Two of the more unique mass-market designs on show on Computex 2017 have to be the Phanteks EVOLV Shift and Shift X SFF cases. These are the essence of a tower case (though they can also lie on their side like a roman citizen at dinner time, if you are so inclined.) These are aluminum and tempered-glass crafted cases, with a ridiculous 17 (W) x 27 (D) x 48 (H) cm footprint on the Shift. The Shift X is the taller solution of the two, with a 65 cm height. These little cases than could support water cooling and component placement in multiple orientations, and include an integrated RGB controller to boot.

The front I/O contains just two USB 3.0 ports, but it's the interior which shines. Phanteks managed to cram a lot into such a compact form-factor. Motherboards will have to be of the mini-ITX type, there's no way around that; however, there's also with support for 2x PCI slots, and the Shift X brings support for 2x internal 3.5" and 2x 2.5" drives (you can also mount 2.5" solutions on the 3.5" bays, mind you.) It also supports PS2 PSUs, while the smaller Shift has to cut one of the 3.5" bays, and only supports SFF PSUs. However, for their sizes, both Shifts support 3x 120 mm and 3x 140 mm fans on the front of the case, and 1x 120 mm, 1x 140 mm fans on the bottom. The EVOLV Shift will retail for $110, while the Shift X brings that number up to $160.

ASRock did it! Finally, there's an Intel HEDT platform motherboard with full quad-channel DDR4 memory. The new X299E-ITX/ac is for those who need up to 18 CPU cores and up to 64 GB of quad-channel DDR4 memory in their SFF machines for reasons. The board manages its limited PCB real-estate by going vertical. It features two riser cards, one with a few onboard controllers, and a pair of 32 Gb/s M.2 slots), and the other riser with SATA 6 Gb/s ports, a third M.2 slot, and the headers such as USB 3.1. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, conditioning it for the LGA2066 CPU using a 7-phase VRM. The lone expansion slot is a PCI-Express 3.0 x16, memory is handled by four DDR4 SO-DIMM slots. Connectivity includes two Intel I219-V driven gigabit Ethernet interfaces, 802.11ac WLAN, and Bluetooth 4.1.

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd is eager to announce the PC-T70 test bench. After productive collaboration, taking feedback from high-end PC hardware reviewers, Lian Li sought to create a test bench that could both provide unhindered access for enthusiasts who want to rapidly swap hardware, and those who like to use their test benches as a workstation. Lian Li's latest test bench is its most flexible yet - a sleek, minimal platform for easy hardware swapping, with an optional kit that encloses the bench with radiator mounts and an acrylic cover.

"Testing on an open bench requires careful planning, else it leads to misguided results. Most gamers have closed cases, affecting thermal, acoustic, and even performance results compared to exposed hardware. I'm working to represent that more accurately. While my measurements are easier to collect, more applicable, and completely objective, it was the close cooperation with Lian Li that helped move this project forward. The closed case gave me the platform I've been needing, and that readers have been asking for, to facilitate more realistic reviews." - Igor Wallossek - Senior Contributing Editor Tom's Hardware.

CORSAIR, a world leader in enthusiast memory, high-performance gaming hardware and PC components today announced the newest addition to the Carbide series of mid-tower gaming cases, the CORSAIR Carbide Series SPEC-04. With unmistakable styling, a large tinted side panel window and roomy interior, the Carbide Series SPEC-04 is ready-to-build a system as bold as it looks.

With its asymmetrical, hard-edged exterior, the SPEC-04 is ready to stand out, with three different color options to match your system, Black and Yellow, Black and Red or Black and Grey. The angular styling isn't just there for looks, it hides a side-mounted front panel equipped with USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports and a huge ventilated section to provide excellent Direct Airflow Path airflow.

BIOSTAR is thrilled to announce the latest addition to the growing mini-ITX family of BIOSTAR motherboards with the introduction of the world's first mini-ITX motherboards for AMD AM4 platform and the first mini-ITX RGB LED-capable motherboards with AMD X370 and AMD B350 chipsets. BIOSTAR is pleased to welcome the new BIOSTAR RACING X370GTN and RACING B350GTN mini-ITX motherboards into the RACING Series family. Both motherboards aim to deliver the best balance of form and function, delivering the full potential that the AMD AM4 platform offers especially with AMD RYZEN CPUs, all in a small package.

