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Cases

Swiftech's H2O-X20 Edge watercooling kit is effective, if a little loud

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 29, 2011 - 01:14 PM |
Tagged: watercooling, radiator, pump, swiftech, H2O-X20 Edge Liquid Cooling System

Swiftech has assembled a full water cooling kit, including the waterblock, pump and radiator for just over $300.  This is not a self contained cooler like you have seen recently from Corsair and others, this is a more traditional watercooling kit.  That also means it is more powerful when properly set up, in this case you will need to have all three fans on the radiator running or the heat will not be properly dissipated. That need did prompt the only negative comment X-Bit Labs made, which is that for a watercooler this system is rather loud.

xbt_swiftech edge.jpg

"A high-performance liquid-cooling system will definitely cool off any overclocked processors in summer heat. A system like was recently released by the American Swiftech Company. Read our new review for more details!"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: X-Bit Labs

Thermaltake's new semi-modular kilowatt class ToughPower PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 28, 2011 - 01:37 PM |
Tagged: PSU, thermaltake, ToughPower Grand 1200W, kilowatt

Thermaltake has a new top of the line PSU out, the ToughPower Grand 1200W Modular 80+ Gold PSU.  As you can see below, all but the motherboard connectors are modular, which is not going to be a problem for anyone with a cable management fetish.  There are eight 6+2 PCIe connectors for multi-GPU users and a dozen SATA connectors for the storage guru, with dual +12V rails which are 40 amp and 80 amp respectively.  Bjorn3D's testing revealed a few flaws which hurt their opinion of the PSU, especially when they factored in the high price of this unit.  The biggest flaw was the PSU's vulnerability to shorting out if long screws were used to mount it.

bj3d_tt1200w.jpg

"Today, we will be taking a look at Thermaltake's flagship 80Plus Gold Certified ToughPower Grand 1200W Modular Power Supply. While this power supply is designed for overclockers and gamers that use multi-GPU setups, it is not 100% modular. This usually is not a problem with users that run high-end gaming hardware, but it might be a bit frustrating for those that just want to have a powerful PSU for the future but might not be running high-end hardware at first. For instance, its double 8-pin CPU power connector is hard wired into the power supply. Only a very limited number of motherboards support dual 8-pin power connectors, and this type of setup is only necessary for extreme overclockers for extra stability."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Bjorn3D

Corsair's new H100 Extreme Performance watercooler deserves the name

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 26, 2011 - 12:23 PM |
Tagged: watercooling, Corsair H100 Extreme, corsair

[H]ard|OCP takes a look at the new Corsair Hydro Series H100 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler.  It has a very long name for a relatively small self contained watercooling apparatus, though the 240mm radiator will probably not fit in most cases.  That is not really a problem as it is not the best idea to keep your radiator inside the area you are trying to cool, no matter how fast the pair of 120mm fans are going there will be some heat radiated back into the case.   At $120 it is not going to be for everyone and the noise levels are a little high but this new cooler from Corsair is now the best cooler of its type on the market.  You would have to build your own custom cooler to beat it.

H_corsair_H100.jpg

"Corsair comes back to liquid processor cooling with a unit more tuned towards enthusiast needs. Low profile water block and pump unit and a dual length 240mm radiator with two 120mm fans. Let's how well it works when compared to other coolers we already know well."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

1300 watts of golden power from Enermax

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 22, 2011 - 03:07 PM |
Tagged: enermax, kilowatt, 80+ gold, MAXREVO 1350W, PSU

The Enermax MAXREVO 1350W PSU missed getting an 80+ Platinum rating by 1%, which puts it in rare company, kilowatt class or not.  Not only that, but in RealWorldLabs' testing it produced under 40dB under load which is impressively quiet for a 1350W PSU.  With 112 amps available to the six 12V rails and eight PCI-Express connectors ensure support for whatever multi-GPU monster you envision building.  All of that quality and those features do mean a higher price, $300 is the entry fee for this PSU.  It is worth it if you need it.

