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Cases

Slay the cable kraken? Corsair's oddly advertised HX850

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 24, 2012 - 07:44 PM |
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.

H_HX850.jpg

"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 |
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.

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"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

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

Subject: Cases and Cooling | August 17, 2012 - 07:09 PM |
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.

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"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 |
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.

LR_earthwatt.jpg

"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 |
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.  

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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!!

 

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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 |
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.

H_obsidian.jpg

"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 |
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.

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"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 |
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.

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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 |
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.

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"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 |
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.

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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

Silentmaxx TwinBlock HSF Passively Cools 100W CPUs

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 24, 2012 - 09:58 AM |
Tagged: silentmaxx, passive cooling, hsf, cpu cooling, cooler

 

Having a silent system without fans is a noble goal, but CPUs generally need at least one. A new heatsink from Silentmaxx called the TwinBlock is designed to passively cool processors up to approximately 100W. Supporting sockets 774, 775, 1155, 1156, 1366 on the Intel side and 939, 940, and AMD 2/3 for AMD processors, it is compatible with just about any processor. The TwinBlock is, in a word, massive. Weighting in a just over 3 pounds, the heatsink measures 210mm (B) x 135mm (D) x 160mm (H) mm. It features a copper base with 10 heatpipes that connect to two aluminum fin arrays.

twin_block.jpeg

Interestingly, FanlessTech pointed us to a new computer build – the Fanless I-850 Gamer – that the company is planning to use the passive heatsink with to create a silent gaming PC. The PC can be equipped with up to an Intel Core i7-3960X Sandy Bridge-E processor and up to either an AMD 7970 or NVIDIA GTX 670 graphics card. The processor is cooled using the TwinBlock cooler while the GPUs are using custom coolers that should only kick on the fans over long gaming sessions or folding. The Fanless I-850 starts at 1279,00€ for the base configuration.

It is possible to buy just the heatsink, however. The Silentmaxx TwinBlock cooler can be yours for about $120 USD (€ 99.90 inc. VAT). More photos of the cooler are available below, and you can read more about the cooler on the SilentMaxx website.

 

Source: Fanless Tech

Thermaltake thinks big and spacious with the Frio Advanced heatsink

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 17, 2012 - 07:58 PM |
Tagged: thermaltake, Frio Advanced

At 161x131x121mm (6.3"x5.2"x4.8") and 46g short of a kilogram Thermaltake's Frio Advanced is a big chunk of heat conducting metal.  The size does lead to one oddity, the two fans are 130mm which may make modders a little unhappy as it will be hard to find alternative fans of the same size. The heatpipes directly contact the heatspreader on your CPU but thanks to a new design they do not solidly connect with the body of the heatsink, as FrostyTech explains in their full review.  In the end we have a heatsink on the good side of average, perhaps a little loud with fans on full speed but well worth considering if your case can fit it.

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"Thermaltake's Frio Advanced heatsink stands 161mm tall and weighs upwards of 954 grams, it is rated to heat loads of 230 Watts by the manufacturer. The heatsink ships with two 130mm PWM fans arranged in a push-pull configuration that rotate at 2000-800RPM. Behind each fan shroud is a 110mm tall aluminum fin tower connected by five U-shaped, 6mm diameter copper heatpipes which are exposed at the base. Thermaltake's Frio Advanced heatsink is compatible with Intel socket LGA2011/1366/1155/1156/775 and AMD socket AM2/AM3/FM1 CPUs."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: FrostyTech

Prolimatech Shows Off Blue Megahalems CPU Cooler

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 16, 2012 - 04:21 PM |
Tagged: prolimatech, megahalems, hsf, cpu cooler, anodized blue

Popular processor cooler manufacturer Prolimatech has offered its Megahalems cooler for a couple of years now, and it has seen several revisions. The latest modification seems to be purely aesthetic – and I can’t say I’m opposed. Despite my (irrational?) fear of large heatsinks ripping a chunk off of my motherboard, I do find them impressive. A new Megahalems was spotted by Fanless Tech that sports an anodized blue finish that is quite sleek looking.

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We don’t have any details beyond the images, but it is reportedly a Megahalems Revision B with a glossy blue finish. The Megahalems Rev. B is of course the company’s answer to Intel’s socket 1156 processors (though it is also compatible with socket(s) 775, 1156, 1366, and 2011). It weighs 790 grams – approximately 1.74 pounds – and measures 158.7mm tall and 74mm wide. It can further support a 120mm fan for active cooling, and it sports six heatpipes. Needless to say, it is rather large and packs quite a bit of air cooling potential. (We reviewed the original Megahalems awhile back, and came away impressed).

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I can only speak for myself here, but this is one giant air cooler that I wouldn’t mind risking my motherboard for (what can I say, they used my favorite color ;) ). What do you think of the Prolimatech prototype? Check out more photos over at FanlessTech.

