Nor is the markup anywhere near $1000. I put together a similarly specced PC (7700K, H100i v2, 16GB Corsair LPX, the cheapest Z270 ITX board I could find, FE GTX 1080, Corsair Force LE 480GB + 2TB cheapo HDD) as the mid-range version on PCPartPicker, which ended up at $1627 while missing the case and the AIO for the GPU, which again would add $200-250 if picking off-the-shelf parts.
Then there's the challenge of finding an ITX case able to fit two 240mm rads, and still be this small? That's not an option. I doubt this was cheap to design for Corsair, and I'd gladly pay quite a bit for a case like that. Yes please.
SolidWorks -> Sheet Metal -> your local metal shop that has a cnc plasma cutter and a press brake -> your custom dream industrial strength enclosure. At the shop I work with it ends up cheaper than a mass produced "high end" case made of thinny aluminum and plastic and inferior internal layout. Even better value if you compare against prices for big nas/server cases.
That sounds like a Ghetto rig, man. While you are at it, you might as well grab a Xeon X5460, a $10 mod that makes it run on P35 Bearlake Chipset boards, DDR2-1066 RAM, a $30 Chinese PSU and the obligatory 8800GTS. Why even use a case? Get a carboard box and you're all set.
No, that was just ddriver in his endless crusade to impress people. He's a real man's man :). It's not enough to recommend building your own system from parts, he just has to recommend building your own parts. He'd give people dating advice but somehow making his girlfriend in SolidWorks just isn't that impressive :).
Your inferiority complex has been noted for a while now, there is no need to keep showcasing it.
Engineering is not only interesting and rewarding, but it also allows you to get quality and functionality that would typically be outside the purchasing power for most people. I've been dealing for years with commercial products, which are either too mediocre or too poor value, because if you want to buy stuff that is actually good, you have to spend 10-50X more, depending on what it is. I got fed up with stuff made poorly, made is that it breaks, so that it is not reparable or not even cleanable. DIY does not necessarily has to be shabby, if you have the equipment it can look as good as commercially available products look or even better. The versatility, durability, reparaiblity and upgradability is however the most important aspect of it. Not having to bother with repairing or replacing, especially for big stuff like washing machines, fridges, ovens an so on - that's the real beauty of it. I have made most of the stuff in my home, including the actual building, the only things I buy are the electronic components and stuff like monitors or specialized digital hardware which I don't have the equipment to make. Most of the stuff I made will outlast me and even my children without breaking up and needing replacement. Things that are subject to wearing off are all modular, so they can be replaced with minimal effort and tooling.
I have not dated for more than 10 years. Dating is for desperate people trying to fool someone into a relation. The only advice I'd give anyone about dating is that it is stupid and a waste of time, as is infatuation and the very concept of monogamous relationship. The proper approach is to put your time and resources into meaningful things to improve your social standing, if you are an achiever you don't have to ever bother with dating, ladies flock to you like flies on roadkill ;)
I have to admit, if you DIY your washing machine, oven, fridge, and presumably dryer (although I guess you can air dry!), that's impressive ;)
On the other hand, I guess I better tell my wife it's over... Our monogamous relationship just isn't going to cut it now that my eyes have been opened.
ddriver is one of those Incel neckbeards. It's pretty funny to see his deranged rants.
He's like that guy twisting one off in the corner of the subway car. Everyone else is relieved that "at least I'm not that guy" and they all get off the subway smiling about their own fortunes, and a little disturbed by what they saw.
@ddriver, we're on the interwebs. Everybody is superior here :).
The rest looks like an explanation that wasn't requested or expected so you'll excuse me for skipping it. Again, we're on the interwebs. If you don't know what you should do with internet stories you haven't been around long enough.
Yes, engineering is cool. But DIY costs **time**. Time *is* money. If you earn enough money, then you should see spending x hours on something as equivalent to spending your hourly wages on it.
Second...
> I have not dated for more than 10 years.
Okay. That's your choice.
> Dating is for desperate people trying to fool someone into a relation.
Ah... so you're a cynic about dating, and that getting to connect with someone is a waste of time?! lol.
> The proper approach is to put your time and resources into meaningful things to improve your social standing
This and dating are NOT mutually exclusive.
> if you are an achiever you don't have to ever bother with dating, ladies flock to you like flies on roadkill ;)
@Meteor2, I have no problem whatsoever with people DIYing. But in this case I saw two things: 1) When taking about a prebuilt system which addresses people that won't even be bothered to pick their own parts recommending the extreme DIY solution is hilarious. 2) When you constantly talk about how you do things that are out of reach for most people, and you insist on displaying superiority (as commonly seen on the internet) you're laughable.