RWL_maxrevo_1350_006.JPG

"The latest MAXREVO 1350W 80Plus Gold certified power supply unit by Enermax is not only a worthy successor to their already excellent Revolution85+ series but also one of the two most powerful all-modular units in the market with support for future power connectors, right next to its 1500W brother."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: RealWorldLabs

The Corsair Hydro H80 Sealed Loop Water Cooler

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 21, 2011 - 08:05 PM |
Tagged: water cooling, hsf, h80, corsair, cooling

We talked about the Corsair H80 (and H100) all in one water coolers in a previous post as they were announced a few months ago; however, it seems that they are finally out in the wild and ready for review.  Neoseeker has the review ball today and has posted a concise five page review of the device. Forunately, from their testing it seems to stack up well compared to its predecessors, though the review does note that the fan noise can become rather loud.

H80

"...the H80 also includes the same easy to use mounting system as the H60. This was one of the aspects we liked the most about the H60, so we are more than pleased to see it return with this new unit. The low-profile block and 120mm radiator will allow the Corsair H80 to fit into nearly any chassis, with the only exceptions being some of the smaller HTPC cases."

You can read more about the sealed loop water cooler here.

 

And in other case and cooling news:

Cases & Cooling

Source: neoseeker

OCZ Technology Launches ZS Power Supply Series Designed for Mainstream Consumers

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 21, 2011 - 01:38 PM |
Tagged: PSU, ocz, OCZ ZS series

SAN JOSE, CA - July 21, 2011 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc., (Nasdaq:OCZ) a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) and power supplies for computing devices and systems, announces the ZS Power Supply Series that offer consumers superior value for home desktops and gaming systems. Providing high efficiency, cool operation, and a compact case design, the ZS Series offers an excellent price point for system builders looking for a quality upgrade in a variety of power options.

“The new ZS line of power supplies provides customers with the ideal blend of quality, performance, and efficiency for power hungry desktops,” said Steve Lee, Senior Vice President of Power Management at OCZ Technology Group. “The ZS power supplies are available in a range of wattages and are engineered for consumers seeking both solid performance and reliability at a very cost-effective price point.”

ZS_750.jpg

The ZS Series is ideal for system builders and gamers, and is capable of powering dual-GPU platforms equipped for NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX modes. The PSU is kept cool under heavy usage with a large temperature and load-controlled 135mm double ball-bearing fan, and this high-efficiency PSU also meets strict 80-Plus Bronze energy saving requirements by converting up to a full 85% of AC to DC power at typical loads. Furthermore, the ZS Series complies with ErP (Energy Related product) Directive to ensure less than 1W of power is used in passive standby and off modes.

The OCZ ZS Series will be available in 550W, 650W, and 750W models, and all ZS Series power supplies come backed with a three year OCZ PowerSwap Warranty for the ultimate peace of mind.

Source: OCZ Technology

Measuring the small differences; Swiftech and EVGA's mirrored heatsinks

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 21, 2011 - 11:58 AM |
Tagged: evga, EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler; swiftech, Swiftech Polaris 120

The differences between the Swiftech Polaris 120 and EVGA Superclock coolers are very slight, but do add up.  Both take advantage of a new type of direct touch heatpipes, which deal with the main reason not many enthusiasts use them.  In the first generation of direct touch the label was a misnomer as there was a small gap of up to 3mm present between the heatpipes.  The base plate touched the CPU directly but the gap left between the heatpipes defeated the entire purpose of the direct touch approach as it left spaces between the pipes that couldn't remove heat as effectively.  With this pair of coolers, that gap is completely gone.  X-bit Labs takes you through the effectiveness of the new generation of heatpipes as well as the slight differences between Swifttech and EVGA in their newest article.

XBT_swiftech.jpg

"Today we are going to talk about two coolers with identical heatsinks using enhanced direct touch technology in their base. Is it a breakthrough or just another step forward?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: X-Bit Labs

Thermalright's new heatsink is so cool it's macho

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 15, 2011 - 12:42 PM |
Tagged: thermalright, quiet

Thermalright's Macho HR-02 CPU Cooler is an upgrade to the existing HR-02 heatsink which was originally designed to be used as an 860g passive cooler.  The upgrade is a bundled 140mm fan, designed for quiet operation and able to have its speed controlled to allow for even quieter operation.  Thermalright succeeded in their aims, not only does the fan vastly improve the performance of the cooler, RealWorldLabs was also impressed by how quietly it operated.

