With the small form factor market growing we are finally starting to see a nice variety of case designs available for people who are looking to build Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX PCs. Fractal has been producing a variety of cases for that market basically from their inception. When they introduced their Node 804 I was extremely excited about it. Not only did they keep things fairly small, but they also went with a split design that I am a huge fan of working with on cases. What I mean by a split design is that the power supply and some of the components fit behind the motherboard tray leaving the motherboard side of the case clean. Add to that Fractals typical clean styling and we have the makings of a great case. Well today we have the chance to dig in and check the Node 804 out and find out if it is as great as it looks.

Product Name: Fractal Design Node 804

Review Sample Provided by: Fractal Design

Written by: Wes

Pictures by: Wes

 

Specifications

Motherboard Compatibility

Micro ATX and Mini ITX

5.25" Bays

0

3.5" Drive Support

8 + two 2.5/2.5 positions

2.5" Drive Support

2 + two 2.5/2.5 positions

Case dimensions

344 x 307 x 389 mm

Net weight

6 kg

Colors available

Black

Windowed Side Panel

Yes

Graphics card compatibility

Graphics cards up to 320mm in length. Graphics cards up to 290 mm in length may be installed if a fan is installed in the lower position in the front.

CPU Cooler Compatibility

up to 160 mm in height

PSU Compatibility

ATX PSUs up to 260 mm deep

Front interface

2 - USB 3.0

Audio in/out

Power button with LED (blue)

HDD activity LED (white)

Cooling system

Front: 4 – 120mm fans (included is one hydraulic bearing 120mm Silent Series R2 fan, 1000 RPM speed)

Rear: 1 - 120/140mm fan (included is a hydraulic bearing 120mm Silent Series R2 fan, 1000 RPM speed)

Rear: 1 - 120mm fan slots (included is 1 hydraulic bearing 120mm Silent Series R2 fan, 1000 RPM speed)

Top: 4 - 120x140mm fans (not included)

Fan controller: 1 - Integrated fan controller for up to 3 fans (included)

Water cooling compatibility

Front (right chamber) - 240 mm radiator configurations up to 60 mm thick (with fans) and 278 mm tall are allowed.

Front (left chamber) - 240 mm radiator configurations up to 60 mm thick (with fans) and 278 mm tall are allowed. Using a radiator in this position prevents the use of a fan in the top position just next to it.

Top (right chamber) - 240/280 mm radiators up to 130mm thick (with fans) may be fitted if the HDD drive bays are taken out or placed elsewhere. No limitation to thickness.

Top (left chamber) - 240 mm radiator configurations up to 130 mm thick (with fans) will fit. Radiators in this position limits the height of memory modules to 48 mm tall.

Maximum radiator configuration: 1x240mm,1x280mm and 2x120mm radiators simultaneously.

Package contents

Node 804 computer case

Accessory box

User manual

 

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VaporX's Avatar
VaporX replied the topic: #35920 29 Nov 2014 14:50
The move to SFF building continues to grow. For me personally anything over an mATX sized case is just to big and bulky. Right now for me there are two companies fighting for my case of choice and Fractal is one of them. The Node series is amazing and the Define Mini as well as Arc mini give you two other styling options while staying small.

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