Razer's First Modular PC, The Tomahawk: A Fully Custom NUC 9 Extreme
by Gavin Bonshor on December 3, 2020 10:00 PM ESTRazer, a company that styles itself as 'by gamers, for gamers', has today unveiled its latest product, a modular NUC dubbed the Tomahawk. Available as both a barebones package and a high-tier gaming solution, the Razer Tomahawk looks to offer a 'cutting edge' mixture of functionality, performance, and graphics card compatibility, all within a NUC inspired chassis. Some of the key specifications include an Intel 9th generation Core i9 processor, with a 512 GB PCIe 3.0 x4 SSD, 2 TB of HDD storage, 16 GB of DDR4-2667 memory, and an optional RTX 3080.
The term NUC (Next Unit of Computing) gets thrown around a lot when it comes to super small form factor desktop computers, even when NUC is technically an Intel term. Going all the way back to 2014, when Razer's CEO unveiled a conceptual design for a modular PC dubbed 'Project Christine,' Intel looked to have taken the idea a step forward with what it called Element. We've seen many Intel NUCs hit the market this year, including the NUC 9 Extreme (NUC9i9QNX), which we reviewed back in April. Razer being Razer has gone one step further on this idea and created its own version of the NUC, with the Razer Tomahawk.
What sets the Razer Tomahawk apart from other NUCs on the market is its full-scale capability to install a full-sized graphics card with a maximum length of up to 320 mm, with a maximum height of 140 mm. This moves away from common small form factor systems, which generally have to opt for smaller alternatives such as the NVIDIA GTX 1650. The Razer Tomahawk features a tool-less sled that allows users access to the system, which could be to upgrade the storage or even install a new graphics card.
While this is a 'modular' system, it is essentially a PCIe backplane with two PCIe slots. In one slot goes the graphics card, and in the other is 'the rest of the PC'. That rest of the PC includes a 45 W overclockable mobile processor (unupgradable), memory (upgradeable), and storage (upgradeable). Despite there being a barebones option, Razer pre-populates all models with a 512 GB NVMe SSD, a 2 TB HDD, and 16 GB of DDR4-2667 (Razer doesn't say if this is 1x16 or 2x8). On both models there is a spare M.2 NVMe slot, and the barebones simply lacks the discrete GPU, but the integrated GPU can be used if there is not a discrete GPU present.
It wouldn't be a Razer product if it didn't have RGB LEDs. It includes an illuminated green Razer logo on the front panel, with addressable RGB LEDs on the underneath of the chassis to provide a bit of flair. Focusing on the size, the Tomahawk chassis is 19.23 x 24.15 x 1.60 inches (HxWxD), so it is svelte, and it also weighs in at 16.2 lbs. In terms of volume, the chassis itself is 10 L, which is big enough to fit all of the components in when designed efficiently.
Razer Tomahawk Gaming NUC Desktop | ||
Component | Barebones | Full System |
CPU | Intel Core i9-9980HK (Coffee Lake) 8 Core / 16 Thread 2.4 GHz Base 5.0 GHz Turbo 45 W TDP |
|
GPU | Optional (Intel UHD 630 if none) |
NVIDIA RTX 3080 Founders Edition 1.71 GHz Boost 10 GB GDDR6X |
Memory | 16 GB DDR4-2667 | |
Storage | 512 GB NVMe PCIe 3.0 x4 2 TB 5400 RPM Hard Drive 1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 (open) |
|
Networking | 2 x Gigabit LAN | |
Wireless | Intel AX200 (Wi-Fi 6/BT 5.0) | |
I/O | 2 x USB 3.2 G2 Type-C (Thunderbolt 3) 4 x USB 3.2 G2 Type-A 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack 2 x Gigabit RJ45 1 x HDMI 2.0a |
|
Audio | 3.5 mm TOSLINK combo port | |
Power | 750 W SFX Power Supply | |
Dimensions | 19.23 x 24.15 x 1.60 inches (HxWxD) | |
Weight | 16.2 lb/7.35 kg | 18.3 lb/8.3 kg |
Pricing | $2400 | $3200 |
Availability | ??? |
Given the nature of the hardware installed, Razer has opted to cool the processor actively and includes two top-mounted 120 mm chassis fans, with ventilation on both side panels and the top panel. Powering the Tomahawk is a preinstalled 750W SFX power supply, although Razer hasn't specified the exact model.
In terms of connectivity, the Tomahawk includes four USB 3.2 G2 Type-A ports, with two Thunderbolt 3 USB Type-C ports, and a single HDMI 2.0a video output. Users opting for the full package, including an NVIDIA RTX 3080 Founders Edition graphics card, adds three DisplayPort 1.4b and a single HDMI 2.1 video output. Networking includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports driven by unspecified controllers, while there's also an Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 interface, which includes support for BT 5.0 devices. Nestled in between the motherboard and graphics, I/O is a single 3.5mm audio jack that can accommodate speakers or act as a TOSLINK combo port.
