Fractal Node 202 Vs 304

[ConsoleCowboy]

Hi All,

I'm planning my build on PCS and I'd need some opinions before draining my bank account!

What I Need:
a small, powerful enough gaming machine. I don't need to overclock.
I need 4k and up to 4 displays. I need it to be as small as possible
in so far I was thinking about a 19" rackmount unit as a case.
As silent as possible

What I've planned

1st Option:Fractal Node 202 Case
CPU: Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-8700 (3.2GHz) 12MB Cache
MOBO: ASUS® ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING: Mini-ITX, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
GPU: 8GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1070 - DVI, HDMI, 3 x DP - GeForce GTX VR Ready!
M.2_OS: 512GB SAMSUNG 960 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2100MB/W)
PSU: INTEGRATED FRACTAL INTEGRA 450W SFX PSU (For Fractal Node 202 Case Only)
CU: Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile, Super Quiet CPU Cooler

is this a "borderline" configuration regarding cooling, silence and performance
issues or is it powerful enough to stay inside the Fractal Node 202 without
melting after hours and hours of work?

2nd Option: Fractal Node 304 Case
CPU: Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-8700 (3.2GHz) 12MB Cache
MOBO: ASUS® ROG STRIX Z370-I GAMING: Mini-ITX, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs
GPU: 11GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - GTX VR Ready!
M.2_OS 512GB SAMSUNG 960 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3500MB/R, 2100MB/W)
PSU: CORSAIR 550W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
CU: Corsair H60 Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler

clearly the second one is "better" than the previous but I'm wondering if the PSU and Cooling unit
are too high for this config or everything is coherent

Thanks everybody for help!

 

[Oussebon]

The Node 202 really won't be happy with high end hardware in it. See:
https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/foru...rdware-Reviews&p=397269&viewfull=1#post397269

The PSU and cooler seem appropriate, though an H60 cooler may not be very quiet and you may find yourself wanting to replace the fan yourself if PCS don't offer it with their 'quiet' series fans.

You will struggle to find a quiet, mini ITX build with ultra high end hardware stuffed into it. Because the hardware generates a lot of heat, and the airflow is very different to a regular ATX case.

I need 4k and up to 4 displays.

If you are gaming at 4k you will want a 1080 ti. You obviously won't be gaming on more than 1 4k monitor.

 

[ConsoleCowboy]

Thanks so much Oussebon

The Node 202 really won't be happy with high end hardware in it.

thank yo for confirmation, I was pretty doubtful on that case for this setup!

The PSU and cooler seem appropriate, though an H60 cooler may not be very quiet and you may find yourself wanting to replace the fan yourself if PCS don't offer it with their 'quiet' series fans.

So it would be better tu buy a better cooler anywhere else and add it by myself to the PCS Build?

You will struggle to find a quiet, mini ITX build with ultra high end hardware stuffed into it. Because the hardware generates a lot of heat, and the airflow is very different to a regular ATX case.

yeah it's pretty clear, thank you!
Do you think it would be better with a different case like the FRACTAL DEFINE S NANO even if it's still an ITX?

If you are gaming at 4k you will want a 1080 ti. You obviously won't be gaming on more than 1 4k monitor.

Yes sure, I sometimes use 4xFHD screens so It should be ok!

 

[Oussebon]

Do you think it would be better with a different case like the FRACTAL DEFINE S NANO even if it's still an ITX?

Possibly. I'm not sure how the Nano stacks up vs the 304 for noise. My suspicion would be that it would do better especially with GPU noise due to how it's positioned. But bear in mind that the Node 304 already has a fairly large footprint and the Nano S is barely smaller than some ATX cases anyway.

So it would be better tu buy a better cooler anywhere else and add it by myself to the PCS Build?

You could, but when I said "replace the fan" I meant literally just the fan, not the entire cooler.

 

[ConsoleCowboy]

thanks so much Oussebon, you're very helpful!

At the moment I'm evaluating an ATX version of my build too,
beause of the Nano S dimensions that are slightly inferior

InWIN 101 MID TOWER GAMING CASE
Intel® Core™i7 Six Core Processor i7-8700 (3.2GHz) 12MB Cache
ASUS® ROG MAXIMUS X HERO: ATX, LGA1151, USB 3.1, SATA 6GBs - RGB Ready
32GB Corsair VENGEANCE DDR4 3000MHz (2 x 16GB)
11GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1080 Ti - HDMI, 3x DP GeForce - GTX VR Ready!
500GB SAMSUNG 960 EVO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 3200MB/R, 1900MB/W)
CORSAIR 650W TXm SERIES™ SEMI-MODULAR 80 PLUS® GOLD, ULTRA QUIET
Corsair H60 Hydro Cooler w/ PCS Liquid Series Ultra Quiet Fans

it should be as good as the options mentioned before, slightly bigger
but more silent and better cooled