Triathlor? Seriously Enermax?

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 25, 2013 - 06:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, enermax, TriAthlor, 650W

Platimax, Triathlor and NAXN; perhaps Enermax is not gifted at picking names for their PSUs but for the most part they are known for creating solid PSUs which do the job they are intended to.  Setting aside the name, this 650W mostly modular PSU has four 12V rails that combine to a peak of 54A, 648W which is certainly enough to power a modest multi-GPU system.  [H]ard|OCP put it through their own special brand of torture and were pleased with the results, a pass on all of their testing albeit results which trail the competitions offerings.  That keeps this PSU in the running as far as performance but at a current cost of $120 and perhaps higher in the future, it is hard to recommend this PSU over ones that do not cost as much and provide power of a quality at least equal to if not better than the Triathlor.

"Today we bring you an "athletic" power supply from Enermax that weighs in at 650 watts. The new Triathlor series sports plenty of features that enthusiasts will like including Silent Cooling, Flexible Cable Management, is marketed as being Rock Stable at All Loads. Enermax ads that, "The Triathlor FC is not a blinky poser."

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

CASES & COOLING

• Corsair CX Series Modular CX600M 600 W @ techPowerUp
• Enermax Platimax 1350w Modular Power Supply @ FunkyKit
• Rosewill SilentNight 500-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
• PC Power and Cooling Silencer MK III 750W Power Supply Review @Hi Tech Legion
• Rosewill Fortress 750-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
• Enermax Triathlor FC 650-Watt 80 PLUS Bronze @ Tweaktown
• Corsair AX1200 Fully-Modular 1200W Power Supply Review @ ModSynergy
• Corsair AX and AXi Series Power Supplies Review: Small Letter Big Difference @ X-bit Labs
• Cooler Master V Series 1000 W @ techPowerUp
• Antec Mobile Products A.M.P. Mobile Power Roundup @ eTeknix

Corsair Goes Small with Obsidian Series 350D Micro ATX PC Case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 25, 2013 - 02:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: SFF, Obsidian Series 350D, obsidian, corsair

Fremont, California — April 25, 2013 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components, today announced the Obsidian Series 350D High Performance Micro ATX PC case. Available with a solid or windowed side panel, the Obsidian Series 350D brings unprecedented expansion and cooling options to smaller, more portable, high-performance PCs.

Like larger cases in the premium Obsidian Series line, the Obsidian Series 350D sports a clean, black, brushed-aluminum styling. The case is also designed for fast and neat builds with tool-free access and drive installation as well as an innovative cable routing system.

The Obsidian Series 350D case supports both Micro ATX and mini ITX motherboards and has plenty of interior space for liquid CPU cooling, dual 3.5” hard drives, dual 2.5” SSDs, dual 5.25” drives, and dual full-length graphics cards. It also has five expansion slots and five fan mounting points with room for two 240mm radiators. The front panel provides convenient access to USB 3.0 and audio connectors.

“The Obsidian 350D’s versatile expansion options give builders the ability to pack a lot of performance into a smaller form factor,” said Thi La, Senior VP & GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. “Its stylish, compact design makes it a perfect high-performance PC case for smaller living spaces or for gaming LAN parties.”

The MSRP is $109.99.

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

NZXT's New "Grid" Hub Can Consolidate Up To 10 Case Fans

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 19, 2013 - 08:46 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: nzxt, case fan, fan controller, fan hub, cooling, grid

NZXT has announced that it is making its Grid fan hub available to the masses. No longer only available with certain NZXT cases, the Grid fan hub takes a single Molex power cable and provides 3-pin power outputs for up to ten fans.

The NZXT kit will come with the Grid hub, a 200mm long Molex power adapter, a single 200mm long (3-pin) female-to-female adapter cable, and two 200mm (3-pin) fan extension cables. NZXT is also including five black cable ties to assist with cable management.

Unfortunately, the Grid does not provide functionality to allow adjustable fan speeds. All fans connected to the Grid hub will run at 100% unless other means (such as resistors) are used inline to slow them down. If you only care for speed, and are in a situation where your motherboard does not support enough fan headers but you cannot justify a full fan controller the Grid might be for you. For the price, it is serviceable in that regard.

Speaking of pricing, the Grid fan hub will be available soon with a MSRP of $11.99. More information is available on NZXT's product page.

Is the Grid something that you could see yourself using?

