Home » News
View news by subject:
All | Editorial | General Tech | Graphics Cards | Networking | Motherboards | Cases and Cooling | Processors | Chipsets | Memory | Displays | Systems | Storage | Mobile | Shows and Expos
Cases

Fractal Design Integrates USB 3.0 Support Into New Core 3000 USB 3.0 ATX Chassis

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 5, 2013 - 09:21 AM |
Tagged: usb 3.0, mid tower, fractal design, core 3000 usb 3.0, Core 3000, atx case

Fractal Design has taken its budget-friendly mid-tower Core 3000 case, and updated it with USB 3.0 support on the front IO panel. The new SKU is aptly named the Fractal Design Core 3000 USB 3.0.

7b.jpg

The new case is essentially an upgrade to the Core 3000. It is a black case with white accents on the drive carriages and PCI expansion slots. The front panel of the case features two optical disc drive bays and a dust filter covered by a mess grill. The top of the case holds an exhaust port and a new front IO panel. The IO panel includes two audio jacks, power and reset buttons, power and hard drive activity LEDs, two USB 2.0 ports, and two USB 3.0 ports.

Fractal Design Case.jpg

The Core 3000 USB 3.0 case has room for two 5.25” drives and up to six 3.5” or 2.5” drives (with the top drive cage being removable). Seven PCI expansion slots, a CPU cutout, and cable management/routing holes are all standard features of the Core 3000 USB 3.0 case.

On the cooling front, the mid tower chassis comes equipped with three Silent Series R2 fans out of the box along with a total of seven fan cutouts. By default, there is one 140mm 1,000 RPM intake fan in the front, one 120mm 1,200 RPM exhaust fan in the back, and one 140mm 1,000 RPM fan attached to the top of the case.

7c.jpg

The available fan positions are as follows:

  • Front of the case:
    • 1 x 120mm fan
    • 1 x 140mm fan
  • Top of the case:
    • 2 x 120mm or 140mm fans
  • Rear of the case:
    • 1 x 120mm fan
  • Side of the case:
    • 1 x 120mm fan
  • Bottom of the case:
    • 1 x 120mm fan

The Core 3000 USB 3.0 case has a MSRP of $74.95 in the US. All in all, it looks to be a decent case for the price. You can find more information on the product page.

Source: Fractal Design

Tranquil PC Launches £99 Fanless Case For Intel NUC Platform

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 3, 2013 - 06:14 AM |
Tagged: tranquil, nuc, fanless, case

Tranquil PC, a case manufacturer and system integrator based in the UK, recently announced a new aluminum chassis for Intel’s NUC motherboards. The new chassis acts as a heatsink and will keep your NUC system running cool without needing case fans. Tranquil is offering two versions of the case – the NUC-BY and NUC-YE – which are compatible with both the D33217CK (Thunderbolt-equipped) and D33217GKE (Gigabit Ethernet-equipped) Intel NUC boards respectively.

nuc_ISO1_Front__24297.1359146622.1280.1280.jpg

The two Tranquil NUC cases are nearly identical, but they differ in the IO cutouts offered (naturally). The cases measure 110 x 164 x 47mm and resembles a black heatsink with its horizontal fins and brushed aluminum design. The chassis is reportedly able to keep the Next Unit of Computing (NUC) system 5 to 15 degrees centigrade cooler than the reference Intel NUC case that uses an active fan. Hopefully, the case-as-a-heatsink design will help to mitigate the overheating problems that many reviewers (including PC Perspective) have run into when performing network transfers to the SSD over Wi-Fi.

 

back_ISO_with_antena__68841.1359378123.1280.1280.jpg

It is a streamlined design with port only the expected port cutouts and a rubberized power button on the rear of the device. No LED-lit logos or extra buttons to speak of. You can, however, have Tranquil laser-engrave a custom message onto the chassis for an additional fee.

The front of the case features a single USB port while the rear IO will depend on your particular NUC board. The D33217CK board includes one Thunderbolt, one HDMI, two USB 2.0 ports, and a 65W DC power input jack. On the other hand, the D33217GKE motherboard has a DC-in jack, two USB 2.0 ports, two HDMI outputs, and a single Gigabit LAN jack. Additionally, the Tranquil cases have a cutout for an externally-mounted Wi-Fi antenna (as the aluminum casing is not well-suited to housing an internal antenna).