I mean ddriver might have very well built his own cold fusion reactor in the basement out of sticks and stones for all I know. But unless you're actually helping people do the same, just constantly telling vague stories and inflating your virtual persona is kind of a pathetic attempt to get recognition. And if nobody volunteers the recognition you'll just go on telling a new story. Sound like anyone you know? :)
Anyway, lets imagine I'm a certified psychologist and it's unlikely I'm wrong when judging people. Or maybe I'm an engineer and I know the local shop can't work within my specs and tolerances. Or maybe I'm a CEO and I want you to buy more prebuilt stuff. Remember, on the internet no one can see you fap in your parent's basement. It's the chance to be anything you ever dreamed. :D
Your ideas of metal shop are limited to a rather low bar. It is not like a few mexicans in a garage with hand tools and scrap metal. It is top notch manufacturing, a number of great finish techniques, giving you both a great looking result on the outside and unique layout on the interior that no amount of money will buy you on the mediocre market.
The goal is not to make it cheap, the goal is to make it useful, practical and efficient. The possibility to customize looks is on top of that. Aside from different finishes you can go for custom CNC engravings or even machining. Industrial strength build quality is just a side effect of doing things right.
Hey now, I'm in the ghetto and my parts go in an actual case. They don't get changed very often*, but they don't go into a cardboard box when they do. Just cuz you're poor doesn't mean you don't care about looks.
*I retired my Socket 775 system last year, with an Abit motherboard nearing its tenth birthday. May the new system serve me as well, and may the old parts find purpose elsewhere.
Nope, that would require a few billion $ of initial investment. The goal here is NOT to save money, the goal is to have a good custom pc case, I merely noted that it coincidentally costs less than a high end commercial product, because you only pay the materials and labor cost, there is no price premium for the brand and profit margins to be pocketed by executives.
It would be a great start to at least be able to order custom form factor components such as mobos and video cards, so you can get more creative. Alas, it is highly unlikely that any manufacturer will take you on an order below 10k units. You couldn't DIY here, even though the actual hardware making is feasible, the software side of anything more complicated than a micro-controller board is too labor intensive. Besides, even if you manage to buy contemporary ICs, the price will be much higher. Digital microelectronics are still outside the reach of non-corporate entities and will likely remain so for many years. Mechanical and analog electronics engineering however isn't neither outside the reach, neither too expensive nor too complex to get into.
Time = Money and my time is worth way more than the price difference. I suppose if your a college kid looking for experience with SolidWorks and design, or a hobbyist who has always wanted to design your own case this might be appealing.
Do you believe that you and Corsair are paying the same for components? Especially since some of these components are in-house? Obviously not. With that being said, the pricing doesn't seem any worse than any other high-end prebuilts in this size and class, at least for the ONE PRO configurations. Keep in mind the HDD is likely also a 2.5" model, which do cost a bit more at that 2TB mark.
The base ONE configuration actually seems like a worse value to me. I wouldn't be surprised if margin (as a percentage) was a bit higher on the entry-level model. Also that SSD is just too small for a gaming rig. You can stick a lot of non-gaming media on the secondary drive, but games themselves are getting rather large. So I'd have to upgrade that right off the bat, which further degrades the value proposition.
The market for relatively compact gaming PCs that don't look like they were designed by a 14 year old that just saw Tron is really thin. Some may be willing to pay extra to get something with a more restrained look.
If they could make one more model with 3400MHz DDR4, a 1080TI, and a 480GB NVMe M.2 SSD I would actually consider buying one even given the mark up. The lack of a NVMe M.2 SSD and faster DDR4 is a weird considering that Corsair makes/brands these items. Too bad because it is so close to my ideal and it looks nice unlike other gaming all in ones, maybe they will have another model with what I want in a couple of months.
Yes, looking at it again the mark up is reasonable. I think they could make the config I want with a MSRP around $2800, which would work out to 4 grand CAD.
Errr... The mark up IS high: Corsair are using their own branded products, seriously?! Even then compare this with Scan 3XS Vengeance Ti: Intel Core i7 7700K overclocked to 4.8GHz (by Scan folks) Asus ROG Strix Z270F Gaming 16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000MHz 11GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 256GB Intel 600p M.2 SSD & 2TB HDD Microsoft Windows 10 64bit & 3 Year Warranty £2028 including delivery Versus Corsair One Pro @ £2199 (currently frer shipping). Funnily enough most of the 3XS components are Corsair including the AIO cooler, hehe.
