Up to now mini-PCs have been designed in classic cube format for three drives, normally two hard disks/SSDs and an optical drive. A new type of case is being launched today that breaks through these restrictions. The SZ170R8 in R8 case design accommodates four 3.5" drives and does away with the need for an optical drive bay. This structural modification also enables larger graphics cards to be installed. More free space has been created inside the aluminium case. This has also resulted in benefits in terms of easier installation, better cooling and increased compatibility with very large graphics cards.

With four possible hard disks in the SZ170R8, reliable cooling of the machine is of course vital. The heatpipe-based cooling system has therefore been expanded to include a second fan fitted to the front of the case. This device sucks in fresh air through a large opening in the front panel and directs it over all four hard disks, thus preventing a build-up of heat. Another feature of the R8 design, which immediately catches the eye, is the increased number of significantly larger vents on either side of the machine. This change is a response to the more demanding requirements of modern graphics cards. Dual-slot cards with large heatsinks and powerful fans now receive more fresh air and work more reliably and quietly.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., a committed technology leader, announces the immediate availability of dual-port functionality on OCZ's award-winning Z-Drive 6000 NVM Express (NVMe) Solid State Drive (SSD) series. The Z-Drive 6000's addition of dual port connection enables two host systems to concurrently access data from the same storage device or provides a redundant access path to the drive, providing SAS-like features such as High Availability (HA) that storage architects have come to rely on.

Now dual-ported, the Z-Drive 6000 series represents a complete solid-state storage solution that supports the real-time I/O needs of business-critical enterprise applications and virtual infrastructures which require high bandwidth and low latency performance, but also need redundancy. The Z-Drive 6000's dual port capabilities enable redundant data access that eliminates a single point of failure and when two hosts are using the same drive, maintains Quality of Service (QoS) in an event when one data path is compromised. In addition to the dual port upgrade, the Z-Drive 6000 series now includes feature enhancements such as multiple namespaces, non-binary sector sizes, and self-encrypting drive (SED) with Crypto Erase.

GIGABYTE announced its third G1.Gaming series socket AM3+ motherboard, the 990X-Gaming SLI. This board closely follows recent launches by the company based on the AMD 970 and AMD 990FX chipsets. As its name suggests, this board is based on the AMD 990X chipset, and features NVIDIA SLI support. In addition to out-of-the-box support for the latest FX-8370 processor, the board also supports 220W TDP chips from the FX-9000 series. Based on the ATX form-factor, the board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, and conditions it for the CPU with a 11-phase VRM.

The board supports up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 memory. Expansion slots include two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8 when both are populated), PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and legacy PCI. Storage connectivity includes a 20 Gb/s M.2 slot, and six SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Among its modern connectivity features are two USB 3.1 ports (both type-A) and four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two by headers). Networking is care of an Intel I-218V gigabit Ethernet. The onboard 10-channel audio solution combines a 115 dBA SNR CODEC with ground-layer isolation and electrolytic capacitors. The board is driven by UEFI BIOS, with NVMe boot device support. Expect this to be priced just over $100.

Samsung Electronics, the world leader in advanced memory technology, announced that it is now mass producing the industry's first 256-gigabyte (GB) embedded memory based on the Universal Flash Storage (UFS) 2.0 standard, for next-generation high-end mobile devices. The newly introduced embedded memory features outstanding performance for mobile devices that exceeds that of a typical SATA-based SSD for PCs.

"By providing high-density UFS memory that is nearly twice as fast as a SATA SSD for PCs, we will contribute to a paradigm shift within the mobile data storage market," said Joo Sun Choi, Executive Vice President, Memory Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics. "We are determined to push the competitive edge in premium storage line-ups - OEM NVMe SSDs, external SSDs, and UFS - by moving aggressively to enhance performance and capacity in all three markets."

ZOTAC International, a global manufacturer of innovation, is pleased to introduce the flagship solution for data and gaming, SONIX PCIE SSD, a brand new addition to the growing arsenal of fast SSDs. SONIX is aimed at enthusiasts, introducing top-of-the-line high performance SSD product for serious gaming, productivity, and enterprise. Each SONIX product undergoes rigorous testing and is fine tuned to ensure that it meets the highest performance standards.

The first foray into the PCI Express based storage, SONIX is the first consumer level NVMe 1.2 PCIE SSD from ZOTAC where it significantly improves performance over SATA based SSDs. With read and write speeds up to four times that of a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, SONIX includes 512MB DDR3 of high-speed cache for tasks that demand next generation speeds.

