Corsair Enhances GS Series Power Supplies

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

FREMONT, California — May 15, 2012 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced major upgrades to the GS Series line of high-performance power supply units (PSUs). A new improved design boosts energy efficiency, enabling the new GS Series PSUs to achieve 80 PLUS Bronze certification while also providing quieter, fanless operation at low power loads. The newly enhanced models are available in three wattage models: the GS600, GS700, and GS800.

GS Series power supplies are designed for PC builders who want an affordable, reliable, and efficient power supply that offers visually stunning, customizable looks to match their PC. The power supplies feature user-switchable red, white or blue LED lights that can also be turned off if desired. Further customization is possible with swappable color insert rings which are available for purchase from the Corsair website.

The 80 PLUS certification program was created by utility and computer companies to drive the creation and adoption of more energy-efficient power supplies for desktop computers and servers. Corsair GS Series power supplies now have an upgraded architecture that achieves 80 PLUS Bronze certification to provide up to 85% energy-efficiency under typical usage conditions, resulting in lower energy bills and less heat.

As with all Corsair power supplies, GS Series PSUs offer class-leading voltage stability and ultra-low ripple and noise specifications, for long component life. The 140mm temperature-controlled fan also ensures that GS Series power supplies remain quiet as well as cool. Plus, by operating fanless at load levels below 20% of the model's wattage rating, each GS Series PSU significantly reduces noise levels.

"The GS Series line has been popular with PC enthusiasts who demand quiet, good-looking, and affordable power supplies they can count on,” said Ruben Mookerjee, VP and General Manager for Components at Corsair. “Now we are proud to deliver the next evolution in the GS Series PSU line, with higher-levels of energy efficiency and a new striking, customizable industrial design."

Source: Corsair

Deepcool's tall and thin Ice Wind Pro heatsink

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

At 157mm tall the Deepcool Ice Wind Pro stands among the tallest heatsinks but at 86mm deep it is much thinner which also means its weight is lower, at 650g. The heatpipes contact the CPU directly and FrostyTech's measurements show the contact area to be completely flat which is very important for the efficiency of the cooler. The noise generated at low speeds is negligible and even when turned to high to give better cooling performance it is still not very loud. At high speed the cooler does provide good cooling even though it for both AMD and Intel processors, even if it is very slim, so if you are building a system using RAM with tall heatspreaders then this cooler is very much worth considering.

"Deepcool's Ice Wind Pro heatsink is a rather novel CPU cooler for two unique qualities; 1) its heatpipe-to-fin arrangement and 2) the geometry of its leading and trailing fin edges. First off, rather than clusters of heatpipes at the left and right sides of the aluminum fin tower, the eight ends of the heatpipes are lined up straight in a row, 10mm apart, right down the middle of the heatsink. Secondly, the leading/trailing edges of the aluminum fin stack have five large, slightly arc'd diamond cut-outs parallel to the direction of the fins that break up the otherwise monolithic wall."

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Source: Frosty Tech

Thermaltake Announces WATER2.0 Series All-In-One Closed-Loop CPU Liquid Cooler

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Thermaltake has just released two new all in one watercoolers, the WATER2.0 Performer and WATER2.0 Pro, available right now on NewEgg. The $70 Performer and $100 Pro are very similar, with the Pro offering dual fans and what Thermaltake describes as a Thicker Watercooler, which will offer better cooling thanks to the pair of fans. Check out the full press release below.

City of Industry, California – May 8, 2012 – Thermaltake brought water cooling technology to the mainstream in 2002 with the introduction of Aquarius and BigWater Series of liquid cooling solutions for computer enthusiasts and DIYers. The solutions were developed by garnering enthusiast communities’ experience and feedback, coupled with Thermaltake’s core expertise in thermal management. The goal was to enable PC enthusiasts to achieve higher PC performance by providing additional cooling needed in order for the CPU to run at higher frequency. Today, Thermaltake is introducing its WATER2.0 line of liquid coolers and announcing immediate availability of the all-new WATER2.0 Performer and WATER2.0 Pro all-in-one closed-loop CPU liquid coolers.