3XS Ti = 44.8db Corsair One ?Pro = 40.7db (both reviewed at Scan) bearing in mind you could slab a Carbide 'Q' variant case instead, e.g. 400Q and watch the noise level plummet (by 60% no less according to anandtech own review). Given that the equivalent Corsair One Pro 1080Ti version is available for the sum of £2,599 GBP, I'd certainly call that pricey as hell. The kicker is that the precious 2 year warranty from Corsair is invalidated the moment you start meddling with the insides... Including installing your favourite M.2 SSD. So your choices: ? mahssoive mark up on every component upgrade on custom rig or ?as professionally built 'standard' rig for £££ less.
Looking on Corsair website they list a version with a 1080ti for $2599 USD, but it still has a SATA drvie and 2400 DDR4. Tempting to buy it, install a NVMe drive, replace the 2400 DDR4 with faster DDR4, and sell the 2400 used. Would be a beast.
However, the pricing is way too high. I understand it's customized & maybe you can call it a "boutique" kind of gaming PC, but I'd rather just build my own Silverstone mini-ITX gaming PC for a lot less money.
Earlier comments have already mentioned the markup really isn't that bad, especially considering you're getting two 240mm liquid coolers in the top end model. That's a bit more advanced than what's available to cool most SFF cases.
Well, the markup may not seem too bad, but it seems to be adding at least $400-700 more to the price - if we go by what others have said about similar build-outs vs the "Pro" version.
I do hope this stirs more competition from other case makers to create some newer mini-ITX designs. Who knows, maybe Corsair will even release this one as a standalone case.
At the risk of adding to the echo chamber, I was very attracted to this until I got to the price. Coincidentally I have been doing a few of my own mock-builds to get an idea of how far my money would stretch today. Turns out for about $1900 I could build a system with a 1080 and an 1800x, with a 500Gb M.2 SSD and an 80 plus gold PSU. RAM was 3200 with CL15 (16 Gb) and a decent Asus Prime Pro X370 and a decent case with liquid cooling. That particular build would appear to beat this by 75-100% depending on the activity, for the same dollars. Granted that case was about 21 Liters vs the 12 here, but unless you literally cannot fit a larger case this is just a halo product meant to display what Corsair can do. I wouldn't expect many to actually buy this.
You are absolutely correct, I don't get it. Those that can't build their own still desire to pay 50% more because the case is smaller? Why wouldn't they choose a pre-built that has a slightly larger case, dramatically greater performance, that still costs less? Are those that don't built their own going to gravitate towards Corsair? Are those not in the DIY game aware of Corsair? I think you just set up your own straw-man, the ONLY people who would be interested in this are the same people that would more than likely build it themselves.
I do like the design a lot. I think the best way I can describe it in one word is "tasteful" and that's not something I can justify saying about a lot of other gaming products.
Can we get one with a 1050 or 1060 and an i5? For those of us 1366x768 screens, the higher end GPU isn't necessary and the i7 in general doesn't bring enough additional performance to the table. Both components add too much heat to a room and require a larger-than-necessary power supply.
I'm absolutely with you. Slap in a decent sized M.2, an RX480, and a 1600x. 90% of the performance (in most applications, and in some far greater performance than a 7700) but at 50% of the cost or less.
Yes, a Ryzen CPU and AMD GPU would be another valid option. In the case of the hardware config you're looking at, the overall heat output would be similar rather than lower, but the reduction in cost would probably justify it for most people.
Ryzen processors use the same or less wattage and have the same or lower thermal profile. This isn't the old AMD who made 250 watt space heaters, these are far more efficient chips. So it's more performant, cheaper, uses less electricity, and runs cooler. Only if you are big on overclocking or a fps gamer would the Intel provide a better option.
I'd definitely agree with all your points, and I think a configuration like would be quite good for, say, casual gamers or people after productivity with something less top-end. One comment though, how common are 1366*768 screens in desktop users...?
Realistically, I'd say they're pretty uncommon these days. My expectations relatively low for acceptable computing, probably a lot lower than most other people making comments here. Though I like watching technology change, I don't usually feel compelled to make the necessary purchases to keep up.
Steam's survey might offer some insight into the gaming world where this hardware is relevant. I believe they capture monitor resolution and report results on it, but don't quote me on that.
These comments are atrocious....why does everyone have the urge to discredit the entire custom gaming computer market by itemizing from newegg and minimizing the design, build and warranty/tech support.
The fact is there are a ton of costs built into a custom gaming PC parts...advertising...branding...assembly labor...etc...and they still (presumably) make money...
