ZOTAC Announces New ZBOX ID90 Mini PC

ZOTAC has released a new prebuilt mini PC, the ZOTAC ZBOX ID90. The new system boasts double the processing power of previous ZBOX mini PCs, utilizing a quad-core Intel Core i7 chip and integrated HD4000 graphics. The system also incorporates Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, as well as both HDMI and DVI outputs.

Network connectivity is achieved with an integrated 11N wireless adapter, as well as dual Gigabit ethernet ports. Standard peripheral connectivity is achieved via 2 USB 2.0 ports on the rear, as well as 2 USB 3.0 ports on the top and front of the case. ZOTAC offers a ID90 Plus model, which comes preinstalled with 4GB of DDR3 memory, and a 500GB hard drive for storage. 

Source: Press Release

Acer to Announce Android-Powered AIO Next Week

Next week, Acer is expected to announce a new All-In-One (AIO) PC that runs the open-source Android operating system. The system will be powered by an Intel Core i5 4430, based on the new Haswell architecture, and will retail for around $400.

The system will be configured with just 1GB of RAM, and may offer as little as 8GB of internal storage due to the reduced hardware requirements of the Android OS. There is indication that adoption of the Android OS will continue to increase into space previously dominated by Microsoft's Windows OS, particularly after the advent of Android-powered laptops and netbooks expected in the near future.

Source: CNET

MSI Launches World's First 27-inch All-in-One PC

I know that the majority of people on OCC takes pride in building the optimal computer for specific tasks; however, sometimes it's easier to go with a pre-built computer, since it's a lot less of a hassle. Especially if you are building for friends and family, and do not want to have to troubleshoot every other week, because they accidently deleted System32 or dropped the computer on the floor.

MSI has released the world's first 27-inch all-in-one PC aimed at gamers. It features a touchscreen with anti-glare coating and a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, a GTX 670MX with 3GB dedicated GDDR5 RAM, an Intel Core i7-3630QM, up to 16GB, 1TB HDD and an optional SSD. The all-in-one PC can also act as a monitor for consoles such as PS3 and Xbox 360 via HDMI cables. And you can even switch between Windows and the console by pressing the OSD key on the PC.

The all-in-one PC packs some hefty specs, and they should be plenty for most gamer's needs. So if you're approached by a dad asking to build a computer for his 12-year old son who loves gaming, this thing might be an easier alternative to self built computers.

Source: MSI

Lenovo to Launch Sleek ThinkCentre Edge 62z All-In-One in May

Lenovo is one of the top computer makers in the world, and it knows not everyone has the room for a big desktop tower. That's where the company's all-in-one line comes in, like today's newly announced ThinkCentre Edge 62z. Lenovo says it's an ideal PC for the healthcare and education markets that need a lot of PCs in a small space, and considering the 62z takes up 65% less space than a 20" monitor, it'd be perfect for those and other markets. The ThinkCentre Edge 62z features an 18.5" display, an Intel Core i3 processor, Intel HD graphics, and a DVD burner, with room for up to 8GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. No word on what the exact baseline model will carry, but at least it allows for some flexibility when customizing.

The best part about the whole thing is Lenovo is pricing the ThinkCentre Edge 62z at $549 when it arrives in May.

Source: Engadget

Lenovo Introduces New ThinkPad T431 Laptop

Lenovo has introduced a new member to its ThinkPad range of laptops, the T431, to enable the range to continue to be competitive in today's market. The T431 maintains the traditional look of Lenovo's ThinkPad series, but weighs just 1.36kg and is just over 2cm thick. The laptop has maintained many traditional features of the ThinkPad series such as the red tracker button integrated into the keyboard, but does not integrate newer technologies such as touch screens.

The laptops are powered by 3rd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, and can feature up to 12GB of RAM. As well as this there are many other options, such as support for a 256GB SSD or 1TB HDD, as well as USB 3.0 and mini-DisplayPort connectivity. The laptops can also be preinstalled with either the Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating systems, and boasts up-to a nine hour battery life, according to Lenovo's tests.

Source: PCWorld.com

Valve Has 'No Involvement' With Xi3 'Piston' Steam Box

Doug Lombardi, Head of Marketing at Valve has revealed that Valve is no longer working with computer manufacturer Xi3 on its 'Piston' Steam box. Lombardi did, however, say that Valve had "some dealings with Xi3 last year", but went on to say that Valve "currently has no involvement with any [Xi3] product". Valve has announced development of its own Steam box, which it claims will be priced competively against to next-generation consoles, but also said there were possibilities of other companies producing their own Steam boxes.