GIGABYTE unveiled its flagship socket AM3+ motherboard featuring an up-to-date feature-set, the 990FX-Gaming. The board is part of the new wave of socket AM3+ motherboards AMD promised, in its recent AMD FX + Wraith release, to serve up modern connectivity such as USB 3.1 and M.2 slots with NVMe support. The board supports 220W FX-9000 series processors, in addition to the latest FX-8370, out of the box. It draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, and conditions it using a 10-phase VRM.

The AM3+ socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz memory; and the AMD 990FX north bridge. This chip puts out two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots. The board's third PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot is electrical x4, and wired to the SB950 southbridge. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and an M.2 (20 Gb/s) slot. The board features GIGABYTE's top of the line AMP-Up onboard audio implementation, including a 110 dBA SNR CODEC, a TI Burr Brown OPA2134 user-replaceable OPAMP, Nichicon Muse capacitors, and ground-layer isolation. Networking is care of a Killer E2201 controller. Modern connectivity includes two USB 3.1 ports, and four USB 3.0 ports. The board is driven by UEFI BIOS, and features GIGABYTE's dual-UEFI tech. GIGABYTE is pricing the 990FX-Gaming at US $150.

ASUS today announced B150I Pro Gaming/WiFi/Aura, B150I Pro Gaming/Aura and B150M Pro Gaming, three new small-form-factor gaming motherboards packed with exclusive features and the latest technologies to maximize gaming performance and fun.

Accompanied by the ASUS BEST brand promise - built on the four core pillars of Best-selling, Easy to use, Stable and Trusted - the mini-ITX (mITX) B150I Pro Gaming/WiFi/Aura and B150I Pro Gaming/Aura both include the all-new Aura RGB lighting technology to cast spectacular illumination effects, flexible cooling with an integrated water-pump header and lightning-speed game loads with exclusive RAMCache technology. B150I Pro Gaming/WiFi/Aura also has built-in 2×2 (2T2R) 802.11ac Wi-Fi with Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) for maximized range and reliability.

ASUS today announced 970 Pro Gaming/Aura, the world's first motherboard based on the highly-anticipated AMD 970+SB950 chipset, with official NVIDIA SLI certification for epic up to quad-GPU graphics, plus integrated Aura RGB - the all-new, awesome illumination technology invented by ASUS. As the latest member of the value-packed ASUS Pro Gaming series, 970 Pro Gaming/Aura has multiple exclusive features for superior gaming experiences. These include gaming-grade Intel Gigabit Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst technologies for fast, safe and lag-free networking, and SupremeFX with Sonic Radar II for flawless in-game audio that keeps 970 Pro Gaming/Aura gamers one step ahead on the battlefield.

Compatible with the latest processors for the AMD AM3+ socket, 970 Pro Gaming/Aura delivers flexible cooling with a dedicated water-pump header, plus intuitive Fan Xpert controls. The new board also has the very latest connectivity built in, including USB 3.1 Type-A and NVM Express (NVMe) M.2. Exclusive RAMCache technology accelerates game loads, durable Gamer's Guardian components ensure longevity, and smart DIY features protect users and ease every build.

Lite-On Storage Group, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of solid-state drives (SSDs) will be showcasing their latest enterprise and client storage solutions at its Aria suite this year for CES 2016. Lite-On announced its EP2 NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD at the Flash Memory Summit (FMS) 2015. At CES 2016, they are releasing the new addition EP2 PCIe Gen 3 x 4, NVMe 2.5" SSD with U.2 form factor.

The EP2 with the U.2 connector is hot swappable, providing great flexibility to IT Managers to easily change drives without shutting down the server. By combining the PCIe form factor with NVMe protocol, the EP2 U.2 series increase server application performance, lowers latency and delivers fast and predictable data access in a datacenter environment. It delivers superior speed with 4KB random read performance of up to 290,000 IOPS, and 4KB write performance of up to 26,000 IOPS. The EP2 U.2 also features end-to-end data protection, guarding against corruption and errors, and Power Loss Protection, against sudden power loss. The EP2 U.2 is available up to 2TB capacity.

Plextor, a leading developer of high performance storage devices, will be adding the new third generation, four-lane PCI-Express NVMe M.2 M8Pe solid-state drive (SSD), and the M7V Series mainstream SATA SSD to its exemplary line of solid-state drive products at the upcoming 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the Plextor suite at the Aria.

