|
 |
 |
 Processors |
 Motherboards |
 Chipsets |
 Memory |
 Graphics Cards |
 Storage |
 Cases and Cooling |
 Mobile |
 Systems |
 Displays |
 Shows and Expos |
 .:Latest Topics |
:: PC Perspective . Case and Cooling
NMediaPC 1080P HTPC Case ReviewCase and Cooling - Sep 07, 2010 | 01:00 PM Home theater setups still pretty popular in some circles, especially with the availability of Blu-ray components and smaller form factor motherboards supporting full-size processors. NMediaPC has been in the HTPC game for some time now, and their new 1080P aims at giving users a micro ATX solution that won't be detectable as a PC on most entertainment centers. It's sleek, low-profile design (and $59 price tag) should draw a crowd at many online etailers. 
Case Appeals AVZ Test Bench ReviewCase and Cooling - Sep 05, 2010 | 05:00 AM Before this year's Quakecon event, we wanted a custom case created for PC Perspective's annual hardware workshop. We enlisted Case Appeals to create us an AVZ test bench to mesmerize the hardware workshop crowd and we also thought it would also make for a great review article too. Check out our indepth review of this custom test bench and show piece. 
Enermax MODU87+ 900W Power Supply ReviewCase and Cooling - Aug 27, 2010 | 01:00 PM The Enermax MODU87+ 900W is a high output PSU with excellent efficiency, good voltage regulation, clean outputs, and it comes with modular cables. And for a 900W PSU it is very quiet. Check out our review of the latest PSU that can power your next high-end gaming rig!
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Legit Reviews | Subject: Case and Cooling
The CoolerMaster HAF series of cases has been around a wee bit now and has devoted followers as they are high end enclosures done well. That does put them out of the target price range of many PC enthusiasts who are far more concerned about what goes inside the case and how well it performs as opposed to how it looks. The new HAF 912 will retail for about $60, well under the asking price of the rest of the HAF family and all they really did was remove some fans and leave the interior unpainted. See it for yourself at Legit Reviews.
"With the Cooler Master HAF 912 enthusiast PC case coming out at the $60 mark it makes the case more than affordable for the masses. You also get a very nice feature set right out of the box that allows the case to grow with your system and your needs. Costing almost half what its closest sibling does the HAF 912 would be a great fit for just about any level of user. The official launch date is the 14th of September, and at that time the HAF 912 will be available on e-tail and retail outlets..." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Cooler Master | Subject: Case and Cooling
Introducing a bold and ruggedly styled case with massive airflow and support for watercooling, Cooler Master’s HAF 912. The HAF 912 holds true to its HAF namesake and delivers on these features while remaining in a small mid-tower package for a space constrained and/or value conscious consumer. Extreme Value & Support
Innovative Modular Interior Features
The first cage holds 4 x 3.5" hard drives and is 90 degree rotatable to allow for different airflow configurations. Removing this cage allows users to install today’s high-end graphics cards with lengths that typically restrict their installation to larger cases. A fixed hard drive cage resides below this cage. The second is placed on the bottom of the case to allow users to add 2 x 2.5" devices. Removing it allows users to install long power supplies. This unit can be relocated to the space left from removing the first cage so users can still make use of the extra 2.5" devices. A third and fourth 2.5" can be installed by using an included bracket that installs in an available 3.5" slot. The 2.5" drive bay is pre drilled to permit mounting of a water pump on the top. Expanded Cable Management
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: techPowerUp! | Subject: Case and Cooling
At 245 x 558 x 582mm or 9.6 x 22 x 23", this eATX case from BitFenix deserves the name Colossus. It is so big they've included a storage space on the top to let keep a few bits'n'bobs handy, or whatever else you might want close to hand while computing. Almost completely toolless, the only screws will be attaching the motherboard to the chassis though their is a large enough access hole in the back of the chassis to allow access to most heatsink backplates. If you need a case with a lot of space then drop by TechPowerUp for a close look at the shadow of this Colossus. "BitFenix may be a new brand but their first product has landed. The Colossus case is so large that you simply cannot miss it. It is packed to the rim with new and unique features, which make you wonder what we did without them before. We take an in-depth look at the retail version of this massive EATX case that goes for a very affordable 159 Euros." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Case and Cooling
At 1500W the Silverstone Strider ST1500 might give you some sort of bragging rights but you should really make sure that you need that much power before running out to buy one. Being able to provide 1320W at 110A will keep three overclocked GTX 480s fed and running but this Strider will still have untapped power in reserve. On the plus side, it does run off of a 120v line so you won't need an electrician to bring in a special 240v line and it delivers high quality power off of the normal voltage making it rather attractive even if [H]ard|OCP would like to see the warranty extended beyond 3 years.