Source: Fanless Tech

Corsair Carbide Series 300R PC Gaming Case Now Available in Windowed Version

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 12, 2012 - 03:19 PM |
Tagged: window, corsair, Carbide 300R

Corsair's new $100 Carbide Series 300R with a window is a great choice for anyone who wants a case with some nice features but doesn't want to spend too much money.  Able to fit long video cards and large heatsinks and a serious amount of 5.25" and 3.5" drive bays which are not only tool-less but are also convertible to 2.5" bays for SSDs.  You can fit a half dozen 120mm or 140mm fans for air cooling and as there are 7 expansion slots this makes a great home for multi-GPU systems.  Read the PR below and head to Corsair for the tech specs and purchasing information.

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FREMONT, California — July 12, 2012 — Corsair®, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced that the Carbide Series™ 300R Compact PC Gaming Case is now available in a windowed version.

First released in January, the Carbide 300R PC case has won accolades for its compact, streamlined, builder-friendly design. The new Carbide Series 300R windowed version of the case features a side window that gives PC builders the ability to demonstrate their modding skills while also showcasing internal PC components, such as Corsair's PC performance-tuned Vengeance® DDR3 memory, GS Series™ power supplies, Hydro Series™ CPU coolers, and Air Series™ cooling fans.

The Corsair Carbide Series 300R: a compact expression of Corsair's gaming PC philosophy

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Great gaming systems begin with a great case, and the Carbide Series 300R provides a remarkable number of in-demand features in an attractive, compact chassis. Builder-friendly features include three tool-free optical drive bays and four tool-free hard drive bays with integrated 2.5" SSD compatibility. There's room for high-end GPUs of up to 450mm in length, and the matte black interior incorporates Corsair's innovative cable routing system that helps keep wires and cables out of sight for a clean look and improved airflow. The 300R comes with intake and exhaust fans, with room for five additional fans including dual side-mounted fans for direct GPU cooling.

Source: Corsair

Silver Power's 850W Gorilla

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 11, 2012 - 05:33 PM |
Tagged: SP-850M, silver power, PSU, 850W, 80 Plus Bronze

Silver Power have been making PSUs for quite a while, though they've not received much press lately which changes with their new SP-850M PSU.  Their simian logo is all over this semi-modular power supply, which has four 6+2 PCIe power connectors for multiple GPU rigs as well as a nice selection of SATA power.  OC3D was nicely surprised by the efficiency of the PSU, while rated for 80 Plus Bronze their testing showed results more appropriate for an 80+ Gold rated PSU.  OC3D are not fans of the silverback, but love the actual PSU once they realized they could run it at 983W all day long.

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"It's been a few years since the angry ape first made its debut on OC3D, now it's finally back for some second helpings."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Overclock3D

Pass the ammunition, appropriately stored in that Corsair Vengeance C70 case

Subject: Cases and Cooling | July 5, 2012 - 04:50 PM |
Tagged: corsair, Vengeance C70

OCC feels that the Corsair Vengeance C70 bears a resemblance to an ammunition case but at the same time it is a fully functional computer case.  At 501mm x 232mm x 533mm it is large enough to fit an ATX motherboard and two 240mm radiators if you remove the lower drive cage.  For air coolers, there are three 120mm fans included which provide quite reasonable cooling for your CPU and components.  Check out the case review here.

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"Overall I honestly can't complain about anything on this chassis. It is roomy, it is quiet, and it cools well. The military-inspired looks may not be for everyone but I definitely like the "no compromise" styling for function over form. The side panel clamps are a dream to work with (no more sore fingers from thumb screws!) and the handles on the top of the case make moving it a simple matter. The case itself is relatively lightweight despite its all-steel construction, which only adds to its portability."

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: Overclockers Club

Sandia Shows Off Prototype of Its Impeller Cooler

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 25, 2012 - 05:45 PM |
Tagged: sandia, impeller, heatsink, cooling, cooler, air bearing

A white paper by Sandia National Laboratories caught the attention of the media last year with big claims for high performance cooling. The researchers had claimed to invent a new type of heatsink based on a impeller design that was allegedly 30% more efficient at heat transfer while being smaller and quieter than traditional air coolers.

Dubbed the Sandia Cooler, the team has come up with an updated prototype that is nearly ready to come to market. Shown off in a recent video, the cooler is a small heatsink based on three relatively simple parts. A stationary disk acts as the base and area that comes into contact with the Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) of a CPU. Then, a spinning array of curved fins resembling an impeller design is spun up by a small motor mounted in the center of the cooler.

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During an industry day, they reportedly signed two license option agreements with two companies to bring the product to market in the areas of solid state lighting (LEDS, et al) and computer hardware cooling, implying that it is getting closer to a final product that it was last year.

Interestingly, the cooler uses an “hydrodynamic air bearing” such that the spinning part of the cooler is spun up to 2,000+ RPM such that the top part separates from the bottom stationary part and rides (they use the analogy of a car hydroplaning) on a very thin layer of air. (Update: as KngRider noted, there is still some friction from the motor spinning the upper part of the cooler, however.) That thin layer of air is what facilitates heat transference from the stationary part to the spinning fins. It does raise questions of efficiency, however. How a layer of air is more efficient than thermal interface material, for example. Reportedly, the air bearing is not an issue that will impact cooling performance but it is a difficult concept to grasp considering TIM and metal-to-metal contact has always been touted as the best cooling situation.

