Colorful unveiled the iGame B760M Ultra Z, a Socket LGA1700 motherboard in the Micro-ATX form-factor, with a distinctive white PCB, but that's hardly the story—this is Colorful's first motherboard with backside connectors, for more discretely cabled PC builds. The board doesn't use any marketing buzzwords such as "BTF" or "Project Zero," but has its onboard connectors aligned to support PC cases with motherboard tray cutouts for either of the two standards. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 4-pin ATX connectors (sufficient for Intel Performance Power Delivery profile). The processor is wired to a PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and an M.2-2280 Gen 4 slot. Colorful used the region of the PCB next to the four DDR5 memory slots—where you'd normally have 24-pin and other connectors—to position an additional M.2 slot hidden behind a heatsink. There is yet another M.2 slot between the two PCIe slots.

The backside of the PCB has the board's power connectors, four SATA 6 Gbps ports, the USB- and HD audio headers, fan headers, and the front-panel headers. Networking connectivity include Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5 GbE. USB connectivity includes two 5 Gbps type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 10 Gbps type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and four USB 2.0 ports. There are two additional 5 Gbps ports via an internal header. HDMI and DisplayPort make up the display connectivity. The motherboard offers the USB BIOS Flashback feature. Available now in the Chinese market, the Colorful iGame B760M Ultra Z is priced at RMB ¥1,199 or (converts to USD $167).

ZALMAN today introduced the P30 Air line of Micro-ATX mini-tower cases with a design focus on high airflow. The case comes in two color variants—black and white. Its design is characterized by panel perforations along not just the entire front-panel, but also the sides of the bottom half. The left side-panel only covers the upper compartment, the bottom compartment opens from the right side-panel that covers both compartments. ZALMAN included three ARGB-illuminated fans with this case, the front mesh intake has two pre-installed 140 mm spinners, while the rear exhaust is handled by a 140 mm fan. This presence of 140 mm rear exhaust also means that the motherboard tray has a high amount of clearance for tall graphics cards and CPU coolers.

A star attraction with the ZALMAN P30 Air is its motherboard tray, which has strategically located cutouts for motherboards with reverse-facing connectors, such as the ASUS BTF series, and MSI Project Zero series. The motherboard tray has room for graphics cards up to 39.2 cm in length, and CPU coolers up to 181 mm in height. The bottom compartment has a single 3.5-inch drive tray, with an additional 2.5-inch mount on top. There are two additional 2.5-inch mounts along the motherboard tray. Besides the two 140 mm front intakes and 120 mm rear exhaust, the case features three 120 mm top exhausts, along which you can mount a 360 mm radiator. Due to its design, a radiator cannot be mounted along the front panel. Measuring 235 mm x 452 mm x 420 mm (WxDxH), the case dry weighs 7.6 kg. The company didn't reveal pricing.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB chassis, a case that makes it easy to build a high-performance PC with great cooling. Prepped and ready for great out-of-the-box cooling, equipped for wide compatibility with high-performance parts, and thoughtfully constructed inside and out for an easy PC DIY experience, the GT302 ARGB resets expectations for a mainstream case.

Great cooling - right out of the box
Most PC builders go big on cooling to ensure an excellent balance of performance and quiet operation. From the moment it is pulled out of the packaging, the TUF Gaming GT302 ARGB gives users a superb foundation for high-end cooling. This starts with a front panel designed first and foremost to maximize airflow efficiency. It is constructed of a wide-open, high-porosity square-type mesh that leaves ample room for fresh air to enter a PC. Four pre-installed 140 mm ARGB case fans move cool air through the chassis. These fans are exceptionally thick, measuring 28 mm in depth. These fans deliver up to 3 mmH2O static pressure and 115 CFM airflow for excellent cooling with quiet operation.

Today, Phanteks, a leading innovator in PC chassis design, proudly unveils a new line of chassis - the XT series. Designed to meet the escalating demands of new hardware releases, the XT series promises exceptional cooling capacity and internal space while delivering outstanding value to tech enthusiasts. The XT Series will be available in three variants, the XT Pro, XT Pro Ultra, and XT View. The XT-Series represents a significant leap forward in chassis design, addressing the evolving needs of PC enthusiasts and gamers. Whether you are a seasoned professional or an avid gamer, the XT-Series ensures that your hardware is housed in a sleek and efficient enclosure.

