Manage your fan speed from in front of your PC or half way across the world

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 19, 2012 - 06:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: bitfenix, Hydra Pro, Recon, fan controller

One of the best ways to bring down the noise your system generates without switching to alternate cooling methods is to install a fan controller in your system so that you can control the speed your fans run at and slow them when you don't need the extra cooling. Hardware Canucks finished a video review of two fan controllers from BitFenix, the basic five channel Hydra Pro and the Internet enabled, touch screen Recon which offers far more control than the analog Hydra Pro. Neither controller costs more than $50, check out the review and see which would fit your system best.

"Fan controllers may not be a marquee item within many enthusiasts’ systems but the power they grant over airflow within a case cannot be underestimated. BitFenix's Hydra Pro and Recon controllers hail from very different ends of the spectrum but they both grant end users complete control over their system fans."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Hardware Canucks

A camoflauged case, the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Battle Edition

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 10, 2012 - 04:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GT Battle Edition, level 10 gt

Thermaltake's high end Level 10 case series has been around for a while, with a variety of styles including the new military themed GT Battle Edition case. While it keeps a similar look to previous models, with hotswappable HDD cages that are separated from the motherboard mounting area, though they are not quite as separated as on some other models. Tool-less assembly, serious air cooling along with grommets for an external radiator, USB 3.0 connections and enough depth to fit even the largest third party CPU coolers make this an attractive case for enthusiast level systems. [H]ard|OCP liked this case so much that they didn't even bat an eye at the $300 price tag.

H_ThermaltakeLevel 10GTBattleEdition.jpg

"Thermaltake got a lot of exposure a few years ago with its Level 10 computer case. At release it cost in the neighborhood of $1000 and declared styling by BMW. Thermaltake now has variants of that case which are much more affordable but do keep with the styling queues and functionality of the original."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Logitech Breaks in to Mechanical Keyboard with the G710+

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | October 9, 2012 - 06:02 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mechanical keyboard, logitech

Earlier in the year I was in a discussion with a friend of mine about mechanical keyboards. His friend was certain that he owned a mechanical gaming keyboard and so I asked him which one. I stopped him the second he said, “Logitech”. They make several high quality keyboards but not one of them mechanical.

That will soon change when they introduce their mechanical G710+ gaming keyboard to the market.

The Scarecrow went to the Wizard of Oz to ask for a brain.

Logitech asked to remove their membrane-domes. Heels weren't the only things which clicked.

The G710+ keyboard contains Cherry MX Brown switches along with a full set of media keys, a handful of macro keys, and a number pad. While the brown switches tend to be fairly quiet on their own Logitech has also included damping O-rings under each keycap to make it even more silent than most large mechanical keyboard competitors.

The G710+ is also a white LED backlit keyboard with the option to customize brightness such that your movement keys are lit differently than the rest. This is designed to be a visual cue to lead your fingers back to the movement keys in a dark room.

Macro functionality on the G-keys can be programmed using Logitech drivers in the Lua scripting language. This driver is available for Windows Vista through Windows 8 - sorry to the Windows XP holdouts of the world.

The G710+ is expected to retail for $149.99 in the U.S. (and Canada I believe) this month with Europe expected to ship in December.

Check in after the break for the press release.

Source: Logitech

Enermax hits 1350W and gets rated Platinum as well

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 28, 2012 - 02:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, enermax, 80 Plus Platinum, kilowatt, Platimax 1350W

If the 1500W EVGA SuperNova PSU that Lee recently reviewed was a little too much for you then how about the Platimax 1350W from Enermax? It sports six 12V rails, two at 20A and the remaining at 30A, a mere eight 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors and 14 SATA power connectors. This PSU is the highest rated 80 Plus Platinum PSU [H]ard|OCP has seen, as well as the highest from Enermax and they were not disappointed. While it shared its design with the MaxRevo 1500W which left [H] a little disappointed, the Enermax implementation was superior and this PSU walked away with an Editor's Choice.

"Enermax is a long standing quality desktop PSU company. It not only specifies and designs power supplies it is one of the few companies that actually build enthusiast PSUs. Enermax today moves it 1350 watt giant into "Platinum" efficiency territory with the new Platimax 1350W."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Arctic Cooling's Freezer series, apartment sized or full chest style?

