Introduction and Features
SilverStone recently added the 600W ST60F-G power supply to their Strider Plus series. The Strider Plus ST60F-G is fully modular and housed in a compact enclosure that is only 140mm (5.5") deep for easy integration. The ST50F-P and ST60F-P are certified 80 Plus Bronze while the ST60F-PS and ST75F-P are certified 80 Plus Silver. We will be taking a detailed look at the ST60F-PS 600W power supply in this review.
Here is what SilverStone has to say about their new Strider Plus ST60F-PS PSU: “The ST60F-PS is the world smallest modular ATX PSU with a 140mm depth which has also eased installation. In addition to 80Plus Silver level efficiency (80Plus Gold at 230VAC), all models are built to meet very high standards in electrical performance so they have ±3% voltage regulation and ripple & noise, and high amperage single +12V rail. Other notable features included are 24/7 40°C continuous output capacity, low-noise 120mm fan, and multiple sets of PCI-E cables. For enthusiasts that are looking for the power supply with all the right features to make a high performing and aesthetically pleasing system, the Strider Plus series reaches the goal with maximum satisfaction.”
SilverStone ST60F-PS Power Supply Key Features:
• Compact design with a depth of 140mm for easy integration
• 600 watt continuous power output 24/7 at 40°C
• 80Plus Silver certified with 80 Plus Gold level efficiency at 230VAC
• Strict ±3% voltage regulation with low AC ripple and noise
• Class leading +12V rail with up to 49A (588W)
• Active PFC (up to 0.99)
• Universal AC input (90-264 VAC) full range
• 100% modular cables
• Silent running 120mm fan
• Protections: OCP, OVP, OPP, OTP, UVP, and SCP
• MSRP $105 USD
Please continue reading our SilverStone ST60F-PS power supply review!
Fractal Design Packs USB 3.0 Support Into Core 1000 USB 3.0 mATX Case
Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 5, 2013 - 07:57 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: usb 3.0, mid tower, fractal design, core 1000 usb 3.0, atx case
Fractal Design has announced an updated Core 1000 USB 3.0 Micro ATX case that adds USB 3.0 support to the front panel. The new Core 1000 USB 3.0 chassis measures 175mm x 355mm x 420mm and weighs approximately 9 lbs (4.1 kg).
The micro ATX case supports motherboards of the Mini-ITX, DTX, and Micro ATX flavors. Further, it can support graphics cards up to 350mm in length and CPU coolers up to 148mm in height. Two optical disk drives, either three vertically mounted 2.5” SSDs or two 3.5” HDDs, and four PCI expansion slots round out the storage and expansion options.The hard drives feature anti-vibration grommets, and the fan spots include dust filters.
On the outside, the Core 1000 USB 3.0 case is flat black with a large mesh front panel and side panel vent. The right side of the case holds the front IO panel, which consists of:
- 1 x USB 3.0
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 2 x Audio jacks
- 1 x HDD activity indicator light
- 1 x Power button
- 1 x Reset button
The inside of the case is rather spartan. There are no cable routing holes, water cooling grommets, CPU cutouts, or other fancy features. It has an ATX power supply spot at the top of the case, motherboard standoffs, and drive cages. Just enough to get the job done, in other words.
Fractal Design includes a single Silent Series R2 120mm intake fan, but the case can actually support a total of three fans. There are spots for:
- 1 x 120mm (front intake)
- 1 x 92mm (rear exhaust)
- 1 x 120mm (side panel)
There is no word on pricing or availability yet, but expect it to run around $40-50. More photos and specifications are available on the Fractal Design website.
Is bigger better for Corsair's self-contained watercoolers
Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 4, 2013 - 01:50 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: watercooling, corsair, H90, H110, 140mm
The Corsair H90 and H110 use larger 140mm fans with 140mm and and 280mm radiators respectively. [H]ard|OCP compared them to also relatively recent H100i and H80i, 120mm based coolers that are controllable with Corsair's LINK technology. The comparison was rather favourable for the new 140mm coolers, with both new models beating the H100i at stocks speeds and beating their respective cousins on an overclocked chip; perhaps more importantly these two models did so with noticeably reduced sound levels. If you need serious cooling and aren't crazy about noise, these two coolers should be on your list.
