SteigerDynamics took the opportunity granted to them by taking part in a world-renowned tech show floor of CES 2018 to showcase an interesting lineup of SFF computer cases, with powerful systems integrated in a small footprint. These are usually considered the more impressive feats of engineering in the computer space, really; how much performance you can squeeze in a limited space, without compromising component reliability, cooling, and acoustics for the particular environments these will be used in.

SteigerDynamics has shown they do know how to engineer these systems, for sure. Their LEET Gaming Room/Living Room Gaming PC is a little on the bigger side, but it still carries a small footprint, in a pretty package, for the amount of high-quality hardware it's packing. A Maximus Hero X, a Core i7-8700K at 5 GHz, 16 GB of G.SKILL Trident Z DDR4 memory and EVGA GTX 1080 Ti SC, are almost as high-end a configuration one can have already. Add in the 2x 512 GB Samsung 960 PRO SSDs, and the 4x 1 TB HDDs in RAID 10, and there really isn't much to fault with this unit. Even power is taken care of by a Seasonic PRIME Titanium PSU. And to keep all of these high-performance components cool, the SteigerDynamics LEET carries a fully custom watercooling loop, that aids in silence and aesthetics. Just follow my lead here: don't look at the price-tag. It's really not for the faint of heart.

Shuttle Computer Group, Inc., one of the world's leading designers of small form computers, announces a new and powerful cube-sized computer, its SZ270R9, designed for advanced home and portable gaming, along with virtual reality applications. Unlike other PCs, once set, users can overclock with the Turbo button for the quickest, most realistic action. In spite of its small size, it has an impressive expansion capability and storage capacity. With lots of interior space, the SZ270R9 supports large-format dual-slot graphics cards; users can install up to four 2.5" or 3.5" hard drives and two m.2 bays. It also supports Intel's new Optane Memory to improve data processing and system speed.

"This is the ultimate gaming PC, power packed with an external design that looks like you're ready for battle," said Robert Garcia, channel manager, Shuttle Computer Group. "And when you press the overclock button, watch out! You'll be the winner for sure."

MSI, world's leading manufacturer of true gaming hardware is proudly expanding its Infinite Gaming Desktop series with the first Gaming Desktop featuring the Intel 8th generation processors, the MSI Infinite X. The Infinite X is built for gamers with a never-ending desire to game and want endless possibilities to game the way they want. This desktop is delivering the best gaming performance by equipping MSI's renowned graphics cards to give gamers just that little bit more in-game advantage.

Together with the newest unlocked processor generation from Intel it will give the speed and performance gamers require, even pushing the limits with the ability to overclock. To keep a system with all this power cool, the Infinite X uses MSI's exclusive Silent Storm Cooling 3 thermal design, making its cooling efficiency unmatched and as quiet as an assassin.

MSI has recently added a new member to their Vortex family of gaming solutions with the minuscule Vortex G25. Unlike its predecessor, the Vortex G65, the G25 has abandoned the cylinder shape in favor of a sleek console design. The specifications are nothing short of impressive for a system crammed into a 2.5-liter enclosure weighing in at just 2.5 kilograms. Based on Intel's latest Z370 platform, the Vortex G25 is powered by a 8th Generation Core i7-8700 processor with six cores, 12 threads, and a boost clock up to 4.3 GHz. MSI's Cooler Boost Titan solution, consisting of eight heatpipes and dual Whirlwind Blade fans, provides adequate cooling for the Coffee Lake processor and Pascal graphics card.

According to the manufacturer, the Vortex G25 was designed with focus on expandability. It's equipped with four DDR4 SO-DIMM slots to house DDR4 2400 MHz modules and support up to 64 GB of memory. In terms of storage, two PCIe 3.0 M.2 slots are available for creating high-speed RAID arrays with NVMe drives. Another 2.5" slot is present to provide additional storage if need be. Performing upgrades to the Vortex G25 is a walk in the park thanks to a rapid disassembly design that employs slotted screws.

ZOTAC International, a Hong Kong based and a global manufacturer of innovation which created the first-ever Mini Gaming PC, continues to push the MAGNUS Series to a previously impossible level. With the all-new MAGNUS EK and ER Series powered by high-performance Intel or AMD Ryzen processors with a ZOTAC GeForce GTX 1070/1060 Series graphics card, ZOTAC is showcasing the first Mini PC series ever built with desktop sized graphics cards. Packing the punch that rivals full-size desktop rigs twice their weight, they are solid choices even for demanding pro gamers.

