Origin set itself apart from its competitors in 2014 with the release of a new, unique chassis for its Genesis and Millennium tower desktops. The company’s configurable enclosure continues to give the company an edge over most of its competitors. But Origin’s line-up is broader than its mid-tower and full-tower desktops, and smaller systems like the Chronos didn’t receive the same treatment.
Until now. For 2016, Origin has introduced a new, compact case for the Chronos. It’s designed to fit the most powerful processors and graphics cards – our review unit came with a Core i7-5960X and a GTX 980 Ti – into diminutive dimensions.
While that sounds great on paper, executing the formula isn’t easy. Quick hardware doesn’t always mix well with small enclosures. Can Origin’s new Chronos handle its own heat?
A dwarf among dwarves
Origin isn’t the only company with a pint-sized gaming PC. Every PC maker offers a similar rig. But Origin has successfully out-miniaturized its competition. The Chronos is a tad less than 12 inches tall, about 14 inches deep, and just four inches wide. The Falcon Northwest Tiki is just slightly taller. Digital Storm’s Bolt is significantly larger at 18 inches tall, and 15 inches deep. There are of course smaller gaming desktops available, but the Origin Chronos is the smallest we’ve reviewed that can equip an X99 processor and GTX 980Ti video card.
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
The Chrono’s enclosure is designed to be “flexible,” which means it can be oriented to stand on any of its four sides without risk of overheating. That choice, along with its size, makes the system feel very much like a console. It’s hardly larger than an Xbox One, yet that flexibility means the rig looks rather generic. It’s a simple, black box, about as long as it is tall, with fan vents on all sides. That’s fine. But some alternatives, particularly Falcon Northwest’s Tiki, look more refined.
Connectivity is about what you’d expect. There are two USB 3.0 ports on the front, alongside headphone and audio jacks. Around back there’s a variety of connectivity depending on the motherboard you select. In these respects, it’s on par with the competition. Small gaming desktops generally don’t offer front-facing connectivity beyond a pair of USBs and audio jacks.
Crammed inside, but it all makes sense
Opening the Chronos’ tiny enclosure is similar to opening any traditional mid-tower case. Access is from the left side, where the entire panel slides back. You’ll have to put in a bit more work to remove it because six screws keep it in place, but once those are out of the way, access takes but a moment. The processor radiator is attached to the panel, which means takes it off completely is a chore. But there’s no reason to do that unless you want to replace the CPU itself.
The Chronos is easier to repair than most other small form factor desktops.
Inside, you’ll find a cramped, yet logical layout. The motherboard inhabits the upper rear corner, as usual. Everything in this area is easy to access, including the RAM and the M.2 solid state drive. At the front is the optical drive – yes, Origin somehow found room for one – and the power supply. Below the motherboard lurks the video card, which gets cozy with the second hard drive (if optioned), and takes up the rest of the interior space. The card is connected using a flexible PCI Express bridge, which lets Origin rotate it by 90 degrees – a necessity to make the case just four inches wide.
Working on the Chronos isn’t easy. Like all small form factor systems, it has nooks and crannies that love to eat stray screws, and accessing one component often means removing another. But all components are visible, and the overall layout isn’t much different than a standard ATX desktop. That makes it easy for PC hardware enthusiasts to understand. Overall, the Chronos matches Falcon Northwest’s Tiki in ease of repair, and exceeds most other small form factor desktops.
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Upgradability, is still an issue. There’s no room in our review unit for an additional hard drive, and replacing the motherboard would be a major job due to the neat, tidy, custom internal power wiring the Chronos uses to achieve its slight dimensions. If you want a small form factor PC, but also want something easy to retrofit five years from now, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/desktop-computer-reviews/origin-chronos-2016-review/#ixzz49ZSZ9PMs
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