Lian-Li Launching Two New Mini-ITX Cases In May

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 19, 2013 - 07:03 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: PC-Q28, PC-Q27, mini-itx, Lian Li, aluminum case

PC Chassis manufacturer Lian-Li has launched two new mini-ITX cases that will be available next month. The PC-Q27 and PC-Q28 are both brushed aluminum cases that accommodate a single graphics card, a mini-ITX motherboard, at least one case fan, and several hard drives.

The PC-Q27 is the smallest of the two cases at 7.8” x 11.8” x 9.4.” The case is constructed of aluminum and the outside features a black or silver brushed aluminum finish. The front of the case features a single 5.25” optical drive bay, a LED-lit power button, and two USB 3.0 ports on the right side of the case. Internally, the PC-Q27 case uses Lian-Li’s rail motherboard mounting system for mini-ITX boards. It can host a single graphics card up to 195mm in length, two 3.5” hard drives, and one 5.25” drive. The case is cooled by a single 120mm bottom-mounted fan when the hard disk drive bay is removed. To facilitate airflow, the case has vents along the bottom and rear of the case. The case is held up by case feet to allow the fan to pull in cool air.

Meanwhile, the PC-Q28 is a bit larger and wider at 8.9” x 12” x 13.5.” IT also comes in a silver or black brushed aluminum design. This case is the successor to Lian-Li’s PC-Q18. It can hold a mini-ITX motherboard, a single GPU up to 290mm in length, and up to seven 3.5” hard drives. The mini-ITX case features two removable hard drive cages and two fans. There is a single 140mm fan located on the bottom of the case that acts as an intake (and includes a dust filter to keep the case internals clean), and one 120mm exhaust fan on the top of the case. The outside of the case features four case feet to lift the case off the ground, rounded corners, and a simple front panel that host a power button and 5.25” drive bay. The right side of the case hosts two USB 3.0 ports and two analog HD audio jacks.

Both of Lian-Li’s new mini-ITX cases will be available sometime in May. The smaller PC-Q27 has an MSRP of $78.99 while the PC-Q28 will cost $118.99.

Read more about the Mini-ITX form factor at PC Perspective!

The upper echelon of the Seasonic X-Series, 850W of solid power

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 15, 2013 - 06:54 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: seasonic, Seasonic X-Series, 850W, PSU, modular psu

One drawback to impressing [H]ard|OCP with the quality of one of your PSUs is that the bar is now set that much higher for the next model they review.  Seasonic is one such company that has a great reputation that they have to live up to with their new X-850 PSU.  The half dozen PCIe 6+2 power plugs are a good start, as is being able to provide up to 99% of total power to the four 12V rails and the fully modular cabling is always appreciated.  The real question is how it fared on the test bench, so go find out if it just makes it or if it passes the torture test with flying colours.

Seasonic is a long time favorite of HardOCP editors as you will find a Seasonic PSU in many builds we have done over the years. Today Seasonic pushes its X-Series forward just a bit more building its first gold efficiency rated fully modular enthusiast power supply. But will it blend?"

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

CASES & COOLING

• Silverstone Strider Essential ST50F-ES 500 W @ techPowerUp
• Corsair CX430M Modular Power Supply Review - What $25 Can Buy @ Legit Reviews
• Corsair Builder Series Modular CX600M @ Kitguru
• Fractal Design Newton R3 1000 Watt 80-PLUS Platinum Power Supply Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• In Win Commander III 700W Power Supply Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Enermax NAXN ADV 650-Watt 80 PLUS Bronze Power Supply @ Tweaktown
• Compact Power: Review of Five Low-Profile PSUs from Seasonic and Enhance @ X-bit Labs
• Fractal Design Integra R2 650W Power Supply Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• CyberPower PR1500ELCDRTXL2U Professional Rackmount Series UPS Review @ NikKTech

Cooler Master's super-sized Storm Stryker case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 12, 2013 - 02:53 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: cooler master, Storm Stryker, XL-ATX

If you need a case with space consider this member of the Storm family, the CM Storm Stryker XL-ATX case.  At 250x605x578mm (9.8x23.8x22.8") it will not fit under every desk but will hold a significant amount of hardware, you can fit up to 13 drives depending on the configuration of the HDD cages and it sports 9 add-in card slots on the back.  With fans on both the top and the bottom of the case, you could easily attach a radiator to the case or make do with great airflow if you do not desire to watercool.  Modders Inc was not only impressed by the brilliant white finish, they could not find a single bad thing to say about this case.