ZOTAC takes the unprecedented step of packing the best-performing desktop graphics card into the small footprint of the Gaming Mini PC paired with a next-generation processor. MAGNUS EK Series features a 7th Gen Intel Core quad-core processor based on the Kaby Lake architecture to deliver higher frequencies in speeds for a powerful gaming experience. Plus it adds the revolutionary new Intel Optane Memory that enables quick access times while allowing for larger storage capacities.

MAINGEAR continues its partnership with RAZER, today announcing the launch of the MAINGEAR R2 | RAZER Edition gaming desktop. Built for compact performance with award-winning craftsmanship, the R2 pushes the boundaries of small form factor gaming. The R2 | RAZER Edition features a much smaller, radically engineered design that is more than fifty percent smaller than the original R1 case. Performance is uncompromised, as the R2 comes with the latest gaming components to drive 4K quality graphics. The R2 is available with the latest NVIDIA and AMD graphics cards along with the fastest processors on the market: Intel's Core i7 and i9, and AMD Ryzen.

Harnessing the newest SSDs and huge 10 TB HDDs, gamers will have fast and reliable storage along with support for up to 32 GB of premium DDR4 memory. MAINGEAR's eSports and VR-ready configurations take the guesswork out of building a system. Livestreamers who demand quiet systems will appreciate the R2's quiet open loop cooling system that is able to run virtually silent at ultra-settings for most games. "MAINGEAR and RAZER have a joint vision to develop ground breaking products designed specifically for gamers," says Wallace Santos, MAINGEAR CEO. "No matter your needs, our combined culture of obsessively pushing ourselves to create the best performing hardware possible is a core part of the R2's DNA."

ZOTAC broke new ground with its first tower-type SFF gaming PC, the ZOTAC Mek. This is one of the first ZOTAC PCs that isn't brick or box-shaped, and competes with your game console or the likes of Falcon Northwest Tiki in looks. It comes in white and black with blue LED accents. A sliding door up front covers the power button, status LEDs (ring-shaped), a pair of USB 3.0 type-A, and HDA jacks. Under the hood is some serious gaming hardware - an Intel Core i7-7700 quad-core processor, 16 GB of dual-channel DDR4 memory, and GeForce GTX 1080 graphics. Also featured is a 240 GB M.2 NVMe SSD. Powering it all is a 450W SFX power-supply.

Jon Peddie Research has released another of their interesting GPU market analysis, which the analyst firm pegs as currently gearing up to a strong Q3. However, this gearing-up comes on the back of a "moderate" quarter, which in reality means there was a seasonal decrease of -17.5% in overall GPU shipments compared to last quarter. This -17.5% decrease takes from a -25% decrease in AMD products, Nvidia decreased -26%, and -14% in Intel's products. This translates into a YoY decrease of -4.5% in overall GPU shipments, with a whole -13.5% in desktop platforms and the saving grace in the 2% rise in mobile GPU shipments. Overall discrete GPU market share is increasing compared to their iGPU counterparts, for the third consecutive quarter.

Intel showed the highest gain in the quarter, in a market that seems to have to have returned to normal seasonal cycles. This quarter was appropriately down (normally it is flat to down), and the Gaming PC segment, where higher-end GPUs are used, was once again the bright spot in the overall PC market for the quarter. JPR sets the tablet craze as ending, bringing much needed stability to the PC market, as users realize a tablet is useful for a lot of things, but can never replace a PC for performance, screen size, or upgradability.

Jon Peddie Research (JPR), the graphics and multimedia industry's research and consulting firm, announced estimated PC graphics add-in-board (AIB) shipments and suppliers' market share for Q3'16. The last two quarters have seen both NVIDIA and AMD release and expand a new AIB line-up, the former launching the GeForce 10 series, powered by "Pascal" GPU's and the latter releasing the Radeon 400 series, powered by "Polaris" GPU's.

JPR's AIB Report tracks PC add-in graphics boards (AIBs), which carry discrete graphics chips. AIBs are used in desktop PCs, workstations, servers, and other devices such as scientific instruments. They can be factory installed or sold directly to customers as aftermarket products. In all cases, AIBs represent the higher end of the graphics industry using discrete chips and private high-speed memory, compared to the integrated GPUs in CPUs or SOCs that share slower system memory.

MSI, world leader in true gaming hardware and expert in building compact and incredibly powerful gaming desktops, is taking it to the next level with the new MSI Trident. Introducing world's smallest VR gaming desktop, extremely compact and with desktop performance levels that fit any gamer's demands.

