atx | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:29:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png atx | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Enermax unveils the new ENERMAXK8 mid-tower chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/enermax-unveils-the-new-enermaxk8-mid-tower-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/enermax-unveils-the-new-enermaxk8-mid-tower-chassis/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=652705 Enermax has recently launched its latest mid-tower ATX PC case series, the ENERMAXK8. This case has an elegant and modern design with tempered glass front and side panels that offer a clear view of the system's interior.  The ENERMAXK8 has three pre-installed ARGB PWM fans and a built-in 6-port control hub that allows users to …

The post Enermax unveils the new ENERMAXK8 mid-tower chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Enermax has recently launched its latest mid-tower ATX PC case series, the ENERMAXK8. This case has an elegant and modern design with tempered glass front and side panels that offer a clear view of the system's interior. 

The ENERMAXK8 has three pre-installed ARGB PWM fans and a built-in 6-port control hub that allows users to synchronise their ARGB components with system lighting effects. Alternatively, users can choose between 21 built-in lighting presets.

The case was designed to make system installation effortless, featuring a built-in fan bracket in the front panel that enables users to effortlessly attach three 120mm fans and a 360mm radiator for an AIO cooler on the other side. The provided thumb screws further simplify the installation process. Moreover, the front panel includes one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C port and one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, making it easy to connect various devices.

The ENERMAXK8 is available in black or white, and as part of the current product launch campaign running exclusively in Europe, consumers can purchase it and receive an additional CPU AIO cooler from the LIQMAXFLO series at a discounted price. The case alone costs €119.90, and with the LIQMAXFLO 240 ARGB, the price increases to €159.80 (€60 cheaper than when bought separately).

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Would you consider the ENERMAXK8 case for a new build? Which colour do you prefer?

The post Enermax unveils the new ENERMAXK8 mid-tower chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/enermax-unveils-the-new-enermaxk8-mid-tower-chassis/feed/ 0
Deepcool introduces the new Morpheus ATX+ PC case https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/deepcool-introduces-the-new-morpheus-atx-pc-case/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/deepcool-introduces-the-new-morpheus-atx-pc-case/#respond Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:00:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=639941 Deepcool has introduced a new PC case to its lineup. Featuring an airflow-oriented design, the Morpheus is an ATX+ case for both experienced and casual PC builders alike.  The Deepcool Morpheus has a modular design, enabling easy switching between single and dual-chamber modes, allowing you to customise your PC to suit your needs, whether you …

The post Deepcool introduces the new Morpheus ATX+ PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Deepcool has introduced a new PC case to its lineup. Featuring an airflow-oriented design, the Morpheus is an ATX+ case for both experienced and casual PC builders alike. 

The Deepcool Morpheus has a modular design, enabling easy switching between single and dual-chamber modes, allowing you to customise your PC to suit your needs, whether you want maximum performance or a sleek, minimalist design.

 

In addition to its modular design, this case offers excellent airflow from all angles, thanks to its mesh panels and filters. The case comes with a three-fan module (140mm each) on the side, but it supports up to 13x 120mm or 140mm fans or up to six 180mm or 200mm fans. Radiator support is also very extensive, allowing you to mount 360mm and 420mm variants on the top, front, bottom, and side, depending on the configuration.

The Morpheus also features a double-status digital panel that lets you track your CPU and GPU vitals. With support for ATX+ motherboards, GPUs up to 480mm long, and 192mm tall CPU air coolers (135mm in dual chamber mode), this case can handle anything you throw at it.

If all of that is not enough, then you may also be interested to learn that the new Morpheus case also comes with rubber square bits, which you can apply to the majority of mesh panels with your own drawings.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Although it looks relatively simple, if priced correctly, the Morpheus could quickly become one of the most exciting PC cases to hit the shelves in 2024.

The post Deepcool introduces the new Morpheus ATX+ PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/deepcool-introduces-the-new-morpheus-atx-pc-case/feed/ 0
Chieftec launches upgraded Hunter 2 case with mesh cooling https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/chieftec-launches-upgraded-hunter-2-case-with-mesh-cooling/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/chieftec-launches-upgraded-hunter-2-case-with-mesh-cooling/#respond Mon, 30 Oct 2023 14:27:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=635790 The Chieftec Hunter was a good looking and affordable case. Now, Chieftec is following it up with the new Hunter 2 Gaming ATX case with a mesh airflow design to increase air intake and provide better cooling for components. The Chieftec Hunter 2 improves on the original Hunter design with a larger mesh area to …

The post Chieftec launches upgraded Hunter 2 case with mesh cooling first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Chieftec Hunter was a good looking and affordable case. Now, Chieftec is following it up with the new Hunter 2 Gaming ATX case with a mesh airflow design to increase air intake and provide better cooling for components.

The Chieftec Hunter 2 improves on the original Hunter design with a larger mesh area to improve airflow. You'll also find a large tempered glass side window for a good view of your components, four pre-installed ARGB fans, a power supply cover and brushed aluminium panels.

In the table below you can see the full specs for the Chieftec Hunter 2:

Weight (without/with package) 5.24kg / 6.15kg
Color Black
Material 0.5mm SPCC and tempered glass panel (side)
Motherboard support Mini ITX, mATX, ATX
Dimension (DxWxH) 408mm x 210mm x 464mm
Drive bay internal ( 2x 3.5 or 1x 2.5 , 1x 3.5 ) and 2x 2.5
Power supply ATX PSU (optional, ~180mm)
Front I/O 1x Type-C, 1x USB3.1 Gen 1, Audio-out (AZALIA / HD-Audio), Mic-In, RGB Brightness Button, RGB Modes Button
Scope of delivery Screw set, instruction manual, A-RGB control Hub, 1x +5V A-RGB M/B SYNC cable, +12V 4PIN PWM cable, magnetic dust filter on top
Front: 3x 120mm A-RGB rainbow fans pre-installed
Rear: 1x 120mm A-RGB rainbow fan pre-installed
Expansion slots 7
Cooling Compatibility Front: 2x 140mm or 3x 120mm fan or up to 280mm radiator
Rear: 1x 120mm fan
Top: 2x 140mm or 2x 120mm fan
CPU cooler height (max.) 170mm
VGA card length (max.) 320mm
Warranty 24 Months

The case supports up to 280mm liquid cooling radiators and a maximum GPU length of 320mm, so it is a more compact case. We don't have details on pricing yet but the original Hunter case can be found for around €90.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you shopping around for an affordable case with maximum RGB?