"The modular hard drive case setup was a great bonus to find when diving further into the case. These features, plus the fan controller, cable grip holder, and all the included fans that provide a constant flow of cooling air through the case really makes the CM Storm Stryker a well desired case."

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

CASES & COOLING

• CM Storm Scout II Advanced Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Cougar Spike Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Cooler Master Storm Scout 2 Advanced Review @ Hardware Canucks
• CaseLabs Merlin SM8 Full-Tower Customizable Chassis @ Tweaktown
• Fractal Design Define R2 XL Chassis @ eTeknix
• Cougar Challenger Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
• In Win G7 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Cooler Master Centurion 6 @ techPowerUp
• Antec GX700 Case @ Kitguru
• NZXT Phantom 630 @ Hardware.info

  ---

• NZXT Kraken X60 280mm AIO CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• NZXT Kraken X40 140mm AIO CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Corsair Hydro Series H110 @ techPowerUp
• Cooler Master Seidon 120 XL Watercooler Review @ Ninjalane
• Cooler Master Seidon 240M Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix

  ---

• Aerocool Shark 120mm Evil Black Edition Orange LED Fan @ eTeknix
• Noctua NF-S12A FLX, ULN and PWM Case Fan @ eTeknix
• Noctua 140mm/150mm Case Fan Roundup Review @ OCC
• SilverStone NT06-PRO CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Evercool Venti (HPQ 12025) CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• SilverStone Nitrogon NT06-PRO C-Style CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Thermalright AXP-100 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

GELID SlimHero Cooler Is Quiet and Low-Profile CPU HSF

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 10, 2013 - 06:53 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: slimhero, hsf, Gelid, fm2, cpu cooler, 1155

Hong Kong-based PC cooling company GELID Solutions launched a new low-profile CPU cooler yesterday called the SlimHero. The new SlimHero cooler joins the existing Silent HSF series, and is a mere 59mm high.

The low profile cooler measures 131 x 123 x 59mm including the fan and weighs 352g. The SlimHero cooler features four copper heatpipes connecting a copper block to a horizontal aluminum fin array. A 120mm fan is then mounted on top of the heatsink to push cool air over the fins and VRM area surrounding the processor. It is rated to cool processors up to 136 TDPs and is compatible with all of Intel and AMD's latest consumer sockets. On the AMD side, the cooler can be mounted in one of four directions on AM2, AM2, AM3, AM3+, FM1, and FM2.Further, it is compatible with Intel's LGA 775, 1156, 1366, and 1155 sockets.

The heatsink comes bundled with a 120mm fan and GC-2 thermal compound. The fan is PWM controlled and can spin at anywhere between 750 and 1600 RPM. GELID rates the 120mm fan at 52.4 CFM and 12-25.4 dBA.

The new cooler is designed to work with small form factor systems without getting in the way of RAM or VRM heat-spreaders. It comes with a 5 year warranty and is available now for an MSRP of $32 USD (25 EUR).

Additional information on GELID's new SlimHero cooler can be found in the full press release (PDF) as well as the SlimHero product page.

Noctua Launches Two New NH-U Series Air Coolers

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 8, 2013 - 08:14 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: tower cooler, noctua, nh-u, air cooling

Noctua has launched two new single-tower air coolers in the NH-U series. The new NH-U12S and NH-U14S slim tower coolers come in both 120mm and 140mm sizes respectively. The air coolers are slim-enough to be installed in most system configurations, even with tall RAM heat-spreaders in use.

The Noctua NH-U12S is an updated version of the company's NH-U12P-SE2 cooler. It features a 45mm thick tower heatsink paired with a 120mm NF-F12 fan.

On the other hand, the NH-U14S is Noctua's first air cooler sporting a 140mm fan. The cooler is 52mm thick, and is compatible with Intel's enthusiast LGA 2011/X79 platform. Further, it uses NF-A15 140mm fan that provides ample cooling power at lower RPMs (which means less noise, ideally).

Both the NH-U12S and NH-U14S air coolers include Noctua's SecureFirm 2 mounting system, NT-H1 thermal compound, and PWM-controlled fans. Users can also attach the low-noise adapter to reduce the maximum fan speed from 1500 to 1200 RPM should they value quiet operation over maximum performance. Noctua is supporting both air coolers with a 6 year manufacturer warranty.