Trident uses a customized MSI GeForce GTX 1060 gaming graphics card and the latest Intel Core processors to ensure that gamers get a powerful machine. Coupled with MSI's exclusive thermal design, Silent Storm Cooling 2, not only its cooling efficiency is unmatched, it also stays as quiet as an assassin. Besides all power from its hardware goodness on the inside, Trident has a breathtaking case design and RGB Mystic Light to fit in any room at home. It also has more than enough connection ports on the front and backside to let you connect all your game devices. Plug in your portable storage device, gaming headset or keyboard and get into action in an instant! Moreover, two high speed USB ports on the front of Trident are ideal to connect your game controller to as well. Trident redefines the size needed for true PC Gaming and will let gamers bring true gaming desktop performance everywhere.

California Energy Commission (CEC), the body tasked with keeping the US state of California both energy-rich and energy-efficient, is preparing a new series of regulations aimed at reducing power-draw of computers and the overall consumption of PC monitors. These regulations could have a profound effect on the PC industry at large, as California-based tech companies create industry standards. The regulations could come into force at various stages, between 2017 and 2021.

The CEC is said to have conducted wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders in the industry, to formulate regulations that make certain kinds of computers energy-efficient, while not creating the kind of regulation that prevent certain other kind of computers from being sold altogether (eg: gaming desktops and workstations). For example, it's realistic to sell a desktop PC for Internet and office productivity apps that draws under 100W, but it's not realistic to make one for 4K Ultra HD gaming, or even industrial CAD. These kinds of computers will be governed by a separate set of rules, and as you'll find out, some of these rules are very arbitrary, and not very well thought out.

Syber Gaming, a division of Cyberpower PC, is announcing two new additions to its growing gaming PC line up at CES 2016. "At Syber, we are always looking to the future of gaming. For that reason we are pushing all of our gaming PCs to have a VR ready model capable of 4k resolution at prices every gamer will love," said Tony Crisp, Co-Founder Syber Gaming.

New this year, the Syber M Series will be Syber's first push into the world of Mid-Tower PCs. With the core gaming models starting at $599 and VR Ready builds at $999, the M Series is primed to be the perfect desktop gaming solution. "We created the Syber M Series to be the ultimate gaming machine for those who are looking for a PC that can play not just the most recent games but also the next generation of games - from VR to 4k," said Eric Cheung, CEO Syber Gaming & Cyberpower PC.

Last June Corsair unveiled a prototype of Bulldog, a powerful gaming platform that packs the sheer performance of a full-size desktop gaming PC into a gorgeous new all-black, whisper-quiet console chassis designed for the living room. Today at PAX Prime, Corsair is revealing the refined Bulldog production version that will ship in the 2015 holiday season.

Bulldog DIY kit harnesses exclusive small form factor Corsair components and cooling technology that form the core of a 4K ready gaming PC-a sleek, highly-vented console-sized chassis, an ultra-efficient SFX power supply, and twin compact liquid CPU and GPU coolers - all integrated with a mini-ITX motherboard. Simply add a 6th generation Intel Core processor, memory, graphics card, storage and Windows or SteamOS for an incredible living room experience unmatched by any console or set top box.

CybertronPC, one of the largest PC system integrators in the US, serving PC gaming, home, business and server solutions, will be offering PC gaming rigs powered by the new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 GPU upon launch. CybertronPC will offer the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950 across several gaming desktops, including the Borg-Q 750, Shockwave X6-7500, and 5150 Unleashed-G9.

The GeForce GTX 950, a true gaming GPU, built with NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, is quick and responsive, delivering 3 times the performance of previous-generation graphics cards. Plus, it provides a more interactive and cinematic experience with advanced visual effects driven by NVIDIA GameWorks and advanced DirectX 12.

MSI, world-renowned manufacturer in gaming hardware today introduces two 27-inch All-in-One Gaming PCs: AG270 2QE and AG270 2QC, the first in the world featuring the all-new NVIDIA GeForce GTX980M and GTX970M discrete graphics cards. Both PCs are equipped with a 4th gen Intel Core i7 quad-core processor and up to 16GB DDR3 memory to get the maximum out of PC games. The 27-inch display is also one of its kind, including Anti-Flicker and Less Blue Light technology applied to its anti-glare implementation, so gamer's eyes are protected better from eyestrain during long gaming sessions.