The “2.0” in the name denotes the progression and improvements that Thermaltake has made in the performance liquid cooling segment as well as the new approach which WATER2.0 solutions are taking. While traditional D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself) liquid cooling kits offer expandability, the same benefit often complicates installation and filling these coolers introduces a risk of mixing water and electronics. WATER2.0 specifically addresses these concerns by having a closed-loop design, meaning all the fluid that are required for maximum performance are pre-filled and sealed inside so the users do not need to handle any type of liquid during installation or operation.

“WATER2.0 is not a direct replacement of air cooling solutions. The all-new WATER2.0 is an improved performance-driven solution that offers added benefits of simple installation, no-maintenance and extreme reliability to the traditional liquid cooling kit. After a long period of research and development, we came to a point where WATER2.0 has reached the performance standard that Thermaltake has set forth while ensuring a fluid user experience from installation to actual operation. Now is time perfect time to discover an all-new performance-driven alternative CPU cooling solution” commented Ramsom Koay, Director of Marketing for Thermaltake.

^{Water2.0 Pro}

WATER2.0 Series closed-loop CPU liquid coolers are available in three different performance categories that cater to different performance requirements or applications. The WATER2.0 Performer features dual 120mm PWM fans with a high-performance 120mm x 25mm radiator that can be mounted to any chassis with an available 120mm case fan mount. The liquid circulation is handled by a high-efficiency, low-profile pump that sits on top of the all-copper cold plate. The low-profile pump is ideal for high-performance systems where high-end air cooler may interfere with enthusiasts-grade memories that often come equipped with taller heat spreaders. A dual-PWM adapter is also included allowing both included PWM fans to be connected to a single PWM fan header on the motherboard to ensure synchronous fan speed operation.

For more performance, the WATER2.0 Pro utilizes a much thicker radiator, 49mm compared to 25mm found on the Performer model, to dramatically increase the heat-dissipating surface area by almost doubling the doubling the volume of the radiator. The WATER2.0 Pro also includes the same low-profile pump along with dual 120mm PWM fans including the dual-PWM adapter.

^{Water2.0 Performer}

While all of the WATER2.0 CPU liquid coolers provide performance and low-noise operation, WATER2.0 Extreme delivers the ultimate performance by incorporating a double-long (240mm x 25mm) radiator that further increases the available heat-dissipating surface area for maximum cooling power. WATER2.0 Extreme ships standard with dual 120mm PWM fans and it is capable of supporting up to four PWM fans in push-pull configuration. Targeting enthusiasts and overclocking consumers, the WATER2.0 Extreme also comes with Smart Control Software that allows the user to monitor status of various hardware elements within the cooling unit, in addition to creating cooling profiles that best matches the user’s working and gaming environment.

“WATER2.0 Series of closed-loop CPU liquid coolers are not just new products that Thermaltake is introducing,” stated Weller Chen, Director of Product Management at Thermaltake, “WATER2.0 represent a shift in design philosophy from Thermaltake that aligns user experience in the same breath with performance, as consumers can see from the maintenance-free operation as well as simplified installation.” The WATER2.0 Performer and Pro are now available at major retailers in the United States and Canada. MSRP for WATER2.0 Performer is USD $69.99, and USD$99.99 for WATER2.0 Pro. The WATER2.0 Extreme will be available in July at major retailers with MSRP at USD $129.99. For more information, please visit the manufacturer’s product page: http://thermaltakeusa.com/Products.aspx?C=1444.

Source: Thermaltake

FSP goes for Gold with their 1200W Aurum PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

As the name implies, the FSP AURUM PRO GOLD 1200 PSU's efficiency is rated 80 Plus Gold and is capable of an impressive 100A on its single 12V rail. [H]ard|OCP was glad to see that FSP has increased the quality of materials they use in constructing the PSU. This has paid off as the PSU received a Silver Award after passing their torture tests.

"'AURUM' means gold. So today we are showing you the "Gold Pro Gold" from FSP. That is a big name to stand behind. Once past the marketing though, the Aurum Pro Gold looks like a very solid and efficient single rail power supply for the enthusiast needing a heaping supply of wattage in a snazzy looking PSU."

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Source: [H]ard|OCP

Gamer Storm's new heatsink wants to Assassin-ate your heat problems

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes

Following in the current trend of trying to give your newest heatsink a bizarre name comes the Gamer Storm Assassin, a 5.7" x 6.1" x 6.3" (144 x 154 x 160 mm) dual tower heatsink. The cooler comes with a pair of mismatched fans, a 120mm fan for use on one of the sides of the tower and a 140mm for use in between the towers. That does not seem to have hurt performance at all, Hardware Secrets tests show it to not only be an effective cooler but also one that does not generate excessive noise. It will fit both AMD and Intel sockets, so whichever you are using you might want to ignore the name and consider this cooler for your system.