The post Chieftec launches upgraded Hunter 2 case with mesh cooling first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/chieftec-launches-upgraded-hunter-2-case-with-mesh-cooling/feed/ 0
Sharkoon goes all-white for new REV300 chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/sharkoon-goes-all-white-for-new-rev300-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/sharkoon-goes-all-white-for-new-rev300-chassis/#respond Thu, 26 Oct 2023 16:45:11 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=635320 Sharkoon has responded to customer demand by releasing a white version of their popular REV300 ATX chassis. This case features a 90-degree rotated mainboard design with a tempered glass panel on the right side. Additionally, the REV300 White comes equipped with seven pre-installed PWM RGB fans for good cooling and airflow right out of the …

The post Sharkoon goes all-white for new REV300 chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Sharkoon has responded to customer demand by releasing a white version of their popular REV300 ATX chassis. This case features a 90-degree rotated mainboard design with a tempered glass panel on the right side. Additionally, the REV300 White comes equipped with seven pre-installed PWM RGB fans for good cooling and airflow right out of the box.

The REV300 White, like its black counterpart, has the maximum number of fans installed. The front panel features three 140mm ARGB LED PWM fans, while the back has three 120mm ARGB LED PWM fans. The top panel has a single 120mm ARGB LED PWM fan, and the front panel is constructed of air-permeable mesh, further improving ventilation. If water cooling is preferred over air cooling, the case can accommodate radiators up to one 360mm radiator at the rear and up to one 420mm radiator in the front.

Hardware installation on the Sharkoon REV series PC cases is relatively easy. Using the same design as the standard black model, the REV300 White is no exception, featuring a 90-degree rotated mainboard tray that displays hardware components through the right-side tempered glass panel. The REV300 White is ideal for modern parts, accommodating graphics cards up to 345mm long, CPU coolers up to 177mm tall, and power supply units up to 270mm long.

The front panel features a USB-C connector for quick data transfer to mobile devices, along with standard audio connections and four USB-A ports. The Sharkoon REV300 White is now available for €159.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: It's uncommon to see a PC case with so many fans out of the box at this price point, much less with this internal design. On paper, it looks to be a very good deal. 

The post Sharkoon goes all-white for new REV300 chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/sharkoon-goes-all-white-for-new-rev300-chassis/feed/ 0
InWin launches the new Dubili ATX DIY PC case https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/inwin-launches-the-new-dubili-atx-diy-pc-case/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/inwin-launches-the-new-dubili-atx-diy-pc-case/#respond Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:47:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=628473 InWin, known for its unique-looking cases, has announced yet another unique PC chassis. We present to you the Dubili, a new DIY case. Available in Titanium Grey and Champagne Gold, the Dubili can be bought fully built or in its flatpack version (DIY Edition), so you can build it yourself. The InWin Dubili is part …

The post InWin launches the new Dubili ATX DIY PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
InWin, known for its unique-looking cases, has announced yet another unique PC chassis. We present to you the Dubili, a new DIY case. Available in Titanium Grey and Champagne Gold, the Dubili can be bought fully built or in its flatpack version (DIY Edition), so you can build it yourself.

The InWin Dubili is part of the company's iBuild iShare project. By granting users access to each panel independently, each component may be readily adjusted or customised based on user preference.

Because the structural pieces are made of 1.2 mm SECC steel, the Dubili has the same construction as your typical PC case. Moreover, it can be easily transported thanks to the handles, if you so wish to mount them. The tempered glass side panel provides visibility of the internal components, while brushed aluminium and curved parts on the exterior give it a contemporary look.

Its high-airflow design can accommodate high-end PC hardware, including motherboards up to E-ATX size, up to 430mm long GPUs, and up to 180mm long PSUs. The case also supports a variety of cooling options, such as air coolers, AIOs, and custom liquid cooling components, and is capable of mounting a 420mm radiator in the front and a 360mm radiator at the top. The front panel features a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2×2, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, and HD Audio Combo (CTIA).

The case comes with four pre-installed InWin Jupiter AJ140 fans. At maximum speed, the Jupiter PWM fans can provide a strong 100 CFM of airflow while also offering a broad operational speed range and ARGB lighting effects. The kit also includes a combined fan and ARGB lighting hub.

The InWin Dubili is now available in the EU (select regions) and the US. The flatpack version goes for $230, and it doesn't seem to be available on the EU eStore. As for the standard version, it costs $250/€269.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: If you bought a Dubili case, would you get the flatpack version so you could build it, or would you prefer to pay the extra and get the standard version?

The post InWin launches the new Dubili ATX DIY PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/inwin-launches-the-new-dubili-atx-diy-pc-case/feed/ 0
Raijintek introduces Arcadia III mid-tower chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/raijintek-introduces-arcadia-iii-mid-tower-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/raijintek-introduces-arcadia-iii-mid-tower-chassis/#respond Tue, 28 Mar 2023 16:00:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=598053 The Raijintek Arcadia line of PC cases has received a much-needed update to match today's PC case trends. Now featuring a front mesh panel, with the option of a tempered glass or solid side panel, the Arcadia III is a compact ATX case that, like its predecessors, should come at an affordable price. Despite being …

The post Raijintek introduces Arcadia III mid-tower chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Raijintek Arcadia line of PC cases has received a much-needed update to match today's PC case trends. Now featuring a front mesh panel, with the option of a tempered glass or solid side panel, the Arcadia III is a compact ATX case that, like its predecessors, should come at an affordable price.

Despite being relatively compact compared to most ATX cases (210×410×485mm WxDxH), the Raijintek Arcadia III can accommodate up to 165mm CPU coolers, 360mm AIO liquid coolers in the front, and 240/280mm radiators on top. Furthermore, it supports graphics cards up to 365mm in length and 220mm long ATX PSUs, which should be enough for most mid-range builds.

Fan support is quite extensive, allowing you to mount up to 2x 120/140mm fans on the top panel, up to 3x 120/140mm front fans, up to 2x bottom 120mm fans (above the PSU shroud), and a rear 120mm fan (included). Supported motherboard form factors include ATX, M-ATX, and Mini-ITX. Besides the power and reset buttons, the top I/O has a USB-A 3.0 port, 2x USB-A 2.0 ports, and an HD Audio jack.

