MV Ixius

Besides the fast processor and graphics card, there's a speedy 7,200rpm Hitachi 60GB hard disk lurking inside. There's also a nippy dual-layer DVD writer. Amazingly, there's even space for two optical drives, plus a second hard disk set in a RAID configuration if desired.

Outside, you'll find a DVI-I port at the back, which is a sensible inclusion, as well as legacy serial and parallel ports. There are four USB and two mini-FireWire ports on the left of the case, along with S-Video, a 7-in-1 card reader and a Type II PC Card slot. Media buttons run along the front of the case, and there are three shortcut buttons beside the power switch. The only real omission is a hardware switch to control the 802.11b/g wireless LAN card, which augments the Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet and 56K modem connections present.

The Ixius has everything you could want in a desktop replacement. Although it hasn't set any records for 2D grunt, it's still a powerful machine, and nVidia's GeForce Go 6800 ignites 3D performance to give it desktop-like game-crunching ability. It demands a serious financial commitment in return, but upgradability helps future-proof your investment. If you're after ultimate gaming in a tidy box, you currently won't find better.

Author: Roger Kirkwood