Go make your "equivalent" PC and put it up on ebay...see how much the market thinks it is worth...it would be worth a lot less than this...
There is a market for this...even if we are not in it...and we should compare and contrast it against truly equivalent competitors. Because despite what you may think...assembling and configuring a PC is a non-trivial exercise.
you heard of cyberpowerpc? you can "build" a much cheaper PC with similar specs while using off the shelf components (nothing proprietary) and you can go mini itx all the way to full size. That's just one company there are many more.So to answer your question, the criticism to price does not come (only) from DYI builders but in general is genuinely more expensive than a comparable pre-build PC. I get it though, its a new toy, looks nice and its Corsair. But then again this is gonna stay at this price for very long if they want to sell them.
Well, hold on a moment please. The point people are making when they itemize a similar build isn't the resale value on the secondary market for that hardware. The value comes from obtaining similar computing performance for a lower cost. It's unrealistic for someone to purchase new parts, assemble a system, and then list it right away on Ebay. Most people only go through the trouble of doing so in order to actually reap a benefit from the hardware by putting it to use. Their point in mentioning that is that they can get the same hardware specifications for a lower cost which is a completely valid argument for someone with the time, tools, and knowledge to make against purchasing a retail solution.
The pricing context is not in relation to other commercially available PCs, the context is in regards to DIY builders, who a rig like this might appeal to. (people who know nothing about PCs aren't going to gravitate towards Corsair, that's a fact) Ignorant consumers will simply buy an iMac or a Dell AIO or something similar. They aren't going out to Falcon or Origin or Corsair. So this PC IS being marketed to those that might otherwise DIY, and the value proposition for these folks is the cost comparison between building their own and buying a pre-built. Think of the blackbird, that was unique because the case itself couldn't be purchased (at first). That provided a unique intrinsic value that a DIY person couldn't replicate (well maybe ddriver could). That's how you add value, not by slapping a bunch of company branded components in a company branded case and then marking the price up by 20-50%.
$300 CPU + $400 GPU + $150 mobo + $100 RAM + $150 case/psu + $200 in drives = = = .... $1800!!! $500 to assemble it and put a copy of windows on it! Take my money.
I can't remember the economics properly but it's something like if you price it higher with a big margin, it's quite possible to sell fewer items but make a bigger profit.
Plus if you make something expensive that actually makes it attractive. Weird but that's how it seems to work...
Looks quite neat and it is not as much overpriced as other prebuilt systems. Hoverer i would not buy it. By design hot air comes up through big holes on top. When not in use this case will collect ton of dust which naturally will get inside of case.That will degrade heat and noise performance of this case very soon.
I'm amazed that there's no 32GB RAM option, unless I missed something. While 16 are enough now for gaming, it might not be in the future and it cuts the use of the machine to gaming and general computing.
That being said... it's a nice little machine. The price is a bit steep, but considering the form factor, it's sort of justifiable.
It fills the void left by the x51 departure from Alienware.
AFAIK, Corsair themselves list the PSU as a SF400, with the GTX 1080Ti equipped model using a SF500. Could Anandtech please check with Corsair and confirm the PSU they are actually shipping?
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61 Comments
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xchaotic - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Sensible configurations, crazy markup. It doesn't cost $1000 to assemble a PCValantar - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Nor is the markup anywhere near $1000. I put together a similarly specced PC (7700K, H100i v2, 16GB Corsair LPX, the cheapest Z270 ITX board I could find, FE GTX 1080, Corsair Force LE 480GB + 2TB cheapo HDD) as the mid-range version on PCPartPicker, which ended up at $1627 while missing the case and the AIO for the GPU, which again would add $200-250 if picking off-the-shelf parts.Then there's the challenge of finding an ITX case able to fit two 240mm rads, and still be this small? That's not an option. I doubt this was cheap to design for Corsair, and I'd gladly pay quite a bit for a case like that. Yes please.
ddriver - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
SolidWorks -> Sheet Metal -> your local metal shop that has a cnc plasma cutter and a press brake -> your custom dream industrial strength enclosure. At the shop I work with it ends up cheaper than a mass produced "high end" case made of thinny aluminum and plastic and inferior internal layout. Even better value if you compare against prices for big nas/server cases.Achaios - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
That sounds like a Ghetto rig, man. While you are at it, you might as well grab a Xeon X5460, a $10 mod that makes it run on P35 Bearlake Chipset boards, DDR2-1066 RAM, a $30 Chinese PSU and the obligatory 8800GTS. Why even use a case? Get a carboard box and you're all set.The OP is aimed to customers outside the ghetto.
close - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
No, that was just ddriver in his endless crusade to impress people. He's a real man's man :). It's not enough to recommend building your own system from parts, he just has to recommend building your own parts.He'd give people dating advice but somehow making his girlfriend in SolidWorks just isn't that impressive :).
negusp - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
You sound awfully butthurt.ddriver - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Your inferiority complex has been noted for a while now, there is no need to keep showcasing it.Engineering is not only interesting and rewarding, but it also allows you to get quality and functionality that would typically be outside the purchasing power for most people. I've been dealing for years with commercial products, which are either too mediocre or too poor value, because if you want to buy stuff that is actually good, you have to spend 10-50X more, depending on what it is. I got fed up with stuff made poorly, made is that it breaks, so that it is not reparable or not even cleanable. DIY does not necessarily has to be shabby, if you have the equipment it can look as good as commercially available products look or even better. The versatility, durability, reparaiblity and upgradability is however the most important aspect of it. Not having to bother with repairing or replacing, especially for big stuff like washing machines, fridges, ovens an so on - that's the real beauty of it. I have made most of the stuff in my home, including the actual building, the only things I buy are the electronic components and stuff like monitors or specialized digital hardware which I don't have the equipment to make. Most of the stuff I made will outlast me and even my children without breaking up and needing replacement. Things that are subject to wearing off are all modular, so they can be replaced with minimal effort and tooling.
I have not dated for more than 10 years. Dating is for desperate people trying to fool someone into a relation. The only advice I'd give anyone about dating is that it is stupid and a waste of time, as is infatuation and the very concept of monogamous relationship. The proper approach is to put your time and resources into meaningful things to improve your social standing, if you are an achiever you don't have to ever bother with dating, ladies flock to you like flies on roadkill ;)
Drumsticks - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I have to admit, if you DIY your washing machine, oven, fridge, and presumably dryer (although I guess you can air dry!), that's impressive ;)On the other hand, I guess I better tell my wife it's over... Our monogamous relationship just isn't going to cut it now that my eyes have been opened.
fanofanand - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
LOLI actually like ddriver's rants, I find them informative, educational and oftentimes amusing. Your response however, is FAR superior!
WinterCharm - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
ddriver is one of those Incel neckbeards. It's pretty funny to see his deranged rants.He's like that guy twisting one off in the corner of the subway car. Everyone else is relieved that "at least I'm not that guy" and they all get off the subway smiling about their own fortunes, and a little disturbed by what they saw.
close - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
@ddriver, we're on the interwebs. Everybody is superior here :).The rest looks like an explanation that wasn't requested or expected so you'll excuse me for skipping it. Again, we're on the interwebs. If you don't know what you should do with internet stories you haven't been around long enough.
WinterCharm - Thursday, March 30, 2017 - link
Ah, so you're one of those neckbeard engineers.Yes, engineering is cool. But DIY costs **time**. Time *is* money. If you earn enough money, then you should see spending x hours on something as equivalent to spending your hourly wages on it.
Second...
> I have not dated for more than 10 years.
Okay. That's your choice.
> Dating is for desperate people trying to fool someone into a relation.
Ah... so you're a cynic about dating, and that getting to connect with someone is a waste of time?! lol.
> The proper approach is to put your time and resources into meaningful things to improve your social standing
This and dating are NOT mutually exclusive.
> if you are an achiever you don't have to ever bother with dating, ladies flock to you like flies on roadkill ;)
Lol. So you're one of THOSE.
Meteor2 - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Close, that's the funniest comment I've read in a long time :).But if ddriver can design his own cases and get them custom-built, hat's off to him. Ddriver, you should open-source your designs.
close - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
@Meteor2, I have no problem whatsoever with people DIYing. But in this case I saw two things:1) When taking about a prebuilt system which addresses people that won't even be bothered to pick their own parts recommending the extreme DIY solution is hilarious.
2) When you constantly talk about how you do things that are out of reach for most people, and you insist on displaying superiority (as commonly seen on the internet) you're laughable.
I mean ddriver might have very well built his own cold fusion reactor in the basement out of sticks and stones for all I know.
