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Rosewill Second Generation Mechanical Keyboard Review: RK-9000, RK-9000BR, RK-9000BL, RK-9000RE

Author:
Date: February 14, 2012
Subject: General Tech, Cases and Cooling, Systems
Manufacturer: Rosewill
Tagged: rosewill, RK-9000, mechanical keyboard

Introduction

Rosewill produces a whole lineup of products with seemingly incongruous variety. You can get matching brands for your blood pressure monitor, your wine opener, your DSLR bag, and your computer power supply. The vast majority of Rosewill's distribution flows through Newegg.

Their RK-9000 mechanical keyboard was manufactured by CoStar under the Rosewill branding. With that product, they brought a high quality mechanical keyboard to North America for a very decent price of just under a hundred dollars. For what might as well be considered a Filco keyboard, that is an outstanding price. It did not have media keys; it did not have backlighting; but it was a solid keyboard which felt great to type on and had outstanding performance.

Check out our video review of the Rosewill RK-9000 second generation and read on for the written review

At some point Rosewill decided to discontinue the RK-9000 without an official announcement. Beyond a sudden and sustained drop in availability, there was no evidence that the keyboard was no longer produced. A few silent months went by until Rosewill officially announced a second generation of RK-9000 mechanical keyboards. It was then clear why the RK-9000 was discontinued: it was being replaced and updated.

We were approached by the company to conduct a review of their recently released mechanical keyboards. Included was not just the Cherry MX Blue switched RK-9000, but also its three newly introduced siblings: the MX Brown switched RK-9000BR, the MX Black switched RK-9000BL, and the MX Red switched RK-9000RE. A little under three months ago we have received the review units and have been in the process of testing them ever since.

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What Rosewill was unaware of was that I am a proud owner of the original RK-9000 keyboard. This review is more than a review of Rosewill’s new products, but also will be a comparison between the new product and their original offering. Despite sharing a Newegg product page with its ancestor, the new keyboard is not identical. For good measure, I also have a Razer BlackWidow Ultimate lying around -- slightly dilute the oversaturation of the letter R in tested product names… albeit, not the company names.

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A new contender has enterkeyed.

If you happen to have an original RK-9000, is it time for an upgrade? If you are interested in all of the hoopla about mechanical keyboards, is this the correct time and place to dive in?

Check out our meticulous review of the new Rosewill RK-9000 mechanical keyboards.

Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 1350W Power Supply Review

Author:
Date: February 13, 2012
Subject: Cases and Cooling
Manufacturer: Thermaltake
Tagged: TP-1350M, Toughpower Cable Management, thermaltake, PSU

Introduction and Features

Thermatake's Toughpower Cable Management Series includes five models ranging from 1,000W up to 1,500W. The Toughpower Cable Management 1350W PSU we have up for review today can deliver 1,350W. Thermaltake states that all of the Toughpower Cable Management Series power supplies are built with the latest technological advances in circuitry design with industrial grade components and feature high efficiency (80 Plus Silver certified), smart cable management, and come backed by Thermaltake's 5-year warranty.

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Here is what Thermaltake has to say about the Toughpower Cable Management Series: "Proper airflow within computer system plays an extremely important role in making sure CPU, Graphic Cards, Hard Drives and other critical components are getting adequate cooling. Thermaltake Cable Management Technology allows users to only use the cables needed from the power supply that reduces the amount of cable clutter within the computer to improve cooling and reduce system noise."

Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 1350W PSU Key Features:

• 24/7 @ 50°C: Guaranteed to deliver 1350W continuous power
• Compliance with Intel ATX 12V v2.3 and SSI EPS 12V v2.91 standards
• 80 PLUS Silver certified: 87-91% efficiency @ 20-100% load
• Double-forward switching circuitry offers low power loss and high reliability
• DC-to-DC converters provide high efficiency and stable performance
• Robust, dedicated dual +12V rails (60A for 12V1 and 60A for 12V2)
• High quality 105°C Japanese capacitors: ensure superb performance and reliability
• Multi-GPU ready: comes with 8 x PCI-E 6+2 pin connectors
• Designed to support quad core, i7 and Core i5 CPUs
• Silent operation with intelligent 140mm cooling fan speed control
• Fixed and modular smart cable management system
• Universal AC input (90~264V) with Active PFC
• Dimensions:150 x 86 x 200mm (W x H x L)
• Over-current, over-power, over-voltage, under-voltage and short circuit protection
• Safety/EMI approvals: CE,TUV,FCC, UL, CUL, GOST and BSMI certified
• 5-Year warranty

Continue reading our review of the Thermaltake Toughpower 1350 watt power supply!!

NZXT's new big white blocky enclosure

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 8, 2012 - 06:14 PM |
Tagged: nzxt, switch 810

We've come a long way from the chunky off-white cases of yesteryear, so far that white cases are coming back into style.  Thankfully they are a true white and not the spoiled milk white which we were used to.  NZXT's latest enclosure, the Switch 810 is a great representation of this trend with a white external colour scheme which hides features an IBM PS2 users couldn't have imagined in their wildest dreams.  The case offers great air cooling but was really designed with those using watercooling.  Legit Reviews did run into some issues when mounting SSDs and suffered a bit of sticker shock but do recommend the case for those using external radiators.

If you'd like a second opinion Steve is more than happy to provide you with a review and NZXT with a Gold Award.

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"We were very impressed with several of the innovative features that NZXT put on the Switch 810, especially the consideration for pretty extreme water cooling setup with that 85mm of top clearance. The ability to drop a 420mm rad in the top and another 280mm rad in the bottom should be enough cooling for even a quad GPU setup. Placing easy to access filters on the intake fans is a real plus and should keep the dust bunnies to a minimum..."

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Source: Legit Reviews

NZXT Switch 810 Full Tower PC Case Review

Author:
Date: February 8, 2012
Subject: Cases and Cooling
Manufacturer: NZXT
Tagged: pc case, nzxt, full tower, atx

Introduction, Features, Technical Specifications

Introduction

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PC enclosures continue to evolve as new hardware comes to market like Intel's new Sandy Bridge-E and Ivy Bridge processors, affordable solid state drives, and custom liquid cooling solutions. It is more critical than ever that users pay strict attention to not only what a PC case looks like, but what hardware it supports. Since it was founded in  2004, NZXT has been developing unique PC cases to satisfy the appetites of PC gamers and hardware enthusiasts alike. Their latest creation dubbed the Switch 810 is a full-tower "hybird" case that is optimized to support liquid cooling or air-cooled solutions.

 

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The Switch 810 brings together many crowd favorites like right-mounted hard drives with removable HD cages and support for 140 to 240mm radiators to give users a plethora of options for cooling their PC components. If you don't want to go the liquid cooling route, the Switch 810 has room for 10 fans on the front, back, top, and bottom panels. PC builders can use 120mm or 140mm fans, and NZXT starts them off by including four 140mm fans with the Switch 810 to provide excellent airflow for any PC setup.

Continue reading our review of the NZXT Switch 810 Full Tower PC Case!

NZXT reveals a full Hale hand of PSUs

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 7, 2012 - 05:09 PM |
Tagged: PSU, nzxt, modular psu, HALE90-750-M, HALE90-1000-M, HALE82-850-M, HALE82-750-M, HALE82-650-M, 80 Plus Gold, 80 Plus Bronze

X-bit Labs collected five PSUs from NZXT's HALE82 line including the HALE82-650-M, HALE82-750-M, HALE82-850-M, NZXT HALE90-750-M and HALE90-1000-M.  All of the PSUs are rated at least 80+ Bronze with the HALE90 models reaching 80+ Gold ratings.  This is a definite boon for those who plan on running the 1000W model.  All are 12V PSUs, with an internal converter to provide 3.3V and 5V, which means that these PSUs can provide in the neighbourhood of 99% of its maximum amperage to the 12V line to keep those GPUs fully fed.  Head on over and read through the whole review or else choose the PSU with the wattage appropriate for you to examine.

