Friday, June 18, 2010

Shuttle releases new compact gaming rig, J3-5800G


Although E3 news is overwhelmingly comprised of console updates, accessories and software titles, the year's biggest video game conference inevitably calls PC makers and peripheral companies out to play. As such, Shuttle has taken the opportunity to roll out a new gaming rig, which supposedly already has enthusiasts, scientists, and corporate execs lining up.

The J3-5800G can be filled with your choice of a quad or hexa-core Intel Core i7 processor, GPUs ranging from the GeForce 9500GT to the GTX 480, and 4GB or 8GB of DDR3 RAM (16GB is supported but not sold by Shuttle it seems). You can add up to two storage drives with several mechanical and solid-state options available, as well as a DVD burner, Blu-ray reader or writer.

I/O includes dual gigabit Ethernet, 10 USB 2.0 ports (one eSATA combo), a 4-in-1 card reader, and an optional wireless antenna. All of that and more is packed into a chassis measuring 8.5 x 7.5 x 13.1 inches. By comparison, the popular full tower HAF 932 is 21.5 x 9 x 22.5 inches, and the mid-tower HAF 922 is 19.7 x 10 x 22.2 inches.

The J3-5800G is currently listed on Shuttle's online store with a starting price of $1,900 – and the luxuries add up quick. For example, a GTX 470 or 480 tacks on $480-$700.