The BIOSTAR RACING X370GTN and RACING B350GTN comes equipped with BIOSTAR 2nd-gen RACING features like 5050 LED Fun Zone with dual 5050 LED header for DIY customization, the BIOSTAR exclusive VIVID LED DJ with full RGB LED control that lets enthusiasts design their own system lighting with precise control. Together with that, BIOSTAR also adds performance and quality features for maximum system performance and stability.

BIOSTAR today introduced the first AMD X370 chipset based socket AM4 motherboard to the market, with the X370GTN. The board comes with out of the box support for AMD Ryzen processors, with TDP of up to 95W. It draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 4-pin ATX power connectors, and conditions it for the AM4 SoC using a 7-phase VRM. The socket is wired to two full-length DDR4 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4-3200 memory; and the lone PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, besides some of the I/O ports.

Storage connectivity includes four SATA 6 Gb/s ports from which two are directly wired to the AM4 SoC, and one 32 Gb/s M.2-2280 slot with NVMe booting support (reverse side). USB connectivity includes two 10 Gb/s USB 3.1 ports (including a type-C port), and six USB 3.0 ports (four on the rear panel, two via headers). The board features BIOSTAR's Hi-Fi onboard audio solution, and a gigabit Ethernet connection driven by Realtek DragonLAN controller. Display outputs include DVI and HDMI.

As a brand always striving to create unique products, BitFenix has provided some of the most eye catching chassis over time. Today, BitFenix is proud to announce the latest addition to its line-up, the BitFenix Portal. Transcending from traditional boxy cases, the Portal was designed to balance the aesthetics of the outside shape with the functionality of the unique interior structure.

Going beyond specification and functional design, the Portal's elegant appearance with compact outer dimensions blend well into any environment. Premium grade aluminum molded into clear lines and discreet curves form a chassis that blends perfectly well into any environment. Despite the compact form factor, the Portal provides a versatile scope. Mainly designed as a Home Theater PC chassis, the Portal can still be utilized as gaming system if equipped with a 120mm radiator in combination with AIO or custom water cooling solutions. Designed for ITX Motherboards, the striking key component of the interior is the Dual Frame Design. The inner chamber, equipped with enough space for a high-end system, slides into the housing via a ball bearing runner design.

In the year of their 31st anniversary, Antec Inc., a leading provider of high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself market, has announced the release of a new mini-ITX gaming case. The Antec Cube - Special Edition combines e-sports design elements with the reliability and build quality of Antec, into a small form factor case for gamers. The Antec Cube - Special Edition is now available in retail with a MSRP of 279 Euros.

The efficient interior layout of the Cube - Special Edition features one 3.5" HDD drive bay, up to four 2.5" SDD bays, three expansion slots, and accommodates graphics cards of up to 330 mm in length. To allow for a seamless building experience, the Antec Cube - Special Edition features a basement compartment that separates the PSU and allows for easy cable management. The side and top panels are fitted with darkened acrylic windows and an innovative, click system which enables users to open and close the case in a quick and easy way. This thought-out case could serve as a conventional PC, gaming rig, or home theatre device and media center, but is also well-suited for professional users.

Biostar introduced the A6N-5100 mini-ITX motherboard. A slight upgrade over the company's A6N-5000 from two years ago, the new board integrates AMD A4-5100 APU based on the "Kabini" silicon, which has the chops to outperform Intel's Celeron "Braswell" processors. The A4-5100 integrates a quad-core CPU ticking at 1.60 GHz, and AMD Radeon GCN graphics. The board features two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, supporting up to 16 GB of memory, one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI display output, and storage connectivity that includes two SATA 6 Gb/s ports. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Introducing the RM4, U4, FR-131 and FR-531, and the GA-01 Monitor-Stand. With the RM4 and the U4, we offer two outstanding models, both of which are rounding up their respective case series. Both ATX-Tower convince by the combination of high-quality materials and the outstanding processing. In addition, we are expanding our fan range with two sets of 3 RGB fans with RGB-controllers, the FR-131 and the FR-531. Final, we offer a stylish aluminum and tempered glass monitor stand with white LED lighting, the GA-01.

The RM4 is part of the RM case series, created for maximum variability for the installation of hardware. The optimally designed midi-tower can be equipped with ATX, Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX motherboards and convinces with its smartly designed interior. Particular attention has been paid to allow the installation of high-end hardware with powerful air- or water cooling.