"Corsair, once known only for quality enthusiast RAM modules, has successfully diversified its products reaching into cases, power supplies, processor cooling solutions. With the release of the H90 and H110 Hydro Series, we see the first new refresh in its closed loop liquid cooling systems."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Corsair Hydro Series H90 Review @ OCC
- Corsair H110 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Thermalright AXP-100 Low-Profile CPU Cooler @ Tweaktown
- Corsair H90 and H110 CPU Cooler Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Thermalright Archon SB-E X2 @ eTeknix
- Deepcool FROSTWIN CPU Cooler Review: Overclocking on a Budget @ X-bit Labs
- Cooler Master Seidon 240M CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Canucks
- Noctua Low Profile Heatsinks @ Bjorn3D
- DeepCool IceBlade Pro V2.0 Heatsink Review @ Frostytech
- Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile Cpu Cooler @ Rbmods
- Evercool Venti CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
- BitFenix Spectre Pro PWM and Spectre LED PWM Fan @ eTeknix
- Aerocool Strike-X X-1000 Fan Controller @ eTeknix
- CoolerMaster HAF XB @ FunkyKit
- Aerocool Strike-X Air @ Kitguru
- Fractal Design Node 304 @ LanOC Reviews
- Shuttle Barebone DS61 Review @ Madshrimps
- Cooler Master HAF XB LAN Box @ Modders-Inc
- Nox Xtreme Coolbay VX @ techPowerUp
- BitFenix Raider Case Review: All These Little Things @ AnandTech
- Fractal Design Define R4 @ LanOC Reviews
- Fractal Design Arc Midi R2 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Lian Li PC-7HX @ LanOC Reviews
- Thermaltake Armor Revo Full-Tower @ Funkykit
- Silverstone Raven 3 @ LanOC Reviews
- AZZA Silentium 920B Mid-Tower Chassis @ Tweaktown
- Silverstone SUGO SG09 Small Form Factor Chassis @ eTeknix
Thermaltake Launches Urban S21 Mid Tower Chassis
Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 3, 2013 - 10:53 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: thermaltake, mid tower, case, atx
Thermaltake has released a new mid tower chassis aimed at enthusiasts favoring minimalist designs. Constructed of SECC (Steel, Electrogalvanized, ColdRolled, Coil) steel, the Thermaltake Urban S21 supports ATX motherboards, high-end graphics cards, and both air and water cooling options. It measures 17.2” x 7.5” x 19.6”.
The new chassis is all black and features a brushed metal design on the front panel. The brushed metal front door hides the externally-accessible drives. At the top of the front panel, the case features two USB 3.0 ports and two audio jacks. A power LED along with both power and reset button adorns the top-edge of the case. The side panel has space for one 120mm fan as well as a clear window above it that is about the size of a 120mm fan. Four large case feet hold the mid tower above the floor, allowing the PSU intake and an (optional) additional 120mm fan to bring cool air into the case.
Thermaltake includes two 120mm fans, but the case itself can support a maximum of five 120mm fans. The Urban S21 case interior features tool-less drive bays for up to six hard drives and three optical drives. Further, it has cable management holes, water cooling grommets, a bottom-mounted power supply, and a CPU cutout.
Thermaltake’s Urban S21 case looks good and has a decent feature set. The case will reportedly go on sale sometime this month, but the company has not yet announced pricing. Here’s hoping the price is right as it is looking like a nice mid-tower case so far! You can find more specifications on the Urban S21 on this product page.
Enermax replaces their MODU82+ series with ... Triathlor?
