Hardware News Roundup - February 2008

Lian-Li intros 10-slot "CrossFire X" case

High-end case maker Lian-Li has found the solution to adding double slot cards to a motherboard's lowest slot: They've added more slots!

ATX cases have traditionally only supported seven slots, since that's the maximum number of cards supported. But the combination of double-thickness graphics cards and multiple graphics card slots has placed the lowest x16 slot in a motherboards lowest position. This had previously limited the bottom card to single-slot coolers and brackets, with no spare room for "breakout plates" that often support additional audio or I/O headers.

Lian-Li's "Armorsuit" PC-P80 provides a solution by offering a total of ten expansion slots, three of which are located beneath the motherboard's bottom slot position. The company was showing off a customized "CrossFire X" version to grab additional attention.

"Crossfire X" customizations made this PC-P80 a showstopper

A card support bracket and 12-bay external drive cage dominates the interior view

Major features include ten card slots and four liquid-cooling hose grommets

Designed for customization, the standard PC-P80 is available in black