The M8Pe is the first Plextor SSD with the revolutionary NVMe protocol that helps reduce access latency, allowing for faster speeds. It connects via PCIe, enabling 4KB random read performance up to 270,000 IOPS, and 4KB write performance up to 150,000 IOPS. M8Pe PCI express drives are designed to give gamers and other high intensity users complete synergy and maximum performance. M8Pe features M.2 form factor allowing better airflow and cooling, increases the speed and performance of the SSD. PlexTurbo latest version 3.0, an intelligent RAM caching solution uses the system memory to boost access storage performance compared to standard factory SSDs. Other features of M8Pe include PlexCompressor, a smart compression technology that gives the user more storage capacity without impacting user experience and system performance., and PlexVault, a useful feature allowing private data to be hidden securely for shared computers using Plextor SSDs.

Marvell, a world leader in storage, cloud infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity and multimedia semiconductor solutions, today announced expansion of its Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) solid-state drive (SSD) controller technology to support Host Memory Buffer (HMB), an NVMe revision 1.2 feature enabling DRAM-less SSDs to use host memory and achieve performance comparable to SSD designs with embedded DRAM but at much lower cost and power consumption. Marvell's 88NV1140 marks the industry's first SSD controller that supports HMB. Furthermore Marvell is partnering with other leaders in the PC ecosystem to accelerate the adoption of HMB-enabled SSDs for a new generation of low power, small form factor mobile computing systems.

"As the world's leading SSD controller provider, Marvell has once again made a unique contribution to the storage industry by pioneering the integration of Host Memory Buffer technology into DRAM-less products," said David Chen, Vice President of SSD Business at Marvell. "The HMB feature greatly enhances system memory utilization, reduces total system cost, lowers power consumption and provides consumers with a new class of mobile computing devices. I am very pleased with our ongoing collaboration with leading ecosystem partners and look forward to the fast adoption of HMB in the broad consumer market."

Patriot, a leading manufacturer of SSDs, computer memory, flash storage solutions, mobile accessories and gaming peripherals, today announced the release of their latest solid-state drive offerings, the Patriot Hellfire M.2 PCIe SSD and the Hellfire PCIe AIC (Add-in Card).

The Hellfire will be Patriot's first M.2 PCIe SSD, and an impressive one at that. With a Gen 3 x 4 interface and NVMe 1.2 compliant, the Hellfire M.2 will reaches speeds of up to 2,500MB/s read and 600MB/s. Designed with the needs of content creators, gamers and PC enthusiasts in mind the, Hellfire will lower latency while increasing the productivity and response times of any PC, laptop or notebook. The Hellfire M.2 will be released in capacities of 240GB, 480GB and 960GB in a M.2 2280 form factor to fulfill the high performance storage needs of consumers looking to upgrade their systems. Powered by the Phison 5007 controller and MLC NAND, the Hellfire will be your weapon of choice when battling those latency bottlenecks.

SUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Maximus VIII Formula, a Z170 Express chipset-based ATX gaming motherboard with exclusive CrossChill EK cooling, epic aesthetics and strength with Aura RGB lighting and ROG Armor, and 5-Way Optimization, Intel Gigabit Ethernet and LANGuard to deliver game-conquering performance.

Equipped with an LGA1151 socket and optimized to unleash the maximum performance of 6th-generation Intel Core ('Skylake') processors and DDR4 memory, Maximus VIII Formula is also engineered with champion-level SupremeFX 2015 audio technology to elevate even the smallest in-game sound details - making every battle arena sound as real as life.

ASUS today announced E3 Pro Gaming V5, an ATX motherboard based on the latest Intel C232 Express chipset and packed with game-enhancing exclusive features for superior gaming experiences, including gaming-grade SupremeFX and Sonic Radar II audio, gaming-grade Intel Gigabit Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst technologies for fast, safe and lag-free online play.

E3 Pro Gaming V5 offers desktop gamers the unique opportunity to benefit from the performance, stability and ready availability of the latest server-grade Xeon E3-1200 v5 processors based on Intel's high-efficiency 14nm 'Skylake' architecture. It also supports the newest high-speed DDR4 memory modules, for cooler, faster and more efficient performance.

FinalWire Ltd. today announced the immediate availability of AIDA64 Extreme 5.60 software, a streamlined diagnostic and benchmarking tool for home users; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Engineer 5.60 software, a professional diagnostic and benchmarking solution for corporate IT technicians and engineers; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Business 5.60 software, an essential network management solution for small and medium scale enterprises; and the immediate availability of AIDA64 Network Audit 5.60 software, a dedicated network audit toolset to collect and manage corporate network inventories.

