If you're familiar with Corsair's compact One lineup, you know that looks can be deceiving; this isn't the first time Corsair has tried its hand at a compact gaming PC, and we've seen it before, small form factor or not. The 20 x 17.3 x 38 cm dimensions seem to have little impact on the performance of these PCs, and the spec list for the new and improved a200 is nothing short of mouth-watering.
It all starts with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU in the a200, with 12 cores/24 threads at up to 3.7 GHz and 4.8 GHz. Since it is our current top pick for gaming CPUs, we had high hopes for its performance even before we took the a200 out of the box.
Serving to support this high-performance package is 32GB DDR4-3200 memory. This memory is installed on a custom-built motherboard with a B550 chipset, along with a 1TB NVMe SSD, the Corsair Force MP600, designed by Corsair. This SSD is also a PCIe 4.0 drive, offering faster load times and transfer rates.
The recent introduction of SFX PSUs capable of power outputs in excess of 1000 W has helped to establish the concept that even small form factor PCs can deliver high performance. However, even the compact a200 750W SFX PSU offers enough wattage to build a dominant PC. Efficient wattage also meets the 80 Plus Platinum standard.
Importantly for our gaming needs, this 750W power supply is enough to let the a200 secretly control an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, and we couldn't ask for more from the Corsair One. Without a hitch, the RTX 3080 handles 4K and 1440p quickly.
And I'm happy to report that nothing seems to be holding it back.
At 4K Metro Exodus, the Corsair One keeps up with the desktop Founders Edition RTX 3080. This is extraordinary for such a small machine; even in Horizon Zero Dawn, it is only slightly slower than the desktop test bench.
What this means for actual gaming performance is 60 fps or better at 4K for some of today's latest games.
Perhaps the key to the a200's puzzle is its thermal performance, as much of CPU and GPU performance has become dependent on thermal headroom, and increasingly so with Zen 3 and Ampere. Thankfully, the a200 does exactly that, allowing the CPU and GPU to perform as well as less constrained desktop parts.
This is thanks to the twin liquid cooling solution designed by Corsair: the CPU and GPU are liquid cooled independently, with radiators for each component located on either side of the PC case. Fresh, cool air is blown through either radiator using a single fan at the top of the PC.
As a result, the maximum GPU temperature during benchmarking is 69°C, which is the envy of some discrete desktop coolers. The CPU, however, may not be quite so enviable, with a maximum temperature of 91°C. While this is within AMD's thermal specifications, it is above the normal operating temperature of such a chip with a reasonably robust liquid cooler.
Even a single system fan must be run hard at times to keep the PC running comfortably. Nevertheless, this is a single-fan system and is significantly quieter than desktop builds with four or five fans operating at the same fan curve.
Simplicity and ease of use, however, is what Corsair is able to offer with the a200. Ports are located in easy reach on the back of the machine, with a handy USB Type-C port on the front. The internals can also be exposed from the top, allowing access to the SSD and RAM.
Access to the GPU and CPU blocks is also possible, though finding a board that is compatible with current cooling solutions may be a bit difficult.
Next, regarding the overall aesthetics of the Corsair One, it must be said that the a200 is docile for a gaming all-in-one. There are only two addressable lighting strips running almost the entire length of the machine, which is miraculous. Its sleek appearance will undoubtedly serve as a powerful workstation when the time comes.
So I was impressed with Corsair's latest small form factor PC, especially one that runs on the latest cutting-edge technology. This is clearly a well thought out gaming PC, designed with the user in mind. By its very nature, it is more limited in terms of future upgrades than other small form factor cases, but it is still a great machine today.
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