"SilverStone raises its flagship Strider PSU to what is the near-limit of wattage you can pull out a normal North American wall plug. At 1500 watts continuous and 1600 watts peak this power supply will hopefully get the job done for you. Let's see how it holds up under full load." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Case and Cooling
On PC Perspective Podcast #119 we had an email from a viewer wanting suggestions on how to reduce his HTPCs power consumption and noise. While we did have a few suggestions it looks like [H]ard|OCP has a definitive answer on at least one of his questions, how to get rid of the fan on his CPU cooler. The Thermalright HR-02 is designed to be a passive heatsink for 130W TDP processors although you could add a quiet fan to it if you wished. The cooler weighs in at 860g and is 110mm x 140mm x 160mm
so case size will be a consideration. They tested it with a Core i7 920 and you can see the results in the full review.
"Looking to cool a 130 watt processor with a passive heatsink? I am not sure many of us are, but if you are looking to silence a powerhouse enthusiast system, passive cooling is now a way you can go. We have a look at Thermalright's passive HR-02. And yes, you can put a "silent" fan on it as well if you wish." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Think Computers | Subject: Case and Cooling
If you spent a good chunk of change on a nice case that lets people see the insides of your machine and chose or modded components specifically to make the system look good, having plain old cables hidden inside can ruin the motif. Now thanks to NZXT you don't have to worry about that as they have just released their Premium Cables. They sell cabling from everything from your ATX power connector to floppy cables and each wire is individually wrapped to allow it to make any turn inside the case, no matter how tight. Take a look at them over at Think Computers.
"So you’re building a new computer and you want to wire your case to look nice on the inside. NZXT has come out with some single braided cables for all your power needs and nice looks for your case. The single braided cables have started to become mainstream after a few modders started to make their own and sell them. So NZXT decided to make their own cable and bring them to the mainstream. As we all know NZXT has been making some great high end products. I am for one happy to see how these will work out, being an avid modder and custom case builder. With many of these cables to review let’ s see what these cables are all about." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Silent PC Review | Subject: Case and Cooling
SPCR are no strangers to building silent systems, as Ryan can attest to after reviewing the Puget Systems Serenity PC, so torture testing a fanless PSU is right up their alley. They have assembled several PSUs from different manufacturers, the Seasonic X-400 Fanless, Silverstone ST40NF, Silentmaxx MX-560, SilenX Luxurae 460 (FSP Zen 400W) and the Coolmax CF-480B.
From that array of PSUs the Seasonic X-400 Fanless took top billing, no surprise as not only did SPCR like it in their full review, Lee loved it when he reviewed it here at PC Perspective. "A roundup torture test of samples from every fanless power supply line in the marketplace instigated by the Seasonic X-400 Fanless, which cruised through 15 hours of full-load operation at nearly 60°C temperature in the "case". Which fanless PSUs can actually deliver rated power with virtually no forced airflow? " Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Overclockers Club | Subject: Case and Cooling
The Norco RPC-4020 is a 4U rackmount server that sports twenty 3.5-inch hard drive bays easily accessible for hot swapping. A total of seven 80mm fans keep your system cool, a standard ATX PSU provides power and there is space for a mini-redundant PSU. At 40lbs empty it is a little heavy to slide in and out of a rack but is certainly solidly constructed. Overclockers Club would have liked to see rails included in the packaging but didn't let that distract them from the overall high quality of this rack mounted case. "As good as the chassis is, there are several things that pulled it back from being top dog. First for the size and weight of the case, let alone the price, a set of rails should be included. The case is too heavy to keep removing from a rack when needing to perform maintenance or upgrades. Getting it into the rack in the first place takes at least two people and the rack ears seem to hold it, but for how long?" Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Legit Reviews | Subject: Case and Cooling
The focus on Corsairs cooling kit has been the recently released H70 as well as the previous H50, both self contained watercooling solutions; this has left their A series languishing in relative obscurity. Legit Reviews looks to repair that with their comprehensive review of the A70 dual 120mm fan heatsink. At $65 it sits in the midrange in terms of cost for a high end cooler, at 159.5 x 124.6 x 129mm
it certainly isn't small. Drop by Legit Reviews to see how it performs.