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 25, 2012 - 03:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Freezer i30, Freezer 13, arctic cooling

Arctic Cooling has a pair of coolers, one larger model for overclockers and a smaller model for those sticking to stock speeds. The Freezer 13 is 123mm x 96mm x 130mm and weights in at 695g with its 92mm fan and should fit in the vast majority of ATX cases. The Freezer i30 is larger at 100mm x 139mm x 161mm and 900g with the single 120mm fan it utilizes. [H]ard|OCP used an mATX board to test these coolers and while the Freezer 13 caused no problems, the i30 blocked some of their DIMM slots which is worth bearing in mind if you are setting up a system. Read their full review to see how these coolers perform under load.

"We are today reviewing two of Arctic Cooling's new CPU coolers. Both use fans for cooling. The Freezer i30 boasts enthusiast features with overclocking in mind, the Freezer 13 comes in a smaller package with sound levels in mind but still espouses a cooling capacity of 200 watts with near silence."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Murderbox Modding Limited Run of $1200 MKII PC Cases

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 21, 2012 - 08:37 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: murderbox mkii, murderbox, modding, custom case, atx

The Canadian moddding duo behind Hardwood Studios Inc has unveiled its latest custom PC case called the Murderbox MKII. The Muderbox MKII represents a completly overhauled design that has its roots in the Silverstone TJ07 and is nearly ready for release after two years of development. The custom PC chassis gets you an all-alluminum chassis that offers better cable management, a water cooling friendly design, custom drive bays, and a custom black anodized textured surface. What will this cost you? A cool $1200 for the base model, and the price goes up from there if you add extras. The Murderbox MKII is a limited edition custom case with only 499 cases produced in total.

The Murderbox MKII features a unibody aluminum chassis that has acylic side panel windows that are mounted to be flush with case metal on the outside. The front includes a red backlit logo, power and reset buttons, and a single externally accessible 5.25" drive bay. The top of the case features an etched fan grill, or a set of two fans should you upgrade to the fan accessory for $150.

The dual fan accessory.

The back of the case is part of the removable motherboard tray and features plenty of vents and PCI slot covers. There is also space for a bottom mounted power supply. Internally, the Murderbox MKII features a spot to hold a watercooling resorvoir on the motherboard tray (that slides into the case on nylon-coated rails), space for a 480mm watercooling radiator in the bottom, and drive bays that are pre-wired. You put the storage drives onto sleds and slot them into the bays where they connect to already-mounted/wired SATA power and data connectors. The custom case can hold three 3.5" hard drives, three 2.5" SSDs, and a single 5.25" drive. On the top of the case is a slot loading DVD drive as well.

Overall it is a really slick PC case that appears to have received quite a bit of TLC to get the perfect enthusiast case. However, with a limited run of 499 cases and a price tag that is more than most entire computer builds [My first DIY PC build actually cost just under 1200 in 2007, for example.. and I think the case was under $100 heh], the Murderbox MKII is going to be more of a spectacle than a stomach-able purchase (just imagine trying to get the 'significant other approval factor' passed on this thing!).

On the other hand, this is a piece of finely crafted hardware that is sure to turn heads and is nice to gaze upon, so if you want to check out more pictures you can find the gallery on the Murderbox website!

See what parts we recommend for your next build on the PC Perspective Hardware Leaderboard.

Source: Murderbox

SilverStone goes to Heligon, brings back a 140mm heatsink fan

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 14, 2012 - 07:39 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Silverstone, Heligon, 140mm

If [H]ard|OCP's review of the SilverStone Heligon HE01 creates an urge for you to purchase it you should pull out a tape measure and examine your current enclosure. This heatsink hides a 140mm fan inside its 926g, 140mm x 119mm x 160mm metal body which many cases simply cannot accomodate. If you can however, you will have a top notch cooler as it topped out the charts when they tested it. You will have to pay a premium though, at $75 there are other coolers almost as good for much less cash up front.