MSI is the first manufacturer in the world to develop All-in-One PCs designed for e-Sports, packing a high-performance graphics card into the limited space of a highly-integrated All-in-One PC. The AG270 is the first AIO to introduce the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M/970M discrete graphics card with up to 8GB of GDDR5 RAM. The next-generation NVIDIA Maxwell architecture delivers advanced performance, unmatched power efficiency, and cutting edge features for truly unique ways to game. Gamers will be able to enjoy perfect visuals without lag in both singleplayer or online MP modes in the latest or upcoming PC game titles such as Far Cry 4, Assassins Creed: Unity, and EVOLVE.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the GR8, a console-inspired gaming PC that delivers incredible performance in a compact 2.5-liter chassis. ROG GR8 boasts an Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750Ti graphics for Full HD gaming. It features up to 16 GB DDR3L memory, a hard disk drive or high-speed solid state drive (SSD), built-in dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and comes preinstalled with Windows 8.1. ROG GR8 also has a built-in Miracast receiver to stream HD content wirelessly from supported Android smart devices or Windows 8.1 PCs directly to a HDTV.

ROG GR8 features special slide-off covers for easy access to the additional 2.5-inch drive bay and SO-DIMM memory slots for quick upgrades. Its 2.5-liter chassis comes with a matte-black finish, Mayan-inspired detailing, and a pulsing illuminated ROG logo. This compact design is ideal for gamers' bedrooms and living rooms, and provides an added level of portability when attending LAN parties.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the G20 compact gaming desktop, a stylish gaming PC designed to dominate the small-form-factor gaming desktop segment. The G20 features a compact 12.5-liter case and is powered by a 4th-generation Intel Core i7 processor matched with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 graphics card for unstoppable gaming and home entertainment in WQHD 2560 x 1440 resolution.

ROG G20 delivers incredible energy efficiency as well, drawing just 10 W in Eco Energy mode. On the outside, G20 sports a bold and distinctively-ROG design, with a matte-black finish, aggressive lines, Mayan-inspired markings, and customizable lighting effects. ROG G20 has already received critical acclaim, winning the Best Choice of the Year and Golden Awards at Computex 2014.

Lenovo today announced at the 2014 IFA Consumer Electronics Unlimited show in Berlin an expanded portfolio of tablets and PCs that gives consumers more options for tablets that fit their mobile lifestyle as well as choices of dedicated gaming PCs. The new lineup kicks off with the TAB S8, Lenovo's first Intel-powered Android tablet. Lenovo also announced two new high-performance gaming PCs: the Y70 Touch, Lenovo's first 17-inch touch laptop with the latest processor and graphics technology for HD gaming, and the ERAZER X315, Lenovo's latest affordable desktop gaming PCs.

Schenker Technologies is introducing its very first gaming PC today at Gamescom in Cologne. The XMG PRIME is a fully customisable PC in a small ITX chassis, designed especially for the high demands of gaming.

The XMG Prime offers a premium selection of carefully tested components with the highest performance in a compact format. Thanks to the maintenance-free water cooling and cutting-edge PSU, this PC gaming PC is extremely quiet. With its elegant, timeless design, it is equally comfortable in the living room or home office. As with all XMG products, all components including processor, graphics card, memory and motherboard are fully configurable. Thus, the XMG PRIME can be customised with Intel Core i7-4790, a NVIDIA GTX 780 Ti and up to 20 TB of storage. The unbeatable XMG PRIME Gaming PC is now available at XMG (www.mysn.co.uk) from £920.

PC maker Falcon Northwest has created a radical upgrade option to the popular Tiki micro-tower: The Tiki-Z Special Edition. At only 4" wide and 13" tall, Tiki-Z retains the same physical size as the standard Tiki - roughly the size of an original XBOX game console. But behind Tiki-Z's new case window sits the fastest graphics card NVIDIA has ever made: the GeForce GTX TITAN Z-powered by two Kepler GPUs.

"Tiki-Z gives our customers the dual GPU option they've wanted since Tiki was first released." said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. "They can now play truly demanding 3D games at 4K resolution in a slim PC that can easily fit on anyone's desk. Tiki-Z takes our power-per-cubic-inch mission to an entirely new Level."

AMD's Radeon brand is turning out to be its only hope in capturing high-end gaming PC sales. The brand now covers AMD's high-performance GPUs, system memory modules, and now, client SSDs. The company is giving final touches to three client SSD models in the 2.5-inch SATA form-factor, bearing the Radeon R7 brand, featuring capacities of 120 GB, 240 GB, and 480 GB.

All three feature SATA 6 Gb/s interface, and offer sequential read speeds as high as 550 MB/s, sequential writes of up to 470 MB/s on the 120 GB variant; and up to 530 MB/s on both the 240 GB and 480 GB ones. The three offer 4K random access throughput of up to 85,000 IOPS, 95,000 IOPS, and 100,000 IOPS, respectively; with 4K QD32 steady-state throughput of 12,000 IOPS, 20,000 IOPS, and 23,000 IOPS, respectively. The three are based on OCZ's Indilinx Barefoot 3 processor, driving Toshiba-made 19 nm MLC NAND flash chips. The three will be formally launched on the 13th of August, 2014.

MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, and workstations has launched their perfect living room PC solution with the new SPARK, winner of Popular Science Product of the Future award, CES 2014. Packed with performance and energy saving features from AMD the SPARK is the ultimate small form factor portable solution for gamers and PC enthusiasts alike.

Tiny Footprint
MAINGEAR's SPARK offers a powerful small form factor PC that weighs less than one pound and can fit in the palm of your hand. With a tiny footprint measuring 4.5" wide, 4.23" deep, and 2.34" tall, it is the smallest, lightest, and most versatile gaming PC solution MAINGEAR has ever offered. The MAINGEAR SPARK PC will be offered in the iconic red and black MAINGEAR colors and can easily be placed in a living room environment without taking up a large amount of space. It is also extremely portable, and makes a great LAN party or dorm-room PC.

Known more for its elegant SFF and NUC cases, Streacom took a dip into the world of gaming PC cases, with the F12C. It goes with the marketing tagline "elegant, yet powerful chassis for the living room," which tells us that Streacom is targeting that market which puts its gaming-capable PCs in the living room, and that PCs built around this case will make up as good HTPCs as gaming.

Pictured below, the F12C can seat standard ATX motherboards, with standard ATX PSUs. The case can accommodate graphics cards as long as 300 mm, and reasonably tall CPU coolers. Over the upper half of the motherboard tray are detachable radiator rails, so you can bolt on a 240 x 120 mm radiator. Additional 240 x 120 mm radiators can also be mounted along the case's left-side pair of 120 mm vents, but that would eat into one or more expansion slots. Storage area includes four 3.5-inch, and two 2.5-inch bays. Its cooling system includes two 120 mm vents on each side (one of which on the right side acts as the PSU vent); and two top exhausts (over the radiator rail). There are also passive vents over the rear I/O.

Xigmatek launched the first PC case with an integrated Qi wireless charging point, so you can charge your Qi-enabled smartphone by simply placing it on top of the case. Quite a few high-end Android smartphones feature Qi, and for smartphones that don't, wireless charging braces exist. The wireless charging dock draws power from a conventional Molex connector, sipping 5VSB power off the PSU, even when the system is shut down. Measuring 260 mm x 515 mm x 409 mm (WxHxD), the Midgard III is made of SECC steel and ABS, much like its predecessors.

The ATX mid-tower seats conventional ATX, micro-ATX, and mini-ITX motherboards, with cutouts near the CPU socket area, and around the board, for managing your cable spaghetti. The motherboard tray has room for add-on cards as long as 33 cm (even more room with the drive cages detached), and CPU coolers as tall as 16 cm. The case offers three 5.25-inch drive bays, and six 3.5-inch/2.5-inch bays spread across two detachable cages of three bays, each. Its cooling system includes two 120 mm front intakes, a 120 mm rear exhaust, a 120 mm bottom intake, and two 140 mm top exhausts, with enough clearance for a 280 x 140 mm radiator. Front panel connectivity includes two USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports (standard header), two USB 2.0/1.1 ports, and HDA audio jacks. Xigmatek didn't announce pricing or availability.

Antec, a global leader in high-performance computer enclosures, power supplies, and mobile accessories announces today the Nineteen Hundred; a case engineered for performance and built to enclose the ultimate PC. The Nineteen Hundred is an unbeatable enclosure that delivers a combination of cooling, performance, and convenience and stands head and shoulders above the competition. Its aesthetics will appeal to gamers and enthusiasts who prefer a stylish, functional appearance. The exceptional gaming chassis will soon reach store shelves and online retail outlets in Europe with a MSRP of 284,- Euros.

The Nineteen Hundred features an exceptionally robust cooling system, designed to accommodate even the most demanding Gaming PCs. This system is composed of three 120 mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) front-intake fans, two 120 mm FDB top-exhaust fans and one 120mm FDB rear-exhaust fan. Two additional 120mm HDD fan mounts give builders the option to provide extra cooling to the graphic cards and the CPU. Furthermore, the Nineteen Hundred features 17 drive bays and nine expansion slots, accommodating graphic cards up to 330 mm (13.0 inches) in length. Additional features include an advanced GPU cooling system, dual-layer panel construction to minimize noise, and pre-installed silicone grommets to reduce vibration noise. The case is constructed of durable SECC steel that lasts for builds to come.