 

nuc_back__99310__07551.1359147907.1280.1280.jpg

Both Tranquil NUC cases are available now for a base price of £99. A VESA mount adds an additional £17. Further, VAT and shipping charges may apply depending on where you are ordering from. In USD, the Tranquil cases have a base price of $155.62. While I do not get charged VAT, I do have to pay shipping, and it is not cheap at approximately $33 to ship to the mid-west US. In my case, ordering one NUC case and having it shipped to Illinois would cost $207.41. Ouch.

The Tranquil PC NUC case with its brushed aluminum and fanless design is extremely nice. Unfortunately, that build quality does not come cheap, and will add to the overall cost of putting together your NUC system. If you have the money for it though, it looks to be one of the best cases available for the new 4” x 4” NUC motherboards.

More information is available on the Tranquil PC website.

Source: Fanless Tech

If you aren't whitening your case, it is yellowing ...

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 31, 2013 - 01:29 PM |
Tagged: Retr0bright, DIY, ultraviolet, crest

Back in the ancient days of computing before cases came in all colours of the rainbow, we made due with a standard creamy white colour, which over time became a shade of yellow usually associated with Bingo halls or greasy spoon diners.  While white or cream coloured cases have gone out of style, there are still systems which are housed in nasty yellow stained plastic cases and Hardware Secrets can tell you how to whiten them to the colour TV commercials would have you believe your teeth should be.  The trick is called Retr0bright and uses both a hydrogen peroxide bath and UV lighting to restore cases to a more appealing white.  The process isn't perfect, make sure you read their caveats before beginning your project.

HWS_whiten.jpg

"Plastic parts of older computers become yellow or brown over time, so you end up with a computer that looks yellow or brown instead of white or gray. In this tutorial, we will show you how to restore old plastic parts to their original color by using a homemade peroxide-based solution called Retr0bright."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Hardware Secrets

Kingwin's new Power Force PSUs arrive

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 29, 2013 - 01:46 PM |
Tagged: PSU, Kingwin, Power Force 850W, modular psu

Kingwin's $110 Power Force 850W PSU is not as well appointed as other 850W PSUs but is also much lower in price.  With four 6/8 pin PCIe connectors and 8 SATA power connectors some users might feel a bit cramped but with 70A of power on the 12V line it seems that the unit can be useful for many. [H]ard|OCP tested the PSU to see if it is indeed worth the purchase price and were glad to see it pass all their tests, though perhaps not with flying colours.  This is the first Power Force PSU that they have seen, if Kingwin can keep the quality high and the price low they may make some inroads into recognized PSU suppliers.

H_PowerForce850W .jpg

"While not a "go to" enthusiast brand, Kingwin has produced some excellent computer desktop power supplies over the last five years and these have usually be great values. Does Kingwin continue the trend with its new Power Force 850W model sporting good efficiency, modular cabling, and reasonable pricing."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

OCZ Technology Adds New 750W and 850W Power Supply Models to Its PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III Portfolio

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 28, 2013 - 02:21 PM |
Tagged: psu. ocz, silencer mk III, 80 Plus Gold

When OCZ first purchased PC Power & Cooling there were concerns that the quality could suffer and when you invest in a 750W or higher rated PSU you probably expect that you will be using it through a few system hardware upgrades.  Since the new Silencer Mk III PSUs come with a 7 year warranty it would seem that OCZ has plenty of confidence in their products.  Not only will these PSUs perform quietly in most situations, the 80 PLUS Gold rating ensures the efficiency of the units as well.

OCZmk2_750.png

SAN JOSE, Ca. – January 28, 2013 - OCZ Technology Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:OCZ), a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) and power management solutions for computing devices and systems, today announced that it has added 750W and 850W power supply unit (PSU) models to the award-winning Silencer Mk III Power Supply Series from PC Power & Cooling. With these new high-wattage options, the Silencer Mk III provides a professional-grade power solution rated for industrial usage and provides the performance and stability required for demanding computing environments.

