Today NVIDIA releases their new GeForce GTX 560 non-Ti. The GPU comes with a reduced shader count of 336 and is targeted at the $199 segment. MSI's GeForce GTX 560 Twin Frozr II is an overclocked version of the GTX 560 reference design which also features MSI's prominent Twin Frozr II thermal solution.
AMD launched yet another Deneb SKU, named Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition, and clocked to yet another all time fastest from AMD - 3.70 GHz. After recent price cuts, Phenom II X4 980 will cost around $185, which puts it back to back with Intel's locked SB models Core i5 2400 and 2500. This may be the last time for our friend to shine and battle out with the competition.
ADATA aims to combine performance, quality and price with the Nobility N005. Priced to please the mainstream user, it offers a sturdy aluminum enclosure and advertises solid performance numbers. We take the drive for a spin to see if they have managed to combine the best of the three attributes or if it is too good to be true.
Seasonic's X-460FL is one of the few fanless power supplies on the market. This zero-noise approach makes the unit a prime candidate for a quiet media PC, office or light gaming system. With 460 W of high-quality power it can easily handle a typical single graphics card system - without any added noise from the power supply.
Crucial's m4 128 GB SSD uses Micron's latest and greatest 25 nm flash chips and supports the modern SATA 6 Gbps interface. As controller a Marvell 9174 is used, in the new BKK2 revision. It also seems that Crucial has optimized their firmware's performance profile slightly differently than on the previous generation C300.
Head-Direct's newest flagship headphones are put to the test. The headphones are dubbed the HE-6s and feature a gold plated driver, and a very special cable. They are priced at $1199, are they worth it ?
Supporting Intel Core Generation 2 processors, the Gigabyte P67A-UD4-B3 not only sports a new color scheme, it also attempts to match the sleek new look with serious performance. Built for some serious overclocking, the P67A-UD4-B3 comes ready to reach the finish line first; will it win the race?
After the FX high-speed USB 3.0 flash drive, Mach Xtreme aims to take the mainstream crowd with the GX USB 3.0 unit. The drive is slimmer, not quite as fast, but brings the price down to the competitive market segment. We take the Mach Xtreme GX 16 GB flash drive for a spin to see if it can hold its own against the established brands in the market.
Corsair's AX850 is an 80Plus Gold certified 850 watt power supply that aims to be the highest-quality model in its segment. It is fully modular and shows excellent performance characteristics in our demanding test suite. With a price of $180 it is not cheap but quality has its price.
Cubitek joins the ranks of Lian Li and Xigmatek with their HPTX-Tank chassis, which is one of three cases on the market capable of holding huge motherboards like the EVGA SR-2. With an unbelievable price tag for an Aluminum chassis, we take a close look to see if it manages to redefine the price / performance segment for such enclosures.
The Strider Plus ST50F-P is a compact size, single rail and highly versatile PSU thanks to the fully modular design that it utilizes. On top of that is equipped with a quiet 120 mm fan and is 80PLUS Bronze certified. Without any doubt it will be an interesting product for users that want a PSU to power a single graphics card in a not so demanding system.
PowerColor's new HD 6950 Vortex II comes with a seriously improved thermal solution compared to the AMD reference design. It also offers two adjustable fans that can be configured to make maximum use of available space. Clock speeds have been increased too, and the card was able to be modded to a HD 6970 in our testing.
Antec has taken the Fusion Remote Max, shrunk it down to the Fusion Remote and has made things even more compact with the MicroFusion Remote. This case can still take a mATX board and allows for low profile expansion cards to be installed, while still featuring the timeless Aluminum front. We take the case for a spin to see if it still offers everything we are looking for in a HTPC chassis, or if Antec slimmed away all the good stuff.
Chieftec recently made a new addition to their product series with the inclusion of the Nitro 88+ line. The new PSUs are 80PLUS Silver certified and promise efficiency that surpasses 88%. They also utilize a semi-modular design and their OEM is Channel Well (CWT), a respectable manufacturer.
SilverStone forges ahead with their latest small form factor design, the Fortress FT03. This unique example of form versus function challenges classical case design. Taking the Fortress series upwards with a stacked layout we'll see if the FT03 rises above the SFF competition.
It's a common truth that high wattage PSUs and low noise levels do not get along very well, so many users are forced to buy lower wattage PSUs that cannot support a powerful system with two or three hi-end VGAs. To address this, Zalman's ZM1000-HP Plus 1000 W uses heatpipes to lower the fan's RPMs and minimize noise.
The ISK-100 is the most compact Mini-ITX chassis from Antec, but still allows for two 2.5" drives to be installed along with your choice of Mini-ITX board. We fill the case with hardware to check if things are too close for comfort or if the small dimensions of the ISK-100 leave a good impression.
Zalman, a company that is well known for its low-noise products, recently freshened up their PSU range with two new models, the ZM1000-HP Plus and the ZM850-HP Plus. Today we are testing the ZM850-HP Plus, which utilizes a dual heatpipe system to improve cooling of the internal components for reduced heat and noise levels.
Westone's top of the line custom in-ears are put to the test. The ES5s feature five drivers per side and are available in a set of radical color schemes for the fashion conscious audiophiles out there. The starting price is a hefty $950 which makes them the second most expensive earphones we have every reviewed.
ZALMAN recently entered the solid-state storage market with SSDs based on Sandforce controllers. Their first model we test is the N128 GB model which is based on SF-1222 with 128 GB of capacity.
PC Power & Cooling is a legendary company in the PSU market with many years of experience and plenty of innovations. Their products traditionally focus on industrial and professional power users and the Silencer 760 W that we test today is no exception. Silencer 760W is a non-modular PSU that can deliver 760 W continuously at 50°C and power two hi-end VGAs with up to 90% less noise per Watt.
Corsair's Gaming Series consists of three single rail PSUs that are made for gamers. Even more average users with a mid-range system will appreciate the reliable and cheap PSU from a company with a very good reputation. We test the 800 W model, which is the most powerful of the series and are impressed by its voltage regulation and efficiency.
Xigmatek is growing up and so are their cases. The company has made a name for themselves with their extensive entry- and mid-range enclosures, but the Elysium is not only their first full tower chassis, but it is their first HPTX capable case as well. Let's see if the Elysium is victorious in offering an appropriate resting place of the biggest and fastest hardware out there.
Currently tower-type coolers are known offer the best cooling performance, so it surprised us a bit to see a new top-flow CPU cooler from Noctua. We were even more surprised by the performance delivered which is better than any other cooler we tested before, including tower-type models.
OCZ recently released a new line of hi-end PSUs in order to keep up the pace with the competition, since the Z series counts many years in production. The new ZX series consists of three 80Plus Gold and fully modular PSUs that feature a single +12V rail and boast that they are designed with maximum performance in mind. The ZX 1250 will be the test subject of today’s review.
