When it comes to gaming, the camps will always be divided, with some preferring a dedicated console, while others prefer a gaming PC. Personally, it has never really mattered, but when it comes to a gaming PC, I have always had an affinity for smaller rigs. It has been quite some time since my last gaming PC (custom built Shuttle chassis) and the offerings from major companies have gotten a lot better. MSI's Trident 3 Arctic is a perfect example, offering quite a bit of power under the hood, but contained in an enclosure that's roughly the size of an Xbox One.
The design isn't going to be to everyone's liking, but it's clean, has sharp angles, and looks minimalistic. The arctic white color makes it stand out in a room and the RGB illumination near the power button adds a minor accent to the exterior. The PC can lay flat horizontally or can be stood upright using the vertical stand. Since it is so slim, the external power supply is a mammoth of a brick, roughly a third of the size of the computer itself. It would have been nice to see a smaller power supply, but the unit does pack an Intel i7-7700 and GTX 1070. Along with the computer, MSI does include an Interceptor DS4200 gaming keyboard and an Interceptor DS B1 gaming mouse. Using both for a short time, you will probably want to find alternative solutions, as both seem a bit unrefined when it comes to gaming, particularly the keyboard.
As far as performance goes, the Trident 3 Arctic manages to do pretty well. Although playtime was short, Fortnite and Battlefield 1 ran at maximum settings at 60 frames per second, while a handful of other older titles performed flawlessly. However, what is a bit concerning is that unit shut down multiple times during a three-hour session. It's unknown at the moment why this problem occurred, but checking the CPU temperature, the unit did manage to crack 90 degrees, which could indicate that there is an overheating issue. Over the course of the week, further testing will be performed to see what exactly is causing the issue.
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You can expect more content on the MSI Trident 3 Arctic this week and a full review coming soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions, leave them down below. Also be sure to check out our overview and unboxing videos.
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