14 DAY TRIAL // PC suppliers have an extensive collection of high-performance notebooks that combine the latest in processing, graphics and memory. However, many consumers can't afford to pay the large price required by mobility, which is why they often settle for a desktop instead. Desktops are also easier to customize and have a higher performance potential. However, such large machines aren't exactly easy to take along to a community event.
In order to somehow draw a middle line, producers of gaming rigs are always looking for new ways to make PCs smaller, without impacting on overall performance. This is most easily done through a combination of a micro-ATX motherboard and a small form-factor desktop enclosure. iBuyPower's LAN Warrior is one such product.
The LAN Warrior is, practically, a very strong set of circuits housed inside the Vulcan micro-ATX chassis, which NZXT unveiled just a few days ago. End-users can select between AMD AM3 or Intel P55/X58 platforms, after which they can outfit their beast with up to 24GB of RAM and up to two Radeon HD 5970 cards in CrossFireX or a pair of GeForce GTX 480 in SLI mode. The rig can also include up to 1.28TB of SSD storage or up to 4TB of HDD space, as well as a Blu-ray writer. Finally, the creature is kept running by a power supply of up to 1200W.
“LAN party gamers demand more power than a notebook can deliver but disconnecting and shipping a full tower desktop to an event is a difficult and clumsy endeavor,” Darren Su, vice president of iBuyPower, said. “The LAN Warrior II provides gamers with a more portable solution and is ready to take on any full sized system.”
The so-called portable gaming desktop can be found available for purchase at prices of $749 (AM3), $799 (P55) and $999 (X58).