Do you dare put Super Pipes in Corsair's Super Tower

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 23, 2013 - 08:00 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, obsidian, Obsidian 990D, super tower

If you are looking for a housing for a super system, Corsair's monumental new Obsidian 900D, aka Super Tower, might be for you.  The midget in the picture below is the 200R mid-tower, cowering in front of the 40lb, 27.3"H x 10"W x 25.6"L 900D.  Triple TITANS and terabytes of storage are nothing to this case, it will swallow them and leave plenty of elbow room for you to tweak a fully installed system.  You really have to read [H]ard|OCP's full review to understand just how many features have been added to this case; certainly enough to win it a Gold Award.

"Corsair is finally pulling back the review embargo sheets on its new "Super Tower" 900D PC case. Details and pictures have been leaking out for months, but now we finally get to see if all the hype is justified. If you are wondering what a "super tower" is, well let's just say there will be a lot of desks that the 900D will not fit under."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

• Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Enermax Ostrog Giant Mid-Tower @ Tweaktown
• Thermaltake Chaser A31 @ FunkyKit
• Fractal Design ARC Midi R2 Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Lian Li PC-7HX @ eTeknix
• Corsair Obsidian 900D 'Godzilla' Full Tower PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews
• Iron Man Helment Case Mod @ Modders-Inc
• Thermaltake A31 Chassis @ eTeknix
• InWin GT1 Mid-Tower Chassis @ Tweaktown
• NZXT Phantom 630 @ Modders-Inc
• Cooler Master Storm Power-RX @ LanOC Reviews
• Thermaltake A 41 Chaser Chassis @ eTeknix
• Case Smithing: Personalized Acrylic Etching and Engraving @ Tweaktown
• Fractal Design Define Mini Case Review @ AnandTech
• Affordable Gaming Cases: Corsair Carbide 200R and Thermaltake Chaser A41 @ X-Bit Labs
• SilverStone AP123 120mm Case Fan @ eTeknix
• Antec Kuhler H2O 1220 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Antec Kuhler 1220 H20 Watercooling kit @ Rbmods
• Swiftech H220 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Cooler Master Eisberg Prestige 240L @ Kitguru
• Noctua NH-U12S CPU cooler @ Hardwareoverclock
• Noctua NH-U12S CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Thermaltake NiC C5 Untouchable Cool CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Thermaltake NiC C5 Untouchable CPU Cooler Review @ NikKTech
• Scythe ASHURA CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps
• GELID Solutions The Black Edition @ techPowerUp

Corsair Adds Dolby Support to Vengeance 2000 Gaming Headset with Free Software Driver

Subject: General Tech | March 27, 2013 - 12:47 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: vengeance 2000, corsair, gaming headset, dolby, audio

Corsair is offering a way to add even more to their Vengeance 2000 wireless gaming headset.  They have a brushed aluminum headband, 50mm drivers and microfiber earcups, plus have the benefit of being completely wireless but now they can also support two new Dolby features thanks to a driver update.  Get more from your headset for free from Corsair, or pick up a pair for $100 if you are in the market for new headphones.

Fremont, California — March 27, 2013 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the release of a free software driver update which adds Dolby Headphone 2.0 and Dolby Pro Logic IIx to the Vengeance 2000 wireless gaming headset. The addition of Dolby Headphone to the Vengeance 2000 improves both surround sound quality and game compatibility. The software driver is immediately available for download www.corsair.com.

Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset: Untethered gaming with amazing audio fidelity
The Vengeance 2000 7.1 Wireless gaming headset uses rock-solid 2.4GHz wireless that frees and untangles gamers with battery life up to ten hours and a range up to 40 feet. Whether it’s a 5.1 or 7.1 audio source, the headset’s optimized HRTF positional audio technology gives gamers an edge with precise information about the location of opponents. The Vengeance 2000 also features custom-engineered 50mm drivers and careful acoustic tuning for audiophile-grade sound with superior clarity and tight bass response. For immersive audio and hours-long comfort the Vengeance 2000 employs circumaural, micro-fiber memory foam earpads and a padded headband. The high-sensitivity, noise-cancelling microphone increases effective team play. The headset comes with a Micro-USB charge cable that can also provide power if the battery runs low.

