Velocity Micro Raptor ES40

A compact PC that mixes it with the big boys

- DAVE JAMES

I LOVE A MINI Pc. There's something compelling and satisfying about a gaming PC with the power of a massive tower condensed into something with a footprint not much larger than a shoebox. Enter the Velocity Micro Raptor ES40 gaming PC, a compact rig with serious punch and a carry handle.

Yes, the custom Velocity Micro NX2 mini-ITX chassis comes with its own pop-out carry handle. That's neat, even if you're more likely to find yourself fiddling around with it (handle goes up, handle goes down) than actually marching around with this PC.

The chassis itself actually feels very Lian-Li, all black brushed aluminum and clean lines, but without the machined edges on which I always end up shredding my fingers. Its toolless design means you can pull both the solid and tempered glass side panels off with ease, and the simple layout makes it easy to get access to the insides for upgrades, etc.