"Whether you are new to PCs or an enthusiast, when you hear the name Corsair your mind most likely jumps straight to RAM. However, Corsair has been branching out over the last couple of years into more than RAM. Now they have power supplies, USB drives, SSDs, cases, water cooling kits and now, air coolers. The coolers are the A50 and A70, and today we will be looking at the A70. The A70 is a dual 120mm fan Heatpipe Direct Touch (HDT) 4 heat pipe tower cooler. The A70 will mount up to all the Intel LGA sockets and the AMD AM2/AM3 sockets. The A70 is a twin fan cooler and Corsair provides two 120mm fans for a push/pull configuration. Each of the fans is rated at 61.2 CFM at 2000 RPM and run at 31.5 dBA. They can also be restricted with inline power resistors to make them run at 50.35 CFM at 1600 RPM and 26dBA each. So the cooler can be quieted down if needed..." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Case and Cooling
In the market recently focusing on 1000W+ PSUs a 400W PSU seems incredibly low powered but there are far more systems that would be happy with a 400W PSU than systems needing a kilowatt of power. Seasonic has a new member to their X-Series, the X-400FL
Silent PSU which as it does not have a fan does not make much noise at all. [H]ard|OCP put it through their torture tests and were quite impressed with the quality of the power provided, there is no need to worry that this PSU is underpowered as it delivers the power advertised and sits at the top of its class.
"Seasonic, long known for making excellent power supply units has gone silent. Not just quiet, silent. It's new 400 watt unit comes to the consumer complete with no fan. Now let's see if the new silent Seasonic is worth your hard earned cash." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Overclockers Club | Subject: Case and Cooling
At 825g the Thermalright Silver Arrow is not the heaviest heatsink on the market but with measurements of 147 x 123 x 160mm it is one of the biggest. They opted for some rather unique looking 140mm fans to provide airflow, with round casing that tries to ameliorate the size of the cooler but this heatsink is still only going to fit in the deepest of cases. In the testing OCC performed with the cooler the only other competition that could manage to come close to the Silver Arrow was the Prolimatech Super Mega; impressive to say the least. The large fans helped keep the noise down but the size of this cooler cannot be dismissed, case depth and even motherboard layout are key to ensuring you can still access important parts of your motherboard with this cooler installed so do some measuring before you buy it.
"As I stated earlier, the 12v connector on the motherboard was difficult to access with the heatsink installed, and I almost had to unscrew the motherboard and tilt it out to get it to plug in. This is something that consumers will have to get used to either way, because as processors get hotter, the coolers will continue to increase in size unless a manufacturer has a mega breakthrough in cooling technology. Regardless, the Thermalright Silver Arrow is a significant contender to the current market of heatsinks and is a great choice for anyone searching for a new, high end heatsink and is not afraid of dealing with its massive size." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: 3DCenter | Subject: Case and Cooling
Before testing ExtremeTech was already having mixed thoughts about VisionTek's new Killer 2100, based off of Bigfoot Networks KillerNIC design. On the plus side at $90 it is cheaper than its predecessors but they had concerns about the automatic firmware upgrade it immediately did upon use as not every firmware upgrade goes smoothly especially if the new image is broken. When they started testing it was the usual story, the software provided allowed for very granular control over the network connections of various programs but did not have a large effect on latencies when gaming. It would seem fine for a $5000 gaming PC but not a very good investment for the normal gamer.