The Arcadia III comes with either a solid or a tempered glass left-side panel. Both models come with dust filters covering the top, bottom and front panels. Storage options include two 3.5-inch drive bays and three 2.5-inch drive bays.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: The first Raijintek Arcadia was among the best budget cases of its time. Now with Arcadia III, it looks like the company is recapturing that, with a better design, improved feature set, and apparently better airflow.

The post Raijintek introduces Arcadia III mid-tower chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/raijintek-introduces-arcadia-iii-mid-tower-chassis/feed/ 0
Jonsbo introduces new VR3 ITX and VR4 ATX cases https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/jonsbo-introduces-new-vr3-itx-and-vr4-atx-cases/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/jonsbo-introduces-new-vr3-itx-and-vr4-atx-cases/#respond Thu, 07 Jul 2022 12:28:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=567230 Jonsbo is back with a new pair of cases for 2022. The new VR3 ITX and VR4 ATX cases include a removable inner chassis to make the building process nice and easy, as well as mesh panels for improved airflow. The Jonsbo VR3 and VR4 are designed to be compact without compromising on ease of …

The post Jonsbo introduces new VR3 ITX and VR4 ATX cases first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Jonsbo is back with a new pair of cases for 2022. The new VR3 ITX and VR4 ATX cases include a removable inner chassis to make the building process nice and easy, as well as mesh panels for improved airflow.

The Jonsbo VR3 and VR4 are designed to be compact without compromising on ease of installation, offering a two-piece design for the interior and exterior. The exterior of the case is effectively a single piece, wrapping around the front and sides, attached to the bottom, and is designed to come away from the internal frame for easier building and maintenance.

When it comes to cooling, both cases feature mesh panels on the front and sides. The VR3 can use two 120mm or two 140mm fans, or a radiator up to 280mm long can slide into the front of the chassis. The larger VR4 can house up to four 120mm fans or two 140mm fans, or a radiator up to 360mm long.

The VR3 can also fit a ATX PSU up to 140mm long, a graphics card up to 325mm long, a CPU cooler up to 70mm tall, and up to two 2.5″ SSDs. If your GPU is only 185mm long, then you can also fit two 2.5″ HDDs alongside the two SSDs. The VR4 can fit ATX PSUs up to 200mm long, GPUs up to 345mm long and CPU coolers up to 167mm tall, as well as up to two 2.5″ SSDs and two 3.5″ HDDs.

The Jonsbo VR3 and VR4 PC cases are available now at Overclockers UK in both black and white colour options. The VR3 costs £134.99, while the VR4 costs £99.95.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning a new PC build this year? Are you considering a Jonsbo case? 

The post Jonsbo introduces new VR3 ITX and VR4 ATX cases first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/jonsbo-introduces-new-vr3-itx-and-vr4-atx-cases/feed/ 0
Seasonic Arch Q503 Review with Connect DGC-750 https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/seasonic-arch-q503-review-with-connect-dgc-750/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/seasonic-arch-q503-review-with-connect-dgc-750/#respond Fri, 27 May 2022 07:13:16 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=561696 Seasonic is back with another case, designed around the Connect PSU

The post Seasonic Arch Q503 Review with Connect DGC-750 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
When we reviewed Seasonic's first case, the Syncro Q704, we were dealing with an inverted layout and a radical new type of power supply system named Connect. In this review we are looking at the Seasonic Arch Q503 with Connect DGC-750, which is a conventional mid-tower case that supports Seasonic's innovative Connect system and is likely to have a broader appeal.

Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:47 The Arch Q503
02:40 Storage/ fans / radiator / motherboard support
03:27 Connect Power Supply – pricing and versions
04:58 The idea of Connect
05:36 The cables
05:56 The build in the Q503
07:07 Noise testing
07:39 Cooling performance testing
08:19 Leo’s closing thoughts

Main features

  • Compatibility with Seasonic Connect for ultimate cable management
  • Stylish tempered glass side panels on both sides
  • Sturdy steel plate (0.7 mm) construction for durability and noise dampening
  • Pre-installed 120 mm fans (two in the front and one in the back)
  • Captive thumb screws to prevent them from getting lost
  • Easy access to control buttons and connectors (USB Type-C included)

Specification:

  • Motherboard support: E-ATX up to 277mm, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
  • Power supply support: ATX up to 230mm.
  • Expansion slots: 7.
  • Included fans: 2x 120mm front intake, 1x 120mm rear exhaust.
  • Fan mounts: 3x 120mm/2x 140mm front, 2x 120/140mm roof, 1x 120mm rear, 2x 120mm on PSU shroud.
  • Radiator mounts: 360mm/280mm front, 240mm/280mm roof, 120mm rear.
  • 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
  • Internal drive bays: 1x 3.5-inch/2.5-inch, 1x 3.5-inch plus 1x 3.5-inch or 2x 2.5-inch.
  • Front I/O ports: 2x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, audio jacks.
  • Dimensions: 482mm H x 448mm D x 215mm W.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an Intel Core i9-11900K, Radeon RX 6800 XT and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Seasonic Arch Q503 ‘s cooling capabilities.

Test System:

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-11900K (8 cores/16 threads)
  • CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
  • Motherboard: NZXT N7 Z590
  • Memory: 16GB Patriot Viper Steel RGB DDR4-3200MHz
  • Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon RX6800 XT 16GB
  • Power supply: Seasonic Connect DGC-750
  • SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
  • OS: Windows 11

Cooling Performance

Cooling Performance Overview

The Seasonic Arch Q503 struggles slightly with a fully loaded Core i9-11900K and RX6800 XT pulling a total power draw of 600W. We have little doubt the front panel is restrictive but also feel confident that gamers will find their Connect PC behaves perfectly well.

Closing Thoughts

The Seasonic Arch Q503 with Connect DGC-750 is a package that combines a fairly average mid-tower case with Seasonic's Connect power system.

You pay a fairly steep price for this innovation and in return you get a cleaner PC build. You should not expect to gain extra performance and are unlikely to see improved temperatures from the cleaner airflow. The benefit you will derive is the satisfaction of cleaning up those ugly runs of cables that get in the way and clutter up the typical PC.

