Fractal Design Node 202 - Black - Mini-ITX Slim Profile Compact Small Form Factor Computer Case – Modular interior - USB 3.0

Product Information

While I prefer the cable that came with the ERA, this isn’t a bad cable and it does exactly what it needs to. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Fractal Design Node 202‘s cooling capabilities. Ok, so this part is probably the hardest for me to review, even though it's the specific part that I designed this entire build around. if thats the case it will either not be possible, in need of a mod, extremely tight or i have to think about something else as a case.

Kinda insane idea, but I am wondering if any 120mm radiator with a fan or two will fit (+short GPU like Asus GTX 970 Mini DCU II)?With its elegant exterior, the Node 202 fits into any living situation, regardless of whether the case is used for a gaming PC or media PC. The front panel and power cord extension run through a hole at the center to link up with the motherboard and power supply respectively. While a Noctua NH-L12S HSF would have been my personal choice of heatsink for this chassis, the Scythe Big Shuriken 3 ( reviewed here) put up an equal fight in our testing.

A separated chamber for the graphics card is well reflected in CPU- or GPU-bound tests: The less-used component stays pretty cool. It’s worth mentioning that with ventilation comes noise, so be sure to undervolt accordingly and adjust those fan curves to preserve your sanity. The Asus Strix GTX 980 (165W), which performs admirable in most larger cases, struggles in the Node 202, heating up so much that it’s unable to operate at nominal levels even with the fans running at full, earsplitting speed. The case also doesn’t include any magnetic fan filters so if you’re in the market for some, be sure to keep an eye on Demcifilter as I’m sure they will release them. You can also hide the cables between the center bar and the rizer card (in my case the 2nd Sata data cable).

Performance AnalysisThe first thing to note is that the vertical orientation benefits both the CPU and GPU more than the horizontal one, which is to be expected. The included power supply is just powerful enough for any system you would want to use in such an enclosure, and runs quiet enough not to be noticed.

If you look closely, you can see how the power light on the Fractal Ridge is neatly hidden and diffused behind the mesh face, just above the IO.

This new incarnation optionally features our solid, sturdy and surprisingly quiet Anode SFX PSU with UltraFlex cables to make your build experience even smoother. A 2 dB drop was observed when the case was flipped around, so your position relative to the case also plays a part in how the system sounds. The layout is well thought out, offers enough space for cables and allows an easy installation of the hardware, which almost resembles a benchtable.