Valve cutting its ties with Xi3 would appear strange, especially considering that during this year's CES in January, both Xi3 and Valve shared the success of the 'Piston' Steam box. Xi3 also claimed that Valve had made an investment in the company itself. The Xi3 'Piston' will still be compatible with Valve's Steam digital distribution platform, including its 'Big Picture Mode' designed for use with TVs, however it will not boast any special Valve affiliation. 

Source: Tom's Hardware

Acer Releases New Chromebook

Acer has updated the C7 series of Chromebook laptops with the release of the C710. This model offers 4GB of RAM compared to only 2GB from the original C7. The C710 also offers a bigger battery to extend battery life while the rest of the components appear to remain the same with an Intel Celeron CPU, 11" screen, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The new Chromebook will be available on March 17 with hard drive capacities of 320GB or 500GB for a cost of $280 or $300, respectively.

Source: Digital Trends

Xi3 Begins Taking Orders for 'Piston' Steam Box

Computer manufacturer Xi3 has begun to take orders for its 'Piston' Steam box. The basic system will cost $1,000 when it ships, however Xi3 is offering a $100 discount to anyone pre-ordering before March 17. The basic box will feature a 3.2GHz quad-core processor, 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 128GB SSD. A 256GB SSD can also be added for an extra $340, and a 512GB drive for $750. The box is likely to feature up to 12 USB ports, two mini-DisplayPorts and a single HDMI/DisplayPort jack.

The Xi3 'Piston' was very well recieved on its debut at CES this January, but Xi3 declined to provide much information about the specifics. Surprisingly, the press release makes no mention of an affiliation with Steam, who originally helped Xi3 to bring the console to the market. The Steam platform is also not shown in any of the demonstrations Xi3 have given, instead, Xi3 have developed their own interface for playing games. Obviously, the box will still support Steam, but it appears to be unlikely that this will be the main platform for the system.

Source: PCWorld.com

ECS Announces All-In-One G24

ECS has announced a new all-in-one system, the G24. A 23.6" touch screen is the focal point of this Windows 8 system which can track up to ten fingers at once. ECS envisions a wide variety of potential uses for this system including the medical sector and shopping mall kiosks. There are a number of interchangeable Thin Mini-ITX available from ECS that will allow for users to customize their system based on their individual needs. An included hot swap bay provides the ability to easily switch between optical and storage drives.

CyberPower Offering Desktops with NVIDIA Titan GPU

CyberPower didn't waste much time before offering to put the newest GPU from NVIDIA, the GTX Titan, in its desktop PCs. Starting today the Fang III, Zeus, Gamer Xtreme, and Gamer Ultra systems can be configured with the new card. These systems will be pricey, starting at $1699. Users will be able to choose from the AMD FX, Intel X79, and Intel Z77 platforms to pair with the powerful GPU. Systems with the GTX Titan will support NVIDIA 3D Vision and Surround technology and resolutions up to 2560x1600.

Digital Storm's Super-Thin Bolt PC Now Comes with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX Titan

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX Titan has undoubtedly been on a lot of PC gamers' minds, what with its tantalizing promise of being the fastest single GPU solution, according to early impressions. So its no surprise that several custom PC makers are jumping in on the Titan bandwagon, including Digital Storm. What makes this system builder's take interesting is its inclusion of the GTX Titan within its relatively slim Bolt PC, with a chassis that's only 3.6" wide. While that may raise some concerns about airflow, Digital Storm seems to be confident enough about its ventilation system that it should be able to adequately cool the massive card. The chassis itself is designed with spacious vents from its top to rear, core components also benefit from vents, along with an internal air channel helping to keep the PSU cool. It is reported that the Titan-based computer will be built using an Intel Core i7 3770K 3.50 GHz + Asus P8Z77-I Deluxe solution, with the svelte Bolt running on a 500W Digital Storm Certified Gold Rated PSU. 