Both the 120mm NH-U12S and 140mm NH-U14S will be "available shortly" according to Noctua. The NH-U12S has an MSRP of $64.90 USD (59.90 EUR), while the larger NH-U14S is priced at $79.90 USD (69.90 EUR). In all, they appear to be decent air cooling options, and Noctua has demonstrated quality support in the past (such as the free Haswell mounting kit upgrades for older HSFs). Personally, I'm interested to see how the 140mm unit performs.

Thermaltake Launching Premium Urban S71 Full Tower Chassis

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2013 - 02:57 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: thermaltake, full tower, e-atx, urban s71

Thermaltake recently launched the Urban S71 full tower chassis to round out its Urban line of cases (like its Urban S21 mid-tower). The S71 is constructed of SECC steel, weighs approximately 24 pounds, and measures 21 x 8.4 x 23-inches (534 x 213 x 584mm). The black brushed metal design is aesthetically pleasing and sound dampening foam reduces noise. Thermaltake is offering up two models: the VP500M1W2N with a side panel window and the VP500M1N2N without a window (and with more sound dampening foam).

The Urban S71 chassis features a brushed aluminum front door that conceals three 5.25" bays and one 3.5" drive bay. The top of the case hosts a docking station for a 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive. The top-front of the case includes the following IO options:

• 2 x USB 3.0
• 2 x USB 2.0
• 1 x Mic In
• 1 x Headphone Out
• 1 x Power button (plus LED)
• 1 x Reset button (plus LED)

Pre-installed cooling options include two 200mm fans (at the front and top vents) and one 120mm high speed rear fan. The case includes removable dust filters on the top, front, and bottom vents. There is also room for a fan in bottom of the case, but is not included out of the box.

The interior of Thermaltake's Urban S71 chassis includes support for motherboards up to E-ATX in size and graphics cards up to 344mm in length. Cable routing and water cooling grommets are included on the motherboard tray and rear IO respectively. There are also eight total expansion slots and 6 3.5" drive bays (one externally-accessible). The top case ventilation slot(s) can support up to a 240mm water cooling radiator as well (like the Corsair H100).

In all, the Urban S71 is an impressive case with quite a few useful features. There is no word on pricing or availability yet, however.

NZXT aims a little higher with their Phantom 630

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 2, 2013 - 06:28 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: nzxt, phantom 630

The NZXT Phantom 630 is much more expensive than many of their models, the $180 price tag puts it in contention with many other long standing high end case manufacturers.  This price is justified in many ways, especially the sheer size of the 12.3kg (27.1lb) case which measures 245x627x600mm (9.7x24.7x23.6") and can accept a 170mm tall CPU cooler even with the 200mm side panel case fan installed.  Perhaps not the most unobtrusive of cases but it provides enough elbow width to make installing a system much more comfortable.  It also gives enough space to either set up watercooling or to depend on aircooling as this case accommodates up to four 140 or 120mm fans and four 200mm fans of which three can be swapped for a higher number of 140 or 120mm fans to accommodate radiators with different fan sizes.  Check out the drive capacity and more at [H]ard|OCP.

"NZXT's new enthusiast computer case, the Phantom 630, looks to be truly designed for the computer hardware enthusiast and does not just carry the label like so many other products. NZXT has built the chassis with the end user in mind that wants to take things up a notch and not be annoyed when trying to accomplish his build goals."

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

CASES & COOLING

• nWin D-Frame Limited Edition Open-Air Chassis @ Tweaktown
• Fractal Design Define R4 Arctic White Case @ Benchmark Reviews
• Cooler Master HAF XB Chassis @ eTeknix
• Enermax Ostrog GT Chassis @ eTeknix
• In Win GT1 Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Antec GX700 @ Hardware.info
• Fractal Design Define R4 Review @ Hardware Canucks
• In Win BP655 Chasis @ LanOC Reviews
• Azza Silentium 920 Case Review @ Hi Tech Legion

