IDC states that emerging markets are no longer buying PCs and at an increasing rate. It also states that sales of PCs in emerging markets are nearing the same sales figures as those in the mature markets. In the IDC smartphone forecast, you can see that emerging markets play a huge role in sales as many countries begin adapting to newer technologies. In Q4 2012, there was a year-over-year decline of 8.3% in PC shipments, which is a huge decline considering Q4 is holiday season.

PC shipments are expected to only experience growth in the single digit percentile all the way through 2017. Total shipments of PCs are expected to equal around 207.1 million in emerging markets for this year. Total shipments for PCs are expected to reach around 138.7 million for mature markets like the United States. All in all, there should be around 345.8 million PCs sold this year worldwide. The second half of this year we should be seeing a slight increase in PC sale momentum.

PCs aren’t like smartphones, where people replace them every 1-2 years (or every 4-5 months for me). The average user can stick to the same PC for years to come, and they see no point in spending nearly a thousand dollars on a new PC when their current one is already capable of doing the regular tasks, like web browsing, online-shopping, document editing, etc.

[via IDC]

Battleground will have three gaming modes, however only one is available at this time. Instant Action mode allows players to jump quickly into a game. During the game, the players will earn “Battle Tokens” from in-game achievements and for finishing tasks listed by Battleground or Xfire. These Battle Tokens are then used for Direct Challenges, to enter Tournaments, or to purchase sweepstakes entries.

Direct Challenges and Tournaments will be available in the future. These will be sponsored events that occur frequently. Players will be able to compete with each other in order to win gaming gear, new games, in-game items, and other goodies from Xfire’s partners. Players can also win “X-Coins”, which is a virtual currency used to challenge other gamers, or compete in direct challenges, for even more prizes. X-Coins can also be purchased using PayPal, VISA, MasterCard, or American Express.

Paul Kim, CEO of Xfire, states, “The most successful games today are ones that have a competitive element, but currently the experience is fragmented and lacks structure.” Battleground was created in order to make competitive gaming more easily-accessible to most gamers. Kim says, “We think Battleground has the potential to redraw the competitive PC gaming landscape.”

Battleground only has a couple of games available at the moment. Right now, players can compete with each other in Call of Duty 4 and Counter-Strike: Source. New titles will be added in the future of course. Currently on the waitlist is BattleField 3, Counter-Strike: GO, Call of Duty 2, World of Tanks, Team Fortress 2, Planetside 2, and District 187. Alongside Battleground, Xfire has also revamped its website and client in celebration of its 10-year anniversary.

[via Business Wire]

Ubisoft has been trying to turn things around, and one way to do that was to launch its UPlay gaming service. Alongside UPlay, Ubisoft has teamed up with several 3rd party companies, like EA Games, Warner Bros, Telltale, and Bohemia, in order to bring more games to its service. Perotti says, “Announcing all these partners for Uplay and a wider choice of PC games, it shows our commitment to PC, and we want to improve our relationship with the PC community.”

Perotti says that the company is constantly looking at customer feedback in order to improve their platform. She said that the company is improving with every PC game that they release, and that Far Cry 3 and Assassin’s Creed III on the PC were “very high quality”. Though many gamers have rebutted the case with Assassin’s Creed III, with many players experiencing terrible frame rates even with high-end Gaming PC builds.

As of right now, there are currently 30 available titles in the Uplay service. Ubisoft hopes to expand that number within the coming months. Ubisoft also plans on selling digital cards, similar to those offered by Xbox Live, the Playstation Network, and Steam, through various retailers. The company has also alluded to the possibility that Uplay may be heading to mobile devices in the future.

[via MCV]

Along with its move to back away from licensed games, Activision will also be laying off 30 people from its company. That’s about 0.5% of the company, and those that are being let go will be offered “outplacement counseling services” to help them find a new job. Activision made it clear though that the cuts will barely affect Treyarch. The company says that there will be “minimal reduction in staff to better align our development talent against the needs of DLC development.”

Like EA Games, Activision feels that the licensed-games industry isn’t bringing in enough revenue to make the projects worth it. Due to the high-costs of making the movie-based games, and the decreasing demand for them, the games started becoming more trouble than they were worth. Activision will still be releasing a few licensed-based games this year, including games based on The Walking Dead, Deadpool, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I can see why companies are beginning to stray way from licensed games. The licensed games as of late aren’t as amazing as games from the older generation (does anyone remember Goldeneye 007?). Even 007 Legends, which was highly anticipated, turned out to be a let down, which is why the James Bond series might be the first of the licensed games to get the axe.

Hardware & Design

First off, the Revolt is packed with high-end hardware. This particular build is running an Intel Core i7 3770K quad-core processor clocked at 3.5GHz with 8GB of DDR3 RAM. It also has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 graphics, a 120GB Intel SSD, a 1TB Western Digital HDD, and a slot-load DVD burner to top it all off. I’ll be covering the performance aspect of the rig later on, but in brief, this thing absolutely screams.

The case has a white and black theme to it, and it almost looks like it should be an official Portal computer case due to how closely it resembles the whole Portal vibe, which we really like. The front panel has a smooth, glossy black finish and has the “Revolt” name displayed at the top lit up by LEDs. You can actually differentiate each of the LEDs, which could be considered a slight design flaw for picky gamers who prefer to have a smooth and seamless lighting scheme. Other than that, though, the front of the PC has the power button, LED button (to change the LED colors on the side), memory card slot, two USB 3.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, and obviously the slot-load DVD drive. The LEDs on the side of the case come in Blue, Green, or Red, and you can cycle through each of the colors with the button on the front. However, it’s important to note that the LEDs oscillate, meaning that they don’t simply just stay on, but they fade in and out.

UPDATE: iBUYPOWER tells us that “the individual LEDs showing through the panel is something [they] are addressing with the final version of the chassis.”

On the back, there are a bevy of connectivity options: four USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, PS/2 (for older keyboard and mice), ethernet, various audio jacks, two DVI ports, and HDMI. We’re not quite why this rig has a PS/2 port, since the interface is pretty much extinct, but we can’t say that it’s a burden to have anyway. Simply put, it’s there if you need it. Now, there’s not as many ports as we’ve seen on past top-tier gaming rigs, but most users will be happy with the eight total USB ports, as well as the eSATA and HDMI options.

As far as upgrading the internal components and servicing the machine, iBUYPOWER says that the Revolt is user-serviceable, although we had a grand ‘ole time trying to get the case opened up. However, once we figured it out, it wasn’t too bad. You simply take off the front panel and then slide the side panels back just a bit and it should come right off. It’s all screwless, so there’s no need for tools at this point. However, when you get to the inside, it’s all pretty closed down. The only components with easy access are the storage drives, optical drive, and the power supply (which looks to be similar to a mini ITX power supply, but iBUYPOWER says it’s custom-built). Everything else is buried on the other side, which is accessible, but once you take off the outer side panel, there’s another steel panel in your way that you have to deal with. In the end, if you plan on upgrading this bad boy at some point in the future, be prepared for a long night, unless of course you want to upgrade the storage drives, in which case it’s as easy as sliding them in and out.

Software

The Revolt runs Windows 8, which didn’t seem to give me much problems gaming-wise. I was able to play all the games that I wanted, and Steam seemed to work great on the new OS. Even Call of Duty 4 — which was released well before Windows 8 — played flawlessly on top of Microsoft’s newest operating system. Compatibility is a huge deal for many PC gamers, so seeing Windows 8 handle everything fairly well was a good sign. Of course, Valve’s Gabe Newell thinks Windows 8 is a “catastrophe,” but personally I didn’t have any problems.

As far as bloatware is concerned, many OEM gaming computer companies usually keep it on the down-low when it comes to pre-installed software, and iBUYPOWER is no exception, although you won’t be greeted with a completely-stock version of Windows 8. There are several Intel utilities that come pre-installed, including Control Center, Rapid Storage, Recovery Agent, and Smart Connect. There’s also the THX TruStudio suite, as well as the 3D Vision preview pack and Photo Viewer. Many gamers might not use these programs, but they hardly get in the way, and you can easily disable them from starting up.

