Cable management is exemplary: Wires snake along the side of the chassis, out of the way. This setup optimizes airflow, which is especially important since the unit is air-cooled, relying on large, quiet fans to keep the overclocked processor in working order.

A chassis this user-friendly--roomy, hassle-free, and offering plenty of room for future upgrades--is usually relegated to higher price brackets. Oh, and the laser-engraved skull is entirely optional, if that isn't your cup of tea.

As is generally the case with boutique vendors, no keyboard or mouse is bundled with the machine. You can order them directly from Maingear if you'd like, but you're generally better off finding a set of peripherals tailored to your particular needs.

The F131 is bundled with a binder full of comprehensive documentation. The machine's build process is catalogued with granular detail, the company's employees signing off at every step. It's a neat personal touch, but more important it makes tracking down the support you might need a bit easier. A pair of games, Street Fighter 4 and Napoleon: Total War, are also included, so you can hit the ground running.

The Maingear F131 is built strictly for gaming, which is at once a blessing and a curse. Its dual-core processor's heady overclock offers impressive general and gaming performance. Should it come time to get some work done, however, you'll probably begin to miss the added headroom that a quad- or hexa-core processor can provide.