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
HEXUS.where2buy
The 3XS X99 Nanu Carbon is available to purchase from Scan Computers.
HEXUS.right2reply
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.