“Building on our highly reputable Silencer Mk III core architecture, we are very pleased to deliver new high-wattage options that provide the ultimate in efficiency and stability while delivering ultra-quiet operation and a modular cable design for which this portfolio is highly regarded,” said Bob Roark, Vice-President of Power Management for OCZ Technology. “With the addition of 750W and 850W models, the Silencer Mk III Power Supply Series once again defines the ultimate power management solution for today’s professional and enthusiast users.”

OCZmk2_850.png

The Silencer Mk III 750W and 850W are rock-solid power supply solutions that meet the stringent 80 Plus Gold certification for exceptional energy-efficiency ratings and support over 90 percent efficiency under typical workloads. Featuring its popular Dual Thermal Control System (a sophisticated operation that allows either PSU model to be switched seamlessly between normal and silent modes), the Silencer Mk III works in conjunction with the load and temperature controlled fan for ultra-quiet operation. Additionally, the entire Silencer Mk III Series combines a single +12V rail, premium components (including 100 percent Japanese 105°C capacitors), rigorous protection circuitries, continuous stable output at a demanding 50°C ambient temperature, and heavy-duty chrome finish metallic cable connectors to provide excellent conductivity and lower resistance when compared to other power supplies on the market.

Where industrial-grade durability meets a sleek modular design, the Silencer Mk III 750W and 850W models are available immediately and are backed with PC Power & Cooling’s complete confidence in reliability and supported by an industry-leading 7 year warranty.

Source: OCZ Technologies

The Raidmax Orion mid-tower is smaller than it looks

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 23, 2013 - 02:49 PM |
Tagged: Raidmax, Orion, mid-tower

Currently only $80 on NewEgg, the Raidmax Orion mid-tower case sports more features than you might expect; a front panel with two USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0, headphone and microphone jacks, power and reset buttons and an integral fan controller with two knobs, one for fan speed and one for LED brightness.  It comes with three 120mm fans, one sporting LEDs and can handle 140mm fans if you wish to swap in your own and a filtered 120mm port on the bottom of the case for your PSU.  Unfortunately [H]ard|OCP found a number of flaws with the case including hard to install drives to a lack of tool-less installation setting up a system was difficult especially when you consider its dimensions, at 511mm x 192mm x 502mm (20.1" x 7.5" x 19.8") which are too small to accommodate high end coolers and don't even think about triple SLI.

H_raidmax_orion.jpg

"Raidmax is a big name worldwide in budget computer cases. Today we have a chance to look at its Orion case that sports a very long list of nice features as well as remembering the important things like air flow, cable routing, and dust control. Do all of these worthy features go along with a lower cost case?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

The Thermalright AXP-100 cooler keeps a low profile

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 17, 2013 - 07:05 PM |
Tagged: thermalright, axp-100, heatsink, low profile

If you need a heatsink for a low profile PC like an HTPC your choices are much more limited and the high end coolers with kilogram of metal are simply not going to fit unless you cut a blower into your case.  Thermalright saw an opening that they could fill perfectly with their new AXP-100, which weighs under 400g and is (L) 121.1mm x (W) 105.47mm x (H) 44.15mm, significantly smaller than most heatsinks on the market.  [H]ard|OCP slapped in on their test bench and were pleased to see that it beat the stock cooler handily and were even more pleased to see that it could handle an overclock.  Check out their full review here.

H-axp100.jpg

"Thermalright, one of [H]’s long time favorites when it comes to CPU cooling, reaches out today with a cooler designed for smaller ITX and HTPC systems. Full nickel plating, 140mm and 120mm fan compatibility, and a mere 5.8cm height with the fan installed allows a big compatibility footprint in a very small package."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Corsair Super-sizes Hydro Series Liquid Coolers with 280mm and 140mm Sizes

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 17, 2013 - 02:11 PM |
Tagged: water cooling, radiator, Hydro Series, H90, H110, corsair, 280mm, 140mm

Corsair is thinking big with their Hydro series of self contained watercoolers, the $130 H110 model sports a 280mm radiator while the $100 H90 is a smaller 140mm, both using Corsair's high static pressure 140mm fans for cooling.  That should keep the noise down as well as your temperatures and as long as your case supports 140mm fans you should be able to mount the radiators with no problem. 

