Compact desktops might have been a massive thing in 2015 with the launch of Steam Machines, and the form factor is still rife with possibilities in 2016. CES 2016 played host to a couple of these, but none were quite as impressive as MSI’s showing. It’s called the Vortex – and despite looking like something you’d throw rubbish into it’s quite possibly the first compact desktop I’d like to own.
That’s in no small part thanks to the inner workings of the thing. Despite its size, the Vortex packs some truly powerful hardware, coupling together an Intel Core i7-6700K with not one, but two GTX 980s in SLI. This are the MXM GTX 980s that Nvidia is now putting into laptops, delivering the same performance as the bulkier desktop versions (aside from the superior 8GB of GDDR5 memory). They just need a lot of cooling, something with the Vortex’s own custom case provides plenty of.
Using a system that MSI dubs Silent Storm Cooling, the Vortex uses two massive fans placed both at the top and bottom of the casing. The bottom fan sucks in cool air from underneath the chassis and pumps it upwards, while the top extracts all the out air out. MSI claims that this keeps the system cool under load with only 37dB of noise, although there’s no indication yet as to how well the entire system works when pushed with overclocking temperatures.
The Vortex also comes in a slightly more tame variant, with two GTX 960s replacing the 980s and a more reserved Core i5 Skylake chip replacing the i7. The beauty is that the Vortex is fully capable of being upgraded, and the MXM architecture of the Nvidia chips allows them to be switched and swapped. That’s a huge selling point for the Vortex, as it steps over many other similar PCs in the same market.
It’s looking to retail for close to $2000 in the USA, and you can bet that it’ll be a little pricier locally. But with that type of power behind it, did you expect anything less?
Last Updated: January 12, 2016
VampyreSquirrel
January 12, 2016 at 12:02
$2000? Holy hell!!!
Hammersteyn
January 12, 2016 at 12:11
VR ready I guess?
VampyreSquirrel
January 12, 2016 at 12:29
My PC is (Technically) VR ready and it didn’t cost me R30k+
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 12, 2016 at 12:04
Silent Storm. Now there was a cool game.
Original Heretic
January 12, 2016 at 12:05
Hell of a price, but it’s sooooo pretty!
HairyEwok
January 12, 2016 at 12:07
$2000 retail plus $600 for that Oculus….. So us South Africans need to have about R30k to enjoy the Oculus.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 12, 2016 at 12:09
Plus import charges, so slap on another 50% easy, and with the exchange rate you’re looking at closer to R65k.
HairyEwok
January 12, 2016 at 12:16
PC Gaming is getting too pricey for most of us now. There’s no way I’m paying R65k to game in VR. I’d rather go outside and risk my life.
miaau
January 12, 2016 at 12:28
The trick, I think, to going outside and gaming in real life, is to hope that the other people outside are aware of the game AND that they are playing the same game. Would be a pity, for example, to lunge at, for example, a taxi driver with your sword, skyirm style, and got shot in the face with slow bullet time. That might ruin the day a bit.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 12, 2016 at 12:33
Should’ve invested more skill points into athletics or heavy armour.
miaau
January 12, 2016 at 12:54
or just plain old dodge. Dodge is so underestimated.
Hmm, I wonder if a high luck score helps with dodge?
Well, there are plenty of trainers about, so I am sure these skills can be taught, for a geometric price increase each time, of course. Swimming in full heavy armour is also very important and requires much skill and practise.
Loftus
January 12, 2016 at 12:17
Mmmmm ok yes fine i’ll get one them PC, just to see how it is to walk around with a superiority complex 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 12, 2016 at 12:20
But you’re already doing that without a PC. ;P
Loftus
January 12, 2016 at 12:21
hahahaha Brilliant!