The Comino Otto Master SFF PC is a massive feat of engineering when you consider it is a commercially available PC you can buy at a relatively affordable price, at least for a pre-built ultra-high-end system (yes, it is still tremendously expensive). This becomes more clear when you consider that it not only offers a unique design, but is also exceptionally well built to where I haven't run into a system that manages to deliver this level of quality or performance in such a tiny form factor. Granted, that doesn't mean something else isn't available, it just hasn't crossed my desk yet. Even so, Comino crammed a whole lot of system into their tiny 14-liter case, with the Otto Master using off the shelf components like the PNY CS3030 1 TB NVMe SSD, Toshiba 2 TB HDD, Noctua cooling fans, Hardware Labs Nemesis 280GTS radiator, custom full-cover blocks, reservoir, and industrial fittings, all with more RGB lighting than you can shake a stick at. Love it or hate it, the system is a unique example in an industry where most systems are just a big box of tempered glass and RGB fans. Oh, and you can customize your coolant and cable sleeving as well, so you are not limited to the all-white theme you see here.

In regards to overall system performance, the Intel Core i9-9900K does what you would expect it to by delivering solid general performance and, when paired with the RTX 2080 Ti, incredibly high frame rates. Considering the CPU downclocks under intense load due to the default settings, you can gain further performance via overclocking the system, which is entirely possible since the cooling solution is more than capable of handling it. Just beware of the noise. Out of box, noise levels are already high at 49–52 dBA at all times at 1 foot (30 cm) away.

While Comino does plan to refine the noise profile for mass production and include custom software, our test system required a bit of fiddling with ASUS AI Suite software to get system noise levels under control. Another option is to go into the BIOS to configure a custom fan profile; however, the software allowed for more rapid tuning. This is one of the few areas where I feel the Otto can really benefit from some fine tuning and attention to detail since I was able to reduce noise levels down to around 43–46 dBA under load most of the time, with temperatures of around 45–50 °C on the GPU under load and the CPU sitting at 77°C. If you do overclock too far, you are likely going to see noise levels shoot back up. To help put these numbers into perspective, the system under intense load can peak at up to 500 watts from the wall. Under typical gaming loads, it tends to hover in the 350–380 watts range. When you consider the 280 mm radiator is managing the GPU, CPU, motherboard, and NVMe drive, the resulting temperatures are still impressive.

It is also worth noting that the CPU does clock down under FPU load, so no multi-core enhancement tricks were enabled by default, which means more performance could be unlocked with just a few tweaks without seriously affecting noise or temperatures. Furthermore, simple fan noise is not the only issue here as out of the box, the system had plenty of coil whine to go around, and it seemed to be coming from the GPU, which isn't really much of a surprise. While it did make for a less than stellar experience out of the box, the coil whine did seem to dissipate until it was only an occasional annoyance after running quite a few tests and working the system for numerous hours. That having been said, it isn't entirely Comino's fault as any GPU, or PC component for that matter, with high power consumption can experience coil whine. So it's less an issue on Comino's part and just a fact of life in regards to PC hardware, which still doesn't make it any less annoying.

Useful extras have been included with the system, some via the component selection, others by choice. An example would be the inclusion of Wi-Fi thanks to the ASUS Z390I STRIX motherboard Comino selected, which has Intel's Wireless-AC 9560 onboard. The system also has a base or stand that allows it to be set up vertically, making it look more like the Corsair ONE series of desktops. However, vertically, the motherboard I/O points downward, which means you need to route all the cables and plug everything in ahead of time. It also limits your connectivity since you can't see the ports, and the front panel I/O is limited to a single Type-C port. Thus, I would recommend not using said base just yet. The Otto does come with a few items that make maintenance easier, such as a fill bottle and funnel, which—while not anything to applaud—is yet another example of Comino remembering some of the minor details that can easily be overlooked.

With that having been said, the biggest issue is the fact that the system isn't easily upgradable for the majority of users, which a regular tower is by comparison. All the marketing speak can't change the fact that unless you are an enthusiast, you are likely not even going to know where to start to access some of the system components. It also doesn't help that the system being so compact makes seeing where everything is and how to gain access far more difficult. Obviously, it is not impossible by any means, just not as easy as opening the side panel on a regular mid-tower and removing a couple of thumbscrews to be off to the races. This is in part due to the quite intricate build, as it means a lot more disassembly is required. The Comino Otto is then a system I would consider as a set it, forget it, and run it option.

Comino's Otto Master isn't the only option available either as those wanting the unique design without paying for extravagant enthusiast-grade hardware can instead opt for the more affordable Otto Super, an AMD-based system that costs $2099 and comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super which are also fully water-cooled. Those just wanting to build their own can also opt for a Builders Special for $1049, or if you want to be truly brave, you can go with the full DIY option for $449. So while our test system is the pinnacle of what they offer, they do have other options available.

Overall, the Comino Otto is a unique design with many amazing elements that should continue to see further refinements before it is fully launched. As such, whle it is still worth keeping in mind that it is a pre-production unit, it has earned our Innovation award. However, to earn our Highly Recommended award, Comino still has some work to do in terms of eliminating coil whine and excess fan noise.