Computex 2015 - Day 1

Computex 2015 - Fractal Design

Our last meeting of the day was with Fractal Design, although not at a booth or suite but in their Taipei offices, where they were showing off two new cases and the updated range of Kelvin coolers.


First up is the Node 202, a HTPC style mini-ITX chassis capable of both horizontal and vertical orientation. It's small at only 10.2 litres but capable of housing powerful gaming systems thanks to its support for 310mm graphics cards and dual 2.5in SSD mounts, though you will need an SFX PSU, understandably. There are two optional 120mm fan mounts in the graphics card chamber, but Fractal says the internal design is such that they're not needed thanks to vent positioning and separation of the hotter running components. Like SilverStone's Raven RVZ01, a PCI riser card is supplied to you can install your graphics card. The MSRP of the case is £64.99.


For those who want to save on the hassle of finding a suitable SFX PSU, the Node 202 will also be sold with an Integra SFX 450W PSU for £114.99. It comes with customised connectors and cables designed for the size of the Node 202 and is 80 Plus Bronze rated.

The next case is the Core 500, another mini-ITX case but this time part of the Core family and with a cube design. It is equipped with a140mm Silent Series R3 fan out of the box, with room for two more, radiators up to 280mm and air coolers up to 170mm tall. There are also multiple drive bays, support for ATX PSUs and graphics cards again up to 310mm. Large magnetic dust filters for the side and roof air intakes are supplied, and the PSU is also guarded by a filter. The MSRP of this one is a very reasonable £49.99.


Lastly, Fractal has revised its entire range of Kelvin coolers; the 120mm T12, 240mm S24 and 360mm S36. The upgrades include new fans, specifically Dynamic Series GP-12 PWM models (500~2,000 RPM) which promise more airflow, better fan speed control and quieter operation. A 9V speed adapter is now included too for greater control of pump noise and performance. The dedicated fillport has been given a boost in design and quality too to make it extra strong, while the radiator screws are now standard Philips ones, alleviating the need for an allen key during installation. The new models will simply phase in and replace the existing ones at the same prices.


More info on the above products can be found on Fractal's official product pages: Node 202, Core 500, Kelvin coolers.

Thanks to all the companies from today for meeting us and showing us around. Stay tuned for further updates from Taipei in the coming days!