Performance

We ended up conducting benchmarks with our go-to benchmarking tool Geekbench, and the results were nothing short of impressive. The Revolt ended up scoring just over a 15,000, which is quite respectable, and frankly, kind of expected thanks to the quad-core i7 and the GTX 670 graphics that we were working with.

The PC played every game that I threw at, all of which were running on medium to high settings. Granted, I didn’t get to play any of the newer games, but I ended up playing a lot of Call of Duty: Black Ops without a problem, as well as Portal 2. The Revolt was able to handle the game wonderfully with little lag or clipping, and I was able to game on for several hours at a time without a hitch. Even after an extended amount of gaming time, the fans inside the rig never picked up speed, and I never noticed the temps go above abnormal levels — it seems that while all the components are crammed into a tiny case, iBUYPOWER made sure that cooling was a priority.

As far as the noise levels, the Revolt is relatively silent. Using my handy-dandy decibel meter app, there was a jump of about 10 decibels. A normal quiet house is just under 40 decibels, and the meter was reading around 47-49 decibels when placed next to the Revolt. Other than that, I had the rig sitting on the floor next to my desk, and I could barely hear the PC running. Granted, it was on the floor and not on my desk (where I’d be able to hear it more), which is where most gamers might put their rigs, but either way, the noise level shouldn’t be a problem. I couldn’t even hear the thrashing of the hard drive, which is a big plus and something that I personally hate.

Wrap-Up

In the end, the Revolt is a solid gaming rig for those that need the power in a smaller package. Of course, many dedicated PC gamers would gladly build their own machine, but for those that are just getting into PC gaming, or aren’t yet brave enough to tackle the building challenge, buying pre-built is the next best option. Of course, stuffing top-tier gaming components into a SFF case isn’t something that most computer builders would even attempt to do, so leaving it to the highly-trained and professional builders at iBUYPOWER may be the way to go if you’re wanting a SFF gaming rig. Pricing for the Revolt starts at $499, which will land you a Core i3, 4GB of RAM, and integrated Intel HD 2500 graphics. This particular build, however, is in the $1,400 range, so you’ll definitely be paying up if you want top performance.

Design

Acer has been putting out some good looking PCs lately, and the Predator AG3620 is no different. The black case has a pair of colored stripes running along the front and the top, with the word “Predator” emblazoned on both sides of the PC. The Predator only sports a mid-size case, which isn’t something we’re used to seeing in a gaming rig. Normally, full-size cases are the standard, given the large amount of equipment you need to pack into it.

At any rate, that mid-size case makes the Predator smaller than other gaming rigs, meaning it can fit into tighter spaces. It’s also surprisingly light for a tower PC – I had no problem lifting and carrying it, though admittedly weight isn’t usually an issue for a computer that will spend most of its life in the same place.

On the front is obviously where the DVD drive is, with two more bays for additional expansions in the future. The front-facing ports have all been moved to the top of the tower, with two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, the headphone jack, and the microphone jack all arranged in a neat little line behind the power button. Speaking of the power button, that’s what will draw your attention when you look at the top of the machine, as it’s big, red, and triangular – almost like one of those caution signs that warn you of rough driving ahead or other upcoming hazards.

Around the back, you’ll find more USB ports. There are six additional USB ports, to be exact, with four more USB 2.0 and two more USB 3.0. There’s also VGA and DVI ports, along with two HDMI ports. You’ve got the standard audio jacks underneath the additional USB ports, jacks for a mouse and keyboard, and an RJ-45 port for 10/100/1000 Gigabit LAN.

Essentially, the ports are what you’d expect from any other gaming rig, though the Predator’s case is a bit louder than other PC cases. That isn’t a bad thing, as I have to say I like the overall look of the Predator. It may not be big, but it doesn’t need to be – all of the computer’s hardware fits nicely inside the case, and as I said above, that smaller form factor means it isn’t going to take up a lot of room when you get it home. As far as design goes, the Predator AG3260 is a winner.

Hardware

I need to start this section right off by saying that you’re not getting the best of the best with the AG3260 in terms of hardware. If you want a rig that’s packed with the highest-end equipment, you better start looking elsewhere because the Predator isn’t the machine you want. That being said, the Predator is packed with excellent or otherwise good hardware, as any gaming rig should be.

The third-gen Intel Core i7-3370 CPU is definitely the star of this show. Initially it’s clocked at 3.4GHz, though the computer can turn that clock speed up to 3.9GHz using Intel’s Turbo Boost technology. That may not be necessary when gaming due to the fact that the graphics card will cause a bottleneck, but it’s nice to have the option nonetheless. Of course, we expect an Intel Core i7 in a gaming rig – anything less and it couldn’t really be considered a gaming rig, after all. Still, it’s great to have it along for the ride, and as you’ll see a bit later, the Core i7 has no problem posting excellent scores in benchmark tests.

The Predator AG3620 also comes equipped with an NVIDIA GeForce GT630, which definitely isn’t the best graphics card NVIDIA has on offer. It’s still a relatively powerful GPU, but it would have been nice to see a card that’s even slightly more powerful. Don’t get me wrong, the GeForce GT630 will do its part to keep visuals looking good, but I feel like it’s going to cause some issues with bottlenecking, especially if Turbo Boost cranks the i7 up to 3.9GHz.

You should be set with the 12GB of DDR3 RAM the AG3620 ships with for quite some time, and here’s another area that Acer decided to make a few small cuts to save some money. With a lot of pre-built gaming rigs these days, it isn’t uncommon to see 16GB of RAM. Truth is, when it comes to gaming, we don’t need 16GB of RAM just yet, so 12GB should get the job done. You’ll probably need to add a bit more at some point down the road, but for now, there doesn’t seem to be anything lost with having 12GB of RAM instead of 16.

For internal storage, Acer has paired a 128GB SSD with a 2TB 7200RPM SATA HDD. I have to say that I’m a pretty big fan of the SSD/HDD hybrid setup, and with Windows 8 loaded onto the SSD, boot up and shut down times are sometimes surprisingly fast. Of course, you’ll run out of space pretty quickly if you try to pack everything on the SSD, but between that and the HDD, you should have plenty of space for your game library.

Sadly, you’ve only got a 16X DVD+R/RW drive, which means no Blu-Ray. That Blu-Ray functionality is definitely missed, considering the Predator AG3620 would be a computer that has no problem playing back HD video, but again, Acer decided to ditch the Blu-Ray drive to keep the price low. You could always swap the DVD drive out for a Blu-Ray drive, however, and since Blu-Ray aren’t super expensive these days, it might not be a bad idea to order one alongside your computer. As far as wireless connectivity is concerned, you’ll have 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 to look forward to.

While the hardware on the inside generally ranges from good to excellent, the keyboard and mouse don’t fall into that stretch. For PC gamers – this computer’s target audience – the keyboard and mouse are going to disappoint. Packed in with the Predator is a two-button optical mouse with a scroll wheel, so if you play FPS or MMO games, you’ll probably want a mouse with more buttons or adjustable DPI settings.

Just the same, you’ll probably want to swap the keyboard out for one made specifically for gamers. The keyboard again is standard fare, though I will say that the keys do have an interesting look. They also make a nice clicking sound like mechanical keyboards, but the problem here is that the spacing seems just a little bit off. Maybe it’s all in my head, but the keys seem slightly further apart than keys on other keyboards. Whether it’s just a personal hang up or not, I was making all kinds of errors while using the keyboard that comes packed with the computer. Hook up your gaming mouse and keyboard instead, because the equipment included with the Predator isn’t stuff you want to use for competitive gaming.