The way we see it is that the sort of person who will buy the Arch Q503 is the type who cares about 80 Plus ratings and will consider a Gold rated PSU to be the absolute minimum they would consider. You have no idea how frequently KitGuru is offered PCs for review that come with a Bronze power supply and that anguish that causes.

If you feel the same way then you too will appreciate the Seasonic Arch Q503 with Connect while many others will not have the first clue what we are banging on about.

You can buy the Arch Q503 with Connect DGC-750 for £255.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Seasonic Connect is innovative and interesting.
  • The glass panels are dark but not too dark.
  • Finished build looks smart and understated.
  • Good support for a range of cooling.
  • Front I/O includes USB Type-C.

Cons:

  • The front panel is restrictive – Core i9 was a bit ambitious in this case!
  • The price of the case and Connect package is understandably high.

KitGuru says: We applaud Seasonic for bringing innovation to the case and power supply market.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Seasonic Arch Q503 Review with Connect DGC-750 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/leo-waldock/seasonic-arch-q503-review-with-connect-dgc-750/feed/ 0
NZXT H7 Review – Go with the Flow https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nzxt-h7-review-go-with-the-flow/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nzxt-h7-review-go-with-the-flow/#respond Wed, 25 May 2022 15:00:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=561441 Leo checks out the latest series of cases from NZXT - what does he reckon?

The post NZXT H7 Review – Go with the Flow first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
You are getting three reviews for the price of one today as NZXT has launched a series of cases named H7 that are closely related. The base model is H7, then we have the Mesh version H7 Flow, and at the top of the tree is the H7 Elite. With the previous H510 Elite and H710i leaving room for improvement, it's time to find out what NZXT is bringing to the table in 2022.

Timestamps

00:00 Start
00:27 Background
01:05 H710, Plastic pegs!
03:01 H7 Elite
04:50 H7 Base Model and Flow
06:35 Elite – RGB fan hub
07:07 Flow stripped – sharing panels07:40 Fan support and filters
08:27 Leo’s guess
09:01 Some niggles
09:23 Hardware for the build
09:55 Storage capabilities
11:10 Accessories and other features
11:44 Front of the case
12:18 Installing the hardware
13:07 Noise Testing
15:58 Thermal Testing and Results
18:45 Leo’s Closing Thoughts

Main features

  • Tool-less panels and SSD tray for easy installation
  • Tempered glass side panel that showcases the beauty of the case.
  • Front supports up to 3x 140mm fans, top supports 3x 120mm fans, and rear 1x 140mm fan.
  • Front and top side support up to 360mm radiator, rear supports 140mm radiator.
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A x 2, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C x 1, and Headset Audio Jack x 1 on the top panel.
  • All-new cable management system and cable bar
  • Supports vertical optional Vertical GPU Mounting Kit with Gen 4 PCIe Riser

Specification:

  • Motherboard support: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
  • Power supply support: ATX
  • Expansion slots: 7
  • Included fans:
  • H7 and H7 Flow 2x F120Q 1,200rpm at front and rear
  • H7 Elite 3x F140RGB 1,800rm front, 1x F140Q 1,200rpm rear.
  • Fan mounts: 3x 120mm/140mm front, 3x 120/2x 140mm roof, 1x 120/140mm rear
  • Radiator mounts: 360mm/280mm front, 360mm/280mm roof, 120mm/140mm rear
  • 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None
  • Internal drive bays: 2x 3.5-inch/2.5-inch, 4x 2.5-inch.
  • Front I/O ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Headset Jack
  • Dimensions: 480mm H x 505mm D x 230mm W

As we demonstrate in our video the three models of NZXT H7 are based on the same core chassis and they are defined by the front panel and the configuration of the fans. The showstopper is the H7 Elite which has three RGB fans at the front of the case that provide an impressive lightshow.

Cooling Performance

Test System:

  • Processor: Intel Core i9-11900K (8 cores/16 threads)
  • CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black
  • Motherboard: NZXT N7 Z590
  • Memory: 32GB Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4-3600MHz
  • Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon RX6800 XT 16GB
  • Power supply: NZXT C1000 Gold 1000W
  • SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4.0 M.2 NVMe
  • OS: Windows 11

CPU Cooling

Graphics Cooling

Cooling Performance Overview

There is a ton of information in these charts and the obvious takeaway is that the Flow front panel works best when combined with the 140mm fans running at high speeds. That will come as no surprise but when you refer to our video you will hear the huge changes in noise levels and there are times when the H7 can be very noisy indeed. In other words, the H7 can work well however you will need to strike a balance between noise and cooling.

Closing Thoughts

Our starting point for this review of the H7 family starts in 2019 with the H510 and H710, which were interesting cases that leant heavily on looks and styling, and rather less on performance.

It was clear from the first moment the three models of H7 have been improved, starting with the addition of a Flow model that has a front panel that clearly has the potential to work well. In addition we were delighted to find the panels are tool-free as that makes life considerably easier.

Those changes to the panels are welcome, however they fix problems that should never have existed in the first place. When we dug in further and found the specification of the fans made little to no sense it felt like 2019 all over again.

The high end Elite has three ARGB 140mm PWM fans at the front of the case that are practically sealed behind glass. Essentially that means they are intended to supply a light show and the cooling is a mere sideshow. By contrast the H7 and H7 Flow only pack two 120mm fans which will clearly save on the Bill Of Materials however the fans are fairly basic and are voltage controlled, and that is a real shame on a case priced at £120.

NZXT can fix the H7 with some tweaks that fall far short of an overhaul but right now they still have work to do.

You can buy the NZXT H7 and H7 Flow for £119.99, and the H7 Elite for £179.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Good support for radiators, fans and storage.
  • Price is fair.
  • Cable management works well.
  • Decent front IO panel with USB Type-C.

Cons:

  • Airflow in the Elite is bizarre. Three PWM fans behind glass!
  • Basic and Flow versions have 1,500rpm fans with voltage control.
  • Black cases have glass which is very heavily tinted.
  • Elite RGB and fan control requires NZXT CAM software.

KitGuru says:The NZXT H7 family has potential, however the performance of the fans and airflow caused your reviewer a fair amount of frustration.

NZXT H7:

Rating: 7.5.