You can also catch Lee's thoughts on the 850W version in his latest review.

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"Today we are going to talk about five power supply units from NZXT ranging in capacity from 650 W to 1000 W and certified according to 80 PLUS Bronze and Gold standards."

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Source: X-Bit Labs

NZXT HALE82 850W 80Plus Bronze Power Supply Review

Author:
Date: February 7, 2012
Subject: Cases and Cooling
Manufacturer: NZXT
Tagged: NZXT PSU, NZXT HALE82, HALE82 850W, 80 Plus Bronze

Introduction and Features

NZXT recently released three power supplies in their new HALE82 Series, with output capacities of 650W, 750W, and 850W. This new lineup compliments NZXT's 80Plus Gold HALE90 Series and is targeted towards gamers and other power hungry enthusiasts. The HALE82 units are built by Seasonic and are 80Plus Bronze certified (82%~85% efficiency). The HALE82 850W PSU we have up for review comes with a full compliment of fixed and modular cables, a dual ball bearing 120mm fan, includes universal AC input with Active PFC and is backed by NZXT's 5-year warranty.

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NZXT HALE82 850W PSU Key Features:

• 80+ Bronze Certification - The HALE82 series from NZXT operates with high efficiency: at 20%, 50%, and 100% loads, efficiencies are 82%, 85%, and 82% respectively.
• 100% Japanese Capacitors - High quality components promote longer lifespan and better reliability.
• 120mm Two-Ball Bearing Fan - For smooth, silent rotation and optimal air intake.
• Strong Single +12V Rail - A single +12V rail provides stability and ease of use with the ability to deliver clean currents under a heavy load.
• Modular Design - Includes a selection of flat cables that allow the user to pick and choose which cables they want to use, maximizing cable management and airflow inside chassis.
• Large Tower Support - Extended 8pin connector for bottom mounted cases or large cases.
• Dual 8pin connector - For high end motherbaords dedicated to overclocking.
• Keeping it Safe - The HALE80 series offers over voltage, current, power, temperature, under voltage, and short circuit protection.
• Warranty: 5-Years
• Price: $139.99 USD (Directron.com December 2011)

Continue reading our review of the NZXT HALE82 850W power supply!!

Origin PC Now Offering Frostbyte 360 All In One Liquid Cooling System

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 6, 2012 - 02:49 PM |
Tagged: water cooling, triple radiator, origin pc, liquid cooling, hsf, cpu block

Origin PC has started offering a unique water cooling solution called the Frostbyte 360. The self contained water loop includes a CPU water black, pump, tubing, and a triple 120mm radiator. The company claims that the new cooler has allowed their overclocking teams to reach overclocked processor speeds of 5.2 GHz on their systems. Kevin Wasielewski, the Origin PC CEO and co-founder has stated that the Frostbyte 360 is "a maintenance free liquid cooling solution, Origin PC customers can enjoy top-end CPU performance at a fraction of the cost."

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Although his claims that "traditional" watercooling systems for extreme overclocking required hundreds in not thousands of dollars of components is a bit extreme, it is a hobby that can get expensive.

Especially if you are only interested in cooling a CPU, the various "all in one" solutions like the Corsair Hydro series and the Antec Kuhler series can be a viable option. What is interesting about the Origin offering; however, is the inclusion of a triple 120mm radiator in the loop, which is more than the competition and should be plenty of radiator space to keep your processor nice and chilly even when overclocked.

According to Origin, features of the new Frostbyte 360 water cooling system include:

  • Micro-channel copper CPU block
  • 360mm (3x120mm) high efficiency copper radiator
  • Embedded temperature sensor measures copper surface temperature accurate to within 1°C
  • Factory sealed, maintenance free operation
  • Silent pump
  • Lightweight
  • Thermal resistance as low as 0.085 C/W
  • 1 to 3 year warranty on PCs that include the new cooler.