Corsair today announced its re-entry into the dual chamber PC case market. Building on the direct airflow and impressive performance of the 680X and 280X cases, the new 6500 and 2500 Series deliver unprecedented levels of customization. Whether you need the spacious mid-tower chassis of the 6500 for a powerhouse desktop or the compact mid-tower design of the 2500 for a micro ATX build, their dual chamber layout makes building easier, promoting efficient cooling alongside a clean and professional look. With support for the latest reverse connector motherboards, options to convert from fully mesh airflow to tempered glass panels, and a range of functional and aesthetic accessories, these new cases mark a leap forward in dual-chamber case design.

The new reverse connector motherboards are a game-changer for PC builders. These motherboards, such as the ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero, feature connections discreetly tucked away behind the motherboard tray. This layout, especially when combined with the Corsair iCUE LINK ecosystem, dramatically simplifies the building process and enables a nearly cable-free view within the main chamber of the case. iCUE LINK technology takes this a step further by enabling fans and other internal components to connect to each other seamlessly, reducing the need for multiple types of cables and connectors.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Corsair 6500X case is now live]

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC enthusiast and gaming hardware, has launched its D5 E-ATX mid-tower PC chassis for PC builders looking for optimized airflow, sensible layout, and versatile hardware installment. With tool-less quick-release panels, a rotatable PCI-E mounting bracket, and optimized cable management, the D5 offers a PC building experience that unlocks build convenience and unparalleled performance.

The full mesh front and top panels ensure optimal cooling for the internal components. Inside is a removable cable shield on the motherboard tray, which not only discretely and effectively manages cable clutter, but also is designed to channel and concentrate airflow towards the main hardware. Offering mounting areas for a total of three front fans, three top fans, and one rear fan. There are excellent air-cooling opportunities, and liquid cooling support for both 360 mm and 280/360 mm radiators. Matching the all-black chassis aesthetic, InWin bundles a Neptune AN120 ARGB fan as a starting point for PC builders that often prefer to choose their own fans. The AN120 offers an exceptional performance-to-noise ratio at just 20.5 dBA nominal and up to 60 CFM airflow.

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC enthusiast and gaming hardware, has launched its F5 full tower EATX PC chassis for enthusiast PC builders looking for design customization, extensive cooling options, and support for vertical GPUs and hidden cable motherboards. Customizable Front Panel—First showcased at Computex 2023, the InWin F5 features customizable front panel bezels that can easily be popped-off and swapped between glossy or wooden aesthetics, depending on the users preferred style. The F5 is available in both black and white color options with a 3 mm tempered glass side panel that gives great views of the inside hardware, while both side panels offer convenient, tool-less removal. Mesh grills on the front, top, bottom, and opposing side panel provide ample opportunities for ventilation. Helpful design additions include the quick-remove dust filter for the bottom fans, and a bundled magnetic GPU holder to prevent sag of heavier graphics cards.

Extensive Cooling Options
The spacious interior and versatile cooling options are engineered to accommodate high-end hardware including flagship graphics cards up to 435 mm in length, larger CPU heatsinks up to 180 mm in height, and high-performance ATX power supplies up to 230 mm long. Both vertical and horizontal GPU orientations are supported, with a vertical adapter bracket bundled in the package.

Bitspower brought a large bag of new toys at the 2024 International CES. The first thing that caught our attention was a familiar-looking case with infinity reflection lighting. On a closer look, it turned out to be a Lian Li PC-O11D Evo XL that's been given a neat aesthetic uplift thanks to the new Enigma Light Panel kit by Bitspower. You arrange these along the edges of your side- and front panels, and the provide an impressive, infinity reflection effect. It works with standard 3-pin ARGB, so you can mix it with your regular lighting setup. Next up, are a slew of CR Slim series reservoirs that are designed in the distribution plate format, which they line up with one of your glass panels, providing a better view of your coolant. There are various sizes, ranging from 120 mm x 120 mm, going all the way up to 803 mm. x 140 mm, with fitting ports at strategic locations to align with your CPU and VGA blocks, and radiators. The reservoirs come with preparation for a standard D5 pump, and feature a side cover that has the ARGB LED lighting, the diodes aren't studded into the acrylic as such. Bitspower released a mounting brackets of various sizes to help you correctly mount the reservoirs and accessories in place.

