At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Extremely {powerful}, particularly for the dimensions
• Tiny {custom} FragBox chassis is gorgeous and meticulously designed
• Extremely customizable
• Ice-cool and whisper-quiet, an incredible feat contemplating the dimensions and energy
• Excellent guarantee (Falcon Overnight is unparalleled), perks, documentation, QA
• Default Windows set up is quick, updated, and bloatware-free
• Falcon Fuel tastes wonderful

Cons

• You pay up for perfection

Our Verdict

The Falcon Northwest FragBox epitomizes why you purchase a boutique {custom} PC. I can’t discover a single factor to complain about. It packs excessive energy into an unbelievably small, cool, and quiet {custom} chassis, whereas Falcon Northwest’s guarantee, shopping for expertise, and Windows/software program setup is second to none.

Price When Reviewed

$2966 baseline | $5850 as reviewed

Best Prices Today: Falcon Northwest FragBox (Intel 14th-gen)

When the day inevitably comes that I hold up my PC toolkit for good, I’m shopping for a Falcon Northwest FragBox.

That’s excessive reward coming from a lifelong PC builder. But Falcon Northwest completely nails each side of the Core i7-14700K FragBox I used to be despatched to assessment, each massive and small. This diminutive desktop PC includes a totally {custom} chassis — and even {custom} followers — together with impeccable consideration to element to ship a delightfully transportable, ferociously {powerful}, and damned-quiet PC that’s simple to lug round, and it completely chews by way of all the pieces you throw at it.

It doesn’t cease there. The FragBox is totally customizable, and Falcon Northwest performs intensive burn-in testing on each system it ships. The preinstalled Windows 11 picture is splendidly clear, with not one of the bloatware and crap infesting PCs from massive field retailers. And Falcon Northwest’s intensive assist and guarantee is a scrumptious cherry on high within the off probability one thing hiccups in your construct.

I’m in love. If you’ll be able to afford to splurge on a Falcon Northwest FragBox, you can be too. There’s a motive 100 FragBoxes powered Epic’s recent Fortnite Championship in Denmark and the UnrealFest UE5 classrooms, and why Falcon Northwest is the selection of studios and superstars alike.

Let’s dig in.

Above: Watch Adam stroll by way of the design of all Falcon Northwest desktops, together with an in depth take a look at the FragBox’s inside.

Falcon Northwest’s storied historical past

Before we dig into the specifics of the FragBox, it’s value spending a second catching you up on Falcon Northwest’s background.

Falcon Northwest, positioned in Oregon, actually launched the primary prebuilt gaming PC when it rolled out the legendary Mach V in 1993, a yr after its inception. (Founder Kelt Reeves was a pilot.) Building high-performance techniques with a eager consideration to element has been baked into this firm’s DNA from the get-go.

Its custom-made computer systems aren’t constructed on an meeting line. “It’s just the way we’ve always done it: one technician building one system specifically for one client,” Falcon Northwest’s About page proudly declares. “It’s a decidedly labor-intensive and time-consuming way to produce technology products, but we believe that the finer things in life are made by caring hands.”

Falcon Northwest

It reveals, and it’s confirmed for many years. PCWorld’s personal Gordon Mah Ung reviewed the very first prototype for the FragBox ever made (dubbed the “FragBox II,” as the primary was a proprietary barebones PC constructed across the FIC Ice Cube) for Maximum PC all the best way again in 2004, giving it a sterling 9 ranking and the journal’s coveted Kick Ass award. “We have to admit that we didn’t expect the FragBox II to be much of a match for this year’s Dream Machine, but when Falcon showed up with this monster, we started sweating bullets. Its performance is even more amazing considering its size.”

Nearly 20 years later, the Falcon Northwest FragBox continues to be kicking ass and taking names. The quantity of uncooked firepower this tiny dice pumps out is nothing wanting wonderful.

The Falcon Northwest expertise

The consideration to element begins earlier than you even open the field. It begins if you open the different field that accompanies your order.