  ---

• Compact Liquid Cooling Systems Roundup. Part II: Front Runners @ X-bit Labs
• Cooler Master Seidon 120XL @ techPowerUp
• Gelid Slim 12 UV and PL Blue 120mm Fan @ eTeknix
• Xigmatek XAF Series F1255 120mm Fan @eTeknix
• Phanteks PH-TC12DX @ Kitguru
• DeepCool Neptwin Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
• Phanteks PH-TC14PE & PH-TC12DX CPU Coolers Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Phanteks PH-TC12DX @ Funky Kit
• Zalman FX100 review: passive Ivy Bridge CPU cooler@ Hardware.info
• Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile @ Modders-Inc
• Thermalright True Spirit 120M CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps
• Evercool Venti HPQ-12025 @ Funky Kit
• DeepCool Frostwin Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
• Gelid The Black Edition CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

Impactics Launches Passive D1NU NUC Chassis In Europe

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 31, 2013 - 04:17 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: nuc, Intel, impactics, europe, d1nu

Impactics is the latest company to launch its own small form factor case for Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) platform. More heatsink than chassis, the new D1NU chassis sandwiches an Intel NUC motherboard and other internals between two aluminum fin heatsinks. The D1NU measures 170 x 114 x 67mm and weighs 1380g.

The D1NU supports Intel's D33217GKE and DCP847SKE motherboards. The motherboard and other components are attached to a solid piece of precision milled 99.99% electrolytic copper (220g), and then to an aluminum heatsink. 

The case seals the components between a top and bottom heatsink and then a 4mm aluminum front bezel and a rear chromium steel bezel with EM shield. The D1NU case/heatsink supports a 25W TDP, and has an MSRP of 99 euros. The front bezel hosts a power button with blue LED and space for a single USB port. The rear of the case can support the outputs of either Intel's Golden Lake or Ski Lake boards. A VESA mount is also in the works. The D1NU comes in silver or black.

According to Fanless Tech, the passive NUC case is now available in Europe for €100 Euros from Case King or £87 pounds from Systo.co.uk. No word yet on whether it will show up on this side of the pond, but (although it is a bit pricey) it is certainly a cool NUC heatsink/case (heh)!

XFX claims there is something different about their ProSeries 650W

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 27, 2013 - 03:17 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: xfx, PSU, ProSeries 650W

The XFX ProSeries 650W PSU is mostly modular, with only the ATX connector attached, has a 135mm cooling fan and can send 98% of its total wattage to the single 53A 12V rail.  With four 6+2 PCIe power connectors you will be able to handle multiple GPUs and the 8 SATA connectors should allow you as many storage devices as you need.  Unfortunately [H]ard|OCP discovered something about the 5 year warranty which greatly displeased them; unless you register your PSU within 30 days of purchase, you only receive a 2 year warranty.  If you are strictly concerned about the quality of the power this PSU delivers and are ambivalent towards the warranty, this PSU passed [H]'s torture tests handily which is something not every PSU can claim.

"XFX has long and actually very solid history of producing high quality enthusiast power supplies. We have consistently found XFX PSUs worthy of [H] Editor's Choice Awards. Today the XFX ProSeries 650W promises "One Rail, One Setup" in a PSU that is different. Let's see if that is good or bad."

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

CASES & COOLING

• Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 1000W PSU Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• NZXT Hale 90 V2 1000 Watt Power Supply @ Modders-Inc
• Zalman ZM500-GS / ZM500-GT PSU @ Hardware.info
• Cougar PowerX 550 W @ techPowerUp
• Cougar PowerX 550W Power Supply Unit Review @ NikKTech
• Fractal Design Newton R3 800 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
• SilverStone Strider Plus 600 W (ST60F-PS) Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Enermax Triathlor FC 550 W @ techPowerUp
• Thermaltake Toughpower Grand Platinum 700-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
• AZZA Platinum 1000-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
• Silverstone Zeus 1350-Watt 80 PLUS @ Tweaktown
• NZXT HALE90 V2 850 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Antec High Current Pro Platinum 1000W Power Supply Unit Review @ NikKTech
• Thermaltake Dr.Power II ATX Power Supply Tester @ Modders-Inc
• Cooler Master 120W NA 120 Universal AC Adapter Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Update

At the G Institute, PC Gaming is Logitech's Pursuit

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Shows and Expos | March 21, 2013 - 03:23 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: PAX East 2013, PAX East, PAX, logitech

Despite recent incidents with a genetic lifeform and disk operating system, we PC gamers love our science. Yesterday, Logitech claims they renewed their commitment to both PC gaming and science just in time for PAX East 2013.

Let us just hope the pi's not a lie. Hehehe, that rhymes.