Software

The Predator comes running Windows 8 64-bit, which is bound to be a sore point with some gamers. While I don’t mind Windows 8, I know there are plenty out there who do. If you don’t have a touch monitor, some of the usefulness of Windows 8 will be lost, but all in all, I don’t see much of a problem with having the OS on the Predator. At the end of the day, it’ll all come down to personal preference.

Of course, with Windows 8 on board, you’ll have plenty of Microsoft’s apps from the start. This line up includes Internet Explorer, which I suggest you skip altogether, along with standard Windows 8 apps like People, Weather, News, Maps, and SkyDrive. All of the pre-installed Windows 8 apps vary in usefulness, but one of the main draws of the OS is that you can use the Store to download new apps for your start screen.

Acer has also included some pre-installed apps of its choosing, with Cut the Rope, Acer Explorer, Evernote, and Kindle present from the start. Both Hulu Plus and Netflix come pre-installed on the Predator, so if you have accounts with either of those streaming services, you can begin using them right away without the need for a download. McAfee is there to annoy you from the very first time you start up your computer, while Amazon and eBay also come pre-installed, giving online shoppers to portals to jump in immediately.

Others, like AcerCloud and Spotify will be appreciated by some users, but most will probably want to do a little bit of clean up once they get their Predator out of the box. Everything on the computer seems to be installed on the SSD, so deleting the apps you don’t want becomes even more important. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll have 1.79TB of free storage on the HDD, so you’ve got plenty of extra space to go a little crazy with your downloads.

Gaming and Benchmarks

After describing the hardware that’s in this rig, most PC enthusiasts already know what the benchmark results are going to say. In Geekbench, the Predator netted a score of 16152 – we’ve seen gaming computers score much higher than that, but the Predator’s score shows that its still a reasonably powerful machine. Similarly, in Cinebench the computer took home an OpenGL framerate of 26.72 fps while the CPU test awarded a score 7.44.

These results say the same thing: while the Predator isn’t the most powerful computer on the block, it still has some solid hardware working under the hood. That will ultimately get gamers who care first and foremost about gorgeous visuals without thinking about cost to turn the other way. However, for gamers who can settle for a decently powerful rig in exchange for a lower price point, the Predator probably isn’t going to disappoint.

Gaming seems to be a matter of compromise sometimes. Do you want games to run at 60 frames per second, or do you want to crank all of the graphics features up as high as they go? On most modern games, you won’t be able to do both, but you will be able to find a happy medium. In Skyrim, for instance, turning all of the graphics settings to ultra (which includes 16x antisotropic filtering and 8x antialiasing) and setting the resolution to 1080p produces a frame rate that rarely leaves the teens. At this point, the game is still playable, but stutters and slowdowns quickly wear on the nerves.

On the other hand, by flipping the switch from ultra to high – which brings antisotropic filtering down to 8 samples – we get better results. At these settings, the game runs right around 30 frames per second, sometimes dropping below that point when you’re in outdoor areas with a lot to see, and other times rising above when you’re indoors. That isn’t bad, considering that most console games run at 30 frames per second. The difference here is that on high settings, Skyrim looks much better than its console counterpart. If you can accept console-quality frame rate, you’ll still get a good looking experience.

The same is true for Batman: Arkham City. Bringing the resolution up to 1080p, turning FXAA to high, switching the detail level to very high, and turning on most of the eye candy features like dynamic shadows and reflection, we get right around 30 frames per second in-game. The frame rate will sometimes fluctuate between 25 and 30 fps, less frequently dropping down below 25, but almost never going below 20. Some may not like hearing that, but for me, the frame rate wasn’t really an issue. It should be noted, however, that DirectX 11 features and tessellation had to be turned off to get that frame rate, so that may be a sacrifice some players aren’t willing to make.

Unfortunately, if we move up to more recent games, the Predator begins struggling a bit. By playing Far Cry 3 with DirectX 9 and medium settings across the board, we get a frame rate that likes to linger in the low teens. There are times when it will jump up into the toward the 20s, but a low frame rate like that might turn some gamers off. Ultimately, the GeForce GT630 had some issues with Far Cry 3, but then again, titles like Ubisoft’s latest demand some serious hardware before you can get excellent visuals at an acceptable frame rate.

Wrap-Up

In many ways, I’m torn when it comes time to decide whether or not the Predator AG3620 deserves a recommendation. It’s true that the computer struggled with Far Cry 3, but with Arkham City and Skyrim, the results were pretty good. The fact that you can find the Predator AG3620 for around $1000 helps sweeten the deal quite a bit, but at that point, you might be better off spending a little bit more in return for a better GPU.

As it is, the Predator is a capable gaming rig, it just isn’t exceptional. It may be worth a purchase for gamers who want a solid gaming PC foundation and won’t mind upgrading their graphics card in a year or so. All the same, if you don’t mind giving the most graphics-intensive games a pass (or, alternatively, are willing to put up with playing them at low or medium settings), then the Predator is a decent, relatively inexpensive choice.

If you’re a PC gamer primarily for the amazing graphics that are achievable, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. Naturally, if it’s top-tier graphics quality you want, you’ll probably be building your own rig, and the Predator was never targeted at you in the first place. In the end, if you’re the type who thinks that graphics aren’t everything, or you’re looking for a somewhat cheap way of giving the PC gaming world a spin, the Predator may be worthy of consideration – but only if you’re willing to make some compromises.

How thin is it exactly, you ask? Surprisingly, it’s only 3.6-inches thick, and it stands 14-inches tall. Digital Storm says that they “found no chassis on the market that met their design criteria,” so the company ended up designing and building their own case that would fit their criteria to the letter.

The company says that no other thin form factor tower has as much power on the inside as the Bolt does. The computer can fit up to an Intel Core i7 3770K quad-core processor that can be overclocked to 4.6GHz, 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 graphics, 120GB SSD, and a 1TB hard drive with room for up to five drives total.

Of course, that model will cost you a pretty penny: $1,949. However, their base model weighs in at $999 and comes with a Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, GTX 650 Ti graphics, and a 1TB hard drive. All of their machines come with Windows 7 Home Premium. The Bolt is available now for purchase, so if you’ve been looking for a powerful rig in a small package, this might be your time to buy.

Case

This case is massive, gigantic, and certainly not made for hauling around to LAN parties – there’s no handles here, folks. Instead this machine is made to remain stationary, made with so many fans and air ducts that it’ll never, ever get hot (it might, but we’ve not seen it yet), and it’s clean. This machine looks fabulous, with a classy white combination of plastic and metal parts and safety bumpers all around so there’s no clunks or clanks when you’re opening or shutting doors.

The front of the machine has a flat aluminum shape to it with a couple of peek-holes you’ll be able to see in the hands-on look at the machine in the video above. This front panel is a door which reveals your DVD drive, memory card ports, and whatever else you want to attach in the racks on racks on racks available throughout the front of the machine. This machine comes with room for so much customizability right out of the box it’s absurd.

The back of this AVADirect tower has a massive collection of ports which you’ll read about below and will be able to see in the hands-on video above. It’s all very neatly arranged, and up on top of the tower you’ve got a few more for good measure. The bottom of this case has that unique boost not just for your visual pleasure, but so air can move through the machine top to bottom. The bottom is open so air can travel through the case downward, upward, out the back, and out the front as well – there are fans behind that door up front and there’s a dust catch you can remove and clean underneath as well!

You’ve also got two distinctive sides to this machine, with the right side having a small area for cords to rest in, keeping them clear of the other side which is the deep home for all of your massive bits of next-level gear. For those of you that love lights, you’ll find a few well-placed green LEDs sitting down deep in the guts, blinking like it’s no big deal, while a couple of white lights shine up front through those crevices mentioned above so you know the machine has been turned on. Again – if you didn’t have a monitor plugged in to show you that the beast was turning on, you might never know it for how silent it is – that’s what the lights are for.