At CES 2017, CES showcased a new case prototype, Project 217, which will come in two versions: the 217 and the 217S which, as you might have guessed, is a smaller version of the 217, sharing with it the same design language and product vision.

MSI, manufacturer of true gaming hardware, brings Trident 3 to the market, based on the all new Intel Kaby Lake platform. Already having collected more than 20 media awards in the first weeks after launch, the MSI Trident is the pinnacle of small form factor, yet high performance PC gaming. Trident is characterized by an impressive console sized design that fits in any room, now upgraded with the Intel Kaby Lake chipset.

Furthermore under the hood, Trident 3 houses a customized GeForce GTX 1060 GAMING graphics card with performance levels far above its equally sized console counterparts. Whether it is in a VR environment or simply on the couch with friends, gamers are sure to enjoy smooth gameplay with the MSI Trident 3. The MSI Trident 3 is now available at official MSI resellers, starting at $899, depending on configurations.

Raijintek introduced the Metis Plus cube-type mini-ITX aluminium chassis. A successor to the original Metis launched in 2014, the Metis Plus comes with an updated brushed aluminium finish with diamond-cut edges, a 120 mm top fan mount, an extra 2.5-inch drive mount along the base, and an updated 3.5-inch/2.5-inch (1x 3.5-inch convertible to 2x 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch) drive tray design. The rest of its specifications are unchanged from the original Metis.

Measuring 190 mm x 277 mm x 254 mm (WxDxH), and weighing in at 2.12 kg, the Metis Plus features an "upside-down" (left-side) oriented mini-ITX motherboard tray, with clearance for graphics cards as long as 17 cm, and CPU coolers as tall as 16 cm. It features a concealed standard ATX PSU bay, with an AC receptacle and internal cord conveying power to the PSU. The case can either hold four 2.5-inch + one 3.5-inch drives at a time, or two each of 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives. The case comes with a pre-installed front 120 mm intake fan with LED lighting to match the case color. The case comes in 7 color options. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Aesthetically unparalleled. Uncompromised in performance. Most popularly known for pushing PCs past their limits and holding multiple records at the world's largest overclocking events, Ian "8Pack" Parry is no stranger when it comes to breaking the laws of what many PC enthusiasts would commonly consider to be the impossible.

Meet the 8Pack Rocket. Distinctly crafted, highly refined and equipped with nothing less than the best, 8Pack's latest beast isn't one that's happy being confined to the home. Designed for portability and travel, all-the-while packing the power; the 8Pack Rocket is an overclocked powerhouse for on-the-go performance that's perfect for LAN parties.

GIGABYTE, the world's leading premium gaming hardware manufacturer, today announced the addition of the 3GB models to its GeForce GTX 1060 lineup. Delivering brilliant performance and power efficiency, the GIGABYTE GTX 1060 graphics card equipped with 3GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory will be available in gamers' favorite G1 GAMING, dual-fan WINDFORCE OC, and compactly-built Mini ITX OC Edition, providing a wide range of factory overclocked solutions for the budget conscious gamers.

The GTX 1060 G1 GAMING 3GB ups the ante with Super Overclocked GPU, the signature WINDFORCE technology, and RGB Illumination for those who crave superior cooling and overclocking capability. Through GIGABYTE's GPU Gauntlet Sorting technology, the top-notch GPU cores built in the G1 GAMING cards push the overclocking capability to the limit without compromising the system reliability. The highest-grade components augmented with 6+1 phase design make the MOSFET working at a lower temperature to provide more stable voltage output for superior overclocking.

GIGABYTE is the first to market with a mini-ITX friendly GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card. The GTX 1070 ITX from GIGABYTE (model: GV-N1070IXOC-8GD), features a full-height PCB that's 16.9 cm in length, 13.1 cm in height, and is 2 slots thick. It features a single-fan aluminium fin-stack cooling solution that consists of a dense aluminium fin-stack to which heat directly drawn from the GPU is conveyed by three copper heat pipes, ventilated by a 90 mm fan.

The card draws power from a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. You still get a neat factory overclock of 1531 MHz core and 1721 MHz GPU Boost in Gaming mode, and 1556 MHz core and 1746 MHz GPU Boost in OC mode. The memory is left untouched at 8.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective). Display connectors include two dual-link DVI, and one each of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0b. The card is available in some parts of the EU, where it's priced at 485€ (including taxes).Many Thanks to P4-630 for the tip.