NZXT H7 Flow:

Rating: 8.

NZXT H7 Elite:

Rating: 7.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post NZXT H7 Review – Go with the Flow first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/nzxt-h7-review-go-with-the-flow/feed/ 0
The Kolink Citadel Mesh has now evolved into a full-sized PC case https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/the-kolink-citadel-mesh-has-now-evolved-into-a-full-sized-pc-case/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/the-kolink-citadel-mesh-has-now-evolved-into-a-full-sized-pc-case/#respond Tue, 10 May 2022 15:16:29 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=560041 The Kolink Citadel Mesh chassis has been around for a while already and has been popular in its micro-ATX form.  Now, for those looking to build a more powerful, hardware-packed system, the Kolink Citadel Mesh ATX is launching, making the case available in full size for the first time.  The Citadel Mesh ATX ARGB case …

The post The Kolink Citadel Mesh has now evolved into a full-sized PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The Kolink Citadel Mesh chassis has been around for a while already and has been popular in its micro-ATX form.  Now, for those looking to build a more powerful, hardware-packed system, the Kolink Citadel Mesh ATX is launching, making the case available in full size for the first time. 

The Citadel Mesh ATX ARGB case will look familiar to anyone who previously saw the Micro-ATX version. The main change here is the scale, with the case now being available in full-size and capable of housing more hardware, paving the way for better cooling and custom liquid cooling support, E-ATX motherboards and extra-long graphics cards.

Out of the box, the Citadel Mesh arrives with four 120mm Kolink Umbra ARGB PWM fans pre-installed – three mounted in the front and an additional one in the rear. You can swap these out for 140mm fans if you see fit. As far as liquid cooling goes, you can fit up to a 420mm radiator in the front, up to a 360mm radiator in the top and up to a 140mm radiator at the rear of the case.

The front panel of the case has a mesh design to improve airflow, and you will find mesh on top of the case too. There is also a tempered glass side panel and a dedicated PSU shroud to help showcase your build. Finally, the top panel includes two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.2 Type C port, as well as power and LED control buttons and audio jacks.

The Kolink Citadel Mesh ATX ARGB Gaming Case is available starting this week for £109.99 at OverclockersUK.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are you planning a new PC build this year? What will you be looking for before buying your next PC case? 

The post The Kolink Citadel Mesh has now evolved into a full-sized PC case first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/matthew-wilson/the-kolink-citadel-mesh-has-now-evolved-into-a-full-sized-pc-case/feed/ 0
Top 3 Cases of 2021! https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/top-3-cases-of-2021/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/top-3-cases-of-2021/#respond Mon, 03 Jan 2022 13:00:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=543003 Leo looks back over 2021 and picks his three favourite cases, with help from James

The post Top 3 Cases of 2021! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Over the course of 2021 we have seen case manufacturers embracing the idea that air flow is important. While they are still deeply committed to Tempered Glass and RGB lighting they are also now using Mesh panels that allow cooling air to get to the important components and this has given rise to some really good new PC cases in 2021. Here are three of the best.

https://youtu.be/dOWvpY_iICc

Timestamps
00:00 Start
00:15 Introduction
00:23 Best Budget Case of 2021
01:11 Best Mid-range Case of 2021
02:32 Best High End Case of 2021
05:00 Last minute addition!

#3: Best Budget Case of 2021: Montech Air 100 ARGB

See the Montech Air 100 ARGB review HERE.

You can purchase the Montech Air 100 ARGB for Euros 79.99 on Amazon.de HERE (with UK distribution coming soon).

#2: Best Mid-priced Case of 2021: Lian Li O11 Air Mini

See the Lian Li O11 Air Mini review HERE.

You can purchase the Lian Li O11 Air Mini for £99.95 at Overclockers UK HERE.

#1: Best High-End Case of 2021: Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Max

See the Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Max review HERE.

You can purchase the Cooler Master MasterBox NR200P Max at Scan for £329.99 HERE.

KitGuru says: In our video we give you the highlights of these three excellent cases. By happy chance they cover the Mini-ITX, Micro ATX and ATX form factors so there is truly something for everyone in this selection. 

The post Top 3 Cases of 2021! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/top-3-cases-of-2021/feed/ 0
Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX Review – 300W for i9-11900K! https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/leo-waldock/gigabyte-z590-aorus-pro-ax-review-300w-for-i9-11900k/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/leo-waldock/gigabyte-z590-aorus-pro-ax-review-300w-for-i9-11900k/#respond Tue, 01 Jun 2021 08:04:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=516233 Let's see how this Gigabyte Aorus Z590 board deals with the i9-11900K

The post Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX Review – 300W for i9-11900K! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
In our launch review of Intel 11th Gen Rocket Lake we expressed concern about the power draw of the Core i9-11900K. Today we are looking at three Gigabyte motherboards that support Intel Rocket Lake, with a close eye on the £300 Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX.

In our video we show the features and hardware in the ATX Z590 Aorus Pro AX, the Micro-ATX B560M Aorus Elite and the Mini-ITX Z590I Aorus Ultra and we also talk about the BIOS. While there is a good deal of difference in the hardware you find on each of the motherboards, it is notable that the BIOS set-up screens are very similar.

As you will see in our video, the BIOS is the source of some frustration as the majority of the features are set to Auto without any explanation as to what that means. This is one thing when it refers, say, to integrated graphics where we are dealing with On or Off but another thing entirely when we are talking about CPU voltage or Load Line Calibration.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX Review – 300W for i9-11900K! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/leo-waldock/gigabyte-z590-aorus-pro-ax-review-300w-for-i9-11900k/feed/ 0
Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/fractal-design-meshify-2-compact-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/fractal-design-meshify-2-compact-review/#respond Wed, 24 Feb 2021 14:32:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=505566 We all saw it coming - but is the Meshify 2 Compact any good?

The post Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Fractal Design launched the Meshify C way back in September 2017 and now we have its replacement, the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact. As the name suggests, this is a smaller and more compact version of the Meshify 2, which is a case we absolutely adore. Our mission for today is to establish whether or not a smaller and cheaper case is necessarily better.

