Anyone familiar with my work here on PowerUp knows that there are two things about gaming PCs that I wholeheartedly endorse — small form factor PCs and Aftershock PC builders in Melbourne. After years of reviewing genuinely excellent rigs that won’t break the bank, I took the plunge and ordered the Aftershock Vault Mesh from them, and I’ve been a happy camper ever since.
Now, Aftershock is back with a brand-new addition to their compact range, and they were kind enough to let us get up close and personal with it. The new Flux line, starting at $1499 for the Flux Lite, $2499 for Flux and even an open-loop build with the Flux Extreme starting at $4699. Each of these can be fully customised with parts of your choice but they all share the same 33-liter MicroATX case, capable of supporting the new, massive RTX 40-series GPUs.
As with all Aftershock PCs, what you get primarily depends on your choice of components. Using their online builder makes it super easy to see which parts work best together and how much the entire package will cost. We opted for a midrange spec, which includes a water-cooled Intel Core i5-13600K, 16GB DDR4-3733 memory, a 1TB NVMe SSD, and a Gigabyte RTX 4070 Windforce OC.
This impressive spec comes in at about $2600, and it includes 3 years of warranty and lifetime customer support. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
That’s Just Prime
Now, let’s take a closer look at the case that forms the heart of the Flux. The case in question is an Asus Prime AP201, featuring quasi-filter mesh panels with over 57,000 precision-milled 1.5mm holes to enhance airflow. The panels are tool-free, making it a breeze to access the interior, much like the Meshlicious case I currently have. This ease of access is a definite plus.
The case accommodates up to six 120mm fans, with one at the rear and two at the bottom. A removable dust filter on the bottom simplifies cleaning.
In terms of size, the AP201 doesn’t precisely fit the traditional definition of SFF, given its larger 33-liter dimensions, measuring 205mm wide, 350mm tall, and 460mm long. It’s almost twice as long as my Meshlicious, but this size offers some key advantages.
For starters, the Flux can accommodate those massive new GPUs, with support for cards up to 338mm in length, all while leaving room for a 180mm PSU and a 360mm radiator. It supports ITX and MicroATX motherboards and features an extended motherboard tray with strategically placed cutouts and a 32mm gap, providing ample space to hide any pesky cables out of sight.
The generous spread of ports on the front panel is a notable feature. It includes a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, two Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, as well as headphone and microphone jacks. The rear ports will depend on the motherboard you choose, but my review unit with a Gigabyte motherboard had more ports than I needed.
Lastly, the Flux is available in either White or Black, and you can even opt for a fully custom-designed panel. Aftershock has state-of-the-art 3D printing and laser etching capabilities, allowing you to personalize this case extensively, with your budget being the only limiting factor.
Performs as Expected — Exceptional
With the specifications I outlined earlier and the spacious, well-ventilated AP201 case, the Flux delivers outstanding performance. I’ve been using it as my primary computer for several weeks, handling everything from writing reviews to editing 4K videos for my social media channels and, of course, playing a multitude of games.
The combination of components and fine-tuning by the Aftershock team ensures seamless operation. I’ve included some performance charts for 4K gaming, and as you can see, the Flux handles it effortlessly.
The RTX 4070 performs exceptionally well, delivering robust performance at both 4K and 1440p thanks to DLSS 3.0 and Frame Generation. I’ve been playing Starfield, and even without DLSS, the Flux effortlessly achieves over 60fps in 4K with a mix of High and Ultra settings.
One peculiar thing I noticed was the aggressive behavior of the fans when running CPU-intensive tasks. The fans quickly ramped up to full speed (and noise) and then slowed down shortly after. It’s worth noting that we’re dealing with six 120mm fans, which can become noisy.
However, you can easily adjust the fan curves using various software options, so this is a minor point. GPU temperatures were consistently comfortable, with the RTX 4070 maintaining a stable 63-67 degrees during extended 4K gaming sessions.
But speaking of software, your experience will vary depending on the specific hardware in your Flux build. In my case, the motherboard, RAM, and GPU were all Gigabyte products, so I had to use the Gigabyte control center to manage things. Regrettably, it’s pretty terrible software with a user experience that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone.
Verdict
The Aftershock Flux is a fantastic addition to the company’s already extensive lineup of custom PC builds. It’s just large enough to accommodate some of the most substantial GPUs on the market while still being compact enough to save space in your setup. The level of customization options is commendable, and the pricing is fair, as always.
While there’s not much to complain about, I do wish Aftershock could develop their own universal software hub for managing PC and support functions. Additionally, I’m not the biggest fan of the size of this thing, being almost double my Vault Mesh. I’d love to see Aftershock bring back some truly compact builds in something like a Fractal Design Terra or the new SSUPD Meshroom D that can disappear in a minimal setup.
That said, starting at under $1500 with a 3-year warranty and lifetime customer support, the Aftershock Flux is undoubtedly another winner in their lineup.
Aftershock PC Australia kindly loaned PowerUp the Flux for the purpose of this review