RWL_machoa.jpg

"The very recently launched Macho HR-02 CPU Air Cooler is actually an TY-140 140mm PWM silent fan bundled with the already excellent, yet somewhat bulky standalone HR-02 passive CPU Cooler by Thermalright which also passed from our test bench almost a year ago."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: RealWorldLabs

Spire Unveils New Full Tower PC Case Filled With Drive Bays

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 14, 2011 - 03:16 PM |
Tagged: full tower, atx, spire

Spire, The Netherlands-based supplier of enclosures, cooling solutions, and power supplies announced the availability of a new PC case aimed at gamers and overclockers. Dubbed the Epoxi rev. 2, the ATX full tower enclosure is constructed from .8mm SECC steel and aluminum front panels. Accommodating ATX motherboards, up to five 5.25” and six 3.5” tool-less drive bays, and six 120mm fans, Spire claims that the case is perfect for use with high wattage devices and water cooling components through the use of two rubber grommets providing exterior access. Thumb screw secured panels, anti-vibration mountings, front port eSATA, and a sleek design are all nice touches. Further, the case features rotating feet and a bottom mounted PSU design.

SP6002B-CE-R_2.jpg

 

 

On the inside, the case features the same dark design as the exterior in addition to a CPU back plate cut-out and wire routing holes that provide access to the area between the motherboard tray and side panel to hide PSU and other cables. From the image above, it is apparent that this case has no shortage of available drive bays! Weighing in at 13.5kg, it wont be easily toted around to LAN parties; however, it will gladly house all your components at home and keep them nice and cool- perhaps even when bitcoin mining ;).

SP6002B-CE-R_9.jpg

 

 

Spire lists the new case as having an MSRP of 139.95 USD (108.95 EURO) and is now available from their European distribution center in The Netherlands.  More photos of the case are available here.

Source: Spire

Thermaltake's new Level 10 GT takes both price and features down a notch

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 12, 2011 - 12:19 PM |
Tagged: thermaltake, level 10 gt

When the original Thermaltake Level 10 case came out it was $850 and while it did represent a unique blend of functionally cooling individual components with BMW's sense of style it was so expensive most people never gave it a second thought.  We now have a new version of this case, called the Level 10 GT which has a significantly reduced MSRP.  The case is not quite as modular as the original but still manages to incorporate the heat zone concept of the previous model as well as the external screws and drive caddys.  In the end [H]ard|OCP was fairly impressed with the redesigned case, though a few shortcomings prevented it from taking a Gold Award away.

H_level10gt.jpg

"While certainly not new The Thermaltake Level 10 is still very much an eye catching and original chassis. Thermaltake has updated this chassis icon with the new Level 10 GT. This time the price is down in the mid-$200 making this GT a lot easier on the wallet than the previous Level 10. Is there function to its form, or is it all show?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

The Scythe Chouriki 2 Plug-In 850 W isn't worth a 2nd glance

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 7, 2011 - 06:22 PM |
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, scythe, chouriki 2

Starting out with the positive, the Scythe Chouriki 2 Plug-In 850W can keep it's efficiency well above 80% in most usage scenarios.  Unfortunately that is about the only positive impressions that techPowerUp walked away with after wrapping up their reveiw.  The +12V line displayed dismaying amounts of ripple and the +3.3V rail actually strayed outside the 5% limit when stressed.  Finally, at a hair under $180 the Scythe Chouriki 2 Plug-In 850W is not even reasonably priced for an 850W PSU.

TPU_choukuri2.jpg

"Most of you will probably know Scythe from its cooling products, but the company also has several power supplies in its arsenal. Today we will test the second strongest PSU from the Chouriki 2 Plug-In line, which has 850 W capacity and is 80 Plus Silver rated. All Chouriki 2 Plug-In PSUs use a semi-modular cabling design and are backed up by a five-year warranty."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: TechPowerUp

The Silverstone Raven RV03 is one topsy-turvy case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 7, 2011 - 03:10 PM |
Tagged: Silverstone, raven rv03

If you remember Steve's review of the SilverStone Raven RV02, you will be familiar with the unique setup of this series of cases.   Your motherboards backplate, as well as the exhaust of your PSU are located at the very top of the case, as is a large exhaust fan.  That feature is the biggest aesthetic change in the case, with the shroud that hides the wiring and plugs gaining several fin like protrusions as opposed to a flat mesh top.  Unfortunately the placement for your storage drives is still in a difficult place to reach, as it was with the RV02.  Overall The Tech Report liked the internal size of the case as well as the look, but felt the asking price of $160 put it in a league with much better cases.