It’s not marketed on the Falcon Northwest web site, however each system the corporate ships comes with a “thank you” field filled with goodies: a stunning large-sized FNW desk mat, a Falcon Northwest-branded espresso mug, a package deal of scrumptious “Falcon Fuel” espresso that Full Nerd regulars already know tastes completely scrumptious, and a signed notice from founder Kelt Reeves. It’s a pleasant shock if you’re spending up for a top-tier {custom} PC.

There’s a sensible side to it as nicely. The secondary field additionally consists of your Windows set up disc and different paperwork, further motherboard equipment, and a folder that’s jam-packed with web page after web page of useful, deeply nerdy data.

Falcon Northwest

Not solely will you discover an bill along with your order quantity, gross sales rep’s identify, and detailed breakdown of all of your {hardware} and Windows model, you’ll additionally discover a transport guidelines that the corporate makes use of to make sure all the pieces you ordered is within the field. But it goes even deeper! A second QA guidelines (seen above) meticulously chronicles each side of your system, together with superbly nerdy particulars like your RAM timings; which XMP profile was activated; RAID storage particulars (if relevant); which particular video games have been used to check system stability; numerous BIOS and driver model put in; your {hardware}, software program, and “second check” technicians; and a complete lot extra, as proven beneath.

You’ll additionally discover one other web page devoted to the efficiency outcomes your PC spat out throughout burn-in testing. You’ll discover particular person scores for Unigine’s Heaven and 3DMark’s Timespy and Firestrike GPU benchmarks, Cinebench for CPU testing, Crystal Diskmark outcomes for SSD efficiency, particulars a few long-term Memtest86+ burn-in take a look at to verify your reminiscence is all set, and PCMark 10 scores to gauge whole-system efficiency. Falcon Northwest additionally consists of the utmost reported temperature every of your main parts reached throughout its burn-in checks. It’s splendidly thorough — and deeply insightful if you happen to’re a geek who can parse what these scores imply.

Falcon Northwest

If you’re not a benchmark-spewing nerd, you’ll admire the useful multi-page Starting Guide that Falcon Northwest consists of, which covers all the pieces from the preliminary {hardware} setup, suggestions to verify your laptop’s all-in-one cooler doesn’t gargle, driver and replace recommendation, the right way to preserve your system clear and working quick, the right way to use the Windows USB rescue drive, and extra. Another illustrated diagram within the FragBox’s container describes how the airflow for the tiny system works, offering steerage on the right way to place it for greatest efficiency.

Finally, Falcon Northwest’s welcome packet additionally describes the corporate’s beneficiant guarantee. In addition to a 30-day a reimbursement assure and a three-year guarantee that covers elements and labor, you get a yr of Falcon Overnight service. If you encounter a critical {hardware} downside that may’t be fastened with a name to FNW’s U.S.-based technical assist, the corporate will “pick it up via overnight courier, correct any problem, fully test the system, and overnight it back to you.”

That’s a perk no different main laptop firm presents. Falcon Northwest says it’s ready to take action due to the corporate’s “extremely low defect rate.” All that intensive testing I beforehand talked about ain’t only for nerd cred.

Welp, I simply spent a whole lot of phrases on stuff that isn’t even particular to the FragBox itself. But each sentence was crucial — if you spend up for a {custom} boutique PC, the expertise, guarantee, and a focus to element are an enormous a part of the rationale why. Falcon Northwest merely blows away the competitors right here. From the beginner-friendly beginning information to nerd-friendly benchmark outcomes, from intensive pre-shipment testing to a borderline ludicrous Falcon Overnight guarantee, Falcon Northwest does all the pieces it could possibly to verify your system is kicking butt and working steady.

Plus you get a rad deskmat and a few scrumptious espresso. Onto the FragBox itself!

Falcon Northwest FragBox design and construct

Falcon Northwest

You’ll be struck by the FragBox’s distinctive magnificence the second you yank it out of its transport container by its aluminum metallic deal with. Yes, a deal with; this beast is constructed for touring to LAN events or being schlepped between completely different places if you want heavy computing firepower within the discipline.

