Header banner
Revain logoHome Page
Liang Chi-en ᠌ photo
Taipei
1 Level
101 Review
141 Karma

Review on Fractal FBA_FD CA NODE 202 BK Design Node 202 by Liang Chi-en ᠌

Revainrating 5 out of 5

High-quality product, the price corresponds to the quality.

I think the best miniITX case! There is nowhere much smaller than the node 202 case, with the current dimensions of the components. For the most part, I write a review to announce that the case can accommodate more than a 2-slot video card. In my opinion, when choosing an sfx enclosure, many do not consider node 202 due to the 2-slot limitation in the specification, which is why the enclosure is less popular than it deserves I had Aerocool qs-240, zalman i3 (with stock fans), node 202 and 6 120*25 fans at the same time. I spent 5 days testing and tried all possible options for installing fans. Surprisingly, the video card is coolest in node 202 when vertically positioned with 2 blowing fans. I believe the reason is the influx of cold air directly into the video card. Installing a cooler with air flow directed to the motherboard is a plus, because. radiators are blown on the motherboard (ssd, power phases, etc.). The only point: in other cases I can install a larger cooler, like gammax 300 fury and the CPU temperature will certainly be lower, but the ID-Cooling IS-60 does a good job with my ryzen 3600 Refinement of the case: on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th photo, I bent the "step" in different directions with pliers to the blade for the video card, on the 5th photo I already had to saw off with a hacksaw. Drilled holes in 8 photos lowered the temperature of the video card by another 4 degrees. When installing 2 fans, you have to remove the footboard for the video card. As an optional extra attachment points hung the video card on a clamp to the case. To install palit gaming pro rtx 3080 and two 15mm noctua fans, I had to unscrew (a couple of bolts) the backlight of the video card A couple of tips: for ID-Cooling IS-60 noctua backplate at least 1 video card fan It will be more convenient if: only use m2 ssd bp sfx (not sfx-l) with detachable cables, preferably individually braided. My config: Corsair SF750, ID-Cooling IS-60, 3*15mm noctua fans I wanted to write more, but because of the restrictions I had to cut it 3 times (

img 1 attached to Fractal FBA_FD CA NODE 202 BK Design Node 202 review by Liang Chi-en ᠌
img 2 attached to Fractal FBA_FD CA NODE 202 BK Design Node 202 review by Liang Chi-en ᠌
img 3 attached to Fractal FBA_FD CA NODE 202 BK Design Node 202 review by Liang Chi-en ᠌



Pros
  • Console size (smaller than playstation 5!). Ability to install a 3-slot video card (in the comments). Sudden low temperature of the video card (when installing case fans). Vertical layout, flat form factor
Cons
  • Without refinement, the case does not accommodate 3-slot video cards. To clean the PSU and video card filters, you have to open the case, with difficulty and fear (which will break), unfasten the bottom of the case, which is held on by plastic latches, or buy a can of compressed air and clean the filters from the inside. A marriage of audio inputs is possible (only one of my two node 202 and core 500 had no problems). To open the case, you need to unscrew 4 bolts with a screwdriver

Similar reviews