Connectivity options abound. Hidden behind a panel on the face of the machine are four USB ports and 1 FireWire port, along with the headphone and microphone jacks. The aforementioned multiformat card reader offers a fifth USB port.

On the rear, you'll find a Serial PS/2 keyboard and mouse combo port, dual gigabit ethernet ports, a pair of eSata ports, 7.1 analog and optical audio ports, a Bluetooth receiver, and a whipping eight USB 3.0 ports, making this one of the first machines we've reviewed that's focused on next-gen connectivity. The graphics cards offer a total of six DVI ports, and three Mini-HDMI ports.

Origin's updated Genesis outpaces Maingear's $8000 in general performance, and price. But that's largely a testament to the impressive performance we've seen out of Intel's Sandy Bridge offerings. And when you don't have a $1000 Core i7-980X CPU or a custom paint job on your balance sheet, you can afford to lower costs -- or in Origin's case, add more RAM and an internal light show. But despite being the first of many Sandy Bridge desktops to pass through our gates, you can bet that this behemoth won't be bested any time soon.