Falcon Northwest Mach V Review

On paper the Falcon is almost identical to the Origin Millennium we tested just a couple months ago. Both have an overclocked Core i7-5960X octo-core. Both have three Nvidia GTX 980 graphics cards. They even arrived with identical ASUS X99 motherboards.
Falcon asks over $8,400 for our review unit, though, while Origin charged $6,300 for the Millennium we tested. That’s a big difference. Let’s see if the Mach V justifies the extra Benjamins.
Custom colors start at $750 and goes up from there as more complex patterns are requested. The “cloud” paint you see here rings up at just over $1,300. Other companies will do similar for less (Origin offers a few pre-selected patterns for $450), but most don’t offer the same automotive-quality techniques used by Falcon. This provides a beautiful gloss finish and excellent protection against scratches. Real force is required to make a mark.
While orange is eye-catching, we prefer this system in darker colors, as they bring out the subtle backlit Falcon Northwest logo on the front of the case. Aside from the power buttons, this is the only LED-lit element on the case, which makes it more subdued than the competition. The case doesn’t even include a window.
Unlike Origin’s Millennium, which feels a bit fragile, the Mach V is rock solid. Its case includes a beefy top handle, and every panel is metal. The boxy system is still heavy and hard to move, though, so this is not the rig to buy if you frequent LAN parties.
The motherboard adds a slew of additional options including 10 more USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, two Ethernet jacks, 5.1 audio with S/PDIF out, and a buffet of DisplayPort, DVI and HDMI outputs. Nvidia’s drivers only support output to four monitors at once, though, no matter the connections you choose.
802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 are included with the Asus X99 motherboard upgrade in our review unit. The base model has a Gigabyte motherboard that lacks wireless features.
Opening the Mach V via its tool-less latches reveals a lovingly crafted interior that’s built to achieve maximum result with minimum hardware. There are just four fans in the entire rig (not counting the video cards), two of which are massive 200mm blowers near the bottom of the enclosure.
Opening and upgrading the Mach V is a breeze, though a couple RAM slots are obstructed.
A custom duct that spans the case from power supply to exhaust keeps air flowing, but it also blocks the memory DIMMS and adds an extra step to adding or replacing RAM. Video cards are secured via an extra screw, as well, which makes removal or installation slightly more involved than normal.
Liquid processor cooling is standard on the Mach V. While this keeps the overclocked octo-core in check, it also blocks two DIMM slots entirely, making them impossible to service without removing the radiator.
The six hard drive bays, on the other hand, are wonderfully simple. Each is a plastic cradle that can accommodate either a 2.5- or 3.5-inch drive. Once a drive is secured to the cradle, it simply slides into place. Each bay is free of obstruction so SATA connectors are easy to attach. The four optical drive bays don’t receive this treatment, but they too are easily accessed once both side doors are removed.
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