Source: Techpowerup

CyberPower Announces FangBook X7 Gaming Laptop

CyberPower has announced the addition of a new laptop to its mobile gaming lineup, the FangBook X7. The laptop is powered by an Intel i7-3940XM Extreme Edition CPU and an NVIDIA 680M GPU. This pair of components puts the FangBook ahead of many desktops in power, and ahead of nearly all laptops. A 17.3" 1080p LED screen provides anti-glare viewing while included speakers and subwoofer provide great sound. The system can hold up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of hard drive space. NVIDIA Optimus technology will help to conserve battery life as much as possible with the power hungry components included in the system. The FangBook X7 has a number of starting models with the cheapest option having a base price of $1,299.

Source: CyberPower

Arctic Announces New Barebone HTPC

Arctic is a company that I have primarily known as providing cooling products, but the announcement of a new barebone HTPC system certainly changes my outlook. The MC001-XBMC is a system that was created in conjunction with OpenELEC using the latest XBMC 12 software. The system has a small form factor and is powered by a dual core Intel Atom D525, ATI Mobility Radeon 5430 GPU, and 2GB of DDR3 memory. The XBMC software allows for playback of all major audio and video formats which can be stored on an included 1TB hard drive, and a number of applications are available to use a smartphone as a remote control. The MC001-XBMC will have a special introductory price of $229, while supplies last.

Zotac Updates ZBOX nano XS Series

Zotac is introducing a new model of mini-PC to the ZBOX nano XS series, the XS AD13. The new system features the AMD Brazios 2.0 platform with an E2-1800 APU using a RADEON HD 7340 GPU. The base model is a barebone system while a PLUS option includes 2GB of DDR3 RAM and a 64GB mSATA SSD. The ZBOX nano XS AD13 is compatible with Windows 7 and 8 as well as OpenELEC operating systems.

HP Jumps into Chromebook Market

Hewlett-Packard has announced its first entry into the expanding Chromebook market, the Pavilion Chromebook. Powered by the Internet focused Chrome OS from Google, this device offers a number of similar features to competitors in the market. The HP Chromebook is powered by an Intel Celeron CPU, 16GB of flash storage, and Wi-Fi. The main areas of difference are a mix of good and bad. A 14" screen is the largest on a Chromebook, but the 4.25 hours of battery life put it at the bottom of the pile. The Pavilion Chromebook comes with two years of 100GB Google Drive Cloud Storage and will retail for $330.

Source: Wired

Valve and Xi3's Steam Box Codenamed Piston - One of Several Prototypes at CES

Valve and Xi3 announced to the world that a Steam Box is on the way and will be shown at CES this week. Now, the two have shown off the Piston, one of several Steam Box prototypes at CES. The Piston is based on Xi3's X7A series, and more specifically the performance option that starts at $999. Neither Valve nor Xi3 are discussing the price of the Piston, but I'd have to imagine it'd be considerably less in order to compete with consoles. An entry-level version, the X5A, starts at $499 and runs on Linux, so that could be a potential stepping stone for the Steam Box. The hardware difference between the Piston and X7A was also not discussed, except for Xi3's chief marketing officer, David Politis, saying it'll have up to 1TB of storage and feature the company's modular components. Users will be able to upgrade the CPU and RAM for sure, and it's possible the CPU upgrade will also affect the GPU if something like an AMD A-Series APU is used.

Connectivity options on the Piston are pretty vast, as the prototype features an Ethernet port, audio in/out, S/PDIF out, four USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports with one dedicated solely for keyboards, four eSATAp (eSATA/USB combo) ports, two Mini DisplayPorts, and one DisplayPort/HDMI combo port. Valve has multiple prototypes and some "off-the-shelf PCs" at CES for demonstrations, with the prototypes described by Valve's marketing director, Dave Lombardi, as "low-cost, high-performance designs for the living room that are great candidates for Steam and Big Picture." All of this is potentially big news, so just keep it tuned for more updates.

ZOTAC Announces Third Generation ZBOX Mini-PC at CES

ZOTAC is kicking off its CES reveals with its Third Generation ZBOX mini-PC and its refreshed mobile-on-desktop Second Generation ZBOX mini-PC. The Third Gen ZBOX (ID42) is 7mm bigger than the old one, but ZOTAC says it's "the most substantial evolution of the ZBOX since its introduction three years ago." Network connectivity is covered with dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and dual external WiFi antennas, but the internals are something else. A dual-core Intel processor at 1.1GHz and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 610 GPU combine for a powerful HTPC to decode video streams without dropping a frame. Even OpenEELC and new 10-bit formats like Hi10P are no problem for the Third Gen ZBOX.