While the commercial looks and sounds like the "G" stands for "Gatorade", it really beckons the launch of eight new accessory products: four new mice, two new keyboards, and two new headsets.

• Logitech G700s Rechargeable Gaming Mouse
  • Wireless
  • 13 programmable controls
• Logitech G500s Laser Gaming Mouse
  • Weight/balance adjustments
  • Dual-mode scroll wheel
• Logitech G400s Optical Gaming Mouse
  • "Delta Zero" sensor technology
  • 8 programmable controls
• Logitech G100s Optical Gaming Mouse
  • "Delta Zero" sensor technology
• Logitech G19s Gaming Keyboard
  • Full-Color LCD
  • Custom backlighting
  • 12 programmable "G-keys"
• Logitech G510s Gaming Keyboard
  • Standard LCD
  • Custom backlighting
  • 18 programmable "G-keys"
• Logitech G430 Surround Sound Gaming Headset
  • 7.1 surround sound
• Logitech G230 Stereo Gaming Headset
  • 40mm drivers
  • 3.5mm stereo audio and mic

Check in after the break for the official press blast.

Two Upcoming SFF Cases From Akasa Spotted Before The Official Computex Launch

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | March 21, 2013 - 01:52 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: galileo, newton, akasa, nuc, case, thin mini-itx

FanlessTech recently spotted two new fan-less and small form factor cases from Akasa ahead of the official launch. The Akasa Galileo and Akasa Newton are compatible with thin Mini-ITX and Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) motherboards respectively.

Both cases are constructed of aluminum, have VESA mounting holes, and double as a fan-less heatsink for your components. The Galileo is 37mm thick and can cool processors rated up to a 35W TDP. The Newton is a small case with fins around the sides to increase surface area (for better cooling capability), and aesthetic flair.

According to Fanless Tech, the two PC cases will be officially unveiled at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan this summer. There is no word on pricing or when they will be available for purchase, however.

Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite, your next exotic cooling solution

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 20, 2013 - 04:02 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: annealed pyrolytic graphite, cooling, exotic materials, thermal paste

Efficient cooling has always and will always be a limiter on the power of processors, especially as the processes used shrink and transistor density increases.  Over the years we have seen heatpipes become common and watercooling move into the mainstream with the advent of all-in-one coolers.  Thermal interface material has not changed much, even though we have heard of many developments nothing has been released to market.  Carbon black proved to be too long in development and might be replaced by nanotube forests though there is do it yourself thermal paste doped with diamonds that you can make right now.

From there we saw a project doping thermal paste with graphene, which could provide conductivity of up to 600 W/mK once it becomes available, hopefully in sheet form for easy installation.  Increasing the thermal conductivity of your TIM is a good thing, assuming that the heatsink absorbing the heat can keep up with the transfer which is what makes the news out of FrostyTech so interesting.  Researchers are sandwiching a material they call K-Core Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite in between layers of aluminium and other metals to create a heatsink with a thermal conductivity of up to 1092W/mK in certain situations.  It is not as simple as doping a heatsink with this new material though, it is only efficient at moving heat horizontally. Read on to find out more at FrostyTech.

"When the thermal conductivity of copper and aluminum heat spreaders just won't cut it, the future revolves around a material called Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite. Let's consider the numbers: where a solid aluminum heat spreader has a thermal conductivity of 126W/mK, the same heatspreader with an Annealed Pyrolytic Graphite core would see thermal conductivity on the order of 1092 W/mK. That's not a typo."

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

CASES & COOLING

• Zalman FX100 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Noctua NH-L9i Review @ HCW
• Thermalright Silver Arrow SB-E Special Edition @ Kitguru
• Prolimatech Megahalems Red Series CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Noctua NH-L12 @ techPowerUp
• DeepCool IceBlade Pro V2.0 Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
• Scythe Kabuto II CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets

  ---

• Enermax ELC 240 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Corsair Hydro Series H110 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
• Corsair Hydro Series H110 Review @ OCC
• Corsair Hydro Series H110 AIO CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Corsair Hydro H110 280mm AiO CPU Cooler Review @ Pro-Clockers
• Compact Liquid Cooling Systems Roundup. Part I: Water on a Budget @ X-bit Labs