H110_hero_fans.png

My hero!

 

FREMONT, California—January 17, 2013—Corsair, designer of high-performance PC hardware components, today announced the Hydro Series H110 and H90 liquid CPU coolers. With huge radiator cooling surfaces areas of 280mm and 140mm respectively and specially designed 140mm low-speed, high static pressure fans, the new coolers deliver superior CPU cooling and quieter operation than smaller 120mm designs.

The Hydro Series H110 is a low-noise, high-performance liquid CPU cooler with a double-length 280mm by 140mm radiator. The H110 radiator's large surface area provides more contact room for heat dissipation and for side-by-side mounting of dual fans. Each fan is a specially-designed low-speed 140mm static pressure fan, which moves much more air per decibel of noise than 120mm fans. Combined, the larger radiators and lower fan-speeds produce better performance with much lower noise levels than smaller 120mm dual-fan coolers. The H110 fits cases with dual 140mm top fan mounts and 20mm screw spacing.

H90_hero_fan.png

The Hydro Series H90, like the H110, is a low-noise, high-performance liquid CPU cooler, but with a more compact square 140mm radiator and a single 140mm static pressure fan. The large radiator and spacious surface area combined with lower fan-speeds produce better performance than smaller 120mm single fan coolers with lower noise. The H90 is compatible with many cases with a rear or top 140mm fan mount.

The Hydro Series H110 and H90 liquid coolers feature an enhanced copper cold plate with soaks up heat more efficiently than previous generation designs. Both coolers are compatible with most modern CPU platforms including AMD AM2, AM3, AM3+, FM2 and FM1 and Intel LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA 1366, and LGA 2011.

"Many PC enthusiasts choose liquid cooling for its extreme cooling efficiency and quiet operation," said Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. "To take liquid cooling the next level, we super-sized the Hydro Series H110 and H90, providing users our best cooling-to-noise ratio ever."

Pricing and Availability
The Corsair Hydro Series H110 and Hydro Series H90 liquid coolers are immediately available from Corsair’s worldwide network of resellers and distributors. Suggested retail prices in the United States are $129.99 for the H110 and $99.99 for the H90.

For more information on Corsair Hydro Series Liquid CPU Coolers, please visit: http://www.corsair.com/us/cpu-cooling-kits/hydro-series-water-cooling-cpu-cooler.html

Source: Corsair

Seasonic's new G-series PSU is rated gold in more ways than one

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 14, 2013 - 03:26 PM |
Tagged: PSU, 80 Plus Gold, Seasonic G-Series, G-550

Seasonic's G-550W provides a bit more than just 550W and a 45A 12V line, modular cabling and an 80 PLUS Gold rating are also included in the $85 price tag.  Those features do not in themselves guarantee that this PSU is worth picking up which is why [H]ard|OCP strapped it into their torture chamber to test the quality of power you can expect from the PSU.  The news is good for Seasonic's G Series, once the power was shut off and the testing completed this PSU walked away with an Editor's Choice Gold Award as [H] felt that not only does this PSU deliver everything they expected it to, in some cases it was "fighting above its weight".

H_seasonicG550.jpg

"The Seasonic G Series PSU is here for review in its 550 watt capacity and it looks to be a return to basics for the company with this being basically a "no-frills" unit that has been released without much fanfare. But the basics for Seasonic usually outline what you truly need in a PSU; reliable clean power with a low sound profile."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

CES 2013: Lian-Li Shows Off Brushed Aluminum PC-N1 Chassis for Intel’s NUC

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 10, 2013 - 09:50 AM |
Tagged: nuc, Lian Li PC-N1, Lian Li, Intel, ces 2013, CES

The crew over at Overclockers Club stopped by the Lian Li booth to check out the company's latest cases at this year's CES. One interesting addition to Lian Li's case lineup is the PC-N1 which is a third party replacement chassis for Intel's NUC motherboards. Specifically, the PC-N1 case is designed to host Intel's D33217CK and D33217GKE boards. The chassis is constructed of aluminum and features a black burshed aluminum design. A recessed, silver colored, power button is on the top of the case, a single USB port is on the front, and the standard rear IO layout for NUC board is on the back of the case. That includes a DC power jack, two USB ports, two HDMI outputs, and a RJ45 Ethernet jack. Notably absent is s cutout in the case for a Thunderbolt port (perhaps there is a PC-N2 case on the way?).