TR_Raven03.jpg

"This oddball enclosure from Silverstone turns age-old concepts on their head: the motherboard tray is rotated 90 degrees, several drive bays sit directly behind it, and the PSU fits at the front. Do those eccentricities make the Raven RV03 cooler, quieter, or easier to use than the competition?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: The Tech Report

Willing to try a new water cooler? Check out the Larkooler KU3-241

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 4, 2011 - 03:31 PM |
Tagged: water cooling, Larkooler, water block, radiator

The Larkooler KU3-241 Extreme Performance G1/4" Liquid Cooling Kit, is an all in one cooling system from a company that not many have heard of.  The kit consists of a pump, reservoir, radiator and water block; even coolant and tubing are included in the package.  XtremeComputing reports that it sells overseas for less that 200 Euros, which makes it expensive but not overly when compared to some other watercooling kits. The performance was good but they were very disappointed to find that the waterblock is not compatible with LGA1155, so you European Sandy Bridge users will have to wait for a new model.

XTC_larkooler.jpg

"Today I will be reviewing the Larkooler KU3-241 ‘Extreme Performance G1/4" Liquid Cooling Kit’. I have never heard of GBU or Larkooler before, so we are in unchartered waters with this new water cooling kit. I have dabbled with water-cooling before, primarily working with Swiftech components, so I know what to expect from the big names – let’s see how this new contender fares."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: XtremeComputing

Video Perspective: Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T Case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 1, 2011 - 12:12 PM |
Tagged: white, graphite, corsair, chassis, 600t

Corsair released the Graphite Series 600T case to the world last September but for 2011 the company is revamping the design with a new coat of paint and an interchangeable side panel that includes both a window and a fan-capable mesh option in the box. 

600twhite1.png

The Corsair Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T Case offers the exact same feature set as the previous 600T which are items like sturdy construction, intuitive cable routing for a clean installation for all users, front USB 3.0 port access and removable intake filters.  The legacy of the Obsidian 800D and 700D cases is definitely alive in this much less expensive option.

See more photos and the award for the white Corsair 600T after the break!

Source: Corsair

BitFenix expands their sub $100 enclosure line up

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 29, 2011 - 01:32 PM |
Tagged: bitfenix, shinobi window

BitFenix's Shinobi Window is anything but a high end case, more in line with some of NZXT's offerings which include as many features as possible while staying under the $100 mark.  The USB and audio connectors, as well as the power button have all been moved to the top of the case, along with a large exhaust area which is wide open as this mid-tower case has the PSU located on the bottom. The side panel does indeed have a window and the motherboard tray has a hole cut into it for easy access to your heatsinks backplate.  Tool-less assembly and wire management features are included as are grommets for watercooling.  The Tech Report does make mention of the non-windowed version which costs $10 less and might be even more attractive to the value conscious case shopper.

TR_bitfenix_shinobi.jpg

"We're taking an in-depth look at the Shinobi Window, a mainstream mid-tower enclosure from the folks at Bit Fenix. We've run the case through our usual battery of tests to determine if it's a worthy contender at $70."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: The Tech Report

A new and improved high powered Professional Series PSU from Corsair

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 28, 2011 - 11:56 AM |
Tagged: PSU, hx1050, corsair, 80+ silver

The original Corsair Professional Series HX1000W was well received when it arrived, Lee handed it a Gold Award at the end of his review.  They have updated their HX lineup with the new HX1050 which keeps the original design and components but adds a few more watts to the peak power rating. The single 12V rail can provide 87.5A and with six 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors, this PSU was designed with the extreme enthusiast in mind.  TechPowerUp put the HX1050 through their test suite, seeing solid power provided throughout the testing and efficiency at or above the 80 Plus rating that Corsair advertises. At $230 this is a fairly expensive PSU but if you need this amount of power you could do worse than the Corsair Professional Series HX1050.

TPU_corsair_hx1050.jpg

"At Computex 2011 Corsair revealed a new model for the Professional HX series, the HX1050 which will replace the successful HX1000. The OEM remained the same, Channel Well Technology, the capacity increased by 50 W and efficiency remained at 80 Plus Silver. It seems like this PSU has what it takes to be a cost-effective alternative to the Corsair AX1200."

