Mini-ITX + Performance Gaming = Impossible?

Haha keep dreaming. Maybe one day this will become a reality but for now its a dream

Maybe not impossible.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813500022
ZOTAC GF9300-D-E LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 9300 HDMI Mini ITX Intel Motherboard
GeForce 9300 onboard video is very nice

Expansion Slots
PCI Express 2.0 x16 1

Well, given your options in video card upgrade, that onboard 9300 is already good!

Zotac ge9300-d-e
lga775 Q9950
4G ram
iceq 4850 video
SS Sugo sg05 case/ps, they claim their 300w PS will handle it and that 9" double cards will fit.

Haven't bought it yet, though may build and use as htpc + light gaming + internet browsing. (4850 is because I'm installing in small entertainment center and am worried about heat and noise).

That I don't know. But, You could add a more powerful video card. My concern is heat.

I bought the mini ITX 9300, 4G Ram (plan to use windows 7 rc), e8400, no video card for now, Sugo 05 case, 640G hard drive. It's for HTPC use in a small enclosure of an entertainment center in a quiet living room. May add a video card for some light gaming in the future depending how hot it gets in there, WAF, and how loud it is. I should receive the equipment this week.

If you weren't concerned about noise levels or heat output, you could put a gaming card in the x16 PCIe slot. It wouldn't be cross-fire-able, but it should work, to a point. I don't see why this wouldn't work for some gaming.

From silverstones web site:
"their notable features include the ability to accept 9 inch long graphics card, room for thicker 2.5 inch hard drives such as Western Digital’s VelociRaptor™, full-height for retail boxed CPU coolers, and an 80 PLUS certified SFX 300W power supply."

Their engineers state that their 300W power supply will support numerous video cards:
(and don't recommend changing their's out either) Graphic card length reference:

* ATI Radeon HD 4850/4830 - 9”
* NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT - 9"
* NVIDIA GeForce 9600GT/GSO - 9"
* NVIDIA GeForce 8800GS/GT/GTS - 9"
* NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 - 9"

Granted you will not have the expansion room of an ATX & case. But in response to the original thread's question: "Mini-ITX + Performance Gaming = Impossible?" I don't see why it couldn't be possible. YMMV and good luck to those who venture forth.

oh, and no, onboard 9300 doesn't come close to a 4850, it might compare to last generations' 8500gt... maybe. They chop the clocks and bandwidth on all integrated options.