Build Report

Sorry I haven't been around to follow up on the post, been busy with finals, but I've been happy to say that this project has so far been a success!

Build Log
Final specs:
Case: Fractal Design Node 202
MOBO: Asus Z170I Pro Gaming
CPU: Intel Core i7 6700K (intended to run mostly ~stock settings)
TIM: Arctic Cooling MX-4
Cooler: Cryorig C7
GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1080 Founders Edition
PSU: Corsair SF600
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 3000Mhz C15
SSD: Samsung 850 Evo 1TB M.2

Case fans: 2x Noctua NF-S12A

Display: GeChic 1503i
Keyboard: CM Storm Quickfire TK Red
Mouse: Logitech G303
Mousepad: Razer Goliathus Speed L

Pack: LBB Peloton Backpack (all the above fits inside along with cables)

Parts ready to accept build

I made a build log video, but the quality came out pretty crappy, so I'll just sum up the main weird bits here:

1. The backplate for the Cryorig C7 may not be compatible with your motherboard. You might want to be prepared with a dremel. They do supply washers if the backplate is not compatible, but I noticed that after I modded the backplate myself.

Main issues were that Asus put a few MOSFET's under the board that directly interfered with it, and the plate actually contacted the edge of the motherboard cutout on the Node 202 (didn't actually fit underneath the main panel itself with the standoff height).

Backplate halfway through modding process. Note cutout for MOSFETs, and the overlap on the backplate with the cutout (this impedes installation, did more dremeling after this).

2. The Node 202 fan filter is strangely designed. You have to pop both side panels off to get at the "magnetic" filters on the GPU and PSU side. Granted, you only need to take off four screws (the bottom cover is snap-fit on), but still odd.

3. The GPU fan filters have a tendency to contact the fan blades. You can shimmy around the filter to try to dodge the blades, or do what I did and insert two fan grilles in between the fan and the filter to solve the issue. You might be able to just forgo the filter altogether for some of Silverstone's grille/filter combos, but that would be harder to clean.

View of fan filter and grilles. Grilles are installed "outside" of case shell

(ie they intrude on the normally flat surface of the fan filter.

4. Installing two fans means you have to take off the plastic wedge that supports the GPU. I debated on what to do about this for awhile...and found that the best solution was probably just wedging some foam in there. There just isn't enough clearance to get a small support bracket in there (about 2mm of clearance above and below GPU).

Final Build Internals

5. Build was relatively straightforward, but getting the PSU cables routed somewhat nicely is quite difficult. The 24 pin ATX connector in particular is scary to get into position on the PSU side.
Also I'm not exactly sure how, but this thing gets dusty quickly even with two fans pulling air into the case. I suppose the CPU fan isn't helping since there is a good amount of clearance underneath the CPU fan area.

So far, this has definitely been the fastest thing I've ever run. Now to bring over my data drive from the laptop and figure out what I'm going to run on the days I don't need this battlestation.

Display came in, and O-Rings for the keyboard

Display came in, and I'm pretty happy with how it's performing. It's a GeChic 1503i, and I was admittedly a bit afraid of getting it given how "exotic" this brand is. The panel is surprisingly good, on par with the IPS display in the Sager NP8651, so I'll be happy to do some mild photo video editing work on this screen in the future.
It's also touch, has backup speakers, and uses USB C for power! Plus direct HDMI and VGA support.

1503I next to NP8651

I did also get o-rings for the CM Storm TK, and while they definitely do dull the clack of the keyboard bottoming out, I'm getting some false key reads, which is a bit worrying. Not around the WASD area actually, just for regular typing. I'm hitting the keys a little harder than usual now, but it's a bit unnerving. Given that I will be roaming with this rig though, I think I'm going to keep the rings in.

Keyboard fits! Fire everything!

Keyboard came in on Tuesday, and it does actually package, so the entire build is a go!

It's a CM Storm Quickfire TK, and it just barely fits. Still has a number pad to boot, which was a must. Cherry Red switches are still pretty darn loud due to the bottoming out though, I'll get some o-rings in to fix that.

On another note, since this build is officially a go, I can finally open this box and do this:

Other notes is changing up to a 1TB 850 Evo ssd. I realized that storage is inevitably always an issue for me, and that this mITX build would make that harder than ever, so I'm just gonna cram in an obnoxiously large boot drive I can from the get go. Logitech G303 also came in, so this will be a nice reset to the build.

No desktop yet, but I can finally set my self up good and proper for FPS'ing:

Initial Build, Case Check

So I've run into an unusual wall where I want more performance out of my laptop (a Sager NP8651)...but I can honestly get a desktop for the same price, with better ergonomics, more performance, and upgradability. Hence, the "laptop replacement desktop" build begins! I figured I'd log the process in case anyone wanted to do something similar. There are a number of LAN builds around, but I haven't seen anyone legitimately carry this thing around day to day.

Things I run:
PTC Creo Parametric
Adobe Premiere Pro
Capture One Pro
Overwatch, Titanfall 2

Tentative Build Summary
Case : Fractal Design Node 202 (subject to change in future)
Motherboard : Gigabyte Z170N Gaming 5
CPU : Intel Core i7 6700K (will be overclocked)
Cooler : Cryorig C7 or Noctua L9i (tentative)
GPU : NVIDIA GTX 1080 Founders Edition
Memory : 2x8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
Storage 1 : 512GB Samsung PM951 (M.2, NVME)
Storage 2 : some sort of 1TB 2.5" drive
Storage 3 : some sort of 1TB 2.5" drive

Peripherals
Mouse : Steelseries Sensei Raw (probable change to a G303 in the future)
Mousepad : Razer Goliathus Speed
Keyboard : CM Quickfire TK
Display : GeChic 1503I (Touch, 15.6" usb powered display supporting raw HDMI input)

Carry
Backpack : LBB Peloton Rolltop
Bike : Modified 08' Trek X01 (SRAM Rival, Ultegra CX FD, 105 Cassette)

Node202 loaded with Sager NP8651
Just enough room above for headphones, mouse,
3D mouse, keyboard? 

Got the case in today, and it fits! A Dan A4-SFX would make my life a lot easier since it would free up the other half of the bag...but that might come down the line.

Couple of issues I'm noting:
1. Need to stack everything on top of the case. This means if I'm running the desktop for the day, I'm dedicating the majority of the bag to the desktop. I run photo equipment from time to time, and while it was possible to do it with the Sager, it's not even remotely possible to do it with the Node202. Can't even do a grocery run or a snacking run either. I'm going to need to decide whether I'm running the desktop or not for the day basically.
2. Wondering whether the keyboard will fit. I'm getting that in next, we'll see if it loads on top. If not, I'll need to sacrifice both a numberpad and navigation keys; the TK has a numberpad with integrated navigation. Or scrap the build altogether.
3. Need to figure out some way to restrain the GPU so it doesn't rip itself off over time.
4. Kind of bigger than I was expecting. Excluding keyboard, I'm looking at triple the size of the laptop I was thinking about (Sager NP9152). I mean, it's still a "tiny" desktop, but not so "tiny" compared to a laptop. Can't exactly overclock or upgrade a laptop though, and when I do game, I can finally run my keyboard in a proper position. That, and touchscreen display! For the same price!