Main features

  • Iconic angular mesh front provides filtered airflow with a bold, stealth-inspired aesthetic Compact yet spacious interior accommodates ATX, mATX and mITX motherboards
  • Room for GPUs up to 360 mm with a 240 mm radiator in the top, or up to 360/280 mm front radiators with GPUs under 305 mm
  • Seamless TG panel with steel frame support and bolt-free top-latching mechanism
  • Modular chassis design with removable top panel assembly opens up to fully expose the case interior on three sides
  • Seven fan mounts with three pre-installed Fractal Design Dynamic X2 fans
  • Three front USB ports including one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C with fast charging and speeds up to 10Gbps
  • New front panel design with hinged removable mesh and tether-free bezel for easier access to front fan mounts
  • Nylon front filter that can be removed from the mesh to further increase airflow
  • Support for radiators up to 360/280 mm in front and 240 mm up top
  • Flexible storage options supporting two 2.5”/3.5” drives and up to four SSDs (two SSD brackets included)
  • Easy-to-clean filters on the front, top and base with full PSU coverage and convenient front access
  • Three cable alignment clips and six velcro straps
  • Full length power supply shroud with two-part removable cover
  • Bridgeless expansion slots ensure obstruction-free connections

Fractal Design supplies a long list of features for the Meshify 2 Compact which will be familiar to anyone who has watched any of our recent Fractal videos. There is no doubt the Compact is a chip off the Meshify 2 block, however the fact it is smaller necessarily means you are slightly restricted in your choices when it comes to storage and cooling.

Specification:

  • Motherboard support: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
  • Front panel I/O: 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, 2x USB 3.0, Audio.
  • Expansion slots: 7.
  • Included fans: 2x 140mm 1,000rpm front intake, 1x 120mm 1,400rpm rear exhaust Fractal Design Dynamic X2.
  • Fan mounts: 3x 120mm/2x 140mm front, 2x 120/140mm roof, 1x 120mm rear, 1x 120mm floor.
  • Radiator mounts: 360mm/280mm front, 240mm roof, 120mm rear, 120mm floor.
  • 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
  • Internal drive bays: 2x 3.5-inch/2.5-inch, 2x 2.5-inch.
  • Dimensions: 474mm H x 427mm D x 210mm W.

As you will see in our video, we had no difficulty moving the supplied 140mm Fractal Dynamic X2 GP-14 fans from the front of the case to the roof and then installing a 280mm Fractal Design Celsius+ AIO cooler in their place. We had plenty of space to install a massive Sapphire RX 6800 XT graphics card and had to look hard to establish what makes this a compact case, rather than a regular ATX mid-tower. The answer lies in the details, such as the absence of a vertical GPU option or the inability to install a 140mm/280mm radiator in the roof.

Testing

To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT, Sapphire RX 6800 XT graphics card and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact‘s cooling capabilities.

Test System:

  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT (8 cores/16 threads)
  • Motherboard: Asus TUF Gaming X570-Plus
  • Memory: 32GB G.Skill TridentZ Neo DDR4-3600MHz
  • Graphics card: Sapphire Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB
  • Power supply: Seasonic Focus GX-650 Gold
  • SSD: 1TB Team Group T-Force Cardea Liquid
  • OS: Windows 10 Pro

Cooling Performance

Cooling Performance Overview

During our Time Spy stress test the system was pulling 450W at the wall socket so we have every confidence in the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact's abilities. Cooling is good without being stellar but realistically we doubt many of you will go for the same level of performance hardware we chose here.

Closing Thoughts

Fractal Design has done a fine job with the Meshify 2 Compact, however we are confident the design process was a fairly simple job. The new Compact is heavily based on their existing designs except it is smaller and has fewer options.

You can forget about moving the interior panels around, adding a dozen storage drives or installing dual large radiators. If you want those features then Fractal Design can accommodate you, but not with the Meshify 2 Compact.

This is a simple case that pulls apart in moments and offer you plenty of access to the interior during your build. The fact you have fewer options means you will make your decisions quickly and easily, and we fully expect you will complete your build in record time.

You should have no difficulty making your PC look neat and tidy as the cable management system on the right hand side works very well and then the side panels simply snap into place. We hate it when you have to lean on a panel as you slide it forward until the thumbscrews engage.

Fractal Design has done a superb job in this respect. The end result is a compact PC that should be nice and quiet while also running at acceptable temperatures. In other words the Meshify 2 Compact achieves a fine balance and this gives up great hope for the inevitable Meshify 2 ITX.

We don't yet have a buy link but you will be able to buy the Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact for £97.

Pros:

  • Two front 140mm fans and a 120mm rear fan are included.
  • USB Type-C on the front I/O.
  • Front panel is untethered.
  • Very good cable management
  • Tool-free side panels.

Cons:

  • Minimal space at the foot of the motherboard.
  • No fan hub included.
  • Price is a tad steep.
  • Cooling is nothing special.

KitGuru says: Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact is a case that caters to the mainstream yet still delivers proper quality and features.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Fractal Design Meshify 2 Compact Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/fractal-design-meshify-2-compact-review/feed/ 0
Lian Li launches the O11 Dynamic Mini modular chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/lian-li-launches-the-o11-dynamic-mini-modular-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/lian-li-launches-the-o11-dynamic-mini-modular-chassis/#respond Sat, 21 Nov 2020 10:57:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=495069 Lian Li has launched a new case as part of the O11D series. Available in both black and white, the new O11 Dynamic Mini is a modular case with extended support for fans, radiators, pumps, and components featuring a simple and modern design that allows users to showcase their systems. Just like the other O11D …

The post Lian Li launches the O11 Dynamic Mini modular chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Lian Li has launched a new case as part of the O11D series. Available in both black and white, the new O11 Dynamic Mini is a modular case with extended support for fans, radiators, pumps, and components featuring a simple and modern design that allows users to showcase their systems.

Just like the other O11D series' cases, the O11 Dynamic Mini has been developed in collaboration with the famous overclocker der8auer. Smaller than the original O11 Dynamic, the Mini variant offers most of the same features in a smaller design (38L litres), while also increasing its functionality thanks to its modular design.

There are 7x expansion slots by default, but these can be reduced either 5x or 3x to change the cases' interior layout. Like the other O11D cases, the O11D mini also features a dual-chamber design: one for the PSU, storage drives and cabling, and the other for the remaining components of the system.