"SilverStone brings us a newly design CPU cooler with wider fin spacing and an internally mounted adjustable 140mm adjustable speed fan sporting six heatpipes and Nickel-coated copper base. The Heligon HE01 is supplied with hardware that supports all recent socket configurations from both Intel and AMD."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Comments (0)

Intel Dives in to Oil!

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Systems, Shows and Expos | September 12, 2012 - 09:34 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mineral oil, Intel

Intel has been dunking servers in oil for the last year and found the practice to be both safe and effective. Ironically it has been almost a year since we played around with mineral oil cooling – and when we did – we did not want to upgrade or fix anything. Intel agrees.

Intel inside, slick mess outside.

Often cooling a computer with a radiant that is not air focuses on cooling a handful of specific components and leaving the rest exposed to air. Gigabyte in their recent live presentation showed how the company reduced waste heat on the motherboard as it delivers power to the CPU as the latter likely receives more cooling than the former. With mineral oil you are able to more efficiently cool the entire system by immersing it in a better coolant than air.

This still makes Ken wake up in a cold sweat… is what we convince ourselves.

After a full year of testing servers, Intel has decided that oil immersion cooling should be utilized by more server hosts to cut costs over traditional air conditioning. In their test they used heat sinks which were designed for air and dunked them pretty much unmodified into the mineral oil dielectric. Apart from the mess of it – Intel engineers always carried cleaning cloths just in case – Intel seems to only sing praise for results of their study.

Of course Intel could not help but promote their upcoming Phi platform which you may know as the ancestor of Larabee.

Now the real question is whether Intel just wanted to shamelessly plug themselves – or whether they are looking so closely at alternative cooling solutions as a result of their upcoming Phi platform. Will we eventually see heat dissipation concerns rear their heads with the new platform? Could Intel either be sitting on or throttling Phi because they are waiting for a new heat dissipation paradigm?

Could be interesting.

Source: Data Center Knowledge

Need to power an EVGA Classified SR-X LGA2011 based system? Try EVGA's 1500W PSU

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 11, 2012 - 07:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, kilowatt, evga, superNOVA NEX1500 Classified

EVGA's SuperNOVA NEX1500 Classified 1500W PSU is more than just a source of power that would satisfy even a certain stand up comedian turned TV star, it also features some rather interesting extras. Some of the features bear a resemblance to those found on the Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX 1200W which Lee reviewed a short while ago, like programmable rails and software which allows monitoring and control of certain aspects of the PSU. While the 10 year warranty is a good sign, TechPowerUp! found a few questionable results from the tests they ran.

"EVGA's new SuperNOVA NEX1500 power supply packs a great deal of features with the most fascinating being its enormous capacity, reaching 1500 W and up to 1650 W, when overclock mode is enabled. Combined with software monitoring and control, the fully modular design and the sleeved cables this is a PSU enthusiast's dream come true."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: TechPowerUp

Cooler autumn temperatures and a new cooler might get you a better overclock

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 5, 2012 - 07:20 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: NoFan, CR-100A, CR-95C, corsair, Hydro 100, roundup

FrostyTech has updated their "Top 5" list of 20 or so of the best heatsinks on the market for Intel and AMD processors not just in time for the school year but also as the average temperature during the day begins to decline. They've also changed their definition of a heatsink to include self contained watercoolers such as the Corsair Hydro 100 which now takes the top spot for cooling Intel heatsinks though it does not get as high a rating for AMD. On the quiet side there is also another newcomer, the NoFan CR-100A and CR-95C which take the top two spots for low noise cooler for both chip makers. There are quite a few other new coolers to check out in their latest heatsink roundup.