Dolby Headphone 2.0 and Dolby Pro Logic IIx
Dolby Headphone is a revolutionary signal processing technology that delivers up to 7.1-channel surround sound over headphones for richer, more spacious headphone audio. Dolby Pro Logic IIx processes native stereo- and 5.1-channel material to produce 6.1 or 7.1 output channels.

The new Vengeance 2000 software driver is available for download on the Vengeance 2000 product page on Corsair.com.

Corsair Announces Vengeance K70 Fully Mechanical Gaming Keyboard with Key-by-Key Backlighting

Subject: General Tech | March 21, 2013 - 12:49 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Vengeance K70, corsair, cherry mx red

FREMONT, California — March 21, 2013 — Corsair, a worldwide designer of high-performance PC gaming peripherals, today announced the Vengeance K70 fully mechanical gaming keyboard.

The new Vengeance K70 gaming keyboard is built on a rugged, brushed, aluminum chassis and features highly responsive Cherry MX Red mechanical switches under every key. The high performance switches combined with the keyboard's 100% anti-ghosted matrix, 20-key rollover and 1000Hz reporting rate provide fast, accurate input for gaming.

The Vengeance K70 gaming keyboards are available in two color schemes: silver aluminum with blue backlighting, and anodized black with deep red backlighting. Overall backlighting can be adjusted to four levels of intensity and each key is individually backlit, enabling the lighting for each key to be independently enabled or disabled. The key-by-key lighting customization allows users to highlight just the keys they need to emphasize and then save the setting directly to the K70's onboard memory. In addition, the Vengeance K70 comes with alternate colored, contoured keycaps for the WASD and 1-6 keycaps to allow additional customization.

"When we launched the Vengeance K60, customers loved the look and quality, but some wanted a backlit version," said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and General Manager of the Peripherals Business Unit at Corsair. "In typical Corsair fashion, we over-delivered and created Vengeance K70 with key-by-key backlighting, mechanical switches on every key, and two color schemes."

The Vengeance K70 also features dedicated multimedia controls to allow users to play, stop, pause, skip tracks and adjust volume. An extra USB connector is provided for attaching to USB devices such as a Vengeance gaming mouse or headset. A removeable soft-touch wrist rest provides comfort for long gaming or typing sessions.

See Vengeance K70 at PAX East from March 22-24

The Vengeance K70 keyboard will make its public debut at Corsair's booth at PAX East in Boston from March 22-24. Corsair is located in booth 1062.

Pricing and Availability
The Corsair Vengeance K70 will be available in April at suggested price of $129.99.

Corsair Unleashes Vengeance Extreme, the World's Fastest Rated PC Memory Kits

Subject: Memory | March 14, 2013 - 04:13 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: DDR3-3000, corsair, Vengeance Extreme, dual channel

Corsair is taking Xtreme Memory Profiles to the next level with an extremely limited release of DDR3-3000 2x4GB kits, for the low, low price of $750.  They list two motherboard with BIOSes capable of hitting that speed and perhaps higher for those willing to move to exotic cooling solutions using the included cooler.  The 1.65V is high but not insane, possibly due to the timings of 12-14-14-36 but you will probably need to up the power if you are intending on pushing these DIMMs past 3GHz.  You can try to pick them up directly from Corsair.

FREMONT, California — March 14, 2013 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC hardware market, today announced new Vengeance Extreme 8GB dual-channel DDR3 memory kits rated at 3000MHz, the world's fastest rated production PC memory kits. Fitted with low profile "racing red" heat spreaders, the new 2x4GB memory kits operate at 3000MHz air-cooled, with latency settings of 12-14-14-36, at 1.65V. A Kingpin Cooling memory cooler is included for overclockers who want to use LN2 (liquid nitrogen) to reach memory speeds well beyond 3000MHz.

