Artwork by Rick Rizner, John Goddard

Falcon Northwest targets gamers on the go with its $2244 FragBox Pro, a small, shoebox-shaped system with a sturdy integrated handle on its top. At 9.5 inches high, 8 inches wide, and 12 inches deep, the FragBox Pro could also be the ideal system for users with cramped desk space.

This small, 14-pound system uses a 2.66-GHz or 2.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU; our test unit came with the latter and 1GB of RAM. That combo was enough to push the FragBox Pro to a score of 123 in our PC WorldBench 4 tests, a result that put it in line with systems of a similar configuration. The BFG Asylum GeForce FX5950 Ultra graphics card with 256MB of RAM turned in above-average frame rates. All in all, it's a sprightly system, packing considerable power despite its compact dimensions.

The FragBox Pro doesn't provide much room for expansion. To get inside the case, we had to use a screwdriver to remove two of its sides. Only one 3-inch internal drive bay was open, for an extra hard drive; a rewritable DVD drive and a floppy drive occupied the other two bays. As expected, the inside of the system was cramped. Both RAM slots were already occupied by two 512MB modules in our model. Removing or adding modules requires opening both sides of the case so that you can get your hands inside to pull or push on the modules in their slots.

On the other hand, the FragBox Pro squeezes a surprising number of standard ports into its diminutive body. Six USB 2.0 ports (two on the front and four in the back) and two FireWire ports (both located on the back) ensure easy hookup of peripherals. Other audio and video ports (including one for S-Video and an optical in/out for digital audio) occupy both the front and back. A set of Creative Inspire T2900 speakers provides great sound, especially considering that the satellite speakers are quite small.

Our FragBox Pro came with a black 15-inch NEC LCD1560V-BK monitor, which delivered excellent image quality on both text and graphics. The Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard that Falcon sends with the system compliment it nicely, cutting down cable clutter and giving you a little untethered freedom.

Users who want a small system but don't want to compromise on power will find the FragBox Pro ideal.

Artwork by Rick Rizner, John Goddard

Photograph by Rick Rizner

Photograph by Rick Rizner