14 DAY TRIAL // Back in June, Corsair revealed the first prototype of the Bulldog, an impressive gaming platform that includes the sheer performance of a full-size desktop gaming PC into a mean-looking whisper-quiet console chassis designed for the living room.
Today, however, Corsair revealed the final Bulldog version that will arrive in stores during the 2015 holiday season. This mean little box is basically everything a PC gamer would want at the moment. It's got an Intel Z170 chipset with support for the 6th generation Intel Core processor like the latest "Skylake," a PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot, quite an impressive feat when using a mini-ITX motherboard, but very much needed when the Bulldog comes equipped with an NVIDIA GTX 980Ti.
Additionally, this mean little chassis has 2 memory slots with support for 32GB of DDR4 at 2400MHz+, a couple of USB 3.0 and SATA ports, and everything is cooled by a Hydro Series H5SF small form factor liquid CPU cooler.
Moreover, the Bulldog chassis is highly ventilated, stylish, compact, and its console design enhances living spaces and keeps PC components cool and quiet. What makes Corsair quite impressive is the fact that its cooling technology makes it possible to overclock both the CPU and the graphics card. This way the Bulldog manages to render 4K graphics faster and quieter than conventional PCs do. Apparently, the overclocked, liquid cooled graphics solutions like the GeForce GTX 980 Ti will be developed and sold separately by Corsair and MSI in the United States.
Limited upgrade options don't take away its performance potential
Although Bulldog's limited upgrade kits are supported only by Corsair and MSI, the manufacturer also sells liquid cooling kit for graphics cards, comprised of an HG10 cooling bracket and Hydro Series H55 liquid cooler, for users that want to upgrade their existing graphics card.
It's a bit funny how they keep the "DIY" factor tight under their control, but sell limited compatibility kits, in case someone would like to install their, let’s say, ASUS graphics cards, instead of MSI or Corsair in their newly bought Bulldog.
The chassis is made out of steel and polymer with stronger, compact legs for a cleaner look and increased stability. According to TechPowerUp, the mean little gaming monster will start selling in the U.S probably around Christmas for about $399 (€355).