But unless you're actually helping people do the same, just constantly telling vague stories and inflating your virtual persona is kind of a pathetic attempt to get recognition. And if nobody volunteers the recognition you'll just go on telling a new story. Sound like anyone you know? :)
Anyway, lets imagine I'm a certified psychologist and it's unlikely I'm wrong when judging people. Or maybe I'm an engineer and I know the local shop can't work within my specs and tolerances. Or maybe I'm a CEO and I want you to buy more prebuilt stuff. Remember, on the internet no one can see you fap in your parent's basement. It's the chance to be anything you ever dreamed. :D
Meteor2 - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
:-Dddriver - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Your ideas of metal shop are limited to a rather low bar. It is not like a few mexicans in a garage with hand tools and scrap metal. It is top notch manufacturing, a number of great finish techniques, giving you both a great looking result on the outside and unique layout on the interior that no amount of money will buy you on the mediocre market.The goal is not to make it cheap, the goal is to make it useful, practical and efficient. The possibility to customize looks is on top of that. Aside from different finishes you can go for custom CNC engravings or even machining. Industrial strength build quality is just a side effect of doing things right.
Notmyusualid - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
@ AchaiosHilarious man - you should join us over on Liveleak.
LordOfTheBoired - Sunday, March 26, 2017 - link
Hey now, I'm in the ghetto and my parts go in an actual case. They don't get changed very often*, but they don't go into a cardboard box when they do. Just cuz you're poor doesn't mean you don't care about looks.*I retired my Socket 775 system last year, with an Abit motherboard nearing its tenth birthday. May the new system serve me as well, and may the old parts find purpose elsewhere.
krazyfrog - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Do you have a tutorial on how I can make my own CPU and GPU at home to save even more cost?close - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
He'll whip up something, don't worry :).ddriver - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Nope, that would require a few billion $ of initial investment. The goal here is NOT to save money, the goal is to have a good custom pc case, I merely noted that it coincidentally costs less than a high end commercial product, because you only pay the materials and labor cost, there is no price premium for the brand and profit margins to be pocketed by executives.It would be a great start to at least be able to order custom form factor components such as mobos and video cards, so you can get more creative. Alas, it is highly unlikely that any manufacturer will take you on an order below 10k units. You couldn't DIY here, even though the actual hardware making is feasible, the software side of anything more complicated than a micro-controller board is too labor intensive. Besides, even if you manage to buy contemporary ICs, the price will be much higher. Digital microelectronics are still outside the reach of non-corporate entities and will likely remain so for many years. Mechanical and analog electronics engineering however isn't neither outside the reach, neither too expensive nor too complex to get into.
Reflex - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Time = Money and my time is worth way more than the price difference. I suppose if your a college kid looking for experience with SolidWorks and design, or a hobbyist who has always wanted to design your own case this might be appealing.Alexvrb - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Do you believe that you and Corsair are paying the same for components? Especially since some of these components are in-house? Obviously not. With that being said, the pricing doesn't seem any worse than any other high-end prebuilts in this size and class, at least for the ONE PRO configurations. Keep in mind the HDD is likely also a 2.5" model, which do cost a bit more at that 2TB mark.The base ONE configuration actually seems like a worse value to me. I wouldn't be surprised if margin (as a percentage) was a bit higher on the entry-level model. Also that SSD is just too small for a gaming rig. You can stick a lot of non-gaming media on the secondary drive, but games themselves are getting rather large. So I'd have to upgrade that right off the bat, which further degrades the value proposition.
zodiacfml - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
I was dreaming of this kind of chassis where one panel is one huge radiator. This is quite costly though compared to ASUS ROG G20close - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
The market for relatively compact gaming PCs that don't look like they were designed by a 14 year old that just saw Tron is really thin. Some may be willing to pay extra to get something with a more restrained look.SkyBill40 - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
That Razer designed/branded Tron Legacy keyboard and mouse would look pretty boss with this case. Just sayin'. Good luck finding one though. LOLdstarr3 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Only a two-year warranty on a $2,400 computer. Not brilliant.rmm584 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
If they could make one more model with 3400MHz DDR4, a 1080TI, and a 480GB NVMe M.2 SSD I would actually consider buying one even given the mark up. The lack of a NVMe M.2 SSD and faster DDR4 is a weird considering that Corsair makes/brands these items. Too bad because it is so close to my ideal and it looks nice unlike other gaming all in ones, maybe they will have another model with what I want in a couple of months.vladx - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
As @Valantar mentioned above, the markup is quite low in this case actually.rmm584 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Yes, looking at it again the mark up is reasonable. I think they could make the config I want with a MSRP around $2800, which would work out to 4 grand CAD.K_Space - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Errr... The mark up IS high: Corsair are using their own branded products, seriously?! Even then compare this with Scan 3XS Vengeance Ti:Intel Core i7 7700K overclocked to 4.8GHz (by Scan folks)
Asus ROG Strix Z270F Gaming
16GB Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000MHz
11GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
256GB Intel 600p M.2 SSD & 2TB HDD
Microsoft Windows 10 64bit & 3 Year Warranty
£2028 including delivery
Versus Corsair One Pro @ £2199 (currently frer shipping).