Sound Levels

With this build you’ll find a total of seven fans, eight if you count the one attached to the 3rd Gen Intel Core i7 hardware. With that many fans you might expect quite a bit of rustling to be going on inside this box, but no. You have to get up within a foot of this device to hear it make a sound – it’s that quiet. This device has SPCR Certification for quietness. This means that it must run under 20dBA at idle as well as under 27dBA under maximum load. Check out more about SPCR Certified PCs to get an in-depth idea of what this means for your own gaming room. Don’t expect to be lulled asleep by the hum of this machine – there really isn’t any.

Custom Build

This monster has a set of specifications that I do not hesitate to say are a dream for our modern age of gaming. In addition to the massive amount of ports you get on the top and back of this machine, prepping you for any and all display, 3rd party connection, and memory card situations, you’ve got processing and graphics power that’ll blow your socks off. You’ll notice at this point that I’m having trouble finding much that I do not like about this system, and for that I apologize – I’m a sucker for fantastically constructed machines.

QUIET GAMING PC, Core™ i5 / i7 Z77 Low-Noise Custom Gaming System
• NZXT H2 Classic Silent White Mid-Tower Case, ATX, No PSU, Steel/Plastic
• ANTEC TruePower New TP-750 Power Supply, 80 PLUS®, 750W, 24-pin ATX12V EPS12V, One 6-pin + Two 8-pin PCIe, SLI Certified
• ASUS P8Z77-V LX, LGA1155, Intel® Z77, DDR3-2400 (O.C) 32GB /4, PCIe x16, SATA 3Gb/s RAID 5 /4, 6Gb/s /2, HDMI + DVI + VGA, USB 3.0 /4, HDA, GbLAN, ATX, Retail
• Intel Core™ i7-3770K Quad-Core 3.5 – 3.9GHz TB, HD Graphics 4000, LGA1155, 8MB L3 Cache, 22nm, 77W, EM64T EIST HT VT-x XD, Retail
• PROLIMATECH Megahalems Rev. B CPU Heatsink w/ Dual 120mm NB-Blacknoise SilentPro PL-1 Ultra Quiet Fan, Socket 1155/1156/1366/775, Nickel Plated Copper, Retail
• Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound, Polysynthetic Silver, Electrically Non-Conductive
• CRUCIAL, 16GB (4 x 4GB) Ballistix Tactical Tracer w/ LEDs PC3-14900 DDR3 1866MHz CL9 (9-9-9-27) 1.5V SDRAM DIMM, Non-ECC

• NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 670 950MHz, 2GB GDDR5 5000MHz, PCIe x16 SLI, 2x DVI + HDMI + DP, OEM
• OCZ, 120GB Vertex 3 SSD, MLC SandForce SF-2281, 550/500 MB/s, 2.5-Inch, SATA 6 Gb/s, Retail
• Western Digital 1.5TB WD Caviar® Green™ (WD15EARX), SATA 6 Gb/s, IntelliPower™, 64MB Cache
• SONY AD-7280S Black 24x DVD±R/RW Dual-Layer Burner, SATA, OEM
• SABRENT CRW-UINB Black 65-in-1 Card Reader/Writer Drive, 3.5″ Bay, Internal USB
• CUSTOM WIRING, Standard Wiring with Precision Cable Routing and Tie-Down
• Smart Drive NEO Standard Silent Hard Disk Drive Enclosure, 5.25″
• Lamptron Deluxe Black Shakeproof PSU Gasket Silencer
• Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition w/ SP1, OEM
• Silver Warranty Package (3 Year Limited Parts, 3 Year Labor Warranty)

This build will cost you, again, a total of $2,019.16 in all, and if you’re wondering how much it cost to ship from the AVADirect facilities in Twinsberg, Ohio to where this review is taking place in Saint Paul, Minnesota here it is: $58.23. Not so devastating a shipping cost at all. Especially considering how well it was packaged – they even stuffed the inside of the unit with padding to assure nothing wiggled loose!

Benchmark Results and Performance

Have a peek at our standard test results here picked up by GeekBench. You’ll find that nowhere in our history of Desktop Reviews will you find a more powerful system, and of course the Laptop Reviews don’t stand a chance either.

We tested out Batman: Arkham City and we tested out Portal 2, Skyrim and Crysis 2, we played some HD videos and we rocked out a couple monitors at a time – and there’s nothing, no waiting time, everything is swift – it’s like this machine was made for the future. Have a peek at some more of the inner bits of the machine here as well:

The Bottom Line

This machine is well worth the cash you’re going to pay for it. For the couple thousand dollars you’re going to drop on this exact build you still couldn’t get the least expensive Mac Pro, and I dare you to find a more well put together PC for this kind of cash. This custom-made conglomeration of top-tier gamer-friendly parts makes me want to forget about factory built machines entirely. There’s just no going back after this.

If you’re not all about having the best of the best or have no use for processing and graphics power that’s going to blow you away with even the most heavy games on the market, this build is not worth the cash. You can pick up the standard build of this machine – with the silence, the case, and slightly lower power than what we’ve got here for $1107.51 from AVADirect too – that’s probably going to be good enough for most gamers out there on its own.

If however you want the most powerful, silent, and aesthetically pleasing gaming PC on the market, this is it. You can grab it from AVADirect’s online store today – and don’t forget to customize!

Hardware

Our Powerbox review unit had the latest and definitely greatest in gaming hardware, complete with an Intel Core i7-3820 CPU running at 3.6Ghz, a monster NVIDIA GTX 690 GPU (with an MSRP of about a thousand dollars all by itself), and an Asrock EXTREME4-M Micro-ATX x79 motherboard. But that’s all details (and all configurable, by the way): the stars of the show are the memory and storage. In addition to a massive 1.5 terabyte storage drive made up of two Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drives in a RAID 0 configuration, there’s an 240GB OCZ Revodrive 3X2 SSD that sits in one of the PCI-E bays to hold the Windows partition.

But the pride and joy of the Powerbox is its RAMDisk, a permanently active 20GB partition that sits on the machine’s 32GB of DDR3 memory leaving 6GB for system use. (4GB each is dedicated to the PCI-E and hybrid drive caches.) Ours came in four 8GB Corsair DIMMs. The Windows pagefile, TEMP directory and IE and Chrome browsers sit on the RAMDisk by default for maximum performance. The read speeds for the RAMDisk is an amazing 8GB per second, at least theoretically.

All of this is wrapped up in a Lian Li case customized with externally mounted fans (plus another three inside, with two dedicated to the liquid-cooled CPU) to accommodate all of this high-end hardware, plus a 750 watt Thermaltake modular power supply. The case and motherboard combo allows for double USB 3.0 connections on the front and  two more around back, another six USB 2.0 ports, two eSATA and one Firewire port, SPDIF and 5.1 audio right off the motherboard, and two PS/2 ports for you old school types.

Altogether our configuration of the Powerbox came to a cringe-inducing $4,463, with basic configurations starting at $2,999 with a 10GB RAMDisk, 260GB PCI-ESSD and a GTX 680. Yes, you could certainly build it yourself for less, but this is for gamers who want the bang in an all-in one package. For those of you who are builders, be aware that due to the design of the Lian-Li case and the size of the components, modification will not be easy – you’ve got to remove the PSU and most of the intricately arranged cabling in order to access any of the components.

Software

The Powerbox comes with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, and not much else. However, there’s some considerable modifications done in order to maximize performance. In addition to the browser, pagefile and cache moves mentioned above, the box comes pre-loaded with a full version of Primo Ramdisk Ultimate Edition, for switching the RAMDisk from Direct-IO to SCSI mode and back again, among other things. You’ll also get a free copy of SuperSpeed Disk Cache, the two utilities totaling a value of $200. In addition to the basic tools that come along with the drivers, you get AsRock’s XFastUSB tool for dynamic monitoring and boosting of the motherboard’s USB 3.0 ports. Some inoffensive software like Chrome, Flash player and Paint.net is pre-loaded.

