Siggy Moersch

The use of a KVM switch to operate several PCs with a single keyboard, mouse and monitor has grown from a niche application limited in scope to devices that now offer DVI connections, dual VGA support and other options.

On its second try, AOpen has succeeded in making the XC Cube EX915-T quieter. Equipped with a new motherboard and CPU fan, this barebone is suitable for a quiet working environment.

A multimedia PC is only accepted in the living room if it has the look of hi-fi equipment. THG introduces four such HTPC cases, and the toys that go with it like remote controls with special operating software for the sofa, motherboards and quiet cooling systems.

The iMON series from SoundGraph lets you equip any computer with a simple-to-use multimedia remote control. You can enjoy all of your PC's functionality from the comfort of your sofa.

Looks count for more when the performance is there. This article provides a detailed look at solutions for under-lit PCs.

Shuttle's ambitions to remain the leading SFF barebone PC vendor are abundantly clear: its two latest machines are fully loaded with the latest CPU, chipset and motherboard technologies and offer users the option to build either an AMD or Intel powered computer. But of course that is only half of the story.

Skyhawk's ICM-6375 offers all the requisite fundamental features in its ambitious small form factor PC debut. But in this cut-throat market dominated by Shuttle, it's the window dressing that really counts. We see how well ICM-6375 goes the extra mile for CPU compatibility, quiet fans and other value adds.

Midi tower PC buyers now expect a lot more from their case than just a box in which to put their motherboard, power supply unit and other components. We review 13 cases and gauge the value-add they offer in the way size, shape and features.

AOpen has launched a small form factor PC with Intel's mobile Pentium-M CPU and a new ventilation design. Is this the formula to overcome nagging heat and noise issues?

Lugging your gear to a LAN party is hard enough without having to worry about loose PCI and AGP cards. But Cardkeeper, its vendor says, keeps everything snug and tight.

Small form factor PCs can easily blend into the background of any room in a home or office. But if fan noises are a concern, some of our test candidates with Pentium 4s inside might not necessarily make a good fit.

The USB stick from Radix lets you "time travel" back into the history of any Windows system. The operating system can be restored to a previously-saved "snapshot" of your choosing within 30 seconds. PCI versions are also available.

Older chipsets don't have to land in the garbage dump. The XPC offers a clever combination of the i875P and the new Socket 775 for the latest Prescott processors.

A nifty design isn't the only thing this small form-factor PC has going for it: A very clever heat management solution renders the KL-I915a nearly noiseless. Should Shuttle and other top-gun makers be worried?

Tired of your tower PC wasting more space than you have, but want more freedom than a Mini-PC can offer? We gave eight MicroATX cases a try that offered a form-factor size somewhere in between tower PC cases and small form-factor PC.

A fan controller that boosts the mod potential of your PC? mCubed's T-Balancer does just that and helps get the job done in the war against PC fan noise pollution. But software glitches and setup weren't always pretty.

It's a question of taste: aristocratic, or eccentric and extravagant? Today brushed aluminum and illuminated monster cases court buyers. We let representatives of both factions strut their stuff.

Case makers seek to add value by implementing digital control displays while improving design and functionality. However, THG tests show that disparities exist in the quality of the final product among some of the eight new miditower cases.

Who said that only barebones can come in a cube format? The extravagant and attractive U2UFO PC chassis by Mountain Mods reaches new dimensions.

Cooler Master's power supply Real Power boasts a whole string of innovative features. For starters, it has an external wattage display, and then there's the user-friendly peripheral connector.

The small cube-shaped barebone PCs continue to emerge in a growing number of living rooms as sleekly designed personal video recorders (PVR) and DVD players. However, loud fan noise pollution is too often a necessary evil.

Traditional power supplies are overflowing with plugs, connectors and cables. In everyday use, however, only a small portion of them is actually used. Now, Antec has come out with a model that lets users decide which cables they need, which should make for better organization inside the PC case.

Aopen's XC Cube Barebones is unbeatable design- and feature-wise. With a Linux OS that comes included, five seconds are all you need to get the DVD player, TV/radio tuner and other goodies up and running.

Shuttle's new XPC SB81P Barebones for Socket 775 with PCI Express manages to impress, even though it is still in the pre-launch stage of its development. A new type of cooling system keeps the unit cool, despite its small housing, while a reasonably low noise level is maintained.

Open-E has debuted a flash module with an IDE interface for almost-instant NAS storage on x86 PCs or servers. Setup is done with a Web browser in about five minutes. Can high-powered NAS storage really be that easy?