Lian Li has a tradition of launching at least one off-beat, entirely unexpected case each year at Computex, to show off its design prowess. This year's offering is the PC-Y6. Available in white (PC-Y6W) and black (PC-Y6B), this yacht-shaped case made of aluminium and tempered glass, has a more boutique (less practical) design for its volume.

It measures 764 mm x 293 mm x 259 mm (WxHxD), and takes up as much space as a mid-tower. What it can enclose, though, is a mini-ITX motherboard, a video card as long as 30 cm, a CPU cooler as tall as 6 cm, a standard ATX PSU, and two each of 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch drives. There just the one 120 mm front fan mount. The rest of it is mostly open-air. This case could make for an interesting and functional prop in the luxury suite of an actual cruise ship, or a yacht.

ID-Cooling is ready with a new enthusiast grade rail-type case, which doubles up as a VESA-mount monitor stand, so you could pack a real wallop behind your >27-inch display. The rail-type case features a 3-dimensional T-shaped frame, with an L-shaped frame tapering to the back. The cage has room for a mini-ITX motherboard, but with enough clearance for a long, 2-slot high-end graphics card. You also get room for a fairly big high-Wattage PSU, and enough clearance for a DIY liquid-cooling loop (including a reservoir, a 240 mm x 120 mm radiator), and the works. A tinted tempered-glass panel tops off the case from the rear. A small cutout lets you manage your cable spaghetti and route cables to your monitor.

Lian Li introduced a black-white variant of its PC-O5SW case, featuring matte black interiors contrasting white aluminium exteriors, and a large, clear-acrylic window on its side panel. The SFF case has room for a mini-ITX motherboard, with risers wiring out four expansion slots along the plane of the motherboard (ideal for triple-slot graphics cards), a slimline optical drive, three 3.5-inch drive bays through a detachable drive rack, and two 2.5-inch bays behind the motherboard tray, which convert to one 3.5-inch bay.

An SFX PSU is needed to power your rig up. Ventilation includes two 120 mm top exhausts, and a 140 mm right side-panel fan. The case supports graphics cards with 19 cm length with the 3x 3.5-inch HDD rack in place, and up to 31 cm with it removed. PSUs as long as 140 mm are supported, and CPU coolers as tall as 85 mm. Measuring 384 mm x 465 mm x 148 mm (WxHxD), the case weighs 6.4 kg. Front-panel connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports (standard header), and HDA jacks. The PCIe riser supports PCIe gen 3.0 standard.

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd is pleased to announce that it will bring the latest O Series PC-O9, Q series PC-Q34, and new PC-J60 to CeBIT 2016. Lian Li would like to extend an invitation to all to visit its booth (Hall 17, Booth H24/1) to glimpse its exciting new products.

The O Series launched in 2014 and was lauded for its aesthetics - Lian Li's hallmark brushed aluminum combined with large tempered glass windows, allowing DIY enthusiasts to showcase their most elaborate builds. Like its predecessor, the PC-O8, the PC-O9 uses a larger form factor and incorporates big, beautiful glass panels, but is halved into two compartments: an all-glass area for showcasing hardware, and a more convention aluminum section for hiding cables, drives, and the power supply.

Corsair, the most awarded and recommended PC power supply brand in the world, today announced the release of its first ever SFX form factor PSUs, the new Corsair SF600 and SF450. Fully Modular, 80 Plus Gold Certified and built with 100 per cent Japanese capacitors, the SF series brings Corsair's legendary PSU reputation to a new form factor, producing the SFX PSU to match PC enthusiast's big ideas.

First unveiled as part of Corsair's upcoming Bulldog project, the new 600W SF600 and 450W SF450 are a no-compromise approach to SFX PSUs, bringing the high-end features of Corsair's award winning PSUs to a new compact form factor. 80 plus Gold-certified efficiency with tight voltage regulation delivers ATX performance in an SFX form factor, with 100% 105°C rated Japanese capacitors ensuring unwavering power and reliability.

