MSI showcases variety of PC form factors, including an AIO with support for an external GPU
MSI showed off a range of PC form factors at CES 2016, including the Gaming 27XT AIO, the first to support an external graphics card.
MSI's Gaming 27XT stands out as the first AIO to support external graphics cards. (Image Source: MSI)
MSI had a whole lot to show off at CES 2016, with something for everyone ranging from system builders to gamers who don’t want to do a whole lot of tinkering. In addition to its special edition all-black Carbon motherboards, it also revealed the compact, high-performance Vortex gaming PC. On top of that, it also showcased a range of PC form factors, including an all-in-one (AIO) gaming system that supports external desktop graphics cards, its Nightblade series of desktops, and the Cubi 2 Plus mini PC.
Gaming 27XT
The support for external graphics cards solves problems with cooling in such a slim and compact system. (Image Source: MSI)
According to MSI, the Gaming 27XT is the world’s first AIO gaming PC to support an external desktop graphics card. While we’ve seen graphics amplifiers before for notebooks (the Alienware Graphics Amplifier for instance), they are certainly unique for an AIO PC.
One thing you’ll notice is that MSI’s latest implementation is a lot more compact than traditional notebook graphics amplifiers. The Alienware one was a huge unseemly block, and even MSI’s own external dock for its GS30 Shadow gaming notebook was fairly clunky.
This time however, the Gaming 27XT’s external graphics card fits neatly onto the rear. The dimensions match that of the system too, so it won’t poke over the top of your display in an unsightly manner. MSI said that the enclosure will take cards like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX Titan and 980 Ti and can provide up to 330 watts of power, so it seems most high-end graphics cards will be compatible. One benefit of this approach is that it actually solves the perennial problem of cooling when it comes to AIO gaming systems.
The external graphics enclosure fits nicely onto the back. (Image Source: MSI)
The display itself starts at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and can be upgraded to a 3,840 x 2,160 pixels resolution. However, the refresh rate varies depending on your chosen resolution – you’ll get a 144Hz refresh rate for the FHD and QHD resolutions, but this will drop to 60Hz if you decide to go the 4K route.
In addition, the Gaming 27XT features two M.2 interfaces, something MSI claims is another industry first. This gives you the option to equip the AIO with two M.2 PCIe SSDs in RAID 0.
Nightblade X2 and MI2
The Nightblade X2 can accomodate up to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti. (Image Source: MSI)
MSI also revealed its Nightblade gaming PCs. These follow a more conventional tower PC design and can be equipped with powerful components like the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Nightblade X2) and 970 (Nightblade MI2).
The smaller Nightblade MI2 can hold an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970. (Image Source: MSI)
They will be powered by the latest Intel sixth-generation processors and come with features like Nahimic Audio technology and an easily-upgradeable design. The X2 is the more powerful and larger version of the two, and comes with additional features like a bigger 500 watt power supply, and Killer E2400 Ethernet and Wireless-AC 1535 for support for Killer DoubleShot Pro network management technology.
Cubi 2 Plus
The Cubi 2 Plus is intended as a super compact HTPC. (Image Source: MSI)
Finally, the Cubi 2 Plus is a mini PC equipped with Intel’s sixth-generation Skylake processors. It is intended as an exceedingly compact HTPC or office media PC, complete with support for M.2 and 2.5-inch SSDs, and enough ports to go around. There are a total of four USB ports on the front, including a USB Type-C port for support for the latest peripherals.
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