The mobile-on-desktop Second Gen ZBOX (ID83) refresh includes an Intel Core i3 3120M CPU and HD 4000 graphics. Those new parts account for up to 75% faster video transcoding than previous generations and more than double the 3D performance of Intel HD 2500 graphics. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet port and 802.11n WiFi for any connection type.

Both ZBOX models come with an HDMI and DVI port, a 4-in-1 card reader, support for up to 16GB of DDR3 SO-DIMMs, and multiple USB ports. The ZBOX ID42 has two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, while the ID83 has four USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. The yellow USB 2.0 ports on each support high-amperage charging to get your devices juiced up faster. There's a barebones version of each ZBOX so you can install your own parts, and a PLUS version that adds in 4GB of RAM and a 500GB 5400RPM hard drive. Each one only supports a single 2.5" hard drive, but the USB 3.0 ports and Ethernet/WiFi allow for more possibilities. An MCE-compatible remote and IR receiver is included with each model, as is a VESA 75/100 mount.

There were no words on pricing and availability for either ZBOX, but expect more information soon.

Stealth Computer Offers a PC Built to Withstand the Harsh Outdoors

Computers are generally fragile things when taken out of the safety of indoor environments, so it's interesting when a company sets out to assemble a PC that manages to withstand extreme outdoor elements. Built by Stealth Computer, the Stealth WPC-525F is a rugged little PC that is sealed enough to keep it waterproof, resistant from chemicals, dust, rain and splash, and has passed the IP67/NEMA 6 environmental specifications. As Stealth's promotional images suggest, apparently the WPC-525F is so tough that it can survive getting run over by a full-sized pickup truck and still remain unscathed and functional. 

At the center of this all-weather PC is an Intel D525 1.8GHz Dual Core CPU, which makes up for its lack of speed with low power consumption and fanless operation. A solid state drive takes care of the storage. The rear of the device includes four USB 2.0 connections, two LAN ports, a VGA, power and serial output, all water-tight thanks to the specially designed connectors which resemble hardware typically used by the military. The Stealth WPC-525F can be installed with Microsoft Windows 7/XP or Linux, depending on the customer's requirements. Complimenting the WPC-525F's outdoor versatility are compatible waterproof keyboards and LCD monitors, with pricing for the basic PC configuration estimated at $1,595.

Lenovo Announces Touchscreen Ultrabook

Last week Gerry Smith, president of Lenovo's North America region, pointed out that the company and industry as a whole had underestimated the demand for touchscreen devices. Lenovo has now officially announced the X1 Carbon Touch, a touchscreen ultrabook running Windows 8. This laptop has similar features to the X1 Carbon with a 14-inch screen, Intel i5 or i7 processors, and weighs half a pound more than its non-touch counterpart. Lenovo estimates that a battery life of just over eight hours is possible. The $1,399 price tag is $150 more than the standard X1 Carbon.

Newell Confirms Valve's Steam Box, the PC for Your Living Room

Valve has previously remained tight-lipped about rumours surrounding the software company's supposed plans to build what's being dubbed as the Steam Box, but apparently the company might be pushing ahead with it. Valve's very own PC for your den (which may very well compete against the likes of living room staples such as the Xbox 360 and PS3) was discussed at some length by Gabe Newell during an interview at the VGAs. Newell noted that the unexepectedly strong consumer response to its TV-centric Big Picture and the strides it made with Linux prompted the possibility of a living-room friendly PC package. 

The Valve co-founder hinted that a version of the Steam Box or a similar contraption could be available by next year. "We’ll do it but we also think other people will as well," he said. But Valve's hardware project may not exactly be the kind of PC that most enthusiasts are used to tinkering with. "Certainly our hardware will be a very controlled environment," Newell said. "If you want more flexibility, you can always buy a more general purpose PC," he added. Now that Valve has confirmed its plans to take over our living room, just how much of a PC is the Steam Box? 