ORIGIN PC announced today their new ORIGIN CHRONOS small form factor (SFF) chassis is now available for gamers, professionals, and enthusiasts all over the world. First unveiled at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, the new CHRONOS was designed and built exclusively by ORIGIN PC. Measuring only 11.75" (H) x 4" (W) x 13.75" (D), the new CHRONOS is ORIGIN PC's smallest form factor chassis ever offered and features enough space to fit up to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN Z graphics card, an ORIGIN FROSTBYTE 120 Sealed Liquid-Cooling, up to an Intel Core i7 5960X processor or XEON processor, and up to four 2.5'' SSDs and one 3.5'' storage drive. The new ORIGIN CHRONOS can also be placed vertically, horizontally, or even upside-down thanks to its detachable magnetic feet and rotating logo making it a perfect choice for any living room, bedroom or small office setting.

"With the ability to fit up to an NVIDIA GeForce TITAN X and up to 5 hard drives, our new CHRONOS is the best small form factor PC on the market for VR, streaming, 4K, or really any high end application," said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. "The new CHRONOS is so small, yet so deceptively powerful thanks to its support for high-performance components like overclocked Intel Core i7 processers and up to 32GB of RAM. The CHRONOS is the best small form factor PC for VR with its compact size, high-performance, upgradability, configuration options, and U.S based 24/7 lifetime support. Have a question about your VR PC at 3AM? ORIGIN PC is here to help!"

AMD is working on a standardized external graphics solution for notebooks. This solution will allow people with ultra-thin notebooks to enjoy the mobility served up by frugal, mainstream hardware; as well as high-end gaming, with the graphics card plugged in at home. It also probably gives AMD greater control over design and cooling solutions. Unlike a mobile GPU that sits inside your notebook, and makes it bulky due to additional cooling and power requirements, an external graphics card sits on your desk, sipping on wall socket power.

AMD's external graphics solution isn't necessarily an AMD-branded piece of hardware, but rather an open specification for notebook vendors to follow. AMD will merely provide the GPUs and software ecosystem that makes the solution truly universal and plug-n-play, with "standardized connectors, cables, drivers, and OS support." Such a graphics card will interface with just any notebook with a high-speed interface (eg: Thunderbolt). Its drivers will make it crunch your games, while sending back output to your notebook's display, over the same connection. This gives you the mobility of an ultra-thin notebook. You should also be able to plug this into your work's boring Dell desktop, or any SFF ITX box. Pictured below is a Razer Core graphics solution embedding a Radeon R9 Nano. Other examples include MSI Gaming Dock and Alienware Graphics Amplifier.

MSI proudly announces a new addition to the mini-PC line up: the MSI Cubi 2 Plus. The Cubi 2 Plus is built on a concept of nifty technology and a brilliant design to suit the needs of both consumers and businesses so that users can benefit from a powerful handheld-size PC. This new generation Cubi comes with the new mini STX (5x5) motherboard form factor. The mini STX motherboard is 29% smaller than a mini-ITX motherboard, making it the smallest motherboard with a socket design available. Therefore the CPU can easily be upgraded. The Skylake-S processor also makes the Cubi 2 Plus energy efficient and uses less power.

Need more work done? Connect two monitors with the multiple screen outputs ports. Cubi 2 Plus supports multiple storage devices to quickly have access to all your data. Or enjoy Ultra High-Definition and high quality media entertainment. Cubi 2 Plus is the essence of small, smart computing and can be used at home or for commercial applications. MSI Cubi 2 Plus will be globally available by the beginning of March 2016.

ASRock introduced the A88M-ITXac socket FM2+ motherboard. As its name suggests, the board is built in the mini-ITX form-factor, and is based on AMD A88X chipset, supporting the latest socket FM2+ APUs and CPUs. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, conditioning it with a 5-phase CPU VRM. The socket is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 memory; and the board's lone expansion slot - a PCI-Express 3.0 x16.

Storage connectivity on the A88M-ITXac includes six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and an M.2 PCIe port (on the reverse side of the PCB). Network connectivity includes 802.11ac WLAN (up to 433 Mbps), Bluetooth 4.0, and gigabit Ethernet. Display outputs include one each of HDMI 1.4a, dual-link DVI, and D-Sub. The board supports AMD Dual-Graphics, which lets you run the APU's onboard graphics in tandem with a select Radeon discrete graphics card, for added performance. Four USB 3.0 ports, and 6-channel HD audio make up the board's modern connectivity. The company didn't announce pricing.