Sandia explains that cool air is drawn into the center of the impeller as heated air is forced outwards through the spinning fins, which reportedly enables efficient heat transfer. In the video, they demonstrate that it is capable of being extremely quiet (nearly silent) despite spinning at an extremely fast rate – the noise in the first part of the video is due to the prototype motor that is not covered. They claim that the final design will use a brush-less motor that will be much quieter.

It’s an intriguing design because of its simplicity and form factor. It is reportedly able to cool more efficiently than some of the best air coolers on the market, which use such techniques as heatpipes that come into direct contact with the CPU IHS, larger fin arrays, and multiple fans. Compared to those coolers, the Sandia prototype is much smaller and simpler in its construction.

The company has further released a white paper (PDF) and has an area of its website dedicated to more information on the Sandia cooler. While I cannot vet the fluid dynamics they detail, it certainly looks good on paper. I’m excited to see this come to market and whether or not it will live up to its promise of more efficient (and quiet!) cooling. It could be an important asset in cooling computer hardware in everything from desktops to server rooms. Also, it might just be the advancement that air coolers have been looking for as far as the next jump in performance – more than simply adding additional heatpipes or fins (and dealing with weight, size, and diminishing returns as a result) can do alone.

I’ll say that I’m skeptically optimistic on this one, but I do hope that it’s the real deal. What do you think of the impeller cooler? Does it appear promising?

Source: Sandia

Another look at CoolerMaster's return to the Vapour Chamber

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 21, 2012 - 02:20 PM |
Tagged: coolermaster, TPC-812, heatsink, heatpipes

Heatpipes have been in vogue for a while now, but once long ago it was vapour chambers which made for the best heatsinks, a fact which CoolerMaster has not forgotten.  Their new TPC-812 shows one of the reasons that heatpipes took over, as the vapour chamber never starts to show promise until the second fan was added.  The extra surface area from the combination of vapour chamber and heatpipes benefits from the increased airflow but at the cost of additional noise, whereas many heatpipe only coolers will not show the same level of improvement.  On the other hand they provide better cooling with only one fan making them the choice of people with sensitive ears.  X-bit Labs were not terribly impressed and suggest that maybe the vapour chamber should stay forgotten.

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"CPU coolers have finally sported something new in their design. Although, I think, it would be more correct to say that it is more of a well forgotten old, rather than something completely new. Maybe it was a mistake to give up the vapor chamber technology a while back? Let’s find out with the help of the new Cooler Master cooler."

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

CASES & COOLING

 

Source: X-Bit Labs

Seriously short on power? LEPA has a 1600W solution for you

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 18, 2012 - 08:00 PM |
Tagged: kilowatt, lepa, G Series 1600W, 80 Plus Gold

If you have quad SLI/Crossfire, dual CPUs and dozens of hard drives you might find yourself in a position where a 1600W PSU is something you actually need.  That is where the LEPA 1600W PSU come in, with 10 eight pin PCIe connectors and 14 SATA connectors as well as numerous molex connectors for your fans.  [H]ard|OCP's testing showed that this PSU did deserve it's 80 PLUS Gold rating and more importantly it provided solid power.  It sports a decent price, in fact it is almost the same price as several PSUs which are rated at 250W lower.  There was something about the unit which kept it from earning a Gold Award but you will have to read the full review to see why [H] decided on Silver for this PSU.

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"LEPA is an Ecomaster company and Ecomaster distributes Enermax products and has Enermax design the LEPA PSU line. So what are our expectations from the current ultimate desktop PSU packing a whopping 1600 watts? Should it be better than a four year old 1600 watt power supplies on the market?"

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

CASES & COOLING

Source: [H]ard|OCP

MSI's mid range enclosure, the Ravager

Subject: Cases and Cooling | June 13, 2012 - 06:26 PM |
Tagged: msi, ravager

MSI's second case has hit the market, a mid-tower case called the Ravager which comes with a $100 price tag.  On the exterior, apart from a nice paint job and window you will find two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports as well as audio ports and the HDD LED.  The blue interior is quite striking, even before any parts are installed and tool-less quick mounts for the six 3.5" and three 5.25" hard drives are well appreciated though some 2.5" adapters would be a nice touch for SSD users.  Techware Labs really liked this case; it is good to see MSI's quality extend into new markets.

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"MSI has sent us the new Ravager mid tower case. If the black with blue claw marks on the sides doesn't get your attention, the price will at just $99 MSRP at the time of this review. The blue color scheme continues inside with most of the motherboard mounting plate, HDD trays and quick-release clips for the 5.25” drive bays. The Ravager comes with many features that can be expanded upon and upgraded easily so the consumer can not only purchase the case at a great price but is able to customize case with what he/she wants. Lets' dive into what the Ravager has to offer..."

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Source: Techware Labs

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