A few possible use case scenarios for those with bottomless pockets or shallow desks could find this an ideal system to take to LAN, to and from work, or even for an on the go content creator. While Razer did unveil its own chassis called the Tomahawk Elite back at CES 2019, the Tomahawk Gaming System is a higher-grade and RGB infused version of Intel's NUC 9 Extreme.
As previously mentioned, the Razer Tomahawk gaming desktop will be available as barebones without a graphics card for a base price of $2400, while the full model equipped with an RTX 3080 Founders Edition will cost $3200. It's not a cheap outlay, especially for an Intel system featuring an RTX 3080, but the latter hasn't been easy to source of late.
Related Reading
- ASRock Brings Zen 2 NUC: 4X4 BOX-4800U Renoir Mini-PC Reviewed
- Intel Ghost Canyon NUC9i9QNX Review: NUC 9 Extreme Realizes the SFF Dream
- Kontron Releases KBox B-202 CFL Mini-ITX PC: SFF Desktop For Commercial Use
- CES 2020: ZOTAC's Inspire Studio SFF PCs for Creators w / 8-Core CPU and GeForce RTX
- Razer's Project Christine: A Modular PC Prototype
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forextor - Thursday, December 3, 2020 - link
No AMD version?dishayu - Thursday, December 3, 2020 - link
NUC is an Intel form-factor. AMD does not create small form factor kits like this.Agent Smith - Friday, December 4, 2020 - link
Regardless of the chassis, there is an increasing sense of reluctance to use AMD superior CPU’s ar Raze for any of their main products. For a gaming oriented company this will cost them a lot.DELL is another brand that clings onto Intel lick a sucking pig.
Agent Smith - Friday, December 4, 2020 - link
TYPOS REMOVED (fat fingers)Regardless of the chassis, there is an increasing sense of reluctance to use AMD superior CPU’s at Razer for any of their main products. For a gaming oriented company this will cost them a lot.
DELL is another brand that clings onto Intel like a suckling pig.
Agent Smith - Friday, December 4, 2020 - link
Brands like XMG are growing fast in popularity as they offer what gamers ask for including broader choices at comparable quality levels too.Unlike Razer which has taken to following what their accountants or ill advised marketing team want.
IdBuRnS - Saturday, December 5, 2020 - link
"Dell is another brand that clings tonto Intel like a suckling pig".Except they have Ryzen CPUs in their latest desktop...
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienw...
Lakados - Sunday, December 6, 2020 - link
Dell sells more G5 laptops a year than AMD makes processors. AMD may have the best CPU’s currently available but look at it this way, TSMC has 4 7nm fab plants in operation, AMD gets about 30% of their combined output. That output is split amongst their CPU’s, GPU’s, PlayStation, and Xbox systems, as well as a few sub components along the way. Intel currently has 14 larger 14nm plants in operation. And the only thing they both have in common is neither is able to keep up with demand.Deicidium369 - Friday, December 11, 2020 - link
Intel does not sell CPUs to the OEMs - they sell complete designs and component packages - which makes it easy for the OEMs to create systems... Intel has been doing this since at least "Ultralight" and continues on to "Project Athena" and most recently "Evo". So from an OEMs point of view, it's simple and easy - and Intel gets to decide what tier of products it's parts are in - in Dell's case the high end is the XPS line - from 13" to 15".Looking at it from Dell's POV - they would buy a CPU/APU/GPU from AMD and would have to spend significant $$ to engineer a design similar to what they get from Intel - as a result the designed for AMD typically are older as they are still much lower volume compared to an Intel design - and are rarely if ever seen in a high end XPS class design. Dell's AMD offerings start at the 15" Inspiron - while Intel's start at the 13" XPS (laptop and 2 in 1).
So not a question of clinging onto Intel like a suckling (correct term, not sucking) pig but one of economics - Free high end design for high margin high volume vs costly engineering for low margin low volume.
I don't consider the Element or Tomahawk to be NUC - for me the NUC is the ~4.5"x4.5" form factor - Intel has expanded the NUC line to include more sizes.
Superior is subjective. And this is NOT Intel vs AMD - this is about why OEMs like Dell favor Intel
StevoLincolnite - Friday, December 4, 2020 - link
Clearly they don't care about CPU performance if they aren't even using the latest Intel CPU's.lmcd - Friday, December 4, 2020 - link
Razer is a Thunderbolt supporter. Expect AMD to increase its marketshare dramatically once it actually manages a single (1) good chipset design.