VIA's Artigo A1250 Touted as World's Smallest Quad-Core x86 System

VIA's diminutive Artigo A1250 holds the distinction as a frontrunner for being the world's smallest x68 quad core rig, and looking at its 17.7cm x 12.5cm x 3.0cm dimensions, that statement does hold some merit. The Artigo A1250 is based on a miniscule EPIA-P910 pico-ITX board, and is armed with a VIA QuadCore E-Series processor clocked at 1.0GHz, can handle up to 8GB of DDR3 1333 RAM, has room for one 2.5″ SATA HDD or Flash SSD for storage, along with VIA's own VX11H media system processor with DirectX11 support. With input/output options of HDMI, VGA, 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, GigaLAN, Audio-in/out/mic-in, the device is capable enough to take on a myriad of computing operations - be it for watching movies at home (thanks to its native 3D and HD video support of up to 1080p), performing tasks in an office setup, surveillance, medical and healthcare applications, and many others. At an average rating of 32W TDP, it's also an energy-efficient device. The Artigo A1250's pricing has not yet been announced, although it's possible it could be a bit more expensive than its predecessor, given its more powerful CPU. 

The Digital Storm Bolt PC Packs in Serious Gaming Muscle in a 3.6-Inch Wide Case

Ultimate gaming rigs typically involve full-sized towers and equally space-consuming hardware, but Digital Storm has built a mighty gaming computer that's just about the size of an Xbox 360. This is a desktop that's only 3.6 inches wide and 14 inches tall, but the California-based company has somehow managed to squeeze in some very impressive components into that cramped case. We'd normally expect some form of compromise in such a limited space, but a fully-configured Bolt comes with a GeForce GTX 680, a total of 16 GB RAM, 2 SSDs and a 3.5-inch HD with an optical drive, and a i7-3770K CPU that can be easily overclocked to a blistering clock speed of 4.6GHz.

This no-holds-barred loadout is powered by a 700W PSU and costs around $1,949. However, you can dial down the hardware several notches below by choosing the entry-level Bolt, which comes equipped with a respectable Core i3-2100, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive and GeForce GTX 650 Ti for a wallet-friendlier $999 price. Think the diminutive Digital Storm Bolt has the guts to take on the big boys? Calling Digital Storm's Bolt the world's thinnest gaming PC might be stretching it a bit, but it is by far one of the smallest desktop rigs that can cram in some pretty powerful gaming hardware. 

Raspberry Pi Model B Updated with 512MB RAM, $35 Price Intact

The Raspberry Pi, the crazy affordable and tiny PC, has been making waves as a great alternative for the home theater and modding crowd. Two versions are available, but the 256MB of RAM on the Model B was the source of many complaints. Luckily, the Raspberry Pi Foundation took those complaints in stride and upgraded the Model B with 512MB of RAM without increasing the price. That's right, the 512MB Raspberry Pi Model B is still only $35, and what's more is all current and outstanding orders will receive a free upgrade. Anyone who already has a Model B may be a little saddened to hear their mini PC is a little outdated, but hey, a new one isn't too far out of reach.

CyberpowerPC Announces Pro Gamer FTW Desktop PCs

CyberpowerPC has announced the Pro Gamer FTW PC series, which the company says is "tailored for the seamless integration of gaming and live HD broadcasting." The systems feature plenty of customization options with choices between Intel Sandy Bridge, Intel Ivy Bridge, and AMD FX Bulldozer processors. In addition to the CPU choices, gamers can also choose between NVIDIA Kepler cards or AMD Tahiti GPUs. The inclusion of the AVerMedia Live Gamer HD will allow for capturing and streaming live action in 1080p. The Pro Gamer FTW will be housed in an Azza Genesis 9000 case and will also feature GSkill RipjawX memory and Western Digital Caviar hard drives. The series will feature six different models and starts at a price of $1085.

ECS Announces New All-In-One PCs

ECS has announced a pair of all-in-one PCs, the G24 series. The two models are named Odin and Aura. Based on a Mini-ITX motherboard using the Intel H61 Express chipset, the new PCs pack a lot of functionality into a convenient package. Both feature a 23.6' touch screen with Full HD 1080p resolution that has an HDMI connection. The systems were designed with the Microsoft Windows operating system in mind. Further system specifications weren't available at this time.

Gateway Unveils LT4004U Cedar Trail Netbook

Acer subsidiary Gateway has unveiled its LT4004U netbook based on Intel's Cedar Trail platform. The new netbook is powered by a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N2600 CPU paired with Intel GMA 3600 integrated graphics, 1GB of DDR3 memory and a 250GB hard drive. Other features include an 10.1" 1024x600 LED display and all the standards - a media card reader, webcam, microphone, three USB 2.0 ports, ethernet port and 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN. Battery life is rated up to eight hours and a social networks hotkey gives users easy access to their favourite sites. The Gateway LT4004U netbook weighs 2.7lbs, is 1" thin and is available now at Best Buy for US$279.99.

