Looking for an ultra-compact desktop that doesn't cross into AIO territory? Look no further than Velocity Micro's SmallBlock, a new line of Mini ITX desktop PCs that pushes the smallest footprint as possible without sacrificing aesthetics, performance and cooling. There's even enough room for a full-sized graphics card.
"Inspired by the compact, envy-inducing V8 engines of classic muscle cars, SmallBlock desktops embody the ideals of ultra-performance, expert craftsmanship, and stunning industrial design that Velocity Micro was founded on," the company's announcement boasts.
Currently, the company offers three models: the Edge Z30 SmallBlock enthusiast desktop, the Vector Z15 SmallBlock home/office desktop, and the Promagix HD30 SmallBlock workstation. All three measure 12.75 inches tall, 8 inches wide and 9.1 inches deep, and feature the company's exclusively designed satin black aluminum construction.
The enthusiast model has a choice of five Intel processors: the Core i5-4430 (3.0 GHz, 3.2 GHz Turbo), the i5-4570 (3.2 GHz, 3.6 GHz Turbo), the i5-4670 (3.4 GHz, 3.8 GHz Turbo), the i7-4770 (3.4 GHz, 3.9 GHz Turbo) and the i7-4771 (3.5 GHz, 3.9 GHz Turbo). Graphics options span from Nvidia's GeForce GTX 760 (2 GB) to the AMD Radeon R9 270 (2 GB).
The default configuration for the enthusiast model includes a 430 watt Corsair 80 Plus Bronze certified power supply, the Core i5-4430 processor, 8 GB of Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 memory, the AMD Radeon R7 240 graphics card, on-board 7.1 channel sound, and an Asus H81 Intel chipset mITX motherboard.
"We wanted to create something truly special with this launch and would accept nothing less than perfection," says Randy Copeland, President and CEO of Velocity Micro. "The SmallBlock platform is the culmination of six months of obsessive development and constant refinement from our team. I believe this footprint is the future vision of desktop computing."
The Edge Z30 SmallBlock and the Promagix HD30 SmallBlock has a starting price of $999; the Vector Z15 SmallBlock has a starting price of $749.