"Are you looking for the best heatsink for your PC? Perhaps you need a low profile cooler under 45mm tall... in both cases Frostytech's Top 5 Heatsink charts list the Best Intel & AMD heatsinks we've tested in one handy place. Frostytech has compiled a catalog of over 500 CPU cooler reviews and picked to cream of the crop on both Intel/AMD platforms, performance and low profile heatsinks. Frostytech's Top 5 Heatsink chart ranks each cooler by low temperature and low noise output."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: FrostyTech

Slay the cable kraken? Corsair's oddly advertised HX850

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 07:44 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, modular psu, HX850

We have seen a wireless streaming graphics card which reminded the crew at PC Perspective of Cthulu, but we have not yet released the Kraken. That was up to Corsair and their HX850 PSU which [H]ard|OCP recently reviewed. A single 12V rail is capable of delivering up to 70 amps which is a good thing on a PSU with six 6+2 PCIe power connectors but it still wasn't enough to really impress [H]. This PSU has essentially been released to refresh their current model and while it does match the performance of the previous model it does not really improve upon it. This is what lead to [H]'s disappointment, the PSU passes the tests but has not really improved from the model Corsair was selling years ago. Still it is a decent choice for a system builder who plans on using multiple GPUs.

"Corsair, a brand we have come to trust when powering our enthusiast desktop PC systems, brings to us an 850 watt power supply unit that touts quiet operation, a modular configuration, and "gold" rated power efficiency. How does the new Corsair HX850 fit into Corsair's current power supply lineup?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

Compact case from Sentey for those who like the simple things

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 01:15 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: sentey, Extreme Division GS-6050 II Halcon Black

For a mere $75 the new Sentey Halcon Black case is a great choice for those who don't want much from a case other than a windy place to store components. It comes with a half dozen 120mm fans, which is impressive for a case on the small end of the mid-tower range. It is worth bearing in mind that as it is a midsized case, so oversized video cards are not going to fit inside without sacrificing some space for drives. There is a nice mix of 3.5" and 2.5" bays as well as external USB 3.0 ports which help round out a nice list of features for a case well under $100. Check out the full review at Legit Reviews or if you are in the mood for a case with a few more features and more space for components you should check out Lee's latest review.

"Sentey happens to be one of the newer companies out there when it comes to manufacturing components. Sentey might be still an up and comer, but they currently make cases, power supplies, video cards, and case fans. One of their latest gaming case offerings is the Extreme Division GS-6050 II Halcon Black and that just happens to be what we are reviewing today. This case is an updated version of the original GS-6050 Halcon, so expect to see the addition of SuperSpeed USB 3.0, improved cooling and a new side panel..."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Legit Reviews

Comments (0)

Out of the Casino and Lepa through the Vortex to ... get to tha Choppa!

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 07:09 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: lepa, vortex, casino, chopper, air cooling, 120mm

Lepa has released three new 120mm fans, the plain looking Vortex designed for those who simply like good cooling, the flashy Casino with 18 blue LEDs for those preferring to show off and the low speed Chopper which has a pair of red and blue LEDs for those wishing to create various moods in their case. All performed quite well in Hi Tech Legion's testing, beating the stock fans the NZXT Switch 810 case came with. Read on to see which one would best suit your needs.

"The Lepa Vortex 120mm fan, Casino 120mm fan, and Chopper 120mm fan are designed to maximize cooling while maintaining silent operation. The Vortex is designed without LED lighting for those who want a simple fan. The Casino 120mm fan has 18 blue LEDs installed in it creating a spiral lighting effect with various modes including the ability to turn off the LEDs. The Chopper is a low speed fixed RPM fan that has 2 LEDs (in blue or red depending on model) to create a dynamic cycling lighting effect."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Hi Tech Legion

Get Platinum power for about $100

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 06:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, antec, 80plus platinum, Earthwatts Platinum 650W

At $120 on NewEgg, the Antec Earthwatts Platinum is not a bad choice for those looking for power and efficiency. Although it is SLI rated, with only two 6+2 PCIe power connectors you will need to rely on molex adapters to run two cards and at 650W they will not be current flagship models. Legit Reviews saw some questionable results while testing but for a PSU of this price, especially such a quiet and efficient one, it comes with a recommendation to stop worrying and pick it up.