"The Assassin is the first CPU cooler from Gamer Storm, a brand of cooling products from Logisys/Deepcool, aimed at gamers. This huge cooler has two twin tower heatsinks, eight heatpipes, one 120 mm fan and one 140 mm fan. We already reviewed the Dracula VGA cooler from this brand."

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Source: Hardware Secrets

Rosewill Announces R5 Mid-Tower Gaming Case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 26, 2012 - 07:46 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: rosewill r5, rosewill, mid-tower, case

Rosewill, a company known for fans and low cost gaming chassis, announced on Monday a new mid-tower case. The new Rosewill R5 is constructed of SGCC steel, offers lots of air cooling options, and comes in at sub $100 USD.

The new R5 case comes with three 120mm fans (two intake, one rear exhaust), and can support up to eight total fans. The matte black case also features one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA, and audio input and output jacks on the front panel. Also, the case supports four external 5.25” bays (one of which can be converted to a 3.5” bay).

On the inside, the Rosewill R5 supports up to six 3.5” (or 2.5”) drive bays and can hold either ATX or micro ATX motherboards. The fans also includes removable dust filters. According to the company:

“We also spent countless hours researching airflow patterns and strategically placed 8 fan mounts in key positions in the R5 that will provide maximum cooling for your components while you dominate your games.”

There is no word on specific pricing or availability but it will have a sub $100 MSRP and should be available later this year.

Source: Rosewill

CoolerMaster's BIG new enclosure, the HAF XM

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 24, 2012 - 03:10 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: coolermaster, HAF XM, eatx

With holes for Micro-ATX, ATX and E-ATX motherboards, the new CoolerMaster HAF XM has a lot of space for you to fill. At 252 x 530.5 x 579mm (9.9" x 20.9" x 22.8") you can use the four 200mm fans, and single 120mm and 140mm to give yourself serious air cooling or if you prefer watercooling there is space for a radiator with two 140mm fans up top and a 140mm fan radiator at the back. There are a total of 20 drive bays, with a mix of 5.25", 3.5" and even 2.5" drives for your SSDs and even with the large drive cage installed you can still squeeze in a GPU of up to 13.9"; without you have space for a 18.2" card! Drop by Modders Inc for the full review of this case, slated for release at $130.

"For the year 2012 Cooler Master is furthering it's endeavor to create the ultimate High Air Flow chassis for all gaming and computer enthusiasts alike. Yes, I am talking about the Cooler Master HAF series of computer cases."

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Source: Modders Inc

Just Delivered: Corsair K60 & K90 Vengeance Mech Keyboards Type Hard, Type Harder, Type Hard: With a Vengeance

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | April 21, 2012 - 01:24 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mechanical keyboard, corsair

Just Delivered is a class of articles at PC Perspective where we share what crosses into our offices, labs, houses, or pseudo-classified locations with crummy internet. Today we look at the Corsair Vengeance line of mechanical keyboards. We have received both the K60 FPS keyboard as well as the K90 MMO keyboard.

Some people say that when you try a mechanical keyboard, something just clicks.

That is not really the case for the Corsair Vengeance line of keyboards which use the linear Cherry MX Red switches. The key gives a light constant resistence until it hits bottom. Check out our explanation of the various type of switches from a few months ago to see the differences between Cherry MX switches.

Seems quite odd, grammatically, to enter a market of new competitors with a Vengeance...

Just saying...

First impressions are that Corsair really put some thought and effort into these keyboards. Wrist rests snap into place and, in the K90's case, get screwed in for total stability. The brushed metal top is a great touch and gives the feeling of quality.

Each keyboard has a few non-mechanical keys which slightly take away from that feeling -- but that will be discussed in a more formal review setting.

Just for irony... I might play Wing Commander: Privateer as part of the Corsair review.

While Corsair to some extent markets these keyboards at different audiences -- it really does seem at first glance like the K90 is a direct upgrade to the K60, rather than a sidegrade. Apart from the custom shaped WSAD keys and the wrist rest, I cannot see much reason to go for the K60 over the K90 except for price.