Subject: Cases and Cooling | March 1, 2013 - 07:12 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: Triathlor FC, modular psu, enermax, 80 Plus Bronze, 650W
If you ignore the interesting choice of names, the Enermax Triathlor 650W looks good on paper with mostly modular cabling, an 80 Plus Bronze rating and a $120 price tag. With four 6+2 PCIe power connectors and a pair of 30A 12V rails it will handle SLI/Crossfire of mid range cards but will probably have trouble with multiple flagship GPUs. Hardware Secrets like the amount of available cabling and the quiet operation of the PSU but unfortunately they were not terribly impressed with the voltage regulation when it was run at full power. Taking that into account, as well as the fact that similar PSUs tend to cost less than $100, they have difficulty recommending this PSU in the current market.
"The Triathlor FC is the latest power supply series with the 80 Plus Bronze certification from Enermax, coming to replace the MODU82+ series. So far, three models were released: 550 W, 650 W, and 700 W. Let's see if the 650 W model is a good buy."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Antec High Current Pro 1000W Power Supply @ Funkykit
- Seasonic Platinum 520 Fanless 520-Watt 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
- NZXT HALE90 V2 1000 W @ techPowerUp
- Sntey LTP1000-SM 1000W 80 PLUS Platinum @ Tweaktown
- Seasonic X-Series 650W KM3 @ Kitguru
- Kingwin Power Force 850-Watt 80 PLUS Bronze @ Tweaktown
- Cooler Master Silencio 650 @ XSReviews
- PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk III 750W @ Hardware.info
- Thermaltake Smart M 850W Power Supply @ Hi Tech Legion
- Fractal Design NEWTON R3 1000 W @ techPowerUp
Introduction and Features
Seasonic was one of the first manufacturers to offer a fanless PC power supply and they just keep on getting better! In their relentless pursuit to continuously improve their products, Seasonic has recently upgraded the Fanless 400/460/520 units from 80Plus Gold to 80Plus Platinum status while delivering even better performance and backed by a 7-year warranty. We will be taking a detailed look at the all-modular Platinum-460 Fanless power supply in this review.
Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless 460W Power Supply
80Plus Platinum The Platinum Series Fanless 400W, 460W, and 520W power supplies are certified in accordance to the 80PLUS organization's highest standard, offering the newest technology and innovation for performance and energy savings with up to 92% efficiency and a true power factor of greater than 0.9 PF.
Seasonic Patented DC Connector Panel with Integrated Voltage Regulation Module The Seasonic Platinum Fanless power supplies feature an integrated DC connector panel with onboard VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) that enables not only near perfect DC-to-DC conversion with reduction of current loss/impedance and increase of efficiency but also a fully modular DC cabling that enables maximum flexibility of integration and forward compatibility.
Full Modular Design (DC to DC) Seasonic’s Patented Fully Modular Design offers ease of installation while minimizing voltage drops and impedance and greatly maximizes efficiency and cooling to enhance overall performance and reliability.
Seasonic Platinum Series Fanless PSU Key Features:
• 80Plus Platinum certified super high efficiency (up to 92%)
• Fanless operation (0dBA)
• 7-Year manufacturer's warranty
• Fully Modular Cable design with flat ribbon-style cables
• Seasonic DC Connector Panel with integrated VRMs
• DC-to-DC Converter design
• Tight voltage regulation (±2%)
• Multi-GPU technology support
• Conductive polymer aluminum solid capacitors
• High reliability 105°C Japanese made electrolytic capacitors
• Ultra Ventilation honeycomb structure
• Dual sided PCB layout
• High capacity +12V output
• High current Gold plated terminals with Easy Swap connectors
• Active PFC (0.99 PF typical) with Universal AC input
Please continue reading our Platinum-460 Fanless power supply review!
Phanteks' new cooler stands tall
Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 26, 2013 - 02:30 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: phanteks, PH-TC12DX
At 126mm x 57mm x 157mm (5" x 2.2" x 6.2") the PH-TC12DX heatsink is tall enough to cause some problems with small cases but is tall enough it will not interfere with your RAM like some other large coolers can. With only two screws to secure the heatsink [H]ard|OCP had no troubles installing it on the motherboards they tested it on. When they tested its ability to remove heat they were more than impressed, with a pair of fans this air cooler outperformed Corsair's H80i, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that it operated more quietly as well. At $60 it is also cheaper and well worth considering on your next build.