The case is mostly made of aluminium and tempered glass, with slight differences between both colours. The front panel is fully covered in tempered glass on the black case and made of brushed aluminium and tempered glass on the white case. The I/O panel, which features 2x USB 3.0 ports, a USB-C 3.1 port, HD-Audio and the power button, is covered acrylic on the black case, while the white one is made of aluminium coated in white.

These cases support ATX, M-ATX, and mITX motherboards. Regarding the power supply compatibility, you can only use SFX or SFX-L PSUs. There's 395mm of clearance for the graphics card and 170mm of clearance for a CPU cooler. Fan support is quite extensive with up to 3x 120mm/2x 140mm on top, 2x 120/140mm on the side, 3x 120mm/2x 140mm on the bottom and a 120mm fan on the rear. Radiator support follows a similar approach, allowing users to mount a 360/280/240mm on top, a 280/240mm on the side, and a 360/280/240mm on the bottom. There's support for up to 2x 2.5-inch drives plus another drive cage with support to 2x 2.5/3.5-inch drives. Dust filters were included on the top, bottom, and side vents.

The Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini is available for pre-order at Overclockers UK in black and white, both priced at £89.99. Optional accessories for these cases such as a vertical GPU mounting bracket and a hot-swap backplate add-on for the drive cage will launch at a later date. A bundle with a modular 700W 80+ Gold SFX PSU will also be launched in a near future.

KitGuru says: Which Lian Li O11 Dynamic Mini colour do you prefer? Are you thinking about getting one of these? If so, will you go for a custom water loop, AIO coolers, or air cooling?

The post Lian Li launches the O11 Dynamic Mini modular chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/joao-silva/lian-li-launches-the-o11-dynamic-mini-modular-chassis/feed/ 0
Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/#respond Fri, 30 Oct 2020 12:56:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=492042 A compact ATX budget case packed full of RGB!

The post Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The budget PC case market is absolutely flooded with options, though many of them can be very sketchy in terms of build quality and are quite frankly not worth wasting your money on. However, there are some bargains to be had in this sector – just recently KitGuru reviewed the brilliant Phanteks Eclipse P360A priced at under £65, while the MSI MAG Forge 100 series costs around £50-£60 and is another solid choice. Today we look at the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB, coming at just £43.99. How does it stack up against the competition? Let’s find out.

Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Features:

  • Compact ATX form factor design, both shorter and slimmer from compared to a traditional ATX mid-tower case, taking up less desktop space, but slightly wider at 210mm for improved cooling performance and cable management.
  • High airflow design with full-length mesh panel allowing almost unrestricted airflow entry at the front of the case.
  • Easy to use Integrated digital ARGB lighting, software free with a built-in controller and the option to connect directly to compatible motherboard 5v headers for system-wide synchronisation.
  • Integrated power supply shroud to hide away unsightly cables with a full-size tempered glass left-hand window panel to show off your clean build.
  • Support for high specification gaming systems including up to ATX size motherboards (Mini ITX/Micro ATX /ATX) and high-end graphics cards with a maximum length of 300mm.
  • Space for storage devices comprises of up to three 2.5-inch SSDs as well as two 3.5-inch HDDs – enough to fulfil most user’s needs.
  • Supported cooling hardware includes the installation of up to a six 120mm fans (3 x front, 2 x top, 1 x rear) water-cooling radiator support up to 240mm in length (front 120/240, top 120/240, rear 120)
  • Four 120mm ARGB fans and 2 x front panel RGB LED strips included with front panel RGB control button.

Full Specifications:

  • Case Form Factor: Mid Tower
  • Motherboard Type: Mini ITX / Micro ATX / ATX
  • Dimensions (WxHxD): 210 x 455 x 380 (mm)
  • I/O Panel: USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, Mic x 1 / Audio x 1, RGB Control Button
  • 3.5″ Drive Bay: 2
  • 2.5″ Drive Bay: 3
  • Expansion Slots: 7
  • Cooling Fan Support: Front 120mm x 3 (ARGB fans x 3 pre-installed) Top 120mm x 2, Rear 120mm x 1 (ARGB fan x 1 pre-installed)
  • Maximum Number of Fans: 6 Max.
  • Water Cooling Support: Front 240mm / 120mm, Top 240mm / 120mm (Max. component height on motherboard is 40mm) Rear 120mm
  • Graphics Card Length: 300 (mm) / (Only fans at the front panel) 270 (mm) (Radiator with fans at the front panel) (Horizontal graphics card slots are compatible with RTX 3080/3070.)
  • CPU Cooler Height: 165 (mm)
  • PSU length: 160 (mm)
  • Onboard Lighting System: Integrated Lighting with Addressable RGB LEDs and Dynamic Lighting Effects in the Front Panel
  • RGB Sync with M/B: Yes

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB claims to offer all the features and benefits of more expensive premium cases, but in a more compact and affordable chassis. Once removed from the packaging, the size of the MX410 is instantly noticeable – this is much smaller than regular mid-tower ATX cases, measuring just 210mm x 450mm x 380mm (W x H x D) which isn’t much more than some Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX cases.

Before the system build began, we had concerns about whether the installation of an AIO at the front is possible at all while using a high-end graphics card. With the stock fans installed at the front of the case there is only 310mm of space to play with, and our Aorus RX 5700XT measures 290mm. Therefore, our only option is to install the AIO at the top of the chassis which also looks very tight for AIO installation.

There are also some concerns about build quality and the design of the case. A small amount of the filter fabric has not been trimmed correctly and is found poking out of the mesh front panel. At the back of the case, the plastic PCIe slot cover is poorly designed a single screw in the centre of the cover means that the ends can easily come away from the case, while the shape of the cover makes it awkward to remove the thumbscrew by hand.

Space inside the power supply shroud also looks very restricted too, it will almost certainly be impossible to connect and disconnect modular cables with the HDD cage fitted, and there doesn’t look to be much space at all for cables to be hidden with the HDD cage installed in the PSU shroud. The HDD cage also completely blocks off the lower front fan so airflow to any HDDs will be virtually non-existent.

Installing the system inside the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB turned out to be less problematic than we initially thought. Space for AIO installation is very tight at the top of the case with a high-end motherboard installed. A motherboard with smaller VRM heatsinks and without a rear I/O shroud may offer more space for AIO installation in the roof of the case.