CORSAIR had a brisk 2024 International CES announcements, and we begin our coverage with two new cases the gaming lifestyle brand debuted this year—the 6500X and the 2500X. The 6500X is a new vertically partitioned case with, or it looks that way from the front. The right-size partition begins from behind the motherboard tray, so the extra width toward the front of the case can be used to neatly slot in a 360 mm radiator in a manner that it doesn't obstruct long graphics cards; as shown in the example build below. There is no front-left pillar. There are plenty of fan vents, including three along the right side, along the bottom, the top, and the rear. As you can see, even an RTX 4080 ROG Strix can stretch itself without a side-facing radiator coming in the way—again, because the vertical partition begins behind the motherboard tray and doesn't extend all the way to the front.

The CORSAIR 2500X is a miniaturized version of the 6500X design concept, where the case is vertically partitioned, but the partitioning doesn't extend all the way to the front; creating space for the side-facing radiator, so it doesn't obstruct a long graphics card. This case is designed for Micro-ATX (or smaller) motherboards. The 2500X has a cozy, wood-like accents along the top, front-right, and top-right edges. It lacks a left pillar just like the 6500X. Perhaps the most interesting aspect about the 2500X and 6500X is that they support both MSI Project Zero and ASUS BTF motherboard types, with their backside connectivity. The 2500X has enough room for up to three 120 mm fans along the bottom and top panels; and two along the side panel. Corsair is expected to launch the 6500X and 2500X toward the end of February, 2024. The company hasn't finalized pricing. The company also showed off some user-replaceable body panels for these cases.

ASUS at the 2024 International CES expanded the lineup of BTF apparently cable-free hardware to its premium ROG product line. The company had debuted BTF with its mid-range TUF Gaming product line, which we've extensively covered here. While the TUF Gaming BTF built showcased an all-white scheme, the ROG BTF line makes no such deviations from its main scheme. First up, we have the ROG Maximus Z790 Hero BTF motherboard, a variant of the Z790 Hero with its connectors and headers facing the reverse side of the PCB; and a power slot for BTF graphics cards.

Next up, we have the BTF-ready variant of the ROG Hyperion GR701 case. A compatible case is needed for BTF to work, because the motherboard tray needs to have cutouts in the right places for the ports and connectors of the motherboard to stick out. There's a little extra crawlspace behind the motherboard tray in the ROG Hyperion GR701, so some of the higher gauge power cables can make tight bends. The crown jewel of the ASUS ROG BTF series has to be the graphics card. ASUS has done the unthinkable—to get a GeForce RTX 4090 to run off its BTF power connector. It's a remarkable feat considering that the RTX 4090 is a 425 W TGP graphics card, and the overclocked ROG Strix version only draws more power than the average RTX 4090.

The ASUS TUF Gaming BTF cable-free gaming PC build on display at the 2024 International CES really looks like someone either forgot to plug in the cables, or aced at cable management. BTF is an effort to reduce or eliminate most of the visible cables in a gaming PC build, with the aim to improve aesthetics and airflow. BTF isn't some swanky new specification by Intel such as ATX 3.1, it's an ASUS-invented acronym for—we're not kidding—"back to the future." The "back" here refers to the reverse side of the motherboard's PCB, which is where all the connectors and headers actually open out, so you make your connections in the 3-inch wide crawlspace behind the motherboard tray, in an ASUS BTF compatible case. Case compatibility is a must, because the cutouts in the motherboard tray need to align with the connectors.

ASUS goes a step further from similar efforts by companies such as MSI with its Project Zero; by even making its graphics cards cable free. The motherboard has a PCIe power input on the reverse side, which is wired out to a power-delivery slot that connects to second gold finger besides the standard PCI-Express x16; which delivers up to 300 W of power. This brings back memories of EISA addon cards with that VLB extension. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The only thing sticking out in ASUS's build are the coolant tubes of the ROG Ryujin III White AIO cooler. That one can't be avoided.