". But, unlike the Fractal Node 202, it can't hold additional fans. Does that mean it would be worse in managing GPU temps? If I can get anything to confirm that it has better GPU heat management then I'm sold. And what about the Fractal Node 304?

I'm all over the place.

 

[Frank100]

Hi,

I think the CoolerMaster 130 or Fractal Node 304 could work for you. I'm more familiar with CoolerMaster cases and I've owned several if I count all my little work projects.

The first observation is both of these cases have vents where the graphics card goes. This is useful because if you have an open fan variant, where the heat is pushed away from the card, it can be pushed out the side, as long as the case isn't right up against something else. Or, there is potentially some cooler air that would be drawn in from a single impeller fan on the sheathed cards. These side vents in the right place would make me think these cases would be better for GPU temps than the 202.

The next observation is you could swap the front fan for a super high end one to pull air into the case. The CoolerMaster case is cheaper and if you're going to throw away the front fan in either anyway, it might make sense to get the CoolerMaster. There are lots of good 120mm fans that would provide a much higher throughput than a standard fan. PCS sells the Apache fans as an extra case fan and perhaps they would install this for you instead of the standard fan for a small fee. I do rate this fan. Otherwise you could order any high end 120mm fan and do it yourself.

If you can avoid having a spinning hard disk in there you further reduce power consumption and heat. A SSD and an external USB hard disk for your data means more space inside the case for air to circulate and less power and heat being consumed/created. I can't see your original build from this page but if you selected a M.2 SATA this would also be a good option.

The fully modular PSUs means you can have fewer cables inside as well. You only plug in what you need. Moving up to a 650W PSU from a perfectly adequate 450W is a bit of money but it might help with heat a little and might be worth it. It's a higher quality product as well so would probably last longer.

I do think the more boxy shape of these cases and with a really high end front fan pulling air into the case would be a good solution for you. It would be a shame to move away from PC gaming.

Frank100