Conclusion
If you are looking for a powerful small desktop system, which can be easily used during
various events and LAN parties, the MSI Nightblade MI is definitely a very good choice. Despite the ITX form factor of the system, MSI managed to squeeze some powerful components inside.
In our tests, the small MSI Nightblade MI proved to be fast and efficient. We tested the computer under various circumstances and scenarios and compared them to the results gathered with the old Nightblade, which was based on a faster CPU and GPU. The 3D results, where the graphics card is most important,
as well as in 2D environments, where the CPU acts as the bottleneck, and storage
influenced tests, show that MSI Nightblade MI PC system is a solid product. Naturally, there is a huge difference of scores in some benchmarks, since our comparison system uses
an Intel Core-i5K CPU and a GTX 960, compared to an i7-4670K and a GTX 960.
The temperatures measured in games and benchmarks are inferior compared to a normal case, however, they still remain at decent levels. The heatsink with radial fan placed on the CPU is able to provide adequate cooling to the i5-4460S under any circumstance. Apart from that the system is subjectively silent.
Storage wise, the MSI Nightblade MI, or at least the version that we received, offers a 128GB Transcend SSD and a Western Digital 1TB 3.5" HDD. If the space is not enough, you can install an additional HDD inside the HDD case placed in the front of the case. The performance of the SATA SSD is on the level we expected and therefore good.
Now, we come to the price: The
MSI Nighblade MI is available
at AK Informatica for €999 (without SSD). We have tried to configure a PC system using the same components
combined with MSI Nightblade MI case at Geizhals.eu and the price difference between the two configurations is very little, and in our opinion, it's easily justified.
Recommandation
The MSI Nightblade MI is an excellent compact gaming PC
with a design you have to like. If this is the case, then we can highly
recommend this little gaming machine and it's definitely worth the 999 Euro AK
Informatica is asking for.
The MSI Nightblade
MI receives very good
4.5 out of 5 stars.