MSI has expanded its Nightblade compact PC range with its most condensed offering yet – the Nightblade MI. The original Nightblade PCs and bare bones mini-ITX offerings had dimensions of 345.8 x 277.3 x 175.7 mm and a capacity of 16 litres. MSI's latest Nightblade MI is an immediately noticeably smaller 340.6 x 234.8 x 127.6 mm, with a capacity of 10 litres. HEXUS reviewed the original MSI Nightblade in August last year.
Before today's launch we first saw the MSI Nightblade MI on show at Computex in June. As you can see from the pictures in this article the MI design is quite a departure from the previous Nightblade model stylings, it lacks the lower front LED-lit 'throat', handle, chrome highlights on the front, and top panel access controls and ports. You will find its 2x USB 3.0 and Earphone/Microphone jack round the side. However, despite the style changes and reduction in size, MSI still squeeze an ODD into this new Nightblade.
The previous Nightblade models were pre-made and barebone systems which left you to decide the CPU (choice of Haswell CPU) and the GPU. From the press release we have today the Nightblade MI gaming PC appears to have a set configuration. The specs are reproduced below:
Nightblade MI specifications
- Processor: Intel 4th gen Core i7 processor
- Operating System: Windows 10
- Chipset: Intel B85
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 2GB GDDR5
- Memory: Max 16GB dual slots DDR3 Long-DIMM
- Storage: 2x 3.5" HDD, 1x 2.5" SSD/HDD
- Communication: 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Wireless Combo
- Optical Device: Slim tray Super Multi DVD
- Power Supply: 350W Bronze
- Dimensions: 127.6 x 234.8 x 340.6 mm (10L)
- Connectivity: Side: 2x USB 3.0, Earphone/Microphone jack
- Rear: 7 in 1 audio jack, 2x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0, 1x RJ45 LAN, 1x HDMI out, 1x Display out, 1x P/S 2
- OS: Windows 10, system supports DirectX 12
In further supplied details, MSI crows about the capabilities of the GTX 960 offering "a performance increase of 15% while using 41% less power compared to the previous generation". Nahmic sound technology is equipped to provide high definition virtual 7.1 sound using advanced sound enhancement effects.
With a more confined chassis, cooling possibilities and airflow can be impacted heavily. MSI says that it has implemented 'Silent Storm Cooling' in the Nightblade MI with a heat pipe and sealed fin heatsink in the chassis to help your system remain "perfectly cool and silent during gaming sessions". Smaller systems can be tricky to get into and change components but MSI claims the MI has easy upgrade access to HDD bays, the SSD bay, CPU and graphics card.
The Nightblade MI gaming PC will be available worldwide from the first week of August. Pricing is yet to be revealed.