It must be said that the RAMRod’s non-standard storage and memory usage created some stability issues. Older drivers for the GTX 690 graphics card may have contributed to this, since they (mostly) went away after I installed new ones. Even so, there were more hang-ups and freezes than we like to see on a modern system.

Performance

This is what you came to see. What’s the point in spending thousands of dollars on a gaming PC if it doesn’t beat all comers, right? Well, the basic performance of the RAMRod Powerbox doesn’t disappoint. In our standard Geekbench test, the Powerbox beat everything except the new HP z420 workstation, and that’s running off of a newer-generation Xeon octo-core processor, so we’re inclined to be generous.

The really impressive scores here are for storage. We’ve included the new Anvil benchmark for the hybrid storage drive in the gallery below, but the star of the show is the 20GB RAMDisk. In the benchmark the RAMDisk read consistently above 4GB per second, with write speeds nearing the 3GB mark. Also note the Input-Output Per Second score of 1.1 million read, and over 700,000 write – according to DV Nation, no other gaming system can match it, and we’re not arguing.

The PCI-E system drive is impressively fast in its own right, with reads consistently going over 1GB per second and breaking 4GB on the 128K file test. Write speeds were somewhat poorer, but the input/output score was an impressive 665,744 . If you’re swimming in numbers right now, consider that the average Ultrabook with a standard SATA SSD gets about one tenth the scores of this system drive. You can see the 3DMark and PCMark scores, along with a few other benchmarks, in the gallery below.

But what did this do for games? Needless to say, the combination of some of the best components money can buy led to buttery smooth framerates on just about every game we tried. On a 1920×1200 monitor with every setting and switch set to its highest, plus V-sync enabled, the framerate never dropped below 60. With V-Sync off, we got eye-popping framerate scores of an average of 114 in the original Crysis, 124 in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 131 in Batman: Arkham City, and 111 in Grand Theft Auto IV. We’re not the most demanding of gamers here at SlashGear, but suffice it to say, the Powerbox in this configuration can produce graphics better and faster than most people’s eyes can actually see, and with this level of hardware this is likely to remain the case for at least two or three years.

A note on some of the more physical aspects of the Powerbox: it’s loud. Very loud, and surprisingly so for a system of this size. But then you need to take into account the externally mounted fans and the high temperatures inside such a compressed build – there’s not a whole lot that can be done about it, even with the addition of Intel’s first-party liquid cooling. Those of you who plan to do your own upgrades beyond the graphics card and storage drives should do your homework beforehand.

Value

Make no mistake, this is a fantastically expensive gaming machine. Were I going to order it for myself, I’d opt for the full-sized tower with an Antec case, just because it’s easier to work with and probably quieter. That said, if you’ve got the money and the inclination (and if you’ve got a significant other, some impressive negotiation skills) then more power to you. Those who need a machine that’s semi-portable will be happier with what DV Nation calls the “SFF” Lian Li version, but be careful when moving it, as it still weighs in at about 30 pounds.

Wrap Up

Got a few thousand dollars you’re not doing anything with? Want the fastest storage that money can buy, convincingly disguised as a Windows gaming machine? Does the sound of case fans and GPU coolers lull you to sleep at night? Then DV Nation’s RAMRod Powerbox might just be your dream machine. It’s not cheap, it’s not subtle, and it’s certainly not for everyone, but as boutique gaming machines go, it’s hard to compete with. You can order one at their website.

The laptop comes equipped with a 17.3-inch 1920×1080 (full HD) matte screen, the high-end NVIDIA GTX670M mobile discrete GPU, and a fully backlit keyboard with multiple color LEDs provided by gaming accessory maker SteelSeries. The keys have the typical gamer programming and macro capabilities, plus they’re extra shiny. Killer-brand gaming network hardware handles your data packets with care, and three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4 and an amplified audio jack have got you covered for expansion. WiDi, Bluetooth, a 7-in-1 media reader, an E-SATA port and a 720p webcam round out the extras.

The systems top out at a whopping 12GB of DDR3 memory, with dual hard drive options of 128GB SSD plus a 500GB traditional drive. You can also opt for a slower but more capacious 750GB hard drive. THX-certified TruStudio audio is offered, but at the moment the only disc option is a DVD writer. Hopefully a Blu-ray alternative will be made available eventually. Of course you can’t cram all that power into an Ultrabook: the laptop is a huge 16.85 by 11.34 by 2.17 inches and weighs in at 8.6 pounds. What say you, PC gamers – any takers for the MSI GT70? The smaller 15.6-inch GT60 should get an Ivy Bridge update soon.

That liquid cooling system has three dual 120mm fan radiators and a single quad 120mm fan radiator in some versions. The tubing used to plumb the system is wrapped in springy looking wire to prevent kinks and has a 13mm diameter to allow for higher liquid flow. There are a number of configurations that the gamer can start with and the machine can be completely customized as well. The entry-level price point of the Erebus starts at $1249 with a Core i5-2400 processor, single NVIDIA GTX 550Ti video card, 500GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.

The most feature packed system checks in at a wallet busting $6899 and it is packed with hardware. That machine uses an Intel Core i7-990X Extreme processor, the full 6x120mm liquid cooling system, 12GB of RAM, dual 96GB SSDs, 2TB main storage, and a Blu-ray player. Graphics in that high-end version are via three NVIDIA GTX 580 Superclocked video cards.

The new video card can be added as an option to the popular LAN Warrior II, Paladin XLC, and Level 10 gaming machines. I am a big fan of that Level 10 gaming rig, which is one of the coolest cases ever and looks very futuristic. It reminds me of a personal computer that would have been found in Atlantis on Stargate: Atlantis.

The GTX 560 Ti is an impressive video card on its own and doesn’t cost too much. The card has a MSRP of $250 and promises to deliver some very impressive performance in DX 11 games and older DX 10 and 9 titles as well. The card is a good choice for the gamer on a budget.

The machine has a really cool chassis that is a simple looking black case that is taller and narrower than your typical computer chassis. The case is black with red accents and looks like something ATI would have shown off at a trade show. The mainboard inside the chassis is a micro ATX form factor unit and it has CPU on it that can be overclocked to 4.7GHz.

Despite the smaller size of the machine, it can also be crammed full of dual GTX 580 video cards. The mainboard is rotated inside the chassis to put the ports at the top of the case for easy reach and the machine has a hot swap drive bay on top along with a USB 3.0 port. The machine has a wide range of options with a starting price of $1132 and an ultimate configuration with a GTX 580, and Intel Core i7 CPU for $2160.

The Panther 2.0 has become the first notebook to ever score 22699 points in the 3DMark2006 benchmark. The machine as tested sported a 17.3-inch LED screen with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, an Intel Core i7 Extreme i7-980X CPU, and 12GB of total RAM.

The notebook uses a 500GB Seagate solid hybrid HDD as well. The GPU in the record-breaking runs was a pair of Radeon HD6970M units in CrossfireX. A single 6970M scored 19907 in the same benchmark. In the new 3DMark11, benchmark the CrossfireX machine scored P5689.

This new gaming rig from Origin PC not only has a high-end gaming set up inside the case, but one of the brand new slimmed-down Xbox 360s. Microsoft’s video game console is liquid-cooled, making sure that it can stand-up to the heat, and extra-long hours of playtime, while in use. The base set-up for the powerful piece of equipment has an Intel Core i7 930 processor, which has been overclocked to 4.9GHz. You’ll find dual NVIDIA GTX480 graphics cards inside, along with 6GB of Corsair Dominator memory, clocked at 1,600MHz. The whole set-up is water-cooled.

As for a price? Origin PC says that the base model will go for around $7,669. But if you’ve got even more money to toss around for something like this, you could always go for the “high-end” version, which Origin says will set you back $16,669.

[via Kotaku]

There is another option that many gamers don’t even know about known as peltier coolers. Digital Storm has unveiled a new line of gaming PCs called the Sub-Zero Liquid chilled system. The machine used liquid cooling on the CPU and on other components and the liquid in that closed system is cooled to temperatures below freezing using TEC peltier coolers.