"VisionTek has released a souped-up gaming network card that could be worth buying for reasons
other than performance. The Killer 2100, again based on Bigfoot Networks' reference design, is
the latest in a line of NICs that purport to reduce latency and ping times while gaming. But
the Killer 2100 also offers a bevy of useful software monitoring tools, and it rings in at a
just-reduced price of $89.99. That's $40 less than its retail cost at launch just two months
ago."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Legion Hardware | Subject: Case and Cooling
Thermaltake has new lineup, the Toughpower Grand Series with two members, a 650W and a a 750W PSU. Both sport the 80+ Gold label, modular cabling, automatic switching between 110/230V and a single very powerful 12V rail. Both PSUs are over $100 and both are indeed worth it for those that value a rock solid PSU, the 650W handled an overclocked Core i7 980X and a pair of GeForce GTX 480s along with assorted drives and fans with no problems. Needless to say, Legion Hardware was impressed. "The cable management system, or modular design as it is commonly referred to, helps to not only simplify the installation process, but it also makes for a very tidy install, and this is always something that we like to see. Finally, we have been very pleased with the Thermaltake Toughpower Grand series, and believe that they would make a fine addition to any high-end gaming system." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Case and Cooling
[H]ard|OCP has received the new Corsair H70 all in one CPU cooler and before they get to the full review they put together a quick overview on the experience they had installing the cooler. This is not a review yet, as they have yet to finish but as the previous Corsair H50 was such a hot item that they felt it would interest people to get an overview of how the install process works on this new model. Take a look to see how it fits and a quick preview of its performance in their preview.
"We showed you the new Corsair H70 CPU cooler a couple of days ago and finally today we had the opportunity to place
it inside our Quiet Fermi Build replacing the Corsair H50 we had in the system. Come along to see our install and
what our preliminary temperatures look like."
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Case and Cooling
The most recent review at PC Perspective comes from Steve as he examines the new mATX NZXT Vulcan case. Nicely under $100, this case offers a rather impressive array of fan mountings for such a small case and watercooling grommets for those desiring that variety of cooling solution. Top mounted power and reset buttons as well as USB, eSATA and audio ports are rather convenient, as is the front fan controller, though the lack of tool-less installation on all the drive bays is a little less handy.
Check out his full review to see how it looks empty and with a system inside. "The NZXT Vulcan is quite possibly one of the most well-designed micro-ATX cases I've ever tested. The overall design, expandability options, support for the longest graphics cards on the market, and competitive price point really puts it into a class of its own. The overall construction is really quite surprising considering this case retails for only $70 with free shipping. I also need to confirm that the top panel can house a dual radiator solution for a custom watercooling setup because I know most gamers having gone away from typical air-cooled systems to water-cooled ones." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Corsair Memory | Subject: Case and Cooling
Fremont, California — August 4, 2010 — Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Corsair Hydro Series H70 ultra-performance CPU cooler. This CPU cooler is designed to provide an extremely efficient cooling solution for CPUs from Intel and AMD. The Hydro Series H70 CPU cooler is an evolution of the award-winning Hydro Series H50, with several significant upgrades that enable it to deliver even greater cooling performance. These upgrades include a double-thickness (50mm) radiator with higher heat-exchanging capacity and a pump/cold plate unit with increased efficiency. The H70 also features two 120mm speed-switchable cooling fans in a push-pull configuration to provide increased airflow at low noise levels. “Thanks to the H70, you no longer need a fin array the size of a small shoebox to cool aggressively overclocked CPUs,” stated John Beekley, VP of Technical Marketing at Corsair. “The H70 stands toe-to-toe with any CPU cooler on the market, and does it with less noise, easier installation, and support of nearly every ATX-compatible case.” Like the wildly popular H50, the Hydro Series H70 provides the benefits of water cooling in a sealed and pre-filled unit, with no maintenance required. The low profile cold plate is extremely space efficient, and is very low in mass compared to heat pipe based solutions, putting less stress on the system’s motherboard. The H70 includes mounting hardware for most common AMD and Intel CPUs, and, unlike some competitive CPU coolers, includes all necessary fans for high performance operation. The Corsair Hydro Series H70 CPU Cooler is available immediately(ish) from Corsair’s worldwide network of authorized distributors and resellers. It is supplied with a two year warranty, and is backed by Corsair’s legendary customer service and technical support. 
