Velocity Micro Raptor eS40 desktop review

I don't know much about Raptors outside of the fact that they can open doors and seem like absolute jerks. I'm assuming Velocity Micro's Raptor eS40 desktop isn't actively trying to kill me, but it is a pint-sized powerhouse that will surprise you with its performance. So, I guess that's like Raptor. I don't know; I'm tired. 

The Velocity Micro comes armed with an overclocked Intel Core i9 10900K, 32GB Crucial Ballistix RGB DDR4-3200 RAM, 1TB Samsung 970 Pro SSD and 4TB HDD storage, and finally, a 10GB Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080 graphics card. This particular config runs for $3,400, but you can choose from numerous Intel and AMD specs starting from $1,300. 

There's a lot to like about this high-end build, specifically, if you're looking to run games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin's Creed Valhalla at a stable frame rate with all the graphical bells and whistles turned up to the max. I would have preferred a larger SSD instead of the 4TB HDD since the 1TB Samsung 970 Pro will fill up faster than you know. 

It's also important to note that Velocity Micro has confirmed that they have stock on RTX 30-series for custom orders, so if you're in the market for a new GPU, this is one way to get one. 

I like the new NX2 chassis design; it's clean, sleek, and doesn't look as crowded as other small-factor cases, and it seems like it has better airflow than other teeny cases, too. The pull-out handle is a smart touch, especially if you're planning on using this rig as a portable workstation. It has the CPU performance and RAM to run all the non-gaming related tasks you want in a work station.

The eS designation is short for esports, which makes sense. The system's weight and size are appealing, especially if you've got a dozen or so of these guys you need to set up pretty fast for tournaments. It travels well at 15 lbs, and honestly, the pop-up handle is something I want to see in more mini-cases. If you plan to move the system around a lot, you may want to skip on the tempered glass side panel to be on the safe side. Though you'd miss out on the intense indigo blue RGB light coming from the RAM and four fans, which is very much my vibe. 

I wish there was something that could have been done about the two long CPU cables since every other cable is neatly tied and tucked away from being an eyesore. Maybe a little bracket to loop them under the top of the case would have kept the wires out of sight. This also may just be something that bothers me specifically, but it's a small nit-pick on an otherwise lovely clean, minimalist design that plays it pretty safe. Cable management is probably the last thing on people's minds when they order a PC. Still, it's an under-appreciated skill few of us (including myself) have, especially if you're more of a 'shove it all in there and hope for the best' type of PC builder.

Gaming on the Raptor did not disappoint either; the RTX 3080 does a lot of graphical heavy lifting as expected with impressive results. This is the third system I've gotten in with an RTX 3080 inside, and I'm still blown away by the high frame rate numbers at each resolution (at highest graphics settings), hitting an average of over 140 fps on our games at 1080p, 112 fps at 1440p, and 65 fps at 4K. Seeing scores above 155 fps on system hogs like Total War and Gears Tactics is a welcome sight. I've played a lot of Cyberpunk 2077 this week and got around 80-100 fps at 1080p in some early game areas.  Despite some weird post-release bugs, Cyberpunk 2077 is turning out is looking great but awfully more demanding than I am expecting. 

Of course, these numbers are with Ray-tracing turned off. Turned on, we took some big hits in frames with games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Watch Dogs Legion hovering in the mid-high 20s fps count at 4K. Thankfully, ray-traced gaming at 1080p and 1440p produces better results but not as high as we would have liked scores we got we RTX off. So, it'll take some tweaking on your end if you're dead set on playing your games with RTX on. 

The smaller NX2 case makes the Velocity Micro an ideal living room gaming PC. So much so that it fits perfectly into one of the empty cubbies in my tv stand that is currently reserved for either a PS5 or Xbox Series X (honestly, whichever one is in stock, I don't care at this point). The TV I have at home is an LG UHD 55-inch UK6500 Series that does 4K HDR at 60Hz (and 120hz at 1080p). I'll admit, playing Cyberpunk 2077 and Dragon Quest XI on a massive 4K screen on my couch almost made me forget that I most likely won't find a next-gen console till sometime next year, almost. 

There are some caveats though, at 4K (and 1080p), you need to make sure V-sync is on to keep things at a locked 60hz (and 120hz) to prevent screen tearing, which can be frustrating knowing that the RTX 3080 can deliver way more frames than that. I was happy with how the Micro performed and how well it worked on a big TV. Of course, you want to unleash the potential of these new GPUs truly. Pick yourself up a monitor with a high refresh rate since there's no reason to have your display bottleneck your system's graphical performance. 

The Raptor's portability and power make it a deceptively versatile rig for professionals and gamers. It's the perfect size for a powerful living room PC. It also has every you need to stay competitive at 1080p or if you're looking to sit back and smell the virtual roses at 4K.