An unusual concept is currently attracting attention in the PC hardware scene. With the iGame LAB Vulcan Armor, the manufacturer Colorful presents a mini-ITX case that does not hide the graphics card, but deliberately places it in the center of attention. Instead of a classic side panel, the GPU practically forms the visible heart of the system. The unusually long ITX housing itself is visually reminiscent of an oversized graphics card and should be able to accommodate particularly powerful GPUs – even NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 models.
- Open GPU design: graphics card practically functions as a visible side panel
- Support for graphics cards up to 37 cm long
- Pre-installed 240 mm AIO radiator for CPU water cooling
- Optional mini-display (“Vulcan Smart Screen”) for system information
iGame LAB Vulcan Armor puts the graphics card at the center of the system
With the iGame LAB Vulcan Armor, Colorful is taking an unusual approach to compact gaming PCs. While classic ITX cases try to accommodate as many components as possible in a small space, this concept reverses the priorities: The graphics card deliberately becomes the central design element of the entire system.
Although the case is only around 21 × 18.7 centimeters wide and high, with a length of around 61.7 centimeters it is significantly longer than typical mini-ITX cases. This design creates space for particularly large GPUs. Graphics cards up to 37 centimetres long can be installed as long as they take up a maximum of three slots in depth. This means that even particularly powerful models such as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 can be integrated into the system.
A special feature of the design is the open side frame. The graphics card is visibly mounted here and is fully visible from the outside. This ensures a good supply of fresh air for the GPU fans and at the same time emphasizes the design of the hardware. However, this design also has the typical disadvantages of open systems: dust can get into the system more easily and the noise development of the graphics card is less dampened than in classic closed housings.
Compact ITX system with special requirements
The eye-catching design also comes with some limitations. As the available space inside is heavily geared towards the graphics card, other components have to be more compact. Only Mini-ITX mainboards with an edge length of 17 centimeters are supported.
There are also clear limits for the power supply unit. Only SFX power supplies with a maximum length of 110 millimeters can be installed. These are installed in the front area of the case and connected to the power connection socket at the rear via an internally routed cable.
The concept relies entirely on water cooling for the CPU cooler. There is simply not enough space for classic air coolers. Instead, a 240-millimeter radiator is provided, which is mounted on the opposite side of the case. A corresponding all-in-one cooler is already pre-installed, making it easier to set up a system.
The case is predominantly made of aluminum and should therefore remain relatively light, even if specific weight details are not yet available. The system also has a special feature: the so-called “Vulcan Smart Screen”. This is a small magnetic display on the top that can be customized via software. It can display system data, temperatures or animations, for example, and therefore serves both practical and visual purposes.
Conclusion
With the iGame LAB Vulcan Armor, Colorful presents an unusual mini-ITX case that deliberately makes the graphics card the central design element of a gaming PC. The open GPU layout, space for large high-end graphics cards and an integrated AIO radiator make for an eye-catching concept. At the same time, the design imposes some restrictions on the mainboard, power supply unit and CPU cooling. Information on price and international availability is not yet available. It is currently expected that the case could initially appear primarily on the Chinese market.