The new cooling tech can be had on a machine with an Intel Core i7-980X CPU running at up to 4.6GHz with idling temperatures at or below 0C. The machine has a temp gauge on the board that shows how cold the fluid is. The machine starts at $3,899 and it one of the coolest gaming PCs ever.

The AMD parts will find their way into the high-end XLC extreme liquid cooled gaming machines that sit at the top of the iBUYPOWER line. The machines will get the new Phenom II X6 1055T, 1075T, and 1090T 6-core processors. All of those AMD parts get the Asetek maintenance free 240mm large radiator liquid cooling system.

The machines also use 8GB of RAM and get graphics via a Radeon HD 5770 video card and 1TB of storage space. The gaming rigs are crammed inside a NZXT Phantom case in black or white colors. The Mage XLC gaming computers start at $1,099 and can be purchased right now.

Like most gaming rigs, the Lesance GSN801GAW is a powerhouse. Featuring an 18.4-inch display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and Windows 7 Home Premium under the hood, you’ll get to enjoy your video games in glorious HD. Inside, you’ll be able to take advantage of the quad-core 1.73GHz Intel Core i7 940XM Extreme Edition CPU, as well as 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory. If you aren’t happy with the choice of NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 480M (2GB) for your graphics needs, then you can also choose to have two ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870s in CrossFire.

Lesance also went with 160GB of SSD, a multicard reader, HDMI and DVI output, integrated WiFi, a gigabit Ethernet port, and a webcam built-in. There’s even a Blu-ray burner, too. The battery won’t last you very long off the charger, though, as it’s clocked at 1.5 hours. It also weighs just over 12 pounds. It’s expected to land in Japan here shortly, with a price tag of 439,800 yen, or about $5,420.

[via Akihabara News]

The Origin EON 17 keeps up with the company’s focus on mobile gaming. But, while there mid-range options, or even the basic versions may be more than enough for some, it’s the “ultimate package” that will get all the attention. If you have the cash to throw down, then you can get your hands on the 17.3-inch, full 1080p HD display. Inside, you’ll find a six-core Intel i7 980X processor, as well as 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480M graphics.

But, that’s not all. You’ll also get your hands on 24GB of triple-channel DDR3 memory, three 512GB Kingston V+ series Solid State Drives (SSD) — with an option to have up to 2TB of storage, if you’d prefer HDD. There’s also a 6x BD-R Blu-ray burner, featuring Power DVD 10 Ultra. There’s also Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, and Intel’s Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 Wireless dual-band module. Two USB 3.0 ports and three USB 2.0 ports. An HDMI 1.4 in and out, and a 9-in-1 card reader.

To (almost) exhaust the feature set, you’ll find an HDTV tuner, a fingerprint reader on deck, and a 3MP webcam. That full rig will cost you a whopping $13,086. Origin says that you can start building and ordering your brand new gaming notebook monstrosities, but that they won’t be shipping until October. You can head on over to Origin’s site and start building right now, if you’re interested enough.

[via TechDigest]

Going from one model to the next, the Cobra features an over-clocked Intel Core i7 processor, clocked at 3.84GHz. It also has 6GB of DDR3 RAM, 1TB SATA II, 7,200RPM hard drive, and one NVIDIA GTX 470 graphics card. There’s a 22X DVD burner in there, too. The Viper gaming PC has an over-clocked Core i7 processor which runs at 3.37GHz. It has 6G of DDR3 RAM, and an ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics card. It also has a 1TB hard drive and 22X DVD burner. The Rattler features an over-clocked Intel Core i7, clocked at 3.22GHz and featuring 4GB of RAM. There’s a 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5670 inside the tower as well. Again, there’s that 1TB hard drive and 22X DVD burner.

The Black Mamba takes the cake, though, with its Core i7-980X processor, over-clocked to reach 4.33GHz. There’s 12GB of DDR3 RAM, and NVIDIA’s GTX 480 graphics card, which are liquid cooled. There’s a pair of 64GB SSD drives, and a 2TB hard drive. Instead of the DVD burner, it has a 4x Blu-ray drive, which is paired with a DVD burner. Features for all of them equal Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, USB 3.0 ports, and 6Gbps SATA interface. You can start configuring your models starting at $999, right now.

[via Electronista]

The display is 17.3-inches, for the record. But, you have plenty of options to choose from here. You can go with the GTX 480M Fermi GPU, or with NVIDIA’s Quadro 5000M. You can even ratchet up the CPU speeds all the way up to 3.33GHz (or more, if you really need to), thanks to the Intel Core i7-980X CPU. And, you need RAM, right? How does upwards of 24GB sound to you? Because you can make that happen, too.

If that doesn’t sound good to you, and you’re more of a fan of ATI’s way of doing things, you can choose Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPUs. The press release is ridiculously informative, so take a gander at that below for the full detail breakdown. However, there’s no word on pricing, but we’ll go ahead and assume that this is going to cost a bit more than a pretty penny.

Press Release

Eurocom launches Panther 2.0 – the World’s First Notebook with NVIDIA’s SLI GeForce GTX 480M Fermi and ATi CrossFireX Radeon Mobility HD5870, 6-core Intel i7 980X Extreme and Xeon Processors, 3TB of storage with RAID 0,1,5, 10 for On-the-Go Workstation, Gaming or Server use.

Eurocom, the world’s leading developer of highly personalized, high-performance notebook PCs and energy efficient All-in-One PCs, introduced the EUROCOM Panther 2.0 super notebook for Gaming, Workstation or Server use powered by NVIDIA SLI Fermi GPUs and Intel’s line of 6-core i7-980x and Xeon 5600 series LGA1366 processors.

EUROCOM Panther 2.0 provides workstation and server-calibre capabilities with up to 3TB (Terabytes!) of storage with four internal physical hard drives and RAID 0/1/5/10, super-powerful 3.33 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition i7-980X; or 3.33 GHz XEON X5680 processors running at 6.4GT/sec bus speed, Gigabit Ethernet port on-board (quad port optional), HDMI in and out ports, eSATA, DVi ports, with a 17.3″ Full HD 1920×1080 LED backlit display and full size keyboard.

Featuring workstation-class or server-class Intel Core i7 Extreme or Xeon Processor and up to 24GB of DDR3-1600 memory, the EUROCOM Panther 2.0 also features the largest storage capacity on the market today – a whopping 3 TB with RAID 0/1/5/10 with four physical hard drives – making it the perfect mobile workstation or server laptop for users who demand extra-large capacity storage and reliability for a true portable server / workstation experience.

EUROCOM Panther 2.0 supports most of 64-bit operating systems available on the market from Microsoft Windows 7 or Server 2008 up to Red Hat; VMware or Solaris.

KEY SPECIFICATIONS:
- 17.3-inch Full HD; 1920-by-1080 pixels; LED Backlit; Glossy Surface
- Upgradeable Processor: Intel i7-980X Extreme or Xeon 5500/5600; 4 and 6-cores; LGA1366; 32nm technology; 65W-130W
- Supports Intel’s XTU (eXtreme Tuning Utility) and XMP (eXtreme Memory Profile) functions
- Upgradeable Graphics: MXM 3.0b; up to 100W per card; supports both single or dual GPU operation, and both CrossfireX and SLI; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480M (Fermi); Quadro FX 2800M/FX 3800M/FX 5000M; ATi Radeon Mobility HD5870
- Storage: up to 4 physical drives (mechanical or SSD); RAID 0/1/5/10; over 3TB of storage
- Optical Drive: Choice of DVD Burner, Blu Ray Reader for Blu Ray Burner
- Card Reader: MS/MS Pro/MS Duo/SD/Mini-SD/SDHC/SDXC compatible/MMC/RSMMC
- Built in TouchPad with multi-gesture and scrolling function
- Five instant buttons: Volume Up/Down, Mute, WiFi On/Off, Bluetooth On/Off
- Sound System: High Definition Audio, S/PDIF output; Microphone; 5 speakers; subwoofer; Dolby Home Theater
- Ports: 2x USB 3.0; 3x USB 2.0; HDMI-in 1.4; HDMI-out; DVI-DL; eSata; IEEE1394b; S/PDIF; Headphone; Microphone; Audio Line-in; RJ-45; CATV-in
- Power: Auto Switching 300 Watts AC Adapter 100-240V; DC 20V 15A; Smart Li-Ion Battery 88.8WH; Battery time approx 1 hour
- Dimensions: WxDxH 419x286x56.5-60.7mm/16.76×11.44×2.26-2.43inch
- Weight: 5.3kg/11.66lbs including battery and ODD

Driving the system is the 6-core Intel 3.33GHz Extreme Edition i7-980X processor with bus speeds of up to 6.4GT/sec and 8MB of L3 cache, which delivers exceptional multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance. It also supports the newest line of Intel Core i7 Xeon 6-cores processors X5600 series.