That said, we shall find out for sure in the full review to be started shortly.

Source: PCPer

Enermax offers you the full monty with their giant new enclosure

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 18, 2012 - 05:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: enermax, fulmogt jumbo, htpx

At 674 x 235 x 640mm (26.5" x 9.2" x 25.2") the Enermax FulmoGT Jumbo can handle even HPTX motherboards and would be a perfect for a dual CPU, multiple GPU system build since you will have no troubles fitting the system in the case. You even have enough space to fit in a secondary PSU without taking up so much space you couldn't fit a full watercooling system inside if the 18cm and 23cm fans are not to your liking. [H]ard|OCP would have liked to see more solid materials used in some of the sides of the case but overall they were very impressed with the cooling capabilities of the case.

"Big, bigger, biggest. Enermax pulls out all the stops with one of the largest "desktop" computer cases on the market today. If expansion room, oversized HPTX motherboards, and plenty of cooling options are on your list of needs when it comes to a chassis, The FulmoGT may just fit the bill."

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Source: [H]ard|OCP

Little machines need little PSUs; Seasonic's new TFX PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 16, 2012 - 06:40 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: seasonic, SS-350TGM, PSU, TFX, SFF

The PSU that you have come to know in your desktop is an ATX PSU but that is not the only choice, as server techs and SFF builders are well aware. One of the alternative standards is the TFX which retains the ATX electrical and connection specs but fits it into a 5.75" × 3.25" × 2.5" (146 x 83 x 64mm) casing. The 350W Seasonic SS-350TGM is not designed for SLI/CrossFire systems, indeed it does not have a single PCIe connector of any type which is not a problem for the type of machine this is intended for. If you are planning on building an ITX box with an internal PSU, or even a small custom built case, you really should drop by [H]ard|OCP to check this little PSU out.

"Today we tackle something a bit off the beaten path for us; a low power non-ATX specification power supply from Seasonic. We do know that many of our readers build systems that are not like all the others especially when it comes to crafting smaller purpose driven boxes. The 300TGM may be just what you are looking for."

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CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Zalman joins the self contained watercooling apparatus crowd

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 11, 2012 - 05:23 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: zalman, CNPS 20LQ, watercooling

The Zalman CNPS 20LQ is more than just a noise prevention system, it is a self contained and maintenance free watercooling system similar to the models that Corsair and other manufacturers provide. With compatibility for socket AM2, AM2+, AMD3, AM3+, FM1, LGA1366, LGA1155, LGA 1156 and LGA2011 you should be able to use this cooler on any modern system without a worry. Overclock3D gave the cooler a try on a overclocked i7-950 and were quite impressed with the results when the fan was running at full speed, however the noise they describe being generated does not sound at all pleasant. At a reduced speed the cooler became quiet but the cooling power was also diminished. Still, they liked the cooling ability of Zalman's first foray into this particular market.

"Zalman have been in the cooler business for quite some time now and have established a name for themselves in the production of more esoteric coolers and external reserator systems. Going a bit more mainstream (if we can call sealed system liquid cooling systems mainstream) Zalman have released a stand alone maintenance free system. Combining a integral pump and head with a radiator and fan. The CNPS moniker indicates that this is badged as a "Computer Noise Prevention System" and as such we should expect low noise as well as low temperatures. Lets take a look at the vital statistics shall we."

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CASES & COOLING

Source: Overclock3D

Composite Copper and Graphene to make a cool couple.

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 10, 2012 - 06:03 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: graphene, cooling

Researchers at NC State University have tested the heat dissipation properties of copper-graphene. Their findings suggest that the material could be cheaper and more effective than pure copper.

Some people have gone to ridiculous lengths to cool their components. Some people flush their coolant regularly. Some people will never live down mineral oil jokes. No two computers are not on fire. Awwww.

Copper is regularly used as a method of dissipating heat as it is highly efficient when sufficiently pure. While copper is expensive, it is not expensive enough to be prohibitive for current use. Alternatives are still being explored and a researcher at NC State University believes graphene might be part of the answer.

Some people stick a bathroom suction fan out a window and run a 3” drier hose into their case.

