Be Quiet, as the name implies, specializes in the construction of silent PC components like CPU coolers, fans and power supplies. In this review we will test the Pure Power CM L8 730W, a modular PSU that targets the tight budget users since it features an affordable price, it is 80 PLUS Bronze certified and is equipped with four PCIe connectors. On top of that it promises quiet operation even at full load thanks to the SilentWings fan technology.
Pandawill Rii mini i6 is the name of a new miniature keyboard and remote combo product. The device integrates a full Bluetooth QWERTY-keyboard into the back of a normal infrared remote control. The unit is priced at $60 so it will not break the bank.
The Thermaltake Chaser MK-1, a futuristic looking chassis with a long list of useful features manages to impress in terms of looks, but can it hold up on our test bench? We fill the case with hardware to see if it ends up being chased or really manages to stay the chaser in every scenario.
OCZ is very busy lately releasing new PSU models. Today we have the chance to test the OCZ ZS 650W. The main difference compared to the bigger ZS 750W, besides capacity, is the reduced number of available PCIe connectors, only two. Like all ZS units it has 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency, its OEM is Sirfa and it uses a non-modular cabling design.
The CORE 1000 is the most affordable entry into the Micro ATX case market from Fractal Design. It is aimed to take on the Cooler Master Elite and the Xigmatek Asgard by offering as many features at an affordable price point. Will it prevail?
Fostex's newest product is a headphone amplifier and DAC dubbed the HP-P1. The HP-P1 offers a fully digital connection to any newer iPod or iPhone. Its ability to read digital data from the device is a unique feature that promises maximized audio quality because it bypasses the cheap analog hardware in the i-device.
Outfitted with a real X-Fi chipset and a KillerNIC E2100 to score maximum kills, Gigabyte's latest from the G1.Killer series, the G1.Sniper2, hits TechPowerUp's boot camp. Ready to jump into trenches and enter combat, we put the Intel Z68-equipped G1.Sniper2 in the front lines, target in sight.
The new Corsair TX M lineup is an evolutionary step forward from the Corsair TX V2 Series. It introduces modular connectors and a new fan grill design. Internally, the platform provider has been changed from Seasonic to Channel Well Technology. Overall the TX750M is a rock solid performer that comes at only a moderate price increase.
AMD's new Llano APU lineup gets a stylish new addition with the Biostar TA75A+. Sporting an fancy color scheme, and a low price, the Biostar TA75A+ seeks to bring some enthusiast features to the entry-level market.
OCZ's Vertex 3 is the company's flagship solid state drive. It is based on the fast Sandforce SF-2281 controller which offers support for the latest SATA 6 Gbps interface. We tested the 240 GB version against ten other SSDs in both 6 Gbps and 3 Gbps mode.
After the huge success of the Obsidian and Graphite cases, Corsair is entering the sub $100 market with the Carbide 400R. We show no mercy and review it just like its bigger brethren and are happy to report, that it holds up in an impressive manner.
Today we have a chance to test the Super Flower Golden Silent SF-500P14FG, a fanless power supply with 500W capacity which can be overclocked to 600W. In order to achieve this, the PSU will drop a bit in effiency: from Platinum to Gold.
The Enermax Hoplite has a long list of features and sports edgy industrial looks, which seem to be inspired by other cases in the market but also turns some heads with a competitive price point. We whip out the screw driver to see how it holds up on our test bench - turns out Enermax has done a great job and that tool is barely needed.
Our first look at PCIe 3.0 comes from none other than MSI, with their recently launched Z68A-GD65 (G3). Adding support early for future Intel CPUs, the Z68A-GD65 (G3), with its true PCIe 3.0 support, not only offers a bit for the future, but also a bit of extra speed, right now. We take the overclocking-oriented Z68A-GD65 (G3) for a spin.
Thortech is GeIL's power supply brand which has 15 years of experience in designing PSUs for industrial use. Today we will test the Thunderbolt Plus 800W, a PSU with Gold efficiency and a shiny iPower Meter device. The iPower Meter displays voltages, power, current and efficiency on a small panel which mounts in a 5.25" bay and also lets you control the PSU's fan speed.
Sennheiser's newest portable headphones are dubbed the PX 200-II. Its design closely resembles that of the previous high end ultra portable offering, the PX 200s. The new II-version features a multitude of smaller upgrades.
RedGiant have just released a very interesting set of in-ears named A03 Ossicle. The in-ears feature a dual dynamic driver setup and are aimed at satisfying all the bassheads of this world. We put them through their paces and see how they fare against other modern offerings.
The ASUS MARS II is a monster graphics card consisting of two GeForce GTX 580 GPUs on a single PCB using triple slot cooling. Unlike the NVIDIA GTX 590, the MARS II comes with full GTX 580 clock speeds which give the card an almost 20% performance advantage over the GTX 590, making the card the fastest graphics card in the world, but also the most expensive at $1500.
The Silicon Power Stream S10 does not only look sleek, but also ships in two metallic color choices. On top of that the 750GB external hard drive offers very good performance and a great set of accessories. We take the drive for a spin and rip it apart to see what makes it tick.
The Kingwin Stryker 500 W is an amazing little PSU. It is one of the few models that offers 80PLUS Platinum efficiency, which means well over 90%, even at low load. In addition to that the power supply is completely fanless, emitting no noise at all - great for a quiet office PC or media PC system.
Head-Direct's newest entry level model is put to the test. Dubbed RE-242 these in-ears are the first earphones from Head-Direct directly aimed at the entry level market. Priced at $25 they are budget friendly and feature a smart new durable design.
With AMD's new and affordable Fusion APU processors now on the market, Gigabyte steps up to the starting blocks, ready to win the race. Sporting a ton of features, the GA-A75-UD4H is not only ready for endurance racing, but superfast sprints down the drag strip too. We strap our AMD A8-3850 APU in Gigabyte's GA-A75-UD4H, and take it around the test track.
New USB 3.0 based external hard drives are popping up everywhere and ADATA has joined the fray with their Classic CH11 Series. It aims to offer the new interface with capacities of up to 1 TB at an affordable price point.
FSP decided to enrich the successful Aurum series with three new models that feature more wattages and a semi modular cabling system. The latter will be of great interest to many, since nowadays more and more users seek a modular PSU in order to avoid the extra effort needed for cable management with non modular units.
Thermaltake recently decided to join the elite PSU category with high power units that feature equally high efficiency levels. One of the most recent additions in Thermaltake's arsenal is the ToughPower Grand 1200W, which currently is the company's most powerful PSU that meets the 80Plus Gold requirements.