The following Processors are supported:
- 2.80 GHz; i7-930 Intel Core i7 Processor; 4-Cores 8-Threads; 8MB cache; 4.8GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
- 3.20 GHz; i7-970 Intel Core i7 Processor; 6-cores 12-threads; 12MB cache; 4.8GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
- 3.20 GHz; i7-960 Intel Core i7 Processor; 4-cores 8-threads; 8MB cache; 4.8GT/s; LGA1366; 45nm; 130W
- 3.33 GHz i7-980X Intel Core i7 Extreme; 6-cores; 8MB L3; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
- 2.66 GHz Intel Xeon X5650 Processor; 6-cores; 12MB L3; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 95W
- 2.80 GHz Intel Xeon X5660 Processor; 6-cores; 12MB L3; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 95W
- 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon X5670 Processor; 6-cores; 12MB L3; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 95W
- 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon Processor X5680; 6-cores; 12MB L3 cache; 6.4GT/s; QPI=2; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
- 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon Processor W3680; 6-cores; 12MB L3; 6.4GT/s; QPI=1; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W

The EUROCOM Panther 2.0, which measures 15.8″ x 11.9″ x 2.05″ and weights under 12lbs, also supplies tremendous SATA-300 storage (up to 3TB using four drives). Customers may also choose between RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 and RAID 10 for the ultimate transfer rates and application load times or redundancy.

“It’s a server or workstation-calibre computer complete with built-in Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in a 12 pound notebook form factor,” said Mark Bialic, President of Eurocom. “This is one extremely fast notebook that offers server or workstation calibre capabilities. It is designed to replace traditional desktop based workstations. It offers incredibly high ROI by allowing companies to be more productive and offer new “on the go” CAD/CAM services while greatly reducing overall IT management costs”.

EUROCOM WORKSTATION-CLASS NOTEBOOKS
Mobile Workstation is a new category of workstation-class notebooks designed to replace a desktop-based workstation for a professional user. With unrivalled power, unsurpassed features and portability, the Mobile Workstation is the ultimate evolution of the Desktop Replacement notebook.

With the release of mobile workstations, Eurocom has taken the next step in the evolution of the desktop replacement by combining workstation like features, power and flexibility with desktop replacement technology.

Mobile Workstation is the most powerful notebook on the market. Featuring the most innovative computer technologies; they are engineered for the highest quality, best performance, long-term stability and serviceability. As a single computing solution, mobile workstation provides a perfect alternative to a traditional workstation class desktop computer system.

EUROCOM mobile workstations are designed specifically for high-end professional and graphics users demanding maximum performance and power when running professional applications such as CAD/CAM/CAE, 3D animation, 3D simulation, engineering, financial simulations, math, forensic, 3D imaging, mapping and charting, satellite image processing, GIS, or medical software, or graphics work.

Key Benefits of Mobile Workstations
- Reduced IT Management costs (one piece of equipment to move around)
- Improved Productivity (anytime, anywhere)
- Increased Revenue Growth (allows introduction of new services, i.e. CAD/CAM/CAE consulting/training on-the-go)
- Improved reliability of data (internal battery = built-in UPS)
- Reduced equipment cost (single computer solution)
- Reduced litigation costs due to intellectual properties rights (out-of-the office consulting)

Specific Vertical Markets:
- Aerospace (CAM/CAE/CAD)
- Manufacturing
- Architecture
- Education (Departments of Architecture, Engineering, Geography, Animation, Video Production; GIS)
- Financial sector
- Forensic (i.e. FBI Criminal Labs)
- Governments (Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Army; Navy; Public Works/Engineering; GIS)
- Military (Mapping, Charting, Imaging, Navigation)
- Medical (Imaging)
- Software Development (Databases, CRM, Operating)
- Training

Mobile workstations feature the most advanced computer technology, such as:
- High-performance Processors: Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition or XEON processors
- 64-bit hardware and multiple operating systems support (Windows Pro 64, Vista64, Server2008, Red Hat)
- 24 GB of high performance memory,
- up to 3TB of storage with multiple high performance SATA-300 hard drives
- RAID 0/1/5/10 for extra performance, data redundancy or automatic backups
- High performance VGA graphics including NVIDIA’s SLI GTX 480M, Quadro FX 3800M and FX 5000M or ATi’s CrossfireX HD5870
- Up to 4GB of video and the fastest graphics SLI
- Large displays (17.3″ or 18.4″) in a portable form factor
- Blu Ray and DVD Burning-on the-Go
- High Performance 1 Gigabit LAN on-board and support for 2nd 1Gigabit LAN interface
- 102-key desktop-like full size keyboards with separate numeric keypad
- Multiple I/O Ports: USB 2.0/3.0 ports, FireWire ports, HDMI in/out ports; DVI Dual Link ports for multiple external monitors, S-Video In ports for digital video cameras, media card readers, Optical digital and analog audio I/O, built-in microphone and stereo speakers
- Excellent Wireless: internal up to 450Mbps WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0
- Internal battery allows uninterrupted operation in case of power failure.
- Excellent Surround Sound System with SRS WOW technology
- Optional internal TV Tuner for Digital and/or Analog Video Input

EUROCOM MOBILE SERVER NOTEBOOK TECHNOLOGY
Mobile Server is a new category of notebooks designed with a professional user in mind. Software and/or database developers, training centers, military personnel, emergency relief organizations and service organizations who must frequently travel, yet need access to powerful computing, are the core target for Mobile Servers.

With unrivaled power, unsurpassed features and unmatched style, the Mobile Servers are the ultimate extension of the Eurocom Mobile Workstation notebook technology.

With the release of mobile servers, Eurocom has taken the next step in the evolution of the desktop replacement and workstation by combining server like features, power, reliability and flexibility with desktop replacement technology. Mobile Server is the most powerful notebook on the market. It is engineered for the highest quality, best performance, long-term stability and latest computing technology.

Mobile Server features the most innovative and stable computer technologies available on the market such as the fastest processors, x64 Operating Systems, the most advanced VGA technology, multiple optical drives and multiple Hard Drives offering RAID 0/1/5/10, large displays and full size 102-key keyboards Eurocom Mobile Server – key specifications Eurocom mobile servers are designed specifically for IT professionals and software developers demanding All-in-One server capabilities within maximum performance and power when running and/or testing professional applications such as databases, CRM, etc.