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Case and Cooling
It is a very good thing that as PCs demand more and more power and PSUs over 800W become more common that there is a focus on making these PSUs as efficient as possible. The amount of power that a PSU of that class draws can add up to a fair amount of money over the year in utility bills and having a PSU that uses 90% of the power it draws at least means most of your money is actually ending up as useful energy. The Cooler Master Silent PRO Gold 800W PSU hits that efficiency mark with its 80+ Gold rating and InsideHW also liked the attempt by Cooler Master to reduce vibration and keep the airflow sufficient to cool the PSU.
"The need for PSUs who can offer quiet work alongside more power and efficiency is
ever-increasing. This trend has been spotted by numerous manufacturers, who have
recently presented the market with their own visions of quiet PSUs. Cooler Master can’t
be an exception, of course, so they decided to present, besides the already available
and well-known Silent PRO series, the Silent PRO Gold series. The new series
encompasses PSUs from 600 to 1200 W of power, so that most users be able to pick the
appropriate model for them with ease. The model we’ve tested was the golden middle -
pun intended - with an 800 W sticker on the case…"
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Case and Cooling
NZXT has designed something a little more luxurious than their usual, the Phantom. Whereas cases like the Hush are priced well under $100 this case should retail just above but with some very good reasons. For instance the included air cooling consists of
an blue LED 200mm fan on the top as well as a rear mounted 120mm fan and there is room for another 120 or 140mm fan at the front, an additional 200mm on top and you can either add a second 120mm fan or swap out the existing one to replace it with a 200 or 230mm fan. To make things more interesting there are six integral fan controllers operated by sliders on the exterior of the case allowing you to switch your cooling on the fly. That isn't all as you will see when you read Steve's full review.
"After examining the exterior, interior, cooling options, tool-less options, and other intricacies I concluded that I'm very satisfied with how the Phantom was designed. It's obvious that NZXT gave PC builders every air cooling option they could stuff into this case, but they also went the extra mile and added options for watercooling enthusiasts to install their custom components too. Whether you like using air cooled or water cooled solutions, the Phantom case has got you covered." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Case and Cooling
As wonderful as the performance of the GTX480 is, the ability to power them has become somewhat of a running gag on online review sites. A recent review by Lee offers a solution to the power concerns that doesn't involve building your own pebble bed nuclear reactor. His solution is the Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 power supply which not only provides huge amounts of power but does so with an 80+ Gold rating, the highest available. As well, no matter how much load he placed on it the PFC sat at or near 1.00 and there was barely a ripple on any of the lines. This is a must for anyone considering a system that requires 1200W of power.
"Corsair is well known for producing some of the best PC power supplies on the market today and the AX1200 continues that trend. The Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 power supply delivers clean DC outputs, with excellent efficiency and good voltage regulation. Under normal operating conditions (below 600W load) the AX1200 is relatively quiet. The AX1200 comes with an excellent assortment of all-modular cables that can support the latest CPUs and multiple, high-end video cards. And let’s not forget active PFC, universal AC input and Corsair’s 7-year warranty! "" Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Case and Cooling
The CoolIT ECO C240 is similar to the other self contained liquid based CPU coolers, what CoolIT has done differently is offer more surface area for cooling and tried to make it the easiest of the bunch to install. The radiator sports a pair of 120mm fans, so those hoping to mount it within their case had better ensure they have the space, otherwise those watercooling grommets are going to be needed. [H]ard|OCP had no trouble installing the waterblock and did choose a case almost big enough to contain the radiator but once the testing started the were a little disappointed by the performance as CoolIT is charging a pretty penny for this cooler. Still, as far as hassle free cooling goes, this is not a bad choice.
"Other companies made the closed loop self contained CPU water cooler famous. CoolIT
Systems intends to make it one of the easiest to install and best optimized and
efficient liquid cooling systems around. The ECO C240 doubles up on cooling surface
area. Does CoolIT hit its mark?"
Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Want more news? Check out our Archive |
.:Latest News
.:Latest Reviews
|
 |
Legal - Contact - Advertising |  |
.:Case and Cooling Reviews
