Is the Fractal Design Node 804 a good buy?

[BambiBoy]

Planning on building a streaming/editing pc and some gaming if a friend is over to play. I got all the parts, most of them comming from my current build as I will upgrade to the newer Z97 platform.

 

Anyways, I need a case to house it all. I didn´t want to go full ATX as it basically takes a lot of space and carries some weight most of the time. For a guy who moves his setup around every other week, I want my streaming/editing rig to be portable. Because the need of a GPU for editing and two capture cards, obviously Mini ITX won´t be possible. I therefore eyed for a Micro ATX case, and the new Fractal  Design Node 804 caught my eye. Also it has a lot of space for HDDs. Any other cases with simillar features or should I just go with this one?

[Guest Kloaked]

Check out the new cases coming out from Phanteks.

[Accursed Entity]

Check out the new cases coming out from Phanteks.

This.

 

@BambiBoy

The Node 804 does look good but I think there's more value with the new Phanteks cases.

[oldaccount117]

i dont like the looks of that fat case, also its overkill unless your planing to go watercooling or 10 drives

[TheDigitalRealm]

Planning on building a streaming/editing pc and some gaming if a friend is over to play. I got all the parts, most of them comming from my current build as I will upgrade to the newer Z97 platform.

 

Anyways, I need a case to house it all. I didn´t want to go full ATX as it basically takes a lot of space and carries some weight most of the time. For a guy who moves his setup around every other week, I want my streaming/editing rig to be portable. Because the need of a GPU for editing and two capture cards, obviously Mini ITX won´t be possible. I therefore eyed for a Micro ATX case, and the new Fractal  Design Node 804 caught my eye. Also it has a lot of space for HDDs. Any other cases with simillar features or should I just go with this one?

 

Check out the new cases coming out from Phanteks.

 

Yeah, the Evolv and Mini XL are really compelling offerings. Finally a case manufacturer has done a truly 'no-compromise' m-ATX chassis.

[BambiBoy]

Check out the new cases coming out from Phanteks.

This.

 

@BambiBoy

The Node 804 does look good but I think there's more value with the new Phanteks cases.

Yeah, the Evolv and Mini XL are really compelling offerings. Finally a case manufacturer has done a truly 'no-compromise' m-ATX chassis.

Can´t disagree, the Phanteks cases look awesome, but for my purpose, I don´t need the water cooling support they bring. The cases are also a bit too tall for my taste, when considering mATX. Don´t have me wrong, I love the idea of two systems in one, but I don´t want another tower on my desk that is taller than my current case. 

 

i dont like the looks of that fat case, also its overkill unless your planing to go watercooling or 10 drives

No one said I would do water cooling or utilize all the space for 10 drives. I do plan on fitting 1-2 SSDs and 4 HDDs. 

[Guest Kloaked]

 

Can´t disagree, the Phanteks cases look awesome, but for my purpose, I don´t need the water cooling support they bring. The cases are also a bit too tall for my taste, when considering mATX. Don´t have me wrong, I love the idea of two systems in one, but I don´t want another tower on my desk that is taller than my current case. 

 

So the Evolv is too big for you?  

 

It's really not that tall.

[oldaccount117]

 

Can´t disagree, the Phanteks cases look awesome, but for my purpose, I don´t need the water cooling support they bring. The cases are also a bit too tall for my taste, when considering mATX. Don´t have me wrong, I love the idea of two systems in one, but I don´t want another tower on my desk that is taller than my current case. 

 

No one said I would do water cooling or utilize all the space for 10 drives. I do plan on fitting 1-2 SSDs and 4 HDDs. 

 

That was the point of my post, if your not going to use the space look else where. Hmm that Mini Xl looks good first time seeing the case as for me i have a ncase coming sff ftw   

[BambiBoy]

So the Evolv is too big for you?  

 

It's really not that tall.

Ok, but it isn´t really HDD friendly, only two plus one mounted on the mid plate.

[TheDigitalRealm]

Ok, but it isn´t really HDD friendly, only two plus one mounted on the mid plate.

 

Do you specifically need more than 3 drives? It'll hold 4 drives, not two. If 4 drives isn't enough capacity - you need a NAS or a media Server.  

[BambiBoy]

Do you specifically need more than 3 drives? It'll hold 4 drives, not two. If 4 drives isn't enough capacity - you need a NAS or a media Server.

The case isn´t even out and I really doubt it will come to Norway anyways

[daemonowner]

If you're concerned about the height of the case on your desk, shouldn't you be a little concerned about the width of the Node804? It has a very large foot print, cube cases all do.

[SpyRosL]

I actually like the node 804.The fact that is not tall and you can hide the whole power supply,cables,HDDs behind the motherboard is very appealing to me.

But for portability,i'm not so sure because of the depth.

Since you wanna fit 4 HDDs and 2 SSDs you don't have much choices. You have to get a slightly bigger matx case like the fractal arc mini R2,804 or corsair 350D

[BambiBoy]

If you're concerned about the height of the case on your desk, shouldn't you be a little concerned about the width of the Node804? It has a very large foot print, cube cases all do.

Not really concerned about height, but I don´t want a secondary PC to be larger than my main PC. Just IMHO.