Falcon Northwest’s diminutive titan isn’t fairly as small because the smallest {custom} mini-ITX PCs you’ll be able to construct by hand — it’s extra winter boot box-sized than shoebox-sized — however this mini-ATX monster is sort of unbelievably small contemplating the overwhelming {hardware} firepower it packs inside.

Falcon Northwest

The FragBox’s smooth all-black aluminum chassis was designed in-house by Falcon Northwest to suit its demanding wants. You can’t get it wherever else. It’s a magnificence to have a look at, punctuated by an illuminated FNW “falcon” emblem on the entrance, and a discrete metallic plate engraved along with your identify on the rear. The broad, swooping deal with offers this stylishly understated case an unmistakable identification. It’s damned spectacular, although some edges of the case may stand to be smoothed out a bit. (The chamfered deal with itself feels fantastic in hand.)

The case is about greater than aesthetics although. It options considerable cooling holes punched into the lid, underneath the deal with, in addition to extra consumption/outtake holes carved out in exact areas on the perimeters and backside of the case to maximise airflow for this rig’s actual dimensions.

Falcon Northwest

Despite the insane configuration in my FragBox assessment unit — an Intel Core i7-14700K, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition, 4TB SSD, and 96GB of high-clock reminiscence — Falcon Northwest’s rigorous design manages to maintain it working cool and quiet with simply 4 inner followers. Four. And in a testomony to FNW’s impeccable consideration to element, two of these 4 followers are custom-made 120mm items designed to supply loads of airflow on to the RTX 4090 FE. These run at simply 6,000 RPM out of the field so that they’re virtually silent! Dual 140mm followers on the opposite aspect spherical out the consumption cooler, with air flowing out by way of the CPU cooler’s 280mm radiator and followers on the high of the case.

Even the underside of the case is nicely thought out; not solely is it simply as lovely as the remaining, nevertheless it consists of rubber ft for sound and vibration dampening. Given how quiet this rig runs, it’s a really welcome contact.

Falcon Northwest

On the entrance of the case you’ll discover two type-A USB ports, a type-C USB port, a mix mic/headphone jack, and the ability button. The rear of my assessment unit additionally got here brimming with ports, courtesy of the Asus TUF Gaming B750M Plus WiFi motherboard inside, however your configuration will depend upon the motherboard of your selecting.

Falcon Northwest FragBox software program and out-of-the-box expertise

Before we delve deeper into the {hardware} of my assessment unit, I wish to contact on Falcon Northwest’s out-of-the-box Windows expertise. No shock right here: It’s excellent.

The prebuilt PCs you purchase from the main multinational firms and large field retailers virtually universally come slowed down with intense quantities of bloatware: antivirus trials, Dropbox trials, numerous mobile-esque video games, subscription service trials, and on and on. That’s as a result of PC makers who pump out equivalent techniques on a manufacturing unit line earn a bit of additional cash for every of these software program installations. Slapped into 1000’s of techniques, it pays off, although most individuals I do know hate it.

Falcon Northwest’s FragBox has none of that.

Instead you’ll discover a remarkably clear desktop with not one of the crap, similar to you’d get if a PC fanatic constructed your laptop with a clear {custom} Windows picture (which is actually what you’re paying for right here). Falcon Northwest ships its techniques with all the most recent drivers and BIOS updates already put in. You simply flip in your system, it boots in mere seconds, and also you’re able to rock.

It’s a stark, welcome distinction to the everyday prebuilt PC expertise, and one other instance of Falcon Northwest really nailing each side of the FragBox.

Falcon Northwest FragBox {hardware}: Ultimate customizability

Falcon Northwest

The {hardware} contained in the FragBox is totally customizable if you place your order. Despite its tiny stature, the system can assist some really ferocious firepower, as evidenced by my no-compromises take a look at unit.

