Fractal Design Node 202 - Black - Mini-ITX Slim Profile Compact Small Form Factor Computer Case – Modular interior - USB 3.0

Product Information

The Node 202 comes with no fans. A common mod people do is to add two Notcua fans to the top, so the CPU is have some sort of exhaust. You can find just the right spot to screw them in. However I have found that the ID-COOLING IS-60 Paired with the Noctua NF-A12x15 PWM is a better option as the ID Cooling has more heatpipes. The Noctua fan sits right at the intake hole of the Node 202 case allowing it to pull in fresh air. It's the ideal choice IMO, But keep in mind, the cooler sits above the ram, so make sure you get some Low clearance (height) ram such as Corsair. As for thermal paste, Kryonaut all the way. If you can't water-cool (Trust me, it might not be worth it), air fans are always much more reliable. I was able to fit these under my GPU to allow for more airflow: Make sure when you get the case that you NOTE which screws are the GPU RISER SCREWS. I almost messed up, those GPU riser screws can be tough to get in once you already have the cpu cooler on. Consider that when building

Your results will also be drastically different if you’re planning to build an APU home theater setup that uses a 240 mm or a 280 mm radiator. On the graphics side of things the Sapphire ITX R9 285 idled at 41 degrees and rose to 78 degrees under extreme duress. There is absolutely no cause for concern with those figures. Default voltages and fan speeds were used to accurately reflect the same standard out-of-the-box experience that little Timmy might have after building his first computer. The Node 202 is a bit of a challenge to build in but the layout is logical and there is still a bit of wiggle room to manage your cables efficiently. Like most Fractal cases, the Node 202 is built from high-end materials and constructed to last. Following the retro-modern trend of mixed materials, the Ridge features a cloth mesh grill that would bring warmth to any living room or office.Still not widely adopted on all ITX motherboards, this is the USB 3.1 Gen 2 header that enables the USB-C port at the front of the case.

The stand is made of plastic and not aluminum like the face of the chassis. Only the mounting points are metalWe would like to thank Fractal Design for providing us with a review sample of their Ridge chassis. Without their generosity, this case review would not be possible.