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News Search Results for: fan Thermaltake Element V Full Tower Chassis @ tweaktown.com [Mar-04-10] (0 Comments) Thermaltake is allowing me to have a look at another in the Element series of chassis’. If you remember from my last visit with one of the Element chassis’, the Element T, I was impressed with their work. That was a budget conscious chassis design, but still offered quite a bit of bang for the buck in the mid tower segment of the market.This time around we get to look at a full tower from the Element line that offers a bunch more room, a ton of features and much better airflow built in. Features include multi-colored LED lighting, a three fan controller built in and a somewhat tool-less interior just to name a few, but a key feature on this chassis we are about to look at is security. Zalman CNPS10X Flex Heatsink @ pcper.com [Feb-27-10] (0 Comments) The actual performance numbers we saw from the CNPS10X Flex wereabsolutely outstanding and we recommend adding the second 120mm fan for adecent decrease in CPU temps under idle and load conditions. If you can livewithout using your first DIMM slot, we recommend using the dual-fanconfiguration for added performance -- especially for overclockers andhardcore enthusiasts. Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Feb-24-10] (0 Comments) We tested Tuniq Tower 120 extreme CPU cooler, which has a tower design with five heatpipes and a 120-mm fan inside the heatsink. Check it out! Titan Fenrir CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Feb-11-10] (0 Comments) We tested Titan Fenrir CPU cooler, which has a tower design with four U-shaped 8-mm heatpipes and a 120-mm fan. Check it out! Antec Nine Hundred Two Ultimate Gaming Case @ legitreviews.com [Feb-08-10] (0 Comments) The Antec Nine Hundred Two case is the perfect case for builders who are just getting started or those of us who have been building machines for years. Antec makes the case incredibly versatile by allowing the user to practically customize the location for each storage device. Fan locations and controls are ideal and can be easily reached. All the fans are essentially quiet on their slowest settings, but this is more than enough to keep your rig cool. For hard-core enthusiasts, you can still crank the fans sacrificing noise comfort for airflow. Working with the Antec Nine Hundred Two was very easy... Thermaltake SpinQ VT CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Feb-06-10] (0 Comments) We tested SpinQ VT CPU cooler from Thermaltake, which have a very unique design, with a cylindrical heatsink and a centrifugal fan. Check it out! XFX Radeon HD5850 Black Edition 1GB Graphics Card Video @ eteknix.com [Feb-01-10] (0 Comments) The XFX Radeon HD5850 Black Edition 1GB graphics card is part of ATI’s new DirectX 11 range of cards, featuring the latest stream technology, ATI Eyefinity and giving fantastic results whilst maintaining a low power output with only one PCI-Express power connector. Nexus RX-5300 530W Modular Power Supply @ pcper.com [Jan-30-10] (0 Comments) Its main feature however is how quiet it is - virtually silent. Notonly does it start out quiet it stays that way throughout the power curve.At full output the fan just becomes audible. Throw in modular cables,support for high-end graphic adapters, and a good assortment of peripheralcables and you have an nice PSU for a HTPC or other quiet computingapplication. NZXT Hades Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jan-28-10] (0 Comments) NZXT has just released a new mid-tower case, Hades, featuring a three-channel digital thermometer and lots of fans. Let’s see if this product is a good buy. Zalman MS1000-HS2 Mid-Tower ATX Case @ pcper.com [Jan-28-10] (0 Comments) The case itself is beautifully designed and goes away from manymodern PC case designs that include tons of windows, LED fans, LED lights,and other flashy features. I actually prefer a case like the MS1000-HS2 thatputs performance and functionality over flashy and cheap design elements.The included sound dampening material was definitely a bonus, but it wouldhave been better to have all the interior walls covered in this material tomake the case more silent. CES 2010 Wrap Up @ aselabs.com [Jan-25-10] (0 Comments) The year is 2010 and CES is now over. The exhibitor count was even less than last year, even though attendance was a bit higher. There were some interesting bits, but most of the fancy 3D TVs are just so-so technology. We take out some of the very interesting things seen on the show floor. AMD Athlon2 630 CPU giveaway for all Swedes @ rbmods.se [Jan-20-10] (0 Comments) Rbmods.se has teamed up with AMD to give away a AMD CPU. This contest is only for people from Sweden this time. Simple rules, register on the forum and become a fan on facebook. OCZ plan to go back to their roots @ eteknix.com [Jan-14-10] (0 Comments) OCZ are a very well established company when it comes to highly overclockable memory with fantastic performance and stability. So lord only knows what they were thinking when they thought they would try something new. Reply-To:MIME-Version:Content-Type:Message-Id: @ techpowerup.com [Jan-14-10] (0 Comments) Today AMD announced the availability of their Radeon HD 5670 Series. HIS has chosen to design a custom PCB and uses an Arctic Cooling thermal solution to keep their card cool. Even though it uses an active fan, the card is easily one of the quietest cards on the market, underlining its potential media PC use. [News] VIZO EZ-SURF Fanless Notebook Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Jan-11-10] (0 Comments) Before I attempted to install the sticky rubbery tape thingy, I meanthe Cooler Master CM690 II Advanced Midtower Case @ legitreviews.com [Jan-06-10] (0 Comments) Overall, I really like the Cooler Master CM690 II Advanced PC gaming case. It is very easy to work in and on. The ability to remove items from the case that are not needed or to make room for things like dual radiators without cutting up a perfectly good case is a really big plus. The ability to use multiple 120mm or 140mm fans, and combinations thereof, to cool the case is a big plus. I also really liked the overall look of the case. It has simple lines and not an in your face aggressive design, but more blending in and not look out of place in my living room. Xigmatek Balder @ technic3d.com [Dec-28-09] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Balder SD1283 Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Balder, God of Light & Beauty, is the first Xigmatek HDT product which comes with Mirror HDT base. It is compatibility with Intel Core i5 (LGA 1156 ), Core i7 (LGA 1366), LGA775 & AMD AM2/AM3. It is not only bright Nic kel heat-sink and white LED fan, but also dual fan installation option . See you in the following Review the Balder compared with many oth er Cooler on a Intel Core i7 920. Evercool HPH-9525EA CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-24-09] (0 Comments) This time we tested Evercool HPH-9525EA, a CPU cooler with a horizontal heatsink, blue LED 95-mm fan and three heatpipes. Check it out! XFX 850W Black Edition Power Supply @ legitreviews.com [Dec-23-09] (0 Comments) With the fan out of the way we can get a look at the heat sinks and capacitors inside the XFX 850W Black Edition Power Supply. All of the capacitors are high quality Nippon Chemi-Con. Those who are really into power supplies just Evercool HPK-10025EA CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-18-09] (0 Comments) This time we tested Evercool HPK-10025EA, a CPU cooler with an horizontal heatsink, 100-mm fan and four heatpipes. Check it out! Cooler Master HAF 932 AMD Edition Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-17-09] (0 Comments) Cooler Master has just released a new version from their HAF 932 case targeted to AMD/ATI fanboys. What is so special about this new case? Let’s see. Seasonic X-650W PSU @ technic3d.com [Dec-15-09] (0 Comments) The new Seasonic X-650W (SS-650KM) PSU with 80+ Gold arrived T echnic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with one +12V rail (54A), 120mm Fan, 6x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Nexus LOW-7000 R2 CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-12-09] (0 Comments) We tested LOW-7000 R2, a low profile CPU cooler from Nexus with four heatpipes and a 120-mm fan. Check it out! Tuniq Tower Extreme @ technic3d.com [Dec-11-09] (0 Comments) The Tuniq Tower 120 Extreme CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Se e you in the following Review the Tunig Extreme with one 120mm fan an d five Heatpipe Direct Touch compared with many other Cooler on a Inte l Core i7 920. Reply-To:MIME-Version:Content-Type:Message-Id: @ techpowerup.com [Dec-07-09] (0 Comments) The Lian Li PC-B26FB stuffs the high quality interior we have come to expect into an edgy and fairly elaborate exterior. Along the clean lines and top cover with two additional fans, you get a large, blue ring of light in the front. The CaseKing KingMod Edition adds sound insulation material to the chassis to drown out some of the noise the PC makes. Thermaltake Vi-On HDD Enclosure @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-05-09] (0 Comments) Vi-On is an external hard drive enclosure featuring eSATA port and a fan that changes its speeds according to the temperature of the hard drive. Noctua NH-D14 140mm CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Dec-04-09] (0 Comments) Noctua, who is already well known for having great performance in their coolers, and at almost silent operation, had recently released a new 140mm fan, the NF-P14. This fan boasts more CFM and lower noise than the already good NF-P12 that Noctua users are accustomed to seeing and using. From previous testing, I can see a bit of room for improvement on CFM, but to do that and actually lessen the noise levels, now this I got to see!Aside from the noise levels, Noctua “super sized” the cooling capabilities of this version, not unlike the V10 concept, but Noctua saw no need for the third radiator, or a TEC for that matter. The new release utilizes two large fin assemblies and two fans to get the job handled. Knowing what I have seen from Noctua, I am excited to say the least. Technic3D/Zerotherm Core92 @ technic3d.com [Dec-04-09] (0 Comments) The Apack ZEROtherm Core92 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review the Zerotherm with one 92mm fan and Heat pipe Direct Touch compared with many other Cooler on a Intel Core i7 9 20. Lan Gear Introduces Da Box 100:Spy Pics and Special Edition @ techwarelabs.com [Dec-01-09] (0 Comments) Although DA BOX footprint is only 166 square inches, this true Small Form Factor case accomodates everything its ATX counterpart does:tall heatsink (up to 190 mm high), long video card (322mm long / 347mm without the optional 92mm intake fan), full ATX PSU,… All that in a beautiful, 2mm thick, black anodized brushed aluminum shell. Zalman CNPS9900 NT CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-28-09] (0 Comments) We tested Zalman CNPS9900 NT CPU cooler, which has two circular heatsinks with heatpipes and a 120 mm fan between them. Choixx Mini Air - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-26-09] (0 Comments) Anyonewho has used a laptop for any length of time will be all toofamiliar with the temperatures they can put out, including burning somepeople as plenty of articles have claimed. High temperatures for longperiods help to shorten the life of any electrical device, so coolingis something that most people will be concerned about.With laptops this is much harder to deal with when compared to desktopcomputers due to their limited size, and inaccessible parts. Choiixhope to solve this conundrum with their Mini Air-Through coolingdevice, a laptop stand with integrated fan and 4 port USB hub. Read onto see how it performed. Nexus RX-8500 850 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-26-09] (0 Comments) Let’s take on this 850 W from Nexus, featuring a modular cabling system, a dual-transformer design and an ultra low noise fan. SilverStone Nightjar 400 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-24-09] (0 Comments) SilverStone has released a completely fanless 400 W power supply, thus producing absolutely no noise, with a high-end design. Can it survive our tests? Let’s see. be quiet! E7-450W PSU @ technic3d.com [Nov-17-09] (0 Comments) The be quiet! Straight Power BQT E7-450W arrived Technic3D. Se e you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with four +1 2V rails (18A), 120mm Silent Wing Fan, 5x SATA hard disk connectors, 1 x PCI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Better than the CM-E7-480W PSU? Ultra X4 750W PSU Giveaway @ rbmods.com [Nov-16-09] (0 Comments) This time you can win a Ultra X4 750W PSU, all you have to do is become a fan of our Facebook page. Can it get any easier? De-Branded HP Sempron LE-1250 PC @ monster-hardware.com [Nov-14-09] (0 Comments) Moving inside the case we find some interesting features. Only one of the side panels is removable (the other is riveted in place), while the CPU socket is located at the bottom of the motherboard. There is no front case fan; case cooling is handled by a single rear bottom case fan in conjunction with a side panel having an ~120mm area above the CPU that is punched full of holes so that it resembles the old wire mesh fan grill covers. Although this is a somewhat unusual arrangement its lack of extra case fans means it is quiet enough to be used as a HTPC IMO and works plenty well enough to cool the 45W Sempron CPU that resides on the ASUS board. The power supply leads on what I believe to be a 250W unit (HP Customer Card model number spec sheet) could be a little longer as things are a little snug but manageable. There are also a few other misc air intake holes spread around seemingly randomly on the De-Branded HP Sempron case. XClio Godspeed One Advanced Mid Tower Case @ tweaktown.com [Nov-13-09] (0 Comments) This time around XClio sent me a chassis with the budget builder in mind. Keeping a few tricks from its much larger brother, the chassis I’m about to show isn’t a completely stripped out shell. I have seen quite a few sub $50 chassis’ that aren’t much more than four walls, a roof and a floor. Sometimes they have fans, sometimes they have a window, and when you get really lucky, you can even get some LED lighting. This chassis from XClio isn’t just budget, it houses all three of those things and still leaves you a bit of change for drinks after the build.Today we are looking at the Godspeed One Advanced from XClio, one of four chassis’ in the Godspeed lineup. Two of those are more basic builds and concepts, while the Advanced chassis keeps a few tricks of the more expensive chassis, and still can be had at a reasonable price. Titan Skalli CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-12-09] (0 Comments) Today we reviewed Titan Skalli, a CPU cooler with a 100 mm fan and two copper heatpipes. Cooler Master Storm Sniper Black Edition Case @ legitreviews.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) I have very little (if anything) bad to say about the Cooler Master Sniper Black Edition (SGC-6000-KXN1-GP). This is one very nice case. It has loads of room and is relatively light. It gives the end user the ability to remove unwanted items, add in needed items, and reconfigure fan locations. As open as the case is it is very quiet; on low you don’t even know the system is running. I turned it off once by accident by hitting the power button because I had the LEDs off and I thought the system was off. With the case on high it will be noticeable, but I don’t see you having to turn up the TV due to it... Nexus RX-6300 630 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-11-09] (0 Comments) Let’s take on this 630 W from Nexus, featuring a modular cabling system, a single-rail design and an ultra low noise fan. Xigmatek Bifrost VD1065 VGA Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Nov-07-09] (0 Comments) Xigmatek sends us another solution to just such a quest to improve the cooling of your precious graphics card. I’m not exactly certain how it all came about, but this cooler is one I believe I may have seen before, in some fashion. Xigmatek, however, added their own flair, special touches and changed little things. It is, in its purist form very similar to the SilenX cooler I looked at back in February. Hopefully things have changed since then.Today we are looking at the Bifrost VD1065 from Xigmatek. They have provided me with a dual fan cooling solution that I may, or may not have seen before. I need to get some pictures and get myself a closer look to see what the Bifrost can offer end users in the pursuit of a better cooling solution. Sapphire PurePSU 950W @ technic3d.com [Nov-05-09] (0 Comments) The Sapphire PurePSU 950W arrived Technic3D. See you in the fo llowing Review from Technic3D the PSU with six +12V rails (30A), 140mm Fan, 12x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Antec Mini Skeleton-90 Open Air Mini-ITX Case @ tweaktown.com [Nov-03-09] (0 Comments) Back in May we looked at the Antec Skeleton and I was quite pleased with what Antec was offering in their uniquely designed open air chassis. I loved the concept and using and installing components in it was a breeze. The top mounted fan worked wonders for keeping RAM and chipset coolers full of cool air flow, greatly reducing the ambient air the motherboard sat in. the biggest complaint I had then was head room for CPU coolers. Let’s see what they have come up with this time.Today we are looking at the Mini Skeleton-90 from Antec. This version is a mITX compatible, sized down model of the Skeleton I previously reviewed. Since things were so easy and pleasurable to use the first time around, I don’t expect many issues, aside from cooler clearances. Enough with what I expect, let’s get to the images and let the product speak for itself! be quiet! TFX-300W PSU @ technic3d.com [Nov-01-09] (0 Comments) The be quiet! BQT TFX-300W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in t he following Review from Technic3D the PSU (ITX compatible) with two + 12V rails (14A/16A), 80mm Fan and 2x SATA hard disk connectors. Spire Blackmoon Series 550W @ rbmods.com [Nov-01-09] (0 Comments) Spire is one of those manufacturers everyone knows. Their productline includes fans, coolers, cases and powersupplies. We have reviewed many of their products in the past and today we will have a look at Spire Blackmoon Series 550W power supply. Will it be as high quality as previous powersupplies we have reviewed from Spire? Read and find out. Cooler Master Hyper TX3 CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Oct-29-09] (0 Comments) We reviewed Cooler Master Hyper TX3, a CPU cooler with a 92 mm fan and three copper heatpipes. be quiet! SFX-350W PSU @ technic3d.com [Oct-29-09] (0 Comments) The be quiet! BQT SFX-350W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the PSU (ITX compatible) with two +12V rails (14A/16A), 80mm Fan, 2x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x PC I-e 6-Pin. NZXT Zero 2 Computer Chassis/Case @ techwarelabs.com [Oct-28-09] (0 Comments) Picking out the right gaming case can be a very tough choice with the ever expanding market, new ideas and fantastic looking innovative designs coming out of a large lineup of companies. With the larger more expensive internal parts putting out more heat, a gaming case that allows more airflow will be needed. NZXT hopes the Zero 2 will fill the gap and targets not just the gamer but also the standard home user by offering a case with cooling and expansion. Check out our review to see if the new NZXT Zero 2 is suited for your needs. Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler @ bigbruin.com [Oct-23-09] (0 Comments) The Noctua NH-C12P CPU cooler and NF-S12B FLX Fan wound up being a perfect choice for the small form factor system I was assembling, and would probably be a great choice for many others. Considering that most high performance coolers would be way too big for a small form factor case, it was nice to see such performance in a more compact option. GlacialTech UFO V51 CPU Heatsink @ techwarelabs.com [Oct-22-09] (0 Comments) Proper cooling is the cornerstone of any PC build. Without it, your machine can be wasted into a heap of smoldering silicon and metal. Luckily there is nothing that says you CPU cooler has to be a boring hunk of metal with a fan on top. GlacialTech puts a new spin on the CPU cooler with its UFOV51. Designed to look like a flying saucer, it adds a new style element to the PC cooling market. So is this cooler all show and no performance, or maybe something out of this world? XFX Girl Audition Video @ techwarelabs.com [Oct-22-09] (0 Comments) Shanda Rogers wants to be the new XFX Girl and has put together an audition video for your eyes only. With over 50,000 MySpace fans she thinks she has the socialization skills and assets to get the job done right. What do you think? Would you vote for her? See her video on our site and let XFX know what you think in our comments section. Scythe Big Shuriken CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Oct-22-09] (0 Comments) We tested another CPU cooler from Scythe, Big Shuriken, which has low profile in order to fit SFF cases, 120 mm fan and four copper heatpipes. Check out its performance in this review. NOX apex 700W PSU @ technic3d.com [Oct-19-09] (0 Comments) The NOX apex 700W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the follow ing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with four +12V rails (18A/20A), 140mm Fan, 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 3x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Eagle Arion 2.1 Speaker System @ legitreviews.com [Oct-17-09] (0 Comments) The Eagle Arion 2.1 Soundstage speakers with subwoofer look to deliver excellent sound with a $49.99 price tag. While it is easy to splurge on high speed CPUs and fancy looking cases, often sound is last on the list of things we spend money on. Once you plug in a good pair of speakers and you hear your games and movies come to life, the reason why it is good to spend money on a good pair of speakers suddenly becomes apparent... Cooler Master Gladiator 600 @ technic3d.com [Oct-17-09] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Gladiator 600 is the next PC-Case in the Tec hnic3D Editorship. Cooler Master give this Features:Ventilation on to p and side for improved airflow throughout the case, Top mount 140 fan for better airflow, Supports up to five 120 mm fans, Cable management for quick cable routing and neatness and PSU bottom fan can be set up facing up/down (filter included). Technic3D will check this in the fo llowing Review. Corsair 650W HX PSU @ technic3d.com [Oct-16-09] (0 Comments) The Corsair CMPSU-650 HX PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with one +12V rail (52A) , 120mm Fan, 9x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. 3R System iCEAGE Prima Boss CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Oct-16-09] (0 Comments) Check out the review of iCEAGE Prima Boss from 3r System, a CPU cooler with tower design, four 8 mm heatpipes and a 120 mm fan. Zalman MFC3 LCD Fan Controller @ rbmods.com [Oct-16-09] (0 Comments) Fans can be noisy and disturbing to a work environment, but we all know that stressing PC hardware provides excessive heat that can be damaging to the components. Fan controllers come in handy to keep the noise in check during office work, but crank up the air when gaming. RBMods reviews the Zalman MFC3 LCD Fan Controller. Read on for the full review. In Win Maelstrom Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Oct-10-09] (0 Comments) Maelstrom is a full-tower case from In Win having an interesting looks, foam pads to absorb noise and supporting nothing less than 10 fans! be quiet! Straight Power E7 @ technic3d.com [Oct-09-09] (0 Comments) The new be quiet! Straight Power 480W PSU (E7) arrived Technic 3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with f our +12V rails (18A), 120mm Silent Wing Fan, 5x SATA hard disk connect ors, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. SilverStone Nightjar PSU @ technic3d.com [Oct-06-09] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Nightjar 400W Fanless PSU arrived Technic3D. S ee you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with one +1 2V rail (27A), 6x SATA hard disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI -e 6+2-Pin. ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 PWM CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Oct-06-09] (0 Comments) When I hear the name ZEROtherm it immediately takes me back to seeing the images of the “butterfly cooler” all over the net. This copper and red CPU cooler was quite the step away from the “norm” of cooler manufacturing and has put ZEROtherm on the map. The BTF series of coolers were brought up as that cooler shows how the company took a basic idea and kept improving upon it until they had an effective all copper version with a 92mm fan, eventually replacing the 80mm they started with. Onward into building bigger and better things, they went with the ZEN series, moving up to a 120mm fan to cool things off and using an all copper base and heat pipes to draw heat into aluminum fins. This was a uniquely designed, tower style cooler that utilized a clip on fan to do the work. These are all great ideas that we have seen most manufacturers using up to this point. So why not keep with the trend? Gigabyte Odin Plus 700W @ technic3d.com [Sep-30-09] (0 Comments) The Gigabyte Odin Plus 700W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with four +12V rails (19A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors a nd 2x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Zalman CNPS9700 NT CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-25-09] (0 Comments) In this review you will see the performance from Zalman CNPS9700 NT, a copper CPU cooler with a unique design using three 8-shaped heatpipes and a 110 mm fan. PSU Super Flower Crown @ technic3d.com [Sep-24-09] (0 Comments) The Super Flower Crown 700W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with four +12V rails (18A/20A), 140mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 8x SATA hard disk connecto rs, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and 2x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. ATI Radeon HD 5870 1GB Graphics Card and AMD Eyefinity @ pcper.com [Sep-23-09] (0 Comments) The new AMD Radeon HD 5870 is the fastest single-GPU graphics cardyou can purchase today and will likely remain that way through at least theend of the year. The new Evergreen core, with its 1600 shader processorsand improved texturing power, is able to best the GT200 core that wasdominating the HD 4800-series cards in every aspect except efficiency. Addto that mix support for DirectX 11 gaming and compute applications with newfeatures like Eyefinity and you have all the makings of a fantastic productlaunch that will dominate the GPU market for months. The one caveat isthat AMD has left the GTX 285 still as a relevant graphics card option... SilverStone NT06-E CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-22-09] (0 Comments) We tested NT06-E CPU cooler from SilverStone, which has five heatsinks and a horizontal heatsink with place for a 120 mm fan (not included). Check it out! Technic3D/Nox Coolbay HX @ technic3d.com [Sep-18-09] (0 Comments) The Nox Coolbay HX Gamer-Case is the next PC Case in the Techn ic3D Editorship. Nox Coolbay HX is a performance chassis, with acrylic window and a 230 mm blue LED fan in the side. The black interiors mak es it one of a kind. About performance, nothing much to say except ext reme cooling with 4 included fans and expanding versatility, supportin g up to 9 drive bays. Cooling and stability are the main features for this model? Technic3D will check this in the following Review. Lancool Dragonlord PC-K62 @ techpowerup.com [Sep-18-09] (0 Comments) The Lancool PC-K62 is the high-end model of the Dragonlord Series. It comes stuffed with four fans, screw-less systems everywhere you look within that black interior and a cool looking window to top things off. We go in for the kill to see if we can tame the Dragon. Thermaltake ISGC-300 CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-16-09] (0 Comments) We reviewed another cooler from Thermaltake ISGC series, ISGC-300, which uses a tower design, four heatpipes and a 120-mm fan. Check out its performance! FSP Everest 80+ 600W PSU @ technic3d.com [Sep-15-09] (0 Comments) The FSP Everest 80Plus 600W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSUs with four +12V rail (18A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors a nd 2x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. be quiet! Pure Power 350W L7 @ technic3d.com [Sep-09-09] (0 Comments) The be quiet! Pure Power 350W L7 PSU arrived Technic3D. See yo u in the Review from Technic3D the next PSUs with two +12V rail (18A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x PCI-e 6+2-Pin. Better than the L6 Pure Power 350W PSU from November 20 08? We will check this in the following Review. Scythe Kabuto CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-05-09] (0 Comments) We tested Kabuto CPU cooler from Scythe, which has six heatpipes, a three-heatsink design and a 120-mm fan. Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Sep-04-09] (0 Comments) Rethinking a few things after the original Hyper 212 was released, Cooler Master saw the need to take the 212 back to the drawing board and see what they could do to offer a better solution. Not only is the actual cooler a bit different this time around, but they went with another style of fan. They also got together with the engineers to develop an all new mounting hardware, which are welcomed changes in my eyes. I cannot make a direct comparison of temperatures however, as my testing method at that time was very different from the T.E.C.C. solution Chris created and what we use here today. I will however point out all the differences from the original design to the Hyper 212 Plus. Cooler Master NotePal A1 @ modders-inc.com [Sep-01-09] (0 Comments) The NotePal A1 is a notebook cooler from the world leading experton cooling stuff... Cooler Master! A dual fan setup that is designed toefficiently and quietly assist in cooling the notebook. How effective is asecondary cooling device for a notebook? Articles URL:http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=291 TechwareLabs s the NZXT Cryo S Aluminum Notebook Cooler @ techwarelabs.com [Sep-01-09] (0 Comments) Is your laptop running a little too hot for your liking? Join Stefan here at TechwareLabs as we take a look at what NZXT brings to the plate. Will the Cryo S Aluminum Notebook Cooler be the equivalent of Liquid Cooling for your laptop? Read on to find out... Thermaltake ISGC-200 CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-01-09] (0 Comments) We reviewed Thermaltake ISGC-200 CPU cooler, with a 92 mm fan as a filling for Technic3D/Cougar S700 PSU @ technic3d.com [Sep-01-09] (0 Comments) The Cougar S700 PSU with 700W and 80+ silver arrived Technic3D . See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next modular PS U with four +12V rails (20/24A), 135mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 8x S ATA hard disk connectors, 2x PCI-e 6 Pin and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. [Affiliates News] Noctua NF-S12B FLX and NF-S12B ULN Cooling Fans @ aphnetworks.com [Aug-30-09] (0 Comments) In the past, we have written three separate articles on fivedifferent Noctua products:The Noctua NF-S12-800, NF-S12-1200, NF-R8 review,the Noctua NF-P12 review, and the Noctua NH-U12P review. Now, let's name oneNoctua article that I wrote in the past with at least one product that didn'treceive a prestigious APH Networks award. The answers:Nope, nope, and...nope. What made us love their products so much? Noctua, an Austrian companythat specializes in quiet computing thermal solutions, certainly won't winany beauty contests for the fans and heatsinks they make, nor do they sellthe most extreme out-of-this-world cooling solutions. But, what they do makeare practical and realistic products that are thoroughly engineered toachieve the best real world performance, while maintaining an extremely lowlevel of perceived noise. They are quality, refined products to achieve itsprimary purpose reliably throughout its life. And while they are certainlynot the lowest priced, they offer excellent performance-to-value ratio foryour hard earned cash. Plus, looks in this regard aren't even a huge issue inmy opinion. As a quiet PC enthusiast, I exclusively used Noctua fans in thepast, and still do, for these very reasons. Upon the release of their latestNF-S12B FLX and NF-S12B ULN case fans to replace the NF-S12-1200 andNF-S12-800, what kind of improvements has Noctua made to their legendaryproducts? I picked up both of them and conducted our usual array of synthetictests, as well as slapping them into our test setup for real worldperformance measurements. As excited as you are, let's find out how it allwent! Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-28-09] (0 Comments) We tested Noctua NH-C12P, an horizontal CPU cooler with six heatpipes and a 120 mm fan. Will it provide a performance similar to ts MSI GeForce GTX 260 Lightning Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Aug-28-09] (0 Comments) It's been a while since we've seen anything from MSI, but they're back with a vengeance today working on the well known and much loved GTX 260. Carrying with it a new Lightning tag that we haven't seen from the company before, we'll see what exactly MSI have going on here. To be completely honest, considering the age of the GTX 260 MSI really have to bring us something special to wow us. Since the launch of the card we've seen many companies attack the model and we've seen some big clocks, fancy coolers and good bundles offered. Technic3D/BFG EX-1200 PSU @ technic3d.com [Aug-27-09] (0 Comments) The BFG EX-1200 PSU with 1200W arrived Technic3D. See you in t he following Review from Technic3D the next modular PSU with four +12V rails (40A), 135mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 12x SATA hard disk conn ectors, 3x PCI-e 6 Pin and 3x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Performance Gaming Case @ legitreviews.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) The folks over at AeroCool have released several new cases with their PGS (Performance Gaming System) value series. These are targeting to the budget – midrange gamer with two of the three models also having a “pro” version which offers a few extra features like a built in fan controller. One of the cases smack in the middle of the lineup is the Vx-E model which we received to see how we think it fares compared with others in its class. Priced at $69.99, it's twenty dollars less than the VX-9 Pro and $15 more than the VX-R... Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-25-09] (0 Comments) It's time to review Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler, which has a tower design with four heatpipes and a 120 mm fan. NZXT Sentry 2 Fan Controller @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-21-09] (0 Comments) NZXT Sentry 2 is a fan controller with five temperature sensors and five fan channels, using only one 5 1/4 NZXT Sentry 2 LCD Touchscreen Fan Controller @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-21-09] (0 Comments) Benchmark Reviews has the pleasure of testing NZXT's newest fan control:the Sentry 2 Touchscreen Fan Controller. A step up from the Fantec MM-FHDL Full-HD @ technic3d.com [Aug-20-09] (0 Comments) The Fantec MM-FHDL Media-Player arrived Technic3D. Elegant bla ck aluminum case with high gloss front in piano lacquer design and an integrated color display. You are ready for Full-HD? We check the Fant ec. Cooler Master Sileo 500 RC-500-KKR3-GP @ benchmarkreviews.com [Aug-19-09] (0 Comments) Boasting sound-dampening foam, anti-vibration HDD mounts, and two silent-running 800RPM 120mm fans, the Sileo 500 is an interesting break Azza Solano 1000 ATX Full Tower PC Case @ legitreviews.com [Aug-18-09] (0 Comments) The build quality of the case is also very nice; everything is rounded where it needs to be and overall the Solano 1000 is very sturdy. Azza stepped it up a notch over Antec, though, with the larger fans and being overall quieter and cool without having to tweak fan speeds. The improvement to the drive cage design with the padding and ability to use standard hardware is nice too... [News] XClio One Notebook Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Aug-16-09] (0 Comments) I'm not sure why manufacturers think they can just slap some LED'son anything and it'll pass. Maybe 10 years ago, but not anymore folks. Andhonestly, who uses 40mm fans anymore? They are utterly useless in everyarea. This product is called a notebook cooler and that's a stretch of theuse of the category. If by simply tilting up the rear of your laptop enablesitself to cool better (as it would with virtually every laptop on themarket), then I suppose you could loosely call this a cooler. However youneed a smoke stream to see if the air is even moving (even on World-Exclusive:MSI N275GTX Lightning GTX 275 1792 MB @ techpowerup.com [Aug-15-09] (0 Comments) MSI's latest addition to their Lightning Series is the N275GTX Lightning with 1792 MB memory and a new Twin Frozr II dual 80 mm fan cooler. Being targeted at overclockers it is overclocked out of the box of course. All this sounds like a noisy card? Nope, on the contrary, the card is actually the quietest card in its performance class, by far. Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-14-09] (0 Comments) This time we tested Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme CPU cooler, which uses a tower design, five heatpipes and an amazing fan control system. Let's see if it beats the coolers we already reviewed. Dog Webcam - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-13-09] (1 Comments) Thewebcam has revolutionised communications with users now able to notonly speak to one another over the internet but now also see them; andmost importantly, cheaply. With IM services, such as Skype and MSN, alloffering video calls, the demand for webcams is still pretty high andmanufacturers are always coming up with new ways to sell theirproducts; whether it is animated functions or the stand-out design.Today, we take a look at a very “unique” type of webcam that is styledaround a dog. Incorporating a 5 megapixel camera, microphone and asmall fan it has its fair share of features so let’s see what it cando... Technic3D/Noctua NF-S12B FLX @ technic3d.com [Aug-13-09] (0 Comments) The Noctua NF-S12B FLX 120mm Fan arrived Technic3D. The new si lent Fan with ~18 dB(A), optimised blade geometry and many more for yo ur Case or CPU can you see in the following Review on Technic3D. Cooler Master Hyper N620 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Aug-12-09] (0 Comments) The N620's main difference is the use of two 120mm fans instead ofthe dual 92mm fans. It's slightly larger than the little brother, andutilizes one more heatpipe. Kingston HyperX Memory Fan @ legitreviews.com [Aug-12-09] (0 Comments) Kingston introduced the HyperX memory cooling fan at the beginning of summer to ensure that memory kits are kept nice and cool. Designed with the gamer and PC enthusiast in mind, its dual 60mm fans optimize airflow around the modules to help memory run at peak performance for longer periods of time. Decreasing the temperature of the modules also increases the lifespan of them and how far they can be overclocked. A memory fan is often overlooked when building a gaming PC and it really shouldn't be... Technic3D/Silverstone Strider 850W PSU @ technic3d.com [Aug-12-09] (0 Comments) The Silverstone SST-ST85F 850W Strider PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next modular PSU wi th two +12V rails (35A), 135mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors, 6x PCI-e 6 Pin and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Prolimatech Megahalems CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Aug-11-09] (0 Comments) The cooler I received to our labs for testing is the Megahalems from Prolimatech. Prolimatech hasn’t been in the cooler market long, but in that short time have created quite a hype and presence. This sample, however, did not come directly from Prolimatech, unlike most of our samples which come directly from the manufacturer. This time I’d like to give a big thanks to CrazyPC for donating the Megahalems and a Scythe fan for our testing. I mentioned that CrazyPC had also shipped a Scythe fan along with the Megahalems. For those who aren’t aware, as with a few other premium coolers, the Megahalems also ships fan-less. They do have recommendations both on their packaging and on their web site. In most circumstances this isn’t an issue, even if you overlook this on purchase. Prolimatech says that 57 CFM worth of flow is sufficient to keep the Megahalems doing its thing. Aerocool Touch-2000 Fan Controller @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-11-09] (0 Comments) Touch-2000 is a fan controller from Aerocool that can monitor temperatures of four points inside your computer, control four fans and more! Check it out! Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Aug-10-09] (0 Comments) With our Intel Core i7 test bench running stock settings we can see how the Zalman CNPS 10X Extreme performs. With the fan running at 100% the CNPS 10X Extreme did very well. Cooling the system to a nice 57.50*C, it is a full 12* cooler than stock cooling, and only 3* off of our first place cooler, the Titan Fenrir. Running the pre-set modes the CNPS 10X Extreme fell in the pack, but still did well... Technic3D/OCZ Fatal1ty 550W PSU @ technic3d.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) The OCZ Fatal1ty 550FTY PSU with 550W arrived Technic3D. See y ou in the following Review from Technic3D the next modular PSU with tw o +12V rail (25A), 135mm Red LED Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA ha rd disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6 Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Jetart ezFam - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Whenthe ezFan notebook cooler first arrived, we had reservations as tohow well t would perform. Many notebook coolers in the past haveoffered little in the way of cooling and, in truth, been verydisappointing. The ezFan is a less conventional laptop cooler though in that it sitsupright directing airflow at the notebook from the side which may makeit even more improbable that the cooler will have any impact on thetemperatures. However, the cooler is also marketed as being a keyboardand mouse cooler so will this make the ezFan into a good product? Let’stake a look... Technic3D/Sharkoon Silent Storm 460W @ technic3d.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) The Sharkoon Silent Storm CM SHA460-135 460W PSU arrived Techn ic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the 460W PSU with four +12V rails (18A), 135mm Fan, 6x SATA hard disk connectors and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Technic3D/Thermaltake SpinQ @ technic3d.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake SpinQ CL-P0466 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D with 50 waved aluminum fins and 6 copper heatpipes. VR Fan allows the users to adjust the fan speed according to their needs. It makes good cooling effect at low speed? See you in the following Review the Spin Q compared with many other Cooler. Enermax Staray Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Staray is the latest mid-tower case from Enermax, coming with high-end fans and a very affordable price tag. Is it a good buy? Check it out. [News] NZXT Zero 2 Case @ virtual-hideout.net [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) Gaming is all about taking it to the extreme. In the pursuit of thebest gaming experience, gamers have stopped at nothing to achieve thisalways-rising goal. Overclocking, adding another GPU/Videocard and upgradingare the typical paths and all of them have the downside of generating extraheat, which is potentially damaging to components and can impedeperformance. To remedy this, a proper case with good airflow is needed.Usually, a full tower provides the best option, since the extra space notonly permits more fans but also provides the proper clearance for airflow aswell. NZXT was thinking exactly this with the Zero 2 case, a steel-chassisfull-tower beast that boasts a capacity for an impressive seven 120mm fans. TechwareLabs s the NZXT Sentry 2 Touch Screen Fan Controller @ techwarelabs.com [Aug-09-09] (0 Comments) NZXT is back with the all new Sentry 2 touch screen fan controller. We reviewed the Sentry LX last year and gave it top marks as a hardware fan controller. Will the Sentry 2 out perform the more luxurious and feature rich Sentry LX, or will it be just another fan controller? Join Mike Santini as we take a look at the NZXT Sentry 2 AeroCool Touch-2000 LCD Fan Controller @ legitreviews.com [Jul-31-09] (0 Comments) When the AeroCool Touch-2000 is installed, it is a thing of beauty. It's very modern and touch screens are all the rage these days and are showing up virtually everywhere. At $53.99 shipped, you can certainly find a cheaper fan controller but not one with an integrated temperature monitor, touch screen operation and the added bonus of audio jacks, eSATA and USB ports.... Technic3D/Enermax Eco 80+ PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-31-09] (0 Comments) The Enermax ECO 80+ EES 350AWT PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the 350W PSU with two +12V rail s (17A), 120mm Twister Magma Fan, 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x PCI-e 6 Pin. Technic3D/In Win Commander 650W @ technic3d.com [Jul-28-09] (0 Comments) The IN WIN Commander 650W PSU with military look arrived Tech nic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the PSU with fou r +12V rails (18A), 140mm Fan, 5x SATA hard disk connectors and 2x PCI -e 6+2 Pin. CoolIT Domino ALC Water Cooling @ pcper.com [Jul-28-09] (0 Comments) Put simply, we'd pay twice the price for a liquid cooling systemthis handy, simple to install, and effective. The Domino A. L. C. is one ofCoolIT Systems' best efforts. Compared to a stock fan, it does wonders forallowing serious overclocking of a Core i7 920. It's nearly silent,super-efficient, and priced right. Nexus TDD-9000 Liquid Laptop Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jul-23-09] (0 Comments) Nexus, one of the largest computer cooling peripheral manufacturersin the world sent us their newest invention TDD-9000 liquid laptop cooler.TDD-9000 doesn't have any fans in it and is based on liquid cooling. Thereare something special in TDD-9000:s cooling mechanism so let's have a lookif it does what Nexus has promised. NZXT Panzerbox Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-23-09] (0 Comments) Panzerbox is an all-aluminum mid-tower case with removable motherboard tray and two huge 190-mm fans from NZXT. Let’s see if this is really a good case. Thermaltake ISCG-300 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-21-09] (0 Comments) The ISGC-300 from Thermaltake is the biggest of the five coolersunder this series. The ISGC-300 is based heavily on the commonly used towerdesign. Granted the tower arrangement offers the best cooling to date whenit comes to air and the ISGC-300 should fall in there with this belief. Butwhat else this cooler offer is a new take on fan and fan blades. All new fanmotor and redesign blades is what the ISGC series is all about. And we getto take our first look at one. Patriot Gamer Series PC3-12800 6GB DDR3 Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-20-09] (0 Comments) I'm actually quite a fan of PC3-12800 memory. I feel that it's a good speed for people who are hoping to get a bit more power from their memory modules without having to spend the massive amounts of money that PC3-16000 modules tend to carry with them. Priced at just over $100 U.S., the Patriot PC3-12800 6GB kit which sits in the Gamer Series lineup from the company is what we're going to be looking at today. What we intend to find out is if you can still get some serious performance from your RAM without having to spend the massive amounts of money that tends to come with ultra low latency modules or extremely high spec’d 2000MHz kits. Thermaltake BigTyp 14Pro CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-17-09] (0 Comments) We tested BigTyp 14Pro, a CPU cooler from Thermaltake with six U-shaped heatpipes and a 140-mm fan. Check it out! to:content-type; @ testfreaks.com [Jul-17-09] (0 Comments) Today for review I've got the V9 Black Edition PC Gaming Case fromThermaltake. It features two big 23cm fans, one located on the top and oneon the side. As the name Black Edition suggests, it's a black case, bothinside and out, with red accents in the form of the LEDs in the front fanand parts of the inside of the case. Continue on for a closer look at theV9 Gaming Case=85 NZXT Sentry LX SEN-001LX Digital Fan Controller @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-17-09] (0 Comments) With multiple core CPUs, multi-GPU video graphics sub-systems and hotter than hot mainboard north and southbridge chipsets it becomes BFG MX-680 Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-16-09] (0 Comments) BFG MX-680 features a modular cabling system, one 120-mm fan and one 80-mm fan that only kicks in when internal temperature is above 50ş C. Let’s see if this is a good product. Technic3D/Seventeam 750W PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-15-09] (0 Comments) The Seventeam ST 750Z-AF 750W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you i n the following Review from Technic3D the PSU with two +12V rails (25A /35A), 135mm Fan, 9x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. COOLERMASTER NOTEPAL X2 NOTEBOOK COOLER @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-15-09] (0 Comments) For many, Coolermaster is the only choice for computer cases andcooling products. I am a big fan as well. Some may not know it, but theyoffer more than desktop components and cooling. They have ventured into theworld of laptop cooling as well. We saw this in the Choiix review we did afew months ago. A perfect fit for netbook cooling. We enjoyed reviewing it,but with the explosion of laptop sales in past few years cooling productsfor portables are becoming an important need. Coolermaster realizes this anddeveloped the NotePal X2 cooling pad. Is it enough to cool the beast that Iwork with everyday? We will see. Coolermaster Silent Pro M500 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jul-14-09] (0 Comments) Withpower supplies, many people believe that bigger is better but intruth most rigs will never draw above 500W including my i7 rig at fulltilt. So should we be buying smaller wattage units that are not onlycheaper but also generally quieter? Yes, the battle between noise andperformance once again rages in the PSU market and Cooler Master’s ProM500 unit hopes to be the quietest we’ve tested yet. Featuring a 135mmfan, transferring heat from hot spots and fin type design, CoolerMaster’s unit can certainly talk the talk but can it walk the walk?Let’s find out. Technic3D/Amacrox Calmer 560 PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-14-09] (0 Comments) The Amacrox Calmer 560 Fanless PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the PSU with two +12V rails (14 A/13A), Fanless, 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x PCI-e 6 Pin. The Perfect PSU for the Office PC or HTPC? Thermaltake Element T @ techpowerup.com [Jul-13-09] (0 Comments) The Element T is the most affordable case in the Element family from Thermaltake. It aims to please both the the professional user and the mainstream gamer. This is certainly no easy task, but he case has space for up to six hard drives, an excellent construction and clean looks along with a large red LED fan up top. Zalman CNPS10X Extreme Universal Heatsink @ pcper.com [Jul-10-09] (0 Comments) This heatsink exceeded our expectations and its universalcompatibility will make it even more appealing to high-end users and otherPC enthusiasts looking for a strong air cooled heatsink solution. Thelayered fin array and black-pearl nickel plated coated definitely added toits asthetics and overall craftsmanship. The unique fan controller isdefinitely a staple for Zalman and one I'm sure they will continue toproduce in future heatsink products. Enermax ECO 80+ 620 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-10-09] (0 Comments) Enermax ECO 80+ 620 W features a magnetic bearing fan with batwing blades for ultra low noise and promises up to 86% efficiency. Let’s see if it is really a good product. Xigmatek Midgard @ techpowerup.com [Jul-09-09] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Midgard aims to redefine the mainstream case segment by packing it full with all kinds of features. From plenty of fan mounts to screw-less systems everywhere, along with an all black interior and a low, low price tag of $60. That is bound to get our attention, so we take a real close look, but will it manage to do away with the doubts? Galaxy GeForce GTX 260+ OC Tri-Fan Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Jul-09-09] (0 Comments) At 12 months old the GTX 260 name would have to be one of the longest lasting models we've seen from NVIDIA in a long time. A company that has a tendency to release new models almost quarterly has kept the GTX 260 around for over 12 months and while it's known as the GTX 260+ these days due to the improvements we saw on the model a bit back, it still follows the same principal. What we also see with models that have been around for a while is that companies know the product and are able to really mix it up. Today we've got the latest incarnation of the GTX 260+ from Galaxy. Not only is it packing a nice little overclock, it's also carrying a pretty mean looking cooler that we'll look into more shortly. Technic3D/Corsair HX750W PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-08-09] (0 Comments) The Corsair CMPSU HX750W 80+ Gold PSU arrived Technic3D. See y ou in the following Review from Technic3D the PSU with one +12V rail ( 62A), 140mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 12x SATA hard disk connectors a nd 4x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. A-DATA X Series Ver 2 PC3-12800 6GB DDR3 Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-07-09] (0 Comments) It's been a while since we've seen anything from A-DATA, but like most memory companies they've also decided to ramp up their memory in the MHz department with the release of a PC3-12800 memory or 1600MHz kit. Not only has the company decided to release a 1600MHz module, they've also mixed it up by adding a fancy cooler to the setup to really help the company stand out from others. It also helps cement the company as not only one that makes plenty of memory for people who want standard JEDEC specs, but also with the ability to be in the systems of the more hardcore users. Sapphire Radeon HD 4890 ATOMIC Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Jul-06-09] (0 Comments) The ATOMIC series of cards is one that we really do get excited about when it comes to Sapphire products. Unlike a lot of other companies who overclock, Sapphire tend to really mix it up with this particular series. We don't only see some serious clock speeds, but also something fancy in the heatsink department which always helps bring the card to a new level. With the bar set high for the HD 4890 ATOMIC from Sapphire let's not delay any longer and see what exactly is going on with the card and find out if Sapphire is able to impress us with this ATOMIC version like other ones from the series have in the past. Zalman CNPS10X Extreme CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Jul-03-09] (0 Comments) Zalman’s new tower design is the CNPS10X Extreme with a unique and innovative fan controller built right into the cooler itself. I know a bunch of coolers have inline fan controls with a “peg” type dial adapted in and usually offer very rough control of the fans speed. Zalman takes all this a large step forward and builds it into an all black nickel plated cooler. The fins, the heatpipes, the base, everything gets plating. This with a striking blue LED in the 120mm accompanying fan puts on quite a show for the eyes. Let’s discuss the specs and get to the images and the testing, as I’m sure you are as eager as I to see what the Zalman CNPS10X Extreme is capable of. Thermaltake Element G Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-03-09] (0 Comments) The new Element G is a high-quality steel mid-tower case from Thermaltake, bringing interesting features such color-changing fans. Let’s take a look on this new case. Technic3D/Mushkin 400W PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-03-09] (0 Comments) The Mushkin EP-400AP 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in th e following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with two +12V rail (18A ), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 4x SATA hard disk connectors, 1x P CI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Cooler Master Hyper N520 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jun-30-09] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Hyper N520 is a compact dual 92mm fan CPU coolerthat utilizes five heatpipes to dissipate the heat through the cooling fins.Will it impress or will it leave us wanting more? Inno3D GeForce GTX 295 Platinum (Single PCB) @ techpowerup.com [Jun-29-09] (0 Comments) NVIDIA has silently introduced a new revision of their GeForce GTX 295. The new version crams everything onto a single PCB. While the performance characteristics have not changed, thermals, fan noise and power consumption did change indeed. Is the new single PCB GTX 295 a success or just an unimportant product revision? Noctua NF-S12B FLX @ rbmods.com [Jun-27-09] (0 Comments) Noctua, makers of silent PC cooling components, sent us their newestfan:the NF-S12B FLX. With silence in mind, the NF-S12B was designed toproduce the smallest amount of noise possible, while still pushing enoughair to keep your computer cool. Can it live up to Noctua's reputation formanufacturing super quiet, well performing fans and heatsinks? Read on tofind out. Spire TherMax II @ techpowerup.com [Jun-26-09] (0 Comments) Spire's TherMax II is a new DHT CPU cooler for AMD and Intel CPUs. Its four heatpipes make direct contact with the processor for optimum cooling. Also included in the package is a fan controller which allows you to control the UV reactive fan in any way you want. Noctua Cooling Competition, Two Days Left @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-24-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. to:content-type; @ dragonsteelmods.com [Jun-23-09] (0 Comments) Kingston recently introduced the HyperX Fan to compliment their HyperX lineof ram, but it can be purchased separately for use with any ram, and theywere kind enough to send one over for review. Normally this kind of thing isnot very useful really, in my experience with ram coolers they tend not towork very well, but the HyperX Fan is truly an exception. The HyperX Fanworks, and works very well, it's easy to install and the bright blue LEDswill add a bit of color to your case. So read on to check it out and learnjust how well it performs... PC Power & Cooling Silencer 910W @ technic3d.com [Jun-22-09] (0 Comments) The PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS 910W PSU arrived Technic3 D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next 910W PSU wi th one +12V rail (74A), 80mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 12x SATA hard disk connectors, 2x PCI-e 6-Pin and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Noctua Cooling Competition, One week to Go @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-20-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. TechwareLabs s the Enermax Phoenix Neo Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case @ techwarelabs.com [Jun-18-09] (0 Comments) Looking for a case that can keep your components cool and quiet at the same time? TechwareLabs may have found it! Join Matt Androski as we take a look at the Enermax Phoenix Neo Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case. Will this case use its 250mm fan to its full potential, or will it be another underpowered failure? Read on to find out... Thermolab Baram CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-16-09] (0 Comments) The new Baram from Thermolab has all the signs of being one of thebetter coolers on the market. It has five heat pipes, support for dual 120mmcooling fans and even the what I believe to be the proper size and weight.The Baram is compatible with current CPU sockets from Intel and AMD, exceptfor socket 1366. What impresses me the most is the build quality of thecooler. Will size and build quality make this a good performer? We will see. Enermax Phoenix Gaming Case @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-15-09] (0 Comments) The case is the Phoenix Neo, which is a remake of the older Phoenixreleased about three years ago. The front of the newer model has beenslightly redone to a more modern look. The Neo seems aimed at the gamerlooking for a fresh, new stylish look, while still being functional. Thetotal opposite of gaming cases we have seen from Coolermaster, Antec andSilverstone. Speaking of functionality, one of the key features of the Neois the huge 25cm monster fan on the side panel. Lets take a closer look atthe new Phoenix Neo. [News] Glacialtech X-Wing Notebook Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Jun-14-09] (0 Comments) Overall the Glacialtech X-Wing Notebook Cooler is an undisputedwinner in the looks department, however not so much in the coolingdepartment. The quality of the build and innovative features built-in to thefront panel make it very user friendly. Unfortunately because of the lack ofcooling power, it's very hard for me to recommend this. I just know thatgeeks with gaming laptops love lights and gadgets and they'll be wanting toadd this under their hot laptops. However it would do little good. Thecooling power is anemic. My suggestion to Glacialtech would be todramatically beef up the cooling system with something like a large, quiet200mm fan centered in the unit. TechwareLabs s the Kingston HyperX RAM Fan @ techwarelabs.com [Jun-13-09] (0 Comments) Want to get the most out of that new RAM? Trying to keep that RAM you bought last century alive for another year? Kingston has your answer; the HyperX Fan. Will this $20 badboy really cool off your RAM? Join Mike Santini as TechwareLabs takes a look... Technic3D/Tagan PipeRock II 680W @ technic3d.com [Jun-12-09] (0 Comments) The Tagan PipeRock II 680W (TG680-BZII) PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with four +12V rail (18A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 9x SATA hard disk c onnectors, 2x PCI-e 6+2-Pin and 2x PCI-e 6-Pin. Better than the PipeRo ck I Series or SuperRock Series? Enermax Aeolus Laptop Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-12-09] (0 Comments) The Aeolus is Enermax's attempt to bring high performance cooling tolaptops. When I say high performance, I refer to the massive 250mm coolingfan the cooler is built around. Yes, you heard it right, 240mm. This has tobe the largest fan on a laptop ever. Besides the fan, the Aeolus shares thesame theme we saw in the Aurora keyboard. Smooth and flowing aluminum is thebinding structure that supports the cooler. When I first read thespecifications on the cooler, I thought it would look grotesque because of aover-sized fan. Yet, the aluminum brings the cooler back down to earth andin a fashionable way. Technic3D/Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Case @ technic3d.com [Jun-12-09] (0 Comments) The Sunbeamtech Acrylic HTPC Case is the next PC Case in the T echnic3D Editorship. The Acrylic HTPC computer case from Sunbeamtech c an easily handle the cooling needs of multi-core processor systems. Th e unique 3D Core-Fan design uses a mounting rack that is attached to t he side panel, and supports two 120mm fans to be installed which will direct airflow on to the installed cards and CPU. Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-11-09] (0 Comments) The CNPS line takes chances in idea and design, especially when itcomes to the new CNPS9900 cooler. Not that I am not a fan of the typicalflower design we have seen from Zalman, but there is a time when one mustmove forward. With the competitive nature of the market, this is mostdefinitely true with cooling technology. The new cooler keeps the usual heatpipes we're accustomed to seeing, but the fins surrounding the pipes are nowsplit in half, resulting in two half coolers with a PWM controller inbetween them. But is this semi-new look enough to be fitted in your plansfor your next rig build? We shall see. Noctua Cooling Competition @ forums.xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-11-09] (0 Comments) Timeto start another round of competitions here on XSR, and this oneis with some nice Noctua cooling products. We've got 3 prizes to giveaway, including a Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 CPU cooler, and two NF-S12B FLXcooling fans.What do you have to do to win? Simply sign up to the forums, and post 5times anywhere you like. That's it. Technic3D/Cougar Power 400W PSU @ technic3d.com [Jun-11-09] (0 Comments) The Cougar Power 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the fo llowing Review from Technic3D the next PSUs with two +12V rail (20A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 4x SATA hard disk connectors and 1x P CI-e 6-Pin. Scythe Mugen 2 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-10-09] (0 Comments) Today's review sample was originally a pretty good cooler in itsearlier days. The Mugen cooler was a favorite of many reviewers that had thepleasure of reviewing it. Performance was right there with the NoctuaNH-U12P, Tuniq Tower 120 and many others we regarded as very good coolers.However, the new version is not only compatible with the new Intel i7processor, but is heavier, taller and comes with a better performing coolingfan. Is it enough to put it at the top of the list with the likes of theThermalright Ultra-120 Extreme and the new Zalman CNPS 9900 LED? We shallsee. Evercool Transformer 4 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-09-09] (0 Comments) Another company that is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in Asiais allowing us to review their tower design cooler. Evercool is the one ofthe largest cooler manufacturers in Taiwan. Regardless of their lack ofpopularity in the U.S. looking around the net I saw several reviews abouttheir previous and they all performed pretty well. Not in order to make abigger name for themselves here in the U.S. Evercool sent us two of theirnewest coolers, the one we will presenting to you today is the Transformer4. This new cooler is capable of handles all the newest processors from AMDand Intel as well as each's older processors. And with the dual fan setupthe Transformer is looking to be a cool to be wrecking with. And look gooddoing it. contains G.a.p.p.y-T.e.x.t @ testfreaks.com [Jun-08-09] (0 Comments) When you hear the name Tom Clancy, you think of his books first and then avery close second, the games that bear his name. The majority of his games,like the Rainbow Six collection are all about teamwork, stealth and tactics .The game I have for review today veers a bit off from the norm of his games ,it's called H.A.W.X. and it's a flying game, not a flight simulator, mo re ofan arcade style combat flight game. H.A.W.X. is set in the near future wher ecorporations have basically replaced government run military in manycountries, they're mercenaries essentially. [News] Thermaltake V9 Black Edition Case @ virtual-hideout.net [Jun-08-09] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake V9 Black Edition was designed to be quite awindstorm, but also to be very quiet because no one wants the sound of a boxfan sitting next to them. You'll immediately notice the huge 230mm intakefan located on the left side panel. This is positioned to blow cool airdirectly onto the entire motherboard area, including CPU, memory, graphics,etc. This will be especially crucial when building a high performance dualgraphics rig, and/or overclocking your components. Add to this the same huge230mm exhaust fan located directly above the motherboard/CPU area, butinstead this time it's on top of the chassis. This is designed to suck thehot air being expelled from the red hot CPU/Chipset/Memory area of themotherboard. So cool air in the side, it gets hot and exhausts right out thetop. A potent combination of airflow it is and a must for today's ultra fastgaming rigs. Chieftec Dragon CH-07B-R @ techpowerup.com [Jun-05-09] (0 Comments) The Chieftec CH-07B is the newest line-up to the Dragon Series and is aimed at the gamers out there. It can be had in black or red and comes stuffed to the rim with LED equipped fans to keep your hardware cool within the extremly sturdy steel enclosure during those hot fire fights. Scythe Bay Rafter - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) Thehard drive in a computer system is a crucial component for storing dataand programs. In some systems, enthusiasts run out of placements forhard drives and so build make-shift mounts. Scythe has noticed this,which has lead to the Bay Rafter. The Scythe Bay Rafter allows a userto convert a 5.25” bay into a hard drive bay with support for a singleHDD and a fan. Seventeam ST-550P-AM Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) ST-550P-AM is a 550 W power supply from Seventeam where you can manually control the fan speed – and can even disable it. Let’s see if this unit can really deliver 550 W. CyberPower Black Mamba Venom Core i7 975EE Gaming System @ tweaktown.com [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) CyberPower has been busy playing with Intel’s gaming development team over the last few weeks. The two have teamed up to design a new series of PC systems that CyberPower will be manufacturing and offering as the Fang Series. The flagship system in the Fang Series family is the Black Mamba which is the system we will be reviewing today. CyberPower will have other systems coming along in the coming weeks that will also follow the snake theme like the Cobra, Viper and Rattler. The true core of the Black Mamba is Intel’s new Core i7 975 Extreme Edition processor. Intel has launched the new 975 EE just yesterday and CyberPower has been working with Intel and GIGABYTE closely for this launch. The new i7 975 EE is the fastest processor currently available on the market with a rated out of the box speed of 3.33 GHz. Intel, GIGABYTE and CyberPower determined that the maximum overclock speed with our sample was 4.15 GHz, or as I referred to it during the testing phase, freaking fast! AMA Aragon 900 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jun-04-09] (0 Comments) Theintroduction of the latest Intel i7 processorshave certainly caused something of a shock with a TDP of a whopping130W. Air cooling solutions have been adapted with dual fans, biggerheatsinks, and more heatpipes in order to try and keep the allimportant CPU cool. With Intel now revealing two new additions to thei7 range – the 975 and 950 – which run at 3.33GHz and 3.06GHzrespectively even more emphasis has been placed on cooling.Traditionally, air cooling is the lowest form of cooling followed bywater, then phase changing and all the way up to liquid nitrogen andhelium for extreme overclockers; without a doubt all of this and morewill be put into practise at the Gigabyte Open OverclockingChampionships (GOOC 2009) at Computex to see who can overclock the P45the furthest, 8GHz is the current world record. Anywayfor the majority of users all of these extreme cooling solutions areeither too complicated or too expensive and just not practical.However, water cooling has become more available and easier to use withkits like the one we will be looking at today - the AMA Aragon 900.However, kits like this have a seemingly bad reputation for comprisingof a bunch of lower end components unlike custom builds. So let’s seeif the Aragon 900 can buck the trend... Chieftec Dragon Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-02-09] (0 Comments) Dragon is a mid-tower case from Chieftec that comes with five fans, including a big 220-mm side fan. Let’s see what you should expect from this new release. [News] Noctua NH-U12P SE1366 Heatsink @ virtual-hideout.net [May-27-09] (0 Comments) Color me impressed. Here we have a very well made and put togetherpackage that has no problems bringing the noise when it comes to the worldof performance. Out of the I7 heatsinks that I've tested thus far, this iseasily the most positive experience, bar the fact that the wire clips aretough to engage inside a case, and caught on the roof fans of myCoolerMaster 690. What really impresses me though is that despite its simpledesign and light mass, this heatsink still managed to outstrip all comers,and do so in silent style. I'd have to easily recommend this product toanybody looking for a great i7 cooler! Roccat Kave - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-27-09] (0 Comments) Roccathave graced us with some of their fantastic peripherals in the past,with their Kone mouse still holding it's place as our favourite gamingrodent of all time. Today, we've been sent over their latest headset,the Kave. It sports 5.1 surround sound, hand sewn noise cancelling earcups, and an adjustable vibration unit. The remote is also somethingquite interesting, so let's give it a look. Technic3D/OCZ Fatal1ty 700W @ technic3d.com [May-25-09] (0 Comments) The OCZ Fatal1ty 700W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the fo llowing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with one +12V rail (56A), 1 20mm LED Fan (Thermal fan control), 8x SATA hard disk connectors and 2 x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. ECS A790GXM-AD3 790GX AM3 Motherboard @ pcper.com [May-23-09] (0 Comments) The ECS A790GXM-AD3 is a great entry-level, budget-minded AM3motherboard that gives end users more than enough features to quench theirthirst for higher performance, easy of use, and stability. The BIOS wasabsolutely fantastic in terms of usability and also had plenty of advancedfeatures for overclocking. Overall, I didn't see too many flaws with thisboard. It was rock solid during our benchmarks and was a decentoverclocker. XFX to enter power supply market with bright green 850w model @ pcper.com [May-23-09] (0 Comments) The upcoming XFX 850 Black Edition power supply will apparentlyinclude 105C Japanese capacitors, solid polymer capacitors, a 135mm ballbearing fan that should be relatively quiet and will support both SLI andCrossFire as you would expect from a company known for GPUs. The single 12Vrail will supply all the power to the unit and it will use a DC-to-DCregulator for 3.3V and 5V connections. Thermaltake Element S Mid-Tower Chassis @ tweaktown.com [May-22-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake has been in the case game for quite a while now and I remember when the company first launched the Xaser series of cases. While not to everyone's liking, they did push the boundary with looks while also offering a pretty nice feature set at the same time. Over the years we've seen more and more cases from Thermaltake and as someone who's a fan of cases that aren't all that loud, when it comes to the looks department the Element S from first glance looked like a nice case. Hiyatek HY-CF-6288-1 Laptop Cooler @ bigbruin.com [May-22-09] (0 Comments) We have seen many laptop coolers here at Bigbruin.com, and this would be the fourth from Hiyatek. Most of them operate in near silence, which is a bonus. That being said, the fan on this one doesn't seem to be doing anything useful as the drop in temperatures experienced with the HY-CF-6288-1 could be recreated just by using a wire rack we had lying around. TechwareLabs s the Thermaltake ElementS @ techwarelabs.com [May-22-09] (0 Comments) In the ElementS series there's two types of cases, the VK60001N2Z(the one we're reviewing), and the VK60001W2Z. The difference is simple, VK60001W2Z has a side panel 240mm fan made mainly for VGA cooling. If you are planning on getting a Crossfire or SLi solution with 2 high end cards, or just impressing your friend with a huge fan, my suggestion is to get VK60001W2Z. Coolermaster Scout @ pro-clockers.com [May-21-09] (0 Comments) Besides looks features is another tough and rough area to conquer andkeep the price decent. The integrated fan LED controller, one/two handcarrying handle and the solid black interior are just a couple of optionsthat users will like for the $100 asking price of the Scout. The Scout doesoffer some cable management features as well but due to the shorter narrowerdesign there isn't a lot of outlets for cables to exit to the rear of thecase. This may not be a large deal breaker due to the fact this is more of aLAN case and I don't see many having to buckling down too many cablesbecause of the lack of components they may use in the case. Arctic Cooling Fusion 550R @ rbmods.com [May-19-09] (0 Comments) Arctic Cooling most known for their superb cpu coolers have releaseda power supply on to the market. If we look at the stats they promise alot,82-86% efficiency, intelligent fan control and ultra quiet 80 mm fan.Knowing Arctic Cooling I know I should expect a superb product so lets havea look if they can live up to their name also on the PSU market. NXZT Panzerbox Aluminum Mid Tower PC Case @ legitreviews.com [May-15-09] (0 Comments) Over the years as PC components have gotten faster, they have also gotten hotter. These days, nearly every component generates some sort of heat and has gotten to the point where air may no longer alleviate some of it as airflow is sometimes restricted in some form. Enter the NZXT Panzerbox. With 190mm fans in a meshed front and on the meshed top with a 120mm at the rear boasting over 300 CFM of airflow, along with an option to install a dual 120mm Radiator inside, the Panzerbox is armed to combat the heat generated by your PC... AZZA Fantom 900 @ techpowerup.com [May-15-09] (0 Comments) The AZZA Fantom 900 takes some cues from similar styled cases and gives its interpretation on how a budget minded mid-sized gaming case should be. With many cases that are out there for new builders and gamers wanting to save on money, we'll take a look at what sets the Fantom 900 apart from its competitors and why it's a solid choice for all. Technic3D/SilverPower 650W PSU @ technic3d.com [May-13-09] (0 Comments) The SilverPower SP-SS650 650W PSU with Seasonic S12 technology arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next 650W PSU with four +12V rail (18A), 120mm Fan (Thermal fan contr ol), 6x SATA hard disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin . Coolermaster HAF 922 Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [May-13-09] (0 Comments) But some of you are not into the extra large cases as they tend totake up too much room so Coolermaster decided to capitalize on the successof the HAF 932 and develop a smaller version entitled the HAF 922. Even withthe reduction in size the 922 still gives us two massive 200mm fans in thefront and top of the case. And if you think because the unit is smaller youhave to sacrifice drive space. Then you are wrong. The 922 offers five 5.25 Is it worth upgrading your notebook to an SSD drive? @ tweaktown.com [May-13-09] (0 Comments) OCZ sent me one of their fancy new Hypersonic notebooks around this time last year and today it is still quite a powerhouse for what I do with it, especially considering its size. People often mistake it for a netbook, but then see how quick she runs with its speedy Intel mobile Core 2 Duo T9300 and 4GB of memory. I usually upgrade notebooks regularly (once a year), but this baby still delivers quite a punch. But what could we do to give it extra boost?We decided to run some tests and see if it would be worthwhile or not upgrading our notebook from a standard notebook hard disk drive to a shiny new SSD - in particular, the Intel X25-M 80GB SATA drive. And don't worry, we upgraded to the latest Intel firmware for its X18 and X25 series of SSD drives, which is designed to improve performance. Cooler Master HAF 922 Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [May-13-09] (0 Comments) Cooler Master HAF 922 is a mid-tower version of HAF 932, coming with two big 200-mm and one 120-mm fan, five external 5 Ľ” bays and five internal 3 ˝” bays and several other features. NZXT Zero 2 Case at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [May-12-09] (0 Comments) The Zero 2 is the descendant of the award winning Zero caseengineered by those fanatical enthusiasts over at NZXT. It is an enthusiastcase designed with *lots* of airflow and ease of maintenance. Noctua NF-S12B FLX - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-12-09] (0 Comments) Noctuaare considered a top brand when it comes to the coolingdepartment. Their unique colour scheme and product naming set themapart from rivalling companies and over time Noctua products have beengranted some of the highest accolades out there. The NF-S12 fan was aninstant success and further showcased Noctua’s ability in this market.Recently this particular fan has been updated with two new versions:the NF-S12B FLX and ULN. Today, we take a look at the FLX version whichfeatures high versatility; one can only hope it is half as good as itspredecessor. Lian Li XB-01 Case - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-12-09] (0 Comments) Theconsoles versus PC wars have been ongoing for longer than most fanboys can remember, but one of the arguments that has almost always beenin the PC camp's favour is that their gaming platform of choice can beupgraded however you want. Sure consoles can be modded or tweaked, butit normally takes someone who really knows what they're doing toaccomplish either of these feats. Now however, this argument has beenturned somewhat on it's head, with Lian Li releasing a custom case forthe Xbox 360; and it looks nothing like the original. NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller @ bigbruin.com [May-11-09] (0 Comments) The NZXT Sentry LX fan controller is a capable device that makes controlling and monitoring up to five fans and temperatures rather convenient. The display is well laid out and easy to read (from the right angles), and taking control of each fan is quite simple. While it made a very good overall impression, there are a few things that could use some refinement. TechwareLabs s the Thermaltake BigTyp14 CPU Cooler @ techwarelabs.com [May-09-09] (0 Comments) Are you tired of that old heatsink? Is your CPU overheating or are just looking for something snazzy to be placed on your motherboard? Well, maybe you should take a peak at Thermaltake's Big Typ 14Pro. Thermaltake's heatsinks have been winning armloads of awards for quite a few years now. If the massive 140mm fan doesn't get your attention, then maybe the copper heatpipes and the bright blue LED's will. World-Exclusive:ASUS EAH4890 TOP w/ Super ML Capacitor @ techpowerup.com [May-07-09] (0 Comments) ASUS has sent us one of the first samples of their new EAH4890 TOP which uses a SuperML capacitor that is supposed to offer cleaner voltage resulting in better overlocking. Also this is the first card to feature a 6+8 pin PCI-Express power connector for improved voltage delivery. Last but not least, ASUS is now using a dual fan cooler with six thick heatpipes. Arctic Cooling Fusion 550RF Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [May-07-09] (0 Comments) Arctic Cooling Fusion 550RF is a 500 W continuous / 550 W peak power supply from Arctic Cooling with an external 80-mm fluid dynamic bearing fan. Let’s see if this unit survives our tests. ASUS Radeon EAH4870X2 Tri-Fan Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [May-05-09] (0 Comments) A while ago we heard ASUS was going to mix it up with the HD 4870 X2 and today we've got the card in our hand and we're going to take the time to see exactly what ASUS has done with this HD 4870 X2 to make it stand out from the pack. If you're looking for an ATI card and you still want the fastest available from the company, the HD 4870 X2 is the card to be looking at. With a fair bit of time gone since the release of the model we don't want to see a standard cooled model here from ASUS. MSI N285GTX Videocard SuperPipe OC @ rbmods.com [May-02-09] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at one of the latest MSI cards on themarket! We got a sample of their N285GTX SuperPipe OC which has a twin fancooler, and thicker heatpipes for better cooling. This card should clock abit better than the others on the market with this new cooler and maybe alsobe a bit more silent although that remains to be seen. Lets have a closerlook! Technic3D/Recoltec PipeTower Pro @ technic3d.com [Apr-30-09] (0 Comments) The Revoltec PipeTower Pro CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. HTC technology (Heat-pipe Touch Chip), 120mm PWM Fan, 4x 8mm Heatpipes ca n you see in the following Review compared with EKL, OCZ, Xigmatek and many more. Technic3D/PC Power & Cooling 750W @ technic3d.com [Apr-30-09] (0 Comments) The PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad PSU arrived Technic3D . See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next 750W PSU w ith one +12V rail (60A), 80mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors, 2x PCI-e 6-Pin and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. ASRock X58 SuperComputer Motherboard @ legitreviews.com [Apr-27-09] (0 Comments) The ASRock X58 SuperComputer was a fantastic performer, had great overclocking potential, and had a decent bundle. ASRock produced a board that rivals most of the other leading manufacturers out there. The only hold up for the board may be the price once you compare it to some of the other offerings out there... Vigor Gaming Monsoon III LT CPU Cooling System @ pcper.com [Apr-24-09] (0 Comments) Vigor's Monsoon III LT definitely delivered during testing and Ithink it could have even handled a mild overclock on our Intel i7-920 CPU. Iwas also a bit surprised at how well it kept up with our Zalman CNPS9900 LEDheatsink. The dual 120mm fans and dual fin arrays seemed to be a winningcombination that should give other third-party heatsinks on the market a runfor their money. Technic3D/Nexus 850W PSU @ technic3d.com [Apr-21-09] (0 Comments) The Nexus RX-8500 850W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the f ollowing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a high efficiency. Wi th four +12V rails, 135mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Thermaltake ISGC-300 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Apr-21-09] (0 Comments) I get quite a few coolers to test that pass over my desk. Most of these coolers follow the basic tower design and heatpipes of various quantities and diameters that remove the heat either by directly touching the IHS of the CPU, or removing it from an aluminum or copper base. What soon follows after the design is to start looking at a sufficient cooling mechanism or a high CFM fan in most instances. We should all know by now that with high CFM fans brings with them an elevated noise level as well. Thermaltake is one of the smaller percentages of manufacturers that are taking the jump to silent computing. They have developed a line of ISGC, or Inspiration of Silent Gaming Cooling CPU coolers. Thermaltake incorporates a new fan to cool this line-up of coolers, the Pure Silence ISGC Fan 12. This fan provides a decent amount of CFM and has some technology involved to keep the noise levels down to a whisper while in use. More on these fans will be discussed later in this review. Scythe Kama Angle CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-21-09] (0 Comments) The newest cooler from Scythe is the Kama Angle. A very unique coolerthat is comprised of 90 degree cut fins and a special silent fan to coolthem. According to Scythe the angled fins also takes advantage your casefans for even better cooling performance. Today, we will put the Kama Angleon the test bench just to see how well it does. Galaxy GeForce GTX 285 2GB Tri-Fan Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Apr-17-09] (0 Comments) It's good to see that not long after the launch of a new high-end product a company has come out and mixed it up a bit. While it's not uncommon for us to see higher end ATI cards make this transition quickly, it seems that NVIDIA partners tend to take longer or sometimes not even bother at all. Of course, it doesn't help with the obscure PCB design on some of their cards like the GTX 295; fingers crossed that the rumors of a new single PCB dual GPU card is true. We're not here to talk about that today, however. What we have with us is a GTX 285 which in the looks department manages to stand out from the pack. If that wasn't enough, Galaxy thought they would also take the time to strap on 2GB of memory. Aerocool AVN 1000 Hard Drive Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-17-09] (0 Comments) To computer performance extremists and fetishists like myself, heatis literally a four letter word. To eek out the most bang for the buck, onehas to keep their rig as chilly as possible. Processors, video cards, powersupplies, chipsets and memory pretty much come with cooling schemes builtin, built on or wrapped around. One of the most overlooked components in amodern computer is the hard drive and yet some models can clock well over a100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is nearly the equivalent of placing a spaceheater inside your computer. Cases usually come equipped with front coolingfans to blow over hard drives to keep temps lows, but for people who want tokeep their hard drives chilly, there is the AeroCool AVN 1000 passive harddrive cooler. Thermalright AXP-140 HTPC CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Apr-15-09] (0 Comments) The Thermalright AXP-140 HTPC CPU cooler opens up a couple of different ways to keep your system cool. Combined with a dual core 45nm CPU you should have no problem running this heat sink without a fan, or with one below 20 decibels. As an HTPC enthusiast that leans more towards the multimedia aspect as opposed to gaming, the difference in sound is HUGE! Instead of hearing the CPU fan spinning its little heart out when it comes to a quiet scene in a movie, you have a silent computer that keeps you focused on being entertained. That is really the whole point here, giving you peace of mind that your hardware is running cool, as well as giving you peace and quiet... Evercool Rifling - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-15-09] (0 Comments) Thethought of an 80mm fan scares most. Stereotypically they’reregarded as noisy, offer poor airflow and are a waste of space.However, when we suddenly mention 92mm or 120mm fans, our view on thesefans becomes rather opposite. So, what about trying to squeeze a 92mmfan blade into a standard 80mm fitting fan? Well that’s what coolingspecialists Evercool have done. Introducing the Evercool Rifling fan. Galaxy GeForce GTX 275 Overclocked Tri-Fan Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Apr-14-09] (0 Comments) It hasn't taken long for NVIDIA partners to start spicing up the GTX 275. Come launch day we already saw that Gainward had opted for aftermarket cooling. Galaxy has kicked up a notch, though; this not only by including a pretty mean cooling setup on the card, but also taking the time to increase the core and memory clock.While the card was designed to compete directly against the HD 4890, what we're seeing is that in the retail channel the GTX 275 is slightly more expensive. While this might be a bad thing considering the fact that the GTX 275 is designed to compete head to head with the HD 4890, it isn't really, as that little bit of extra cost carries with it that little bit of extra performance. Best Firefox Add-Ons @ reviews.digitaltrends.com [Apr-14-09] (0 Comments) Firefox has gained a cult-like following forits speed, stability, and interface, but todiehard fans, third-party plug-ins remain byfar its biggest selling point. Like adjustingthe mirrors in a car and fixing the seatheight before you leave the driveway,customizing your browser can make you feel alot more comfortable on the Web. And likesetting cruise control, a lot of them canmake certain tasks a lot easier, too.Unfortunately, the endless pool of add-onsout there can also be quite daunting forfirst-time users who aren't sure what they'relooking for. We've cut through the clutter toround up 10 of the most useful add-ons outthere. OCZ ModXStream Pro 600 @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-13-09] (0 Comments) The ModXStream is geared more at the creative modder's as well asgamers. The ModXStream boasts a few new features like dual 12 volt rails, alarger fan and a Nvidia SLI certified badge. The feature that I really likeis the warranty that backs the ModXStream, a three year PowerSwap guarantee.In brief this means that OCZ with swap out your defective power supply overthree years. With OCZ you won't be getting back a repaired unit that yousent in but a new working replacement. How is that for backing your ownproducts. NZXT Khaos Welded Aluminum Full Tower PC Case @ legitreviews.com [Apr-09-09] (0 Comments) Just taking a quick look at the Khaos you can see the two 120mm blue LED fans for fresh air intake on the front of the case and just the overall size of this full tower compared to these fans. The Khaos can hold over 8 hard drives along with eleven 5.25 Technic3D/Jersey 650W Modular PSU @ technic3d.com [Apr-09-09] (0 Comments) The Jersey CM-650E85 Modular PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a very h igh efficiency. With four +12V rails, 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 7x SATA hard disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6 Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin th e perfect PSU? Aerocool CoolPanel 3 @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-09-09] (0 Comments) Today we're taking a look at the AeroCool CoolPanel 3. With a sleekblack design and color LCD display, it should be an attractive addition tojust about any case. The CoolPanel III allows one to monitor temperaturelevels and fan speeds. It also has two USB ports, an eSATA port, HD audiojacks and a 56-in-1 card reader. Scythe Typhoon - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-08-09] (0 Comments) Despitenot being very glamorous or exciting, fans are essential toevery rig out there. The balance between cooling and noise is a key onethat differs for every user depending on their own personalpreferences. With so many different shapes, sizes, colours and designson the market, it’s difficult to know which will suit you best. Well,if you’re looking for a quiet 92mm fan then the fan up for review today– the Scythe Gentle Typhoon 92mm 2150 RPM Cooling Fan – could just bethe perfect fan for you. Read on to see what we thought. Thermaltake ToughPower XT 750 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-03-09] (0 Comments) The new Tough Power XT models are not going to replace the originalsbut to offers some nice features that are not part of the older models. TheXT series boast a single and powerful 12 volt rail. Yes we know this is notrevolutionary but they have also added the neat ability to determine howmuch time after PC shuts down that the fan stop spinning. If that isn'tenough the XT also tells you if anything is ailing it. If all this is notenough then you have to read the rest of the review to see what else the XThas to offer. Coolermaster N520 Dual Fan CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-02-09] (0 Comments) To add to the performance line of cooling, Coolermaster graced uswith a new cooler labeled the Hyper N520. The N520 is designed is based onthe tower and heat pipe technology which is very popular today. One thingthat sets the Hyper N520 from the rest is it built-in dual 92mm coolingfans. This simple addition is something that higher priced coolers tend tocome with. From all this we can see the Hyper N520 is aiming to be one ofthe top of the budget coolers. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275 Versus ATI Radeon HD 4890 @ legitreviews.com [Apr-02-09] (0 Comments) When it comes to the Radeon HD 4890 it is hands down the fastest single-GPU graphics card that AMD has every produced. It performs significantly better than the Radeon HD 4870 1GB and runs cooler and uses less power at idle. There really is not much bad to say about the card as it is also priced lower than the GeForce GTX 275. Add in the fact that it has already proven itself to be an overclocking monster with a core clock frequency of nearly 1GHz with the stock cooler and no voltage adjustments you have a clear winner for all the Radeon fans out there... Top 10 Chic Cell Phones @ reviews.digitaltrends.com [Mar-31-09] (0 Comments) Much like watches, cell phones today are asmuch fashion accessories as they areindispensible pieces of technology. Fans lustover the latest models before they come out,critics pick apart the latest design choicesof the biggest manufacturers in glossymagazines, and companies wheel outcelebrities to glam up the latest andgreatest they have to offer. With all modernphones now having mastered the basics offunctionality, why not pick one that looks asgood as it works? Here are a few of the moststylish, unique and downright sexy models onthe market today. Technic3D/OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W @ technic3d.com [Mar-31-09] (0 Comments) The OCZ 600W ModX Stream-Pro arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next modular PSU with two +12V ra ils, 135mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 6x SATA hard disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Technic3D/Seasonic M12D 750W PSU @ technic3d.com [Mar-26-09] (0 Comments) The Seasonic M12D 750W arrived Technic3D. See you in the follo wing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with two +12V rails, 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), 11x SATA hard disk connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Scythe Mugen 2 Update - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Mar-23-09] (0 Comments) Withthe last CPU Cooler review here at XSReviews way back in October oflast year, it was time for another. It comes in the form of the ScytheMugen 2 which is a revision of the previous Mugen cooler and featuresScythe’s new MAPS (Multiple Airflow Pass-through Structure) technologyalong with a Multi Fan Mount Structure. Read on to find out more… CoolIT Domino A.L.C CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Mar-21-09] (0 Comments) The CoolIT Domino A.L.C. CPU cooler is a water cooling unit at the price of an air cooler. It has three fan speed modes and features a blue backlit LCD screen. Installation is simple for a water cooling unit and its performance is exceptional considering its low price of $79.99. Coolmax V-600 600 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-20-09] (0 Comments) From the two models described above you would think that all Coolmaxis making are power supplies for the high end rig that many of us do nothave. Well that is not true. Coolmax realizes there is a need for lowerwattage unit that can provide stable and safe power to an everyday box thatyou would find underneath the desk of an office, in a kid's room or downnear your very own feet. The new model Coolmax is labeled the V-600. If youwere to venture to guess, yes it is a 600 watt power supply. The V-600includes a 140mm cooling fan to keep your system running cool and a singlePCI-E power connector for those that would like to equip their box with amid to high range graphics card. Nexus Beamair @ rbmods.com [Mar-19-09] (0 Comments) Fansand cooling are something you should keep in mind when building a computer.There isn't such a thing yet as a silent yet powerful fan. Nexus has made a newand original attempt to solve that issue. Nexus Beamair is a new kind of fan ductto get everything from your fan. Let's have a look at it. Thermaltake BigTyp 14 Pro CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Mar-19-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake has sent for this review, the BigTyp 14 Pro. As mentioned, the BT14 Pro is a large cooler using a 140mm fan mounted in a horizontal fashion to blow air down through the CPU cooler and towards the motherboard. While this concept has been tried before and tested averagely, Thermaltake took things to a much larger scale with how the BT14 Pro is assembled. I will elaborate a bit more on these Scythe Mugen 2 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Mar-17-09] (0 Comments) Withthe last CPU Cooler review here at XSReviews way back in October oflast year, it was time for another. It comes in the form of the ScytheMugen 2 which is a revision of the previous Mugen cooler and featuresScythe’s new MAPS (Multiple Airflow Pass-through Structure) technologyalong with a Multi Fan Mount Structure. Read on to find out more… Technic3D/Tagan SuperRock 680W PSU @ technic3d.com [Mar-14-09] (0 Comments) The Tagan SuperRock TG680-U33II 680W arrived Technic3D. See yo u in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with Four indepe ndent +12V rails, 120mm Fan (Thermal fan control), Total 14 IDE and SA TA hard disk connectors, 1x PCI-e 6+2 Pin and 1x PCI-e 6-Pin. to:content-type; @ testfreaks.com [Mar-14-09] (0 Comments) I have a large desk, and I prefer to have my PC on my desk, my setup ismonitor, monitor, monitor and then the case, so having it that close to me Iwant my PC to be as silent as possible, I don't want to hear my computer,but yet it still needs to be cool. Enter NZXT with their Whisper case, trueto it's name it is silent with the help of insulating foam to dampen nois eand several low RPM fans to help keep things cool. The Whisper though is alarge case, and it's very heavy, but it's also very well made with room fornine hard drives and six 5.25 NZXT Zero 2 Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Mar-12-09] (0 Comments) Zero 2 is a steel full-tower case from NZXT supporting a total of nine fans. Let’s take a good look on this new model from NZXT. Galaxy GeForce GTS 250 1 GB @ techpowerup.com [Mar-11-09] (0 Comments) While NVIDIA's GTS 250 isn't really new technology, Galaxy has chosen to put an Arctic Cooling Accelero Twin Turbo cooler on their card. Even though it uses two fans, the card is extremely quiet making it an excellent choice for a media PC. The best is that it won't cost you anything extra. Galaxy is offering their cards at NVIDIA's reference design MSRP of $149. Evercool RF-8 Rifling 80mm Fan @ rbmods.com [Mar-09-09] (0 Comments) Case fans come in a wide variety of sizes, with the most popular onesbeing 80mm and 120mm. But is there any way to squeeze more fan blade area ina standard size fan? Evercool, makers of a wide range of fans, has produceda new product, the Evercool Rifling RF-8 80mm Case fan, that provides 92mmfan blades in an 80mm housing. Will this design provide the best of bothworlds? Read on to find out more. Cooler Master Storm Sniper Black Mid-Tower Case @ legitreviews.com [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) I have very little (if anything) bad to say about the Cooler Master Storm Sniper Black Mid-Tower Case. This is one very nice case! It has loads of room and is relatively light. It also gives the end user the ability to remove unwanted items, add in needed items, and reconfigure fan locations. As open as the case is it is very quiet, on low you don’t even know the system is running. I turned it off once by accident by hitting the power button because I had the LEDs off and I thought the system was off. Thermaltake V14Pro (CL-P0472 ) CPU Cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake have taken the design of the V1 and tweaked and enlarged it into a monster that is the V14Pro. The added bulk is not in vain though and it works well and temperatures are improved because of it. The fan on full speed is loud, and I wouldn’t want to run it like that all the time, but the manual fan speed controller allows you to dial in your own compromise between noise and performance. Thermaltake V14Pro (CL-P0472 ) CPU Cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Mar-05-09] (0 Comments) Thermaltake have taken the design of the V1 and tweaked and enlarged it into a monster that is the V14Pro. The added bulk is not in vain though and it works well and temperatures are improved because of it. The fan on full speed is loud, and I wouldn’t want to run it like that all the time, but the manual fan speed controller allows you to dial in your own compromise between noise and performance. Corsair Memory Designs Enthusiast ATX Case @ legitreviews.com [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) If you take a look at this picture you can see spots for three 120mm fans located at the top of the Corsair case. These will be spaced for a triple 120mm radiator and will even come pre-drilled for the radiator! Corsair has also included water cooling cutouts in the back, so water coolers should be highly interested in this case as you should be able to mod it very easily. Something else that is very interesting is that the Corsair case comes with four hot swappable hard drive caddies that slip into a standard SATA backplane. The corsair case can hold six 3.5 Palit GeForce GTS 250 1GB Graphics Card - More G92b @ pcper.com [Mar-03-09] (0 Comments) Regardless of the politics involved, the GeForce GTS 250 1GB carddoes do one thing:decrease the price of great gaming GPU solutions fromboth NVIDIA and AMD for the consumer. Fan boys on either side will surelycomplain about how the other group is doing it, but it's a win for all ofus. You can now essentially buy a graphics card that will play most oftoday's recent PC titles at resolutions of 1600x1200 and above with top IQsettings for under $150, regardless of which GPU vendor you choose. How'sthat for a way to help get out of the funk of winter? Coolermaster ATCS 840 @ pro-clockers.com [Feb-26-09] (0 Comments) The success of the HAF932 was not a surprise to many of us as itoffered a lot room, a rugged good looks and enough fans and cooling to keepeverything in the case in good cool and solid running fashion. Coolermasterbuilding on the success of the HAF932 decided to take the functions andfeatures of the HAF and employ them in a new ATCS unit. The ATCS 840 willissue in a new class of ATCS (Active Thermal Convention System, yeah I knowI should have mentioned it earlier) with its abundance of room, huge fans,easy assembly and clean looks. If you are a person that like refined casesthis new case may be your next one. Noctua NH-U9B CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Feb-25-09] (0 Comments) Today Noctua has sent us the NH-U9B CPU cooler for testing along with a matching optional fan to allow for dual fan testing. The Noctua NH-U9B is a scaled down version of the NH-U12P that we reviewed some time ago. The major difference with these two coolers is that this is a 92mm fan cooled version for HTPC, or possibly even some SFF cases. This four heat-pipe cooler shows promise from what I have read in reviews of other products, as well as word of mouth from forum members and highly experienced people like Chris. I know, technically the NH-U9B shouldn’t compete with its larger brother in temperatures, but Noctua pride themselves on quiet solutions to CPU cooling. With this in mind, I would hope this cooler is in fact quiet and can still hold its own footing battling temperatures. It is time we get to opening up Noctua’s NH-U9B and see if everything I have been lead to believe is true. Technic3D/Hiper M1000 PSU @ technic3d.com [Feb-24-09] (0 Comments) The Hiper M1000 PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the followin g Review from Technic3D the next Big PSU with 135mm Fan, 4x 12V rails, 8x Serial ATA connectors and 3x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Corsair Dominator 1866C8 TEC - Peltier-cooled memories @ nordichardware.com [Feb-19-09] (0 Comments) Normally you don't even consider theheat coming from the memories. Some have more exclusive heatspreadersthan others, some even come with a fan setup, but overall they tend tojust work. But when you start packing high-density modules, raise thevoltage and start overclocking the effect becomes noticeable. Like withmost overclocking lower temperatures are preferred, thus Corsair'sPeltier cooling solution. Gelid Solutions Wing 8 UV Case Fan @ legitreviews.com [Feb-18-09] (0 Comments) The Wing 8 uses patented nanoflux bearings inside their fan. Nanoflux bearings use a magnetic design and are able to run friction-free, extremely silent and could last for a very long time. The fan comes with a 5 year warranty, but I think that with the use of this technology it could last much longer. The Wing 8 is also UV responsive. Legit Reviews made a 39-second video showing the blue UV properties of our test fan. It does produce a nice blue color as it advertises on the package... NZXT Sentry LX at Modders-Inc @ modders-inc.com [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) Fan controllers are fairly simplistic by their nature, and as suchcan come off as World-Exclusive:Palit GeForce GTX 260 Sonic 216 SP 896 MB @ techpowerup.com [Feb-17-09] (0 Comments) Palit's new GTX 260 Sonic 216 SP is based on NVIDIA's latest GT200b 55 nm graphics processor. Palit has chosen to go with a dual fan design for improved airflow and increased overclocking. Not only the thermal design has been changed but also the PCB design, which features several cost optimizations and comes in an appealing ATI-red. Technic3D/Corsair CMPSU-450HX @ technic3d.com [Feb-13-09] (0 Comments) The Corsair CMPSU-450HX 450W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high e fficiency. Make the 120mm double ball-bearing fan, 6x Serial ATA conne ctors and 2x 6+2 PEG connectors support this PSU better than other PSU s or the Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W? Technic3D/2PCOM PS1264U Cooler @ technic3d.com [Feb-11-09] (0 Comments) The 2PCOM PS1264U CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. HTC technolo gy (Heat-pipe Touch Chip), 120mm PWM Fan, 4x 6mm Heatpipes and PILLAR Technology can you see in the following Review compared with Zalman, T itan Cooling and many more. Coolermaster V10 Hybrid T.E.C. Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Feb-06-09] (0 Comments) The V10 offers many more features than the V8. The first would be theadditional capabilities of cooling your ram while taking care of the CPU.Sitting atop a second set of aluminum fins is a 120mm cooling fan whenplaced properly blows right over your DIMM slots. We saw this in the Geminicooler as well. This kind of cooler eliminates the need to deal with extrafans for ram cooling. Yet the most beneficial feature of the V10, if usedright, is the T.E.C. base. With the right amount of heat to activate thethermal electric plate that is attached to the base of the cooler, the V10is posed to offer a new level of performance and cooling and is capable oftaming the most voltage hungry processor. Enermax Pro 82 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Feb-04-09] (0 Comments) WhenEnermax contacted us regarding reviewing a power supply for them,we were pleasantly surprised. With such a prime range of PSUs, it’sdifficult to see why Enermax would release yet another series of units.However this was made clearer after doing some research…price. All ofEnermax’s units top the £60 bracket, but the Pro 82+ series is aimedmore so at the low-mid range and the price reflects this. But by stillmaintaining price, Enermax boasts that the Pro 82 range providesoutstanding efficiency and a quiet fan. Let’s see how this 425w unitholds up. Gelid Silent Spirit LGA 1366 CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Feb-04-09] (0 Comments) The latest trend in heatsink design has been to add more heatpipes, more fins, and make everything wider and taller. GELID's Silent Spirit flips this concept on its side with a small heatsink with an unusual design and unique fin shape. With a 100mm fan spinning on average around 1600RPM, 46 max CFM, and only 370g of material, the Gelid Silent Spirit CPU Cooler hopes to pack a lot of punch in a very light frame. It weighs less than half of the popular Thermalright Ultra 120, clears every motherboard I could mount it to, and is silent to boot... Ikonik Ra X10 SIM @ techpowerup.com [Feb-03-09] (0 Comments) The Ra X10 SIM case is the company's flagship model, featuring the unique software controllable fans and thermal monitoring system for the 13 included cooling fans. On top of that you will be able to stuff the Ra X10 with 10 hard drives, an eATX motherboard, multiple GPUs and a full compliment of external drives - with room to breath. Noctua NH-C12P CPU cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Feb-02-09] (0 Comments) Once it was fitted it was practically silent in operation without either the Low Noise Adapter or the Ultra Low Noise Adapter, with those fitted I couldn’t hear the fan on the NH-C12P at all above the other fans in my set up which isn’t at all noisy. SilverStone Fortress FT01 Mid-Tower Case @ pcper.com [Jan-31-09] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Fortress FT01 is a beautiful mid-tower enclosure.The all aluminum build quality is excellent resulting in a light weight, yetsturdy case. The FT01 comes with three high quality case fans that producepositive air pressure and deliver excellent cooling with very little noisewhile helping to keep dust out. For a mid-tower case the FT01 offers a lotof storage space but working inside the enclosure and routing cables canbecome quickly cramped if your build includes multiple graphic adapters andmore than three HDDs. And yes, the Fortress FT01 is relatively expensivebut you get what you pay for. Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W Power Supply @ modders-inc.com [Jan-28-09] (0 Comments) Today we look at Thermaltakes Toughpower Cable Management 750WPSU. The Toughpower 750w is a modular power supply with simple clean look.It is SLI ready with a large 14cm fan keeping it cool and rated for 80% plusefficiency. Read on as we take this power supply and find out if it has whatit takes to power your system. Coolermaster CM Storm Sniper Gaming Case @ pro-clockers.com [Jan-26-09] (0 Comments) Today in the lab we have Cooler Master's new case the CM StormSniper. Never heard of CM Storm before? Well I am sure you have heard ofCoolermaster, right? Well CM Storm is Coolermaster's new gaming line ofcases. The Sniper is to be considered the best gaming case for the truegamer. Coolermaster realized that gamers want the best in their rigs, soCoolermaster decided to equip the Sniper with large fans that are positionedto cool all areas of the case. To make the building process to go smoothlythe case is almost completely tool-less. This just the start of what theSniper has to offer. If you want to know what else is in this case you willhave to read ahead. XClio 1000 Computer Chassis @ techwarelabs.com [Jan-24-09] (0 Comments) In the market for a new home for your computer? Worried about heat? Join Matt A. as we look at the XClio 1000. With more fans than you can shake a stick at and enough room to house a family of four, will the XClio be all its stacked up to be? Super Talent Godfather Flash Drive @ bigbruin.com [Jan-23-09] (0 Comments) The Super Talent Godfather flash drive has a unique appearance and includes a bunch of images that should appeal to the Godfather fans out there. Novelty aside, the drive still takes care of the important things by being super compact, offering decent transfer rates, and by being available in a wide range of capacities (1GB - 16GB). 6-Way Intel Core i7 CPU Cooler Roundup @ legitreviews.com [Jan-21-09] (0 Comments) As for the coolers themselves, the Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler is the winner in our testing. Either in its original single fan configuration or in its new SE1366 dual fan configuration it led the pack and did it quietly Next in line is the Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme 1366RT. It's heavy and has a name as long as my arm, but it is quiet and performs well. The Ultra 120 is a very popular line of coolers and for good reason - it is solidly built. This is the only other cooler in our round up other than the NH-U12P that I don’t worry about bending up the cooling fins when I handle it... Technic3D/Topower 1100W @ technic3d.com [Jan-20-09] (0 Comments) The Topower PowerBird 1100W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good pr ice, modular cable management and a high efficiency. The Topower have a 120mm fan, 16xSerial ATA connectors, 2x PCIe 6-Pin and 2x PCIe 6+2 P in connectors. Running 12GB of DDR3 Triple Channel Memory on Intel Core i7 Platforms @ legitreviews.com [Jan-18-09] (0 Comments) Armed with two Corsair DOMINATOR 6GB 1866MHz CL9 memory kits with the AIRFLOW fan I set out to see how easy it would be to run 12GB of memory on an Intel Core i7 desktop system. These TR3X6G1866C9DF memory kits retail for $449 each and are fastest Core i7 triple channel memory kit that Corsair has to offer. Since these kits go through the tightest screening and binning at Corsair I figured that a pair of these kits should provide not only the best chance at getting 12GB of memory running, but also the best performance should overclocking be in order... Best of CES 2009 @ techgage.com [Jan-17-09] (0 Comments) CES 2009 may have felt a little smaller than previousevents, but one thing's for certain... there was no shortage offantastic products on display. In this article, we've picked 10 suchproducts that went above and beyond our expectations, and as a result,have earned our Technic3D/Cooler Master Storm Sniper @ technic3d.com [Jan-17-09] (0 Comments) The new Coolermaster Storm Sniper is the next PC Case in the T echnic3D Editorship. See you in the following Review which qualities t he High-End Gaming Tower with a new Cooling concept (3x200mm Fan) and many Features presents. Better than the Cosmos? Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Jan-16-09] (0 Comments) Zalman's CNPS9900 LED is their newest all copper model in the CNPS series. A silent 120 mm blue LED fan has been placed between two arrays of pure copper fins. With exceptional performance and amazing looks, the CNPS9900 LED is a great CPU cooler if you can justify spending $79 for a CPU cooler. Technic3D/Dragon Force 530W @ technic3d.com [Jan-15-09] (0 Comments) The Dragon Force DF-530GT 530W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a very good price and a high efficiency. The Dragon Force have a 120mm fan a nd 2x PCIe 6-Pin connectors. NZXT Whisper Silent System PC Case @ rbmods.com [Jan-15-09] (0 Comments) In the quest for silencing a computer system, we often focus on noisesources such as CPU coolers and case fans. But what if the case itself canaid in reducing noise? NZXT, makers of a wide range of computer products,has developed a new case, the NZXT Whisper Series Case, which has addedfeatures to reduce computer noise. Will this case live up to its name and beas quiet as a whisper? Let's find out in this review. Technic3D/Topower 400W @ technic3d.com [Jan-13-09] (0 Comments) The Topower Silent EZ 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in t he following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good pri ce, modular cable management and a high efficiency. The Topower have a 120mm fan, 4xSerial ATA connectors and 2x PCIe 6-Pin connectors. Bett er than the 350W? GELID Wing9-Wing12 UV Blue Case Fans @ modders-inc.com [Jan-12-09] (0 Comments) Today we are going to be taking a look at a set of case fans froma relatively new company called GELID Solutions. With the endless number offans on the market, you can just about get anything you want, if you lookhard enough. We are going to be looking at the GELID Wing9 and Wing12 UVBlue case fans. GELID has done what a few other manufactures have done;offer us something different than the normal case fan. Silverstone Fanless ST45NF 450W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jan-12-09] (0 Comments) We've looked at lots of interesting power supplies here at thesite, some big, some small. But today's unit will be a first for the site,when I take a look at our first totally fanless unit in the SilverstoneNightjar ST45NF. Evercool Serpent Northbridge Chip Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jan-10-09] (0 Comments) One of the main problems with various motherboard's northbridgecooler is the small heatsink with little fan at 5000rpm. Fan at such speedmakes high noise making use of computer very uncomfortable, not to mentionthe situation where the fan stops at all making the northbridge to overheatand possibly break due to it. Evercool was kind enough to provide us theirnewest northbridge cooler called Serpent. [News] Thermalright TRUE Copper Heatsink @ virtual-hideout.net [Jan-09-09] (0 Comments) Well then, when it comes down to it, this TRUE is a bit of aparadox. It's a very heavy beast that performs to... some degree offantastic, though to be honest, it really could be better. There areabsolutely no qualms with aesthetics, design, or installation. Even thepackaging is up to the par set. But honestly? What it comes down to are thematerials themselves. Back when, the utilization of copper was in place dueto the inability of the heatsinks to dissipate the heat, due to a low amountof surface area. The other issue in the pipe, though, is the fact that thisheatpipe uses the same six heatpipes as every other TRUE; which means thatunless it can dissipate heat any faster, the additional heat capacity won'tdo much all of good. It's all a shame, but I do rather love this sink NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision Technology @ pcper.com [Jan-08-09] (0 Comments) The NVIDIA GeForce 3D Vision technology comes at a time when the PCgaming world needs a lift the most and I think any enthusiast (even thosethat are fans of AMD) can appreciate the chance to show off to theirconsole-loving friends a feature that can't be matched by one. The PCgaming world has been floundering around a bit since the days of Doom 3'srelease and we have slowly seen the exclusive titles on the PC migrate to a CoolIT Domino A.L.C. @ pro-clockers.com [Jan-06-09] (0 Comments) But CoolIT has been in the market of taking the above optionssimplifying them and making it easier to get to the next level without muchmodding, tweaking or research. price on the most part have been decent tohigh on a lot of their products. But their newest cooler is priced at thelevel of higher end coolers but promises to be much better when it comes toperformance. The Domino A.L.C. is an all-in-one water-cooling setup thatcontains a rad, fan, tubing and CPU block. For about $70 you get all thisand Coolit's word of a superior cooler. We took the time to connect thecooler to our new i7 bench for a test spin. Is this cooler all that CoolItsays it is? We will find out. Zalman CNPS9900 LED CPU Cooler @ bigbruin.com [Jan-06-09] (0 Comments) The CNPS9900 LED CPU cooler features the familiar look of a Zalman product, with a variety of innovations and refinements that make it stand out over models from previous generations in the CNPS (Computer Noise Prevention System) product line. A 120mm fan is located in between two rings of thin copper fins that dissipate the processor's heat thanks to three heatpipe loops. [News] XClio 1000 Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Jan-06-09] (0 Comments) The XClio 1000 Enclosure produces the largest light show of sortsI've ever seen on a prebuilt case. You have four choices in colors for eachset of fans. There's red, green, blue, and chameleon where the fans changethrough various shades of purple, white, yellow, or what not. It practicallyout does my controllable lights on the Christmas tree. (No, you can't putthis case on top of the Christmas tree...or can you?) Xigmatek NRP-PC501 500W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jan-05-09] (0 Comments) Xigmatek is an unfamiliar name for power supplies in these parts.However, the company does have some degree of presence out there in theworld of CPU cooling; and we've gotten more than a few requests to see howgood their watt boxes are. Today I'm finally taking a look at one of them inthe NRP-PC501. This is a 500W value oriented unit boasting a good sized140mm fan and 80 Plus certification. Technic3D/Topower 350W @ technic3d.com [Dec-31-08] (0 Comments) The Topower Silent EZ 350W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in t he following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good pri ce, modular cable management and a high efficiency. The Topower have a 120mm fan, 4xSerial ATA connectors and 2x PCIe 6-Pin connectors. Antec Sonata Elite @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-30-08] (0 Comments) Both of these characteristics can be seen in the Performance One andthe Sonata lines. Each has a style that are their own that you cannot say isugly or blingy. And when it comes to quietness you do not have to replaceone single fan in them to maintain absolute peace like you would have to dowith some other cases. Our latest case comes from the Sonata line whichremains elegant and quite but adds some much wanted features to an alreadyvery nice case. The Sonata Elite has a new racy side vent, more cooling,more side dampening and more space. Technic3D/Thermaltake Spedo @ technic3d.com [Dec-19-08] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Spedo Advance is the next PC Case in the Techn ic3D Editorship. See you in the following Review which qualities and F eatures the Gaming Tower from Thermaltake presents. Better with Cable Routing Management, Advance Thermal Chamber, Support up to 8 fans and side 23cm fan? Aerocool Hi-Tech 7 Pro @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-18-08] (0 Comments) I love large case fans. Coincidentally, today I'm reviewing theAerocool Hi-Tech 7 Pro, which sports a 400 mm side panel fan. Lauded as thelargest in the world, this fan is similar to the fan on the AeroRacer Pro,also from Aerocool. However, the Hi-Tech 7 Pro is a step above the AeroRacerin that it has a few extra features such as a built-in fan controller andthermal monitor. Eager to put this thing to work, I jumped right intobuilding it. Before we get into the review, let's read up on Aerocool. Technic3D/Seventeam 550W PSU @ technic3d.com [Dec-17-08] (0 Comments) The Seventeam ST550P-AF 550W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good p rice and a very high efficiency. The Seventeam have a 120mm fan, 6xSer ial ATA connectors and 2x PCIe 6-Pin connectors. Diamond HD 4870 1GB CrossFire Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Dec-17-08] (0 Comments) The Diamond HD 4870 1GB can take today’s latest games and blitz right through them, providing buttery smooth gaming enjoyment. At a price under $300, high end gaming never looked so good and cost so little. In the driver department I have had no problems with ATI’s 8.12’s. The inclusion of the AVIVO video converter for FREE is a welcome sight. I like that I don’t need to install third party applications or a second utility aside from the driver to do basic temperature monitoring, basic overclocking, and tweaking the fan speed... FAN-tastic! Asus Triton 81 vs Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme - @ vr-zone.com [Dec-17-08] (0 Comments) Is the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme and the Asus Triton 81 cool enough [News] ECS G45T-M2 Motherboard @ virtual-hideout.net [Dec-15-08] (0 Comments) Perhaps as a byproduct of their strong OEM division, ECS has beenproducing a number of reasonably priced, fully featured, general-purposeMicro ATX motherboards. Though these boards lack advanced cooling, fantasticoverclocking, or award winning aesthetic, they have always offered oneconsolation - a great value. Though the chipset that today's motherboard isbased on - the G45 - isn't known for fantastic performance, it's featuresheet is fairly comprehensive, and considering the availability of severalSATA ports, as well as HDMI, ECS may have just whipped up a nice little HTPCcontender. With that in mind, let's take a look at what this board can do. NZXT Sentry LX @ techpowerup.com [Dec-15-08] (0 Comments) The Sentry LX is a high-end, well constructed thermal monitoring unit, which gives you constant access to five thermal sensors and five case fans at once. It also includes a date & time display, so you can enjoy those longer gaming sessions without losing track of time. Technic3DArctic Cooling Fusion 550RF @ technic3d.com [Dec-14-08] (0 Comments) The Arctic Cooling Fusion 550RF 500W PSU arrived Technic3D. Se e you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 80mm fan, 5x Serial ATA co nnectors, 2x PCI-e (6+2)Pin this PSU better than other Silent PSUs? Antec Skeleton Open Air PC Case @ legitreviews.com [Dec-12-08] (0 Comments) Overall I have mixed feelings about the Antec Skeleton. The geek in me loves it; the dad in me is scared of it. As a father of two under the age of 10 there is more then one occasion that something will go flying across the room. Even in my office I was leery of people around the system that were holding drinks and leaning over the case. Those that have pets at home might also want to think twice as a cat on catnip might find the 250mm disco fan a little too interesting... Vizo Armada II RAM Cooler @ rbmods.com [Dec-12-08] (0 Comments) As computer performance increases, the need to cool the internal components of the computer becomes greater. While we focus a lot of attention on the CPU, video card, and case fan cooling solutions, another cooling product that is starting to become more prominent are RAM/memory coolers. Vizo, makers of a wide range of computer components, as released a new product, the Armada II RAM cooler, which offers a cooling solution for RAM sticks. Read on to find out if it makes a noticeable difference in performance. Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Dec-11-08] (0 Comments) Today we are going to be taking a look at the NH-C12P. The NH-C12Putilizes Noctua's newest fan design, the NF-P12. This time around Noctua hasdecided to use a horizontal design rather than the vertical design like theNH-U12F and NH-U12P. Cooler Master ATCS 840 Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-11-08] (0 Comments) The new Cooler Master ATCS 840 is an all-aluminum full-tower case supporting two power supplies, coming with four big fans, removable motherboard tray and a very conservative looks. Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler @ pcper.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master CPU cooler did a very good job of keeping thefully loaded CPU cool, especially when you take into consideration how quietthe cooler is. Because of the limited space in the middle of the cooler(designed for a 25mm thick fan), we couldn't test the V8 with some of thelarger, high-speed air turbines we used on some other coolers. Vantec AeroFlow FX120 CPU Cooler @ techwarelabs.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) Mike takes a look at the Vantec AeroFlow FX120 which as the name implies is powered by a 120mm fan. The AeroFLow FX120 wont break the bank and manages to edge out the MaxOrb in cooling performance. Sneak a peek at why Mike thinks strapping the AeroFlow FX120 to your CPU is a great idea. Technic3D/Corsair 400W @ technic3d.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) The Corsair CMPSU-400CX 400W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good p rice and a high efficiency. Make the 120mm fan, 6xSerial ATA connector s and 1x PCIe 6-Pin this PSU better than other PSUs for Office PCs? Hiper Type R Mk-II 680W PSU @ techpowerup.com [Dec-09-08] (0 Comments) The Hiper Type R Mk-II 680W is a unique power supply because it comes with an integrated 8-port USB hub. A ninth USB connector is dedicated to charging any USB based devices like your Iphone or Ipod, even while the PC is turned off. The PSU itself delivers excellent performance values in stability and fan noise. Efficiency is also high with 82%. MSI's Eclipse SLI X58 motherboard @ bit-tech.net [Dec-08-08] (0 Comments) */This board is killing me because I want to like so much as the MSI team has clearly put in incredible effort and risk into designing the Eclipse SLI. Since just the P45 generation six months ago, so much has changed for the better which we need to give MSI credit for - the GreenPower core is excellent, the D-LED 2 is a good evolution, the board looks fantastic, it's stable with 12GB of memory and it's finally got a compelling market niche. The problem is that it's only 95 percent of the way there and it still needs attention to tidy up the loose ends - the BIOS and the software needs work, the cooling isn't wonderful, the D-LED 2 can evolve further, the X-Fi is either love or hate and the GreenPower Genie can go in the bin. Technic3D/GELID Silent Spirit @ technic3d.com [Dec-06-08] (0 Comments) The GELID Silent Spirit CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The CP U Cooler with 92mm PWM Fan, 4 Heatpipesand easy installation. See you in the following Review the Silent Spirit compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more. MSI Turbostream 600 W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-05-08] (0 Comments) MSI Turbostream power supplies are manufactured by Solytech. We reviewed one of their 600 W models featuring active PFC and 120-mm fan. Is this a good product? Can it really deliver its labeled power? AeroCool AeroRacer Pro PC Case @ legitreviews.com [Dec-04-08] (0 Comments) It seems that over the years fans have become larger and it looks like they have finally become the same size as the case dimensions themselves. The first thing that jumps out at you when looking at the AeroCool AeroRacer Pro case is the 40cm or 15.7 inch box fan strapped to the side. At 400mm in size the fan is nearly as tall as the 410mm chassis, which makes it look like a box fan strapped to the side of the computer. Back in the early days of LAN gaming people used to improve cooling by using a household box fan, so it looks like that cooling trick finally went mainstream and a 120V electrical connection isn't needed... BFG MX-550 Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-04-08] (0 Comments) The new MX series of power supplies from BFG features a modular cabling system, one 120-mm fan and one 80-mm fan that only kicks in when temperature is above 50ş C. Let’s see if the 550 W model is a good product. Tagan A+ El Diablo Advance Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-03-08] (0 Comments) A+ El Diablo Advance from Tagan is a full-tower case with a big 330-mm side fan, two 180-mm fans on the top and one 250-mm fan on the front, plus a thermometer. Let’s see if this is really a good case. Zotac Nitro VGA Overclocking Controller @ techpowerup.com [Dec-03-08] (0 Comments) Zotac's Nitro is a clever little USB gadget that puts the overclocking power of your graphics card right at your finger tips. You can also monitor temperatures and adjust the fan speeds. The best is that all this can be done on the fly, without switching out of your game or benchmark. Technic3D/Fractal Design 1000W @ technic3d.com [Dec-03-08] (0 Comments) The Fractal Design Newton 1000W (FD-PSU-NEWT-1000W) arrived Te chnic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next Big P SU with modular cable management, 135mm Fan, 4x 12V rails, 6x Serial A TA connectors and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Sonic Unleashed @ bit-tech.net [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) */Arguably, Sonic Unleashed could get some lee-way on account of its casual appeal and the fact that the colourful animal characters, fantastical story and so on make it appear to be more of a kids game than a release for the hard or midcore gamers out there. Technic3D/Revoltec Sixty2 @ technic3d.com [Dec-02-08] (0 Comments) The Revoltec Sixty 2 is the next PC Case in the Technic3D Edit orship.The Revoltec Sixty 2 comes with a flexible layout, a screwless design and most efficient air-flow inside the case. The Revoltec Sixty 2 Front is most attractive through the rubber coated surface and the 9 drive bays. Components can be easily installed by the removable hard disk frame including a dust filter and the quick-release latches to t he drive bays.The Revoltec Sixty 2 has a total of four installation sp aces for installing fans. A 120mm Silent fan mounted in the hard disk frame is included. A fan at the backside as well as two fans in the si de panel can be installed as an option. See you in the following Revie w which qualities and Features the Tower presents for a small Price. Samsung L210 Digital Camera @ techwarelabs.com [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) In today's high tech digital world, everyone has one of those new fangled digital cameras. The days of running into the dark room or using that nifty old polariod are few and far between. With that being said, it's important to understand the difference between joe schmoe's dinky camera and the newest in technology! Boasting the slogan Sitecom's WL-308 Wireless 300N XR Gigabit Gaming Router @ bit-tech.net [Dec-01-08] (0 Comments) */It's all a bit frustrating really, as when we started testing we really thought Sitecom was onto a winner here by combining all the high end networking features we crave with a unique advantage of an inbuilt traffic management system. Unfortunately, while the StreamEngine technology does indeed work in managing the downsteam bandwidth and is clearly a fantastic new technology with a lot of potential (and one we'll be keeping close eyes on), it doesn't do enough to ensure playable pings in online games when a connection's upload traffic gets busy, which is a real shortcoming considering it is the router's unique selling point.. Technic3D/LC Power 420W @ technic3d.com [Nov-28-08] (0 Comments) The LC Power LC6420 420W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a good price . Make the 120mm fan, 6xSerial ATA connectors and 1x PCIe 6-Pin this PSU better than other PSUs for Office PCs? Cooler Master's UCP Ultimate 900W PSU @ bit-tech.net [Nov-27-08] (0 Comments) */This would make a fantastic PSU for Folders:it's exceptional efficiency at very high loads, which means that it will save you the maximum amount of money while you help to find cures for diseases. At a nominal 20 percent load the rest of us will be using for most of the time, it's no more efficient than any other PSU and without spending all day at load to recoup the cost difference through power efficiency benefits, you'll need to use the UCP 900W for several years to make up the extra money you'll spend on it. [News] Aerocool AeroRacer Pro Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-27-08] (0 Comments) The AeroRacer series feature styling reminiscent of a race car. Theparticular model up for review today is the AeroRacer Pro, which is amid-tower chassis. When it comes to versatility and ventilation, theAeroRacer Pro has no competition. The overall lines are styled like a racecar, and it features both an enormous 400mm side intake fan (which remindsme of the large radiator cooling fans on a car) and an Technic3D/Ikonik Vulcan 1200W @ technic3d.com [Nov-25-08] (0 Comments) The Ikonik Vulcan 1200W arrived Technic3D. See you in the foll owing Review from Technic3D the next Big PSU with modular cable manage ment, 140mm blue LED Fan, 4x 12V rails, 12x Serial ATA connectors and 6x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. Tagan A+ Curbic Mid Tower Case @ legitreviews.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) Overall, the Tagan found a nice balance of budget building practice, style, and features. The Curbic looks very nice with the mesh front panel and blue LED fans. The case was surprisingly quiet for running two 180mm fans. On high they are very much in the range of what would be considered livable for a desktop; with the fans on low it was very quiet. The Tagan Aplus Curbic is not yet available in the US, and has an estimated MSRP of $59.99 and should be available in retail stores before the holiday. The Curbic would be a very good fit for the user who wants an inexpensive, yet a nice looking, case... SilverStone Fortress FT01 Case SST-FT01B-W @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-24-08] (0 Comments) SilverStone has a long history of designing and building fantastic looking products, and the Fortress Series is no exception, especially [News] Thermalright TRad2 VGA Coolers @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-21-08] (0 Comments) That area where Thermalright has just recently come into it's own,is the videocard market; first with the HR-03, then the GT, and now-a-dayswith the GTX. But alas, not every user can afford the 5 slots that coolereats up when a fan is strapped to it. That's where the T-Rad coolers comeinto play. By sacrificing just two slots after your graphics card, you toocan keep it chilly with either 2x92mm or 1x120mm fans. Will it turn out tobe a winning blow? There's only one way to find out - tear it from thepackage, slap it on a card, throw in a healthy measure of thermoster, andfinally... we'll see how it does. Come on in, this is going to be aninteresting one. Technic3D/be quiet! Pure Power 350W @ technic3d.com [Nov-20-08] (0 Comments) The be quiet! Pure Power 350W PSU (BQT L6-UA-350W) arrived Tec hnic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Re view with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 120mm fan , 4xSerial ATA connectors this PSU better than other PSUs for Office P Cs? Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC3-12800 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-19-08] (0 Comments) Crucialhave always been one of the more popular high-end memorymanufacturers, with their Crucial Ballistix kits being an overclockersfavourite. However, Crucial do another kit, known as the BallistixTracer sporting black heatspreaders and fancy LED lighting. Let's seeif they're as good as we hope. Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Nov-19-08] (0 Comments) The V8 from Cooler Master is a very unique looking cooler that performs quite well. In the cooler world today it is getting harder to tell one tower cooler from another. This is not the case with the V8. With its crazy heatpipe bends and the fan shroud it makes the cooler stand out. Combined with the fact it really can perform, to me this makes the V8 a very attractive cooler... NorthQ Siberian Tiger II Water Cooler @ jonnyguru.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) Back at the end of April, I took a look at the NorthQ SiberianTiger water cooling kit. Today we are taking a look at the Siberian Tiger II watercooling kit, which is the bigger brother due to its use of a 240mm radiatorcompared to the little brothers 120mm radiator. Will the extra liquidcapacity, increased radiator size, and dual 120mm fans give it the edgeyou're looking for? Well let's jump in and find out. NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller @ pcper.com [Nov-18-08] (0 Comments) The NZXT Sentry LX is a great looking fan controller that allowssetting and monitoring the speed of multiple fans and monitoring up to fivechannels of temperature along with displaying the time and date. The unitis easy to install and setup and the accuracy of the displayed fan speedsand temperatures are good for all channels. One potential watch-out is the4W per channel power limitation. Cooler Master HAF 932 Full-Tower @ techgage.com [Nov-17-08] (0 Comments) Finding an affordable chassis that's both large andfeature-packed can be a little difficult, but Cooler Master's latestHAF 932 delivers on all accounts, and the goods don't stop there. Thissteel full-tower features huge interior space, greatease-of-installation, many bundled fans, hardcore design... all on topof having a price tag that's easy to stomach. Technic3D/Red Alert3 @ technic3d.com [Nov-17-08] (0 Comments) Command and Conquer:Red Alert3 PC Game from Electronic Arts a rrived Technic3D. Command and Conquer:Red Alert 3 from EA brings back the fan-favorite real-time strategy game in its latest incarnation wi th new features, powers, technologies, and a different world. Now, you can play not just by yourself but also cooperatively with a friend as you take on the enemy in this glorious, over-the-top romp. In Red Ale rt 3, you have the choice to play as the Allies, the Soviets, or the E mpire of the Rising Sun and has land units, air units, and naval units , all integral parts of the game. For previous fans of Command and Con quer, Red Alert 3 will provide the same light-hearted game play, but w ith more units, more strategies, and more fun? See you in the followin g Review. How To Play Movies on the BlackBerry Bold Using Badaboom @ legitreviews.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) The Badaboom Media Converter was amazing to use and the fact that it completely transcodes a DVD using a bit rate of 2500kbit at a resolution of 480x320 in under 16 minutes was amazing. Two years ago it took me 3-4 hours to transcode a DVD using a bit rate of 237kbps and a resolution of 320x240! The performance gains that can be had with stream computing are obvious and I'm a big fan of using the GPU to complete tasks like transcoding. If you have an NVIDIA graphics cards that supports CUDA then this is something you have to try out to believe it... GlacialTech GP-AL 650A Powersupply @ rbmods.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at a powersupply from Glacialtech. Theyhave released a new interesting PSU that has a thermal controller which evenstops the fan if possible to reduce noise. It comes at a nice 650W which isquite optimal today and it also seems to have most of the features that isneeded for our current and coming hardware. Lets get this review going andcompare it vs some other well performing PSU=B4s on the market. Lian Li PC-A77B Full Tower Chassis @ bigbruin.com [Nov-14-08] (0 Comments) I am definitely impressed with this Lian Li PC-A77B full tower chassis. Being a fan of simplistic yet useful design, this case has it all. The top mounted I/O ports are in a great location to access while using the computer. Lian Li has designed this case to allow you to install your components in many different configurations, which makes customizing your setup very convenient. Cooler Master HAF 932 @ techpowerup.com [Nov-12-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master HAF 932 is a great looking case with its industrial and rugged design. It sports two 230 mm fans to cool those parts to the max. Removable hard drive trays and plenty of space for large components, all packed up inside this steel case makes for a perfect combination. Palit Revolution 700 Deluxe - HD 4870 X2 2048 MB @ techpowerup.com [Nov-12-08] (0 Comments) Palit's new Revolution 700 Deluxe is the first graphics card that occupies three slots in your PC. The massive cooling assembly successfully increases overclocking performance, lowers temperature and reduces fan noise. But is that good enough to beat the AMD reference design? Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Nov-11-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Cooler takes the innovations from the company in the CPU cooler area and applies them to a GPU cooler. This means that you will get direct touch heatpipes and massive fans to cool that modern graphic card of yours. Thermalright T-Rad2 GPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-10-08] (0 Comments) The T-Rad2 should be a gamer or even a quiet PC users best friend. Icurrently have numerous cards from Nvidia and ATI and all of them sufferfrom very loud fans that need to be conquered. If Thermalright chose tobuild the T-Rad2 like they do their processor coolers we just may have awinner here. The T-Rad2 is built around six nickel-plated heat-pipes and aseries of aluminum fins that form a platform. The platform can supporteither a single 120mm or dual 92mm fans. We will take the first option andsee how well this new cooler performs. Zalman GS1000 Professional Full-Tower Enclosure @ pcper.com [Nov-08-08] (0 Comments) Overall I like this case. The fit and finish is excellent and theblend of high-gloss (black or Titanium) and brushed aluminum finishes looksgreat. There is plenty of room inside to work along with good cablemanagement. There are also plenty of drive bays along with three hot-swapbays for internal HDDs. The GS1000 has the potential for very good casecooling but you will most likely have to add more fans to take fulladvantage. Fanatec Porsche 911 Racing Wheel @ techwarelabs.com [Nov-07-08] (0 Comments) Today TechwareLabs takes an in-depth look at the Porsche® 911 Turbo Racing Wheel from Fanatec and distributed by Pacific Media Partners. Licensed by Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH, the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Racing Wheel offers gamers latency free wireless USB technology (wheel and pedals), three force feedback motors and smooth belt drive, both of which help to deliver sensational realism, 6+1 speed H-pattern gear stick with realistic shifting feel, and authentic wireless pedals with realistic clutch pedal (with declining resistance) and brake with soft-stop. The wheel itself is covered with fine, automotive grade leather. Its time to shift your game into high gear and read the review. Cooler Master CM 690 NVIDIA Edition Case @ benchmarkreviews.com [Nov-06-08] (0 Comments) Cooler master is well known for a wide variety of PC accessories. The line-up consists of heatsinks, power supplies, fans, external Gelid Solutions Silent Spirit CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Nov-06-08] (0 Comments) Gelid Solutions' Silent Spirit CPU cooler is a small, lightweight, high performing heatsink for both AMD and Intel CPUs (including Intel Socket LGA1366). Its four heatpipes connect to a pure copper base and an angled block of fins to cool surrounding motherboard components. The cooler is also extremely silent with Gelid's silent 9 2mm PWM fan attached. Thermalright T-Rad2 Video Card Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Nov-05-08] (0 Comments) Video card vendors always seem to manufacture graphic cards that have undersized heatsinks with incredibly loud fans and that are almost as hot as the surface of the sun. One would think that after decades of building these things they'd take a hint and build reference cards with thermal solutions that are adequate for stock performance. However, due to this inadequacy many other companies have found a market to fill and Thermalright is a company with proven designs and great success. The Thermalright T-Rad2 picks up where the reference design left off... Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 X2 2048 MB @ techpowerup.com [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) Being priced at reasonable $419, the Sapphire HD 4850 X2 is designed to take some market share from NVIDIA's GTX 280. The card features 2 GB of GDDR3 memory and comes with a custom designed cooling solution. Even though you would expect very little overclocking from a dual-GPU card, we saw an amazing 15% performance increase from overclocking without touching any fan settings. bit-tech's Hardware Buyers' Guide for November 2008 @ bit-tech.net [Nov-04-08] (0 Comments) */Phew! it's been a busy month here in the bit-tech offices, with October full of fantastic new hardware launches, and November set to be just the same. With the launch of Intel's Core i7 we'll doubtless be seeing a major shake up of the high end and ultra high end recommended hardware as the range of processors and accompanying motherboards and memory start to make thier way into the market. Nehalem Revolution:Intel's Core i7 Processor Complete @ the fact [Nov-03-08] (0 Comments) Intel's new Core i7 series of processors is a modern marvel oftechnology that brings previously inaccessible performance to the consumer.In areas where multi-threaded applications are dominant, heavy multi-taskingis the norm or multimedia encoding is the primary function, the move to aHyperThreaded Core i7 part is a no brainer. But Intel's biggest problemmight not have anything to do with AMD or another outside source:the factis that the Core 2 Quad processors are still fantastic performers, widelyavailable and pretty damn cheap. Anyone that has a quad-core system willlikely not find a compelling performance benefit to upgrade from it to aCore i7 unless they subscribe to one of the usage models mentioned above.Intel has definitely attempted to curb this dilemma with the introduction ofthe $284 Core i7-920 and I think that this CPU will find its way into manyof our reader's machines. [News] OCZ Gladiator Max CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) On the deck today, is the Gladiator Max - a heatsink which takes onthe lineage afforded by a rather interesting slug of copper which took onheating duties back in the K7 days. Granted, back when this would have beena dime-a-dozen cooler, so my opinions coming into this review are mixed.Considering the four thick pipes riding the heatspreader, a good fan, and ahuge mass of fins, though - there may be some hope. XFX GeForce GTX 260 Black Edition @ techgage.com [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) No matter yourneed for graphics power, the choice of GPUs right now isfantastic. Where high-end gamers are concerned, two popular options arethe HD 4870 1GB and the GTX 260/216. We're taking a look at XFX'slatest release of the latter, which features such an impressive factoryoverclock, it manages to keep up to the GTX 280. Cooler Master's ACTS 840 chassis @ bit-tech.net [Oct-31-08] (0 Comments) */While its performance isn't world beating, the ATCS 840 is still undoubtedly one of the best cases we've seen for a long time - it has thoroughly impressed us during our time with it. Combining gorgeous looks, fantastic build quality and unmatched attention to detail throughout the entire design, Cooler Master has produced a case of the highest quality that thoroughly deserves your hard earned cash. It might be expensive, but it's most definitely worth it!/* Gigabyte EP45-UD3P @ techgage.com [Oct-30-08] (0 Comments) Looking to build a new machine on a budget? Then look nofurther than choosing Gigabyte's EP45-UD3P as your choice formotherboard. It may not offer a lot in the area of bling, but itincludes a solid design, lots of connectivity options (including 8 USBand S-ATA), fantastic overclocking potential and best of all, it comesin at an average price of $115. Technic3D/NBA 2K9 @ technic3d.com [Oct-26-08] (0 Comments) NBA 2K9 PC Game from Take2 arrived Technic3D. The NBA franch ise is back for its 10th season. NBA 2K9 is for gamers and basketball fans everywhere who want to play a fun, stylistic, and feature-rich N BA simulation. Improved facial and skin textures and dunks and even fa cial expressions, see you in the following Review. ECS P43T-A2 Motherboard @ modders-inc.com [Oct-24-08] (0 Comments) Not everyone can afford to spend lots of money on a motherboard orneed all the extra fancy stuff you can get. This is where companies likeElitegroup (ECS) come into play with their budget minded boards. Today weare going to be taking a look at one of those products, the ECS P43T-A2V1.0. Coolermaster V8 @ pro-clockers.com [Oct-24-08] (0 Comments) I am a fanboy of American automobiles especially the old school oneslike the Mustangs, Chevells, Novas and many others. And one of the reasons Iam so into these cars is because of the big blocks ( V8 for the unknowing)that these cars all had. Pure muscle is where it is all at. And theCoolermaster V8 takes its name from just these types of cars. The V8 is 865gof copper and aluminum so you can say this one is a big block. Today we willsee if the Coolermaster V8 can perform like the cars did back in the 60s and70s. Cooler Master V8 Heatsink and Fan @ techwarelabs.com [Oct-23-08] (0 Comments) We all want the power of a V8, but with gas prices the way they are, most of us are trading our V8 trucks in for puny four cylinder eco-friendly cars. Cooler Master wanted to put that V8 power back in your life without driving you to the gas pumps. We introduce to you the all new Cooler Master V8 CPU cooler. Will this beast give us the power we need to cool our overclocked 140W AMD 9950 Black Edition down to room temperature? [News] Cooler Master V8 CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Oct-23-08] (0 Comments) Like many of the other companies finding reviews on our pageslately, Cooler master's claims to fame come from eternally supporting theenthusiast edge of the industry. Though their start was found in coolingproducts, Cooler Master went on to begin producing branded fans, heatsinks,power supplies, and even liquid cooling systems. In that vein, the V8 ismore or less a rectification to this departure - a step by Cooler Master toreturn themselves into the realm of performance cooling. With the capacityto blow away almost 180w of heat, the V8 has the potential to slide CoolerMaster back up into the echelons of performance cooling, though it may wellhave a few hindrances along the way. With that said, it's time to see whatthis latest offering can do. Drakensang Interview:From Fable to Fallout @ bit-tech.net [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) */*bt:* //You don’t tend to see so many fantasy RPGs any more. BioWare [News] NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller @ virtual-hideout.net [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) Bursting onto the casing scene a bit back, NZXT has been one ofthose companies that has continually expanded and re-invents it's productline, expanding quickly beyond just chassis`. Beyond this, NZXT has chosento craft it's own custom variants of many cases at their core, rather thansimply slipping new panels over the edges. In this vein, the recentlyreviewed NZXT Cryo LX was a rousing success - mixing huge fans with astylish cooling pad. With this spirit of expanding horizons, NZXT justrecently upgraded their accessory lineup with the Sentry LX - a double bay,brushed aluminum faced, feature packed expansion to the Sentry 1. With thatin mind, let's see if the 11 wires injected into the chassis by this panelare worth the hassle, of if this is just another flashy gimmick. Gigabyte EP45-EXTREME @ techgage.com [Oct-20-08] (0 Comments) Intel's P45chipset proves to be one of the best mainstream offeringsever created, and Gigabyte put it to good use on their EP45-EXTREME.The board offers sweet cooling ability (which the help of a lotof copper), amazing overclocking potential (500MHz stable with a Quad!)and fantastic power efficiency - all at a good price. Antec Fusion Remote Max HTPC Case @ pro-clockers.com [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) I got on the electronical horn with my Antec rep and quicklyrequested the new Antec Fusion Remote Max. The FRM as I will call itthroughout this review has the demeanor that speaks luxury and class.Besides great looks the FRM does not limit the builder to small mATXmotherboards as this new enclosure can house standard size main boards. Andif that small feature doesn't sell this box then lets try mentioning thelarge cooling fans that are ultra quiet and the four 3.5 XSR Link Correction @ xsreviews.co.uk [Oct-16-08] (0 Comments) Computercooling is becoming a much more widespread topic with extraemphasis on silence in comparison to the past where this aspect ofcooling was more or less disregarded in an attempt to produce maximumperformance. The challenge that faces most manufacturers nowadays isthe perfect combination between the two. Today at XSReviews, we have awhole series of Arctic Fans up for review. However, the question iswill this latest series of fans be able to meet both the demands ofperformance and silence? Arctic Cooling Fans - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Oct-15-08] (0 Comments) Computercooling is becoming a much more widespread topic with extraemphasis on silence in comparison to the past where this aspect ofcooling was more or less disregarded in an attempt to produce maximumperformance. The challenge that faces most manufacturers nowadays isthe perfect combination between the two. Today at XSReviews, we have awhole series of Arctic Fans up for review. However, the question iswill this latest series of fans be able to meet both the demands ofperformance and silence? Technic3D/Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer @ technic3d.com [Oct-14-08] (0 Comments) The Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer CPU Heatsink arrived Tech nic3D. The CPU Cooler with 120mm Fan, Fan Controller, 8 Heatpipes, H.D .T. technology and easy installation. See you in the following Revie w the Freezer compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more. Coolermaster HAF932 Full Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Oct-13-08] (0 Comments) The HAF932 is another case from Coolermaster that is sure to be a bighit. The case offers a look that is unique from the masses and looks to bebuilt to the point where it can take a pounding and keep protecting yourprized components. The HAF stands for High Air Flow and it definitely isthat as the unit has four large fans that measure at the minimum 14centimeters up to 23 centimeters. Things have just got cooled in the labs solets get on with the review before I give you all the details in theintroduction. Technic3D/Thermolab Micro and Nano Silencer @ technic3d.com [Oct-11-08] (0 Comments) The Thermolab Micro and Nano Silencer HTPC CPU Heatsink arrive d Technic3D. Design for Mini-ITX and Micro ATX form factor. Low noise by applying PWM Control fans? See the following Review on a Intel XE6 800 CPU compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and many more. Iron Man HD Movie @ tweaktown.com [Oct-08-08] (0 Comments) Comic book translations have been Hollywood’s staple for a few years now, since 2000’s X-Men made them hip again. It makes sense; especially from a fiscal point of view; tap into pre-existing awareness and fond memories and fans will likely go see it, regardless of how good or bad pre-release word is - if only just to see how bad it could be. But while cinema goers with even just an avid interest in comic books were looking forward to The Dark Knight, Iron Man came out of nowhere, with barely a trailer to telegraph its imminent arrival. Word of mouth spread about the surprising quality of the film and the killer casting of reformed Hollywood bad boy Robert Downey Jr. By the end of the theatrical showings, Iron Man had smashed assumptions and became the surprise hit of the summer, both financially and creatively. Hiper Osiris Mid-Tower Enclosure @ pcper.com [Oct-06-08] (0 Comments) The power supply is designed to mount in the bottom of the chassis,which helps keep the case's center of gravity low for better stability.Note the bottom intake air opening directly under the PSU location. Thisallows a power supply with a bottom intake fan to pull cool outside room airdirectly into the PSU and then exhaust it out the back of the case. Technic3D/Lian Li Maxima Force 750W @ technic3d.com [Oct-04-08] (0 Comments) The new Lian Li Maxima Force (PS-750GB) 750W PSU arrived Techn ic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next High eff iciency PSU with 120mm blue LED Fan, four 12V rails, 10 Serial ATA con nectors and 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin. 100W Overpower output for one hour conti nuously (Maximum)? [Affiliates News] iStarUSA T5F-SS Internal SATA Hot Swap Bay @ aphnetworks.com [Sep-21-08] (0 Comments) It's quite popular nowadays for consumers and enthusiastsalike to own at least one or two external hard drives and hot swap them fordata logistic purposes. Unfortunately, most of these devices are limited toeither eSATA, USB or Firewire on the external interface. These productscertainly make mass data storage dvices more portable and accessible, but itsnature makes it only a temporary means of physical storage (Placing it onyour desk and using it in a permanent fashion doesn't really cut it). Forthose users that want the convenience of an external drive and performance ofan internal drive, but without the fixed format of an internal drive, aninternal hot swapping bay may be a viable solution -- making it extremelyconvenient to swap hard drives, yet taken into a semi-permanent space. Let'ssay you have five people who wants to use a single computer, but does notwant to mess around with the data on one hard drive, and penta-booting is notan appropriate way of solving this problem. Solution:Have five hard drive,one for each user, and let each user plug in their own hard drive for theirown usage session. That may not be everyone's case, but hey -- we're justgiving a possible scenario. Today, we will be taking a look at the iStarUSAT5F-SS, an internal SATA hard drive hot swap bay. I have to admit I neverheard of iStarUSA before writing this review, but they do seem to be a longstanding maker of OEM and ODM products. Technic3D/Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W @ technic3d.com [Sep-19-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Silent Pro 500W PSU (RS-500-AMBA D3) arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PS U Review with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 135mm fan, 6xSerial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e (6+2)Pin this PSU better than other PSUs? Zaward Gyre ZCJ010 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Sep-19-08] (0 Comments) Being new is much different than doing new. Zaward’s Gyre CPU cooler is new in action. The cooler features HDT, but that is hardly anything fresh at this point. But what is innovative is the design of the cooler, how it operates and the extent of engineering that went into the fan. By the time we finish this article the extent of engineering that went into the Gyre will be revealed, but it is important to remember that going against the mainstream doesn’t always net better results in performance. We will have to dig deeper to see if that is the case here. Tagan A+ Curbic Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-18-08] (0 Comments) A+ Curbic is a simple steel mid-tower case that Tagan will be launching very soon, with four 5 Ľ” bays, seven 3 ˝” bays yet featuring two 180-mm fans with on/off switch and speed control. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 500W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Sep-17-08] (0 Comments) Not too long ago, I took a look at a new line of Toughpower unitsfrom Thermaltake that boasted a fancy schmancy frameless fan that promisedfantastic performance with not a lot of noise to go with it. Today, I'mlooking at the 500W little brother of that unit, the Toughpower QFan 500W. Apevia X-Sniper Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Sep-11-08] (0 Comments) Today's mail saw the arrival of Apevia's X-Sniper G-Type case. Packedwith great features like LCD temp display and fan controllers, the X-Sniperpromises to be a great price/performance case. Let's read up on it before westart the review, shall we? SilverStone Nightjar ST45NF 450W Fan-less PSU @ pcper.com [Sep-09-08] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Nightjar ST45NF fan-less power supply is a uniqueproduct designed for a niche market. Under the right conditions it candeliver up to 450W of clean, well-regulated DC power with support for ahigh end video card. However, for this unit to operate successfully(especially at higher loads) you must pay close attention to the type ofcase you use, the amount of case airflow, and meeting the 25°C ambient airrequirements. Cooler Master HAF 932 Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Sep-09-08] (0 Comments) Cooler Master HAF 932 is a full-tower case targeted to gamers, coming with three big 230-mm and one 140-mm fan, six external 5 Ľ” bays and five internal 3 ˝” bays and several other features. Technic3D/Xilence XQ LinearPower 1200W @ technic3d.com [Sep-06-08] (0 Comments) The Xilence XQ LinearPower 1200W PSU arrived Technic3D. See yo u in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a hi gh efficiency, 120mm Fan, 16! Serial ATA connectors and 4x PCI-e 6+2-P in. Zalman HD160XT Plus Premium HTPC Case @ tweaknews.net [Sep-02-08] (0 Comments) I loved Zalman's HD160XT when I got a chance to look at it in early 2007. It was hard for me to imagine that they could improve on it very much. Well, they found a way. Actually a couple of ways. I like the reorganized front panel for the improved access to the control buttons and I/O features. I also think that the change to the iMON software is an improvement, not only for its functionality, but also for the future support and updates that will be available from SoundGraph. Losing fan control and temperature monitoring is a bit of a disappointment, but the fans in the HD160XT Plus are very quiet (at 5V) anyway, and looking back, I don't think I used the temp monitor that much either. Palit HD 4870 Sonic Dual Edition 512 MB @ techpowerup.com [Sep-02-08] (0 Comments) Palit is one of the first AMD board partners to release a custom Radeon HD 4870 version. Their new HD 4870 Sonic Dual Edition comes with a completely revamped cooling assembly that features two fans to keep the card cool. Also included is a DisplayPort connector and a Turbo switch which lets you select the operating frequencies of the card. The mandatory Zalman CNPS9300AT CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-29-08] (0 Comments) Over the years we have seen the 7000, 8000 and the now current 9000series. What we are going to review today is not the beginning of the 1xxxxseries but a miniature 9xxx called the CNPS9300AT. The little brother boastssome numbers that are more impressive than the bigger brother. Smaller butfaster fan. And on load a little louder. Now that we got the numbers out ofthe way time to see how this little booger does on the test bench. ECS P45T-A Black Series Motherboard @ legitreviews.