As always, I become immediately skeptical when a team of researchers make a claim such as this. Whether or not these issues are valid have yet to be seen, but they come to mind none-the-less. The paper claims that the usage is designed for power amplifiers and laser diodes.

My first concern is with geometry. Effective cooling is achieved by exposing as much surface area between two materials as is possible for the situation. Higher heat conductance allows heat to get away much more efficiently, but the heat still needs to be removed to a reservoir of some sort, such as your room. There has not been much talk about the possibilities to then remove the heat after copper-graphene so efficiently sucks from the heat source.

My second concern is with the second layer of indium-graphene. While it seems as though the amount of indium required is quite small -- just a single layer between the heat source and the copper-graphene -- we do not really know for certain how that relates to real world applications. Indium is still a very rare element which is heavily mined for touch screen devices. It might prove to be cheap, but there is only so much of it. Would we also be able to reclaim the Indium later, or will it end up in a landfill?

These concerns are probably quite minor but it is generally good practice to not get too excited when you see a research paper. Two points if you see any of the following: Nano, Graphene or Carbon Nanotubes, Lasers, and anything related to High-Frequency.

Source: NC State University

Wireless Headsets and PC Cases Added To Vengeance Lineup

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 5, 2012 - 03:47 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: vengeance, headset, gaming, corsair, case

Corsair announced today that a new wireless headset and gaming PC case would be joining the ranks of the existing Vengeance lineup of headsets and keyboards. Making their initial debut at PAX East this weekend, the new Vengeance 2000 wireless headset and Vengeance C70 Case will be available for purchase later this year.

The Vengeance 2000 is Corsair’s latest headset that takes the brushed aluminum, 50mm drivers, and microfiber ear cups of the Vengeance 1500, adds some blue and white accents and then cuts the cord. In pace of the USB cord, Corsair utilizes 2.4 GHz wireless to deliver 5.1 and 7.1 virtual surround sound up to 40 feet away and with a battery life of 10 hours. The headset further features a noise canceling microphone and battery that can be recharged via micro USB cable.

From the wording of the press release, it sounds like the charging cable will only act as a power cable -- meaning it will not make the headset wired. The wireless 2.4GHz radio may be problematic for gamers living in areas with lots of 2.4GHz interference (like an apartment building with lots of WiFi devices and microwaves), and in that case the wired Vengeance 1500 would be a better choice. (We are attempting to verify the wireless only aspects and will update the article if we receive a response). Update: Corsair has clarified to us that the headset is always wireless -- the USB cable is only used for charging and firmware flashing.

Arriving with two carrying handles and an ammo box aesthetic, the Vengeance C70 is ready for the war against heat with space for up to 240mm radiators (they suggest the H100) on the top and bottom or 10 total case fans. The case further features a steel front panel, eight PCI-E slots, and two removable hard drive cages with space for three 2.5” or 3.5” drives (for a total of six hard drives). The PCI-E slots and other internals use standard Philips head screws.

The Vengeance C70 will be available in three colors: Military Green, Arctic White, Gunmetal Black. The external of the the case features large mesh grills over the fan areas. The front of the case features a honeycomb mesh for up to two fans, three 5.25” drive bays, and -- along the top -- two large buttons for power and reset with the power being the large red button (which would be difficult to resist pressing all the time). It also houses microphone and headphone jacks, and two USB 3.0 ports. All three C70 cases have two carrying handles on the top that fold down into recessed parts of the case when not being used.

The two new Vengeance entrants will be available this summer. The C70 will be available for purchase soonest -- as early as May -- with an MSRP of $139 USD. Meanwhile, the Vengeance 2000 wireless headset has an MSRP of $149 USD and will be available in June. More information on Corsair’s entire Vengeance gaming lineup is available here.

Source: Corsair

CM Storm QuickFire Pro: Full NKRO over USB?

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 4, 2012 - 04:51 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: cooler master, mechanical keyboard

Cooler Master announces the Cooler Master Storm QuickFire Pro mechanical keyboard available soon in four different CHERRY flavors. They claim full N-Key Rollover (NKRO) through USB, which is a first to my knowledge.

Higher-end keyboards seem to be growing further and further in fashion as of late.

Cooler Master jumped into the mechanical keyboard market with their QuickFire Rapid release in late 2011. The Rapid was available in Cherry MX Blue and Cherry MX Red switches. The Rapid was a Tenkeyless design, sparing you the width of a number pad if you do not wish to have one.