The new AIDA64 release introduces advanced SMART disk health monitoring, implements enhanced support for Samsung NVMe SSDs and various power supply units, and supports the latest graphics and GPGPU computing technologies by both AMD and NVIDIA.DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 v5.60

ASUS today announced B150 Pro Gaming/Aura and B150 Pro Gaming, two new ATX motherboards packed with multiple exclusive features for superior gaming experiences, including gaming-grade SupremeFX and Sonic Radar II audio, gaming-grade Intel Gigabit Ethernet with ASUS LANGuard and GameFirst technologies for fast, safe and lag-free networking - plus awesome illumination technology in B150 Pro Gaming/Aura.

Based on the latest Intel B150 Express chipset and ready for the newest 6th-generation Intel processors, B150 Pro Gaming/Aura and B150 Pro Gaming also deliver gaming-grade cooling with a dedicated water-pump header plus intuitive Fan Xpert 3 controls. The new boards also have the very latest connectivity built in, including both USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A and reversible Type-C, plus NVM Express (NVMe) M.2.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Maximus VIII Extreme/Assembly and Matrix GTX 980 Ti, our flagship Z170 gaming motherboard primed for epic gaming performance and overclocking, and the enthusiast graphics card that delivers record-breaking performance and extreme overclocking potential - both finessed with ROG's all-new futuristic Plasma Copper scheme for color-matched extreme gaming and overclocking rigs.

Introducing the stunning Plasma Copper color scheme, ASUS ROG's Global Marketing Director, Derek Yu, said: "To be ROG is to be the rebel. To be ROG is to break every rule. We are rebellious ROG, breaking our own rules to envision a new future. A future forged with striking distinction. ROG is red. ROG is black. And now ROG is also Plasma Copper: elite assemblies for elite gamers. This is our mark of invincibility - and the new emblem of dominance for the world's best gamers."

ORIGIN PC launches Intel's latest "Skylake" i7-6700HQ mobile processor in their line of EVO15-S thin and light laptops for gamers, artists, professionals and enthusiasts. The new Intel Core i7-6700HQ mobile processor features enhanced Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology to optimize your workflow, increase productivity, and offers the best mobile gaming experience in its class.

Weighing in at a mere 4.36 lbs and measuring only .78 inches thick, the new EVO15-S is the perfect laptop to take with you anywhere to game, stream, and/or work on the go.

At the Oracle OpenWorld conference, Intel took the opportunity to show off its latest implementation of the revolutionary 3D XPoint memory technology, which aims to replace NAND flash as the staple high-performance solid-state storage technology; offering exponential gains in density and performance. Optane, codename for Intel's upcoming 3D XPoint SSD based on conventional storage interfaces (PCIe M.2, U.2, PCIe add-on card) and the modern NVMe protocol; was demoed on Oracle's X5-2 series 1U server, where it clocked 4.42 times the random access performance, and 6.44 times better latency, than the fastest NAND flash based SSD in those form-factors. Optane promises 7.13 times the throughput when used with Oracle software.

That was only part of the presentation. The other being an audacious new contraption, a prototype 3D XPoint based SSD in the DDR4 DIMM form-factor. Intel envisions high-capacity SSD storage to eliminate most system-level bottlenecks, and talk directly to the processor's integrated memory controller. System builders will be able to combine DDR4-DRAM memory modules with Optane DIMM modules over vacant channels, and end up with the lowest possible latency storage interface. According to Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, Optane DIMM modules will be the closest that storage will have ever gone to the performance levels of DRAM, and should greatly accelerate in-memory database implementations.

MSI proudly presents the Gaming All-in-One PC: MSI Gaming 27. Equipped with powerful hardware, this system is capable of running the newest PC games in high resolution with ultra settings. The large 27" Full HD display offers an outstanding gaming experience with fast response times for improved gaming performance. By using the HDMI input, the display can also be used to connect your favorite game console. The display also comes with MSI Anti-flicker, which prevents screen flickering and blue light emission through a smartly stabilized power current, thereby reducing eyestrain and fatigue.

The MSI Gaming 27 boasts a powerful 6th Gen Intel Core i7-6700 quad-core processor with Hyper-Threading technology. It supports up to 64 GB dual-channel DDR4 memory to take care of the most demanding tasks. To run the newest games in ultra settings, the system is equipped with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M graphics with 8GB GDDR5 memory. The Gaming 27 offers both Killer E2400 Ethernet and Killer Wireless-AC 1535 connectivity. Killer DoubleShot Pro technology combines both interfaces for the perfect high-speed gaming connection.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Maximus VIII Impact, a mini-ITX motherboard with ATX-grade performance for enthusiast gamers, and engineered and tested for the best compatibility with both mini-ITX case designs and CPU coolers - giving users the confidence to build small to game big.