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) The ECS P45T-A is a fantastic price/performance motherboard and I have faith that it will continue to run at stock speeds until the end of time. This board is perfect for a budget gaming board, a secondary LAN board, or even an office workstation. Couple this board with CrossFire HD4850's and 4 gigabytes of DDDR2 and you are looking at a strong gaming platform... Technic3D/Auras Fridge VGA Cooler @ technic3d.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) The Auras Fridge VGA Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Auras Fridge supports also VGA cards from NVIDIA Geforce 8800GT and 9600GT series. The VGA coolers comes with place for two 120mm Fans. See you in the fo llowing Review the Fridge on a 9600 GT compared with Arctic Cooling, X igmatek Battle-Axe Cooler, Thermalright, GFXChilla and the Zerotherm H urricane HC92 Cu. Vantec Aeroflow FX 120 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-26-08] (0 Comments) Vantec's new coolers are named after their best selling cooler todate the Aeroflow 2. The new Aeroflow FX 92 and Aeroflow FX 120 are based onthe ever popular tower design which all the top coolers share. Even with thesimilarities of these coolers they also had their differences. Whether it issize, number of heat pipes, number of fins or the number of fans it supportsthey all have characteristics that make them stand out from one another. TheAeroflow models boast the vastly becoming popular Heat-pipe Direct TouchTechnology and a sweet white cooling fan. But is this enough for Vantec tobecome a real player in the air cooling market? We will put it up againstthe several other coolers to see where it ranks. Scythe Ninja 2 Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-22-08] (0 Comments) Unlike the others Scythe did not add more heat pipes to the cooler toattempt to make it better. The added weight and size as well as an improvedfan to aid in a higher performance capacity in the Ninja 2. There are a fewmore differences we can discuss but we will not be doing it in theintroduction of the review. So sit back, relax and read along as we take theNinja 2 for a little ride. XFX GTX 280 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Aug-21-08] (0 Comments) Withall the recent fuss over ATI's 4870 X2 card, it's no wonder the greencamp are bristling a little. However, all is not lost if you are annVidia fan boy, they do have one hell of a hefty card that's supposedto be hot on the heels of ATI's top dog. Perhaps with some overclockingwe could coax enough performance out of it to take back the crown?Today I'm testing out XFX's GTX 280 card, and it's a monster. Sunbeamtech Core Contact Freezer @ techpowerup.com [Aug-19-08] (0 Comments) Sunbeam's Core Contact Freezer is a cost effective CPU cooler for AMD and Intel CPUs. Its eight heatpipes make direct contact with the processor for optimum cooling. Also included in the package is a fan controller which allows you to optimize the acoustics to your usage scenario. technic3D/Spire Blue-Star 1000 @ technic3d.com [Aug-18-08] (0 Comments) The Spire Blue-Star 1000 (SP678SO) CPU Heatsink arrived Techni c3D. The CPU Cooler with 90mm Fan, H.D.T. technology, 4x 8mm Copper he at pipes and easy installation. See you in the following Review the Bl ue-Star 1000 compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more. XIGMATEK HDT-SD964 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Aug-14-08] (0 Comments) With a trio of heatpipe direct touch CPU cooler reviews under our belts, I can definitively say that the tech is quickly catching on and spreading like wildfire. I am standing strong behind my statement from the last review of a H.D.T. cooler that I think this is the direction most CPU heatsinks will go in the future; much like the way nearly all CPU coolers use heatpipes nowadays.Today we are going to take a look at the HDT-SD964 from XIGMATEK. Unlike all of the Heatpipe Direct Touch (H.D.T.) coolers we have looked at thus far, this cooler does not use a 120mm fan. The HDT-SD964 uses a 92mm fan and is a little shorter than the others. This will allow the cooler to be placed in smaller enclosures like 4U server chassis’ and equal sized media center cases. Antec Twelve Hundred Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Aug-12-08] (0 Comments) Antec Twelve Hundred is a full-tower case targeted to gamers, with an impressive number of cooling options (six fans with speed control for all of them) and coming with twelve 5 Ľ” bays, with nine of them available for hard disk drives. Thermaltake Toughpower 1,500W Power Supply @ pcper.com [Aug-12-08] (0 Comments) Why anyone would actually want (let alone need) a 1,500W power supp ly is a very good question, but if you are in the market for a very high ou tput PSU, the Toughpower 1,500W deserves consideration. The Toughpower 1,5 00W PSU exhibited very good voltage regulation along with good efficiency. Active PFC, modular sleeved cables, and a 5-year warranty are all nice-to- have features. On the down side the unit gets quite warm, the fan noise is loud and the AC ripple approaches maximum allowable values at high loads. NZXT Sentry LX High Performance Fan Controller @ rbmods.com [Aug-11-08] (0 Comments) We've seen a lot of fan controller designs here on rbmods.com,everything from simple knobs to more elaborate controllers. Today we get achance to look at a new fan controller from NZXT, the NZXT Sentry LX HighPerformance Fan Controller. Will this product live up to its [Affiliates News] Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 P45 Motherboard @ aphnetworks.com [Aug-09-08] (0 Comments) The midrange to high end motherboard market is filled withproducts. These 'high-midrange' boards are very popular among enthusiasts forits abundance of features, performance, and a not-too-out-of-the-world pricetags. Sure, boards like the Asus Striker II NSE are really good, but noteveryone can justify all the extra fancy features for the price. As majormotherboard companies love to compete in this area, a significant array ofboards are made based on the collection of latest chipsets -- for example,both Gigabyte and Asus have a ton of Intel P45 chipset based motherboardsranging from just over $100 all the way to over $250. Today, we'll take alook at Gigabyte's high end P45 board -- the Gigabyte EP45-DQ6 -- as the namesuggests, it has Gigabyte's Dynamic Energy Saver, 100% solid statecapacitors, and Sunbeamtech Quarterback Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-08-08] (0 Comments) I do a lot of case reviews as the junior reviewer at Pro-Clockers. Itdoesn't bother me, because I've got a case fetish of sorts. In its owntwisted way it works out fine for everyone involved. Over the years, I'veowned big cases, small cases, weird cases and modded cases. To be honest, Ichange cases more than some men change shirts. The last few years, I settledin with the Antec Sonata II. It's a great case and did what I needed it todo. However, I changed it for the Aerocool AE Plus last month. Always asucker for big fans, the Aerocool drew me in. After trying out theSunbeamtech Quarterback, I switched again. My main rig is now happily housedin the slightly odd, yet highly functional Quarterback. Read on to see why Ichanged cases. Lian Li A77 Aluminum Full Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) Today, we will be dissecting the Lian Li A77 full size case. The puresize of the A77 alone is enough to win over most of us. But for me it's thestyle and other features like the 12 bays, the locations for numerous 120mmfans, removable motherboard tray, top panel and fan controller. You may saythere are many other cases that have these features. There are none that doit the way Lian Li does. So now we will jump into the review and get to knowthis beautiful tower. Tagan CS Monolize Full Tower Case @ legitreviews.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) Some may look at the cooling package of the Tagan CS-Monolize and think that it is not very elegant, but more along the lines of brute force. Well sometimes a hit with a big hammer is what gets the job done, and Tagan brought a really big hammer. They stuck two fans pushing 150 CFM each in a case that only takes up 2.4 cubic feet of space. So getting fresh air into the case is not an issue... News@Technic3D/Cooler Master Silent ProM 600W @ technic3d.com [Aug-05-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Silent ProM 600W PSU (RS-600-AMBA-D3) arrive d Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next P SU Review with a very high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 135mm fan, 9xSerial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e (6+2)Pin this PSU better than other PSUs? Fallout 3 Hands-on P @ bit-tech.net [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) *And yet, like most /Fallout/ fans, I'm actually a little bit nervous for the release of /Fallout 3/. There's a nagging suspicion that this really could just be /Oblivion/ but with guns and more brown. [News] Antec Twelve Hundred Gaming Case @ virtual-hideout.net [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) One of the last cases to make a hit with the enthusiasts was therecent Antec Nine Hundred. To give you a little recap, it offered front DualBlue LED 120mm fans along with two internal 120mm fans, a unique side windowwith the optional 120mm cut out behind the black screen, 200mm top exhaustfan, top mounted front panel ports, and looked pretty cool. You can stillfind them on several shelves and makes one heck of a mid-tower case. Afterpatiently waiting, we received word that the Antec Twelve Hundred wasfinally on the way. If you liked the Nine Hundred and just about bought one,you'll really appreciate the Twelve Hundred. It's one of those cases youmight just have to have. Noctua NF-P12+NF-B9 Quiet Fans @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-04-08] (0 Comments) A lot of the time I use my computer in the late evenings when the ambient noise is very quiet in my house, so trying to keep PC noise to a minimum is important so as not to annoy me/disturb others. With testing the Noctua NF-P12+NF-B9 fans today I have been treated to a taste of really quiet computing. [Affiliates News] Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 650W (Report) @ aphnetworks.com [Aug-01-08] (0 Comments) Wow, time sure flies by. Precisely two months ago, I was stillsitting in a classroom, scribbling down notes and preparing for exams. Thenthere's the excitement of the stuff I have planned for the summer afterexams. And of course, I was often found at various car dealerships checkingout the latest releases (And of course test driving, which is just my excuseto redline cars) -- that aside, what I'm talking about is that I have thisThermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 650W modular power supply sittinghere at APH Networks for the last two months before I even started thisreport. Historically, I haven't been a big fan of Thermaltake power supplies.I owned quite a few of their cases, which were excellent. But the powersupplies, at least back in the days, were low in price but not really the'tier 1' performance that I'd come to expect. Generally speaking, this powersupply didn't capture much of my attention either due to my personalimpression. When I finally decided to open it and check what was inside overa month later, and did some research online, it seemed to me that theToughpower Cable Management 650W offered incredible performance across theboard. Was I surprised? Well, yes I was. Let's crack open this power supplyand take a look at the physical build of this Channel Well Technology builtunit in our report today.* Link:http://aphnetworks.com/reports/thermaltake_toughpower_cable_management_650w[1]* Image:http://aphnetworks.com/report/thermaltake_toughpower_cable_management_65...[2]Thanks for your support. Don't forget to send your site news tonews@aphnetworks.com [3] as well!Best Regards,JonathanAPH Networkshttp://aphnetworks.com [4]Add this newsletter issue to a newsletter by selecting a newsletter from theselect list.Send a newsletter or a test newsletter by selecting the appropriate radiobutton and submitting the node.Install Mime Mail module to send HTML emails. Mime Mail is also used to sendemails with attachments, both plain text and HTML emails. Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-31-08] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler provides more than just CPUcooling. The dual fan design cools the entirety of the upper portion of themotherboard in addition to the CPU. The DuOrb includes double-sided radiantheatpipes disperse the heat through the extensive number of fins surroundeach fan. The mirror coated copper base provides even better heatdissipation between the contact surface and the CPU over other CPU coolers.Read on further for the full review. Raidmax Iceberg Case @ modders-inc.com [Jul-30-08] (0 Comments) The Raidmax Iceberg case is a mid range enthusiast case. Itfeatures 3 -120mm blue LED fans and 1 - 120mm black rear exhaust fan. Thecase sports two unique one click easy access side panels and is setup withpre-drilled holes for water cooling. This case has a lot of great featuresgoing for it along with plenty of room for your hardware. Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 650W @ bit-tech.net [Jul-29-08] (0 Comments) *Overall it has to be said that Be Quiet! has made a fantastic product - it works, it has supreme efficiency, excellent quality outputs, lots of cable variation (which is perfect for a modular PSU) and is damn near silent to boot. We were really struggling to find things wrong with it because it's really not /that/ expensive when you look at the whole package, and the only thing that grates us is the RMA to Germany - other companies offer better after-sales support. Spire CoolFlow III - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Whenit comes time for an enthusiast to upgrade his or her processor,it's usually quite a momentous occasion. Lots of planning goes into theperfect choice of hardware, and it's not uncommon for a cooler upgradetoo; as faster usually means hotter. Therefore they usually go forsomething something much beefier than before – not one which lookssimilar to the stock Intel model. It’s odd saying that as today, we'vegot a Spire CoolFlow for review, which does, look remarkably similar tothe stock Intel heat-sink and fan. Let’s just hope it gives a boost inperformance. Red Alert 3 Hands-on P @ bit-tech.net [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) *Unfortunately, the /C&C/ series has long been suffering, with hardcore fans lamenting some of the recent instalments after Westwood's acquisition by Electronic Arts and others citing the console ports as signs of an impending apocalypse. Can this latest instalment in the /Red Alert/ franchise restore the series to glory even in the eyes of the elitist hardcore? Lian-Li Tyr PC-X2000 HTPC/Gaming Chassis @ techpowerup.com [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) Lian-Li is pulling out all the stops with the new Tyr case series. On our testbench is the X2000, which is not only the tallest case we have ever tested, but is packed with SATA backplates for six hard drives, three 140 mm fans and a long list of other features, too numerous to mention. [News] Raidmax Iceberg Case @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-28-08] (0 Comments) The Raidmax Iceberg impressed us with its sturdy and qualityconstruction. We were definitely not expecting an aluminum case to be sostrong, but the thick aluminum of the Iceberg makes it one of the strongestcases we've seen. The design of the case also makes it one of the easiest todisassemble, from the nice side panels to the easy-to-remove front panel.Cooling options provided were also very decent, with four fans out of thecase. [News] Thermalright TRUE Black 120 CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-25-08] (0 Comments) So, do you NEED this heatsink? Should you rush out, and snap up thefirst one available? As much as I'm thinking Thermalright would love us tosay yes to that, the answer is really no. For standard cooling needs, aregular old Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme will do the job just fine, and ifyou throw in, what, a $3 set of fan clips, an $8 tube of thermal grease, anda $12 fan, you're still running a surplus. Is that the point? Hardly. Whatthis product is, is one of the best looking heatsinks that you can get ahold of, not to mention one of the best performing. When people see itthrough your case's window, not only will it say Technic3D/be quiet! Dark Power Pro 850 @ technic3d.com [Jul-25-08] (0 Comments) The be quiet! Dark Power Pro 850W PSU P7-Series arrived Techni c3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Revie w with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the quiet 120mm fan, 1 1xSerial ATA connectors, 4x PCI-e Pin this PSU better than the 450W PS U? NZXT Khaos Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-24-08] (0 Comments) Khaos is a top-notch all-aluminum full-tower case from NZXT featuring eleven 5 Ľ” bays, eight internal 3 ˝” bays, three 120-mm fans and one 140-mm fan. OCZ Reaper HPC PC3 12800 @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-24-08] (0 Comments) We all know OCZ as the company that never stops. It seems like everyday I am receiving some kind of press release from them. Just recently therewas a P.R. notice to introduce a new line of ram kits under the Fata1tybranding. Yet another line to add to their vast array of memory. That isgood news for some as you can continue that black and red theme you havegoing on. Our test subject today is from a more familiar line know by OCZfans, which is the Reaper series. The Reapers are known by its trademarkblack heat spreaders and copper heat pipes. Today we will take the ReaperPC3 12800 for a ride on our test bench and see what kind of potential theyhave. NZXT Tempest Mid Tower @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) We don't have the Khaos on the review table for you today but we dohave another good looking case from NZXT, the Tempest. NZXT has this caselabeled as the Airflow King. At first sight you can see this case may beable to live up to that slogan and if you can't see the reason for thisslogan then let me spell it out for you. This case can hold up to six 120mmcooling fans and the fans are placed in areas where they would blow over themotherboard, video card and hard drives. Lian Li Tyr PC-X2000 @ bit-tech.net [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) The Lian Li Tyr PC-X2000 is certainly an impressive piece ofhardware,combining a gorgeous and unique design, an innovative layout, simplysuperlative noise levels and impressive cooling performance. However,there are a few minor blemishes on the face of this otherwise fantasticcase, and sadly most of them are directed towards the case’s frontfascia panel.The problems causing the front aluminium panel to bow in the middlereally should have been caught before the case went into fullproduction, and it’s certainly disappointing to see such a premium casesuffering from case panels not fitting together properly. The fact thatthe fascia is so easily removed is also a concern, as is the placementof the fan controller, inexplicably placed behind both the front fasciaandthe dust filter. While we appreciate that the fans might be a Antec Three Hundred Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jul-23-08] (0 Comments) Antec Three Hundred is a mini-tower case for users demanding a small yet powerful case, featuring three 5 Ľ” bays, six internal 3 ˝” bays and two fans with individual speed control. Technic3D/Xigmatek NRP-MC751 750W @ technic3d.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek NRP-MC751 750W arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high effic iency, 750W, 140mm Fan with blue LED, 6 Serial ATA connectors and 2x P CI-e 6-Pin. Seventeam Thundering 1000W Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [Jul-22-08] (0 Comments) I continue my journey through the offerings of SeventeamElectronics once more this week with my look at one of the first 1000W unitson the market, the ST-1000E-AD. Silverstone fans will recognize this unitbetter as the basis of the original OP1000. Let's see how kind Father Timehas been to this platform. Vigor iSurf II Hard Drive Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Jul-21-08] (0 Comments) The iSurf II from Vigor has an MSRP of $29.99 and a quick search on our shopping link shows that it can be found for less. For that price you get a solid attractive piece of hardware. Despite having two 40mm fans, it is rather quiet. Even with the test system sitting on top of the bench and the iSurf II at the same level as my head it was not noticeable over the rest of the system... Technic3D/Noctua NH-U12P Cooler @ technic3d.com [Jul-21-08] (0 Comments) The Noctua NH-U12P CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The CPU Coo ler with one or two 120mm Fan and four Heatpipes. The newest revision has been reworked for enhanced main board compatibility and now comes with Noctua's NT-H1 pro-grade thermal compound and NF-P12 Fan. See you in the following Review the NH-U12P compared with 10 other Heatsink's . LapLogic W800 Aerogel Extreme @ aphnetworks.com [Jul-18-08] (0 Comments) I'm not going to lie -- I'm a huge fan of plugging external peripherals into my laptop. Mock me all you want; but because nowadays laptops are so friendly with USB-mice (not so much PS/2 products), external speakers, mics, and even webcams, I feel obligated to take advantage. If you question my allegiance to external mice, I will proudly say that I have yet to use the touchpad at home, with the exception of the first time I set eyes on my Dell Inspiron 6400 to make sure it actually worked. In fact, there's a thin layer of dust collecting upon the keyboard and touchpad because of my external keyboard and mouse -- both of which I find to be more ergonomically-friendly. Why is it, then, that when we're on-the-go, our laptop coolers don't offer the support for our mice? I think it's a travesty that we are forced to use the touchpad and not a mouse -- especially if we brought one along for the purpose of using it. No worries though -- LapLogic took into consideration the mouse and conceived the W800 Aerogel Extreme. Using similar technology to the LapLogic G800 Aerogel Extreme, it's got an extra portion just for the mouse to rest on. Is it a step forward, or does it force you to take two steps back? Technic3D/SilverStone Decathlon STT-DA700 700W @ technic3d.com [Jul-17-08] (0 Comments) The SilverStone Decathlon STT-DA700 700W arrived Technic3D. Se e you in the following Review from Technic3D a PSU with one 12V (58A) rail, 120mm Fan, 6 Serial ATA and 5 PEG connectors. ASUS EN9600GT SILENT Graphics Card @ tweaktown.com [Jul-16-08] (0 Comments) You’d think we would have looked at all 9600GT cards on the market, but I can guarantee there are more out there. The particular one we’re looking at today comes from ASUS and carries with it a silent cooler. We’ve seen GIGABYTE offer the 9600GT in silent form, sporting both 512MB and 1GB of GDDR3. MSI also has a card where the fan only spins when the card needs it. During our testing, however, the fan never actually spun.Silent cards are becoming quite the rage and everyone wants good performance without any noise. In the past, the design used to be reserved for low-end cards, but these days we seem to be able to get a good performing card that outputs not a single dB. In the highly competitive market that is the 9600GT, we will today see if ASUS are able to do anything that helps them stand out from the pack and if it’s a card worth looking at. Xthermal BTF120PRO LED - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jul-14-08] (0 Comments) Whenbuying a fan, there are two main factors which we look for:Performanceand Silence. Normally though, a quiet fan isn’t so good in theperformance department due to a lower RPM and thus less airflow.However, today we have a fan which strives to offer both these factors.Introducing the Xthermal BTF120PRO LED. Technic3D/Enermax Pro 82+ 385W PSU @ technic3d.com [Jul-11-08] (0 Comments) The Enermax Pro82+ 385W arrived Technic3D. See you in the foll owing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a high efficiency, 12cm Fan, Two 12V rails, 4 Serial ATA connectors, 1x PCI-e 6-Pin and a smal l Price. OCZ Vendetta 2 Heatpipe Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-09-08] (0 Comments) Now we have at our doorstep the Vendetta Dos ok the Vendetta 2. Thisnew and improved Vendetta is bigger and sports a larger cooling fan.Naturally, we would think that a larger version of a similar cooler woulddeem better temps and higher overclocks. Well we are here today to see ifthe theory correct. Aeneon XTune DDR2-1142 2GB Memory Kit @ tweaktown.com [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) XTune is Aeneon's brand of enthusiast level memory modules. While our first encounter with the XTune was less than fantastic, we don’t reject companies from coming back with new products to try out. Today we have the newest addition, being a DDR2 package. That’s right; DDR2 still lives and it’s definitely not going anywhere soon.The kit sent to us is the DDR2-1142MHz overclocked pack with 2x1GB modules for a total of 2GB in Dual Channel; ideal for both Intel and AMD. These modules aren’t rated for Phenom’s 1066MHz memory controller, but that shouldn’t stop it from working with a bit of a boost in memory voltage. To:MIME-Version:X-Authenticated-Sender:X-BeenThere:X-Mailman-Version:Precedence:Reply-To:List-Id:List-Unsubscribe:List-Archive:List-Post:List-Help:List-Subscribe:Content-Type:Content-Transfer-Encoding:Sender:Errors-To:X-Mailer:X-Face; @ overclockersonline.net [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) As a minimalist, I normally prefer function over form. However, theCoolJag Programmable Mini LED Flash fan incorporates both. A great 120mmfan, it comes with the added benefit of showing off your individualitywith your choice of four different messages of up to 16 characters. Fullyclear, the fan allows the text to be emphasized thanks to the blue and redLEDs. Thermaltake Armor+ MX PC Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-07-08] (0 Comments) Today we got a chance to look at the Thermaltake Armor+ MX VH8000BWSMid Tower Case. The VH8000 series cases, eight total, come in both silverand black and some also include power supplies and pre-installed watercooling systems. Some handy features of this case include a compact designwith an optimal cooling system for both liquid and air systems. The included23cm fan keeps parts cool while being extremely quiet, despite its hugesize. Read on further to learn more about this case. PowerColor AMD TV Wonder 600 PCIe x1 @ techpowerup.com [Jul-03-08] (0 Comments) The new TV Wonder 600 PCIe TV tuner card is the PCI-Express x1 entry level model of the new series. This is also the first time that the TV Wonder series is available in Europe with the PAL standard. It can be used for analog or DVB-T signals and manages MPEG encoding by software. The card is built on a fancy purple PCB, comes with an extremely stylish IR receiver along with a remote and PowerCinema 5. Technic3D/Tagan PipeRock TG1100-BZ 1100W @ technic3d.com [Jul-02-08] (0 Comments) The Tagan PipeRock TG1100-BZ 1100W arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with modular cable management with colorful housing to avoid wrong connection, 135mm LED Fan, Six 12V rails, 12 Serial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e 6+2 Pin and 4x PCI-e 6-Pin. SilenX iXtrema IXC-12HA2 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-01-08] (0 Comments) The SilenX brand is most commonly known for their cool and quietcase fans. SilenX, however, does manufacture heatsinks, power supplies, andother goodies. Today SilenX gave us the opportunity to review the SilenXiXtrema IXC-120HA2 Pro Series Heatsink. This vertical fin stack designoffers plenty one of SilenX's very own case fans, we actually got two totest out. The features include a fan speed controller, exposed copperheatpipes on the base, and an entirely screw-less design making for an easyand tool-less installation. GlacialTech Igloo 5710 CPU Coolers @ modders-inc.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) The 5710 Series cooler is the largest cooler that Glacialtechcurrently offers and the only difference in the two samples we have todayare the fans. One utilizes a silent fan rated at 1600 RPM while the otherutilizes a PWM fan rated at 800 - 2600 RPM. SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Jun-27-08] (0 Comments) A few weeks ago we looked at the Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer, our first crack at a heatpipe to Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) direct contact CPU heatsink. In retrospect, nothing other than the base was very remarkable; at least nothing that would lead us to believe anything other than the contact point would cause such great performance. The fan used from Sunbeamtech was a silent type that does not push a large amount of air, and this only confirmed that direct heatpipe to CPU technology is more than just a marketing tool.Today we will be looking at another direct contact cooler, this time from SilenX. The SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2 is very similar to the SBT CCF; they even share the same mounting hardware. While the two are similar, they are not identical. The SilenX version is more robust, giving us the option of using two 120mm fans (one on each side of the fins). This is a feature that SBT did not include with their offering. Technic3D/Enermax Modu82+ 525W @ technic3d.com [Jun-25-08] (0 Comments) The Enermax MODU82+ 525W arrived Technic3D. See you in the fol lowing Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a high efficiency, 12c m Fan, Three 12V rails, Modular Design, 6 Serial ATA connectors and 2x PCI-e 6-(+2)Pin. Vizo miniNinja Laptop Cooler @ gideontech.com [Jun-24-08] (0 Comments) Over a year ago I looked at the Ninja Laptop Cooler from Vizo which scored decent marks. Today I received the miniNinja from Vizo. This is pretty much a smaller version of the Ninja, hence the name. It's still an aluminum laptop cooler with two quiet fans that help move the heat away from your laptop. It also angles the laptop a bit to help ease the strain on your wrist. So how does it hold up to it's older brother? C&C Kane's Wrath Producer Interview @ bit-tech.net [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) BT:Did you get anyfeedback from the fans on any specific things they wanted to seeimproved from Command and Conquer 3?JV:Yeah, absolutely. What we did find immediately was thatpeople didn’t think that the D-Pad was fast or comfortable enough toreally utilise in an RTS game. That was kind of the first thing wewanted to do – to try and find a new and natural evolution to theradial interface. And that’s kind of what the new interface does. Also, just in terms of the gameplay, a lot of people found TiberiumWarswas pretty tough and was very difficult on Xbox 360. With the newinterface though and with the game in general we think we’ve made iteasier by tuning the campaign a bit more and made it a better balanceof difficulty. Plus, a lot of the new units and the whole idea of just going back intime and looking at Kane and so on – all that was based on playerresponses. Roogoo (PC) @ bit-tech.net [Jun-23-08] (0 Comments) Just because the game is tough though, isn’t to say that RooGooisn’t fun. It is fun to play, kind of. Fun in the same kind of way as Peggleor Drug Warsor any other casual game. You don’t actually massively enjoy playingthe game, you just crave the sense of accomplishment and completion andyou get sucked into this trap early on thanks to the pick-up-and-playdesign. There are only two real things that prevent RooGoo frombeing a good game and neither of these are really going to be a hugeproblem to any initiated puzzle fans. The first is that there reallyisn’t much to be had beyond the single game mode and once you’ve playedone level you’ve played them all. The other problem is the way the game presents itself. We’ve jokedabout the bright colours, MeeMoos, King Goos, and Roos of RooGoo, but the reality is that they really are a problem. RooGoois too fast and frantic to be a kids game, so we have to judge it asmore than that and while the game would still have problems if it waspresented as a less immature puzzler, it would be a bit better off. Silenx Ixtrema ICX-HA2 CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jun-22-08] (0 Comments) We've seen a number of fan manufacturers branch out into the CPUcooler business, with mixed success. CPU coolers are a lot different thanfans, but if a company pays attention to quality, they typically do well.Acousticpc.com, well-known retailers of silent performance computercomponents, sent us a new cooler from Silenx, the Silenx Ixtrema ICX-HA2 CPUCooler. We've had a chance to review Silenx fans in the past and weregenerally impressed by their silent operations and good airflow. Will thisCPU cooler leave the same impression? That is what we're here to find out. Xigmatek Achilles CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Jun-21-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Achilles S1284 heatsink has many improvements over the famous HDT-S1283 cooler. There are now four U-shaped heatpipes, and they are nickel-plated. The fan design is new and unique as well, with its white LEDs that light up the fan's smoke frame and orange blades. Tagan A+ Black Pearl Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-21-08] (0 Comments) A+ Black Pearl is an all-aluminum full tower case from Tagan featuring seven 5 Ľ” bays and eight internal 3 ˝” bays, plus a panel to control the speed of up to four fans and also to monitor temperature. OCZ EliteXStream 800W Power Supply report @ aphnetworks.com [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) Well guys, here we go again -- another close-look-at-power-supply-hardware report. Last week, we took apart the Seasonic M12II 500W power supply. As usual, because we don't have the necessary professional equipment to do the simulated load testing, measuring the quality of power delivery (Voltage, ripple, etc) in accordance to load, and that we don't want to use some fake hardware test reports, we are up for another power supply hardware examination report. This time, we are going to crack open the relatively recently released OCZ EliteXStream 800W power supply (A 1000W model is also available for those who really need it). This power supply has gained excellent reputation in regards to performance and efficiency from other excellent online publications that tested it with professional load testing equipment. When OCZ asked me a couple months back to see if I wanted to take a look at the EliteXStream, I was nothing but excited to see what OCZ has in store lately. The OCZ EliteXStream series power supplies combine a 120mm fan with an open rear exhaust design like the Seasonic M12II for a somewhat good reputation of 'quietness' in this regard, and high power output ratings. So today, let's see how extremely elite is the OCZ 1337-Extreme 800W -- I mean, OCZ EliteXStream 800W. X-Spice Kira 630 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jun-20-08] (0 Comments) But today we are here to discuss X-Spice's new model lineup entitledthe Kira. The Kira is aimed at the gamer and small enclosure user at thesame time. How it is able to do this you may ask. Well, you will have toread more of the article ahead. But, we can already tell you that the unitis cooled by an industry standard 120 cm cooling fan and has fourindependent 12 volt rails. And if that is not enough, how about anadvertised 83 % efficiency rating? Yeah, we figured that would draw yourattention. Antec P182SE Special Edition Mid-Tower Case @ pcper.com [Jun-19-08] (0 Comments) The Antec P182SE Special Edition advanced super mid-tower case willcertainly appeal to a niche audience. If you like the clean lines andunique look that the mirror finished stainless steel front and side panelshave to offer then Antec's P182SE Special Edition may be the one of a kindcase for you! The P182SE is a relatively compact mid-tower chassis and yetstill provides 11 storage bays and is a big improvement over the originalP180. The three bundled 120mm Tri-Cool fans can be adjusted to deliver theright balance of airflow to noise thanks to the integrated speed controls. Sigma Unicorn Mid-Tower Case @ modders-inc.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Overall the Sigma Unicorn Mid Tower ATX case is a decent case forthe budget minded builder who wants a few extras already added, like 2 x120mm fans (1 LED), 2 x 80mm Fans (1 LED), a side panel window and easyopening side panels. The case is well built and has a nice futuristic /brutish look to it. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W PSU @ jonnyguru.com [Jun-17-08] (0 Comments) Today's review is brought to you by the letters W, T, Q, and thenumber 3. W is for Wolf, that's me; T is for Thermaltake, who sent me thereview sample for today; and Q is for QFan, a specially designed fan thatThermaltake believes will decrease fan noise in your standard power supplywhile maintaining efficient cooling. While the Q in QFan could stand formany things, like Quality or Quigley:Down Under, the Q actually stands forQuiet. We'll have to see if this fabled QFan of yore can be heard over theyowling, screaming exhaust fan in the old load tester, won't we? NVIDIA GT200 tackles gaming, Folding, Transcoding @ pcper.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) NVIDIA’s GT200 is a big, powerful processor that is capable ofhanding out the best gaming performances we have seen, ever. The GeForceGTX 280 1GB card is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to pushing thetop gaming titles to super HD resolutions like 2560x1600 and is able tobest both NVIDIA’s and AMD’s previous flagship dual-GPU cards. Just beprepared to pay top dollar for those bragging rights and performancegains. The GeForce GTX 260 896MB is a much more price conscious card thatis still a fantastic performer when compared to its direct competition inthe market. Thermaltake DuOrb CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Jun-16-08] (0 Comments) Over the past year I have looked at several high performance heatsinks from various manufacturers. The mould has stayed the same for nearly all of the coolers; build it tall and put large 120mm fans that push the air to the top or rear of the case and hope a case fan removes the air quickly. This is a very efficient way to cool a processor, but it leaves pockets of air around the motherboard. Thermaltake has responded to the complaints of the motherboard manufacturers in a big way; they’ve brought the Orb design back into the big leagues. This time it’s as a twin fan that will not only cool your processor, but your memory, back side of your graphics card and motherboard as well. Technic3D/X-Spice CROON BF 650W @ technic3d.com [Jun-14-08] (0 Comments) The X-Spice CROON BF 650W arrived Technic3D. See you in the fo llowing Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficie ncy, 650W, 135mm Fan with blue LED, 6 Serial ATA connectors and 2x PCI -e 6-Pin. Power Supplies, Cooling and Cases @ pcper.com [Jun-14-08] (0 Comments) This is really an enthusiast chassis that is completely open,allowing for easy component replacement and adjustment. With slide outdrawers on rails that allow you to move the motherboard section and powersupply section out from under the ENORMOUS LED-lit fan, it is afrequent-component-changers dream case. Kingston 2GB 800MHz HyperX FB-DIMM Memory Kit @ legitreviews.com [Jun-13-08] (0 Comments) The Kingston 800MHz HyperX FB-DIMMs are hands down the most innovative cooling design that we have seen Kingston bring to market. The design is flawless and the modules run cooler than any other FB-DIMMs that we have seen. For those that want even better cooling, simply place a fan on the modules like we did and you'll notice another massive temperature reduction. When it comes to building a high-end enthusiast platform using the Intel Skulltrail motherboard having the right memory modules is critical and Kingston should be the top brand on the short shopping list... GIGABYTE GeForce 9600GT TurboForce 1GB @ tweaktown.com [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) Only just the other day we looked at the GIGABYTE 9600GT TurboForce 512MB; today we look at the 1GB version of this card. While we’ve never been a huge fan of 1GB mid-range cards, the GIGABYTE TurboForce version carrying with it a hefty core and memory increase seemed to help the card out a little bit more. It made sense that we include the 512MB version of the card in our testing today. We’ve also included the Sapphire HD 3870 Ultimate which is a passively cooled card as well. Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Jun-12-08] (0 Comments) Noctua changed things up a little this time around by going to a down draft style cooler, but in the process they made several improvements. The biggest, and most noticeable, is the reduction of the overall height. The NH-C12P is 2.63 inches or 67mm shorter than its predecessor, the NH-U12P. At an overall height of 4.5 inches or 114mm (with the fan), it can fit in cases that the NH-U12P could never think of, such as desktop mini tower... Technic3D/AeroCool DoublePower VGA Cooler @ technic3d.com [Jun-11-08] (0 Comments) The AeroCool DoublePower VGA Cooler arrived Technic3D. AeroCoo l DoublePower supports VGA cards from NVIDIA Geforce 8800- / 7900- / 7 800 series and ATI Radeon X1950- / X1900- / X1800 series. The VGA cool er comes with one 92mm white LED Fan. See you in the following Review the Cooler on a Palit/Xpertvision HD3870 compared with Standard GPU Co oling. Sigma Unicorn Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-10-08] (0 Comments) Unicorn from Sigma is a steel mid-tower case featuring four 5 Ľ” bays, two external 3 ˝” bays, five internal 3 ˝” bays, aluminum door, four fans and with a different opening mechanism. Sins of a Solar Empire Interview @ bit-tech.net [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) BT:Piracy is pretty big topic right now and, with games like MassEffect and Sporethreatening increasingly draconian DRM ‘protections’, some gamers areworried about the state of PC gaming. Sins though came with no copyprotection at all if I remember correctly, so what’s your take on allthis? Is there a way to stop the pirates without punishing thecustomers?CF:We’re all stuck in an unfortunate vicious cycle. As piratingincreases, DRM increases, which in turn forces people to pirate.>From what I understand, Mass Effect has since backed down a tadafter listening carefully to their fans. SecuROM seemed a bitridiculous in my opinion. At the same time you can’t blame developersfor retreating to the console if they can’t receive the fruit of theirlabour.Until a real solution presents itself, Stardock and Ironclad willcontinue to reward legit gamers and make the purchasing process aresmooth as possible. The last thing we want to do is treat our customerslike criminals. Thermaltake Max 4 HDD Enclosure @ rbmods.com [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) We need more and more harddrive space these days and our cases mightnot be able to handle all the drives so therefore there are external HDDenclosures on the market. Thermaltake is one of the companies that havereleased several different enclosures on the market and today we are goingto look at their Max 4 HDD enclosure with a blue led fan mounted on theside. How well does it perform, and will the drive stay stable even aftergaming? Akasa AK965BL socket 775 @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jun-09-08] (0 Comments) If you have been reading XtremeComputing for a while, you will know that we have already reviewed an AK965 cooler from Akasa, and found it to be very good performance for the money. So what is different about this AK965? Well the last version of the cooler was intended for the OEM/system builder market, and because of demand for the AK965 Akasa has released a slightly updated version (blue leds and fan) straight to retail. This should mean that it will be available to buy in even more places. [News] Apevia X-Jupiter G-Type Case @ virtual-hideout.net [Jun-08-08] (0 Comments) The Apevia X-Jupiter is an excellent entry into the full-towermarket. Besides being very attractive and stylish, the X-Jupiter delivers amultitude of features such as four included 120mm fans (with an option for afifth) a built in LCD temperature monitor and two fan controllers. The fans,while not ultra quite, serve the case well and the fan controllers will helpkeep down the noise; as an added bonus, the LED fans also glow brighter whenspinning faster! Another big bonus is the aluminum construction, which doesa great job of keeping the weight down, and as a result, keeping your backfrom getting angry at you. NZXT Tempest Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-04-08] (0 Comments) Tempest is a steel mid-tower case from NZXT targeted to enthusiasts, featuring nine 5 Ľ” bays, eight internal 3 ˝” bays and six fans – being called “The Airflow King” by the manufacturer. Technic3D/FSP Epsilon 600W @ technic3d.com [Jun-04-08] (0 Comments) The FSP Epsilon 600W (80+ Series) arrived Technic3D. See you i n the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficiency. Make the 600W, 120mm Fan, 6 Serial ATA connectors, 1x PCI -e 6+2-Pin and one 6-Pin PCI-e this PSU better than the Epsilon 700W P SU or Everest 800W? GFXChilla by Coolink @ modders-inc.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) The GFXChilla is a new cooling solution for your graphics cardthat uses two fans and a series of heat pipes. It easily dropped thetemperatures of the video card and installing the card is a simple process. GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jun-03-08] (0 Comments) We took a quick look on Igloo 5750 Silent from GlacialTech, a CPU cooler featuring four heat-pipes and two 92-mm fans for both AMD and Intel CPUs. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jun-01-08] (0 Comments) A while back, we had a chance to check out the latest CPU cooler fromNoctua, a well-known maker of high quality cooling products. Noctua didn'tstop with just one CPU cooler; rather, they made a slightly larger versionthat accommodates 120mm fans. Will the Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler prove thatbigger is better? Let's find out. Technic3D/EKL =?UTF-8?B?R3Jvw58tQ2xvY2snbmVy? @ technic3d.com [May-30-08] (0 Comments) The EKL Gro=C3=9F-Clock'ner CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Th e CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan, H.D.T. technology, 4 Copper heat pip es and easy installation. See you in the following Review the EKL comp ared with Standard Boxed Cooling, Xigmatek, OCZ and more. Raidmax Iceberg Elite Series Gaming Case @ techpowerup.com [May-30-08] (0 Comments) The Raidmax Iceberg is a sturdy case designed to suit the gamer who is also conscious of style. Coming stock with three 120 mm blue LED fans and a side panel window in addition to being quite sturdily constructed of aluminum, this case is made to please gamers. X-Spice Kira CS 530W Power Supply @ techpowerup.com [May-29-08] (0 Comments) Even though X-Spice is not a very well known brand name, they achieved what nobody else could do:building an extremely quiet power supply that is stable and affordable. We are testing the 530W model today and found that it could easily handle a Quad CrossFireX rig, and produced less fan noise under load than most other power supplies in idle. Vizo Propeller II @ modders-inc.com [May-28-08] (0 Comments) Computers of today are used in so many different ways thatgenerate tons of heat. So, for those of us who know more about computersthan just where the power button is, realize that we must do something toalleviate this problem if possible. One such way to do this is by utilizingsystem or case fans. Coolermaster Z600 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-28-08] (0 Comments) Withmore and more emphasis being put on the cooling proficiency andthe quietness of cooling products, many people are beginning to looktry different ways to keeping their PC chilled at a reasonable noiselevel. One of the most popular methods is to purchase a passive cooler,I.E. one without a fan. But can these fanless coolers really live up totheir fan-covered ancestors?That’s the question that begs to be answered, so Coolermaster have sentme the Z600 to check out. Technic3D/FSP Everest 800W @ technic3d.com [May-27-08] (0 Comments) The FSP Everest 800W arrived Technic3D. See you in the followi ng Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficiency. Make the 800W, 120mm Fan, 3 Serial ATA connectors, 1x PCI-e 6+2-Pin an d one 6-Pin PCI-e this PSU better than the Epsilon 700W PSU? Mass Effect (PC) @ bit-tech.net [May-27-08] (0 Comments) Mass Effect was already an awesome game, that much we knew. Itwas so good in fact that it managed to sneak its way in to our Top 10Games of 2007. The question is though, has it got any better since then?The answer to that isn’t easy, but mainly that’s because there aren’tthat many differences between the two versions. There are some positiveenhancements to consider like the new hotkey features and a smootherinterface, but on the other hand these are balanced out by an awfulminigame and the fact that all these changes feel insubstantial andtacked on – where are the new quests and weapons?The deciding factor then, due to a lack of extra content, should bewhether or not the game can win through on the merit of being on the PC– does the actual input of mouse and keyboard make the game better onPC? The answer is yes, but not enough for it to make a big difference.Mass Effect is an utterly absorbing, massive and enthralling game. Assoon as this review is done we’re going to go play it some more and ifyou’re a PC RPG fan who hasn’t got the Xbox 360 version then this isdefinitely a game you’ll want to pick up, but the PC version doesn’t doenough to push ahead of the Xbox 360 original and in the end the twowill have to settle for being equals. Asus Xonar DX PCI-Express sound card @ bit-tech.net [May-26-08] (0 Comments) The Asus Xonar DX isn't the perfect product a spec sheet wouldlead youto think – its software interface might be appalling and we've had towait for a proper EAX driver to fix popular games like BioShockand Half-Life 2:Episode Two,but at least it installed without issue on various systems includingboards based on Intel’s P965, X48 and P45 chipsets, along with NvidianForce 780i SLI and AMD 690G-based motherboards – we even used an x8slot instead of just an x1 and as expected, it made no difference. Theonly problem we've heard is that there are issues with it and the 790iUltra SLI because of the PCI to PCI-Express bridge chip. The Xonar DX has a fantastic core feature set – its sound quality islargely indistinguishable compared to the Xonar D2X and it'ssignificantly better than on-board audio. What’s more, the price tofeature ratio is what makes it very accessible to buy.In games (where EAX is progressively becoming less of a key feature),the quality was absolutely excellent, and now finally there are gameslike BioShockthat benefit from the working GS3D 2.0 engine, but that's not to saythat future EAX games will though. However, Asus did come througheventually and in only a few weeks, which is more than can be said forCreative's driver tradition.While we may harp on about Creative's record of support and bug fixing,what would happen if someone reverse engineered Asus’s software toenable DTS effects on the DX? Or opened up the ALT for other use? Asushas also yet to prove itself on how it supports its soundcard productsin the long term – it’s unclear whether in three years time, the D2X,D2 and DX will have [News] ZEROtherm Zen FZ120 CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [May-26-08] (0 Comments) As for the test results, the ZEROtherm Zen FZ120 CPU Cooler ranksright up there with a lot of the newer-released coolers currently out on themarket however this cooler will only retail for $39.99. So even if you're ona budget, this cooler will still enable you to get a top tier cooler for arespectably low price. With ease of installation and a quiet operating fan,along with the same high quality and now lower cost, the Zen FZ120 will makean excellent addition to your hardware. NZXT Tempest Case @ thinkcomputers.org [May-26-08] (0 Comments) NZXT has recently been coming out with some great mid tower cases.ThinkComputers got the chance to take a look at the new NZXT Tempest case.This case is probably different than most other cases you've seen because ithas a bottom, rather than top, mounted PSU. It also includes plenty offeatures for overclockers, water coolers, and storage fanatics, while stilldisplaying a sleek design. NZXT calls this the Technic3D/Xigmatek HDT-D1284 @ technic3d.com [May-26-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek HDT-D1284 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The Top -Flow CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan, H.D.T. technology and easy instal lation. See you in the following Review the D1284 compared with Standa rd Boxed Cooling, Xigmatek Tower Cooler and more. APACK ZEROtherm ZEN FZ 120 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [May-24-08] (0 Comments) Today we will be looking at the APACK ZEROtherm ZEN FZ 120; the latest CPU heatsink and fan combination from the company. Once again, from the outside the cooler looks like many others’ designs that have taken over the enthusiast market for the last few years. Let’s have a look and see if the ZEN FZ 120 can surprise us like the Hurricane HC92 Cu8800 VGA cooler did in our MEGA 9-Way VGA Roundup back in April. The ZEROtherm ZEN FZ 120 features a copper base and heatpipe that extends to aluminum heat dissipation fins that stand just a tad over 6 inches tall. The specifications claim that the cooler is capable of cooling up to 150 watts, making the FZ 120 an enthusiast class cooler built for overclocking or cooling Intel and AMD’s flagship processors. Chaintech GeForce 9600GT OC 512MB @ tweaktown.com [May-21-08] (0 Comments) Chaintech have really expanded from the line of graphics cards, now doing products like memory and flash products as well. What they no longer do however are motherboards. It wasn’t all that long ago we were impressed with fancy cooling solutions and the general performance of Chaintech products. We’ll have to see if the 9600GT is able to do anything for us. >From first glance the Chaintech offering didn’t do a lot for us, but upon throwing it in our system we where pleasantly surprised with what happened. Before we get into that though, let’s find out what they’ve done with the package and have a closer look at the actual card. Asus Triton 79 Amazing - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-21-08] (0 Comments) Asthe computing industry has evolved over the years, people have begunto care more and more about what their PC looks like, as well as how itperforms. But it’s not like what it was like several years ago, wherethe ‘cool’ happened to be flashing neon tubes and fans that glowvarious colours. The tacky disco era has moved on now, it’s now the ageof pure quality that performs well, is silent and ultimately, looksgood. One of the products on the current market that boasts to do allthis is the Asus Triton 79 Amazing. Now let’s see how Rosewill RD600N-2SB-SL-BK Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [May-21-08] (0 Comments) Rosewill is a popular brand in the US and their power supplies are manufactured by Solytech. We reviewed one of their 600 W models featuring active PFC and 120-mm fan. Is this a good product? Can it really deliver its labeled power? Inno3D GeForce 9600 GT iChiLL Hurricane @ nvnews.net [May-21-08] (0 Comments) Today we are taking a look at Inno3D's GeForce 9600 GT Hurricane, which is based on their iChiLL Series of graphics cards. This particular model features a custom cooling solution from ZEROtherm. What makes this product unique is that the cooling system, which consists of a heatsink, fan, and shroud, is separate from the graphics card and must be installed by the owner. The cooling system supports three types of configurations - overclocking, standard, and silent. Targus Fandango Tote Women's Laptop Bag @ thinkcomputers.org [May-20-08] (0 Comments) When it comes to laptop bags women do not have that much varietywhen it comes to laptop bags. Women usually carry more things than men so itwould be nice if there was a laptop bag that could accommodate them. WellTargus has the answer with the Fandango Tote, which is a laptop bag that notonly accommodates everything that a woman would carry, but looks good too.Let's take a look... Technic3D/OCZ Vendetta2 @ technic3d.com [May-16-08] (0 Comments) The OCZ Vendetta2 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The CPU Cool er with 120mm PWM Fan, H.D.T. technology, 3 Copper heat pipes and eas y installation. See you in the following Review the Vendetta2 compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more. ThermoLab Nano Silencer CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [May-15-08] (0 Comments) recently looked at the ThermoLab Micro and found it to be an energy efficient processor-only cooler that was designed for small enclosures. Today we are going to look at the ThermoLab Nano, an even smaller cooler made for the same type of application; extremely small enclosures and cases. Before you start to yawn I will go ahead and say upfront that the Nano performed better than the Micro, even though it is a smaller cooler and fan. What is really attention getting is the size of the cooler and the custom applications that modders will be able to use with it. Technic3D/Xigmatek HDT-SD964 @ technic3d.com [May-14-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek HDT-SD964 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The CPU Cooler with 92mm PWM Fan, H.D.T. technology and easy installation. Se e you in the following Review the SD964 with one and two fan compared with Standard Boxed Cooling and more. Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 1TB External Hard Drive @ thinkcomputers.org [May-13-08] (0 Comments) Terabyte hard drives are becoming more popular with the need formore hard drive space. If you're looking to expand your hard drive capacityI think the Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus 1TB External Hard Drive would be greatfor you. This drive includes USB and Dual FireWire interfaces with availablecapacities of 250GB, 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB. The drive is jam packed withplenty of software to suffice the most avid external storage fanatics, whilebeing easy to use for the everyday individual. Read on further to see whatall this OneTouch drive has to offer. Sunbeamtech Quarterback Case @ modders-inc.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Sunbeamtechs budget case, the Quarterback, is a standard ATX casewith some rather interesting features. It has got a unique cooling optioncalled the Core Fan Design that helps keep temperatures down. The case isalso tool less and has plenty of room inside for today's larger video cards. Noctua NH-U9B CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [May-12-08] (0 Comments) Noctua, makers of some of the best case fans on the market, hasbranched out into the CPU cooler market, which is a move that makes sensesince they already dominate the high-end fan market. They sent us one oftheir new CPU coolers, the Noctua NH-U9B, to test out. Will this be anatural expansion of their product line or will we find growing pains? Readon to find out. Bad Company interview with Jamie Keen @ bit-tech.net [May-11-08] (0 Comments) BT:You’resick of talking about premium content, I bet. But it was kind of agutsy thing to do, you have to admit.JK:<sigh> Yeah. BT:So, I guess – why did you try to do it? And why with thisgame especially?JK:Yeah, so…I think the thing that people need to remember isthat development costs on games these days are huge. So we always needto look at new revenue streams. It’s not just a question of trying torip people off and it’s not just us trying to put one over on people –we genuinely need to y’know…well, at the end of the day it’s abusiness, right? We have to recoup costs and we have to make money. So, there are those kinds of things happening. You’ll probably see moreof that in the years to come. We’ve got nothing more planned at themoment, we’ve listened to the customers and the community is reallyimportant to us. We really want to maintain that two-way dialogue withour fans. So, we’re not going to be doing anything – I mean, we’re givingConquest away as free downloadable content later on. The weapons arenow going to be free – we just hope that the fans see that we’relistening to them. Lian Li Armorsuit PC-P80R Spider Edition @ techpowerup.com [May-11-08] (0 Comments) In our CES 2008 coverage of Lian-Li you saw the awesome Lian Li PC-P80 R AMD Spider Edition case. These cases are just now coming through manufacturing, and TPU is one of the first sites in the world to bring you a detailed look at this new case. It features nearly everything an enthusiast could want, but is it truly the dream of an ADM/ATI fan? Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB graphics card @ bit-tech.net [May-09-08] (0 Comments) I have to say that I’m impressed with the Asus EAH3870 X2graphics card– it’s quite a step away from the reference design and innovation likethis should be encouraged. The inclusion of four DVI ports will be awelcome addition for anyone looking to run more than a couple ofmonitors on their workstation and what makes it even better is the factthat, unlike Nvidia’s SLI, ATI CrossFireX technology scales acrossmultiple displays.There is no need to disable CrossFireX in order to enable multi-displaymode – and believe me when I say that is a big thing for anyone like mewho is a gamer but also runs multiple displays. It’s for that reasonalone that I have never used a GeForce 9800 GX2 or GeForce 7950 GX2 inany system that isn’t used for testing purposes – it defeats the objectof having a single graphics card for me because it has all thecompromises of SLI.It’s not all rosy though because there are some things that aren’t aslikeable about the Asus EAH3870 X2 1GB. The biggest one is of courseperformance. In short, the Radeon HD 3870 X2 is not as competitive asit needs to be and, if you took some games in isolation, you could makethe card look like exceedingly poor value for money compared to theGeForce 8800 GTS 512 and GeForce 9800 GTX, which are both retailing forunder £200. The 3870 X2, on the other hand, sits at about £240 (inc.VAT) at best, and heads up towards the £280 mark at worst.Another peeve of mine is with the fansink. Now, I accept that it’s acompromise that had to be made in order to accommodate the fourdual-link DVI ports on the PCI bracket, but that doesn’t mean it’s agood thing. While the two fans don’t really increase the amount ofnoise pollution by a significant amount, it does mean there are now twopoints of failure on the card – you could say you’re twice as likely toneed to change the card’s heatsink later down the line when one of thefans inevitably fails. There’s also the fact that heat created by theGPUs is no longer exhausted out of the back of the card, which meansthat you end up heating up the inside of your chassis – I doubt that’sgoing to be a major concern for most though.On the whole though, I think that the Asus EAH3870 X2 is a good choicecompared to what’s on offer from other partners on both red and greenfronts. It will undoubtedly please the multi-monitor crowd and that’swhere I see this card making the most headway. A word of warningthough:Asus has two EAH3870 X2 cards—one with four DVI ports (thisone), and one that follows the reference design pretty closely—so ifyou’re unsure, please do check with the retailer before purchasing. Coolermaster LED Silent Fan - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [May-09-08] (0 Comments) There’sbeen a lot of hype in the computer industry about ‘silent fans’ andfortunately, at last, some are actually starting to earn this title.Today I'll be taking a look at the Cooler Master LED Silent Fan -another fan bearing the title of Iron Man (Xbox 360) @ bit-tech.net [May-09-08] (0 Comments) There’s nothing wrong with bad graphics in a game. There havebeen plenty of games in the past that have proved you don’t needbillions of polygons to make a best-seller – look at Pac-man or Tetrisfor crying out loud. Likewise, glitches and bugs didn’t completelyspoil games like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and might not have proved to be the endof Iron Man.Hell, you don’t even need to have a great new mechanic or fantastic newidea to make a great game. Beat ‘em ups have been spinning the sametricks ever since International Karate +.There is something wrong with a game that combines all of these with atotal lack of shame. This isn’t a game that is even remotely good, thisis a game that someone hoped would make a lot of money and it’s aperfect example of why movies and games just don’t mix for the mostpart – Iron Man:The Game is little more than a bucket of brokenpromises and rust. ASUS P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP @ techgage.com [May-08-08] (0 Comments) X48 is new, butthere are many boards already begging for your dollars.We are taking a look at the most robust of them all, the P5E3 Premium,which includes built-in WiFi, a great board design and fantasticoverclocking abilities. It would almost be a perfect board if itweren't for the $375 price tag. Technic3D/Xigmatek S1283 Red Scorpion @ technic3d.com [May-07-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek S1283 Red Scorpion (Achilles) CPU Heatsink arrive d Technic3D. The CPU Cooler with new silent LED PWM Fan, H.D.T. techno logy and easy installation. See you in the following Review the Red Sc orpion on a Intel Dual-Core XE6800 CPU compared with Standard Boxed Co oling and more. Corsair VX550W PSU @ bit-tech.net [May-06-08] (0 Comments) Continually, we find ourselves looking at great Corsair PSUs –the HX,the TX and now the VX have all performed fantastically. The VX550W doesexactly what it says on the tin and even though our model dropped afraction below 80 percent load under significant 3.3V and 5V stress,it's very unlikely they'll ever hit these sorts of values in a real PC.Where it matters the Corsair VX550W works exceptionally well, hittingupwards of 85 percent efficiency throughout the rest of the tests.We'dbe torn between the significant benefits of buying modular, versus theextra cost and slightly lower power. I used the VX550W in my own hometheatre PC for a few months prior to this review and it was nothing butfantastic. In this instance, cable management didn't matter since therewas a large enough case that was designed just to be super-low noise:in that respect it worked perfectly. I even had to install an extracathode it to tell if the system was on or off, simply because it was thatquiet I couldn't hear it unless my head was all of two inches away.Ihad to swap it out for the Thermaltake Toughpower Q-Fan 650W wereviewed before the Corsair and while that quotes just 17dB you'd bevery hard pushed to tell them apart. I'd still prefer to use theCorsair VX550W simply because the cables are better designed (4+4-pinEPS 12V instead of an 8-pin with a 4-pin tail), even though it's notmodular.For any Intel P35/P45 or AMD 770X, 780G based PC with mainstreamcomponents the VX550W should absolutely suffice, but it's not theanswer for everyone – there are a lot more ifs and buts than when welooked at the TX750W. If you do decide to buy a VX550W though, youwon't be disappointed. Zalman ZM850-HP 850W Modular Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [May-06-08] (0 Comments) A little while ago, ThinkComputers reviewed the Zalman ZM500-HP 500Wpower supply unit. This time around, Zalman, maker of fine cooling productsand power supplies, submitted for review a more powerful, but louder versionof its line of power supply units, the ZM850-HP 850W. This 80PLUS-certifiedunit has lots of connectivity with its modular design, and two heatpipes andan ultra-quiet fan keep the unit virtually silent. The review is here. GlacialPower GP-PS550BP Power Supply @ jonnyguru.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) We continue our exploration of some of the market's lesser knownpower supplies today with the GP-PS550BP from GlacialTech, a budget unitfeaturing semi-fanless operation, passive PFC, and a promise by the companyof being capable of full power to 45 degrees. ECS GeForce 8800 GT 256MB Video Card - N8800GT-256MX @ legitreviews.com [May-05-08] (0 Comments) The ECS N8800GT 256MB packs in double the memory with an availabl e BIOS update giving you the performance of a true 8800 GT 512MB. The ext ra memory along with a nearly silent heat sink/fan combo and a $169 price tag assures it to be a great success! Matrix Orbital GX Typhoon Display @ bit-tech.net [May-04-08] (0 Comments) I started the project of reviewing the GX Typhoon as one ofthose whothought monochrome LCD technology had well passed its heyday. But whatdid I end up feeling? Hope.There are things that an LCD like the Typhoon could never do. It willnever be a mini movie screen. It will never show Winamp visualisations.It will also never slow my computer down or prevent me from using SLI.It will never take me more than five minutes to design a basic screen,or fifteen for a complex one.What it will do is give me a lot of handy information atmy fingertips, and I can easily add more. It will pull my weatherreport from the web, display my song titles and even my calendarentries. It will display my Speedfan info on my test rig, and monitormy temperatures on my main rig. It will do it colourfully,intelligently and easily. It will allow me to control Windows Mediaplayer and it will give me data on that, too. In short, it will do everything I would ever need an intelligentdisplay to do. Add to this the ability for proper add-ons – a baybus thatcan run more than a few milliamps of current before it fries; aseparate control panel that I could configure independently; awatercooling pump monitor or IR blaster for my TV or a lightbus thatties to my music beats or anything else that comes up that could beuseful. And all this comes with an interface that's open and encouragesusers to develop more great ideas. With the pros and cons on the table, the GX Typhoon is, to me, proofthat small-scale LCD technology isn't dead...far from, it's juststarting to come back into style. The classics always do. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [May-03-08] (0 Comments) The NH-U12P is the newer version of the NH-U12. It has the samebasic features as the NH-U12F, but is paired with the new Noctua NF-P12120mm fan. The Noctua NH-U12P has shown that it preforms better than itsolder brother, the Noctua NH-U12F. Battlefield Heroes Interview:Ben Cousins @ bit-tech.net [May-02-08] (0 Comments) BT:Between the console-based Bad Company and the morecasual, kind of accessible feel of Heroes, some hardcore fans may beworried that the once realistic, PC-only shooter is now...BC:Changed?BT:Yeah, like it’s going to suddenly become this casual,console-only shooter.BC:Well, I’m the executive producer on the franchise. I’m really incharge of the entire Battlefieldfranchise and it’s very clear to me that there are three…well, we haveto make this a three-pronged assault with the series really.First, there are consoles. Consoles are really big, we can’t ignorethem, we have to be on the consoles. Second, there’s this casualexperiment we’re going with Battlefield:Heroesand the third prong is the hardcore PC gaming experience. We’ve madethose in the past and we’ll continue to make them in the future. Wearen’t specifically announcing anything, but we are still going to keepthose hardcore gamers very happy. A lot of people are confused when they see Heroes because theysee it and assume that that is the future of Battlefield on PC,but it isn’t. GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Apr-30-08] (0 Comments) The GlacialTech Igloo 5750 is a different design from the typical heat-pipe coolers on the market today for a number of reasons. Most obvi ous is that it is not a tower cooler. One of its other features worth men tioning is that it is quiet for an active cooler; at 15 dBA you would hav e a hard time hearing this fan inside any case. If you are looking for si lence from your PC this should be on your list of CPU coolers to purchase ... NZXT Tempest Mid-Tower @ techgage.com [Apr-30-08] (0 Comments) Finding a quality mid-tower for under $100 doesn't happento often, butNZXT looks to hit the mark with their Tempest. It offers plenty ofspace (and even support for eATX), four large pre-mounted fans, anintuitive internal design and sharp looks, making it a wise choice forany new build. Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz @ techgage.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) The wait for an affordable 45nm Quad-Core is now over,and the Q9450 promises to become the ultimate choice of the newofferings. It's not much slower than the QX9650, offers 12MB of cacheand as expected, has some fantastic overclocking ability. How does3.44GHz stable sound? Ultra m998 ATX Mid-Tower Enclosure @ tweaktown.com [Apr-29-08] (0 Comments) Anyone who has tinkered with computers for any amount of time will immediately know the name Ultra. With a number of products that cover case fans and lights, designer cases, DVD products, hard drive coolers, media drives, complete memory solutions, memory coolers and power supplies, these folks can provide you with a large selection of upgrade items. Today we will be taking a look at one of their system enclosures, the m998. It is a mid-tower design based around the ATX standard and has some features that may be a little different than what you have seen in the past. Crisis Core:Interviewing Yoshinori Kitase @ bit-tech.net [Apr-28-08] (0 Comments) BT:We’re ten years on now and there’s been multipleFinalFantasy games since VII and yet between Dirge of Cerebus, AdventChildren and Crisis Core, you’ve always returned to Final Fantasy VII.What is it about VII that you think makes it so popular and special?YK:Well, Final Fantasy VII came out a time in a time oftransition when the PlayStation 1 allowed for a whole new realm ofgames with improved audio and graphics. Also, at the time I was a muchyounger man. Ten years younger in fact – though don’t count me out justyet! It was a time when I had all this enthusiasm and as a young creator Iwanted to try and challenge the idea of what an RPG could be. Combinewith that the hardware and these new realms of possibility forcreators. That combination seems to have worked because although it washard to say how successful we were at the time, ten years later thegame is still being talked about and I think we really did set a newstandard.We really have a soft spot in our hearts for Final Fantasy VIIbecause that was when we tried to change things. It was just the righttime for it. Akasa Gemini Notebook Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Apr-28-08] (0 Comments) The Akasa Gemini Ergonomic notebook cooler is an all plastic unit with two 70 mm fans. Two USB ports can be found on the rear of the device, one of which is used to power the fans. Akasa has designed the notebook cooler, so that it adds ergonomic benefit to your working environment in form of a palm rest. Noctua NF-P12 Case Fan @ modders-inc.com [Apr-25-08] (0 Comments) Noctua has come up with another uniquely designed fan, the NF-P12.Although some might mistakenly think these are similar to their NF-S12 fansdue to the colors used. They are completely different in design. Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital-SLR Camera @ techgage.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Targeting newer photographers, the Nikon D60 is pricedright and includes a fantastic feature set. On top of the 10MP sensor,the D60 includes an automatic sensor cleaner, a vibration reduction kitlens, fast 3FPS performance, high ISO modes and a lot more. Enhance Tech T4H CR External RAID Tower @ tweaktown.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Getting your hands on this device should solve your problems when it comes to flexible mobile storage with fail-safe protection. This is E nhance Technology's T4H CR. The unit comprises a very nicely built encl osure with handles for easy mobility, four HDD eSATA bays, a built-in LCD display for setup and configuration, and last but most certainly not lea st, a RAID controller with levels 0, 0+1 and 5. An independent PSU and re ar mounted case fan is also resident. Before we get into the benchmarking side of things, let's perform a clo se physical inspection of the unit itself to get the full gist of what' s on offer. The World Ends With You @ bit-tech.net [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) The World Ends With You is both a fantastically imaginative andhugely derivative game as far as DS RPGs go and the whole thing feelslike a teenage version of Contact what with the intriguing artstyle and obsession with stickers and badges as weapons. There’s two ways to look at The World Ends With You, if you askus. You can look at it in terms of Square Enix and say that, as far astheir history goes, The World Ends With You is a good game, buthardly as remarkable as past titles. Final Fantasy VII this isnot. On the other hand though, if you look at this as far as the DS goes,then this is definitely one of the best RPGs the platform has seen.Yeah, it may not be the next Final Fantasy,but it’s still a great game and the art style that runs through thegame is both striking and adorable. The characters are visuallyarresting and some of the more powerful combos and fusion powers arereally quite cool. The best thing about The World Ends With You though isthat the game manages to be both involving and accessible. There’s anawful lot of information to absorb in the first few hours of play, notleast of which is the combat system, which is hugely fun and franticbut also tough to get to grips with. The game never once feelsoverpowering or dull though and instead pulls players in deeper, thanksto characters that players can relate to and excellent dialogue. The World Ends With You may not quite live up the expectationsof those wanting the next Final Fantasy or KingdomHearts – but those people would probably never be satisfied anyway and,as it is, The World Ends With You is still a fantastic gamethat all DS gamers can easily enjoy. Cooler Master Cosmos S Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Apr-24-08] (0 Comments) Cosmos S is a big full-tower case featuring aluminum body, ten 5 Ľ” bays, a big 200-mm side fan and several other features. Let’s take an in-depth on this new Cooler Master baby. Ways to silence your PC - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-23-08] (0 Comments) Oneof the holy grails of any PC enthusiast is to have a completelysilent rig, or at least, quiet enough so that it doesn't disturb thegame we're playing or the movie we're watching. This article is acollection of helpful information that should help those who don't wanttheir conversation drowned out by rumbling hard disks or whirring fans. Noctua NH-U12P CPU cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Apr-23-08] (0 Comments) Noctua have a justified reputation of silent, yet powerful cooling. Partnering with the Austrian Institute of Heat Transmission and Fan Technology(!) allows some serious science behind their products, and as seen in the performance of their NT-H1 thermal paste we reviewed recently it seems to work. So it is with piqued interest that I will be looking at their 120mm-fan based cooler; the NH-U12P. In Win B2 Stealth Bomber Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) The B2 Stealth Bomber case is really what you might think it is, acase that looks like the B2 Aircraft. The B2 case, like the aircraft issurely an advanced case. This newly released case comes equipped with twoeSATA ports, auto-sensing mechanical front door, shock-free railing system,dual fan VGA turbo cooling system, water-cooling friendly, and with a designinspired by the B2, this case is surely not something your grandma willunderstand. Read on further and see a video of the mechanical front door inaction. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-21-08] (0 Comments) Noctua has gone and improved on an old favorite. The U12P offers someimprovements that were most needed over its predecessor, the NH-U12. Theseimprovements range from better performance to easier mounting. And if thatisn't enough how about a better fan included in the package. If you canrecall, the original cooler was a big hit with enthusiasts all over. Withthese tweaks who knows what the future has for those of us wanting it allfrom the newest CPU. Does the U12P have what it take to beat our reigningking, the Thermalright Ultra-120? Read on to find out. Technic3D/Corsair TX650W PSU @ technic3d.com [Apr-18-08] (0 Comments) The Corsair TX650W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the follo wing Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the Ultra-quiet 120mm double ball-bearing fan, 8 Serial ATA connectors, 2x PCI-e 8-Pin and extra long cables support this PSU better than the 550W PSU? Vizo Propeller II PCI Slot Fan @ aphnetworks.com [Apr-17-08] (0 Comments) Over the last couple of years, the computer market has become fierce and intense in all areas. The tight competition between processor makers AMD and Intel, as well as the graphics card front on the ATI/AMD and NVIDIA side, we have come to expect more powerful processors and video cards to do various tasks -- whether it's to play the latest DX10 games such as Company of Heroes, to something that simply pushes our graphics cards to the limit such as Crysis. Of course, there is a price to pay for this rapid increase in graphics performance. According to Murphy's Law, Coolink SWiF 1202 Cooling Fan @ modders-inc.com [Apr-16-08] (0 Comments) With our comparison between the Coolink and Noctua fans, we can seethat the Coolink does have a slight lead in the cooling area, but comes atthe slightly louder noise level. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers loves ThermalTake's lines of cooling supplies andcases. The company is known for its Enermax Liberty DXX 500W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Apr-14-08] (0 Comments) Liberty DXX 500 W is one of the most popular power supplies from Enermax, featuring a modular cabling system and a 120-mm fan. Is this a good product? Can it really deliver its labeled 500 W? Check it out. [News] Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Apr-12-08] (0 Comments) All its splendor aside, it's a fantastic performer. It's easily thebest, most capable cooler to cross this test bench. While it carries overthe commonly seen tower design, the performance will easily be the decidingfactor for the user who literally wants nothing but the coolest CPUpossible. The Noctua NH-U12P is a great performer, it's cool, it'srecommended, and it's my current top choice of CPU coolers. Lian-Li Armorsuit PC-P60 @ techpowerup.com [Apr-12-08] (0 Comments) The new Lian-Li Armorsuit PC-P60 is a very elaborate case, which is quite different from the understatement shape of their usual enclosures. Three LED fans are built into the very detailed front door and a top airduct guides air out of the case toward the back. Even though the case retails at $269 it offers a lot of premium features justifying the cost. Sunbeamtech Silent Storm Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Apr-10-08] (0 Comments) Silent Storm is an inexpensive mid-tower case from Sunbeamtech coming with three 120-mm fans, acrylic side window and screwless installation mechanisms. Does it live up to the expectation? Read on. Condemned 2:Bloodshot @ bit-tech.net [Apr-10-08] (0 Comments) When you get right down to it though, these are all minorconcerns at best and Condemned 2:Bloodshotreally is an excellent game that flies in the face of common gamedesign and thrives off what makes it different. At a time when everyoneelse is making open-ended, sandbox games all about huge gunfights andso on, Monolith has made a fantastically scary and enthralling gamewhich makes a point out of being linear and claustrophobic. The level of blood and guts is sure to scare many people away, butthere’s an audience for that stuff too and it’s that gore-loving crowdwhich will perhaps love Condemned 2 the most, though beneaththe surface there’s actually something for everyone. At times puzzling and at others utterly pant-filling, Condemned2:Bloodshotwill shred your nerves, baffle your brain and exercise your sweatglands all in turn, making it clearly one of the most accomplishedsurvival horror games we’ve ever played despite the uncomfortablemultiplayer. Forget the flaws, dim the lights and up the volume forsomething that we can, unfortunately, only describe as 'pant-cackinglyscary'. Xigmatek HDT- S1283 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-10-08] (0 Comments) CPUcooling has always been important for the overclocker, but due todual and quad cores it's becoming increasingly important for the casualuser too. Water cooling and phase change are both great ways of coolinga CPU; however the extremes of these methods are both very expensiveand can be rather risky. This is the reason why Air Cooling is stillused today, though don’t label it as boring, air cooling has changeddramatically over the past 3 years.Today I will be looking at the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 which featuresanti-vibration rubber and a 120mm ‘quiet’ fan. So lets take this coolerout for a spin and see how well it performs…. bit-tech Feature:How To Start Your Own Games Studio, Pt 1 @ bit-tech.net [Apr-09-08] (0 Comments) *Written by Mark Morris of Introversion software (creator of DEFCON, Darwinia and Uplink).*There are many fantastic things about my job, but there are also many frustrations. Perhaps one of the most trying of these is when I get emails that read: 5 PC games that deserve sequels - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-08-08] (0 Comments) Ageof Empires 2, Call of Duty 2, Red Alert 2, Half Life 2, the list ofgreat video game sequels for the PC is almost endless. Why then, are somany franchises left to die at the side of the road, despite the firstgame having an original concept or a great fan base? Unfortunately, inmost cases it probably boils down to money, but there are many reasonsthat games just don't get made. Still, in an effort to see our dreamscome to life, XSR has come up with our top 5 PC games we'd love to seesequels to. Nesteq EECS 700w - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Apr-04-08] (0 Comments) Overthe last few years, a lot more attention has been paid to powersupplies, and their ever important role of giving our prizedpossessions the juice they need to run as pain free as possible.However, not only have companies been tempting our wallets withexcellent rail stability and high efficiencies, they’ve also touted thelow noise levels of their units. The PSU I have with me today sports alarge, slow spinning fan and with near silence being one of it’s mainfeatures. I’ll be interested to see how much it can actually reduce myrig’s noise levels by. OrigenAE C10 Low Profile CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Apr-03-08] (0 Comments) Most HTPC users will find that there are only a limited number of CPU coolers available to use in most HTPC cases because of their smaller size. OrigenAE created the C10 to help fill that void. The C10 has three U-shaped copper heatpipes that come in direct contact with the CPU, and 35 aluminum fins behind a standard size 70mm fan. Noctua NF-B9 92mm Case Fan @ rbmods.com [Apr-03-08] (0 Comments) Case fans come in a wide variety of sizes, with the most popular onesbeing 80mm and 120mm. But a somewhat less common size is 92mm, which isin-between the two. Today we'll take a look at Noctua's latest fan offering,the Noctua NF-B9 92mm Case Fan. Will this middle child prove to offer thebest of both? Read on to find out. Apevia Warlock 750 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) Apevia is back at it again, not with a case but with a power supply.And like the rash of power units we have seen over the last few months thisis not your typical 500 watt model. It is a 750 watt mammoth called theWarlock. Boasting a 135mm cooling fan that can change many colors this PSUcould be what many of you modders out there are looking for. What I like isthe Crossfire and SLI support with a boatload of power. But is it worthy ofbeing placed in your system? To find out you will have to keep reading. bit-tech :Command and Conquer 3:Kane's Wrath @ bit-tech.net [Apr-02-08] (0 Comments) There's an awful lot to like about /Kane's Wrath/ and, if I'm going to be utterly open about it, I think it's not just an expansion on the original game, but a radical improvement on it. It's managed to do what a lot of hardcore /C&C/ fans thought was impossible and introduce more of the old-school flavour and personality into the framework set out in /Tiberium Wars/. Bigbruin.com 5th Birthday Party Give Away @ bigbruin.com [Apr-01-08] (0 Comments) Bigbruin.com turns five years old on April 1st. While it might seem funny, this is not an April fools joke. There are three ways in which to win, and a total of five winners will grab a prize from the following list of items: Patriot Viper Series 2GB PC3-12800 DDR3 Memory Kit, ASUS EAH3870 TOP 512MB Overclocked Radeon HD3870 Graphics Card, ASUS EAH3850 TOP 256MB Overclocked Radeon HD3850 Graphics Card, CoolIT Prize Pack - USB Beverage Cooler, PCI Cooling Booster, and RAM Fan, and two $25 Best Buy Gift Cards. Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme 8800 Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Mar-28-08] (0 Comments) Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme is the name of their newest graphics card cooler for GeForce 8800 cards. The Xtreme is also available in a version that supports ATI HD 2900 cards. The cooler uses 107 aluminum fins with three 80 mm PWM controlled fans to blow air over a large amount of fins for maximum heat dissipation. Cooljag Mini LED Flash Fans @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-28-08] (0 Comments) Case lighting has definitely come a long way. In the early days, anyand all case lighting involved a drill, soldering iron, some knowledge ofelectronics, and an attempt to find something that would work in a case thatwas originally beige. Today, it is pretty hard to find something new andunique, nearly everything one could imagine has already been done, but theguys at CoolJagUSA have come up with a really cool item, programmable LEDmarquee fans. Program a message to be displayed on your case fan. AMD Phenom X4 9850 Processor - Long Awaited B3 @ pcper.com [Mar-27-08] (0 Comments) The new AMD Phenom X4 9850 is a great processor for its segment eventhough it is still not able to dominate in any fashion over the Intelquad-core options. Just as with the initial 2.3 GHz Phenom B2 launch, AMDstill considers the Intel Core 2 Q6600 its primary competition, and Iconsider the Q9450 to be another potential threat as well. This new CPU isdefinitely getting AMD closer to its performance goals and any enthusiast orgamer looking for a ~$240 processor is going to have a fantastic experiencewith the 9850. The added performance and efficiency of the 2000 MHz memorycontroller and system bus add to the benefits of the 2.50 GHz clock rateproducing the best fastest stock speed AMD quad-core CPU to date. Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Wheel @ techpowerup.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) The Porsche 911 Turbo wheel is an exact replica of the real wheel and comes with hand stitched leather and wireless technology for unrestricted racing fun. The pedals and choice of gear box round up the exclusive package. The gearbox is available as either 6+1 speed H-pattern gear stick or a sequential version. Technic3D/Accelero Xtreme 8800 @ technic3d.com [Mar-26-08] (0 Comments) The Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme 8800 VGA Heatsink arrived T echnic3D. Accelero Xtreme 8800 supports VGA cards from NVIDIA Geforce 8800 series. The VGA coolers comes with three 80mm Fans and place for SLI. See you in the following Review the Xtreme on a XFX 8800 GTX XXX compared with Standard GPU Cooling, Xigmatek Battle-Axe Cooler and the Zerotherm Hurricane HC92 Cu. Rosewill R6XR8-BK Black ATX Computer Case @ legitreviews.com [Mar-22-08] (0 Comments) The overall process of putting everything together in the Rosewel l R6XR8-BK case was a seamless and painless one. Rosewill's idea of scr ew less design certainly delivered and made the process a little more enj oyable. The two supplied 120mm fans... Technic3D/Fantec LD-H35NSU2 @ technic3d.com [Mar-21-08] (0 Comments) The Fantec LD-H35NSU2 External Hard Drive Enclosure arrived Te chnic3D. NAS and SATA connectivity for 3,5 NZXT Giveaway! @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-20-08] (0 Comments) ThinkComputers has teamed up with NZXT to bring you anothergiveaway. NZXT was nice enough to give us one of their newest cases, theTempest. Just released yesterday the Tempest is said to be the airflow kinghaving 2x 120mm intake fans, 2 huge 140mm top exhaust fans, 120mm rearexhaust fan, and a side 120mm exhaust fan! Some other features include abottom mounted PSU, room for up to 8 hard drives, and cable routingfeatures. You can see all of the specs and info about the Tempest on NZXT'swebsite. So how can you win this awesome case? Well just like our lastcontest we are going to be running this contest on our forums. If you arenot a forum member, you can easily register for free. The first thing thatyou are going to want to do is reply to this post (you can do so at thebottom of this page). Not only do you have to reply to this post you have tohave a minimum of 40 posts on the forums. Warhammer 40k Dawn of War:Soulstorm @ bit-tech.net [Mar-20-08] (0 Comments) There’s a fair bit to like about Soulstorm. It’sstand-alone for starters, which means you don’t have hunt down an oldcopy of Dawn of War if you want to play it. It also does a good job of wrapping up all the previous expansions andcontent from the original for those who just want to jump straight inand play, while at the same time being an excellent platform from whichto backtrack into the rest of the series.However, there are down sides. The graphics in particular are a sorespot and it seems like Iron Lore must not have been listening to fansof the original game who have long been crying out for a better view ofthe battlefield. The low-res textures and occasionally jerky unitanimations too would have been easily fixable problems. It’s a crying shame really that Iron Lore’s last game should prove tobe such a…well, not a disappointment, but certainly a surpriselessgame. The studio had an enormous amount of talent within it and couldhave been capable of much, but Soulstorm doesn’t really buildon the quality of Dawn of War as much as it builds on thequantity. In the end, Soulstorm is your typical, unimaginativeexpansion pack. It offers up more of what the hardcore fans mightreally like, but doesn’t stray at all from the formula and, in the end,that might put off a lot of people who have since found much better andgraphically superior RTS games to invest their time in. Coolink Chipchilla Chipset Cooler @ rbmods.com [Mar-20-08] (0 Comments) Chipset coolers are often overlooked in a computer build, as mostpeople focus on CPU coolers and case fans. But as computer performanceincreases, these chipset temperatures are also rising. Today we'll look at anew chipset cooler, the Coolink Chipchilla Chipset Cooler. Will this chipsetcooler be an improvement over a stock chipset cooler? Read on to find out. Noctua NT-H1 Heatsink Compound @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-19-08] (0 Comments) Noctua has been known for serving up one of the best coolers on themarket. I am sure most of us have heard of the NH-U12P. It was one of thetop coolers on every website's list. And coupled with their newest fan theNF-P12 there aren't too many coolers that can come close. Now take thiscooler and fan and throw in the NT-H1 and you have everything you need tocool that new processor. So do we have another compound that is capable oftaking down the old king? We will find out soon. Xigmatek NRP-MC851 Power Supply @ rbmods.com [Mar-17-08] (0 Comments) Today we take a look at an interesting looking product from anexciting new company. Xigmatek seems to have been on the market since 2005but it is the first time I see one of their products. We got a sample of theNPR-MC851 PSU which seems to have some very nice features as 4x 12V railsall the wya from 18 to 30 amps. You also have modular cables and a smartsilent fan which should run this product fairly quiet. Arctic Cooling Silentium T2 Eco 80 @ bit-tech.net [Mar-16-08] (0 Comments) In the words of Sam Beckett:“Oh, boy.”Really, it’s hard to know where to begin with a case like the SilentiumT2 ECO 80. On paper, Arctic Cooling’s intentions are cleary for thegood and aiming in all the right directions. The idea of using rubberaround the fans to prevent vibration and using heatsinks instead offans to cool the HDD is fine and we of course love anything that canhelp make computing a more environmentally friendly hobby.The real problem though is that the execution is terrible and thefinished product is really just a mish-mash of ruined ideas. On somelevel it’s actually quite depressing and there’s a distinct feelingthat if the Silentium T2 was a person then it’d be a bright andpromising young student who got tragically mauled by asledgehammer-wielding Rottweiler.The whole case just stinks of good ideas gone wrong and bad ideas leftto run rampant. In the end, with a number of structural problems, poorthermal performance and a generally unappealing look it’s hard torecommend the T2 to anyone. Frankly, this is the type of thing wereally do wish Arnold Schwarzenegger would come back from the future todestroy. A shame. Lost Empire:Immortals @ bit-tech.net [Mar-15-08] (0 Comments) Lost Empire:Immortals can't claim innovation and the game isutterly predictable in almost everything it does. Combine this withincredibly long games and huge playing fields and you’re left with agame which is going to leave a sour, tired taste in the mouths ofnearly all gamers. Hardcore strategy fans though may find somethingappealing though, provided they can look past the admittedly roughedges. Thermaltake M9 Mid-Tower Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Mar-14-08] (0 Comments) Most enthusiasts that have been building for at least a few yearsmost likely have used something with the Thermaltake logo on it. Thermaltakehas a wide variety of products:cases; fans; CPU, GPU, hard drive, andchipset coolers; liquid cooling; power supplies; storage solutions; andvarious other stuff. Today I will be looking at the Thermaltake M9, amid-tower that appears to take some of its inspiration from the Xaser VI.Will it meet my expectations of a Thermaltake case? Stay tuned to find out. A modder's guide to acrylic @ bit-tech.net [Mar-14-08] (0 Comments) Acrylic at its worstcan be a garish mess of various transparentcolours, glued together roughly or fastened poorly with screw-headshanging out and cold cathodes everywhere. An LED fan here, afluorescent something or other there, packed with a rat's nest ofcabling.However, at its best it can be the only case that goes from solid blackopaque panel to perfectly translucent window with no visible seam. Thereservoir can be built directly into the front panel, creating a Aerocool Horsepower 1020 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Mar-13-08] (0 Comments) Aerocool is widely known for introducing the world to extra largecase fans. I am sure you are familiar with the ExtremEngine case. If youdon't know it by name, maybe by description - it was one of the first tohave a 25cm cooling fan on the side and 14cm at the front as an intake.Well, putting the ExtremEngine to the side, Aerocool is introducing theHorsePower line of PSUs. This power supply comes in two models, 720 wattsfor the modest PC builder and 1020 watt model for the extremist. When youconsider that Crossfire using two 3870X2 cards can be done on a highperformance 620Watt PSU you can see how much further Aerocool is trying topush things. Each unit divides the power between four different rails andboasts an Aerocool trademark a large fan. A 140mm one with blue lights. Logitech Z Cinema Speaker System @ techgage.com [Mar-12-08] (0 Comments) Logitech unveiled their Z Cinema speaker system at thisyear's CES, to plenty of fanfare. The system blends a refined two-waysatellite design with a robust, powerful subwoofer. We take the latesthigh performance Z-series PC speaker system for a spin, and find lotsof cause for excitement. Hard to be a God @ bit-tech.net [Mar-11-08] (0 Comments) Still, the combinations of poor graphics and an unwieldytargetingsystem that requires all targeting to be pixel-perfect andcamera-relative do seriously detract from the game. The fact that thevast majority of the dialogue is completely ancillary and the narrativeis poorly introduced doesn’t really help much either. The game’s also more than a little repetitive and having to wade intoone fight after another does make things feel a little samey and drearyafter the first hour or two – the game is most assuredly combat focusedfor the most part and there’s only so much sword-swinging anyone can dobefore they want to sit down and solve things peaceably. Basically, it comes down to this; if you’re a big fan of the Strugatskynovels or you just want something a little bit predictable to play thenHard to be a GodIf hacking and slashing isn’t your bag though then you’ll probably wantto look elsewhere for your whinging deities – it’s not that the game isespecially may just be the ticket for you. With presentation this awful it’s alsohighly likely that the game will be dropping in price fairly quicklytoo, so you may be able to snag it cheaply if you wait a little bit. bad,just that it’s like a meal of mediocrity – with a side-salad ofugliness and poor spelling. The basics of the game all work, but neverwow and if the Earth took God seven days to make then this probablytook him less than seven minutes. Cooler Master CM Sphere CPU Cooler @ hardwaresecrets.com [Mar-10-08] (0 Comments) We took a quick look on CM Sphere, an all-copper CPU cooler from Cooler Master featuring a radial fan and four heat-pipes. Dark Messiah:Might and Magic Elements @ bit-tech.net [Mar-10-08] (0 Comments) Up until now it’s mostly been pretty good news for Dark Messiah– not fantastic news perhaps, but good enough. However, there are stilla few little problems with Dark Messiah that might prevent itfrom reaching the loftiest of heights. For starters, the game is just a little bit buggy and laggy at times.We never had our Xbox 360 crash, but there were more than a few timeswhen we had clipping bugs and ended up underneath the ground. Theframerate would regularly plunge too, getting stuttery whenever therewas a bit too much going on on-screen – like the first time you face aCyclops. The framerate problems are probably the biggest issue we’d have with DarkMessiah:Elementstoo and framerate drops are something I honestly just can’t tolerate ona console game. When you are aiming for specific hardware then there’sno excuse to let your game get into a framerate dropping scenario.Aside from that, the game’s major fault is that despite the changes andtweaks it doesn’t actually do all that much above and beyond the PCversion – it’s just rebalanced and with a few new levels slapped in.There’s nothing wrong with that at all—Dark Messiah:Elements isperfectly alright—but it was never going to bowl us over, not with theengine starting to show its age. Technic3D/Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Cooler @ technic3d.com [Mar-10-08] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek Battle-Axe VGA Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Battle -Axe supports VGA cards from AMD and NVIDIA including the Geforce 8800 series. The VGA coolers comes with Direct-Touch-Heatpipes and two 92m m Fans. See you in the following Review the Xigmatek Cooler on a XFX 8 800 GTX XXX compared with Standard CPU Cooling and the Zerotherm Hurri cane HC92 Cu. Lost:Via Domus @ bit-tech.net [Mar-07-08] (0 Comments) In the end then, it’s purely a matter of judgement – is Lost:Via Domus worth a peek from the type of Lost fanatic who might haveread this far?Personally, I’d say probably not. The new story released here isinteresting enough if you’re really into the Lost franchise – but it isby no means essential to understanding the greater themes of the show.The dialogue between NPCs and the player is dull and minimal too, sodon’t be expecting anything interesting to emerge about them either. What we’re left with then is a mediocre game at best that is filledwith poorly thought-out obstacles, many of which break from the styleof game fiction the series has tried so hard to create. It’s a lamecash-in of the most obvious and derivative sort and it’s that whichgives me the guts to just come out and say that the game was badlydesigned.There was room with the Lost franchise to do something fairlyinteresting in the spin-off game and a lot of what has been put beforeplayers here could have gone towards making a game that would have beenworth playing if you’re a fan of the series. Unfortunately though, thispotential has been forgotten and what is left is a game that’s brokenand mediocre at best. NVIDIA Comments on Ray Tracing and Rasterization Debate @ pcper.com [Mar-07-08] (0 Comments) Reality intrudes into the most fantastic ideas and plans. Virtuallyall games and professional applications make use of the modern APIs forgraphics:OpenGL(tm) and DirectX(tm). These APIs use rasterization, not raytracing. So, the present environment is almost entirely rasterization-based.We would be foolish not to build hardware that runs current applicationswell.Ray tracing may be the future of rendering-it's definitely part of thefuture at least. There is an old joke that goes Noctua NH-U12P Heatpipe CPU Cooler @ bigbruin.com [Mar-04-08] (0 Comments) The cooling performance of the Noctua NH-U12P Heatpipe CPU Cooler is exceptional. With the fan at full speed it produces minimal noise and provides excellent thermal results, and cutting the fan speed down to near silence doesn't impact the cooling at all. Even though the performance was exceptional, achieving it took more effort than I am used to needing in order to install a CPU cooler. Ideazon Merc Stealth Gaming Keyboard @ bit-tech.net [Mar-02-08] (0 Comments) I suppose it’s a little ironic that a keyboard that has beencrafted totarget a market so specifically should succeed at everything except thegenre to which it should be most suited – but that’s the reality of it.On paper, the Merc Stealth is an excellent gaming keyboard and, withtime and practice, I don’t doubt that gamers could learn to use itfluidly and masterfully. The downside though is that it takestime and practice at all – other keyboards we’ve looked at use a muchmore sensible layout of keys that manages to be both familiar andenhanced. Why can’t the Merc Stealth?It’s a shame. The Merc Stealth is as great a looking keyboard as itwould probably be possible to get if one were shopping for gaminginputs and the ergonomics of the design are at times fantastic. Theangle and slopping of the gaming section is definitely not painful touse as some keyboards are. The media keys, connections and all-roundfeel of the Merc Stealth is in order too, and we like that the boardcan be raised in steps to accommodate different hands. Unfortunately, the one area where we’d have wanted the Merc Stealth toreally shine turned out to be a bit of a letdown and despite usspending longer than usual getting to know the board, we still couldn’tget practiced enough for it to rival a WASD set-up – for that reason,though the keyboard is decent enough despite the extra gaming keys, wecan't really recommend spending the whopping ÂŁ60 on it compared to anyother keyboard on the market. Imperium Romanum @ bit-tech.net [Feb-27-08] (0 Comments) For all this criticism though, Imperium Romanum remainsa decently enjoyable game that is pretty standard and by-the-numbers,but fun in spite of that. Is Imperium Romanum the type of game which you absolutelymust go out and buy? No, far from it. It's not even the type of gamethat you'll end up replaying or getting massively involved in.Yet, if you do fancy a go at a fun and solid strategy game with a focuson micromanagement and not exploration then you could certainly do alot worse. It's a verdict that is strongly grounded in my pastexperience of Roman-themed strategy games too because, while ImperiumRomanum hasn't turned me back onto this most classic of genres, it hascertainly entertained me enough while I played it. Noctua NH-U12P Heatsink @ techpowerup.com [Feb-27-08] (0 Comments) On the heels of the successful NH-U12F CPU heatsink, Noctua has released a newer, more compatible version called the NH-U12P. This version has more clearance below the fins, making it easier to install on many motherboards. It comes with the new, ultra-quiet NF-P12 fan and a tube of the new NT-H1 thermal compound. Palit GeForce 8800GT Super+1GB @ techgage.com [Feb-27-08] (0 Comments) We've been fans of NVIDIA's 8800 GT since launch, andPalit helps us remember why. Though utilizing reference clocks, theSuper+1GB doubles the competitions memory, but as we found out, it'sdifficult to see a difference. Overclocking yields far better results,and luckily, this card delivers there as well. Thermaltake Toughpower QFan 650W power supply @ bit-tech.net [Feb-26-08] (0 Comments) We like this PSU, but only to a certain extent – it's certainlyasolidly built unit with awesome efficiency and it's virtually silentfor just about everyone that will buy this kind of unit. The modularconnectors work well, however the cable choices could be far better inmore than one case. In addition, the branding is overpowering to thepoint of grotesque – having that in a case will only make us feel likean ad-whore rather than letting the PSU speak for itself. Even thoughit's nice to see a variation in colour—the white fan inparticular—we're not wildly in love with the whole look.The QFan design, while very quiet, is nullified by the stupid piece ofplastic screwed under half of it. It's not like the unit gets hot, butit makes a super-large 14cm fan quiet pointless if the airflow is beingforced out where it was supposed to be sucked in from! I'm not entirelysure still if it's that revolutionary either – it's essentiallya shroudless fan rather than one with specifically clipped edges fromthe likes of a Noctua NF-P12 fan, which, to us at least, seemssignificantly technically superior.Regardless the power supply seems to work well, and even if it is amulti-rail design, the spread of rails and their weighting issufficient to cover the 600W+ out of the total 650W they can pushbetween just three out of four.But the question is:is it worth it over the likes of Corsair, PC Powerand Cooling, Seasonic or Tagan in the same price range? It's difficultto say and it will come down to a personal preference of looks andpackage. An educated guess would tell me that most people will still gofor the tried and tested Corsair HX620W, or the Seasonic M12 (which arevirtually the same thing!) if they are looking for modular connectors.If you are tempted by a Thermaltake though – at least we can say you’dget a good deal with this Toughpower QFan 650W model. Lian Li Armoursuit PC-P80 chassis @ bit-tech.net [Feb-25-08] (0 Comments) The Lian Li Armoursuit PC-P80 is, despite the garish Spidermanlook ofthis particular review sample in my eyes, a rather attractiveproposition as a case. The overall design is simple, functional andto-the-point on the basic, non-branded model and the addition of fansall over the case means that the cooling performance is excellent...providing you can live with the noise (or kit the case out withrheostats).There are only a few drawbacks to the PC-P80 in fact, though some ofthem are worryingly fundamental. For example, missing screws and thelack of a manual is a pretty basic error – one an accomplishedmanufacturer like Lian Li should never make and that doesn’t bode well.The look of the case for this ATI model is also pretty dividing – youeither love it or hate it, with very little middle ground for customersto sit in. This design isn’t for the faint hearted at all, but ATIfanboys will lap it up.Still, if a cool running PC is what you’re after and you happen tothink the Armoursuit PC-P80 looks as good as it runs then there’sabsolutely no reason not to go for it. Although the recommended retailprice for the basic model is £250 ($399), which is kind of steep in ouropinion – the fact that Xcase has the standard version on pre-order for£199 (inc. VAT)makes things a little bit easier to stomach though. The ATI versionshown here is even more expensive, at around about £299 – ludicrouslyexpensive? Perhaps, but the PC-P80 does have an awful lot going in itsfavour to justify the cost. Cooler Master Cosmos S @ bit-tech.net [Feb-23-08] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Cosmos S is an attractive and sleek case thatlookseven better than the standard Cosmos, holding its own in the higher endof the market when it comes to look. If the Antec P182 is just a littletoo plain for your tastes then the Cosmos S is an acceptable compromisebetween that and a Cooler Master Stacker 830 Custom.Looking at the Cosmos as a whole, it’s clear to see that the re-designhas mainly focused on improving the look and accessibility of thechassis rather than making the fan cooling capabilities more powerful.That’s a mixed blessing obviously, but to us the benefits of thisdoor-less and funkier design (that looks great in champagne grey)outweighs the unimproved fan cooling. It's also worth bearing in mindthat the Cosmos S seems more aimed at watercoolers too – there’s roomfor a self contained radiator and so forth in the top.Simply put, the Cosmos S isn’t the best case we’ve ever seen and thereare other chassis’ out there that can outpunch it in most areas – butwe like the overall aesthetic and, if you’re a watercooler, it could beseen as great value for money (especially compared to the SilverstoneTJ-07). However, when you consider that the Cosmos S is 25 percent morethan the original Cosmos and doesn’t improve cooling performance, youhave to ask whether that extra cost is worth it. We love the thoughtthat has gone into the case’s design and some will definitely see valuein the improvements made—especially on the watercooling front—but it’snot for every man and his dog. Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare @ bonafidereviews.com [Feb-22-08] (0 Comments) War. Huh. Yeah. What is it good for? Well apparently its good for selling tons and tons of videogames to obsessed FPS fans. Say it again now. Unless you’ve been living in a foxhole for the past few years you have probably heard of Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty series. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler @ aphnetworks.com [Feb-22-08] (0 Comments) The market for CPU heatsink and fans has grown quite saturated -- but with this saturation also comes a diversity that allows for a different heatsink to suit every preference. From performance heatsinks, noise conscious designs, to value/budget products, there's at least a dozen from various brands to fill in the specific market niche -- or maybe even a combination of two or more. Noctua has made quite a prominent name for itself in the industry for making quiet PC cooling solutions. Being that, a quiet cooler does not mean it cannot be a performance cooler at the same time. Combined with a design that challenges the best air cooler, it proves one thing -- bigger does not mean better. It's all about cooling efficiency; and combined with arguably the best fan for this application -- the Noctua NF-P12 -- how will the Noctua NH-U12P perform installed in our real life testing scenario? I've always wondered how it stacks up against the Scythe Infinity -- one of the biggest, and one of the best performing coolers over a year and a half ago -- but with a little twist. We want to see how the heatsink itself performs. And we'll even compare the two with the same fan. Now that would be an interesting showdown. Technic3D/Cooler Master Cosmos S @ technic3d.com [Feb-22-08] (0 Comments) The new Coolermaster Cosmos -S- is the next PC Case in the Tec hnic3D Editorship. See you in the following Review which qualities the High-End Gaming Tower with a new Cooling concept (200mm Fan) and many Features presents. Better than the Cosmos 1000? Sigma Shark 635W Power Supply @ thinkcomputers.org [Feb-21-08] (0 Comments) Sigma's new Shark line of power supply units combines a functional,stable supplier of required electricity with a stylish, finned, dual-fancooling design, resulting in a silent but powerful device. It's also one ofthe most stable devices we've seen in a while. Combine that with a sub$100-price and it looks like we've got quite a nice unit on our hands. Readon for the review. Advergaming and Other Horror Stories @ bit-tech.net [Feb-21-08] (0 Comments) Virtual worlds are also a popular target for advertisers. In SecondLifea number of companies have purchased land within the game to establisha permanent presence. You can buy products from retailers like Nike andAmazon. Apparently Starwoods Hotels and Resorts built a digital replicaof a hotel they were planning to build in real life to see the reactionfrom people. You have to wonder about this logic though – if companiesthink they can garner useful information from people's online choicesthey may be in for a nasty shock, after all, gaming is about escapismand most people frequently do things in games that they would never doin real life.There are all sorts of fantastical predictions about the amount of adspending there will be in future games, but so far despite claims itwill reach $2 billion by 2011 it remains far short of this target.There's a suggestion that this revenue could be worth $1 per game topublishers – which is certainly enough to catch their attention. StillI think I'd be willing to spend an extra $1 on the game to get itwithout advertising. Personally I don't mind advertising when it'sbundled into something free as they have to pay for it somehow but whenyou are already paying a premium price for something it’s cheeky tojust bombard your customers with adverts regardless. Zalman ZM-NC2000 Notebook Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Feb-21-08] (0 Comments) The Zalman NC2000 is a notebook cooler made of a solid aluminum sheet and black plastic bottom. Two fans cool the entire underside of the notebook and can be manually adjusted as well to find the perfect balance between cooling and fan noise. Gigabyte Cyclops - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Feb-20-08] (0 Comments) Mostcooler reviews are of products designed for the latest, greatest andusually hottest GPUs. But what if you have an older system, with a oncepowerful 6600GT or x800? The fan dies or you want to squeeze a few moreMHZ in your OC, where do you turn? Well, Gigabyte of all companies havemade the Cyclops, which comes with changeable front covers, RAM sinksand a solid aluminium core. Let's see how our 6600GT feels with itattached. Technic3D/Corsair VX550W @ technic3d.com [Feb-20-08] (0 Comments) The Corsair VX550W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the follo wing Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the Ultra-quiet 120mm double ball-bearing fan, 6 Serial ATA connectors and extra long cables support this PSU better than other PSUs? Noctua NF-B9 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Feb-20-08] (0 Comments) We’veseen a collection of various Noctua fans conforming to thestandards of 80mm and 120mm, but nothing in the lesser-used 92mm size.Fortunately, 92mm fan mounts can now use bevelled blade tips andvortex control notches, but more importantly, have a MULNAZ PC. Lets have a look whether it livesup to our previous experiences with Noctua blowers. [News] Thermaltake SwordM VD5000 Chassis @ virtual-hideout.net [Feb-18-08] (0 Comments) The case isn't just a gimmick, because it actually does have plentyof useable features. There is the potential for excellent cooling all aroundgiven the number of fans included and the fans that can be added. The openrear chassis almost appeared a bit odd since I'm so use to a closed chassis.However, this means there is more than enough room for warm air to escapeand it's completely concealed by the really cool looking rear door. ASUS EAH3870 X2 1GB @ techgage.com [Feb-18-08] (0 Comments) Does a multi-GPU setup with one card interest you? Youmay want to take a look at AMD's latest high-end offering, the HD 3870X2. We are taking a look at ASUS' version of the card which features afantastic bundle, including an HDMI adapter and Company of Heroes:Opposing Fronts. Sunbeam Rheobus Extreme Fan Controller @ techpowerup.com [Feb-16-08] (0 Comments) Sunbeam is well known for their four channel Rheobus fan controller. Recently, they decided to create a new version called the Rheobus Extreme which has six channels and can support up to 30 W per channel. Each channel has a clear knob that glows blue, and the brightness changes with the fan speed setting. We take a look at this new fan controller and put it to the test. Ultra m998 Mid-Tower ATX Case @ pcper.com [Feb-14-08] (0 Comments) The overall construction and build quality is good and the simplelines and black anodized finish provide a nice background for highlightingall your internal goodies (visible through the large side window). Thanksto its slightly larger size, the m998 can easily accommodate a large PSU,extended ATX motherboard and it comes with 11 drive bays. The two bundled120mm fans provide good airflow and can be supplemented with an additional80mm fan on the side window if desired. And if you plan to floor mount thisenclosure you will certainly enjoy the optional (included) caster wheels. Condemned 2:Bloodshot - Hands-on @ bit-tech.net [Feb-14-08] (0 Comments) Condemned 2 is looking like a fantastic looking game which, asyou can see from the screenshots, doesn’t pull any punches when itcomes to trying to creep out players. This is definitely a game foradult audiences only and the game is stuffed to the brim with filthyinsults, blood and brutal, unrestrained fisticuffs. However, it’s also got a cleverly delivered story in there too, both ona character-based and plot-based level. In terms of the seriesstoryline Condemned 2will see a whole lot of the mystery cleared up and Ethan will start topiece together the fragments and figure out what is happening to theworld around him. Meanwhile, players will get deeply involved inEthan’s personal struggles and see him battle against the loss of hissanity and come to terms with his alcoholism. Certain additions to the gamestyle don’t sit too well with us – such ashow the HUD will exclaim your combos, ruining the sense of immersionand horror, but there’s still a lot to like about the game. Justlooking at some of those screenshots is scary enough and the game isdefinitely one of the gutsiest thrillers we’ve ever played – justsitting through the opening cutscene is like having scorpions crawlingup your legs! Clearly horror and thriller fans are going to have atleast one game to look forward to this year. Hands-on P @ bit-tech.net [Feb-13-08] (0 Comments) I actually got a chance to speak to some of the marketingpeople recently and I quizzed them about the future of Spore– pressing on whether we could expect to see a slew of new content onshelves soon after release. The reply was a stark awakening to thebrilliant reality of Spore in that I was treated to a kind of “Idon’t know” answer and an explanation of how that wouldn’t work with Spore.You see, in The Sims, new items can’t be easily created and theexpansions can consist mainly of new furniture and so forth. In Sporethat doesn’t hold true and the future of the game seems to be groundedmore in adding new tools to the game through expansions – ways toexport and import creatures to Photoshop or Maya 3D. It’s not enough tosimply give people a new building or two, because those can always bemade by the community. To me, this attitude perfectly expresses how important Spore will be. Frankly though, even if the game doesn’t prove to be as redefining as Ithink it will be, then it’s still shaping up to be a fantastic game andclearly shows how even the most complex of tasks can be accomplishedwith enough persistence. Spore does have flaws in some regards and it’s plainly obviousthat most players aren’t going to enjoy parts of the game. Personally,while I loved everything from the Creature Stage onwards, I did findthe first part of the game—the Cell Stage—to be a little tiresome andpointless. I’ve nothing against simple arcade styled games at all, butthere are titles that do that better than Spore. Spore’s strength though lies in that the game overcomes thepersonal loves and hates of certain people and frees players uptotally. You can do almost anything you want with the tools on offerhere and the game is totally open to let players skip to the parts theywant. If all you want is the micromanagement and sense of control thenCivilisation Stage is there for you from the get-go. Technic3D/Zerotherm Hurricane HC92 Cu 8800 @ technic3d.com [Feb-13-08] (0 Comments) The Zerotherm Hurricane HC92 Cu 8800 VGA Heatsink arrived Tech nic3D. HC92 Cu 8800 supports almost all VGA cards including NVDIA Gefo rce 8800 series. (Except ATi Radeon X2900 series). The VGA coolers pro vide 3-in-One function (Fanless mode, Aero-Dynamic mode and Overclocki ng mode). See you in the following Review the Apack Cooler on a XFX 88 00 GTX XXX against Standard CPU Cooling. Corsair TX750W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Feb-12-08] (0 Comments) We completely disassembled the latest power supply from Corsair, TX750W (CMPSU-750TX) – which features a single +12V rail, 140-mm fan and four 6/8-pin power connectors for video cards –, and also tested to see if it can truly deliver 750 W. Updated to include load tests. Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler - The Sound of Silence @ legitreviews.com [Feb-12-08] (0 Comments) Noctua derived its name from the Greek mythology. The little owl, Athene Noctua, is the symbol of the Greek goddess Athene, who repres ents wisdom, science and strategy. She has a marked preference for the mo st clever among the Greek heroes, like Odysseus, who endure their adventu res by the use of savvy consideration instead of mere force. It is the ow l's silent flight that Noctua keeps in mind with their fan design... Gigabyte G-Power 2 PRO - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Feb-08-08] (0 Comments) CPUcooling starts with the stock HSF you get with your new processor, butthese are loud and poor at removing heat from the overclocked siliconbeneath. As a result, the consumer demands more, and the manufacturesprovide; mostly in the form of tower coolers.Today I have the hip-hop Gigabyte G-Power 2 Pro which features‘atmospheric blue LED lighting’ and a 120mm fan. Lets see how itperforms… Auzentech X-Fi Prelude Sound Card @ aphnetworks.com [Feb-08-08] (0 Comments) Sound cards. From the world of Creative dominating nearly the entire sound card market, to today's relatively adequate integrated audio, all the way to competition to who can make the best discrete audiophile sound card, the choice consumer has for computer audio is better than ever before. I've always been a big fan of Creative hardware for excellent performance and flexibility to push the potential of low end to high end computer audio. However, there always seem to be some limitations in place -- whether it's software issues, or other onboard hardware used in conjunction with the audio processor -- it really limited their popularity to a few certain users only. Lately, two high end sound cards gained a lot of press. One is the Asus Xonar D2 which we've already reviewed back in October 2007. It's excellent with the DACs and OPAmps used, but I personally felt a bit of limitations with its scalability and processing power. The second is the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude. Now this is one interesting product. Being the first third-party manufacturer to license Creative's excellent X-Fi audio processor, the X-Fi Prelude is a combination of a favorite audio processor amongst many, with pretty much all the benefits of a high end board such as the Xonar D2 as aforementioned. Is this really the ultimate consumer sound card money can buy? Let's take a close look and see how it goes. PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 EPS12V Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Feb-08-08] (0 Comments) We completely disassembled Silencer 610 EPS12V, a 610 W power supply without any fancy feature from PC Power & Cooling and also tested it to see if it can truly deliver 610 W. Check it out! Updated to include load tests. Tuniq Tower 120 Ultra Silent CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Feb-08-08] (0 Comments) One thing that is common with most CPU coolers that use air coolingis that they typically include a fan. We've seen all kinds of fan mounts-either horizontal or vertical, and on all sides of the cooler. But whatabout sticking the fan in the middle of the cooler? Tuniq, makers of a widevariety of computer products, has produced a new cooler, the Tuniq Tower 120CPU cooler, that does just that. Will this unique design result in coolerperformance? Let's find out in this review. Auzentech X-Fi Prelude Sound Card @ aphnetworks.com [Feb-08-08] (0 Comments) Sound cards. From the world of Creative dominating nearly the entire sound card market, to today's relatively adequate integrated audio, all the way to competition to who can make the best discrete audiophile sound card, the choice consumer has for computer audio is better than ever before. I've always been a big fan of Creative hardware for excellent performance and flexibility to push the potential of low end to high end computer audio. However, there always seem to be some limitations in place -- whether it's software issues, or other onboard hardware used in conjunction with the audio processor -- it really limited their popularity to a few certain users only. Lately, two high end sound cards gained a lot of press. One is the Asus Xonar D2 which we've already reviewed back in October 2007. It's excellent with the DACs and OPAmps used, but I personally felt a bit of limitations with its scalability and processing power. The second is the Auzentech X-Fi Prelude. Now this is one interesting product. Being the first third-party manufacturer to license Creative's excellent X-Fi audio processor, the X-Fi Prelude is a combination of a favorite audio processor amongst many, with pretty much all the benefits of a high end board such as the Xonar D2 as aforementioned. Is this really the ultimate consumer sound card money can buy? Let's take a close look and see how it goes. Devil May Cry 4 @ bit-tech.net [Feb-07-08] (0 Comments) All of this makes itpretty damn hard to score.On the one hand there’s a good game. On the other hand there’s anenjoyable movie. Both are passable on their own if you’re into thosetypes of things, but fusing them together has ruined both.Is Devil May Cry 4 fun to play? Yes, it is. I enjoyplaying it. I like cutting my way through baddies and collecting demonblood, expanding my character and waging a one-man war. I’ve even cometo appreciate the anime-styled presentation, floppy hair and big swords– it’s not something I’m proud of, but Castlevania will do thatto a man. Because the cutscenes get in the way of the game and vice versa though,the whole unfortunate mess is bought tumbling down. Boiled down to its core; the stark reality is that no matter what thefanboys say, Devil May Cry 4is just a game of two decent, but unremarkable halves being addedtogether. Sure, there’s a decent romp in there if you want it and thegame has plentiful cleavage and blood – but if you’re after a game inwhich you can invest your time then there’s other titles in this genrethat can deliver more. World-exclusive:PowerColor passive HD3870 SCS3 @ techpowerup.com [Feb-07-08] (0 Comments) The PowerColor HD 3870 SCS3 Edition is a completely passively cooled Radeon HD 3870. This makes the card an excellent choice for a quiet Media PC computer. What is really amazing is that the passive card runs up to 25?C cooler than the reference design which uses a fan. NZXT Cryo LX Laptop Cooler @ aphnetworks.com [Feb-06-08] (0 Comments) Laptops have always been widely appealing for their portability, but the prices usually have been a major hindrance for consumers. However, along with the latest technology coming in smaller sizes and lower prices, there follows a huge crowd of laptop-purchasers. And with the laptop-purchaser crowd growing everyday, the laptop accessories have become a lot more popular - leading companies to direct more attention towards them. One particular accessory, the laptop cooler, is actually quite popular amongst many laptop users. However, one particular cooler caught my eye -- an interesting design while featuring laptop dock-like features such as an USB hub, I decided to take a look at the NZXT Cryo LX, an active cooler with three fans. Halo 3 and The Art of Repetition @ bit-tech.net [Feb-06-08] (0 Comments) Let’s take Halo 3, and, before I actually say anythingabout Halo 3,I should make a disclaimer digression. I had put up some articles aboutrepetition in games on my blog, and how I felt that repetition issometimes a good thing (more on that later), and may have implied thataspects of the Halo 3 campaign could have benefited from somemore repetition, and I ended up with some comments that went somethinglike this:“Variety is the spice of life. Games with repetition suck. Your gamewill suck and no one will play it.”Now, I think I’ve played through the Halo 3 campaign about halfa dozen times. I love the game—I even pre-ordered it. I enjoy fanboyspeculation about Halo’s association to Marathon.While this does not make me an expert in all things Halo, I think it atleast gives me license to critique and comment. So I say:fanboys,stand down!hat out of the way, the critique goes like this:imagine you areplaying through Halo 3for the first time. You play as the legendary saviour of humanity, whoplays it cool while expertly wielding a massive arsenal to mow downwave after wave of baddies. However you have a somewhat foggy idea ofwhere to go next, what a missile pod does, how all of those crazy newitems work, the feel of a Spartan laser, and so on. So here’s themismatch:in cut scenes, the Master Chief is extremely cool andconfident, but under the control of the first time gamer, the MasterChief is suddenly acting like some bewildered idiot, fumbling withbubble shields and flamethrowers.Games like Marathon and BioShock succeed instorytelling because the main character can be a bewildered idiot. In Marathon,you’re a space marine who lands on a colony ship with very little ideaof what’s going on, when suddenly aliens start attacking and AIs startfighting over you. BioShock is roughly the same story—you landon an underwater city, things start attacking you, and greater powersstart fighting over you via the radio. You’re a dummy with a big gun,and everyone knows and is willing to exploit this fact. ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP @ nordichardware.com [Feb-05-08] (0 Comments) Here we will take a look at one of the boards based on the P35 chipset, ASUS P5K-E. This is card positioned in the middle of the P5K lineup. It doesn't have as many fancy features as the Extreme/Deluxe flavors, but isn't as stripped down as the cheapest models. To be honest, do you really need two network cards and heatpipe cooling for the southbridge?? NiGHTS:Journey of Dreams @ bit-tech.net [Feb-04-08] (0 Comments) Once you get past the frankly unusable Wii remote controlmethod, NiGHTS:Journey of Dreams is an enjoyable enough game, althoughit doesn't really bring anything new to the table.It will take between five and six hours to complete the game with bothcharacters, and while there's some replay value in trying to unlock thesecret levels, there really isn't enough to keep you coming back. Toomany of the levels follow the same format, and those that deviate areoften boring and tedious, serving mainly to make the game worse, notbetter.Innovations and tweaks that could have made the game that little bitbetter, such as NiGHTS' additional abilities, the Wii control method oronline play, are fumbled and at best seem tacked on. At worst they makethe game unplayable. In reality, the game could probably have done withanother six months development time, to spend some extra time with thelevel design, control and online play.Younger players may enjoy the sometime frenetic pace and brightcolours. Fans of the original may want to indulge in a nostalgia fest.As for everyone else, I'd suggest you rent or borrow the game firstbefore you commit your hard-earned cash – otherwise NiGHTS might just put you to sleep. Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset ed @ thetechlounge.com [Feb-01-08] (0 Comments) People recognize Aliph Jawbones in the same way that they easily spot iPhones. These Aliph headsets are loved by those who use them, while everyone else in close proximity of the secret conversation mutters profanity. Showoff, that's what he is, the cockbite with that hundred- dollar Bluetooth headset. ASUS Triton 75 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Feb-01-08] (0 Comments) As mentioned before the Triton 75 is a passive cooler. ASUS includes all of the hardware needed to attach a 120mm fan to the cooler. Assuming that most users will be adding a fan we are going to test the Triton 75 with a 120mm fan.The Triton 75 is a four heatpipe cooler with a copper base and uses aluminum fins to dissipate heat. As you will soon see the cooler is designed to pass air from above and push it down to the motherboard. MIME encoded twice @ dragonsteelmods.com [Jan-31-08] (0 Comments) One thing about being a reviewer is that you get lots of stuff, especiallyCPU Coolers, so I've got quite a few of them on hand and thought I'd compar ethem all together. This isn't just a comparison of results from a bunch ofreviews, this is all new testing done with these coolers specifically forthis article.Where applicable I've even tested these coolers without fans t osee just how well they perform as truly silent cooling solutions. Insideyou'll find sections with the coolers using the fan connected to a Molex,meaning running at full speed, connected to the CPU header, PWM controlledif applicable and of course a section just for coolers without their fans. Technic3D/Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 @ technic3d.com [Jan-31-08] (0 Comments) The Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Ho neycomb structure for optimized air flow and Manual fan speed Controll er Adapted. See you in the following Review the Apack Cooler with 120m m fan against others CPU Cooling. A-DATA Nobility N702 4GB USB Flash Drive @ techpowerup.com [Jan-30-08] (0 Comments) A-DATA is known for their unique USB flash devices. The new Nobility N702 is no different. It looks so fancy, that it can be used as a necklace or key chain with its shiny metal casing and tugged away USB connector. Inno3D GeForce 8800 GT i-ChiLL @ nvnews.net [Jan-29-08] (0 Comments) Compared to the results from the stock cooler, the Accelero X1 fan lowered temperatures four additional degrees at half the RPM. Better cooling with less fan noise... TI Radeon HD 3870 X2 Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Jan-28-08] (0 Comments) The core frequency on the R680 is higher than that on an RV670, w hich is a shocking move. The ATI Radeon HD 3870 has a core clock of 775 M Hz while the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 has been increased up to 825 MHz. This might have been down as the memory clock was decreased from 2.25GHz GDDR 4 to 1.8GHz GDDR3. The ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2's cooling fan operates at 36 dBA, which is just slighting higher than the 34dBA seen on the Radeon HD 3870. The boards peak power usage is also 91W higher than the Radeon HD 3870 at 196W under full load. Having two RV670 cores on one board doubles many things like the frame buffer size and the math processing power, bu t the power consumption does not double. Sunbeamtech Rheobus Extreme @ pro-clockers.com [Jan-28-08] (0 Comments) Sunbeamtech, the makers of fine cooling and nice cases, has anothergadget up their sleeve. The new Rheobus Extreme is not only simple and sleekwith its clean looks, and the blue glow of the six knobs goes well withanybody with blue LED lighting, but the best thing the Rheobus Extreme hasto offer is the ability to support up to 30 watts on each control. For thenovice out there, this means simply you can control multiple fans on eachchannel. A must for anybody with large cases with numerous fans. Staying Independent @ bit-tech.net [Jan-28-08] (0 Comments) There are a lot of crushed souls in the games industry. A lotof peoplewho set out with the hope of creating fantastic new games that allowthem to express their creativity, whilst simultaneously providing agreat experience for the players. These are the people who were cutdeepest when publisher’s pull the budget on the “risky” titles infavour of the “safe bets”. These are the people who lost a little morehope each time the producer told them that their idea was way too ‘outthere’ for a modern audience. We knew people like this when we set up Introversion and we run intothem now and then in the bars and restaurants surrounding the gamesconferences. When we first set out to write video games we knew the damage thatpublishers could do both to games themselves, and the people writingthem, and we were not willing to let that happen to us. In order toensure our creative freedom, we had to be independent from publishersand license holders, and that independence has become a guiding mantrafor us.Independence from publishers has allowed us ultimate freedom andenabled us to create without compromise, explore without boundaries andlive by a work ethos that isn’t about setting limitations. After sixyears with the sole aim of keeping the company financially afloat, wedid a spot of team building or as industry bods call it, ‘visionalignment’. We wanted to establish in what direction we might all beheading. Despite the fact that we’re a fairly disparate bunch of peoplewith very different motivations, the exercise really proved thatremaining independent was the key shared aspiration at Introversion. Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound @ rbmods.com [Jan-28-08] (0 Comments) When I think of quality cooling fans, typically one name jumps tomind first:Noctua. However, Nocuta isn't just about fans, as they'vestarted to branch out into other peripheral products. Today we get thechance to take a look at one such product, the Noctua NT-H1 ThermalCompound. Will the Noctua product be able to stand up against theestablished incumbents in the thermal compound market? Let's find out. Apevia X-Telstar Junior case @ bit-tech.net [Jan-27-08] (0 Comments) Our first reaction to the displaywas one of quiet surprise andhappiness. It’s bright and full-coloured, proving readable from variousviewing angles so that you didn’t have to look at it head-on. We turnedthe knob of the fan controller and the display reacted straight away.Thereare three dials on the display and though all of them are pretty small,they are still perfectly legible at a glance. The dial in the bottomleft monitors how noisy the case is, the bottom right is for fan speed,the top displays system voltage and a figure in the middle lets youknow the internal temperature according to the Apevia probe.It’s actually quite good, until you look closely anyway. Enthusiast System Architecture @ pcper.com [Jan-24-08] (0 Comments) The Performance section of the control panel, that allows you tooverclock your components as well as setup rues and profiles, looks to beincredibly useful. While it still needs some polish in some UI areas that Imentioned on previous pages, the ability to setup custom rules for fanspeeds, clock rates and more in relation to other traits is unique andallows for a very granular control of your system. Technic3D/OCZ Vanquisher @ technic3d.com [Jan-23-08] (0 Comments) The OCZ Vanquisher CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. The Vanquis her CPU cooler is compatible with sockets AMD 754/939/AM2 and Intel 77 5. See you in the following Review the OCZ Cooler with 92mm fan agains t others CPU Cooling. Bleach:Shattered Blade @ bonafidereviews.com [Jan-23-08] (0 Comments) Luckily there’s a game coming to the US in October that will do just that:Bleach:Shattered Blade. Unfortunately, for fan and skeptic alike, this game is also an anime based fighting game. Can Bleach:Shattered Blade live up to or outdo its pseudo predecessor Budokai Tenkaiichi 2? CoolIT Freezone Elite CPU Cooler @ techgage.com [Jan-23-08] (0 Comments) During CoolIT's CES-presence this month, the FreezoneElite was unveiled. In addition to offering stellar performancecomparable to the original, the new MTEC control center is thrown in aswell. This self-regulating module proved to do a fantastic job, makingthe Elite a superb cooling solution. Diamond Radeon HD 3850 512MB Ruby Edition Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Jan-22-08] (0 Comments) Diamond Multimedia doubled the on-board GDDR3 memory from 256MB t o 512MB on the Diamond Radeon HD 3850 512MB Ruby Edition Video Card, whic h should significantly help frame buffer performance in gaming, but that isn't all they did. They also tossed the old single slot cooler and went with a larger and improved cooling system that lowered temperatures acro ss the board. To top it all off they designed their own PCB! As you can see, Diamond went back to the drawing board and came up with a video car d that should impress most of the ATI fans out there... Noctua NH-U12P @ bit-tech.net [Jan-20-08] (0 Comments) As you’ve seen on the previous page, the Noctua NH-U12P is agreatperformer and this isn’t just down to the improved fan that the companyhas designed. Along with better performance, you also get absolutelyeverything you would expect – better compatibility, better corrosionresistance, premium thermal paste, the improved fan, extra clips foranother fan, U.L.N.A. and even tools to install it. Top that with a cherry flavoured warranty of six years, and I literallycannot think of anything else you'd need from a heatsink, Noctua has everybase covered.If you have an uncompromising fetish for silence, then there's no otherchoice:you have to get the Noctua, or, at least its ÂŁ15 fan. After allgiven that there are many heatpiped heatsinks already on the market youcould just throw the NH-P12 120mm fan on any one of these for a similareffect. At ÂŁ15 a pop, the NH-P12 is the Crème de la Crème of fans and aninvestment and a half on top of that heatsink purchase. And even if youcan match the Noctua's 19dB, like the Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 at itslowest setting, there's still a performance difference in favour of theNoctua.There's never been a truer time to cite the old GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler @ rbmods.com [Jan-20-08] (0 Comments) Upgrading from a stock CPU cooler is one of the easiest and bestmodifications you can make to your computer, and choosing the right one canmake a big difference. GlacialTech, makers of a wide variety of thermalmanagement solutions, sent us one of their latest cooler products, theGlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler. This cooler actually has onefeature not seen on many coolers:dual cooling fans. Is two better thanone? We are here to put that theory to the test in this review. Aerocool M-40 Small Form Factor Case @ pro-clockers.com [Jan-16-08] (0 Comments) For those that say no, the question may want to take a look at theAerocool's newest cube case titled the M-40. Aerocool is fast becoming knownas a company that is very innovative. That is the ExtremeEngine case. Thiscompany was one of the first to implement a larger than normal fan to acase. A fan that measures a whooping 25cm. The M-40 is just as cutting edgeas it utilizes two halves to assemble the rig. Mixed with a black and redtheme, the M-40 has a sort of dark look to it. Thermalright HR-05/IFX - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Jan-16-08] (0 Comments) Recentlywe managed to get our reviewing mitts on the Thermalright HR-05 chipsetcooler, that managed to combine a low price with better-than-stockcooling, but had an awkward fan size (70mm) and fiddly mounting system.Today I have another HR-05, but this time it’s the IFX version, similarto the IFX-14 heatsink that we also reviewed recently. The IFX range isthe extreme cooling bracket, where size and weight are far fromlimited. Hopefully this cooler will build on the headway made by thestandard HR-05. Intel @ thinkcomputers.org [Jan-15-08] (0 Comments) Chip giant Intel made a fanciful showing at CES, but its desktopprocessors were not its top dog this year. No, folks, this year, Intel waspushing WiMax, the next generation wireless standard designed to providebroadband speeds throughout the world. Intel also showed off its mobilecomputing platform and companies who use it. Intel also announced a mobileInternet device platform, as well as a system-on-a-chip platform aimed atset-top boxes. Intel did formally announce its 45 nm process, though.ThinkComputers has the scoop. Getting the most out of your Eee PC @ bit-tech.net [Jan-15-08] (0 Comments) I've been using the device fairly heavily for a few of weeksnow andoverall I've been really impressed with it. It's light, small andsturdy and has a great feature set for its price. It seems perfect fortrain journeys, with its quick boot up time and almost precisely theright size for sitting on chair-back tables seen on planes and trains.Not even my old X-series ThinkPad could manage that.One man's meat is another man's poison, and certainly many people willbe put off by the 800 x 480 display resolution and lack of Bluetooth.Word on the street is that the new Eee PC will sport a higherresolution screen, and as much as I'm now used to the smaller screen –most websites are designed for 1024x768 screens, so this will be awelcome addition. The keyboard is a little tricky to get used to, andeven now I constantly find myself pressing “up” instead of “shift”, and“2” instead of “1”. But for around £220, it still offers amazing valuein my eyes.The operating system is based on Xandros Desktop 4, which is in turnbased on Debian Etch. Asus has changed a few things in the install, soit's not 100 percent compatible with Xandros, but it's very close. Ifyou're a bit of a Linux fan, you might feel like just wiping the driveand installing EeeXubuntu, or Eeedora. However, I like to think of theEee PC as a single function device, rather than a fully-fledged PC.It's got an OS that is designed specifically for that hardware, and itworks well. Changing to a different OS is a recipe for lots offiddling, slower performance and a much greater chance of things goingwrong.As new updates come out, they are rolled out using “Add/RemoveSoftware”. As Asus knows the OS is identical on all their machines, itmakes rolling out such updates a lot easier – this has already pushedout an update for Skype 2.0 during my time using the Eee PC.The OS built into the Eee PC feels a lot like using a Psion device –simple and speedy. You can get a virtual tour of the OS here.With FireFox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice installed as standard, I feelright at home as this combination of software is what I would be usingon any Windows or Linux platform. The OS isn't perfect though, so in this article I'll be showing you afew of the things I've changed to make the Eee PC feel more like a MePC. BGear b-Tarantula 650W power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Jan-14-08] (0 Comments) If you are not familiar with the BGear name, their newest productmaybe the one to get them noticed. The newly released b- Tarantula powersupply is it. The b-Tarantula is a modular unit with some unique cableextensions and also boasts a large 135mm cooling fan. We will talk moreabout the cable extensions later but another thing to know is that the unitcomes a 550 and 650 watt models. Not everyone needs crazy amount of powerbut is the b-Tarantula deserving to be placed in your rig? Lets see. [News] ASUS Triton 75 CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Jan-14-08] (0 Comments) Asus offers a myriad of CPU coolers, ranging from fanned, to fanswith LED's, to the silent fan-less models. Most of the coolers areuniversally compatible with AMD and Intel processors. So, with this manyoptions, what type of cooler will we have in this review? Well, I'm sure youalready have a pretty good idea just from the name in the title, but I willstill name it fully here. The CPU cooler in the spotlight this time aroundis the ASUS Triton 75. The Triton 75 is a fan-less CPU cooler that helpsdissipates heat away from the core roughly 10% faster than other coolers.The fan-less design allows the end user to choose whatever brand of 120mmfan they want. PCI-Express soundcard @ bit-tech.net [Jan-13-08] (0 Comments) In some regards the D2X represents the rather patheticstate of thesoundcard industry as a whole – we’ve had PCI-Express for nearly fouryears now and the only performance card worth buying on the interfacehas to use a bridge chip. At least Asus has got off its backside anddone something about it.As for the Xonar D2X itself, I still prefer not to use any of the extraDolby or DTS features and leave the core audio sounding as good as itshould – and it certainly sounds excellent. But because I prefer tohave the audio sounding as it was intended without the use of any Dolbyor DTS ‘features’, a lot of this extra value is lost on me. I reallywish Asus would launch a no-frills card that sounded just as good –without having to pay for the DTS and Dolby licences or extra OEMsoftware included in the bundle – it would work out far cheaper.The additional power the Xonar D2X requires caused me no end of fusstoo. First, my PSU at home didn’t have a floppy connector, so I had todig around for an adapter, and then I had to re-route all my tidiedcables – it’s just sloppy and messy. Even a normal Molex, which everyPSU has, would have been a better option. At the very least aMolex-to-floppy power adapter should be thrown in the box gratis.The software package is vast and beats anything from else we’ve seen,although the PMP software and ALT features are still pretty much asgood as useless. Thankfully the drivers have improved and it workedflawlessly straight out the box with everything we threw at it; newgames, old games, DVDs, music – the lot.Is the Asus Xonar D2X worth the money? Absolutely, if you require aPCI-Express soundcard and want the best currently available, but as analternative to the many PCI soundcards I’m still not so sure. If you’rea fan of older games and you’re running Vista then this could certainlybe very tempting, but it’s probably an expense not worth bearing unlessyou want to play and use at least some of the many features included. XFX nForce 780i SLI @ bit-tech.net [Jan-11-08] (0 Comments) It may look better, but it also costs £20 more than an XFXnForce 680iSLI and we'd certainly be tempted to sit back and wait to see if thenForce 780i SLI suffers from the same significantly high number ofboard deaths that the nForce 680i SLI had - personally I'd choose acompany with a good RMA service and warranty period, just to be safe.In that respect, XFX's two year warranty is clearly outshone by itsAmerican alternative, EVGA, which offers a fantastic and industryleading ten year warranty.The nForce 780i SLI suffers from stuff that just hasn't been updated;no solid aluminium capacitors, no re-FABed chipsets on a coolerprocess, no updated BIOS flashing utilities, no overclocking safeguards and not even a CMOS button.Even though the XFX nForce 780i SLI performs well, is stable and looksgood, it just simply lacks in features I'd expect an enthusiast boardto have. I can't help but want to look elsewhere to the Tier Onemanufacturers for a quiet solution that is better kitted out. Nexus Caterpillar Silent System PC Case @ rbmods.com [Jan-11-08] (0 Comments) In the quest for silencing a computer system, we often focus on noisesources such as CPU coolers and case fans. But what if the case itself canaid in reducing noise? Nexus, makers of a wide range of computer products,has developed a new case, the Nexus Caterpillar Silent System PC Case, whichhas added features to reduce computer noise. Will this caterpillar turninto a butterfly? Let's find out in this review. Thermaltake T1000 Laptop cooler @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jan-10-08] (0 Comments) Not only does this heat make using my laptop for long periods of time uncomfortable, it can also damage and shorten the life of computer components. So it is in my (and probably your) best interest to keep your laptop as cool as possible. Laptops don't generally have any way to control the fan speed on its cooling fan(s) so what other way of keeping the laptop cool is there? Well that is where things like Thermaltake's range of laptop coolers come in handy. How to write... a strategy game @ bit-tech.net [Jan-09-08] (0 Comments) So, in this third instalment in my now re-focused and lessselfishseries I'm going to be looking at Real-Time Strategy games and try tosee how they are written, what stories they can tell well and how theymay change in the future. Helping me out along the way is MagnusJensen, lead designer on the fantastic World in Conflict. World in Conflict is an especially interesting game to use for acase-study since it basically re-wrote a lot of the rules for howstories are told and what stories are told in RTS games. In a time whenmost titles in the genre are still using talking heads or, at best,acted-out FMVs between missions, World in Conflict used amixture of scales to engage players. During gameplay players will befighting in battles which determine the course of a war, but in betweenyou'll be embroiled in the much more claustrophobic side of the war =96up close with the troops, exposed to their personal battles. What goes into an RTS game? Do well-known authors like Tom Clancy bringanything worthwhile to a developing title and can any RTS game win ourhearts without Joe Kucan? Enough with the questions! It's time foranswers! Cooler Master Cosmos S Case @ hardwaresecrets.com [Jan-09-08] (0 Comments) We took a look on Cosmos S, a big seven-bay case featuring lotsof fans that will be launched by Cooler Master this year. [News] OCZ 2x1GB DDR3-1333 Gold Edition Memory Kit @ virtual-hideout.net [Jan-08-08] (0 Comments) Since some users don't need the lower latencies, higher latenciescan afford them a bit more avid performance at lower price. A good case andpoint is the new OCZ DDR3-1333 Gold Edition 2GB Dual Channel Memory Kit. OCZhas obviously been paying attention to the market comments and has donesomething to help their fans that are looking to make the move to DDR3. Itisn't that there aren't many DDR3 kits to choose from, it's more that therearen't a great deal of DDR3 boards circulating yet. And there hasn't been alarge enough performance boost from DDR3 boards that can draw people out tospend that pretty penny required to upgrade their motherboard and memory kitto tap in to their Core 2 Duo's hidden potential. Technic3D/Thermaltake Armor+ VH6000SWA @ technic3d.com [Jan-07-08] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Armor+ VH6000SWA is the next big PC Case in th e Technic3D Editorship. The Case is equipped with one 140mm, one 120mm and one 230mm fans (running at low speeds). Optional you can make ins ide 4x 140mm! This Thermaltake also ships with 4x USB 2.0, eSATA, Fire Wire and audio support. See you in the following Review which qualitie s the new Big Tower for Gamer presents. Asus EAH3870 TOP @ bit-tech.net [Jan-07-08] (0 Comments) This is the closest that an AMD/ATI-based graphics card has gottocompeting with Nvidia at the same price point for some time now, butthere are still cases where even this factory overclocked Radeon HD3870 from Asus disappoints me a bit. It pains me to say that becausethe Radeon HD 3870 is a truly fantastic product that we are big fans ofat bit-tech.The penalty for enabling anti-aliasing is the single most disappointingdownside and in particular I’m referring to 4xAA performance comparedto what else is on the market at the same price. We’re now in 2008 andone would hope that a performance mainstream graphics card is able tocope with 4xAA enabled at respectable settings and resolutions in mostgames. Of course, Crysisis an exception to this rule (and probably will be for some time tocome), but there are still times where the performance drop is muchlarger than what we’re used to seeing on ATI-based graphics cards ofdays gone by.On the whole though, the card looks to be a great choice as long asAsus meets its suggested retail price and that you also know about thesometimes extreme AA performance penalty. However, our suggestion wouldbe to look at one of the cheaper Radeon HD 3870s on the market, pocketthe difference and then dabble in a bit of overclocking. We say thisbecause although the Asus EAH3870 TOP gets close to a similarly pricedGeForce 8800 GT, it never really matches it in every scenario. A Look at the PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W Power Supply @ aphnetworks.com [Dec-29-07] (0 Comments) What's an ideal Christmas? For us, it's getting a PC Power & Cooling power supply. PC Power & Cooling is one of the oldest power supply manufacturers; and well known for their high performance enthusiast power supplies -- representing the industry standard in personal computer power supply engineering. After OCZ purchased them, they continued their reputation of high quality products with excellent OCZ warranty and support. Being that, I still held some reserve on PC Power & Cooling power supplies over the years. I understand their take on performance in power, but I don't like their emission in noise. When OCZ asked me to take a look at PC Power & Cooling's Silencer 610W power supply, it sure gained my interest -- how will a power supply with perpendicular 80mm fan implementation in the back be a 'silent' power supply? While at APH Networks we don't actually review-review power supplies, as we don't have the testing equipment to make a real review, let's take this one apart and see what's inside in our report today. Tagan TG700-U88 BZ 700 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-27-07] (0 Comments) And their latest unit to grace the shelves of your local retailer isthe BZ line. The BZ is not only another power supply to your collection butit offers somethings that are a little out of the norm for power supplies.Tagan threw in the mix of LED lights and other safety precautions to theusual 135mm fan and modular cables. We all know that Tagan makes great powersupplies but this just adds to the goodness. So, lets see if this goodnessis worthy of being put into your rig. Zalman VF1000 LED & RHS88 Coolers for the GeForce 8800 @ pcper.com [Dec-25-07] (0 Comments) The Zalman VF1000 LED VGA cooler and RHS88 heatsink combination isan excellent cooling solution for NVIDIA 8800 series graphic cards. Itsignificantly lowers the key component temperatures, even when running theintegrated 80mm fan at a relatively low speed for quiet operation. TheVF1000 LED/RHS88 is a compact, single slot cooling solution and iscompatible with SLI configurations. Both coolers come with everythingneeded for installation and the bundled Fan Mate 2 speed controller offersgreat flexibility for finding just the right balance between performance andnoise. Nexus HXR-5500 RAM Cooler @ rbmods.com [Dec-25-07] (0 Comments) As computer performance increases, the need to cool the internalcomponents of the computer becomes greater. While we focus a lot ofattention on the CPU, video card, and case fan cooling solutions, anothercooling product that is starting to become more prominent are RAM/memorycoolers. Nexus, makers of a variety of silent PC components, has released anew silent RAM cooler, the Nexus HXR-5500 RAM cooler. Will this solutionprove to be silent yet remain functional? Let's find out. OCZ Vendetta @ bit-tech.net [Dec-23-07] (0 Comments) For the size, theOCZ Vendetta is exceptionally capable, providing yourun the fan at full speed. If you're anything like us, that'll justdrive you nuts, however it seems that some in our community have agreater tolerance to these things so it could suit them well. Using theincluded 4-pin connector on the fan works well, providing yourmotherboard has the facility to use it – although you can still swap itfor any 92mm of choice and take the performance hit. However, does thecost of an extra 92mm fan on top of this heatsink simply equate to abigger heatsink altogether?The attention to detail, like the rubber fan mounts and pitted fins, isexcellent. In addition to its great build quality and because it'ssmaller than most heatsinks we’ve seen recently, it should easily fitmore restrictive boards as well. It's a great replacement for the stockIntel heatsink but some might not be sure if it's worth ÂŁ5 more thanthe Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro which, at the same noise level, shouldperform fairly similarly to the Vendetta. Vizo Orbiter - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Dec-22-07] (0 Comments) Vizofirst came to our attention with their eye catching HDD enclosures inearly 2006. Since then they have increased their product range to fans,mice, headsets and more. Today I have an interesting product, the VizoOrbital, a circular HDD cooler. Let's see how it holds up. Ultra m998 PC Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Dec-21-07] (0 Comments) Ultra makes fantastic products. Its cases, power supplies, fans, andsuch are top-notch and quite affordable. The Ultra m998 PC Case is noexception to this. It's one of the company's newest high-end enthusiastcases. It's solidly built and easy to install and modify-Ultra's exclusivePower Bar makes power cable management incredibly easy and simply fantastic.It's also the first case I've seen with a front eSATA port. ThinkComputerstakes a look at the m998 in this review. Thermaltake DuOrb Graphics Card Cooler @ aphnetworks.com [Dec-19-07] (0 Comments) Searching high and low for a new cooler for an NVIDIA 8800GTS, most people realize quickly that there aren't a lot out there even over a year of its release. What I am specifically looking for is something that's readily available, priced reasonably, performs decently, looks great, preferably doesn't occupy the next two slots below it, and above all, quiet. Thermaltake designed a product that on paper fits into all the categories I am looking for -- the Thermaltake DuOrb. Utilizing a pure copper design with heatpipes to distribute the heat around and two fans to blow the heat away, the Thermaltake DuOrb does not occupy any more space than the stock 8800GTS cooler. How well does the Thermaltake DuOrb fit our bill as a graphics card cooler in real life? Let's have a look at this unique heatsink/fan combination today. Zalman ZM1000-HP 1000W Power Supply @ techpowerup.com [Dec-19-07] (0 Comments) Zalman's new ZM1000-HP power supply has been designed with fan noise in mind. The heatpipe experts from Zalman have stuck two of these inside their PSU and added a slow running 140 mm fan on top of that. This winning combination results in one of the quietest PSUs we ever tested, especially considering it delivers up to 1000W of power via six independant 12V rails. Cool Your 8800 GT - The Duorb and HR-03 GT ed @ pcper.com [Dec-18-07] (0 Comments) The simple fact is that going from a stock cooler to either of thesereplacements from Thermaltake or Thermalright is going to be a great move.Each option has its strength and weakness; the Thermalright HR-03 GT takesup more valuable case space and doesn't come with a fan for those that wantto use active cooling (which I recommend). It does however provide theoption for passive cooling and also presented the best cooling results oncewe did put a fan on it. Thermaltake Extreme Spirit II Chipset Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Dec-18-07] (0 Comments) Personally, I feel that the only time you should ever have to worryabout Northbridge temperature is while overclocking. I've never had a bigproblem with NB temps while overclocking, but I'm not really into theextreme stuff. Even with the passive heatpipe cooling, you really shouldhave additional active cooling, such as a fan blowing directly on theradiators, if you are pushing your system to its limits. What we need is anactive NB heatpipe cooler that can do the job silently, efficiently, andwith a fan that will last. The guys at Thermaltake have taken care of thisproblem with their new NB cooler, the Extreme Spirit II, an actively cooledheatpipe cooler for your Northbridge. Let's see if it will give me somepeace of mind in the NB department. bit-tech's Top 10 Games of 2007 @ bit-tech.net [Dec-18-07] (0 Comments) Whether you look at The Orange Box as one game, threegames orfive games – whether you’re a newcomer to the series who wants to playit in his living room on a console or a hardened fan who wants the PCexperience, there’s still no faulting The Orange Box. Ifnothing else there’s still just an enormous feeling of value. Half-Life 2:Episode 2 is perhaps the most perfect andappreciable of the Half-Life experience yet. The meaty part ofthe story, Episode 2 picks up directly after Episode 1and sees Alyx Vance and Gordon Freeman desperately trying to make it toWhite Forest Base to deliver a message of the utmost importance to theresistance. The story is brilliantly told and the pace is kept fast so that playersare constantly moving, barging through obstacles and knocking foes andtrials aside. There is no pause, no relief save those shared betweencharacters at pivotal moments of the plot. Corsair TX750W Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-13-07] (0 Comments) We completely disassembled TX750W (CMPSU-750TX) the latest power supply from Corsair featuring a single +12V rail, 140-mm fan and four 6/8-pin power connectors for video cards. Check it out! Thermaltake DuOrb VGA Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Dec-12-07] (0 Comments) Many vendors of cooling systems use the open fan designedimplemented in the Thermaltake DuOrb VGA cooler, however Thermaltake put twosmaller fans and heatsinks on this design in order to spread the coolinglove to the entire surface of the video card, including the RAM. While itdoesn't appear to help much for full-load temperatures, the DuOrb certainlykeeps the idle temperatures down. ThinkComputers has the review. Technic3D/OCZ XTC Memory Cooler @ technic3d.com [Dec-12-07] (0 Comments) The OCZ XTC Memory Cooler arrived Technic3D. The XTC (Xtreme T hermal Convection) Cooler attaches to your motherboard's DIMM socket r etention levers. While the fans cool your system memory, glowing LED f ans illuminate your memory subsystem. Cools DDR1 or DDR2 memory module s and Improves overclocking performance on all memory modules? See t hat in the following Review. Noctua NF-P12 Cooling Fans @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-11-07] (0 Comments) Today we are going to take a look at a new offering from Noctua. Noit isn't a huge towering cooler but something that makes these coolersefficient. It's their newest 120mm cooling fan label the NF-P12. And sureyou are familiar with their NF-S12 series that we reviewed some time ago.Well, the new series shares the same color scheme, but the difference is inthe blades. OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Reaper CL3 Edition @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Dec-10-07] (0 Comments) From OCZ today we have a 2GB 800Mhz memory kit to review. What’s so special about that you ask? Well this is the Reaper CL3 Edition, the ones with the fancy heatpipe on the top for super cooling goodness, and super tight CL3 latencies for excellent performance, so let’s take a look at them shall we… Ultra X3 600 Watt Power Supply @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-10-07] (0 Comments) I am fast becoming an Ultra fanboi. Over the last few months, I'vehad the chance to review enough Ultra products that I've quickly developedadmiration for their company. One after another, Ultra releases qualitycases, power supplies and hard drive enclosures and many other computerperipherals. From a reviewers point of view, Ultra seems to be dedicated toproviding the computer enthusiast community with the highest qualityproducts money can buy. Not long ago, I had the chance to review the UltraX3 1000 watt power supply and I was blown away. Today, I'm working with hislittle brother, the X3 600 watt. Let's see how he fares in his big brother'sshadow. Noctua NF-P12 Cooling Fans @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-10-07] (0 Comments) Today we are going to take a look at a new offering from Noctua. Noit isn't a huge towering cooler but something that makes these coolersefficient. It's their newest 120mm cooling fan label the NF-P12. And sureyou are familiar with their NF-S12 series that we reviewed some time ago.Well, the new series shares the same color scheme, but the difference is inthe blades. Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 @ bit-tech.net [Dec-10-07] (0 Comments) As I said during my Radeon HD 3870 architectural review, I’m abig fanof the product and I believe that Sapphire’s implementation is a goodone. While Sapphire hasn’t changed much in terms of card design—it’sessentially a reference card wearing Sapphire-branded make up—thecompany has included a comprehensive bundle in the box. And when youfactor in that most of what’s included in the box is useful, the dealjust sweetens itself a bit.The one thing that’s plaguing both not just AMD’s partners though, butalso Nvidia’s is availability of these newly released graphics cards.Sapphire’s Radeon HD 3870 card is currently unavailable for purchase atany of the major UK online retailers, but it’s on pre-order at a verytempting £140 (inc. VAT). If you consider that Nvidia’s GeForce 8800 GT is starting at around£170—and in some cases going over and above £200—Sapphire’s card looksto be pretty good value. Once you add in the good overclockingheadroom, the deal almost seems too good to be true. Thankfully it’snot (as long as Sapphire can meet the demand for the product) and, ifyou can find the product in stock, I wholeheartedly recommend thiscard. Noctua NF-P12 120mm Case Fan @ rbmods.com [Dec-10-07] (0 Comments) About a year ago, we had a chance to review a couple of differentNoctua 120mm fans and were impressed by their solid performance and quietoperations. Noctua has been busy designing new products and are back with anew offering in the 120mm fan market, the Noctua NF-P12 120mm fan. Will theybe able to improve on an already near-perfect product? That is what we'rehere to find out in this review. Enermax Infiniti 650W power supply @ bit-tech.net [Dec-09-07] (0 Comments) Enermax ticks me off with its poor maths and occasionally iffymodularplugs and to be honest I expected a little better from this unit. Youmay never use the 3.3V and 5V much at all in a modern PC—not near thelevels that we’ve tested at and the 12Vs work perfectly fine—but if aproduct claims it can do something, it should be able to stand by thatclaim. In this case, Enermax unfortunately hasn’t stood by that claim.The unit looks fantastic and still supports all sorts of PC setups,however, the extra cost and tough market might easily give enoughammunition for all the Corsair HX-series fans out there to play itdown. Resident Evil:Umbrella Chronicles @ bit-tech.net [Dec-08-07] (0 Comments) Umbrella Chronicles isn’t a bad game in the light-gun genre,but it is a bad game by the standards of Resident Evil.As with any light-gun game it also ends up suffering from having verylimited replayability, making up for it by providing an intense andinteresting co-op experience. A perfect game to rent for a week or so if you’ve got a friend you wantto slaughter some zombies with, Umbrella Chronicles offers further glimpses into the ResidentEviluniverse for series fans and presents a challenge for those with a loveof the genre. It’s certainly not one for casual gamers though and mostgamers will have more fun if they head down to the arcade with afistful of fifty pence pieces instead. Novint Falcon Limited Edition @ bit-tech.net [Dec-08-07] (0 Comments) The Falcon is a fantastic game controller, although I stillthink afew kinks need to be ironed out. With the circular grip we used theFalcon quickly became painful to use unless you had a lot of desk spaceto spread out on, for example. Several of us ended up almost up-endingthe Falcon completely with some over-enthusiastic swings, for example.However, just because it is good, it doesn't mean that it'llsell or that it's good for the market. I've been round the blockenough to know that selling something like the Falcon, even to seasonedgamers, will be an uphill struggle.This is the major fault of the Novint when you get right down to it, it's an awesome gadget, but it's a pretty sure thing thatit'll never really sell wellenough to take off. Is it the coolestperipheral we've ever had our hands on?Undoubtedly and, although thecomparison has probably been used before and is a bit unfair to startwith, the Novint puts the Wiimote to shame in many regards.Unfortunately though, we can probably only recommend it to readerson the Novint Falcon Limited Edition @ bit-tech.net [Dec-08-07] (0 Comments) The Falcon is a fantastic game controller, although I still think a few kinks need to be ironed out. With the circular grip we used the Falcon quickly became painful to use unless you had a lot of desk space to spread out on, for example. Several of us ended up almost up-ending the Falcon completely with some over-enthusiastic swings, for example.However, just because it is good, it doesn’t mean that it’ll sell or that it’s good for the market. I’ve been round the block enough to know that selling something like the Falcon, even to seasoned gamers, will be an uphill struggle.This is the major fault of the Novint when you get right down to it – it’s an awesome gadget, but it’s a pretty sure thing that it’ll never really sell well enough to take off. Is it the coolest peripheral we’ve ever had our hands on? Undoubtedly and, although the comparison has probably been used before and is a bit unfair to start with, the Novint puts the Wiimote to shame in many regards.Unfortunately though, we can probably only recommend it to readers on the “Oh my god, that’s so cool” factor at the moment. The reality is that there just aren’t enough games out there which are new to the Falcon and, although the Quake 4, Penumbra and Half-Life 2 mods are fantastically cool, without the promise of support from future developers, they just don’t amount to $239 worth of cool. PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610 EPS12V Power Supply @ hardwaresecrets.com [Dec-07-07] (0 Comments) We completely disassembled Silencer 610 EPS12V, a 610 W power supply without any fancy feature from PC Power & Cooling. Check it out! Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Dec-06-07] (0 Comments) In our last test session we made a run with the Thermaltake MaxOrb and found that it performed better than any of the other coolers we have tested thus far. Today we will be taking a look at another Thermaltake product that is sure to rock our testing charts. The Thermaltake V1 places a fan in between two cooling fins to maximize incoming and outgoing air. The box makes some pretty bold statements about the level of performance that the V1 is capable of delivering, and at $60 USD the V1 is in the upper atmosphere of air coolers. Thermaltake MaxOrb CPU Cooler @ tweaktown.com [Dec-05-07] (0 Comments) The idea of placing a fan inside of a heatsink has been around fo r a very long time. The first time an =93Orb=94 style cooler was used on a CPU was around 1998 when a product became available through surplus cat alogs that didn't have any markings other than on the fan. The fan was Panaflo branded and so this product became known as the Panaflo Orb. Thermaltake has been through a rainbow of colors and super sounding names for their Orb line and today we are going to take a look at the latest O rb. This heatsink uses the decade old Orb philosophy and merges the lates t heatpipe technology to make the MaxOrb. Silenx Ixtrema 120mm Case Fans @ rbmods.com [Dec-05-07] (0 Comments) Your typical computer case fan is a cheaply built fan that oftendoesn't last long and can be the loudest source of noise in your computer.However, certain manufacturers do offer high-end case fans that offer highair flow and nearly silent operations, creating the desired combination ofquiet performance. AcousticPC.com, a large retailer of quiet PC computercooling hardware, sent us one such case fan that they highly recommend: theSilenx Quiet Case Fans. Will these fans bring an end to loud fanoperations? That is what we're here to find out in this review.. Sunbeamtech Quarterback Mid Tower Case @ pro-clockers.com [Dec-04-07] (0 Comments) I do a lot of case reviews as the junior reviewer at Pro-Clockers. Itdoesn't bother me, because I've got a case fetish of sorts. In its owntwisted way it works out fine for everyone involved. Over the years, I'veowned big cases, small cases, weird cases and modded cases. To be honest, Ichange cases more than some men change shirts. The last few years, I settledin with the Antec Sonata II. It's a great case and did what I needed it todo. However, I changed it for the Aerocool AE Plus last month. Always asucker for big fans, the Aerocool drew me in. After trying out theSunbeamtech Quarterback, I switched again. My main rig is now happily housedin the slightly odd, yet highly functional Quarterback. Read on to see why Ichanged cases. Tuniq 3 Midi tower Case @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Dec-03-07] (0 Comments) I didn’t think to record the running temperatures of the previous case to compare this one too, but in terms of noise, this one is ridiculously quiet. The supplied 120mm fans are rated at 16dbm(!) and the loudest component in the case became the CPU cooler fan. This was a nice result. bit-tech :Super Mario Galaxy @ bit-tech.net [Dec-02-07] (0 Comments) Granted, that isn't a problem which immediately detracts fromthe quality of Galaxy,but it is a problem which will bother some of the grumpier gamers outthere (like myself) and will probably be pointed out by some of theXbox 360 and PS3 fanboys who populate the world.I suppose this criticism comes down to my original bite-sizedexplanation of the game; that it is essentially just SuperMario 64 in space. That’s not bad, because both Mario 64 and Galaxyitself are great games, but it is illustrative of a wider issue.Shoving those wider issues aside for a moment though, Super MarioGalaxyis a game which belongs in the collection of any Wii gamer. It’smassive world is one which can be either fully explored, probed andcompleted, or skipped through when the difficulty curve gets too steep.The new transformations and moves available to Mario are fun enough tokeep the game feeling slightly fresh even if it isn’t really that muchof a breakthrough and the levels themselves are complex and interestingenough to entertain anyone.The fact that it’s got the Super Mario name on it may putsome people off the game who think that Mario games are just for kids,but it really shouldn’t. Despite the cartoony and kiddy feel that thegame has on the surface there’s actually a wealth of longevity andreplayability hidden under the crust - Galaxy is a game whichwill keep hardcore and casual gamers entertained for hours and hours. XFX GeForce 8800GT 512MB Alpha Dog Video Card @ legitreviews.com [Nov-30-07] (0 Comments) When we first sat the XFX GeForce 8800 GT 512MB next to the refer ence NVIDIA card something just didn't look right. XFX implimented a larg er fan and also increased the opening in the cover to let more cool air i n. The slits on the sides of the cover have also been increased to improv e airflow around the capacitors and other heat producing components. The changes to the cooling really paid off as the XFX GeForce 8800 GT was 15C cooler at idle and 8C cooler at load thanks to the increased airflow. No t bad considering the XFX GeForce 8800 GT Alpha Dog is running overclocke d! Our review sample have a core clock frequency of 625MHz and the refere nce cards from NVIDIA run at 600MHz... bit-tech :AMD ATI Radeon HD 3870 & CrossFire @ bit-tech.net [Nov-30-07] (0 Comments) AMD’s ATI Radeon HD 3870 is a great product for the money, butitsprice point is incredibly important to its long term success. I saythis because unfortunately for AMD, there’s a certain G92-basedgraphics card from Nvidia which delivers, in some cases, quite a bitmore performance for not much more financial outlay. With that saidthough, if you’re an AMD/ATI fan or are on a budget, the Radeon HD 3870is by no means a dud – this and the Radeon HD 2900 XT are like nightand day.It's a great time to be in the market for a new graphics card, becausethere are treats on both sides of the fence. If it wasn’t for theGeForce 8800 GT, the Radeon HD 3870 would be one of the few graphicscard worth serious consideration if you want value for money and, as aresult of this, it earns a solid recommendation from us. bit-tech :Cooler Master CM 690 chassis @ bit-tech.net [Nov-29-07] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master CM 690 is a nice looking case, there’s nodoubt in mymind about that, and the fact that its available for around fifty quidin the UK only sweetens the deal. On top of that, the coolingperformance is pretty admirable.Does the case have problems? Sure it does, but nothing is perfect. Theplentiful ventilation grilles mean that the case can get pretty noisy,especially if you have it on your desk right next to you monitor.That’s only going to get worse the more fans you put in the case too,though it can also be solved pretty easily by putting the case in adesk alcove. The main problem with the case though is the apparent flimsiness of thematerial and the fact that the build quality is occasionally a littlesuspect. The front of the case doesn’t meet the side panels or the topof the case all that well, even on the side that I didn’t damage. Regardless, the Cooler Master CM 690 is still a very worthy addition tothe catalogue and the cheap price means that pretty much anyone canjustify the expense. It may not be the most flash case we’ve ever seen,but it does what it says on the tin and it does it well at that.There’s not much more you can reasonably ask for. Sunbeam Tuniq Mini Plant 950W @ techpowerup.com [Nov-29-07] (0 Comments) Sunbeam's Mini Plant is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The PSU comes in an ATX standard sized casing but offers up to 950W of power. With most other manufacturers this means that the PSU fan will be very loud, not with the Mini Plant. Actually the fan is the quietest we ever tested in the 900W+ segment, you can almost not hear it, even under load. ThermalTake Armor+ VH6000 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-28-07] (0 Comments) I’ll be honest, when the ThermalTake Armor+ case arrivedat the office, I was left in a similar state as when the Antec P190landed; speechless. The box is a mammoth construction of cardboard thathints of the case packaged inside; a super tower case.This case is something special; it’s built for the most demanding userand includes the option to have preinstalled water cooling, up to sevenHDD bays, up to seven 5.25” bays, a removable motherboard tray,aluminium construction and a large 23cm fan. With its gamer-centriclooks, cavernous size and WCG (World Cyber Games) official caseaccolade, let’s see how it performs. Thermalright Inferno FX-14 CPU Cooler @ pcper.com [Nov-27-07] (0 Comments) The new Thermalright IFX-14 is a large tower style CPU cooler thatincorporates a secondary, backside cooler for enhanced performance. TheIFX-14 primary heatsink is designed to use one or more 140mm fans (or 120mm)of your choice with several different mounting options. It features a purecopper base, four large heatpipes, and two huge aluminum fin arrays, whichsit on top of the CPU like most other tower style coolers. The IFX-14 maincooler provides approximately twice the heat dissipation surface area asThermalright's popular Ultra-120, the current reigning champ among CPUair-coolers. Noctua NF-P12 - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-27-07] (0 Comments) The last time I was privileged enough to get my mitts onsome Noctua branded fans, I had to make up a new word to describe howquiet they were.Continuing this fashion of ultra quiet fans, Noctua have released theawkwardly named NF-P12 fan which builds on the success of the previousblade spinners we’ve seen, and adds some more fins and interestingnotches.Hopefully I’ll have to rack my brains for a new word for this brown andpeach number… Silverstone Kublai Series KL01 Case @ thinkcomputers.org [Nov-26-07] (0 Comments) Out of all of the cases I've had, I don't have to stop and thinkwhich one was my favorite. Hands down, the case I liked the most was aSilverstone Temjin TJ-05, the original model. It is big and beautiful, and Iused words in my review like elegant and regal about it. It was the firstlarge case I owned, the first with twin 120mm fans, the first that wouldhold more than three hard drives (it will hold seven), and a few otherfirsts for me. I still like it today as much as I did in 2003 when Ireviewed it. I have had three different rigs in it, and I will undoubtedlyuse it again someday, unlike the other 6 or so unused cases that accompanyit in my shed. So it stands that I feel Silverstone builds a fine case,along with their other fine products, which includes enclosures, powersupplies, and cooling solutions. Will the KL01 live up to my expectationsfor quality and innovation? We'll see. ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 Premium - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-26-07] (0 Comments) Coolingfor your CPU has slowly moved away from the bizarre shapes and sizeshoping to remove an extra degree or two, and shifted to tower coolerswhich naturally sit above motherboard surface components and providemuch more surface area for heat to be lost.The ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 is no different, and it’s built by acompany that have shown their silent coolers to be more than adequatein the past. The quiet 120mm fan and glossy metal finish make this anattractive choice. ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 Premium - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Nov-26-07] (0 Comments) Coolingfor your CPU has slowly moved away from the bizarre shapes and sizeshoping to remove an extra degree or two, and shifted to tower coolerswhich naturally sit above motherboard surface components and providemuch more surface area for heat to be lost.The ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 is no different, and it’s built by acompany that have shown their silent coolers to be more than adequatein the past. The quiet 120mm fan and glossy metal finish make this anattractive choice. bit-tech :Zalman ZM-MCF2 Multi Fan Controller @ bit-tech.net [Nov-26-07] (0 Comments) After the initial “OMG that's so cool!” reaction, the noveltywears off pretty quickly after we had used it for a while – it looksfantastic but any long term usability is destroyed by the fact wesimply couldn’t read it!It got extremely frustrating to continually have to contort myselfevery time I wanted to read it, as I had to have my eyes directly infront of it to make any sense of what was on screen.For £35 I was all set to recommend it to everyone after seeing it ati31, but this fundamental problem makes it almost useless – I ended upresenting to have to lean over and stretch my neck out yet againjust to read it. So does not wanting to actually use it make money wellspent? It can just sit there looking cool, which is fine if all you dois show off your PC to others, but not if you want to use it yourself.It really, really kills me that Zalman just needs to sort this one major issue to make it a product absolutely worth purchasing,but until then it’s not worth the cardboard it comes in. Gigabyte G-Power 2 Pro @ techpowerup.com [Nov-24-07] (0 Comments) Gigabyte recently announced its new G-Power 2 Pro CPU heatsink which adds additional airflow to the CPU Mosfets. This airflow helps to provide additional cooling for those Mosfets, making it easier for the motherboard to provide stable power for hungry CPUs. The G-Power 2 Pro has some nice features, including a very quiet 120mm fan. bit-tech :Kane and Lynch:Dead Men @ bit-tech.net [Nov-24-07] (0 Comments) Kane and Lynch is one of those odd games which manages to do somany things right, but so many things wrong too. It’s clear from theoffset that the unrelenting pace, complex backstory and coolly violentgameplay will make it an instant cult hit. However, the less than impressive graphics, awkward multiplayer andsamey nature of the gameplay at the most basic level will equally justput some people off. If I were a psychic forced to predict the future of Kane and Lynch,I’d say it’ll probably end up as one of those word-of-mouth games whichis constantly recommended by fans and critics. Somehow though it willnever really take off – like Psychonauts or Beyond Goodand Evil, both of which I heartily and ironically recommend. It’s not that Kane and Lynch is a bad game. Quite the opposite. Kane andLynchpromises an exciting ride filled with vendettas, vices and vengeance.Unfortunately, that isn’t a dish that everyone has a taste for andthose that are after something more basic and hi-res would be betteroff looking elsewhere. A good game on the whole, but one filled with minor flaws and issues, Kane and Lynchhas the potential to spawn a second, even more adult and undergroundfranchise for Eidos and IO. For the moment though, what we’re left withis a well-told tale which does its best to stand out but can neverquite manage to rise above the crowd of other higher-def shootersavailable this year. Worth picking up, but probably worth selling onagain a few weeks later too. bit-tech :Guitar Hero III:Legends of Rock @ bit-tech.net [Nov-21-07] (0 Comments) One of the major complaints some of us had about the game toowas thatthe songs seemed a bit poorly chosen and that there were long periodsof inactivity. Sure, there's times when you need a moment to get yourfunk back and rest your hand but for some songs these pauses areincredibly long. You can honestly spend a good 30 to 60 seconds justsat at your TV, waiting for the song to start again.Another thing to take into consideration is the price – the old guitarsare compatible with the new game, but we’d definitely recommend the newwireless model. This naturally drives the price up by a few bobhowever. In the end, it all comes down to the songs and a personal taste. Ifyour musical palette can stand to see the likes of The Who mixing withRage Against The Machine, something my father would have regarded asakin to reputation-buggery, then you’ll be well catered for with GuitarHero III.It may be essentially the same game as Guitar Hero II,just with a few extra tweaks and songs added in, but that knife cutsboth ways so that what may sound like a bad thing is also pretty good.It may not be as innovative as the first games in the series, but it’sstill as fun and series fans will definitely want to pick it up. NZXT HUSH Case @ gideontech.com [Nov-21-07] (0 Comments) The inside of the case is where you can really start seeing where the HUSH name came from. Both side panels as well as the top and bottom panels are covered with acoustic absorption mats. The mats cut down on fan noise and any other noise your PC might make. bit-tech :Cooler Master Hyper TX2 & 212 @ bit-tech.net [Nov-19-07] (0 Comments) If you're after the ultimate performance from an air heatsinktheCooler Master Hyper 212 should certainly fit the bill with its includedhigh performance fan and dual fan option, but you'll need to swap thefan out for a quieter alternative or at least lower the voltage on thecurrent one if pine for a quiet environment.For those looking for an inexpensive but still capable heatsink, theHyper TX2 is a good purchase. With both AMD and Intel support includedit does more than the Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro, but it's worthremembering that the Freezer 7 Pro performs better and has a 4-pinconnector to knock the fan noise down on the many compatiblemotherboards. The Hyper TX2 suffers from the same fate as the Hyper212, in that it's audible but not offensive, and the fan can again beswapped out if need be, unlike the Freezer 7 Pro. bit-tech :SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Headset @ bit-tech.net [Nov-17-07] (0 Comments) I want to love the Siberia neckset – in fact, I do love it. Itlooksgood, it sounds great and the cables are all decently sized. On top ofthat, the microphone is good too and I took the Siberia home to testthe mic out via Team Fortress 2, where it performed perfectly. Thecable is bendy and malleable and the mic itself is perfectlyresponsive. However, no matter how much I love it I have to admit that I did haveproblems with it. I found myself switching between the Siberia necksetand the SteelSeries 5H v2 headset,which I recently re-discovered and fell in love with. The 5H v2s use asimilar ear-cup design and microphone, but have a more conventionalheadstrap. It’s just a shame that they don’t look as cool. The Siberia neckset is a great little device in some ways and fantasticin others, but its weak point is that the core of the design actuallyends up giving us a bit of a headache. If you’ve got a high tolerancefor pain or the right shaped head for the Siberia to grip to then youmight find that the Siberia is just what you’re looking for and they’realso worth bearing in mind if you’re more concerned with the look thananything else. If not, then you might want to look at what else isavailable. OCZ DDR3 PC3-12800 Titanium with XMP @ tweaktown.com [Nov-16-07] (0 Comments) Since then we have seen several speed increases. When DDR topped out at 400MHz we saw DDR2 memory make its debut, this added new technolog ies to increase speed along with lower voltage requirements and the same Dual Channel status. Now the torch has been passed to DDR3, and while sti ll in its infancy it's gained the big blue giants approval, and even so me modifications as well. Intel has brought to the DDR3 memory table what it likes to call Extreme Memory Profile, or XMP for short. What is it and how does it work? Today we find out with our first XMP memory modules from OCZ Technology. Monster 10 Page Crysis @ bit-tech.net [Nov-16-07] (0 Comments) */Is Crysis a great game? Yes, in fact it’s better than that. It’s a fantastic game and you’ll have a lot of fun playing it. Should you play it? Yes, but maybe wait a little bit if you haven’t got the hardware to handle it straight away so that the right tools can come out to enable your enjoyment. How to Create a Three-Speed Fan Control Without Spending a Dime @ hardwaresecrets.com [Nov-16-07] (0 Comments) Learn how to configure the speed of any fan located inside on your PC (CPU, VGA, chipset, case, etc) to low, medium or high speed without spending any money at all. Coolink Silenator @ bleedinedge.com [Nov-15-07] (0 Comments) With the increasing heat output of the modern cpu, cooling solutions havebeen getting larger, more elaborate, and louder. While some may not mind the50+ dB noise output by the current generation of heatsink/fan units, others,like this reviewer, seek the balance of performance and noise. Today, wepresent a new air cooling solution with this in mind, the Silentator byCoolink. Xigmatek's XP-S964 @ bleedinedge.com [Nov-15-07] (0 Comments) Code-named for eXtreme Performance, the XP-S964 is designed to provideoutstanding performance and yet remain quiet. With 4-piece (6 mm diameter)staggered heat-pipes with high-density and light material the design doessuggest that this cooler will provided extremely good cooling along with the92mm PWM fan provided (thermally controlled fan is optional). The rubbermounting method should also minimize any noise created by vibration. Apevia X-Jupiter Junior S Type Case @ modders-inc.com [Nov-15-07] (0 Comments) The X-Jupiter Junior S Type case has some big features that aredefiantly worth mentioning. First and foremost there is a very noticeable250mm intake fan. Additionally, it has a tool-less design, sturdyconstruction and sharp looks. Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure @ techpowerup.com [Nov-15-07] (0 Comments) Thermaltake recently added the Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure to their lineup. This portable unit works with SATA hard drives and allows them to be used with USB 2.0 ports or faster eSATA connections. To help keep the drive cool, there is an 80 mm by 15 mm blue LED fan on one side and black mesh on the front and rear. Win a Prize Pack from CoolIT Systems @ bigbruin.com [Nov-14-07] (0 Comments) Up for grabs in week eleven of Bigbruin.com's Pro Football Pick 'Em is a prize pack provided by CoolIT Systems! One winner will receive a USB Beverage Cooler, PCI Cooling Booster, and a RAM Fan. Aerocool Easywatch Front Panel Display @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-14-07] (0 Comments) The new Easywatch is a front panel device that allows you to eyeballtemps from different components inside your computer. It will also give theuser the ability to adjust fan speed with the push of a button. There areseveral different devices like the Easywatch on the market, but, the thingthe Easywatch has over a lot of the others is that it remains pretty sleekand simple. No excessive bling bling. Technic3D/Corsair VX450W @ technic3d.com [Nov-13-07] (0 Comments) The Corsair VX450W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the follo wing Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high efficiency and a good price. Make the Ultra-quiet 120mm double ball-bearing fan, 6 Serial ATA connectors and extra long cables support this PSU better than other PSUs? Honestech My-IPTV&CAM Anywhere Deluxe @ techgage.com [Nov-13-07] (0 Comments) Having the ability to keep a close eye on your home whileon a trip isfantastic. So is being able to watch your homes TV via the internet.Honestech has released a product that offers both those features andmany more. It's just too bad it doesn't manage to do any of them well. Ultra m998 Mid Tower Case @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-13-07] (0 Comments) Perfection comes in many packages. There is the perfect sunset, theperfect moment and then there is the perfect case. Like beauty, perfectionis all in perception. We're all too varied in tastes and experiences to everagree 100% on anything. With that said, the Ultra m998 is about the closestyou can come to a perfect case. During the review process, I found littlemiddling things here and there that can be improved on, but none of themrate enough to knock it off its throne as the best case I've ever reviewed.Read on to find out how a reviewer became a fan boy. Cooler Master CM690 Mid-Tower ATX Case @ modders-inc.com [Nov-12-07] (0 Comments) Cooler Master recently brought the CM 690 to the market whichoffers some great features that a lot of higher end cases don't have. The CM690 can take up to seven 120mm case fans, and offers a nice sleek lookingexterior. bit-tech :Ultra's X3 600W & 1,000W PSUs @ bit-tech.net [Nov-10-07] (0 Comments) The Ultra X3 600W and 1,000W units overall are fantastic bitsof kit -they look as good as you can get and have an awesome set of cables tocomplement the shiny gunmetal box. If you need a 1,000W model then theTagan or Enermax might still be slightly better options in terms ofabsolute performance though. The Ultra X3 600W is an excellent choicefor those wanting a mainstream unit and although it may cost a bitmore, it's certainly a worthwhile investment. Many will still love thehighly recommended Corsair HX620, and quite rightly so, but the 600W X3should be considered quite a serious contender to it because it doesjust about everything right. [News] Cooler Master CM 690 ATX Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-08-07] (0 Comments) Arriving at my front door in a plain brown box, this mystery itempuzzled me. Not knowing if I should open it up or call Home Land Security, Itook the chance and risked life and limb to find out what was lurkinginside. Lo and behold, it was the CM690 SLI-ready enclosure from CoolerMaster. This sleek, black enclosure sports a black mesh front and top withchrome dividers, tool-less installation, internal cable management system,and enough fan openings to create your own hovercraft. A bunch of otherneat, little options are included, but I will mention those in the review -no need to spoil things now. Zalman CNPS8700-CU LED CPU cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-08-07] (0 Comments) Zalman was one of the first to incorporate an open face fan andheatsink configuration, and the CNPS8700 shows that this company hasn't beenresting on its laurels, but improving on an already proven fan favorite.This low-profile heatsink uses Zalman's popular [News] XCLIO 6030 Plus ATX Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-07-07] (0 Comments) In this review I will be going over a new enclosure from XCliocalled the 6030 Plus. Xclio offers several different styles of enclosuresalong with a line of power supplies. The 6030Plus is an all black enclosurewith a large side panel intake fan. How large of a fan you ask? How about360mm big. This large fan should push hot air right of the enclosure and doso with low RPM's which mean lower noise. Also when things are on the coolside a built in fan speed controller is also included. bit-tech P:Kane and Lynch Multiplayer @ bit-tech.net [Nov-07-07] (0 Comments) Kane and Lynch is shaping up to be a fantastic game, with aninnovative (though perhaps a little too streamlined) multiplayer game,fantastic co-op and a talented and passionate team behind it. That muchhad been proved to me for the second time.I do have concerns though. The last level which I played was of suchstark contrast to the previous levels that I had some misgivings aboutthe direction the consistently brilliant story had taken. Knowing thatthis level came at the end of the game didn’t help matters much eitherand made me think the game had an overly Hollywood-ised endings. Interestingly, endings are something that IO Interactive has hadtrouble with in the past too. The original Hitmandrew considerable scorn for changing pace abruptly in the latterstages, forcing Agent 47 to switch from a silent and stealthy figure ofdetached doom into a minigun toting symbol of freedom and self-hatredas he mowed down dozens of clones of himself.However, comparing Hitman and Kane and Lynch shouldn’treflect badly on either and, if anything, reflects well on IO’s new kidon the block. Kane and Lynchmay possibly have a fly in the ointment regarding the latter part ofthe game, but if that’s all there is to worry about then it’s highlypossible that we could have some game of the year material on our handsin the near future. Technic3D/Titan TTC-HD90 HDD Cooler @ technic3d.com [Nov-07-07] (0 Comments) The Titan TTC-HD90 HDD Cooler arrived Technic3D. Fanless desig n with aluminum heatsink can Reduce the Temperature and make quieter t he Vibration? See you in the following Review. Thermaltake MAX 4 Active Cooling Hard Drive Enclosure @ thinkcomputers.org [Nov-07-07] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Hard Drive Enclosure isdifferent than other enclosures. It offers cooling with style. The silent80mm fan illuminates the surface around it with blue LED's. While thisenclosure may look cool it still serves its' purpose. This enclosure willkeep your hard drive plenty cool when transferring data through either USBor eSATA. Let's see what else this enclosure has to offer. ESA Enthusiast System Architecture - Help or Hype? @ pcper.com [Nov-05-07] (0 Comments) Using ESA, NVIDIA hopes to see things like cooling devices forliquid systems, power supplies and even chassis themselves have the abilityto report pertinent information and maybe even modify settings in a way tomake the enthusiasts life easier. The slide above gives some examples onwhat the ESA could possibly provide including examples of water temperature,fan speeds, light controls and even PSU voltage monitoring. [News] Zalman CNPS7500-Cu & CNPS8700 CPU Coolers @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-04-07] (0 Comments) The CNPS8700 LED, which was introduced at CeBIT 2007 in Hanover,Germany, is an all copper heatpipe and heatsink CPU cooler with a lowerprofile and larger, 110 mm fan as compared to the CNPS7000. The CNPS7500-Cuoffers improved performance over the CNPS7700. It is also made of 100%copper and has an 110 mm silent fan just like the CNPS8700. Both coolerssport the Flower Heatsink Design, which is comprised of a plethora of copperfins atop a copper base, with a clear fan with LED lights set in the centerof the fins. The only major difference between the two is that the CNPS8700LED also has heatpipes incorporated into the design. Which one cools better?Are they as quiet as Zalman claims? These thought-provoking questions arejust what this review will attempt to answer. [News] Aquacomputer Aquaduct 360 XT @ virtual-hideout.net [Nov-02-07] (0 Comments) Aqua-Computer is based in Germany and has been creating andmanufacturing water cooling products since 2001. While they may be new toyour desktop as you read this, they aren't new to the United States. Overthe last couple years, they have produced some unique and really wellpolished water blocks, radiators, and cooling systems. They have been a bigfan of Eheim pumps which are among the top choices among water coolingenthusiasts and are no strangers to Laing and Hydor pumps as well. bit-tech :Tunic Tower 120 @ bit-tech.net [Nov-02-07] (0 Comments) */The provided fan is annoying, ball bearing noisy but thankfully it's upgradable. However, so are Scythe heatsinks, the Noctua NH-U12 and the CoolerMaster Gemini from off the top of my head. I'm sure there are a few more, and these don't have the same 25mm depth restriction. In addition, for ÂŁ33 I'd expect an awesome fan to come with it in the first place, and while it is Tuniq TX-2 Thermal paste @ pro-clockers.com [Nov-01-07] (0 Comments) The average web-surfing, email-checking net slave doesn't think muchabout thermal paste. Thermal performance probably never enters their minduntil they get a whiff of burning silicon, if then. Now, consider youraverage enthusiast. They probably worry about temps, but not to the extremeof buying branded, high-end thermal paste. Even among the enthusiastcommunity, many are happy with stock cooling. However there is a sub-cultureinside our sub-culture. They crave MHz like an addict craves smack. Everysingle detail of their computer is designed to eek out that little extra fpsor to shave off a millisecond rendering time. They route cables, installfans, mod their PC's and even buy fancy thermal compound to get their CPU'sa degree Celsius cooler. Today, I'm reviewing Tuniq TX-2 thermal paste. Inormally use Arctic Silver 5. Let's see how it stacks up. bit-tech :The Witcher @ bit-tech.net [Oct-31-07] (0 Comments) Drawing my conclusion on The Witcher has been difficultandwas actually rather painful for me to come to and not because of myongoing problem with RSI either. You see, I want to give TheWitchera high score so very badly and I’d love any excuse to tell you all togo out and buy it, but there are just too many problems in the way.This is a bit of a personal conflict, because I’m a massive RPG fan andThe Witcheris exactly the type of game I love. There’s an adult theme, acomplicated but scalable set of mechanics to master and an epic andinventively delivered narrative – just what gamers like I lust for.There are problems too though. Poor lip syncing, graphics which borderon schizophrenic and frequent crashes and viewpoint problems – theseare noticeable enough to dissuade the majority from playing the game. The Witcher isn’t a bad game though, just an unpolished onewhich could have done with a little bit more thought and design work.The bugs and crashes will hopefully be eliminated in the future, butfor the moment they are a semi-serious problem for the game. Basically it all comes down to the gamer. If you’re a hardcore RPGgamer like myself then you’ll be able to tolerate or cope with theproblems and have yourself a merry old time. If you’re just a RPGfledgling though or aren’t sure the basic delayed-consequence systeminterests you though then you may do better to avoid The Witcherfor a bit. It all depends on whether or not you’re really willing tosit down for a 40-hour game only to play it all over again to getdifferent consequences – discuss the matter in the forums. Thermaltake DuOrb VGA Cooler @ ngohq.com [Oct-31-07] (0 Comments) It's compatible with some of the latest VGA products on the market from both AMD/ATI and NVIDIA. What is so cool about it? It has two 80mm fans. It's made of copper. It has nice blue LEDS. It provides support for many current graphic cards, and of course, it's shiny!! So today, I will be testing Thermaltake's latest addition to the Orb family - the DuOrb VGA Cooler. ZEROtherm BTF92 OC Edition CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-31-07] (0 Comments) As we said ZEROtherm has announced a bunch of products this week. OnMonday we took a look at the Nirvana NV120 CPU cooler and today we arechecking out the BTF92 Overclocker Edition CPU cooler. The BTF92 is the bigbrother to the BTF90, which we took a look at a while ago. It is a littlebit bigger than the BTF90 and features manual fan control, but besides thatit is just about the same. Let's check it out and see if it can performbetter than the BTF90. ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 Premium CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Oct-30-07] (0 Comments) The ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 shows us a different style right offthe bat with its black finish on the cooling fins. Using a 120mm fan coupledwith a heatpipe design, we should see some pretty decent numbers produced bythe Nirvana NV120 CPU cooler. Mod of the Month - October 2007 @ bit-tech.net [Oct-30-07] (0 Comments) You can always count on Paul, aka Coolmiester, for three things-CoolerMaster cases, fantastic painting and watercooling, and (at leastlately) high-end vehicles. What a shock, then, that he's at it again -this time with what is probably my favourite project of his so far:theMercedes SLR. Well, at least a mod inspired by it...The SLR mod is being built on the incredibly versatile CoolerMasterCosmos,which our own resident case reviewer Joe found to be quite a strikingcase. In fact, one look at the sleek shape of the cosmos makes it anatural fit for one of the world's top roadsters. For those who arecurious, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster (only $479,999 at adealer near you!) features a supercharged V8 that generates 617 horsiesand can go from 0-100kph (60mph) in about 3.5s. Excuse me while I getsomething to mop up my drool. Anyway, back to the mod. Coolmiester is already well underway with thisnext project, so perhaps we should catch up... Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 Premium @ techpowerup.com [Oct-30-07] (0 Comments) Today Zerotherm launches the new Nirvana NV120 Premium tower style heatsink, which features a copper base and four U-shaped heatpipes with aluminum fins. Over the entire surface of the Nirvana Premium is a dark gray mirror finish like no other heatsink I have seen. Included is a 120mm blue LED fan with a fan controller to dial in the right noise level for any system. With all this style comes great performance, too. Zerotherm Nirvana NV120 CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Oct-30-07] (0 Comments) The Nirvana NV120! This is one that I think will gain even moreacceptance than the BTF90 due mostly to the gun-metal coloring and the moreconservative look. The NV120 does not look like any pretty insects but doessport a more familiar tower design. Lighter weight and a variable fancontrol does offer more in the lines of end users needs. We all know theBTF90 performed pretty well, but will the changes that the NV120 belongalong put it in the class with the big dawgs? ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-29-07] (0 Comments) ZEROtherm is not a name that is really associated with PC cooling,but it soon will be. The last 2 products we have seen from them performedvery well and received our Recommended Award. This week they are releasing aslew of new products and we got our hands on 2 of them. Today we will belooking at the Nirvana NV120 CPU cooler, which features an efficientheatpipe design, 120mm LED fan, and a honeycombed structure design. Let'ssee if it can stand up to the quality of the other ZEROtherm coolers we havelooked at in the past. bit-tech :The Legend Of Zelda:The Phantom Hourglass @ bit-tech.net [Oct-27-07] (0 Comments) The Phantom Hourglass has run out of time and now we canonlychoke out our parting shots before we’re buried under a veritablemountain of great gameplay. That’s exactly what’s on offer with The Phantom Hourglasstoo – a mountain gameplay which will keep you coming back for more overand over. The game does well to offer a scaled down version of past Zeldatitles and the design team has obviously learned what was good and wasbad about The Wind Waker. More impressively, they’ve managed todesign a game which is perfectly suited to the hardware of the DS. There are a few problems with The Phantom Hourglassthough, such as the titular hourglass which provides Link with a setamount of ‘safe time’ when traversing the game's central dungeon – TheHome of The Ocean King. The dungeon itself relies more on stealthgameplay than puzzles and the hourglass is an obvious and annoyingattempt to add tension to it all by restricting players to a certainamount of time before they die. That said, as a whole The Phantom Hourglass is a fantasticgame which should be considered a must-buy for the Nintendo DS. Forhardcore gamers there aren’t that many must-have games either, and ifyou want to avoid the likes of Nintendogs then you’re prettymuch limited to Mario, Advance Wars and Castlevania– which makes The Phantom Hourglass even more of a feat. Thermalright IFX-14 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-27-07] (0 Comments) If you have not heard of Thermalright they make some of the mostunique and powerful CPU coolers on the market today. They really specializein heatsink design, a lot of their coolers perform great without fans. Mostof them don't even ship with fans. Their latest offering is the IFX-14(Inferno Fire eXtinguisher), which features an extremely large surface area(140mm x 120mm), 4 large 8mm heatpipes, and a very unique back-side dualheatpipe heatsink. Fansis FS-PSU - XSs @ xsreviews.co.uk [Oct-25-07] (0 Comments) Fansismake several noise dampening products for your PC. The one Iwill be taking a look at today is the FS-PSU model designed to reducevibration coming from that chunky block at the back of your rig. Akasa Revo CPU Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Oct-25-07] (0 Comments) Akasa has just introduced a new CPU cooler called the Revo, which features their new SilentFlux technology. This cooler utilizes a bubble pump to move the heat from the base through a radiator where it can be cooled by a fan. We put the Revo to the test to see how well this new cooling technology performs. [News] abit AN-M2HD Motherboard @ virtual-hideout.net [Oct-25-07] (0 Comments) Most motherboards are usually geared toward the enthusiast or thebudget builder, but more and more manufacturers lately are creatingspecialty-type motherboards, like ones for home entertainment. abit hascreated a motherboard just for this niche of people:the AN-M2HD. As thedays pass, HTPC's continue to gain massive popularity with moviephiles withthe advent of larger storage devices and HDMI. The AN-M2HD has an onboardHDMI connection for some of today's newer monitors/TV's. The AN-M2HDutilizes the new NVIDIA GeForce 7050PV North Bridge and NVIDIA nForce 630aSouth Bridge chips. Each chip is cooled by a heatsink to add to that extraquietness for a theater setup, but 4 auxiliary fan headers are included onthe motherboard if extra cooling will be needed. UT3 beta impressions @ bit-tech.net [Oct-25-07] (0 Comments) In terms of gameplay, the game is fantastic. Smooth, fluid andinvolving, the game is accessible to new players and won’t overly putunfamiliar players at a disadvantage. At the same time, it encouragesplayers to experiment and try and learn more from the game, rapidlygaining skill.Graphically the game is a marvel too; environments appear both lush anddetailed without interfering or distracting from the match at hand.It’s the kind of thing which shows that the game has been playtested todeath. However, there are a few things which could be a problem – mainly thelack of change. Sure, the graphics are enhanced and there are newlevels, but a lot of that could have been accomplished in a smallerupdate. The Necris vehicles could help address our fears, but we can’treally comment since we didn’t get to see much of them.Basically, it’s the same old Unreal Tournament, but with a facelift and boob-job which is wellsimulated in terms of bounce. Yeah, I liked that analogy too. If you liked the past games then you’ll love UT3 and ifyou haven’t played the past games then you’ll probably still love it.If you’re one of those in-between players though who’s looking forsomething a little different or new, or with more of a focus onteamplay, then you may be better off waiting a while before you buy. Fanatec Headshot Controller @ techpowerup.com [Oct-21-07] (0 Comments) The Fanatec Headshot Controller is a mouse and mousepad combination from German manufacturer Fanatec. Usually such a combo is a low quality product, but not in this case. We were surprised by the excellent build quality which is on par, if not better, with big names like Logitech and Microsoft. Also the mousepad has an incredibly smooth surface with almost no friction. AeroCool AeroEngine-Plus ATX Case @ legitreviews.com [Oct-19-07] (0 Comments) The overall build was disappointing as I expected more from this case. The trademark structure of the =93engine=94 was probably the cheap est of the overall case as it was loose and seemed like it could break. W hat really shocked me was the fact the included case fans aren't even A erocool fans, which is what a lot of people know Aerocool by. Apevia X-QPack 2 @ techpowerup.com [Oct-19-07] (0 Comments) The Apevia X-QPack 2 is the successor of the original X-QPack. Notable changes include the full size 500W power supply by placing a slightly longer front cover unto the chassis. A 8 cm fan has been added in the front of the case to actively cool your memory. Apevia also added a few more colors and one with a camouflage design. Tagan CS-El Diablo BM Case @ modders-inc.com [Oct-15-07] (0 Comments) Tagan has added a new case to its A-plus product line called the ElDiablo. The El Diablo two large fans, one 360mm on the side and one 250mmfan on the front. Each fan has separate VR fan speed controls, that willgive you full control for optimal performance. With its tool-less design andgreat cooling it will make for a perfect case for the extreme gamer. bit-tech :Gigabyte Odin GT 800W Power Supply @ bit-tech.net [Oct-15-07] (0 Comments) Gigabyte has done a fantastic job with its first power supply -it'sextremely quiet, very well made, good looking and it has cool additionslike molex quick release plugs, modularity, thermal probes, fanadapters, colour co-ordination (mostly) and software control. I'mgenuinely finding it hard to criticise it but my natural gut reactionis Thermal Chamber Heatsink Testing Methods @ tweaktown.com [Oct-13-07] (0 Comments) Heatsink technology has rapidly improved over the last few years. The introduction of heatpipes, use of large radius fans and the sophisti cated mounting mechanisms have all aided these developments. One area tha t has remained unchanged is the way these products are tested. The old wa y has proven to be inaccurate, unreliable and careless for comparing one heatsink to another. Luckily things are about to change for consumers looking to find accurate performance information that scales across all of TweakTown's CPU heat sink tests. bit-tech P:Assassin's Creed hands-on p @ bit-tech.net [Oct-13-07] (0 Comments) In fact the only real problem is the futuristic-bend on thestory. Onits own it would be forgiveable, but it manages to pervade itselfthrough into absolutely every aspect of the game. Flashing clouds ofbinary for loading screens, streaming symbols in the middle of combatand invisible walls dotted with pseudo-scientific emblems – these arethe elements which could ruin the game's otherwise fantastic set-up.A lot of this could of course change dramatically over the next fewmonths. These futuristic elements could be toned down or removed. It’seven possible that they could be so well explained in the full versionthat they turn from weak points to indispensable and innovative gameelements. But I’m sceptical of that possibility and I for one am going to bewatching Assassin’s Creedvery closely as the release date creeps forward out of the shadows.It’d be a horrible shame for this awesome game to stab itself in thethroat by trying to be something it isn’t. Evercool Buffalo CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-12-07] (0 Comments) Over the past few months Evercool has been quiet when it comes toCPU cooling solutions. Well they have recently released the Buffalo CPUCooler onto the market. This new CPU cooler features the popular heatpipedesign with an all copper base and a 100mm fan. Let's see if it can get thejob done against the other AMD CPU coolers we have tested. OCZ Vanquisher CPU Cooler @ techgage.com [Oct-12-07] (0 Comments) There=E2=80=99s an ever-increasing variety of CPU coolers o utthere, each competing for your dollar with advanced features, highperformance, and bling. We take a look at OCZ=E2=80=99s latest, the Vanqu isher,a smaller tower-style cooler that features a large fin structure and a92mm, frameless fan. bit-tech :Half-Life 2:Episode Two @ bit-tech.net [Oct-11-07] (0 Comments) Perhaps the greatest accolade to lay on Episode Two atthis point is for me to again acknowledge that I was wrong to bitchabout the delays in the episodes. Episode Two was worth thewait, worth every second of it. With a compelling story which is excellently told, a fantastic andproven gameplay mechanic and an utterly enthralling way ofcommunicating with the player via digital actors like Alyx, EpisodeTwo is one of my favourite games ever. That’s not an expression I cometo lightly. You have to go play it and you have to go play it soon, but take myadvice and make sure that you play it in as few separate sittings aspossible. This isn’t the type of game you should dip in and out of forfive minutes at a time, though you easily could. This is the type ofgame you should spend some serious time on, exploring the world thatValve has delicately crafted for you. If ever there was a good reason for you to neglect your real life andplay a computer game for hours on end then Episode Two is it. Akasa Evo 120 v2 cooler @ tcmagazine.com [Oct-11-07] (0 Comments) With a few tweaks and added support for AM2 processors the Evo 120 v2 is a sight for sore eyes and even ears. With three heatpip es and a pretty versatile fan, Akasa=E2=80=99s cooler offers both more th an average cooling and overclocking potential and low noise, depending on everyone=E2=80=99s desires. PowerColor HD 2900 Pro @ neoseeker.com [Oct-11-07] (0 Comments) There was no large launch event; no rash of rumors anticipated its arrival.The HD 2900 Pro's release wasn't preceded by press-release, fanfare, orparade. The card just sort of happened. You might have heard about it onthe net, but if you weren't paying attention the card may have just slippedunder the radar. Come and gone before anyone was the wiser. GIGABYTE Odin GT 800W @ techpowerup.com [Oct-11-07] (0 Comments) GIGABYTE's Odin GT line of power supplies is the world's first PSU series that allows software control and monitoring. From within the GIGABYTE P-Tuner software you can adjust voltage levels, fan speed and get detailed monitoring info about your PSU like power draw. In addition to that we found out that the unit also has a very high efficiency of over 84% and good voltage stability. Technic3D/NZXT LeXa Redline @ technic3d.com [Oct-10-07] (0 Comments) The NZXT LeXa Redline is the next PC Case in the Technic3D Edi torship. The new Lexa is equipped with three 120mm and one 80mm fans ( running at low speeds). This NZXT also ships with USB 2.0, Firewire, a nd HD audio support. See you in the following Review which qualities t he new Redline Gamer Case with Display presents. Gigabyte G-Pad Pro @ techpowerup.com [Oct-09-07] (0 Comments) The Gigabyte G-Pad Pro is a notebook cooling surface, intended for 15 inchers or smaller. It features a heatsink shape, can be cooled actively if needed with the included fan and propped on the its feet. Transporting it is made easy as well, thanks to two included bags. Technic3D/Fantec Fanbox @ technic3d.com [Oct-06-07] (0 Comments) The Fantec Fanbox External Hard Drive with one 2,5 bit-tech P:Team Fortress 2 beta impressions @ bit-tech.net [Oct-04-07] (0 Comments) Graphically, as well, the game is just on another level to itscontemporaries. As already mentioned, the game isn't designed to berealistic, but rather uses a mix of cel-shadingand various engine tweaks created by Valve’s dev team to createenvironments and models that are incredibly polished. Even effects likemotion blur are implemented exquisitely, giving the sensation of speedand movement, but without inducing nausea after five minutes of playlike we’ve found with some games recently.Let's not forget though that this is a Beta we're talking about andthat the dev team still has time to iron out the few wrinkles that docrop up from time to time (namely the occasional crash to desktop).TF2 will also be coming down the tubes through Valve’s infamouscontent delivery system, so updates should be quick and seamless.I could continue writing about the marvels of TF2 for days, oreven weeks (perhaps you should start a bit-tech fan club? – Ed.).Instead though, I will confine myself to stating that while Crysismay have left us speechless with its graphical prowess, TF2 seems, tome at least, a refreshing break from the norm of multiplayerfirst-person shooters.I simply can’t wait for the full release and the influx of thousandsmore noobs ready to succumb to my baseball bat of doom. Muwhahaha!! Cooler Master Vortex 752 CPU Cooler @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-04-07] (0 Comments) Cooler Master is not extremely well known for their CPU coolers, butthey should be. They are affordable and can compete in performance withother top brands that cost a lot more. Today we are looking at the Vortex752, which is a smaller CPU cooler, but don't let that fool you it is verypowerful. It features 2 heatpipe design, 92mm fan, and an all copper base.Read on to see how the Vortex 752 stacks up against all of the other coolerswe have tested. PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 1200W PSU - Exclusive @ pcper.com [Oct-03-07] (0 Comments) The Turbo-Cool 1200W power supply was not designed to be quiet; andits not. The primary design goals were to deliver stable, clean outputswith high reliability for high-end workstations and servers. To accomplishthat you need good cooling, which in this case, requires a relativelyhigh-speed fan. If you need a 1200W power supply, you will most likely bedealing with noise from numerous other component cooling solutionsdissipating all that power. bit-tech :Hiper's Anubis case @ bit-tech.net [Oct-02-07] (0 Comments) What I originally thought was going to be an ugly, heavy anduselesscase has turned out to be quite a good-looking, aluminium case which isindividually numbered and well designed. The performance of the case isgood also and could be even better if a few extra fans were added tothe case, bringing the temperatures down by a few degrees.Cost is what unfortunately brings the Anubis down a little andinterested parties can expect to pay around £130 in the UK or $219 inthe US. Discussion of whether this price was worth it or not wasoriginally quite heated and the argument between Richard and I spilledover out of the office and into our Heroes evening.For the record, I thought the case was a bit too expensive whereasRichard thought that the aluminium construction made up for the cost.Originally, I would have continued to fight my corner on this issue,but after seeing the performance of this case in our tests I’m temptedto back down. The case could still probably do with losing a tenner orso in both markets, but it isn’t something worth getting bent out ofshape over and the fact of the matter is that the Anubis is abeautiful, well made aluminium case which cools down excellently. Plus,it comes with a numbered keyring!All in all, the Hiper Anubis is a brilliant case which falls easilyinto my list of favourite designs and performers. It’s just a shamethat the name still sounds a bit stupid. bit-tech :Halo 3 @ bit-tech.net [Oct-01-07] (0 Comments) So, is Halo 3 the best game ever? No, I don't think so, but itis bloody good. The most obvious comparison will be to last month's BioShock,but that is somewhat unfair. BioShockis a single player only game, which means that far more developmenttime could be spent on the graphics and presentation. It's also worthremembering that Halo 3 couldn't really break new ground in thesingle player campaign, since Bungie had to think about the continuitywith the previous two titles - BioShock was under no suchconstraints.One thing's for sure though, I haven't enjoyed playing any Xbox 360game more than Halo 3, whether in single or multiplayer mode,and that just about says it all.Halo 3 isn't the ground breaking epic that many had expected itto be, specifically in the visual department. But what you are gettingis a well written, well paced and well presented end to the Halotrilogy that should keep any fan very happy. Add to that simply thebest console based online gaming experience ever, and it's clear that Halo3 represents yet another triumph for the Xbox 360. ViewSonic VX2255wmb 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Oct-01-07] (0 Comments) Back in January at CES we first saw the VX2255wmb and I instantlywanted one. Its sleek design and integrated 1.3-megapixel really made itstand out from other monitors. Also the VX2255wmh version comes in a pearlwhite, which Mac fans will enjoy. Today will are looking at the VX2255wmbversion which is black and features a 1680X1050 native resolution, 5msresponse time, and integrated speakers as well as the integrated1.3-megapixel camera. Let's see if it's the perfect LCD for you! Thermaltake’s Toughpower 500W Modular PSU @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Oct-01-07] (0 Comments) The bottom of the PSU has a 140mm fan on it, this is big. So the fan can push more air while spinning slower (compared to smaller fans). This means that it is very quiet. And with the included silicon dampener, noise will be at a minimum. bit-tech :Company of Heroes:Opposing Fronts @ bit-tech.net [Sep-29-07] (0 Comments) Opposing Fronts is an excellent addition to the realm ofWWIIRTS games and the fact that it can be played either with or without theoriginal game is a great boon to genre fans.On top of this the game has undergone a variety of the enhancements andtweaks. Not only is there the two new campaigns and the new teams totoy with, but there’s also day and night cycles and some interestingweather effects which impact on gameplay. Muddy terrain will slow downheavy vehicles, while a burst of sunlight may give a troop of infantrya surge of courage and hope. These new weather effects don’t play a huge part in the game design andit’s probably possible to pass them by without noticing, but theaddition is interesting and unique enough to be noteworthy. Technic3D/Chill CP-520A4 520W @ technic3d.com [Sep-27-07] (0 Comments) The Chill CP-520A4 520W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU Review with a high effici ency. Make the 140 mm Ultra Silent Fan, 2x PCI-Express for SLI and Cro ssFire and Full black cable Sleeving this PSU better than other PSUs? Spire Verticool III CPU Cooler @ legitreviews.com [Sep-25-07] (0 Comments) Spire's Verticool III CPU cooler turned out to be a good cooler . With a smaller foot print than the Zalman 9700 LED, the Verticool III s hould have no issues fitting in just about any mid tower. With the includ ed fan controller, the Verticool II has the ability to be virtually silen t when you need it to be. When it comes to cooling... Technic3D/Nanoxia FX Fan Series @ technic3d.com [Sep-25-07] (0 Comments) The Nanoxia FX Fan Series arrived Technic3D. The Fans in a bla ck/green Design for quiet running and long-life? See you the following Review. Technic3D/Coolink Silentator @ technic3d.com [Sep-25-07] (0 Comments) The Coolink Silentator CPU Heatsink arrived Technic3D. Good an d quiet Fan for perfect Cooling? See you in the following Review the C oolink High-End Cooler against others CPU Cooler. Zalman Z-Machine GT1000 High End Computer Enclosure @ pcper.com [Sep-24-07] (0 Comments) The Z-Machine is an outstanding case with just the right balance ofclean lines, elegant styling, and functional features that demandingenthusiasts want in a premium enclosure. The materials, constructiontechniques, and build quality are unmatched. The layout of the front panelis near perfect and the included LED cooling fans provide very good airflowand case cooling. Building a Modular PSU @ bit-tech.net [Sep-24-07] (0 Comments) Some days, it'shard to be a modder in the current technology boom. Itseems that everywhere you look, the great ideas that once only existedin top end mods can now be bought for a tenner on some site. Fancontrollers, LCD displays, coloured and sleeved power supplies - youname it, there's now a commercial product for it.Of course, such products don't always suit all needs - and at somepoint, don't these products themselves become yet one more thing weneed to mod? And what happened to old school originality and hard work?Well, fear not, dear friends - it's far from gone. Some people stilllike to do things the old-fashioned way, and let's be honest - youcan't buy certain looks out of a box.Maybe that's why some things are still best when done at home -including the modular PSU. If you've got a decent but somewhat old PSU(or a new, silent one, many of which are not modular) then look nofurther. We'll tell you how to take your old PSU and make it betterthan ever for about $20 and a few hours of time. Xoxide.com Caffeine Shootout @ thinkcomputers.org [Sep-22-07] (0 Comments) While most of us may have a hard time getting up for work andstaying awake during the day, others are jumping around at their desks. Howthough? Because they are pumped up on energy products. In this review wewill see a multitude of energy supplements, some that you may have heard ofand some you haven't. Let's take a look to see what sort of productsXoxide.com has provided to me and see how this much caffeine will affect meover a single weekend. Xigmatek HDT-S1283 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Sep-20-07] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 utilizes a 120mm rifle bearing fan that israted at 1000 - 2200 RPM and produces 72.1 - 99.6 CFM's (depending on RPM).The fan has a moderate noise level of 28 - 32 dBA, which should be fairlyquite in a closed case. Neoseeker looks @ neoseeker.com [Sep-20-07] (0 Comments) For starters, it seems that the belated age of multi-GPU performance inVistahasbegun -- but it's still in its infancy. But is the current situationbetter for the NVIDIA camp, or the ATI/AMD camp? Nexus Silent Caterpillar Case @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Sep-20-07] (0 Comments) Once everything was installed I powered up the pc and I had to check the fans were spinning as it is practically silent, especially with the cpu cooler fan turned down to low speed. Just the occasional murmur from the hard drive and that’s it.Nice! Something for everyone @ insidehw.com [Sep-20-07] (0 Comments) None of these monitors merits a stand-alone article, but they domerit your attention. From low-on-budget film fans over business users to Technic3D/NesteQ ECS 5001 500W @ technic3d.com [Sep-19-07] (0 Comments) The NesteQ ECS 5001 500W PSU arrived Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D the next PSU with a very high efficie ncy. Make the Easy Connecting System for the cables and Smart Fan Cont rolling System this PSU better than other PSUs? Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Exposed Copper Heatpipe CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-17-07] (0 Comments) Heatpipes have not been an integrated part of the CPU heatsink for very long now, but the tall design with a fan fixed to the front has already been done several times over. Copper Lite-On SHM-165S6S SATA DVDR @ monster-hardware.com [Sep-17-07] (0 Comments) The bundled software was IMO a good choice. I am a big fan of Nero burning software and am somewhat disappointed when I buy an Optical drive that doesn't include it. CyberLink PowerDVD 6 is also included for your movie viewing needs.. If I had a complaint here it would be that the usual electronic users manual is of a generic variety and doesn't offer much in the way of Lite-On model specific information. While I guess a paper manual is too much to ask for these days, is a model- specific users manual? I personally think not. Sunbeamtech Freezing Storm Case @ gideontech.com [Sep-14-07] (0 Comments) These last few weeks I have been working hard on a couple of Sunbeamtech cases. The first one we are going to take a good look at is the Freezing Storm. The case comes with numerous 120mm fans, 10 drive bays, and a pre-cut side window with fan vents to manage anything you throw at it. The Freezing Storm comes in two colors, silver and black. Today, we have the black version on our testing station. bit-tech :Vadim Fusion LQX Intel-775G2 @ bit-tech.net [Sep-13-07] (0 Comments) There were only a few issues that we found with the machine.First isof course the aforementioned paintwork blemishes, which Vadim hasassured us are because the paint job was completed in half the normalturnaround time. Secondly, the base plate on the BlastFlow Siberianwaterblock gets pretty warm because it's not actively cooled like theDangerDen, but it's still far away from hot enough to causeinstabilities. And finally, the fan and pump controller needs some workor replacement because the flashing is annoying.Every Vadim machine is hand built and tested by a single person, it'snot just run off a factory in China then shipped to your door in abrown box. The personal service is a key component and attraction thatmakes a Vadim system seem worth the price. If we disregard the £1,000custom paint job that's not quite perfect, this Vadim machine is wellworth buying. However, we have to evaluate what's in front of us anddespite Vadim assuring us that the paint blemishes were because of thequick turnaround, we can't guarantee that those won't be there in PCsbuilt for paying customers.Our advice would be to check over your PC very carefully if you go forthe custom paint, and if there are any issues, report them to Vadimsooner rather than later. From what we know of the company, the guys atVadim will want to make sure that you're 100 per cent happy with yourmachine. PC Audio 101 @ bit-tech.net [Sep-12-07] (0 Comments) This guide walks you through the basics of setting up your PCto getthe best performance without spending any cash, and the best ways tospend a bit of dosh if you’re so inclined.One thing to remember throughout the course of this guide – good soundis highly subjective. One person may find one setup unlistenablewhereas another may find it fantastic. Can’t tell the differencebetween MP3 and FLAC? Then you may as well save some hard drive spaceand stick with MP3. If you’re completely happy with on-board audio,stick with it. [News] abit IP35 Pro Off Limits Motherboard @ virtual-hideout.net [Sep-12-07] (0 Comments) For years, Universal abit has been manufacturing top of the linemotherboards, and the trend still continues with the IP35 Pro. Thismotherboard is loaded features that any enthusiast or mainstream user wouldenjoy. The Intel P35 chipset is at the heart, and boasts great performance.With a FSB of 1333MHz it will handle the new line of Intel processors, anddo so with the addition of solid state capacitors. The chipset is cooledwith abit's Silent OTEC cooling system, which is a fancy phrase for heatpipecooling. A host of other features adorn the IP35 Pro, so let's get on withthe review. First look at Gigabyte's GA-X38T-DQ6 motherboard @ bit-tech.net [Sep-11-07] (0 Comments) Gigabyte's GA-X38T-DQ6 is a board we've found great favour in.We'vefound it very hard to fault the layout if you choose a heatsink thatdoesn't need to be bolted to the motherboard and even as an engineeringsample it's worked flawlessly throughout our testing. There has beensome niggles with the Ethernet adapters but the retail boards areworking as expected and should be shipping very soon. It's been a fantastic board to work with even in this early stage, butfrom the looks of pre-orders, it will be expensive at around £190.Therefore only time will tell if the bundle, stability and extrafeatures due from Intel make it worth the while. Nvidia could command aprice premium on the nForce 680i SLI because it had EPP and SLI, but isCrossFire and Intel's Extreme Memory held in the same regard? At leastthe X38 chipset should provide a diverse range of motherboard options,unlike the nForce 680i SLI, and being an Intel chipset we'd expect itto be far more reliable as well. [News] Thermaltake LANBOX Lite Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Sep-11-07] (0 Comments) At the beginning of the year I reviewed the Tt LANBOX enclosure.This month I will be going over the Tt LANBOX Lite. The Tt LANBOX Lite is afully modular system where all the components can be removed from the bodyof the enclosure for easier installation. There are front panel mesh andside panel openings for increased airflow, and front and rear fans help withthe air flow to keep all the components cool. Also, let's not forget tomention that Piano finish that I love so much. So what makes this version bit-tech :Be Quiet!'s PC Noise Absorber Kit @ bit-tech.net [Sep-09-07] (0 Comments) If you have an entirely closed system and have gone to extremelengthselsewhere first:fans, hard drives and heatsinks, then yes it will takethat extra bit more off. But then again, if you've been that pedanticanyway with your components why didn't you consider a Corsair VX450W @ techpowerup.com [Sep-08-07] (0 Comments) Corsair's new VX450W power supply comes with a maximum load of 450W. While this may not sound much it is absolutely sufficient to power most of today's systems. The PSU has a very high efficiency of over 83% which allows the fan to run slower because there is not so much excess heat to get rid of. In our fan noise testing this extremely silent unit leads by a large margin over all other PSUs tested so far. Wii Cooking Mama @ rbconsoles.com [Sep-05-07] (0 Comments) Are you a fan of cooking shows yet want a more SteelSeries Steelkeys 6G Gaming Keyboard @ thinkcomputers.org [Sep-05-07] (0 Comments) All of the past SteelSeries products that ThinkComputers hasreviewed have all been geared towards the FPS gaming crowd. This time aroundthe audience is different. The Steelkeys 6G Professional Gaming Keyboard wasdesigned for hardcore RTS gamers. This isn't your fancy keyboard with macrosor multimedia keys, but rather a keyboard that will be a near perfectatmosphere with quick keystrokes and limited disturbances for the hardcoregamer. Let's take a further look to see if SteelSeries has kept to theirstandards of professional gaming products. Cooler Master Cosmos RC-1000 @ techpowerup.com [Sep-04-07] (0 Comments) The Cooler Master Cosmos is the company's newest high-end offering designed to be a follow up on the highly successful Stacker Series. The case did not only grow in dimension & weight but also offers a long list of new and unique features. You will find seperate hard drive drawers, four fans and foam covered side panels among many other details. TiVo HD @ thetechlounge.com [Sep-04-07] (0 Comments) The TiVo HD is the mainstream consumer Series 3 TiVo. At $300, the deviceis more palatable to consumers who balked at an $800 price tag. The box hasa smaller hard drive than the original Series 3 box, and doesn't come withOLED screen, THX certification, or a fancy case. So how does a $300 HD settop box work? Well, I will say it wasn't boring. Xigmatek HDT-S1283 Exposed Copper Heatpipe CPU Cooler @ benchmarkreviews.com [Sep-04-07] (0 Comments) Heatpipes have not been an integrated part of the CPU heatsink for very long now, but the tall design with a fan fixed to the front has already been done several times over. Copper [News] Intel E6850 3.0GHz Core 2 Duo 1333FSB CPU @ virtual-hideout.net [Sep-01-07] (0 Comments) Well, for years after that I was a true diehard AMD fan. That is,until the tides recently turned and the tsunami of C2D arrived on theshores. Recently, Intel has been dominating the processor scene with its newline of Core 2 Duo's. Well, once again Intel has stepped up to the plate byliterally stepping up the FSB from 1066 to 1333. This new line of CPU's havea model of Exx50 which represents the 1333FSB. This bump on the CPU will nowmatch the Front Side Bus of some newer motherboards. The new processor underthe microscope is the new Intel Core 2 Duo E6850, which is 3.0GHz, has 4mbof cache, and is using the 1333MHz system bus. With all these numbersfloating around in my head, I just can't wait to test the processor. Mod of the Month - August 2007 @ bit-tech.net [Aug-31-07] (0 Comments) Well, it's that time yet again. Months go by so quickly,don't they? It seems that just yesterday we were congratulatingrigormortem on his fantastic project and winning July's Mod of theMonth. during the dog days of summer. That's why the winner of August'scompetition will be winning some choice watercooling gear from Ofcourse, it wasn't just yesterday. In fact, it's been a month sincethe last contest, and since then we've had our eyes set on cooling offCoolercases UKFeser One cooling for some Feser One fluid and Feser tubein your colour of choice.Finally, what's a radiator without some fans and other accessories? Ourmonthly sponsor, AC Ryan is here to help - the winner will pick up anew Radgrillz, a couple awesome fans and some other fun toys, alongwith in the form of a Danger Den TDX waterblock and a BlackIce 240mmradiator. Of course, you'll need a bit of fluid to pump through it andsome tubes to put them together, so we've also teamed up withbit-tech.net and AC Ryan vinyl window stickers. Zaward Vivo Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Aug-31-07] (0 Comments) Next month Zaward will be releasing a new CPU heatsink called the Vivo. This new cooler is based on a 92mm fan and uses exposed heatpipes that contact the CPU heatspreader directly. Add to that the Dimple Technology Golf fan and a unique fan shroud, the Vivo's compact size really packs a punch. Bioshock @ bonafidereviews.com [Aug-31-07] (0 Comments) 2k’s new FPS Bioshock has been hyped up the wazoo from both fans, magazines, news, and Jack Thompson alike. (Come on, you know that if Thompson is complaining about something it has to be good.) Many are even saying it’s the best thing since the sliced breads known as Counter-Strike and Halo. Noctua NF-R8 and NF-S12 Fan @ nvnews.net [Aug-30-07] (0 Comments) The Noctua fans are the first fans to use a novel rotor, developed by the Austrian Institute for Heat-Transmission and Fan Technology. They developed optimizations of blade geometry to reduce noise, providing the same rate of flow for similar sized fans. The NF-S12 series are equipped with a magnetically centered, self lubricating oil-pressure bearing that provides a new level of quietness and long-term stability. Zaward Twin Towers Chipset Cooler @ techpowerup.com [Aug-29-07] (0 Comments) In the quest for silent performance, users are looking toward heatpipes for most of their cooling needs. Today we are looking at the new fanless chipset cooler from Zaward, called the Twin Towers. This chipset cooler has two heatpipes, one of which can rotate around the other to reduce compatibility issues. We put the Twin Towers to the test to see what kind of performance comes with its silence. VIZO Dual Fan Card @ modders-inc.com [Aug-27-07] (0 Comments) VIZO Technology Corp. seems to have been pumping out the attractivemods for the beautiful people as of late, and this review item is yetanother visually appealing product from them! Technic3D/AC Turbo modules @ technic3d.com [Aug-27-07] (0 Comments) The Arctic Cooling Turbo modules arrived Technic3D. The Fans w ithout frames on the Accelero Graphic Card Heatsink for nice Cooling?. See you the following Review. MNPCTech Case Handles and 120mm Fan Grill @ modders-inc.com [Aug-24-07] (0 Comments) Today we got some eyecandy products to take a look at fromMNPCTech. The guys at MNPCTech have have produced some outstanding productsand offer a excellent craftsmanship with their services. Guitar Hero Encore:Rocks the 80's @ bonafidereviews.com [Aug-23-07] (0 Comments) Guitar Hero II rocked so hard with cult hits like Trogdor and Thunderhorse that fans were BEGGING for more. So Harmonix hopped in their time machine and did some research and lo and behold we have Guitar Hero Encore:Rock the 80's. BioShock Gameplay @ bit-tech.net [Aug-21-07] (0 Comments) For all the fancy gameplay elements and attention to detailthough, BioShockis still a game about a story. There’s no multiplayer side which willgive the game extra life either, so the story is doubly important.Talking about the game's story is something made incredibly difficultthanks to the spoiler-free nature of this article, but you don’t needto worry and we won’t give in to the over-whelming urge to tell all.Let it only be said that the game's over-arching plot is full oftwists, turns and emotional grab you by the short and curliesthen yank you out of your chair moments.The story, which is told in first person by an utterly silent narrator,is told not just through cutscenes either. Audio logs litter the ruinsof Rapture, just as in System Shock 2 or the much lessinspiring Doom 3. The Noctua NF-S12 and the NF–R8 Silent fans @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-18-07] (0 Comments) Today I shall be taking a look at a product from Noctua that promises to be the answer to those seeking that silent dream. The Noctua NF- S12 and the NF – R8. We only got one NF – S12 (120mm) as we know most 120mm fans can be run silently, but on the R8 we decided to get 3 of these in to replace a complete set of fans in one rather loud UV acrylic case. Trust me even with the quiet golf ball fan there is still a slight hum of fan noise, so let us see if the Noctua’s can give me even more piece and quiet shall we. Thermaltake's MaxOrb and V1 CPU coolers @ bit-tech.net [Aug-16-07] (0 Comments) Neither ofthese heatsinks are outright cheaper than the competition, but they areboth available around the £30 mark - this is certainly a viable cost toanyone looking for a performance cooler. The MaxOrb is on the rightside of that £30 depending where you shop and offers a marginallybetter performance, although it is physically larger. But does thatmatter? It still fits on every board we tried it on and even though themounting is a bit of a hassle at first, once the clips are on/screwsare in, it's job done in five minutes. Pop the kettle on and have abrew waiting for when you've finished.The V1 has more intuitive and accessible clips, whereas the Orb needsclips and a screw retention, but the beauty of the MaxOrb is that theretention clips don't need forcefully pushing into the motherboardbecause they are just used to mount the surrounding plate.All in all, set the fan to medium-low and both will cool fantasticallywell for a very reasonable investment of around £30. Both provide agreat cooler for the investment, but the MaxOrb simply looks great in acase and despite being a pain to install, once in, it performs betterthan the V1 with a similar amount of (low) noise. quoted-printable encoded unnecessarily @ bigbruin.com [Aug-14-07] (0 Comments) Xclio was one of the first manufacturers to incorporate oversized fans in their cases when they released the A380 Super Tower Case with two 25cm fans. Now they have released the 3060 Plus, a mid-tower case with a 36cm fan on the side panel! Let's take a look at this case, and see whether the incredibly large case fan offers any benefits. Technic3D/SolyTech SL-8600EPS 600W @ technic3d.com [Aug-14-07] (0 Comments) The SolyTech SL-8600EPS 600W PSU from Antler Group arrived Tec hnic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D a PSU with a bl ue 140mm Fan. The SolyTech SL-8600EPS 600W PSU the same how the Apevia X-Telstar Mid Size Case @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-13-07] (0 Comments) If you look around some of your favorite online retailers you willsee a listing for the Apevia X-Telstar case. The X-Telstar sports a largesee-thru side panel and circular display that gives you all the details onwhat is going on inside the case. The light aluminum construction is a bigbonus as well. Apevia has never been a big fan of the industry standardbeige casing. This is Apevia newest case to market, but will it be aspopular with us as the newest Q-Pack we reviewed a few weeks ago? Read alonewith us and we will tell you. A look at Omega Sektor - the UK's largest LAN gaming centre @ bit-tech.net [Aug-11-07] (0 Comments) I spent a good ten or twenty minutes talking to these potentialcustomers and the one thing that I found most amazing was that they allbelieved the games were running on maximum settings, despite the factthat I later showed them it was default settings and that the PCprevented you from pushing the texture detail to high.Still, I pushed the topic forwards and asked them if they would bewilling to pay for time in the centre. The answer was a unanimous yes,despite the fact that none of them knew how the centre was to bepriced. When I outlined the pricing plan to them, they accepted it asperfectly reasonable given the quality of the hardware and selection ofgames and services. Herded back into the Omega Sektor-mobile and sent back towards thetrain station, I was no longer struggling with my conclusions. OmegaSektor had successfully won me over and it wasn’t because of the fancycars and flowing wine either. Omega Sektor struck a chord with me,making me enthusiastic about competitive gaming again and bringing backthe old adrenaline rush which only LAN gaming can deliver. Couple thatbuzz with the reasonable prices and the backing of companies like Inteland Scan Computers, it’s hard to deny that Omega Sektor is set to bethe hub for professional and competitive gaming in the UK. SilverStone NT06-Lite CPU Cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-11-07] (0 Comments) One of the most critical components any PC enthusiast can drop somecash on is a decent CPU cooler. Whether you pick air or water cooling, a heatsink can make or break yourCPU's performance and longevity. One unique heatsink on the market right nowis Silverstone's NT06-Lite. This CPU cooler is designed to be used in SmallForm Factor systems without a fan. But, users also have the option toinstall any 120mm fan on it for improved performance. Let's see if this allaluminum and copper wonder can fit the bill in our LGA775 system. PhysX in GRAW 2 - XSs @ Jon \ [Aug-10-07] (0 Comments) Arounda year and a half after their original release, PhysX cards still causemuch controversy when discussion about them begins. They have the usualfanboys and skeptics and all those in between. No one can deny however,that there hasn't been many games that really utilize the PhysX PPU(Cell Factor is perhaps the only one) and shows off what the technologycan really do. Now Ubisoft have released their second game to supportPhysX, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (GRAW 2). With a special leveland extra effects for those with Ageia's cards, will this game make itworth buying one? Read on to find out. Coolit Systems Beverage Chiller, PCI Cooling Booster, and RAM Fan @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-09-07] (0 Comments) The Coolit RAM Fan and PCI Cooling Booster both are geared towardcooling PCI cards and systemmemory, while the Beverage Chiller is aimed at folks who want to keep theirdrinks ice cold while working at their computers for hours at a time.Let's take a quick look at these three accessories, and see if they truly doprovide the solutions users are looking for. Silverstone ST85F Strider 850W @ techpowerup.com [Aug-09-07] (0 Comments) The Silverstone Strider 850W is a power supply designed with gamers in mind. It comes with a modularity feature and allows up to eight PCI-Express video card connectors to be used. As fan a 135mm variant is employed, together with the high efficiency of 80%+ it allows the unit to be very quiet, considering the maximum power output of 850W. CarPuter/Car Computer – Vauxhall/Opel Astra Coupe Install @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Aug-09-07] (0 Comments) OK where do I start, my Nick is DaveMark and I have been with car PCs since 2000 but back then they were very basic custom made power supplies and bodged wiring and simple MP3 play back. Now in 2007 new products are constantly coming out for in car design, Such as Incar Power supplies, car designed cases & fanless motherboards. All these parts make it much easier to bring computers into cars.. Technic3D/SilverPower SP-600A2C 600W @ technic3d.com [Aug-07-07] (0 Comments) The SilverPower SP-600A2C 600W PSU from Maxpoint (Tagan) arriv ed Technic3D. See you in the following Review from Technic3D a PSU wit h a blue Fan. The SilverPower a Heatsink Group Test @ bit-tech.net [Aug-02-07] (0 Comments) The BTF90’s performance was somewhat surprising, as it managedto takethe top spot for CPU temperatures. The use of copper throughout theheatsink has obviously paid off but it would have been good to see thecooler deliver the same performance with lower noise at full load. Copper’s thermal conduction is better than aluminium’s, but its thermalradiation is worse than aluminium (meaning that it tends to be morereluctant at letting heat escape). As a result of this, the BTF90responds better at higher fan speeds than some of the hybrid heatsinksthis goes up against and therefore we can understand why Zerotherm hasopted to increase the speed as temperatures increase.Its results were better than the Zalman CNPS9700LED with both coolersrunning at high speed, but neither is really suited for a near-silentsystem. Thankfully, the BTF90 is quieter than the CNPS9700LED, but it’sstill the loudest cooler at load in this selection of heatsinks. CoolerMaster Cosmos 1000 ATX Case @ pro-clockers.com [Aug-02-07] (0 Comments) For years computer case manufacturers have walked a tight ropebetween decreasing fan noise and increasing air flow. With many cases stillbeing cooled by a plethora of noisy fans, the on-going journey for a Antec P180 & Nine Hundred @ insidehw.com [Jul-31-07] (0 Comments) The computer case market situation is a great deal clearer comparedto the state from a few years ago. There are only a couple of major playersremaining in the competitive section, those being the likes of CoolerMaster, ThermalTake, Chieftec or Chenbro. We had a couple of cases on testfrom the fifth major - Antec. Spoilt a great deal by the previous fantasticcases we had the privilege to test, we had most rigorous expectations fromthese ones. XCLIO Windtunnel Case @ rbmods.com [Jul-31-07] (0 Comments) Today we take a look at another case from Xclio. They sent us theirlatest creation named Windtunnel. As the name applys the case is equippedwith loads of fans to be able to keep the even hottest computer cool, solets get on with the review. [News] Thermaltake MaxOrb CPU Cooler @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-30-07] (0 Comments) The Thermaltake MaxOrb performed well and is right in-line withother coolers of its type - and this is with warm ambient temperatures. Thespeed control functioned smoothly and when on high speed, the noise from thefan was barely noticeable. The LED's cast a nice blue glow which highlightsthe fins without being overpowering. Xigmatek HDT-S963 CPU Cooler @ modders-inc.com [Jul-29-07] (0 Comments) The Xigmatek HDT-S963 CPU cooler has shown to be able to hold itsown in the cooling area. With the added deflector we seen an improvement ofcooling for the surrounding CPU components. The fan is mounted via rubbermounts, which will isolate vibrations and reduce noise generated by theunit. Samsung SM206BW 20" Widescreen TFT @ tekbunker.com [Jul-27-07] (0 Comments) But what happens when I upgrade to a 22” or 20” TFT? No idea at all. I don’t want to have to buy a different graphics card if my trusty GTS cant cut it! I narrowed the field to a Dell or a Samsung. I am not a Dell fan, but they do make excellent monitors. Samsung? I do like them, the are clean cut and always pushing boundaries. Arctic Cooling Turbo Module VGA Cooler Add-on @ rbmods.com [Jul-26-07] (0 Comments) A few months ago, we had a chance to review the Arctic CoolingAccelero S2 video card cooler, which we found to be an innovative andsolidly performing cooler despite its passive nature. We also wondered howit would perform if a fan were added to the mix. Well, thanks to the folksat Arctic Cooling, well-known makers of a wide range of cooling products, weget a chance to answer that question as we take a look at the Arctic CoolingTurbo Module VGA Cooler add-on. This unit is designed to work together withthe Accelero S1 and S2 to deliver even better cooling performance. Is itworth the hassle? Read on to find out. Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital-SLR Camera @ techgage.com [Jul-25-07] (0 Comments) Up until recently, Nikon's line-up has had many gaps.This past Marchthough, they released their P5000 advanced point-and-shoot cameraalongside their D40x D-SLR. Today we are taking a look at the latter,which turns out to be a fantastic offering for those looking to takethe plunge into high-quality photography. [News] Patriot 2x1GB PC2-9200 1150MHz Memory Kit @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-25-07] (0 Comments) The benefits of buying these high frequency memory kits is that youcan expect the very best memory modules used to build them and they oftenrun at higher stock frequencies without degrading the memory kit. We've seensome insane overclocks and memory performance from various PC2-7200,PC2-8500, and PC2-9200 memory kits. Patriot Memory is currently working tobring some extreme memory kits that will definitely peak your interests. Inthe meantime, one of those kits happens to be their new PC2-9200 ExtremeMemory Kit. Have a look at this kit before you go off buying some withfancier heat sinks. Antec Fusion HTPC M/ATX case @ xtremecomputing.co.uk [Jul-25-07] (0 Comments) All in all this is a very smart little case, the lack of fan in the hard drive chamber did have me concerned that the drives would run too hot, but while they were a little warmer than with active cooling it was nothing to be alarmed about. Also excess heat is able to escape through the vents at the bottom of this chamber. Scythe Kama Meter @ tekbunker.com [Jul-25-07] (0 Comments) A long time ago, there wasn’t much you could do with an empty drive bay apart from maybe another disc drive. These days there are many different front panels that you can purchase for reasonable prices; Fan controllers, temperature readouts, VU meters, Card readers, the list is extensive. XClio 3060 Plus @ techpowerup.com [Jul-25-07] (0 Comments) Over the years, fans inside computer cases have more than doubled in size. Original case fans were 80mm, but more recent cases are including 140mm or even 250mm fans. The XClio 3060 Plus takes it one giant step further by including a huge 360mm side panel fan. Is bigger really better? Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller and Power Meter @ pcper.com [Jul-23-07] (0 Comments) The ZM-MFC2 comes with four temperature probes. The cables arecolor coded and terminated onto a single row connector for easyinstallation. The temperature range for the ZM-MFC2 is advertised asmeasuring from -9=B0C to 99=B0C, which is very good and should meet the needs ofmost avid PC enthusiasts, even if you are using some form of active coolingto get temperatures down below ambient (or below freezing:) Surprisingly,the temperature display only reads out in =B0C and can not be switched to readin =B0F. Samsung SyncMaster 971P 19-inch LCD Monitor @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-23-07] (0 Comments) Samsung has really earned a reputation for creating world class LCDpanels, and the 19-inch SyncMaster 971P TFT-LCD monitor is no exception.Available with either a glossy black or a glossy white casing, theSyncMaster 971P has a lot of fantastic features going for it, including178-degree viewing angles and a fairly high 1500:1 contrast ratio. But it'snot without its faults either. Read on to see if this LCD monitor is worthyour hard-earned money. Thermaltake iXoft Notebook Cooling Pad @ thinkcomputers.org [Jul-22-07] (0 Comments) Thermaltake's products are innovative and always receive a lot ofpublicity. ThinkComputers really liked its 1000W power supply and its V1 CPUcooler. Will the iXoft notebook cooling pad, a new, lightweight, fanless,fabric device designed to dissipate heat more efficiently, live up to theThermaltake brand name? ThinkComputers investigates. [News] Thermaltake SopranoRS 101 Enclosure @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-21-07] (0 Comments) A simple and stylish enclosure is what Thermaltake has provided itscustomers once again. Personally, I love the High-gloss Piano finish and sodo my greasy fingerprints, but that is something I can live with. On theinside of the bezel is a filter to help reduce the amount of dust thatenters the enclosure, but this is counteracted by the use of side intakesfans. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for PC @ bit-tech.net [Jul-20-07] (0 Comments) The truth is that GRAW 2 just doesn’t feelsubstantiallydifferent to the first game however and despite a few smaller tweaksthe vast majority of interface and game design is the same, with a lotof the levels painted with the same sandy, Mexican pueblo palette. It’s not so much a flaw in the game, as GRAW 2 is stillfun to play and tactical shooter fans will find just what they needwithin it, but even those avowed fans of the genre and series may endup looking down on GRAW 2. It doesn’t really add to thefeatures taken from the first GRAWand the player is left feeling cheated, wondering what happened to therevolutionary sequel they were promised and where they got the new GRAWmap pack from. Most Evil Video Game of 2007 for PC/XBox 360 @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-20-07] (0 Comments) Overlord is an action adventure game, set in a seriously warped fantasy world. Controlling a mysterious figure that has inherited the legacy of the evil, long-dead Overlord, the player [News] Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller @ virtual-hideout.net [Jul-20-07] (0 Comments) There are quite a few Rhoebus and Fan Controllers out there thatwill allow you to control your fan speeds. I don't know of any that can dowhat the Zalman ZM-MFC2 Multi Fan Controller can do. Not only does itprovide you with the ability to control your fans, but it can also reportyour system's temperatures, and how much wattage your system is using. And,it looks nothing like any other unit out there. Console Exclusivity @ bonafidereviews.com [Jul-19-07] (0 Comments) As a gamer, have you ever wondered why Final Fantasy generally comes out on Playstation and no other systems? Or what about things like, why Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 were only redone for the Game cube and no other consoles? Ever wonder why Gears of War is on the 360 and hasn’t shown its face on the other consoles? Well everyone the answer is simple, and it lies in a little thing called exclusivity. Noctua NF-R8 and NF-S12 Fans, NC-U6 Chipset Cooler @ techgage.com [Jul-19-07] (0 Comments) There are many companies that exist for the sole purposeof helping yourPC keep it's cool, but Noctua believes they do that better than anyone.So, we are putting their 80mm fan, 120mm fan and chipset cooler to thetest, to see if they live up to the hype. Sunbeamtech Silent Whisper CPU cooler @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-19-07] (0 Comments) There is something good to be said for a near-silent pc, but I don'thave one. Even as I write this, the steady hum of my computer fans drone on.My friends can't stand my computer room for more than a half an hour. Thesound drives them crazy. It doesn't bother me personally. I used to workwith children for a living and I can ignore pretty much any sound. Not tomention, I've always set performance over comfort when it comes to cooling.However, for the sake of friendship, I decided to look into silent or nearsilent PC cooling. Coincidentally, Sunbeamtech have sent a Silent WhisperCPU cooler for review. The Silent Whisper is a supposedly near silent CPUcooler for the budget minded enthusiast. At $19.99 on some online stores,the Silent Whisper is very affordable, but how does it perform? Let's findout. Thermalright SI-128 SE CPU Cooler - Exclusive @ pcper.com [Jul-18-07] (0 Comments) The Thermalright SI-128 SE CPU cooler did an excellent job ofkeeping the fully loaded CPU cool. This is the first down-draft stylecooler we have seen that offers close to the same level of performance assome of the larger tower style coolers on the market. For example, whencompared to the Thermalright Ultra-120 (both using the same 2,000 rpm fan),the full load CPU temperatures were within 0.2=B0C of each other (well withinthe experimental margin of error). Sunbeam Tuniq Tower @ techpowerup.com [Jul-18-07] (0 Comments) The Sunbeam Tuniq tower is one of the largest heatsinks around, with a 120mm fan sandwiched between two rows of aluminum fins. The three U-shaped copper heatpipes carry away the heat from the copper base, and the included fan controller allows the user to dial in the fan speed and noise to their liking. The Tuniq Tower goes on the test bench to see what kind of performance this monster can give. Zalman ZM-MFC2 Fan Controller @ techgage.com [Jul-18-07] (0 Comments) Good fan controllers can be an excellent addition to anyPC, but it'shard for companies to differentiate their own controllers from theothers. Zalman tackles that problem with their MFC2, which in additionto controlling your fans, can also tell you how many watts yourcomputer is hogging. Overlord PC/XBox 360 Video Game by Codemasters @ benchmarkreviews.com [Jul-17-07] (0 Comments) Overlord is an action adventure game, set in a seriously warped fantasy world. Controlling a mysterious figure that has inherited the legacy of the evil, long-dead Overlord, the player Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 Processor @ pcper.com [Jul-16-07] (0 Comments) The new Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850 processor is easily the fastestand most powerful consumer processor we have seen here at PC Perspective.It's new 1333 MHz front-side bus, 3.0 GHz clock speed and quad-cores make itthe top end CPU to beat and it will probably remain planted on theperformance crown until the end of the year. Intel's commanding performanceand price cuts are putting more and more pressure on AMD's CPU team and theupcoming Barcelona-core parts are going to need to be fantastic in order tocompete with Intel's current lineup. Antec P190 Case @ xyzcomputing.com [Jul-16-07] (0 Comments) As you may have guessed, there is a lot that sets the P190 apart from most other cases. The biggest selling point is the new Neo-Link dual power supply system, which means that the P190 comes with two power supplies that work together to put out 1200W of power. That is a main reason why the case is so expensive (and why it's so heavy), as a single Antec power supply unit (for example the Antec True Power Quattro) will cost upwards of $215. The Neo-Link consists of two separate power supplies, which, instead of being redundant, work in tandem to power the system. Other features include dual 140mm fans on the top and a monster 200mm fan on the left side panel, as well as a special snake light for working inside the case. One of the most important distinctions that sets this case aside from the P182 and Antec's other performance cases is that the P190 can fit an extended ATX motherboard while the others cannot. XCLIO 3060Plus Case @ rbmods.com [Jul-14-07] (0 Comments) We've seen a lot of different case designs over the years, and onestyle that's becoming more popular as computers run hotter is where a largecase fan is provided on the side panel. Today we'll look at an example ofthis case style when we examine the XCLIO 3060Plus Case. Will its integratedside fan design prove to blow away the competition? Let's find out. Thermaltake Soprano RS 101 @ techpowerup.com [Jul-14-07] (0 Comments) The newest addition to Thermaltake's Soprano line of cases is the Soprano RS 101, an entry-level mid-tower boasting a glossy piano-black finish to the front bezel. With tool-less PCI slots and drive bays, a full sized window with a myriad of fan options and plenty of style, Thermaltake scores a big win for the budget-minded consumer. Technic3D/NZXT HS-001S Hush @ technic3d.com [Jul-12-07] (0 Comments) The NZXT HS-001S Hush is the next PC Case in the Technic3D Edi torship. The HUSH is equipped with two 120mm fans (running at low spee ds)and have installed rubber padding near fans and hard drives to furt her reduce the sound level. This NZXT also ships with USB 2.0, Firewir e, and HD audio support.See you in the following Review which qualitie s the new HS-001S Gamer Case presents. Zalman ZM-MFC2 Front Panel Device @ pro-clockers.com [Jul-11-07] (0 Comments) Well, Zalman has hit us with another great looking product that willadd style and functionality to the front of your case. At the same time thatthe ZM-MFC2 makes your case look hot, it also gives you the control you needto keep everything cool. The ZM-MFC2 is probably the best looking frontpanel fan controller that we at Pro-Clockers have ever seen before. Itwould reminds all of us of a high-end in dash car head unit. We know itlooks good, but performance means a lot to us here so we have to ask - Howwell does it work? Lets take a look at it now. Zalman CNPS9700 LED HSF @ gideontech.com [Jul-08-07] (0 Comments) With great temps come great noise; even in my computer |