Of course only the Pro keyboard would have a numpad… only accountants use it or something.

Cooler Master has obviously found that the Rapid a successful product as they will launch a sister design allegedly sometime this month. The Storm QuickFire Pro is a partially backlit full-sized keyboard. The Rapid Pro will be available in Cherry MX Blue, MX Brown, MX Black, and MX Red switch designs. If you are curious about the differences between keyboard switches then check out my explanation in the Rosewill RK-9000v2 review.

The most interesting feature of this keyboard is their claim of full NKRO through USB. Traditionally in order to press every button down on a keyboard you are limited to using a PS/2 connection. Recent research at Microsoft increased the USB limit to approximately 18 keys from the usual 6kro. I would be curious to see someone put that keyboard through Aquakey to verify those claims.

The QuickFire Pro is expected to have an MSRP of $99.99. If they are like other keyboard manufacturers, that likely depends on the switch used.

Source: Cooler Master

Can CoolerMaster actually provide 1300W of Silent power

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 06:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Silent Pro Hybrid 1300, modular psu, kilowatt, coolermaster, 80 Plus Gold

It seems hard to imagine that a PSU that provides more than a kilowatt of power can be considered quiet but Cooler Master goes even further with their Silent Pro Hybrid 1300 Watt PSU. Rated for 80 Plus Gold and able to provide 1260W @ 105A on its single 12V rail this beast of a PSU and its eight 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors should be able to power any graphics system you might want to dream of setting up. Part of the Silent comes from a unique fanless mode, when load is under 200 watts and the temperature below 25C the fan powers off. The other modes are manual and auto, which anyone with a recent video card will be familiar with. From the 5 year warranty to the solid power that this PSU provides, Hi Tech Legion found a lot of things to like about this premium PSU.

"With the Silent Pro Hybrid 1300 Watt PSU, Cooler Master has actually added usability features to a category typically limited to simply watts and amps. The Cooler Master Silent Pro Hybrid 1300 Watt PSU goes beyond being an 80+ Gold, 105A single 12V rail behemoth, and incorporates a 7V chassis fan rail along with a 5.25” Dual Fan Control Module. After all, if you have need for 1300 watts of power, odds are good you are going to have more than a fan or two running in your case, and what better place to power and control them from than directly from the PSU? In addition to a single-channel, continuously variable controller for up to three chassis fans, the fan control module offers PSU fan control in addition to “PSU Fanless Mode”."

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Source: Hi Tech Legion

Grab a white BMW for $115 ... Thermaltake's Level 10 GTS Snow Edition

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 03:18 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GTS Snow Edition, atx

The 233 x 462 x 510mm Thermaltake GTS Snow Edition takes the familiar enclosure and reverses its colour to a very striking white. With up to six fans, including a 200mm, as well as 3 grommets for external watercooling you have a choice on your cooling solution. External drive bays make hotswapping a breeze and the USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports are easily accessible as well, not counting the external connectors on your motherboard. Neoseeker found many things to like about this enclosure as well as a few areas they'd like to see improved but overall were quite impressed with this $115 BMW inspired case.

"Thermaltake lets its snow once again in its Level 10 lineup of cases with the Snow Edition of its Level 10 GTS, sporting its striking white and black color scheme. Perhaps its most defining feature is the distinct hot swap drive bay system for hard drives. See how it all works in our review of the Level 10 GTS Snow Edition case, geared toward enthusiasts who don't want to spend top dollar for a Level 10 series product but still rock all the style."

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CASES & COOLING

Source: Neoseeker

The fine waterline between genius and madness; toilet water PC cooling

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 12:01 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: case mods, watercooling, toilet, couric

When Google discusses using toilet water to cool a data centre, they don't exactly mean it in the way that this case mod went, but the latter is certainly easier to set up at home. Other such inventive cooling solutions have been tried, after all what good is it if the weather outside is -40^o if you don't have it vented through to your PCs intake fan? However this is probably the first time someone popped a water pump into a toilet reservoir to use as an open cooling loop for a PC. With a slight change to the tubing, you could probably ensure you never have to sit down on a cold seat again. ExtremeTech has pictures of the system and its creator here.