Lian Li PC-N1 NUC Chassis.jpg

The PC-N1 meaures 122 x 40 x 108mm. Because it is completely aluminum, it may help with keeping the NUC components cool like the many HTPC cases on the market with heatpipes that draw heat from the processor into the chassis. No word yet on pricing or availability, unfortunately. In my opinion, it looks really nice, though I've always been partial to look of Lian Li's brushed aluminum cases (I have one sitting under my desk as I type this heh). Overclockers Club has additional photos of the PC-N1 as well as several other upcoming PC cases that are worth a look.

Read the full review of Intel's Next Unit of Computing platform at PC Perspective.

Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!

PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.

Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!

Source: Overclockers Club

HDPLEX Introduces H3.TODD and H5.TODD Fanless Cases

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 10, 2013 - 09:09 AM |
Tagged: htpc, HDPLEX, h5.todd, h3.todd, fanless

Custom case manufacture HDPLEX recently introduces two new fanless cases with the H3.TODD and H5.TODD. Both cases support mini-ITX motherboards and would blend well into your home AV rack. The fanless chassis are constructed of 6063T aluminum and come in powder coated black or brushed aluminum silver. The H3.TODD and H5.TODD are cases that also double as CPU heatsinks by way of copper heatpipes that carry heat away from the processor into the aluminum case. Both can support processors up to 75W TPDs without requiring fans.

Both the H3.TODD and H5.TODD are compatible with LGA 775, 1155, and 1156 Intel processors and AMD AM2, AM3, FM1, and FM2 chips. Further, the cases come with a single USB 3.0 port on the front. HDPLEX will also include a power supply and IR reciever with the cases for an additional fee.

H3TODD Case.jpg

The H3.TODD measures 325 x 298 x 60mm and weighs 12.5 lbs (5.5 kg). The case supports mini-ITX motherboards, 3.5” hard drives, and 12.7mm optical drives.

H3TODD Case (2).jpg

On the other hand, the H5.TODD is a wider case that can support both Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX form factor motherboards as well as a single full height PCI-E expansion card. The case measures 325 x 438 x 60mm and is a total of 16 lbs (7.5kg) by itself.

The H3.TODD is available for pre-order now for $248 while the H5.TODD is currently in stock for $275. Pre-orders for the H3.TODD should being shipping on January 25, 2013.

You can find more photos of the cases on the HDPLEX website.

Source: FanlessTech

CES 2013: NZXT Phantom 630 Case

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Shows and Expos | January 8, 2013 - 04:45 PM |
Tagged: nzxt, ces 2013, CES

Am I the only one who thinks the slanting between the metal and the grating on the front of that case looks like a play on The Phantom of the Opera?

NXZT-630-Gunmetal.jpg

NZXT wants the Phantom 630 to be the case for the desires of every enthusiast. While you can never satisfy the type to cram an i7 into a toaster, the 630 does seem to have a nice feature checklist and a lot of nooks and crannies to hide your components. To illustrate their design in a single bullet point: you can fit not one, but two SSDs behind the motherboard tray to keep them out of the way. The rest of the drives are installed in bays which can be rearranged in different configurations.

NZXT-630-White.jpg

The case is also designed with water cooling in mind. NZXT claims support for both 3x120 and 2x120 radiators. Unfortunately, liquid cooled machines are a foreign concept to me so I am not sure how difficult those radiators are to fit in conventional cases. I mean, I figure that a 3x120 radiator is over a foot long because I understand the metric system, but I have never experienced the struggle of trying to stick it somewhere. That said, I assume if you are in to sort of thing you could decide for yourself immediately. Also included is a 30Watt single-channel fan controller integrated into the case.

The Phantom 630 will be expecting to retail for $179.99 when it comes to market in Matte-Black, Gunmetal, and White options.

Press release after the break

Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!

PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.

Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!