AVADirect Launches Clevo P270WM Gaming Laptop

Ohio-based custom-computer manufacturer AVADirect has launched its latest gaming laptop dubbed the Clevo P270WM. The new laptop is touted as the 'fastest desktop replacement in the world,' featuring the Intel X79 chipset coupled with Sandy Bridge-E CPUs, such as the Intel Core i7-3960X. In addition to the Intel CPU, the Clevo P270WM packs up to three 9.5mm HDDs or SSDs (optional RAID configuration), up to 32GB of quad channel memory, the latest GPUs such as the NVIDIA GTX 580M 2GB with SLI support, and overclocking support. Other features include an HDMI output, three USB 3.0 ports and a 17.3" Full HD LED display. A backlit keyboard makes typing easy in low-light situations. The AVADirect Clevo P270WM gaming laptop is available for pre-order now, starting from $3000.00. The base model will include the Intel Core i7 3930K processor, NVIDIA GTX 580M 2GB video card, 4GB of DDR3 memory running at 1333MHz, a 750GB hard drive, and will run on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit.

CyberpowerPC Offering Overclocking Warranty Plan from Intel

Intel recently announced its new warranty plan aimed at those of us that like to overclock our CPUs. CyberpowerPC has announced that it is the first manufacturer to offer the Intel Performance Tuning Protection Plan as part its systems. As part of the new plan, a CPU that fails under normal usage will be replaced under the standard warranty, but a CPU that fails while outside of the specifications laid out by Intel will be replaced under the Performance Tuning Protection Plan. CyberpowerPC will offer this with all systems that feature "K" and "X" series Intel processors. The plan is being offered for free in conjunction with Gigabyte to those customers that purchase a Gigabyte Z68 motherboard to go with the Intel processor.

HP Launches Mini 1104 Cedar Trail-based Netbook

HP has launched its latest netbook dubbed the HP Mini 1104. The new netbook is designed for education and business applications, packing in a near full-sized keyboard, up to nine-hours of battery life and a multi-touch trackpad. The Mini 1104 is powered by a dual-core Intel Atom N2600 'Cedar Trail' CPU running at 1.6GHz, up to 2GB of memory and Intel Integrated GMA 3600 graphics. Storage is covered by a 320GB hard drive operating at 5400RPM. Other features include a 10.1" 1024x600 pixel display and a VGA webcam, along with three USB 2.0 ports, a media card reader, a VGA output, an ethernet port, audio in/out ports, a microphone and stereo speakers. WiFi a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0+HS connectivity is included with the option of adding HSPA+ mobile broadband and GPS. The HP Mini runs on either Windows 7 or FreeDOS and will be priced from US$399.

Alienware Announces the X51 - Console-sized Gaming PC

Alienware is known for being a company behind some high-end and high-priced gaming computers, but its latest computer is anything but expensive by its standards. Dubbed the X51, this console-sized gaming PC is more than capable of playing all the latest games for those on a budget. The Alienware X51 has a starting price of $699, and for that chunk of change you get a pretty good starter PC that can handle games. The overall size of the X51 is pretty similar to the original PlayStation 3, with it coming in at 13.5" tall, 12.52" deep, and 3.74" wide. It has a slot-loading disc drive so it can stand veritcally or lay horizontally, and features a matte black case, alien accents, and customizable LED lighting. There will be eight different models on hand, with that base $699 version sporting a dual-core Intel Core i3-2120 at 3.3GHz, 4GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT545.

More expensive models include quad-core Intel Core i5-2320 and Core i7-2600 at 3.0GHz and 3.4GHz, respectively, with up to 8GB of RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GT555 GPUs. The top-end model at $1,199 even includes a Blu-ray drive, so it would have no problem sitting in a home theater setup. Alienware has designed the X51 to be incredibly friendly to user upgrades, with the video card, CPU, motherboard, and RAM being easy to swap out thanks to the custom-built case. All versions of the X51 include integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi, six USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, front audio out, and HDMI and optical out.

The Alienware X51 is available now from Alienware's website. You can get an idea of what each model offers and how much it costs, but for those wanting a small PC that is more than capable of gaming, the X51 would be a welcome option.