"Hot on the heels of news that Google uses toilet water to cool one of its data centers, it has emerged that an enterprising hardware hacker had the same idea some seven years ago. As you will see in the following pictures, though, Jeff Gagnon’s computer is much more than a toilet-cooled rig — it’s a case mod tour de force."

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Tech Talk

Source: ExtremeTech

Arctic Cooling's AMD only Freezer A30

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 27, 2012 - 01:53 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: arctic cooling, amd, freezer a30

Sometimes cooler manufacturers target one of their products specifically to a CPU manufacturer and that is what Arctic Cooling has done with the Freezer A30. This 905g, 162mm x 137mm x 97mm is only designed to fit Socket AM2+, AM3+ and FM1 motherboards, which allows for greater flexibility in the orientation of the mounting brackets. FrostyTech tested it with the fan at both high and low speed settings and found this to be a great heatsink both for high powered systems that need a lot of cooling as well as those systems which need to operate quietly.

"The Freezer A30 heatsink is an updated version of the AC Freezer 13 Pro, but this time around it's shed its copper base plate for bare heatpipes and had its mounting brackets restricted to AMD processors. The Freezer A30 stands 162mm tall, is built around a familiar tower-style-exposed-heatpipe-heatsink format and weighs a hefty 905 grams. The cooler comes with a single 120mm PWM fan which is mounted to the aluminum fin stack via a muscular plastic fan shroud. No additional fans can be mounted."

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CASES & COOLING

Source: Frosty Tech

(80+) Gold Plated PSU roundup

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 26, 2012 - 05:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: 80 Plus Gold, PSU, modular psu, coolermaster, Silent Pro Gold 600W, Cougar, GX G900, Cougar GX G1050, OCZ ZX 1000W, Seasonic SS-850KM

X-bit Labs assembled a wide variety of PSUs which all share one characteristic for a round up. From the lowest powered 600W to the over the top 1050W model, these PSUs all have an 80 Plus Gold rating. You have probably seen the Seasonic, OCZ and CoolerMaster PSUs around before but the Cougar models are a little less common. All but the Seasonic model generated positive reviews, the problem with the Seasonic model being its price; it costs more than the others but does not offer extras to justify that heightened price point. The 600W PSUs are definitely recommended as many mid-range PSUs do not sport the 80 Plus Gold rating. Read on to see how stable the power they provide is.

"Today we are going to talk about five power supply units from Cooler Master, Cougar, OCZ and Seasonic certified according to 80 PLUS Gold standard. Their wattage ranges from 600 to 1050 W, which provides a choice to everyone who is looking for a quality PSU."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: X-Bit Labs

Colorful Raspberry Pi Cases and Set Up Kits Emerge

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 21, 2012 - 10:41 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Raspberry Pi, case, 3d printing

The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently released their ARM powered Linux computer; however, the accompanying case will not be available until later this year. As a result, many enthusiasts are stepping up to the plate to design and fabricate cases of their own for the Raspberry Pi board. Previously, Marco Alici designed a white case with Raspberry Pi logo that could be produced using injection molding techniques (or 3D printers). Now, a new site called Mod My Pi has emerged to offer modders some alternative cases along with start up kits full of all the accessories people need to get their Raspberry Pi board up and running.

Based in the UK, the Raspberry Pi enthusiasts are employing 3D printing technology to produce customizable cases based on ABS Plastic. Further, they are offering up a variety of color choices including blue, red, green, black, and white. Customers can choose two colors to mix an match, one for the top of the case and another for the bottom. The cases are form fitting and are designed to be dust and water resistant. They come as two parts that snap together to nestle the Raspberry Pi board safely. The bottom and side opposite the Ethernet jack provide plenty of vent holes to keep the board from overheating.

If you have a design idea including a specific color or specific logo that you would like to incorporate into your Raspberry Pi case, Mod My Pi has stated that it is willing to work with customers to allow customization of cases to make them even more personalized.

The cases are currently up for pre-order, but are set to begin shipping via First Class Royal Mail for UK orders or through Royal Mail Airmail Small Packets for International orders. Shipping prices will be £1.99 for both UK and International orders, though International orders will naturally take a bit longer to arrive.

