if you want a "Smaller" Core i7 system, the mini P180 is an amazing case. I have that with a Rampage II GENE as well as i7 920 and 6gb Dominator. The only thing is that in that case you have to choose between more hard drives, OR more fans, because the hard drive cages have to be removed to add intake fans. I just have a main drive in a scythe 5.25" to 3.5" adapter in the top optical drive bay. This case - with the hard drive cages removed - fits any graphics card on the market, with about 1.5" to spare as well as a TRUE for the cpu cooling (can accomodate water cooling as well depending on the system you go with). I went insane on fans though, 2 scythe s-flex 120 on the TRUE, 2 intakes, and 1 exhaust, all the fastest S-Flex model. SO, my system is somewhat loud, but with other fans, or just less of them, you can have an amazing low noise and high power system. I currently have 2x 4850 and a PhysX card, but you can do 2 GTX295 or 2x 4870x2 if you wanted. Bottom space can take a 1kW powersupply fine as long as you remove the bottom dust filter (not really needed anyway). Although, for a mATX only case, I guess it is a little large, still shorter than full tower.
Just my 2 cents.