"Phanteks has high hopes for its sweetly named PH-TC12DX CPU air cooler. OK, maybe not that sweet, but with a patented "Physical Antioxidant Thermal Shield" and "Cold Plasma Spraying Coating Technology" technology this thing has got to be greatest heatsink and fan combination ever made, right?"
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Phanteks PH-TC12DX CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
- be Quiet! Shadow Rock Topflow SR1 CPU Cooler Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Deepcool CPU Air Cooler Roundup: Playing it Too Safe? @ AnandTech
- Lian-Li PC-N1 Intel NUC Replacement Case Review @ Legit Reviews
- 33 CPU cooler group test: cool, quiet and both @ Hardware.info
- Coolink Corator DS LGA2011 @ techPowerUp
- Arctic Breeze USB Desktop Fan Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Noctua NF Series Fan Roundup @ Neoseeker
- Which is The Best Configuration for 120 mm Liquid Cooling Fans? @ Hardware Secrets
- Corsair H90 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Enermax ELC 120 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
- Fractal Design Define XL R2 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Fractal Design Node 304 Mini-ITX Case @ Benchmark Reviews
- Cooler Master HAF XM Full Tower @ eTeknix
- In Win GT1 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Fractal Design Define XL R2 Case Review: Maybe We Can Have It All? @ AnandTech
- Evo Labs E-250 Case @ Kitguru
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Midi Tower PC Case Review @ NikKTech
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Chassis Review @ Pro-Clockers
- SilverStone Sugo SG09 @ Phoronix
- Fractal Design Define XL R2 Review @ Hardware Canucks
- Fractal Design Node 605 Case @ Kitguru
- Rosewill Line-M Case Review: Wherefore Art Thou Micro-ATX? @ AnandTech
Introduction and Technical Specifications
Introduction
Hydro Series™ H110 Extreme Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
Courtesy of Corsair
Hydro Series™ H90 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler
Courtesy of Corsair
Corsair has upped their presence in the cooling field with the new 140mm fan-based additions to the Hydro Series™ CPU water cooler lineup. Corsair was kind enough to provide us with samples of their H90 and H110 series cooling units, both using 140mm fans. We put these coolers up against their H80i 120mm fan-based unit as well as our custom-built Swiftech Apogee HD cooling system to see how well these new Corsair units performed. Starting at a base price of $99.99 for the Corsair H90 cooler, you can't go wrong with either unit.
Hydro Series™ H110 Extreme Performance CPU Cooler without fans
Courtesy of Corsair
Hydro Series™ H90 High Performance Liquid CPU Cooler without fans
Courtesy of Corsair
Corsair worked with Asetek to design their new 140mm-based line of coolers with the H90 and H110 introduced to enhance their current line of coolers. Both coolers are built using aluminum radiators capable of holding 140mm fans and copper cold plates. The rubber coated tubing used is low permeability 1/4 inch based tubing with multiple layers used to prevent liquid evaporation and to provide maximum tubing flexibility. Unlike their Corsair Link™ based coolers, the Corsair H90 and H110 units do not have integrated LEDs nor the Corsair Link™ based monitoring system.
Tired of single plane shiny metal coolers?
Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 18, 2013 - 06:49 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: prolimatech, Genesis Black
If you are bored of the standard 1 kilogram block of shiny silver metal heatsink in your case, Prolimatech has something for you; the Genesis Black. With six heatpipes and the ability to support up to three 140mm fans, the black finish on the aluminium heatsinks and the unique horizontal and vertical design will make your system stand out. On many modern motherboards, that second fin should float above your DIMMs and not only give you enough clearance for DDR3 with heatspreaders but the fan should also increase airflow over those fins. Even better, the test results that Hardware Secrets produced prove this is an effective design as well.