The extreme-speed 3000MHz rating of the Vengeance Extreme memory kits is the result of a rigorous internal four-stage hand-screening process performed by Corsair engineers. This process is passed by fewer than one in 50 memory ICs. Performance qualification is performed on select Intel Z77 based motherboards, including the ASUS P8Z77-I DELUXE and ASRock Z77 OC Formula. To hit their rated speeds, the modules require a 3rd Generation Intel Core unlocked processor with an Integrated Memory Controller capable of running 3000MHz.

“We are focused on helping enthusiasts and overclockers push the boundaries of PC performance," said Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. “Our engineering team's hard work has led to new performance optimization techniques for memory, which we are pleased to debut in our new Vengeance Extreme memory."

Pricing and Availability
The Vengeance Extreme 3000MHz 8GB memory kits are priced at $749.99 USD and will be available exclusively from Corsair.com in March. Quantities of these hand-built modules will be extremely limited.

Is bigger better for Corsair's self-contained watercoolers

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 4, 2013 - 01:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: watercooling, corsair, H90, H110, 140mm

The Corsair H90 and H110 use larger 140mm fans with 140mm and and 280mm radiators respectively.  [H]ard|OCP compared them to also relatively recent H100i and H80i, 120mm based coolers that are controllable with Corsair's LINK technology.  The comparison was rather favourable for the new 140mm coolers, with both new models beating the H100i at stocks speeds and beating their respective cousins on an overclocked chip; perhaps more importantly these two models did so with noticeably reduced sound levels.  If you need serious cooling and aren't crazy about noise, these two coolers should be on your list.

"Corsair, once known only for quality enthusiast RAM modules, has successfully diversified its products reaching into cases, power supplies, processor cooling solutions. With the release of the H90 and H110 Hydro Series, we see the first new refresh in its closed loop liquid cooling systems."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

• Corsair Hydro Series H90 Review @ OCC
• Corsair H110 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Thermalright AXP-100 Low-Profile CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Corsair H90 and H110 CPU Cooler Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 @ eTeknix
• Deepcool FROSTWIN CPU Cooler Review: Overclocking on a Budget @ X-bit Labs
• Cooler Master Seidon 240M CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Noctua Low Profile Heatsinks @ Bjorn3D
• DeepCool IceBlade Pro V2.0 Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
• Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile Cpu Cooler @ Rbmods
• Evercool Venti CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• BitFenix Spectre Pro PWM and Spectre LED PWM Fan @ eTeknix
• Aerocool Strike-X X-1000 Fan Controller @ eTeknix
• CoolerMaster HAF XB @ FunkyKit
• Aerocool Strike-X Air @ Kitguru
• Fractal Design Node 304 @ LanOC Reviews
• Shuttle Barebone DS61 Review @ Madshrimps
• Cooler Master HAF XB LAN Box @ Modders-Inc
• Nox Xtreme Coolbay VX @ techPowerUp
• BitFenix Raider Case Review: All These Little Things @ AnandTech
• Fractal Design Define R4 @ LanOC Reviews
• Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Lian Li PC-7HX @ LanOC Reviews
• Thermaltake Armor Revo Full-Tower @ Funkykit
• Silverstone Raven 3 @ LanOC Reviews
• AZZA Silentium 920B Mid-Tower Chassis @ Tweaktown
• Silverstone SUGO SG09 Small Form Factor Chassis @ eTeknix

Corsair updates their self contained watercoolers and not just with an 'i' at the end

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 13, 2013 - 07:20 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, Hydro Series, H80i, H100i, watercooling, Corsair Link

The updated Hydro Series coolers, the H80i and H100i both feature all new tubing that might not be much more flexible than the previous models but offers improved flow rates.  As well these coolers are now able to be controlled via Corsair's Link technology, allowing you to either set the LED colour displayed or to use it as a real time temperature indicator.  As you would suspect the H100i is the larger of the two units, the H80i being 120 x 38 x 152mm and the H100i measuring 275 x 120mm x  27mm with both supporting up to four fans via the Link software.  [H]ard|OCP saw an improvement from the previous models which you can read about in their full review.