Currently, the new Frostbyte 360 sealed loop water cooler is available in Origin PC's Genesis series computers, which start at $1,599 USD and can be added to the computer in the configurator.  UPDATE: The Frostbyte 360 is not sold as a standalone product; however, current and previous Origin PC customers can purchase it as an upgrade.  It will be interesting to see if the the company will take on the Corsair and others more directly by selling the Frostbyte 360 cooler itself to customers.  Although not expandable like a traditional water cooler, it is also less costly and should not require any maintenance for at least a few years.  Would you be interested in using one of these 360 rad sealed loop coolers in your builds?

Source: Origin PC

Your watercooler is cool but this LN2 pot is downright cold

Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 3, 2012 - 12:40 PM |
Tagged: LN2, Kingpin, F1 Extreme Dark Cooling Pot

Kingpin's F1 Extreme Dark Cooling Pot is not for the faint of heart or for that matter for the lazy.  The price you pay for exotic cooling is evaporation which unfortunately is also the key to how this type of cooling works so well.  You will constantly need to top off the Extreme Dark Cooling Pot with LN2 but for the extreme overclocker that is just part of the drill.  OC3D shows off the new pot and adds a small tutorial on setting up your CPU and motherboard for this type of cooling as insulation is important to target the heatspreader on the CPU as well as ensuring that condensation does not interfere with other components near the CPU socket.  If you need a cool looking new pot or are interested in just how this type of cooling is done then head to Overclockers.com and take a look at Kingpin's latest product.

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"Overclockers have always been a bit extreme – we take hardware many people are perfectly satisfied with and then push every last MHz we can out of it within our cooling limits. Some choose air cooling, some choose water cooling. There are a few brave souls that use water chillers, but mostly those are benching operations only."

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Source: Overclockers,com

Gelid wants you to join the side of the DarkForce

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 27, 2012 - 01:48 PM |
Tagged: Gelid, darkforce

Gelid has expanded into the enclosure business with the mid sized DarkForce, 530x207x505mm (20.9x8.1x19.9") which might not give you as much space as other cases recently arriving on the market but for most PC builds it should be spacious enough.  The drive cage is well done, with the ability to hold 2.5" SSDs in addition to 3.5" HDDs, and for those with extra long graphics cards the cage can be completely removed from the case.   The motherboard tray has a cut out to allow easier access to your heatsink mount and there is a matching space to mount a fan on the door to help cool an area that is a dead spot in most cases.  At $120 it not expensive for a case of its size, but that is not the only reason Legit Reviews had such a positive reaction to the case.

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"The DARKFORCE mid-tower comes into a saturated field of mid-towers made for PC gamers and enthusiasts. Gelid Solution will need to take a unique approach to find ways to distinguish itself from the competitions at the entry price of $120 in the US market. After an overview of the specifications, it looks like Gelid Solutions has used its past experiences to put something a little different into this product..."

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Source: Legit Reviews

The expanding Cosmos; Cooler Master thinks wider, taller, deeper and heavier

Subject: Cases and Cooling | January 23, 2012 - 05:55 PM |
Tagged: cooler master, cosmos ii

Be warned, the obvious handles on the Cooler Master are there for a reason!  That handy lip on the front of the case is not a handle, it is a spring loaded cover for your peripheral plugs and fan controller and should not be used to pick up the case.  There are 11 card slots at the back of the case, just to give you an idea how big this case really is and in the front are 13 places to stash 3.5" or 2.5" drives.  The official measurements are 27.7" x 13.5" x 26.1" (704 x 344 x 664 mm) so you will have no problems fitting in even the largest of GPU cards.  The Tech Report is a little shocked by the $350 price tag but ended up deciding that the case was worth that much to anyone willing to pay the price.

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"Cooler Master's latest creation is a follow-up to the revered Cosmos line of enthusiast enclosures. We put this super-sized newbie through its paces to see if the Cosmos II is worthy of carrying the torch."

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Source: The Tech Report

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