In addition to cases, Mod My Pi has put together a start up kit for those in the UK to complement the Raspberry Pi that includes everything a user will need to get the ARM computer up and running, except a display of course. The kit features a Raspberry Pi case, an 8 GB SD card with Debian Linux distribution, small wireless keyboard, wireless mouse, powered 7 port USB 2.0 hub, USB Wi-Fi dongle, USB card reader, 5 V 1000mA UK AC power adapter, micro USB to USB cable, RCA video and audio cables, HDMI cable, and Ethernet cable.

The setup kit is priced at £64.99 including VAT taxes and has a UK only shipping price of £4.99.

Even better, Mod My Pi is donating 5% of all sales of cases, and all profits from Mod My Pi stickers to the official Raspberry Pi Foundation (the charity behind the Raspberry Pi computer). Have you received your Raspberry Pi pre-orders yet? What will you be using for a case, will you be DIYing your own, or will you going with someone else's design? On an unrelated note, there is so much Raspberry Pi in this news post, that I'm getting pretty hungry!

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 26, 2012 - 07:46 PM | Tim Verry Tagged: rosewill r5, rosewill, mid-tower, case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 24, 2012 - 03:10 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: coolermaster, HAF XM, eatx

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | April 21, 2012 - 01:24 AM | Scott Michaud Tagged: mechanical keyboard, corsair

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 18, 2012 - 05:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: enermax, fulmogt jumbo, htpx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 16, 2012 - 06:40 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: seasonic, SS-350TGM, PSU, TFX, SFF

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 11, 2012 - 05:23 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: zalman, CNPS 20LQ, watercooling

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 10, 2012 - 06:03 PM | Scott Michaud Tagged: graphene, cooling

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 5, 2012 - 03:47 PM | Tim Verry Tagged: vengeance, headset, gaming, corsair, case

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 4, 2012 - 04:51 PM | Scott Michaud Tagged: cooler master, mechanical keyboard

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 06:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Silent Pro Hybrid 1300, modular psu, kilowatt, coolermaster, 80 Plus Gold

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 03:18 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GTS Snow Edition, atx

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 12:01 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: case mods, watercooling, toilet, couric

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 27, 2012 - 01:53 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: arctic cooling, amd, freezer a30

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 26, 2012 - 05:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: 80 Plus Gold, PSU, modular psu, coolermaster, Silent Pro Gold 600W, Cougar, GX G900, Cougar GX G1050, OCZ ZX 1000W, Seasonic SS-850KM

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 21, 2012 - 10:41 PM | Tim Verry Tagged: Raspberry Pi, case, 3d printing

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 15, 2012 - 03:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, 80 Plus Bronze, PSU, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 10, 2012 - 06:07 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Deepcool, Ice Wind Pro

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 8, 2012 - 04:21 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, watercooling, all-in-one, WATER2.0, WATER2.0 Pro, WATER2.0 Performer

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 04:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, fsp, aurum pro gold, kilowatt, modular psu

Subject: Cases and Cooling | May 4, 2012 - 12:59 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Gamer Storm, Assassin, heatsink, heatpipes

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 26, 2012 - 07:46 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: rosewill r5, rosewill, mid-tower, case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 24, 2012 - 03:10 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: coolermaster, HAF XM, eatx

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | April 21, 2012 - 01:24 AM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mechanical keyboard, corsair

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 18, 2012 - 05:06 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: enermax, fulmogt jumbo, htpx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 16, 2012 - 06:40 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: seasonic, SS-350TGM, PSU, TFX, SFF

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 11, 2012 - 05:23 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: zalman, CNPS 20LQ, watercooling

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 10, 2012 - 06:03 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: graphene, cooling

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 5, 2012 - 03:47 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: vengeance, headset, gaming, corsair, case

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 4, 2012 - 04:51 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: cooler master, mechanical keyboard

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 06:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Silent Pro Hybrid 1300, modular psu, kilowatt, coolermaster, 80 Plus Gold

Subject: Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 03:18 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GTS Snow Edition, atx

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling | April 3, 2012 - 12:01 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: case mods, watercooling, toilet, couric

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 27, 2012 - 01:53 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: arctic cooling, amd, freezer a30

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 26, 2012 - 05:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: 80 Plus Gold, PSU, modular psu, coolermaster, Silent Pro Gold 600W, Cougar, GX G900, Cougar GX G1050, OCZ ZX 1000W, Seasonic SS-850KM

Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 21, 2012 - 10:41 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Raspberry Pi, case, 3d printing