"Corsair updates its aging H80 and H100 performance liquid CPU coolers, with the new H80i and H100i models. Changes include a new cold plate design, smooth outer diameter no-kink tubing designed to further limit evaporation, and newer designed fans claiming better static pressures, and quieter operation."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

• NZXT Kraken X60 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• NZXT Kraken X60 @ Kitguru
• NZXT Kraken X40 & X60 CPU Coolers Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Cooler Master Seidon 120M Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• ilverStone NT01 Pro Low Profile HTPC CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Evercool Silent Shark CPU Cooler Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Thermalright Goes All In: SilverArrow SB-E Extreme Super-Cooler @ X-bit Labs
• Corsair H100i CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Noctua NF-A Series 140mm Fan Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Xigmatek Asgard 381 @ techPowerUp
• Enermax Ostrog Midi Tower PC Case Review @ NikKTech
• NZXT Phantom 820 Tower Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
• AZZA Silentium 920 Quiet Case Review @ Pro-Clockers
• Zalman MS800 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Cooler Master HAF XB Mid-Tower @ Kitguru
• SilverStone Redline RL04 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Silverstone Redline Series RL04 Chassis Review @ Pro-Clockers
• Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 Mid-Tower Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Silverstone Sugo Pack @ LanOC Reviews
• Cougar Spike Mini Gaming Case Review @ Pro-Clockers

Corsair Acquires Simple Audio: Aggressive Expansion into New Markets

Subject: General Tech | February 11, 2013 - 03:57 PM | Josh Walrath
Tagged: streaming, Simple Audio, Roomplayer, networking, corsair, audio

Corsair sure does like to expand upon their product base.  The company was founded in 1994 and produced only memory for quite a few years.  The past five years have seen tremendous growth from the company in terms of SSDs, cases, power supplies, and high end cooling solutions.  Corsair also dabbled in sound with a line of successful speakers (though these have not been updated in some time).  Corsair is again making another move, but this time with an aime to deliver content around the entire house.

The front of the Roomplayer II is rather bland, but it should hide itself well in nearly any decor.

Simple Audio is a Scottish based company (if it isn't Scottish it's crap!) that designs and sells multimedia streaming solutions.  The hardware is the Roomplayer 1 and Roomplayer II units which are high definition media players that are either amplified (forconnecting directly to speakers) or non-amplified to connect to current stereo and home theater systems.  Audio is broadcast to these units from iOS enabled devices or PC and Mac computers via software provided by Simple Audio.

Corsair has acquired Simple Audio in a multi-million dollar transaction, but we do not have exact numbers due to Corsair being a privately owned company.  From my understanding these products will still carry the Simple Audio name, but Corsair will be the parent company and will distribute the products throughout Asia and North America (two areas that Simple Audio currently does not support).

The back of the Roomplayer I is much more interesting as it has a 50 watt amplifier built-in so it can power speakers independently.

The Roomplayer solutions are apparently quite easy to hook up and their output is very clean (supports up to 24 bit sound natively).  As the average consumer is becoming more and more comfortable with setting up a home network, this is an opportunity for both Corsair and Simple Audio to market these products in new regions where overall market penetration of networked home audio is still quite low.

Corsair is a very, very aggressive company when it comes to entering new markets.  Their power supplies and cases are perfect examples of how they tend to do business.  Corsair actually produces neither of those product lines, but instead relies on contract manufacturing to handle production.  What Corsair certainly appears to do well is specify these components very well and handle end product quality control.  There really are few overall complaints about Corsair and their products, and as a consumer I do hope that they have another good one on their hands.

The sales numbers will of course be key, and obviously Corsair feels comfortable enough with Simple Audio and their products to buy them up.  We are not certain when we expect to see the Simple Audio products on store shelves, but Corsair typically does not screw around.

Now we only have to wonder, "Who is next on Corsair's radar?"