"When it comes to performance, besides its high electrical efficiency which is expect from an 80Plus Platinum unit. The Earthwatts Platinum 650W PSU also excels in acoustics, with the unit running entirely silent across the entire nominal load range. The high efficiency also allows it to operate at fairly low temperatures as little energy is wasted as heat. Even though most hardcore enthusiasts would find this unit's electrical performance mediocre, we believe that the ripple suppression and voltage regulation of the Earthwatts Platinum 650W unit is more than acceptable for a sub-$100 product..."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Legit Reviews

PC Perspective Hardware Workshop 2012 @ Quakecon 2012 in Dallas, TX

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Memory, Systems, Storage, Mobile, Shows and Expos | August 9, 2012 - 10:30 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: video, workshop, streaming, quakecon, prizes, live, giveaways

It is that time of year again: another installment of the PC Perspective Hardware Workshop! Once again we will be presenting on the main stage at Quakecon 2012 being held in Dallas, TX August 2-5th.

Main Stage - Quakecon 2012

Saturday, August 4th, 2pm CT

Our thanks go out to the organizers of Quakecon for allowing us and our partners to put together a show that we are proud of every year. We love giving back to the community of enthusiasts and gamers that drive us to do what we do! Get ready for 2 hours of prizes, games and raffles and the chances are pretty good that you'll take something out with you - really, they are pretty good!

Our thanks for this year's workshop logo goes to John Pastor!!

Our primary partners at the event are those that threw in for our ability to host the workshop at Quakecon and for the hundreds of shirts we have ready to toss out! Our thanks to NVIDIA, MSI Computer and Corsair!!

Live Streaming

If you can't make it to the workshop - don't worry! You can still watch the workshop live on our page right here as we stream it over one of several online services. Just remember this URL: http://pcper.com/workshop and you will find your way!

Case Mod Competition

Along with the Hardware Workshop, PC Perspective is working with Modders Inc on the annual case mod contest! There are two categories for the competition: "Scratch Built" and "In the Box" that will allow those that build their computer enclosures from the ground up to compete separately from those that heavily modify their existing cases and systems.

For more details, be sure to check out the on going thread at the Modders Inc Forums!

Prize List (will continue to grow!)

Continue reading to see the list of prizes for the workshop!!!

Source: PCPer

Corsair's Obsidian 550D is great for fans

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 9, 2012 - 04:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, Obsidian 550D

Corsair's new mid-sized Obsidian 550D is a good home for any mATX or ATX build and is deep enough to use enthusiast heatsinks and long enough to fit almost any graphics card. A pair of 200mm fans and a single 120mm provide good airflow without creating an excessive amount of noise. [H]ard|OCP really liked this case even though they encountered difficulties installing either of Corsair's self-contained watercoolers. For those looking for a decent aircooled case this is a good deal; watercooler users and modders might want to look elsewhere.

"Corsair was once synonymous with only quality RAM. Today we find Corsair’s diversification of its product line tremendously successful. Its focus and execution with the desktop PC enthusiast has lead to a great PSUs, SSDs, and cases to house all your high end equipment. Its Obsidian 550D case is another great product."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

The pensive supply unit decides if it will give you power ... and tells you about it

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 7, 2012 - 07:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, Professional Series AX1200i, PSU, modular psu, kilowatt

The reason that Corsair's new Professional Series AX1200i is called a digital power supply is due to the presence of a digital signal processor inside the PSU. The advantages are likely to due with the reduced complexity of the internal design than due to the DSP being a miracle, however there is more to it than just smooth voltages. With the USB Corsair Link interface you can use the bundled software to monitor the three main voltage rails, the 24-pin connector's 12V line, the AC voltage at the wall socket and there are current trackers for all of the PCIe power connectors as well. If you obsess over power management and happen to need more than a kilowatt of power, check out Corsair's latest offering at The Tech Report.

"Corsair's new Professional Series AX1200i uses digital circuitry to convert AC to DC power. We take a quick look at the PSU and the software enabled by its DSP."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: The Tech Report

Gigabyte Unveils GA-H77N-WIFI Mini-ITX Motherboard

Subject: General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Chipsets, Memory, Displays | August 7, 2012 - 10:07 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Z77, motherboard, mini-itx, Intel, gigabyte, ga-h77n-wifi

During a European roadshow, Gigabyte showed off a new Mini-ITX form factor motherboard for the first time. Called the GA-H77N-WIFI, the motherboard is well suited for home theater and home server tasks. Based on the H77 chipset, it is compatible with the latest Intel Core i3 (coming soon), i5, and i7 "Ivy Bridge" processors. The board goes for an all-black PCB with minimal heatsinks on the VRMs, and the form factor is the same size as the motherboard that Ryan recently used in his Mini-ITX HTPC build.

