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The game Mafia: The Old Country requires a large display to fully appreciate its scope. Although my 32-inch Alienware OLED monitor is enjoyable, it fails to capture the expansive Sicilian landscapes adequately. I aimed to experience the title at full 4K resolution without the limitations imposed by current consoles. Why not integrate a small gaming computer beneath my entertainment setup? This brings us to the FragBox, an updated mini PC from Falcon Northwest. Despite its high starting price of $3,997, it offers exceptional performance and allows straightforward hardware enhancements over time.

You might wonder about spending $4,000 on a desktop amid current economic conditions. Note that this base cost excludes options like upgrading to a superior NVIDIA RTX 5070 graphics card or increasing RAM and storage capacity, potentially adding thousands to the total. I had intended to assess the FragBox in early December 2025, prior to the sharp rise in prices for memory, drives, and components driven by AI demands. As a premium custom builder, Falcon Northwest caters to affluent customers who can absorb such costs. Budget-conscious buyers should look elsewhere for value.

The FragBox delivers the capabilities of a full-sized gaming system within a diminutive enclosure. Its primary drawback remains the substantial expense.

What defines the FragBox? Picture a standard mid-tower PC compressed into dimensions of 10.2 inches in height, 10.5 inches in width, and 15.9 inches in depth. Since its introduction by Falcon in 2003, the model has stood out for accommodating standard components in a compact form. This remains a key advantage, supporting substantial NVIDIA graphics cards like the RTX 5090, alongside Intel's newest Core Ultra processors or AMD's Ryzen 9000 series. A 280mm radiator at the top expels heat and functions as an integrated liquid cooling solution for the processor.

Weighing 25 pounds, the FragBox is not lightweight, yet its robust metal handle facilitates portability. Conventional mid-tower cases range from 20 to 35 pounds based on construction, but they occupy far more space and are challenging to position in confined areas. The FragBox's low profile enables placement within an AV cabinet or on a desk edge. For additional vertical space, the handle can be detached from the upper section. Ensure adequate ventilation, as thermal dissipation is essential.

The FragBox's dense build belies its user-friendly layout for internal access. Removing screws from the side and top panels grants straightforward entry to the graphics card, memory modules, drives, and primary elements. It supports three M.2 SSD slots, two spots for 2.5-inch drives, and one for a 3.5-inch hard drive. A 1,200W power unit comes included, sufficient for upcoming graphics and processor upgrades.

Connectivity options abound: the front features two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, and a headphone outlet. The back provides standard mid-tower interfaces, such as four USB-A 2.0 ports, seven USB-A 3.0 ports, one 20Gbps USB-C 3.2 port, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, HDMI, and DisplayPort. The RTX 5090 in our test model added three DisplayPort outputs and one HDMI port, common for such cards. Our configuration included Wi-Fi 6E, though Falcon now equips fresh assemblies with Wi-Fi 7 as standard.

Unlike flashier competitors with bright lights and transparent cooling panels, the FragBox avoids such elements. Its aluminum chassis conveys a sense of refined elegance, reminiscent of classic high-end vehicles. For more vibrant customization, add $400 for a full UV-printed enclosure or $149 for a front panel design.

The tested configuration included an AMD Ryzen 9950X3D processor, NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics, 96GB of DDR5 memory, and a 2TB SSD, totaling $7,995. Five months earlier, the same specs would have priced at $7,047, with the increase attributed to memory supply constraints.

Prior to any tests, the system's prowess was evident. It achieved 13,810 in PCMark 10, surpassing my comparable mid-tower setup by about 500 points despite identical core components. It also set personal records in 3DMark Speedway and Port Royal ray-tracing benchmarks. Notably, the cooling fans remained nearly silent during intensive use, with the processor at 52°C and graphics card at 65°C.

Desktop configured with AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and RTX 5090

Desktop configured with AMD Ryzen 9 7900X and RTX 5090

Returning to the original intent, the FragBox handled Mafia: The Old Country at 4K with maximum settings seamlessly. On my 120-inch projector system, it delivered 62 frames per second without enhancements, rising to 120 fps via DLSS scaling and frame synthesis. Such rates exceed necessities for this deliberate, narrative-driven title. The satisfaction came from uncompromised visuals, surpassing even the PS5 Pro's capabilities thanks to the RTX 5090's might.

I've long enjoyed PC gaming on large displays, but past efforts involved cumbersome long HDMI extensions from my main rig. At my age, that's no longer appealing. Reliability suffers at high resolutions and refresh rates due to bandwidth limits, and in-home streaming introduces compression artifacts unsuitable for massive screens. (I should explore recent high-speed alternatives, building on my positive experience with NVIDIA's GeForce Now improvements from last year.)

The FragBox simplified access to recent Steam releases like Mewgeneics and Arc Raiders on expansive setups. However, Windows continues to hinder home theater PC experiences, requiring a keyboard for setup and dealing with updates even in Steam's Big Picture mode, which supports controllers well.

Microsoft is refining Windows for portable gaming devices and aims to enhance console-like features for a prospective PC-based Xbox. Currently, integrating a Windows machine into a home theater setup echoes past decades' challenges. Steam aids greatly, while Windows poses frustrations. Alternatively, a $500 PlayStation 5 or $700 PS5 Pro offers reliable performance with ray tracing, minus PC-specific hassles.

For those seeking a small, extraordinarily capable gaming PC willing to pay a premium, the FragBox executes flawlessly across the board.

Update 2/23, 1:48PM: Incorporated details on Wi-Fi 7 integration, handle detachment, and cost adjustments.