MSI Trident 3 Gaming Desktop (Kaby Lake)

[cadaveca]

MSI's Trident 3 is a compact SFF system that can provide a console-like gaming experience. Equipped with an Intel Core i7-7700, a custom mITX MSI GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB GAMING, 16 GB of RAM, an M.2 SSD and a mechanical HDD for storage duties, it is small yet extremely capable.

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[Chaitanya]

on 7th page there is a typo it reads GTX 160 instead of 1060.

 

[W1zzard]

on 7th page there is a typo it reads GTX 160 instead of 1060.

Fixed. thanks

 

[deu]

I tend to more and more like their attempts at a console-size gaming rig. This would be enough for most as long as they are not hardcore FPSers. If they kept their formfactor of the GFX and provided alternative for upgrading I can see this working for alot of people in the future! :0

 

[Dethroy]

Nice review. My interest in SFF products has risen throughout the last years and I'm glad that TPU seems to have taken note as well.

Tomorrow marks the release of the Dan Cases A4-SFX. I wonder if TPU has plans to review said case as well.

One more thing: the dimensions and volume don't really add up.

 

[cadaveca]

One more thing: the dimensions and volume don't really add up.

That's likely because all four sides of the case (if horizontal) are angled. So the volume should be less than the dimensions would lead you to believe. Measurements include the spaces above/below those angles where the space is not actually occupied by the case but air.

 

[raptori]

What was the temperature during your gaming sessions ? MSI afterburner readings for GPU and CPU cores would have been a very valuable information .

 

[cadaveca]

What was the temperature during your gaming sessions ? MSI afterburner readings for GPU and CPU cores would have been a very valuable information .

I personally do not think this is a priority for systems that are not overclocked; the system needs to not throttle only (similar to a laptop) and noise is the consideration (and this system barely emitted any noise at all). If it was a system that offered overclocking, then that might be something of value for sure. In a system that does not support OC or even XMP, and the parts are under stock clocks, thermals should never present an issue to part life, even if the system throttles; although that is dependent on the BOM of the supporting components. It's no different than any other consumer electronic device that might be placed in a living room.

 

[ZenZimZaliben]

I personally do not think this is a priority for systems that are not overclocked; the system needs to not throttle only (similar to a laptop) and noise is the consideration (and this system barely emitted any noise at all). If it was a system that offered overclocking, then that might be something of value for sure. In a system that does not support OC or even XMP, and the parts are under stock clocks, thermals should never present an issue to part life, even if the system throttles; although that is dependent on the BOM of the supporting components. It's no different than any other consumer electronic device that might be placed in a living room.

Yeah but even then temps would be nice. Maybe if we felt temps were to high and we wanted it to increase longevity we could replace TIM or something. Plus as systems sit around and age their thermal capabilities can decline...dust and material degradation will have an effect over time.

 

[cadaveca]

Yeah but even then temps would be nice. Maybe if we felt temps were to high and we wanted it to increase longevity we could replace TIM or something. Plus as systems sit around and age their thermal capabilities can decline...dust and material degradation will have an effect over time.

Agreed 100%. Honestly if I thought that might be an issue, I would have mentioned it. Yet again, that's no different than a XBOne or PS4, which is where this PC is really targeted at. Console-sized with better performance and greater functionality.

 

[BiggieShady]

Honestly if I thought that might be an issue, I would have mentioned it.

You did say "Can get hot under some extreme workloads", that it has 1.25V on the core at stock and no voltage control, and we see console-like low profile blowout cooler ... I suspect people are just not used to completely stock cpu turbo settings (only 3.6 GHz when all cores are loaded) because most boards "cheat" with stock turbo multipliers on bios defaults.

 

[jboydgolfer]

@cadaveca
What do you use for the audio performance results? Meaning,How do you get those numbers that are in the review pg12 " Board performance"/Audio?

Ty

 

[cadaveca]

@cadaveca
What do you use for the audio performance results?

Rightmark Audio analyzer, with the help of a loop-back cable.

 

[wurschti]

Not a big fan of the design, but I love its footprint. It's the perfect PC for me.

 

[Exarian]

Hoping someone might have some insight as a consider buying this machine. I noticed that the Intel wireless chip inside only offers 1x1, but see that one can purchase a 2x2 with higher throughput on amazon for about $30; is swapping the pieces out easy/possible in the Trident 3? Would it make a noticeable difference in daily use?