Funnily enough most of the 3XS components are Corsair including the AIO cooler, hehe.
Eleveneleven - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
That Vengeance is noisy as hell. No thanks,K_Space - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
3XS Ti = 44.8db Corsair One ?Pro = 40.7db (both reviewed at Scan) bearing in mind you could slab a Carbide 'Q' variant case instead, e.g. 400Q and watch the noise level plummet (by 60% no less according to anandtech own review). Given that the equivalent Corsair One Pro 1080Ti version is available for the sum of £2,599 GBP, I'd certainly call that pricey as hell.The kicker is that the precious 2 year warranty from Corsair is invalidated the moment you start meddling with the insides... Including installing your favourite M.2 SSD. So your choices: ? mahssoive mark up on every component upgrade on custom rig or ?as professionally built 'standard' rig for £££ less.
rmm584 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Looking on Corsair website they list a version with a 1080ti for $2599 USD, but it still has a SATA drvie and 2400 DDR4. Tempting to buy it, install a NVMe drive, replace the 2400 DDR4 with faster DDR4, and sell the 2400 used. Would be a beast.close - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Too bad you have to take the whole thing apart to install an M.2 drive. It's on the back of the motherboard.romrunning - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Kudos on the design! I definitely like it.However, the pricing is way too high. I understand it's customized & maybe you can call it a "boutique" kind of gaming PC, but I'd rather just build my own Silverstone mini-ITX gaming PC for a lot less money.
Drumsticks - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Earlier comments have already mentioned the markup really isn't that bad, especially considering you're getting two 240mm liquid coolers in the top end model. That's a bit more advanced than what's available to cool most SFF cases.romrunning - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Well, the markup may not seem too bad, but it seems to be adding at least $400-700 more to the price - if we go by what others have said about similar build-outs vs the "Pro" version.I do hope this stirs more competition from other case makers to create some newer mini-ITX designs. Who knows, maybe Corsair will even release this one as a standalone case.
Hxx - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
the price will most likely drop very soon. The pro version is about 1k more than it should be.fanofanand - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
At the risk of adding to the echo chamber, I was very attracted to this until I got to the price. Coincidentally I have been doing a few of my own mock-builds to get an idea of how far my money would stretch today. Turns out for about $1900 I could build a system with a 1080 and an 1800x, with a 500Gb M.2 SSD and an 80 plus gold PSU. RAM was 3200 with CL15 (16 Gb) and a decent Asus Prime Pro X370 and a decent case with liquid cooling. That particular build would appear to beat this by 75-100% depending on the activity, for the same dollars. Granted that case was about 21 Liters vs the 12 here, but unless you literally cannot fit a larger case this is just a halo product meant to display what Corsair can do. I wouldn't expect many to actually buy this.vladx - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
People like you still don't get it, this is not targeted towards people like us who can build our own PC.fanofanand - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
You are absolutely correct, I don't get it. Those that can't build their own still desire to pay 50% more because the case is smaller? Why wouldn't they choose a pre-built that has a slightly larger case, dramatically greater performance, that still costs less? Are those that don't built their own going to gravitate towards Corsair? Are those not in the DIY game aware of Corsair? I think you just set up your own straw-man, the ONLY people who would be interested in this are the same people that would more than likely build it themselves.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
I do like the design a lot. I think the best way I can describe it in one word is "tasteful" and that's not something I can justify saying about a lot of other gaming products.Can we get one with a 1050 or 1060 and an i5? For those of us 1366x768 screens, the higher end GPU isn't necessary and the i7 in general doesn't bring enough additional performance to the table. Both components add too much heat to a room and require a larger-than-necessary power supply.
fanofanand - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
I'm absolutely with you. Slap in a decent sized M.2, an RX480, and a 1600x. 90% of the performance (in most applications, and in some far greater performance than a 7700) but at 50% of the cost or less.BrokenCrayons - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Yes, a Ryzen CPU and AMD GPU would be another valid option. In the case of the hardware config you're looking at, the overall heat output would be similar rather than lower, but the reduction in cost would probably justify it for most people.fanofanand - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Ryzen processors use the same or less wattage and have the same or lower thermal profile. This isn't the old AMD who made 250 watt space heaters, these are far more efficient chips. So it's more performant, cheaper, uses less electricity, and runs cooler. Only if you are big on overclocking or a fps gamer would the Intel provide a better option.rev3rsor - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I'd definitely agree with all your points, and I think a configuration like would be quite good for, say, casual gamers or people after productivity with something less top-end. One comment though, how common are 1366*768 screens in desktop users...?BrokenCrayons - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Realistically, I'd say they're pretty uncommon these days. My expectations relatively low for acceptable computing, probably a lot lower than most other people making comments here. Though I like watching technology change, I don't usually feel compelled to make the necessary purchases to keep up.Steam's survey might offer some insight into the gaming world where this hardware is relevant. I believe they capture monitor resolution and report results on it, but don't quote me on that.
