With the LIVA Z3 Plus, ECS looks to push the boundaries of what you can expect from its lineup of ultra-small form factor systems. Highly efficient, semi-upgradeable, and with enough I/O to fit most needs, it is quite a compelling system with support for Amazon Alexa, but it needs a few upgrades to truly shine.
The ToughArmor MB601VK-1B from ICY DOCK is another uncompromisingly solid metal enclosure for quick access to U.2 drives through an external 3.5" drive bay. With the enterprise-level interface, the unit is clearly geared towards that end of the consumer spectrum involved in government, medical, and industrial scenarios.
CORSAIR's take on the second-screen experience for the PC comes in the form of the iCUE NEXUS. It is a color LCD touchscreen panel with various installation options, including on keyboards, to allow for customized monitoring and control over CORSAIR products and other system components via their iCUE software program.
Corsair looks to stomp their competition by delivering exceptional performance in a tiny package with the One i200 compact gaming PC. Not only is it surprisingly quiet, but will also handle just about anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat. That said, you might sweat when you see its hefty price tag.
The ADATA XPG Prime ARGB extension cables aim to offer yet another way to illuminate your system with RGB lights. Available as 24 and 8-pin variants and using a unique optical fiber sleeving approach, the XPG Prime cables are the cleanest-looking option out there.
The GateKeeper Halberd is a portable, wireless security token that works for end users just as much as enterprises. When you're nearby, your PC is unlocked—just walk away to secure your workstation. The Halberd can also keep track of login credentials and all your passwords, both on and offline!
The Lian Li Strimer Plus takes the original principle of lighting up your otherwise boring ATX cables with RGB colors. Instead of using the fiber optics principle of lighting each strand at its end, the Strimer Plus employs rows of LEDs for brighter, cooler animations for both the 24-pin and 8-pin cables.
The Comino Otto puts the system builders of the world on notice by offering what is one of the best-designed prebuilt small-form-factor PCs around. Considering it's only 14 liters in overall volume and fully water-cooled, this latest SFF PC will turn more than a few heads for more than a few reasons.
The ICY DOCK ToughArmor MB720M2K-B is part of their high-end line of enclosures, with this one specifically engineered for up to four M.2 NVMe drives. It is clearly aimed at mission-critical systems where reliability, uptime, and peace of mind are highest on the list of attributes to check off.
Zhiyun's Weebill-S can handle heavy camera-lens combos despite its small size and low weight. It is also supported by a large number of optional accessories, which greatly enhance its capabilities. It might not make you a good videographer if you lack the talent or the technique, but will surely make your videos look better.
The role of RGB LEDs in the PC space has vastly expanded in the last 5 years. So too has the complexity of control for all the disparate accessory designs. Addressable RGB LEDs are a huge leap towards greater user control, and with the ArrRGB DAC from Solarity Technology, you can integrate any RGB LED device into your addressable RGB control.
iBUYPOWER looks to impress by delivering exceptional performance without an excessively high price tag. Sprinkle in some RGB lighting, 3 years of support, and a 1 TB SSD and you have what could be considered a winning combination.
MSI's Trident X 9th series of gaming PCs delivers uncompromising entertainment thanks to a design that offers not only high performance, but low noise levels as well, making it perfect for the living room where it will quickly become a focal point due to the RGB lighting.
Computer Upgrade King comes out swinging with the Continuum Micro gaming PC. Packed with an AMD Ryzen 7 2700, Radeon RX 580, and 512 GB of SSD storage, it delivers a fantastic 1080p gaming experience without breaking the bank. It even comes fully loaded with RGB lighting effects to seal the deal.
The Arozzi Arena is a full-surface mousepad desk featuring a good cable management system and plenty of space. Both gamers and normal users will appreciate the advantages that this computer desk offers, while the lack of electric height adjustment isn't necessarily a con, since it helps with pricing.
Steiger Dynamics seeks to deliver the ultimate in HTPCs with their latest ERA system. Our test config loaded with an Intel i7 9700K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, and two Samsung SSDs packs all the things enthusiasts dream about.
The Zhiyun Crane 3 LAB is $899, which is the price of a decent camera lens, and can handle payloads up to 4.5 kg, so it supports the popular Panasonic GH5 and Sigma 18-35 mm Art lens combo. It is richly featured and if you buy the full package, you will get everything that a cinematographer needs to start creating.
ASRock looks to impress with the DeskMini A300. Bringing desktop performance to a mini-PC, it offers full support for Ryzen APUs while simultaneously having various add-on upgrades for extra functionality alongside plenty of space for proper storage. It indeed redefines the performance one can expect from such a small form factor system.
Digital Storm looks to please with the Lynx Ultimate Gaming PC. Featuring a balanced build with exceptional attention to detail, this fully loaded system delivers solid performance with a heavy dose of RGB illumination.
ECS has upgraded the LIVA Q line with the new Q2. This ultra-tiny system really is a fully functional PC that will fit into your pocket. This latest release features not only a faster processor but also HDMI 2.0, which makes it the perfect HTPC that can also handle daily tasks and light workloads.
ASRock has recently created the Phantom Gaming Alliance brand as a way to help various manufacturers fine tune their products. By doing so, they can guarantee compatibility, reliability, and performance. This should allow them to better deliver a top of the line gaming experience to all users, and in this regard, I can say they exceeded my expectations considering the system's more entry-level focus.
We take a detailed look at the performance cost of the Denuvo copy protection system and how it impacts FPS. We tested over 70 scenarios: varying game resolution, varying CPU frequency, different CPU core and thread counts, and graphics hardware from AMD vs. NVIDIA.
Corsair has revamped their desktop lineup with the ONE i160 compact gaming PC. Sporting an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, Intel i9-9900K, and 32 GB of memory, this new system is more than just a bunch of high-end hardware. It's also absolutely tiny. Maybe, they should have called it Little Mac since it packs such a serious punch.
Is it worth spending $270 on a motor-driven desk that will allow you to work in a standing position? Should you consider spending an additional $40 on an anti-fatigue mat if you need to work in a standing position for several hours a day?
Zotac continues to update their mini-PC lineup with the addition of the ZBOX CI660 Nano. It features an Intel i7-8550u with user-selected memory and storage with the barebones model. A Plus model offers 4 GB of DDR4 and a 120 GB SSD for those looking for something a bit tamer. Either selection provides not only exceptional performance but an entirely silent operation if you can handle the price.
