Shuttle's small-form-factor J3 5800G gaming PC can handle Intel Gulftown processor, Nvidia Fermi graphics cards

Who says you need a massive desktop tower to handle the latest high-performance PC components? Shuttle wants to prove that less is more with its newest small-form-factor PC, the J3 5800G. This diminutive gaming computer can not only pack the latest Intel Core i7 processors, but can also take the newest Nvidia graphics boards.

For the starting $1,899 configuration, you get an i7-920 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, DVD burner, and decidedly mediocre Nvidia GeForce 9500GT graphics card. Things get more interesting when you dig deeper into your pocket, however. For a mere $1,070 more you can equip the gaming computer with the six-core i7-980X Extreme chip, while an additional $700 can score you the new GeForce GTX 480. (Cheapskates can get the GTX 470 for "just" $480.) You can also fill up the second hard drive bay and/or upgrade to a Blu-ray drive.

Being able to cram these parts into a comparatively small footprint holds great appeal, as evidenced by the fact that the initial batch of J3 5800Gs has already sold out. But one major sticking point remains: How the hell do you keep it cool? Stuff a Fermi graphics card in there, crank up that six-core processor, and you're generating a lot of heat and not much room for it to dissipate. It could make your extreme dreams a little less extreme.