Review: Scan 3XS X99 Nanu Carbon

by Parm Mann on 5 June 2015, 14:15

Tags: SCAN, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Samsung (005935.KS)

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Conclusion

...if you're seeking high-end gaming thrills without the bulk of a towering rig, Scan's pocket rocket is the kind of PC you want.

Scan's 3XS Nanu Carbon is a good example of what a modern high-end PC can be. Taking advantage of some of the very best that technology has to offer, it combines a hexa-core Intel Core i7-5820K processor, powerful GeForce GTX 980 Ti graphics and an insanely fast Samsung PCIe SSD to deliver exceptional all-round performance and real 4K gaming potential.

The fact that all this is shoehorned into a sleek little chassis that runs cool and relatively quiet is all the more impressive, and it brings new meaning to what small-form-factor is all about.

Those with technical know-how will always find it cheaper to build their own, yet Scan effectively combats that line of thinking by adding real value in the form of stress-tested CPU and GPU overclocks, tidy build quality, and the peace of mind that comes with a reputable retailer's three-year warranty.

Small systems do of course have other inevitable trade-offs - mini-ITX parts typically aren't cheap and, obviously, there isn't a great deal of room for expansion further down the line - but the more pressing concern may be the imminent arrival of AMD's Radeon Fury graphics card. The GeForce competitor is due later this month and our recommendation to anyone weighing up a new rig would be to hold fire to see exactly what the Radeon has to offer.

Bottom line: the 3XS X99 Nanu Carbon offers plenty to admire and, if you're seeking high-end gaming thrills without the bulk of a towering rig, Scan's pocket rocket is the kind of PC you want.

The Good
 
The Bad
Hexa-core Core i7 processor
Ultra-fast GTX 980 Ti graphics
Guaranteed CPU and GPU overclock
Can tackle games at a 4K resolution
Insanely quick PCIe SSD
Compact form factor
Tidy build quality
3-year warranty
 
Chassis a tad generic
High-end mini-ITX doesn't come cheap



Scan 3XS X99 Nanu Carbon

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The 3XS X99 Nanu Carbon is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Did you see any effects from thermal throttling on the SM951?
The problem with this is an X97 system with a 4790K in it is more than enough for 4K gaming. The X99 simply has no desktop usage scenario, no game now or in the next decade will require 6 cores/12 threads.

You would save on motherboard, CPU, and RAM. This is just overkill for overkill's sake
Sorry but the fact is if you want comfortable 4K gaming, with room for next years games, you still need a 2 card set up, and that includes a Ti or Titan.

One 980Ti isn't enough, my 970SLI is about 20-30% faster than a single 980Ti, and they can struggle at 4K without lowering settings, or in the most recent demanding release, The Witcher 3, is only capable of running the game at a capped 30fps with GPU usage at a constant 90%.
What settings do you use though ? Do you use AA ? Because AA is pretty redundant at 4K. In any case I would rather have lower settings and 60FPS over higher settings and a 30FPS cap