Mobile Servers feature the most advanced computer technology, such as:
- High-performance upgradeable 64-bit 4-and 6-core Intel XEON processors
- Fully 64-bit compliant hardware
- 24 GB or more of high performance memory,
- Large capacity, high performance, redundant storage with RAID 0/1/5/10, four physical hard drives and up to 3TB of storage
- On-Board 1Gigabit Ethernet; 2nd NIC (Fiber, Quad) available via ExpressCard slot or Expansion Box
- Internal 17.3-inch LED backlit display
- Internal built-in battery; 1 hour of battery backup in case of power failure
- High capacity optical Re-writable Blu Ray drive storage, perfect data backup
- Long lifespan
- Built-in 102-key desktop-like full size keyboard with separate numeric keypad
- Multiple I/O Ports: 1Gigabit Ethernet LAN; 4 USB 2.0, FireWire, serial and parallel ports, CRT and DVI-D for 2 external displays. Optional 2nd Gigabit Ethernet is available via PC Express slot.
- Wireless: Built-in WLAN 802.11a/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0

Full Upgradeability and Full Customization EUROCOM mobile workstations and servers are built on a customized basis so that users can select the individual configurations they require. EUROCOM systems offer stylish all-in-one design, superb performance, upgradeability and the latest computing technology. All EUROCOM mobile servers are fully upgradeable including Hard Drive(s), memory, optical drives, processors and graphics to prolong their lifespan.

About Eurocom
Eurocom is the world’s leading developer of portable computing technology, highly customized, high-performance notebook PCs. The company was founded on the belief that it could revolutionize the PC world with Desktop Replacement Technology, its designs and advanced engineering techniques typically unseen in the computer industry.

The company has produced many firsts, such as manufacturing the world’s first notebook with a 3.5-inch desktop hard drive, 102-keys full-size keyboard, upgradeable notebook VGA technology, integrating RAID 0,1,5, 10 technologies into the notebook or incorporating desktop processors into a notebook designs. .

Eurocom continues to engineer well-balanced, state-of-the-art machines that inspire and enable individuals to reach great possibilities. For more information on Eurocom or to customize a machine, visit www.eurocom.com.

Intel, NVIDIA and ATi are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation, Nvidia Corporation and AMD respectively in the United States and/or other jurisdictions.

It’s not just one option, either. No, instead they’ve hit the market with three different variations, all at different price points. Basically, making sure everyone has what they’re looking for. According to a Kingston spokesperson, the reason they chose water-cooled options, was due to the reliability and quiet operation. Which makes sense, especially for their choice of dual- and triple-channel kits.

The three options are going to be set within Kingston’s new H20 line-up of memory kits. The two “base versions” will be the 4GB dual-channel kits, clocked at 2000MHz and 2133MHz, respectively. And then there is the 6GB triple-channel option, which is clocked at 2000MHz. The three options will cost you $157.00, $205.00, and $235.00. So if you’re a PC gamer, and you like to build yourself some high-profile, expensive, and impressive rigs, it looks like Kingston has a brand new way for you to make your system one of the best out there.

[via TG Daily]

Digital Storm’s gaming PCs are no stranger around these parts. The BlackOPS lineage of hardware has been around for quite some time, and they’ve always utilized the best hardware to stay at the top of the pack when it comes to avid PC gamers. Now, with their announcement that they’ll be utilizing NVIDIA’s 3D Vision to bring in a new world of gaming, even more doors are opening up.

Utilizing NVIDIA’s GTX 400 Series GPUs, you’ll be able to experience 750M pixels/second, spread out over three displays, in breathtaking full 1080p HD 3D. That would put the resolution at 5760×1080, by their count. And, thanks to NVIDIA’s intelligent software, it will take care of automatically converting over 425 gaming titles into stereoscopic 3D, which means you won’t have to download any special patches or anything.

Digital Storm’s BlackOPS gaming PCs with NVIDIA’s 3D Vision Surround Technology are available right now, if you’re ready to drop the cash for them. You can order them via Digital Storm’s site, and the base price starts at $2,833. That’s without any other options you may want.

Press Release

Fremont, Calif. – (August 2, 2010) – Digital Storm, the predominant name in computer system integration and engineering, proudly ushers in the future of total immersion gaming with 3D Vision™ Surround Technology and the ultimate gaming PC – Black|OPS.

For the first time ever, NVIDIA’s 3D Vision™ Surround Technology expands gaming real estate across three monitors in full HD 3D for the most immersive gaming experience ever. With this breakthrough, gamers can expand their view of in-game action, allowing them to see enemies sooner, get a complete survey of strategy games, and race their cars even faster than before.

Those who have never played on a 3D gaming system across three 1080p displays should be prepared to have their breath taken away. NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 400 GPUs generate the graphics horsepower to drive 750M pixels/second for 3 screens in full HD 1080p 3D Vision gaming for an incredible 5760×1080 experience. In terms of compatibility, NVIDIA’s intelligent software automatically converts over 425 games to stereoscopic 3D without the need for special patches.

Setting up a Black|OPS machine with 3D Vision™ Surround Technology is simplified thanks to NVIDIA’s multi-display software. No adaptors are required as 3D Vision works with standard monitor cables and a setup wizard guides gamers through setup and allows bezel correction to enable a seamless display experience. Further, advanced GPU synchronization ensures seamless support and maximum frame rate.

“The total immersion one experiences when gaming on a multi-screen 3D system is the most remarkable gaming experience, words do it no justice,” commented Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm’s Director of Product Development. “For first-person shooters and strategy games, multi-screen 3D gives gamers a Pentagon-grade gaming experience that is vastly superior to anything else on the market. 3D technology represents the future of gaming and Black|OPS systems are the perfect platform to experience it on.”

Digital Storm’s Black|OPS gaming PCs with 3D Vision™ Surround Technology are available for purchase at www.DigitalStormOnline.com/3dpc.asp with a base price of $2,833.

For images or additional information, please contact Digital Storm Media Representative Brian Metcalf at brianmetcalf@maxborgesagency.com or 305-576-1171 x11.

To learn more about Digital Storm’s complete product offerings, please visit www.DigitalStormOnline.com

The machine is packed with Intel Core i7 quad core processors, GeForce GTX470 graphics with 3-way SLI support and up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM. The machine can have as many as three GTX 470 graphics cards from NVIDIA inside.

The CPU in the new machine is the Intel Core i7-920 with Intel turbo Boost tech. Storage is up to 8TB and the HDDs in the system connect via SATA 3GB/s ports. Four of the HDD bays on the machine are easy-swap designs making it simple to remove and add drives when needed. The machine can be had in Canada for $1799 CAD.

The new computers include the LAN Warrior 5830Q6 and the Chimera DX12SD6. The machines will be crammed inside the inferno gaming tower and Vulcan micro ATX cases. The special LAN Warrior PC will have a Phenom II X6 1055T CPU, ATI Radeon HD 5830 GPU, 4GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and will sell for $1069.99.

The Chimera system will have the same X6 CPU, and gets a Radeon HD5870 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 30GB SSD, 1TB HDD, and will sell for $1499.99. Both of the machines are available now at Newegg.

On the site, users can easily select from drop-down menus the latest Gigabyte-based system components including motherboard, CPU, and graphics card, and from that, configure their desired build.  Then, the System Builder does an automatic calculation of the total Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price costs as well as the 3DMark benchmark performance of the selected hardware setup, and ultimately allows the buyer to examine the cost and performance of the system before purchasing any actual hardware.

As stated by Futuremark, “Anyone at any budget can confidently make PC purchasing decisions for any PC component combination using the latest CPU, motherboard, and graphic card technology.”  Not quite a try it before you buy it plan, but close; it’s a way to prevent some of that buyer’s remorse before you even consider buying anything.

The new machines include the Gamer Extreme 922 SLC, 559 SLC, 919 SLC, 929 SLC, and 979 SLC. The most powerful of the five PCs is the 979 SLC with an Intel Core i7 975 processor, Asetek 240mm CPU liquid cooler, 12GB of DDR3 RAM, 128GB SSD, 1.5TB HDD, Blu-ray, and dual NVIDIA GTX 295 video cards. The machine sells for $3,999.99.

The cheapest of the five new machines is the 922 SLC coming in at $989.99 with an Intel Core i7 860 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 120mm Asetek CPU liquid cooling, 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA GT220 video card, 500GB HDD, and more. The other machines vary in performance with a mix of AMD and Intel processors for $1549 to $2500. All of the machines run Windows 7 Home Premium.