The FragBox starts at $2,966, outfitted with a Core i5-14600K, a PNY GeForce RTX 4060 Verto, an Asus TUF Gaming B750M Plus WiFi motherboard, a 2TB Kingston Fury SSD, 32GB of 6000MHz Kingston Fury RAM, Windows 11 Pro, Falcon Northwest’s {custom} 280mm all-in-one liquid cooler, and a SilverStone SX SFX-L Platinum 1000 watt energy provide.

But you’ll be able to change most of that.

Every side of the internals are as much as your selecting. You can select from Intel or AMD, Radeon or GeForce, client GPUs or workstation GPUs, a number of Kingston Fury RAM capacities and speeds, as much as 4 completely different storage drives, which model of Windows you need, and so forth. Falcon Northwest can even bundle in high-quality screens, peripherals, and surge protectors in order for you. Pretty a lot the one issues that may’t be modified are the ability provide and {custom} FNW AIO, that are wanted to suit the FragBox. You may even decide what fashion of FNW emblem faceplate you need, or ask for a {custom} high-quality UV print to adorn your case.

Falcon Northwest

And because the FragBox is constructed with normal PC parts, it presents a ton of enlargement and upgradability.

Because of that excessive degree of customization it’s arduous to assessment the FragBox as a standalone set of {hardware} specs. Few techniques are the identical, and every is constructed and examined by hand. If you understand your workload wants however aren’t positive which elements you require, the corporate’s gross sales group can even work with you to assist configure a rig centered firmly on the duties you sort out.

My Falcon Northwest Fragbox configuration and efficiency

I obtained a style of that when organising this assessment unit. Founder Kelt Reeves wished to indicate off the ability of the brand new Intel 14th-gen FragBox, however requested me what I’d envision utilizing a PC like this for. As PCWorld’s resident gamer guru, I wished a system that had loads of oomph to sort out aggressive shooters and glitzy 4K video games alike, however with sufficient supporting {hardware} to stash loads of recorded gameplay clips and have the ability to deal with video enhancing if wanted. The final transportable work-and-play field, able to frag and crunch knowledge alike.

Falcon Northwest

I wished a smaller system. Since my apartment recently burned down I’m working in a way more restricted area now, typically having to shift my workspace relying on who’s working from dwelling that day. Enter the FragBox over a full-sized Talon or the smaller, however much less transportable Tiki mini-desktop.

Since I’m a gamer-first consumer who prefers quieter techniques, Reeves and I made a decision to go for the Core i7-14700K slightly than the flagship 14900K. The 14900K is clearly quicker in relation to content material manufacturing, however the 14700K continues to be nice at manufacturing and nearly simply as quick in gaming, whereas utilizing considerably much less energy (and thus working cooler). The RTX 4090 Founders Edition isn’t solely the quickest client graphics card for gaming and video creation round, it additionally unlocks Nvidia’s superior DLSS 3 characteristic and intensive ray tracing assist — good for each eye-dropping visuals and quicker high-quality rendering.

Since I don’t usually create massive movies, this FragBox was outfitted with a single Kingston Fury Renegade 4.0 M.2 SSD (Ryzen FragBox techniques embrace PCIe 5.0 choices, however Intel m-ATX motherboards reserve these quicker lanes for GPUs) for all my information.

Falcon Northwest

The reminiscence configuration is a little bit of a flex, although. My FragBox runs an enormous 96GB capability tuned to six,400MHz, for a really particular motive: It’s the most important capability you’ll be able to reliably run at ultra-high speeds. While the Asus TUF Gaming B750M Plus WiFi motherboard inside has 4 DIMM slots for as much as 192GB of capability, filling up all of the DIMM slots causes speeds to drop to make sure stability. This is the quickest, greatest two-stick RAM equipment you’ll be able to run on Intel’s newest platform. (You can discover 7,200MHz kits, however they didn’t cross Falcon Northwest’s qualification checks; that rigorous testing and give attention to high quality is one other advantage of choosing a {custom} PC construct from a boutique builder like FNW.)