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

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: TechPowerUp

A round up for the case fan

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 24, 2011 - 03:48 PM |
Tagged: gaming case, roundup

If you have a hankering for a case that does more than just hold your components then heading over to TechSpot might be a bad idea for your wallet.  They've gathered a half dozen cases which are all less than $200 and come with a wide variety of features and looks.  They also take the time to compare the air cooling performance of the cases as picking an enclosure is not just about the looks.  BitFenix's Colossus did not come out looking good in comparison to others in it's price range as a case $70 cheaper managed to show it up in every area.

TS_cases2.jpg

"With dozens of affordable, well-equipped desktop cases begging for your cash, it can be a nightmare to find the right one for your needs. Hoping to simplify your building experience, we've assembled a shortlist of six unique sub-$200 enthusiast chassis that deserve your attention.

Included in our roundup is BitFenix's flagship Colossus Venom Edition, and their new budget Shinobi mid-tower. The Cooler Master Storm Enforcer and the highly acclaimed HAF X making an appearance in Nvidia-green. Rounding up the review is Lian Li's LanCool PC-K63 chassis and Thermaltake's Chaser MK-1."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: TechSpot

Cooling multiple Socket G34 Opterons

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 21, 2011 - 02:10 PM |
Tagged: magny cours, opteron, 2U

Bay Reviews got their hands on Thermaltake's CLS0017 CPU cooler for Socket G34 processors, specifically designed for 2U cases with multiple physical CPUs.  Right off the bat the 70mm fan says a lot about how little heat the Opteron 6100 series CPUs produce compared to enthusiast parts.  Most users are not going to be satisfied with that which is why they also tried the FrozenCPU 70mm to 120mm Blue UV Reactive Fan Adapter so you can get better cooling at the cost of increased size.  Check out their review here.

BR_TT_CLS0017 .jpeg

"With the pending release of the 16 core AMD Opteron Interlagos processor, now is definitely the time to consider building a new dual CPU workstation. Until recently, the only problem for computer enthusiasts was finding a reliable CPU cooler for these elite AMD 6100 series processors.

Thanks to the Thermaltake CLS0017 CPU cooler, the wait is finally over. What are the peak AMD 6128 CPU temperatures that you can expect from the Thermaltake CLS0017? What sort of upgrade options are there for the 70MM fan? Read On To Find Out!"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Bay Reviews

Enermax extends their low cost PSU line with the LEPA 850W

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 20, 2011 - 05:27 PM |
Tagged: lepa, enermax, PSU, 850W

The LEPA B850 is a little odd when you look at it behind the scenes, as it is a low cost Enermax PSU but it is made by Sirfa.  That kind of inbreeding is not exceptional when it comes to PSUs but is sometimes worth noting.  It sports an 80+ Bronze rating and its four 12V rails are split between a pair of 20A and a pair of 30A rails which makes it worth your while to determine which plugs are feeding your GPU.  It passed the [H]ard|OCP torture tests which qualify it as a decent PSU but [H] had several caveats about purchasing this PSU.  First is the warranty which might be between 3 and 5 years or maybe 2 years, it is hard to tell from the documentation.  Second was the value as Enermax already has the NAXN line which is comparable to LEPA and that competitors like XFX and Corsair offer products that are at least as good and cost less than this LEPA unit.

H_LEPA850W.jpg

"For those of you that do not know, LEPA is what we would call Enermax' low cost "house brand" of PSU. No, it specifications are not up to those of most worthy Enermax units, but then again, neither is the price. How does LEPA do with its second unit reviewed here at HardOCP?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

It's not just a PSU, it's a Lazer Platinum PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 16, 2011 - 02:38 PM |
Tagged: Kingwin, PSU, super flower

PSU naming schemes are getting a little ridiculous, trying to state that the Lazer Platinum is a Super Flower Gold King with a straight face is not easy.  The names aside, Kingwin's latest PSU offers features that will make you sit up with interest.  The efficiency of the PSU is above 90% in all but a few low load scenarios and the cooling fan hardly ever turns on thanks to a very good design.  You will pay more for the Kingwin LZP-550 Lazer Platinum but as far as TechPowerUp is concerned it is a worthy investment.

TPU_platinum_flowery_thang.jpg

"The Kingwin Lazer Platinum LZP-550 is based on Super Flower's platinum platform (Golden King 550W) and according to the manufacturer achieves over 92% efficiency. The power supply's fan will only spin beyond a certain temperature, so the PSU will emit no noise at low loads. In our review we find that this power supply is the best model available in its power range at this time."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: TechPowerUp

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