Source: NZXT

Corsair's compact Carbide case keeps cards cool

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 8, 2013 - 12:51 PM |
Tagged: Carbide Series 200R, corsair, mid-tower

Corsair may refer to the Carbide 200R as a compact mid tower system but as you can see below [H]ard|OCP shoved in triple SLI, even if they are only GTX 280's.  The PSU is located at the bottom of the system and has an opening directly under it with a removable filter that you don't need to lift the case to get at.  This case is definitely aimed at air-coolers as you can mount 2 fans in the top of the case and on the side panel and 1 in the front, bottom and rear of the case.  Check out the full review here.

H_Carbide200.jpg

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy and Corsair looks to remedy that with its Carbide Series 200R; or something like that. Outside of the motherboard installation, no tools required is the message Corsair is looking to get across about this compact size "mid-tower" case."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Corsair Releases the Kraken: 900D Engulfs All

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 8, 2013 - 11:37 AM |
Tagged: corsair, 900D, obsidian, big case, kraken, swallows 650D, CES, ces 2013

Corsair had quite a few announcements this CES 2013, but none were as big as this one.  The rumors had been swirling about a massive case in the bowels of the Corsair headquarters, and today we get to see the reality of the situation.

It truly is a monster.

corsair_900D.jpg

The Obsidian 900D is so large a previous gen 650D can fit inside it.  It supports up to two power supplies, 15 fan mounts, 15 potential drives (when buying an optional, extra cage), four removable dust filters, and five watercooling point mounts.

Have I mentioned this is a big case?

corsair_900D_02.jpg

It is built entirely out of a steel and cast aluminum frame, which is good considering how big this case is.  Hopefully there will be enough lateral stiffness so the case does not warp or bend once it is fully loaded.

Availabilty and price are still a bit up in the air, but expect it the first half of this year.  Expect it to be pricey.  Overkill at any price?  Sign me up.

Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!

PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.

Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!

Source: Corsair 900D

CES 2013: Corsair Raptor Yields Apter Adapters

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Shows and Expos | January 8, 2013 - 09:00 AM |
Tagged: raptor gaming, corsair, ces 2013, CES

Corsair purchased German peripheral company, Raptor Gaming, in the middle of last August. Today Corsair announced the availability of a whole line of Raptor products to complement their well-known Vengeance series. Now Corsair has two whole product lines to populate with goodies.

K3_diag02_black.jpg

The Raptor line currently consists of PC gaming keyboards, mice, and headsets. The line should be available immediately in both the United States as well as Raptor’s home country of Germany.

The main advantage of the Raptor product line is that they contain “more conventional materials”, as per Corsair’s description, to broaden their price spectrum. As an example, while the Vengeance line of keyboards is mechanical, the Raptor should be based on membrane-dome technology found in the common keyboard.

If you are not in the US or Germany, other regions should be added within the next 6 months.

Press release after the break.

Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!

PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.

Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!

Source: Corsair

FSP's new Raider series of PSUs

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 7, 2013 - 04:52 PM |
Tagged: PSU, FSP RAIDER, 750w

FSP has been making PSUs for a long time now, usually providing decent quality components that might not stand out against other companies flagship models but that do a decent job for what they are needed for.  That is repeated in the Raider series as they chose a non-modular design and only four 6+2pin PCIe connectors though it does have an 80 PLUS Bronze rating, both of those choices helped keep the price down as it is currently $80 on NewEgg.  Price is not everything as [H]ard|OCP proved when they put this PSU through their torture tests and watched it provide voltages well out of specifications as well as offering poor support.

H_Raider.jpg

"With single GPU and CPU enthusiast desktop computer systems coming down in power, mid-level power supplies are once again becoming the sweet spot. FSP claims its new RAIDER series PSU is the "best choice in performance." We put its RAIDER 750 watt unit to the test to see if it is the best choice for you."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Brace Yourself: The PC Perspective CES 2013 Coverage is Coming!