Based on the new Intel Z170 Express chipset and LGA 1151 socket for the latest 6th-generation Intel processors, Maximus VIII Impact offers extreme performance and overclocking features in mini-ITX, with the vertically-mounted Impact Power III full-scale voltage-regulator module (VRM), 5-Way Optimization and bundled Fan Extension Card for easy tuning and cooling, Pro Clock technology to push base-clock frequencies beyond the limits, and compatibility with the latest DDR4 memory modules - for extreme overclocked-RAM speeds of 4133 MHz and higher.

Samsung Electronics today announced the introduction of the Samsung 950 PRO solid state drive (SSD), designed to meet the demands of high-performance consumer and business laptops and PCs. The drive's M.2 form factor means that users with ultra-slim notebook PCs and workstations can benefit from industry-leading storage endurance, reliability and energy efficiency.

The Samsung 950 PRO SSD is Samsung's first consumer-ready Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) M.2 form factor SSD with vertical NAND (V-NAND) technology; supporting the Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) 3.0 interface. With the introduction of NVMe, the first protocol optimized for SSDs, users of the Samsung 950 PRO will benefit from improved performance and power saving which can help increase battery life and potentially reduce operating costs. The drive is ideal for professionals who want cutting-edge performance, higher bandwidth and lower latency from their high-end PCs and workstations, for projects such as computer-aided design, data analysis and engineering simulation. The compact M.2 2280 form factor ensures compatibility with next-generation desktop and mobile platforms that support the M.2 PCIe slot and interface.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is proud to be the first to bring Thunderbolt 3 to the desktop PC by launching the GIGABYTE Z170X-UD5 TH motherboard with support for the 6th Generation Intel Core processors.

Powered by Intel's own Thunderbolt controller the new Thunderbolt 3 protocol, which is available over two USB Type-C connectors on the back I/O of the GIGABYTE Z170X-UD5 TH, brings an unprecedented single-wire bandwidth of up to 40 Gb/s -- twice more than the previous generation of Thunderbolt! This incredible increase in bandwidth is also accompanied with support for different protocols such as DisplayPort 1.2 and USB 3.1, which is backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0, opening up a world of new possibilities.

MSI, world leading in motherboard technology, is proud to announce its latest additions to the PRO Series motherboards line, the H170/B150 and H110 based motherboards. With 30 models available in Mini-ITX, microATX and ATX size, the new MSI Z170/H170/B150 and H110 PRO Series motherboards are geared towards business solutions and help to increase productivity greatly. The Windows 10 WHQL certified PRO Series motherboards offer the best in stability, security and reliability and present a plethora of new features and improvements as well as technical ingenuity.

Unique DDR4 Boost technology is designed with optimized traces and fully isolated memory circuitry. This design ensures the memory signals stay pure for optimal performance and stability. Fast storage with Turbo M.2, SATA Express and Turbo U.2, delivering next generation NVMe SSD performance with transfer speeds up to 32 Gb/s. Explore the greatly improved, award-winning CLICK BIOS 5 and use it to tune your system to maximum performance. MSI CLICK BIOS 5 is the next generation UEFI BIOS with optimizations for Windows 10. MSI M-Cloud is a convenient and secure way of saving personal files in the cloud which simplifies complicated settings with a user friendly interface and is easy to learn. Supports the new Intel Small Business Advantage and Small Business Basics solutions which are unique, customizable solutions that helps improve small businesses data security, maximizes employee productivity and boosts overall office computers' performance.

Intel plans to launch the first consumer SSD based on its new 3D Xpoint memory technology, a successor to NAND flash which promises exponential gains in performance and capacity, some time in 2016. The Intel-branded drive will be called Intel Optane, will come in modern form-factors such as M.2/NGFF, SATA-Express, PCI-Express (add-on card), and will take advantage of the new NVMe protocol.

Early prototypes of Optane demoed at IDF already offer up to 5.5 times the throughput of NAND flash-based DC P3700 series SSDs, and we're only talking about single-queue performance. Compared to the queue depth of just 32 commands for AHCI, NVMe offers command queue depth of a staggering 65,535 commands. Since Micron Technology is the co-developer of 3D Xpoint, it's likely that we'll also see Micron/Crucial branded drives based on this tech.