Finally, SFF is going mainstream with the NR200 and with proper hardware compatibility.
A problem I've always had with SFF cases is their very limited compatibility with standard CPU and GPU cooling. I've never been interested in customizing hardware or building custom water cooling, especially with how often I swap out components. The practical death of the 2 slot GPU made most premium SFF cases a hard sell.
The Cooler Master NR200 has changed the game for SFF. It's an affordable SFF case that fits appropriate cooling solutions for CPUs and GPUs, all while still maintaining a very small footprint. My previous case was the Louqe Ghost S1 and this case isn't a much larger footprint on my desk. It's mainly taller. My only hope is more iterations of this layout come out from other manufacturers. Even some premium versions. Sliger has started with their S620.
The primary usage of this PC is gaming. I am a Software Engineer (that's what the work laptop is for and the reason for the usb switch), but the personal projects I work on don't require this hardware.
Most of the hardware was carried over from my previous build.
Some notes on some of the hardware
CPU Cooler
I was able to upgrade my CPU cooler from the valiant Cryorig C7g to a more appropriate 240mm AIO. The Fractal Design Celsius+ S24 is great. The fan hub on the radiator makes cable management so easy. The subtle RGB on the pump block looks great and supports standard RGB headers. This thing requires no custom software to be installed anywhere, no internal USB header usage, no cables flying from the fans into the pump. It's great.
GPU
I went from a Founders Edition RTX 2080 Ti to an Asus Strix RTX 3080 OC. The performance increase is great, but more importantly this thing is a beast. The cooling is so much better and quieter. I disliked having to use louder solutions before in SFF builds. This new case allows this massive card to fit in fine.
CableMod Custom Cables
I love cable mods mod flex cables. They look good and fit snugly.
Cables used for reference.
- 24 pin: 200mm
- 8 pin eps: 350mm
- 8 pin pcie: 200mm
Mouse
More mice need to have built in qi wireless charging. It allows for easy charging. It also removes the need for redundant charging hardware. Use the same pad you use for your phone on your desk for your mouse overnight.
Headset Stand
Who knew there was a market for RGB gaming headset stands? Apparently there is and I bought one. The ASUS ROG Throne Qi Gaming Headset Stand is a mouth full, but it has key features I wanted: a built in qi charging pad and USB ports. This allows me to charge my wireless mouse over night and my phone during the day. The USB ports charge my headset when not in use. All the stand needs is to be connected to power with the compact power supply provided.