The phrases "Pre-Built" and "Small Course Cistron PC" are usually plenty to strike fear in the minds of hardcore PC gamers. Pre-congenital PCs don't necessarily put quality or operation as a meridian priority, often opting for off-brand or no proper name components in an effort to bring costs down, while yous're charged elsewhere for fancy accessories or warranty packages. On the other manus, due to their inherit size constraints, small form factor PCs don't always get loftier cease graphics card options or efficient cooling.

The rig I'll be checking out today breaks both of those stereotypes. Origin'south Chronos packs peak-of-the-line, name make components in a tiny chassis. This includes an Intel Core i7 7700K CPU, 32GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti graphics card, a 512GB Samsung 960 Pro SSD and a 4TB WD Blackness for storage -- all neatly installed in a MSI Z270i Pro Carbon Air-conditioning motherboard.

Without moving into the luxury pricing range, this is pretty much the all-time gear y'all can buy. If this still isn't plenty, the Chronos tin can be further outfitted with an i7 6950X, a GTX Titan Xp, upward to half dozen SSDs, and a 10TB difficult drive. For those looking for a more budget conscious option, there are enough of choices available effectually the H270, Z270, and X99 chipsets. Origin's configuration tool allows for endless different hardware combinations to suite your price and operation needs.

To absurd all of this hardware, Origin has included a 120mm Frostbyte liquid cooler with a depression profile fan pre-attached. It mounts to the side console of the case so you'll want to be careful when opening upwardly the Chronos. There is also an additional small intake well-nigh the forepart of the case equally well. Since the graphics carte is a founder's edition multifariousness, this allows for keen thermal isolation between components.

The case has precision located intake and exhaust ports for the blower-style GPU to continue all of its oestrus flowing abroad from the CPU and motherboard. Like I mentioned previously, the CPU is liquid cooled and so all of its heat is transferred to the radiator. Finally, the additional example fan helps cool the motherboard, RAM, and storage drives. The instance itself is simply 650 cubic inches or 10.half-dozen liters so extreme attending to thermal management is key for any hope of a cool running arrangement.

At that place are honeycomb ventilation cutouts all around the case and Origin didn't use dust filters and so you'll want to be certain to make clean out the inside of the case every few months.

The whole outside can be painted in many different means to conform your preferences. Origin offers solid colors, custom designs, and fifty-fifty a hydro dip option. The model I take today is matte black with red accents, which is pretty tame compared to some of options offered.

The front of the case has an illuminated Origin logo at the top as well every bit power and reset buttons below. At the bottom nosotros find the I/O options which include 2 USB 3.0 ports and headphone and microphone sound ports. The side of the case has a windowed cutout right over the 90 degree rotated graphics carte du jour. This serves to both prove it off and absurd it downwardly thanks to the ventilation cutouts over the GPU fan.

The back of the case has more air cutouts and the residuum of the I/O -- yours may vary based on the GPU and motherboard you get so I won't get over those. Depending on your space constraints you lot can position the Chronos in whatsoever orientation yous want. Origin includes 4 magnetized safety feet that you tin can attach to the bottom to enhance information technology up and allow for proper airflow. This is a nice touch for those who may want to mount it sideways as office of a home theater setup.

The side panel comes off with ii thumbscrews at the dorsum. I was very impressed with how Origin'southward pattern team managed to fit everything inside. The graphics card uses a PCIe riser to allow it to be mounted flat. Opposite to that is the SFX power supply with neatly routed power cables. The storage is fastened below the graphics card in the concluding corner of the chassis.

Information technology'due south very cramped inside but y'all tin definitely get to every component. Everything inside is namebrand and off the shelf which ways you lot can upgrade any and every component yous want. The graphics carte is easily removed with a few screws and a memory bar revealing the hard drive cages are underneath.

The MSI motherboard I have unfortunately mounts the M.ii drive on the dorsum side so getting it out is a pain. If you program any upgrades, be sure to verify the dimensions of the motherboard and the height of the RAM as these two accept very tight clearances.

The Chronos has optional internal case lighting if you're into that. Unfortunately the LED strip that was included went up in a large cloud of smoke during testing so I wasn't able to get whatever photos or make whatsoever recommendations on that. My estimate is the connector or the strip may have come into contact with the metallic case causing the short circuit. Origin told me information technology was merely an isolated incident.

Yous can really tell the internal layout is well thought out. It'due south partitioned into four quadrants: One with the motherboard, one with the SFX ability supply, one with the front panel connections and 2.5" drive mounts, and the terminal corner with the 3.five" drive and GPU.