"The Prolimatech Genesis Black Series is a CPU cooler with two heatsinks, one vertical and one horizontal. It supports up to three 120 mm or 140 mm fans. Let's test it."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
- Corsair H100i CPU Cooler Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- Scythe Grand Kama Cross Rev. B @ X-bit Labs
- Overclocking Coolers on a Budget: Scythe Katana 4 vs. Thermalright TRUE Spirit 90 @ X-bit Labs
- Efficient Silence from a Giant: SilverStone Heligon HE02 @ X-bit Labs
- be quiet! Shadow Rock TopFlow SR1 CPU Cooler Review @ NikKTech
- SilverStone Nitrogon NT06-Pro CPU Air Cooler @ [H]ard|OCP
- Fractal Design Adjust 108 Fan Controller Review @ Hi Tech Legion
- NZXT Kraken X60 Liquid CPU Cooler @ eTeknix
- Swiftech H220 Compact Drive II CPU Water Cooler @ Tweaktown
- Nanoxia Deep Silence 2 Case @ AnandTech
- ZXT Phantom 630 High Performance Modular Full-Tower Chassis @ Tweaktown
- Silverstone Precision PS08 @ techPowerUp
- Thermaltake System Cases: 5 Models @ X-bit Labs
- Cougar Spike Micro-ATX PC Case Review @ Legit Reviews
- Xigmatek Asgard Pro @ techPowerUp
A Crowd Funded Mini-ITX Case, the NCASE M1
Subject: Cases and Cooling | February 17, 2013 - 03:51 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: ncase, mini-itx, mini ITX, m1
We love us some mini-ITX products that enable us to build powerful PCs and HTPCs in smaller chassis and using smaller footprints than traditional ATX and even MicroATX designs. We have reviewed several mini-ITX motherboards including EVGA's Z77 Stinger and even a couple of mini-ITX based pre-build computers like AVADirect Mini Gaming PC and the Digital Storm Bolt. All of these products showcase the capability to get incredible computing and gaming horsepower in a small design.
Recently I came across a thread in the /r/hardware sub-reddit discussing crowd funding for a new kind of mini-ITX chassis design. In what started as a discussion on the HardForum has resulted in a design ready for prototyping and tooling.
That is where the community comes in! The designers have started an Indiegogo.com project to help get funding from users like you and me to enable prototype units to be built and tested. I already tossed in a chunk of money from PC Perspective and I think once you see what they have designed you'll be interested as well.
The NCASE M1 is a new Mini-ITX case that raises the bar in performance, versatility, and design for SFF PC cases. With support for 12.5” GPUs, water or air cooling, and a variety of drive mounting options, the M1 offers unparalleled power and flexibility for its surprisingly small footprint, all wrapped in an elegant, minimalist aluminum exterior.
We've spent months perfecting the design using feedback from [H]ardForum community and Lian Li's engineers. Our goal is to take this design to production, and we need your help.
The next step before production is to test a prototype of the M1. The funding goal is the minimum we need to produce a prototype plus a small components budget to test fitment, thermals and noise.
The more funding we're able to raise, the more hardware configurations we'll be able to test for, which leads to a better product. If we achieve our funding goal, don't let it stop you from backing us! Every little bit will help make the M1 better.
Just look at the projected specifications and device support:
Dimensions: 240mm x 160mm x 328mm (250mm tall w/feet), 12.6L
Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, Mini-DTX
Expansion Slots: 3
GPU Support: 12.5” (slot 1 & 2) or 11” (slot 3)
CPU Cooler Support: Up to 105mm tall; 120mm and 240mm radiators also supported
Drive Support: 3 x 3.5” HDD mounts; 3 x 2.5” drive mounts; 1 x slim slot-load optical drive mount
Power Supply Support: SFX or ATX (up to 140mm non-modular, or longer w/short GPU)
Fan Support: 2 x 120mm side & bottom mounts; 80/92mm bottom & rear mounts
Front Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, headphone and microphone
A chassis design that is built not just but a single engineer in Taiwan but rather by actual users that want to perfect a product based on the input from the community DIRECTLY - it is an incredible goal!
I have included some additional images below but you should make sure you head over to the Indigogo.com project page and learn about the NCASE M1 and contribute any amount you can to make this a reality. Hopefully, in the not-too-distant future we'll be able to pick up one for ourselves and showcase it on PC Perspective!
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