The GA-H77N-WIFI features a LGA 1155 processor socket, two DDR3 DIMM slots, PCI Express slot, two SATA 3Gbps ports, two SATA 6Gbps ports, and an internal USB 3.0 header. There are also two Realtek Ethernet controller chips and a Realtek audio chip.

Rear IO on the Mini-ITX motherboard includes:

1 PS/2 port
2 USB 3.0 ports
2 HDMI ports
1 DVI port
2 Antenna connectors (WIFI)
4 USB 2.0 ports
2 Gigabit Ethernet ports
1 Optical S/PDIF port
5 Analog audio jacks

The dual Gigabit Ethernet ports are interesting. It could easily be loaded with open source routing software and turned into router/firewall/Wi-Fi access point. To really take advantage of the Ivy Bridge support, you could put together a nice media server and HTPC recording/streaming box (using something like SiliconDust's HDHomeRun networked tuners or Ceton's USB tuner since this board is very scarce in the way of PCI-E slots). What would you do with this Mini-ITX Gigabyte board?

Unfortunately, there is no word yet on pricing or availability, but the motherboard is likely coming soon. You can find more information on the motherboard over at tonymacx86, who managed to snag get some photos of the board.

Source: Tony Mac X86

In this case XION's pricing might be a bit high

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 1, 2012 - 01:19 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: XION, XON-980

On the face of it, the XION XON-90 looks like a good case, featuring mesh on much of its exterior for airflow, audio, USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports on the front panel, a protected top mount fan and what seems to be a fan controller. Once they started using it, Overclockers Club were less than impressed with the features. The fan controller has two settings, one with the fans powered the other completely shuts down all fans connected to the controller so it is not recommended you put the CPU fan on the controller. There were also other components which OCC felt to be of cheap design, which made them recommend you to avoid this case at its current price, but would recommend it if it was sold in the $50-$60 range.

"To be perfectly honest for the asking price this case leaves a lot to be desired. There's nothing to really redeem the faults I encountered when examining this case. The cooling fans, for the noise they make, should keep things cooler especially in a smaller mid-tower case. The fan controller, if you can really call it that, is one of the most useless things I've ever seen included on a case and it's downright dangerous to have something like this without even a mention of it shutting fans completely off in the installation guide. If this case was coming to market at the $59.99 level or below I could understand the kind of manufacturing shortcuts that produce a case of this caliber, but at the $89.99 price point it just doesn't even have a horse in the race. If you're looking to build a new machine please look elsewhere unless you want to be disappointed like I was."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Overclockers Club

Scythe Unveils ACB-TYPE3 Open-Air Acrylic ATX Chassis

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 31, 2012 - 05:29 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: scythe, open bench, open air case, atx case, acyrilic case

Scythe, a PC enthusiast hardware company popular for its line of fans and processor heatsinks will soon be launching a new open air case. The ACB-TYPE3 is a clear acrylic case that forgoes side panels for an open bench design.

The case weighs in at under 6 pounds, the case is constructed of 5mm acrylic and can accommodate ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. Additionally, it features three 5.25” drive bays, three 3.5” hard drive bays, and two 2.5” drive bays suitable for storing SSDs (solid state drives).
Another cool feature is that the open air case can hold tower coolers up to 190mm, which is not quite big enough for the 100W passive TwinBlock cooler but will be good enough for most any other high-end air cooler.

According to FanlessTech, the Scythe acrylic case will be available for purchase soon, and will cost around $85. It certainly seems like a neat option for benchmarking test beds and enthusiast’s that like to show off their computer hardware (nothing wrong with that!). You can find more photos over at the Fanless Tech website.