All instructed, my FragBox’s specific high-end configuration prices $5,850 in Falcon Northwest’s configurator. Yes, that’s a whole lot of money, however contemplating the entire Falcon Northwest package deal and the no-compromises efficiency within the tiny, transportable FragBox chassis, it feels worthwhile — particularly if you happen to aren’t within the hassles of DIY.

And mates, this FragBox screams.

That shouldn’t come as a shock, because the FragBox is constructed from off-the-shelf parts, and all the pieces in right here is at or close to the highest of the charts. The Core i7-14700K and GeForce RTX 4090 are each completely ferocious in their very own proper, as is the massive, quick RAM and Kingston’s speedy 4TB SSD. Put all of them collectively and this child rips.

Falcon Northwest

We don’t have a deep stash of prebuilt desktop benchmarks to match the Falcon Northwest FragBox in opposition to, and the purpose can be type of moot anyway, since you’ll be able to configure it to your coronary heart’s content material.

But relaxation assured that the FragBox roared by way of all the pieces I threw at it. The 14700K chewed up and spit out Cinebench runs, because of its 4 extra E-cores in comparison with the 13700K, and video games ran buttery clean in full constancy even at 4K decision. Most video games run at nicely over 100 frames per second even with out DLSS enabled, whereas Cyberpunk 2077’s Ultra preset cruised nicely previous 70fps at native decision. Turning on ray tracing drops that, in fact, however correspondingly flipping on DLSS and/or DLSS 3 Frame Gen despatched body charges skyrocketing alongside all these juicy rays. Shadow of the Tomb Raider averaged over 200 frames per second!

So sure, the Falcon Northwest FragBox screams — however not actually. Despite packing all this high-end {hardware} and solely wielding 4 well-thought-out inner followers, the FragBox remained whisper-quiet the whole time I used it, even throughout probably the most punishing duties. Component temperatures remained good and chilly too.

Ultra-powerful, ultra-portable, ultra-quiet, ultra-cool — there’s nothing I can complain about on the {hardware} entrance right here.

Should you purchase the Falcon Northwest FragBox?

Falcon Northwest

That’s true for nearly each side of the FragBox. I can’t discover something to complain about. Falcon Northwest’s deep know-how and eager consideration to element creates a flawless PC expertise, from the {hardware} to the software program to the superb welcome package deal and unparalleled guarantee.

The solely side it’s possible you’ll take situation with is the worth. Falcon Northwest techniques aren’t low cost. The FragBox starts at $2,966 and our chart-topping configuration sells for $5,850. Alaina Yee, the resident deal hunter on PCWorld’s Full Nerd podcast, would most likely faint simply studying that.

But high-quality perfection by no means comes low cost. Buying the FragBox means shopping for a system that was hand-built by a single technician, utilizing elements that handed Falcon Northwest’s rigorous qualification checks, after which extensively examined once more to make sure stability earlier than it ships your manner. It means getting a incredible Falcon Overnight guarantee, and a quick, up-to-date, deliciously bloatware-free Windows expertise proper out of the field. It means getting ferociously {powerful} efficiency in a a lot smaller field than you’d anticipate because of FNW’s custom-engineered, meticulously tuned FragBox case.

As my colleague Gordon Mah Ung stated when he reviewed the unique FragBox many years in the past, “Its performance is even more amazing considering its size.”

Like I stated on the high, there’s a motive 100 FragBoxes powered Epic’s recent Fortnite Championship in Denmark and the UnrealFest UE5 classrooms, and why Falcon Northwest is the selection of studios and superstars alike. There’s a motive FNW techniques are utilized by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs, Oculus, Lockheed Martin, Walt Disney, Nvidia, Dartmouth, and extra. Every side of this technique is top-notch. You get what you pay for.

And that’s why when the day inevitably comes that I hold up my PC toolkit for good, I’m shopping for a Falcon Northwest FragBox. I’ve by no means encountered one other PC — a lot much less a prebuilt PC — that oozes excellence just like the FragBox. Highly, extremely, extremely really helpful.