fanofanand - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I think most people have moved to at least 1680x1050Tylanner - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
These comments are atrocious....why does everyone have the urge to discredit the entire custom gaming computer market by itemizing from newegg and minimizing the design, build and warranty/tech support.The fact is there are a ton of costs built into a custom gaming PC parts...advertising...branding...assembly labor...etc...and they still (presumably) make money...
Go make your "equivalent" PC and put it up on ebay...see how much the market thinks it is worth...it would be worth a lot less than this...
There is a market for this...even if we are not in it...and we should compare and contrast it against truly equivalent competitors. Because despite what you may think...assembling and configuring a PC is a non-trivial exercise.
Hxx - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
you heard of cyberpowerpc? you can "build" a much cheaper PC with similar specs while using off the shelf components (nothing proprietary) and you can go mini itx all the way to full size. That's just one company there are many more.So to answer your question, the criticism to price does not come (only) from DYI builders but in general is genuinely more expensive than a comparable pre-build PC. I get it though, its a new toy, looks nice and its Corsair. But then again this is gonna stay at this price for very long if they want to sell them.Notmyusualid - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
@ Tylanner+1
BrokenCrayons - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Well, hold on a moment please. The point people are making when they itemize a similar build isn't the resale value on the secondary market for that hardware. The value comes from obtaining similar computing performance for a lower cost. It's unrealistic for someone to purchase new parts, assemble a system, and then list it right away on Ebay. Most people only go through the trouble of doing so in order to actually reap a benefit from the hardware by putting it to use. Their point in mentioning that is that they can get the same hardware specifications for a lower cost which is a completely valid argument for someone with the time, tools, and knowledge to make against purchasing a retail solution.fanofanand - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
+1The pricing context is not in relation to other commercially available PCs, the context is in regards to DIY builders, who a rig like this might appeal to. (people who know nothing about PCs aren't going to gravitate towards Corsair, that's a fact) Ignorant consumers will simply buy an iMac or a Dell AIO or something similar. They aren't going out to Falcon or Origin or Corsair. So this PC IS being marketed to those that might otherwise DIY, and the value proposition for these folks is the cost comparison between building their own and buying a pre-built. Think of the blackbird, that was unique because the case itself couldn't be purchased (at first). That provided a unique intrinsic value that a DIY person couldn't replicate (well maybe ddriver could). That's how you add value, not by slapping a bunch of company branded components in a company branded case and then marking the price up by 20-50%.
Shadowmaster625 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
$300 CPU + $400 GPU + $150 mobo + $100 RAM + $150 case/psu + $200 in drives = = = .... $1800!!! $500 to assemble it and put a copy of windows on it! Take my money.Morawka - Thursday, March 23, 2017 - link
Yeah this thing is priced to fail.. corsiar what are you thinking?Meteor2 - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
I can't remember the economics properly but it's something like if you price it higher with a big margin, it's quite possible to sell fewer items but make a bigger profit.Plus if you make something expensive that actually makes it attractive. Weird but that's how it seems to work...
fanofanand - Tuesday, March 28, 2017 - link
There is the presumption of quality and performance from the higher price. It's a natural human reaction to assume prices reflect cost.milkod2001 - Friday, March 24, 2017 - link
Looks quite neat and it is not as much overpriced as other prebuilt systems. Hoverer i would not buy it. By design hot air comes up through big holes on top. When not in use this case will collect ton of dust which naturally will get inside of case.That will degrade heat and noise performance of this case very soon.m16 - Monday, March 27, 2017 - link
I'm amazed that there's no 32GB RAM option, unless I missed something. While 16 are enough now for gaming, it might not be in the future and it cuts the use of the machine to gaming and general computing.That being said... it's a nice little machine. The price is a bit steep, but considering the form factor, it's sort of justifiable.
It fills the void left by the x51 departure from Alienware.
bobasaur - Wednesday, April 5, 2017 - link
AFAIK, Corsair themselves list the PSU as a SF400, with the GTX 1080Ti equipped model using a SF500. Could Anandtech please check with Corsair and confirm the PSU they are actually shipping?