Source: Fanless Tech

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 19, 2012 - 06:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: bitfenix, Hydra Pro, Recon, fan controller

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 10, 2012 - 04:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GT Battle Edition, level 10 gt

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | October 9, 2012 - 06:02 PM | Scott Michaud Tagged: mechanical keyboard, logitech

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 28, 2012 - 02:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: PSU, modular psu, enermax, 80 Plus Platinum, kilowatt, Platimax 1350W

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 25, 2012 - 03:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Freezer i30, Freezer 13, arctic cooling

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 21, 2012 - 08:37 AM | Tim Verry Tagged: murderbox mkii, murderbox, modding, custom case, atx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 14, 2012 - 07:39 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: Silverstone, Heligon, 140mm

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Systems, Shows and Expos | September 12, 2012 - 09:34 PM | Scott Michaud Tagged: mineral oil, Intel

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 11, 2012 - 07:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: PSU, modular psu, kilowatt, evga, superNOVA NEX1500 Classified

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 5, 2012 - 07:20 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: NoFan, CR-100A, CR-95C, corsair, Hydro 100, roundup

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 07:44 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: corsair, modular psu, HX850

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 01:15 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: sentey, Extreme Division GS-6050 II Halcon Black

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 07:09 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: lepa, vortex, casino, chopper, air cooling, 120mm

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 06:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: PSU, antec, 80plus platinum, Earthwatts Platinum 650W

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Memory, Systems, Storage, Mobile, Shows and Expos | August 9, 2012 - 10:30 PM | Ryan Shrout Tagged: video, workshop, streaming, quakecon, prizes, live, giveaways

Main Stage - Quakecon 2012

Saturday, August 4th, 2pm CT

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 9, 2012 - 04:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: corsair, Obsidian 550D

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 7, 2012 - 07:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: corsair, Professional Series AX1200i, PSU, modular psu, kilowatt

Subject: General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Chipsets, Memory, Displays | August 7, 2012 - 10:07 AM | Tim Verry Tagged: Z77, motherboard, mini-itx, Intel, gigabyte, ga-h77n-wifi

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 1, 2012 - 01:19 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom Tagged: XION, XON-980

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 31, 2012 - 05:29 AM | Tim Verry Tagged: scythe, open bench, open air case, atx case, acyrilic case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 19, 2012 - 06:22 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: bitfenix, Hydra Pro, Recon, fan controller

Subject: Cases and Cooling | October 10, 2012 - 04:04 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: thermaltake, Level 10 GT Battle Edition, level 10 gt

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems | October 9, 2012 - 06:02 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mechanical keyboard, logitech

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 28, 2012 - 02:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, enermax, 80 Plus Platinum, kilowatt, Platimax 1350W

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 25, 2012 - 03:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Freezer i30, Freezer 13, arctic cooling

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 21, 2012 - 08:37 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: murderbox mkii, murderbox, modding, custom case, atx

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 14, 2012 - 07:39 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Silverstone, Heligon, 140mm

Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Systems, Shows and Expos | September 12, 2012 - 09:34 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: mineral oil, Intel

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 11, 2012 - 07:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, kilowatt, evga, superNOVA NEX1500 Classified

Subject: Cases and Cooling | September 5, 2012 - 07:20 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: NoFan, CR-100A, CR-95C, corsair, Hydro 100, roundup

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 07:44 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, modular psu, HX850

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 01:15 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: sentey, Extreme Division GS-6050 II Halcon Black

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 07:09 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: lepa, vortex, casino, chopper, air cooling, 120mm

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 06:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: PSU, antec, 80plus platinum, Earthwatts Platinum 650W

Subject: Editorial, General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Memory, Systems, Storage, Mobile, Shows and Expos | August 9, 2012 - 10:30 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: video, workshop, streaming, quakecon, prizes, live, giveaways

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 9, 2012 - 04:11 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, Obsidian 550D

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 7, 2012 - 07:52 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: corsair, Professional Series AX1200i, PSU, modular psu, kilowatt

Subject: General Tech, Graphics Cards, Motherboards, Cases and Cooling, Processors, Chipsets, Memory, Displays | August 7, 2012 - 10:07 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Z77, motherboard, mini-itx, Intel, gigabyte, ga-h77n-wifi

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 1, 2012 - 01:19 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: XION, XON-980

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 31, 2012 - 05:29 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: scythe, open bench, open air case, atx case, acyrilic case