Subject: Graphics Cards, Networking, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Systems, Storage, Mobile, Shows and Expos | January 5, 2013 - 10:47 AM |
Tagged: CES, ces 2013, pcper

It's that time of year - the staff at PC Perspective is loaded up and either already here in Las Vegas, on their way to Las Vegas or studiously sitting at their desk at home - for the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show!  I know you are on our site looking for all the latest computer hardware news from the show and we will have it.  The best place to keep checking is our CES landing page at http://pcper.com/ces.  The home page will work too. 

brace2.jpg

We'll have stories covering companies like, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, Zotac, Sapphire, Galaxy, EVGA, Lucid, OCZ, Western Digital, Corsair and many many more that I don't feel like listing here.  It all starts Sunday with CES Unveiled and then the NVIDIA Press Conference where they will announce...something.

Also, don't forget to subscribe to the PC Perspective Podcast as we will be bringing you daily podcasts wrapping up each day.  We are also going to try to LIVE stream them on our PC Perspective Live! page but times and bandwidth will vary.

Coverage of CES 2013 is brought to you by AMD!

PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.

Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!

Source: PC Perspective

Fractal Design Launches Define XL R2 Chassis

Subject: Cases and Cooling | December 19, 2012 - 10:58 AM |
Tagged: pc case, fractal design, chassis, atx case

Fractal Design recently introduced a new model to its Define XL series with the Define XL R2 that comes in either Black Pearl or Titanium Grey. The new case supports motherboards as large as XL-ATX and is packed with features for a relatively cheap $130 price.

fractal_design_define_xl_r2_02.jpg

See more photos and specifications after the break.

Source: Fractal Design

EVGA's 1500W PSU comes with a few strings attached

Subject: Cases and Cooling | December 14, 2012 - 04:01 PM |
Tagged: modular psu, kilowatt, superNOVA NEX1500 Classified, evga

It is never a good sign when a company does not want to send their hardware to review sites for testing and the ECGA superNOVA NEX1500 Classified PSU is no exception.  [H] purchased one out of pocket to test and they what they saw did not impress them very much.  One of the less than useful features they found was on the 12V rail, or rather on the eight 12V rails, each of which is rated at 20A.  The connectors are certainly impressive, with 16 PCIe connectors, 12 SATA and a very thick power cord, which of course leads to a lot of cable clutter.  Add to that the mislabelled PCIe lines and the need to register a user to be able to download the software to try to fix that problem and you can see why [H] failed this drive.  At least it didn't burst into flames in the torture test, although it may have caused some hearing loss.

superNOVANEX1500Classified.jpg

"EVGA did not want to send us one of its 1500W PSU beasts to review, so we went out and bought the $450 behemoth so we could put it through the HardOCP PSU grinder. EVGA clearly states that NEX1500 PSU is all about "no compromises," but we suggest that compromises are exactly what you will be making; more than a few too."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Sapphire takes their Vapor-X knowhow to CPU cooling

Subject: Cases and Cooling | December 7, 2012 - 04:56 PM |
Tagged: sapphire, vapor-x

Vapor-X graphics cards are certainly recognizable as Sapphire has been creating them for a while now, but a CPU cooler is a completely new thing for them.  With the two fans installed this beast can weigh up to 1.5kg and is 135 x 110.4 x 163.5mm (5.3 x 4.3 x 6.4 in), so make sure that your case is big enough to contain a cooler of this size.  It also sits very close to the board which can be a problem for motherboards who have DIMM slots very close to the CPU socket.  If you can install this cooler you will be impressed by the performance as it beat out the other coolers that Overclockers Club compared it to.  The MSRP is $65, quite affordable for overclockers that need a heatsink of this magnitude.

OC_VaporX.jpg

"I have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how the Vapor-X Universal CPU Cooler handled the thermal load of the Core i7 2600K and especially how it outperformed what has been my go to heat sink for family builds: the Noctua NH-U12P. Sapphire's Vapor-X Universal CPU cooler performed two degrees Celsius better than the Noctua at both stock and overclocked speeds. The Phantek's cooler shows more cooling is available with a massive air cooling solution that provides an 8 °C improvement over the Vapor-X when the CPU is overclocked. The Vapor-X is not meant to compete at that level yet still delivers acceptable temperatures when overclocked."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Overclockers Club

PC Perspective
Upcoming Events
  • 5/22 @ 7:00pm PDT / 10:00pm EDT
    PC Perspective Podcast
  • 5/23 @ 6:00pm PDT / 9:00pm EDT
    This Week in Computer Hardware