  ---

• NZXT Phantom 630 Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
• Zalman Z11 Plus @ Hardware.info
• IN WIN GT1 Mid-Tower ATX @ [H]ard|OCP
• Anidees AI-06W Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
• Cooltek Coolcube Black @ techPowerUp
• Sharkoon REX8 Value Chassis @ eTeknix
• CM Storm Scout II Advanced Chassis @ eTeknix
• Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Mid-Tower @ Tweaktown
• In Win D-Frame @ techPowerUp
• Coolermaster Centurion 6 @ Rbmods

A SilverStone PSU so small it uses an 80mm fan

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 14, 2013 - 06:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, Silverstone, SFX ST45SF-G 450W, SFF, 80 Plus Gold, modular psu, SFX PSU

If you are looking to power a small form factor system and need a fully modular PSU in order to get it into a tightly packed case as well as high efficiency the SilverStone SFX ST45SF-G 450W is a decent choice.  It is Fully modular and is an SFX PSU, which as you might remember from Lee's review means that it lacks a -5V rail, not a necessary feature in today's systems.  [H]ard|OCP granted an award to this PSU, not because it is the best 450W PSU available, which is not, but because it is the best fully modular SFX PSU they have seen and they realize sacrifices have to be made in a PSU which is barely able to fit an 80mm fan inside.  Check out the full review to see if you think this PSU is worth the price premium or if you might just consider a larger PSU for your HTPC.

"Silverstone is one of our favorite computer power supply builders as the company has a tremendous track record when it comes to high quality and quiet power for our desktop systems. Today we look at something a bit different in terms of scale, a PSU pushing 450 watts of power in a package half the size with its sights on the SFF market."

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

CASES & COOLING

• NZXT Hale90 V2 1000 Watt Power Supply Review @ Pro-Clockers
• be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 1000 Watt PSU Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Cooler Master Silent Pro Platinum 1000-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
• Silverstone Strider Gold ST65F-G 650 W @ techPowerUp
• Infinity 500W Power Supply - Bargain Hunt @ Funky Kit
• Fractal Design NEWTON R3 1000W @ kitguru
• PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mark III 750W @ Funky Kit
• Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless 460 W @ techPowerUp
• NZXT Hale90 V2 1000W Power Supply Review @ Hi Tech Legion
• Enermax Triathlor FC 550W/650W Power Supply Review @ Pro-Clockers
• Seasonic G Series 550W SSR-550RM Power Supply Review @ Legit Reviews

A semi-modifiable watercooler from Swiftech

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 11, 2013 - 03:20 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: swiftech, H220 Compact Drive II, AIO, water cooler

Swiftech has made an All In One watercooler with a bit of a difference, not only will it work straight out of the box, changing the fluid and tubing will not void your warranty like many other AIO coolers.  The 269mm x 127mm x 29mm radiator has a pair of 120mm fans cooling it, an unsealed Fill Port for changing your cooling liquid and two ports for 5/8" outer, 3/8" inner tubing which can also be swapped out.  Pro-Clockers found it to be a decent performer though somewhat outclassed by coolers using 140mm fans but far more flexible and upgradeable.  If you are looking for an AIO cooler that you can add to later on then keep your eyes our for the Swiftech H220 which should be for sale in the very near future.

"Swiftech has been sitting back in the cut watching the market and seeing what to do and what more they can do to make their entry into the lower cost AiO market. That entry is the H220 Compact Drive II CPU Cooler. Gabe and company has release a cooler than is more than “an install it and leave it type” solution. This new cooler can be upgraded in many ways. Meaning you can add water blocks as your system grows, refill with the liquid of your liking, add more tubing to accommodate the added blocks as well as other steps to assure that you have a water-cooling system for a life time."

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

CASES & COOLING

• Corsair Hydro Series H90 AIO CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Corsair Hydro H90 & H110 CPU Coolers Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Zalman CNPS14X Cpu cooler @ Rbmods
• Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
• Sapphire Vapor-X Universal CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
• Phanteks PH-F120S and PH-F140TS Fan Reviews @ Tweaktown
• BitFenix Ghost Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
• NZXT Phantom 630 Review @ Hardware Canucks
• Rosewill Armor EVO E-ATX Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
• In-Win GT1 Case Review: Fighting an Uphill Battle @ AnandTech
• Cooler Master Scout 2 Advanced Case Review @ Ninjalane
• Silverstone Redline Series SST-RL04B Mid-Tower @ Tweaktown
• Xigmatek Talon @ Hardware.info
• Enermax Ostrog GT Gaming Case @ Pro-Clockers