As expected, installing a modular power supply would be difficult with the 3.5-inch HDD cage fitted to the case, so we removed the HDD cage to allow for more space. This could be a problem if your budget only stretches to allow for mechanical HDDs in the system, however, SATA and M.2 SSDs are more affordable these days so it may not be such a big issue leaving the 3.5-inch HDD cage out.

Other than the minor issues mentioned, installing a full-size ATX system with a big high-end graphics card didn't turn out to be such hard work. Novice system builders may find it challenging building an ATX system inside such a compact chassis, but for anyone with experience the job isn't so difficult and it looks neat in the end, with enough space for high-end hardware and tidy cable management.

Thermal Performance Testing

As with every KitGuru case review, thermal performance is important, therefore we shall measure this by running a series of tests to record CPU and GPU temperatures under load.

To simulate thermal performance in gaming we will run 3Dmark Time Spy benchmark in a loop for 20 minutes with the case in various configurations. With this data, we can compare how each scenario affects thermal performance.

We will compare the system’s thermal capabilities with a liquid-cooled solution for the CPU, using a Cougar Aqua 240, 240mm AIO and the graphics card stock cooling solution. We will then measure thermal performance using a CPU Tower (Noctua NH-D15) with the case in the same configurations.

During thermal performance testing, only stock case fans will be used unless otherwise specified. All fans and pumps (where applicable) will be set to their standard fan curve profile as controlled by the motherboard.

All temperature measurements are presented as Deltas – the ambient temperature has been deducted from the CPU/GPU temperature giving us a Delta.

The following configurations will be used to test the effect they have on thermal and acoustic performance:

  • Default configuration;
  • Front panel removed;
  • Glass side panel removed.

Test System

  • Chassis: Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB
  • Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
  • Motherboard: Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master
  • CPU Cooler: Cougar Aqua 240 240mm AIO/ Noctua NH-D15
  • Memory: 16 GB (2 x 8 GB + 2 dummy modules) Aorus RGB Memory DDR4-3600
  • Graphics: Aorus AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
  • Storage Drive: 500 GB Corsair MP600 PCIe Gen4 M.2 NVMe SSD
  • Power Supply: Adata XPG Core Reactor 750 GOLD 750W
  • OS: Windows 10 version 1909

Note: 240mm AIO cooler was installed in the roof of the case with fans fitted in a push configuration exhausting air out of the case.

Note: The Noctua NH-D15 used in this test was configured in single/central fan specification due to CPU cooler/case Height restriction.

Thermal Performance Overview:

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is an airflow focused case with a mesh panel that spans almost the entire front of the case. The mesh aims to provide almost unrestricted airflow into the system to improve thermal performance and component temperature under load.

Our thermal performance test using both an AIO closed-loop CPU liquid cooler and a CPU tower cooler shows that the high airflow front panel of the MX410 Mesh-G RGB is doing the job of keeping internal system temperature well under control.

A fluctuation of just 2-3 degrees Celsius average delta temperature was recorded during our testing with the case in various configurations.

Closing Thoughts

While we did come across some minor issues with the build quality and some small difficulties during the system installation, the Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB has no fundamental problems that make us believe that it is a poor case, it is quite the opposite. Cougar has to be commended for squeezing ATX motherboard support into such a compact ATX form factor – the dimensions of the case are comparable to other Micro-ATX and Mini-ITX chassis on the market, taking up a similar footprint of desk space.

This does mean that installation of certain components such as an AIO cooler or a long, high-end graphics card is slightly compromised. However, we still managed to squeeze in a 240mm AIO in the roof of the case, as well as our Aorus RX 5700XT which is a 2.7 slot graphics card measuring 290mm long. With our high-end B550 Aorus Master motherboard and its large VRM heatsink and I/O shroud, it made the AIO a very tight fit and the long GPU meant the AIO could only fit up top and not in the front of the case.

That said, it did all fit inside this very compact chassis which is impressive. 3.5-inch HDD installation was also compromised since we had to remove the HDD cage to fit our ADATA XGP Core Reactor 750w modular power supply. This isn't such a problem as there is still space for three 2.5-inch drives and M.2 device don’t take up any case space.

As well as being compact, the MX410 Mesh-G RGB is very affordable at around £45 currently. The build quality may not quite live up to the more mid-range cases from the likes of Phanteks, be quiet!, Fractal etc, but it has several more premium features we'd expect to see, such as a tempered glass side panel, handy cable management options and lashings of RGB.

You may not be getting the best build quality possible but the chassis feels solid when all panels are installed, so we can't knock it too hard, it is just the little finishing touches that slightly let it down. However, if your budget for a case is tight and you want the features such as tempered glass and addressable RGB, this may be a worthy candidate for your next budget gaming build.

The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is available to purchase from Amazon UK now, priced at £43.99 HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

Pros:

  • Super compact ATX form factor.
  • Plenty of RGB included.
  • Great airflow.
  • Budget price tag

Cons:

  • Questionable build quality in certain areas.
  • AIO and PSU installation can be a tight squeeze.

KitGuru says: The Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB is the new benchmark for ultra-budget cases with its super-compact ATX form factor, tempered glass and array of RGB lighting.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Cougar MX410 Mesh-G RGB Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/james-dawson/cougar-mx410-mesh-g-rgb-case-review/feed/ 0
Deepcool CL500 PC Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cl500-pc-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cl500-pc-case-review/#respond Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:00:48 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=480666 The CL500 PC case from Deepcool offers an alternative to the usual high airflow front panel

The post Deepcool CL500 PC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Deepcool has become an established brand that continually produces quality products at an affordable price. The company’s latest addition to its range of mid-tower PC cases is set to continue with this trend by offering a value segment, high airflow case that Deepcool claims to provide form and function in one package. But what exactly does this mean? Let’s find out.

The recent crop of Deepcool mid-tower cases I have reviewed featured airflow restrictive solid front panel designs. With the new CL500 mid-tower ATX chassis, Deepcool has stepped away from the solid front panel design and opted for a high airflow front with integrated dust filtration which is sure to please many PC enthusiasts out there.

Unlike most of the high airflow PC cases currently on the market from competitors that feature a large mesh section mounted inside either a plastic or metal front panel frame, Deepcool has done its own thing with the CL500 which is a refreshing change. The CL500 high airflow front panel features a vertical fin design that extends to the top panel, which makes the case almost resemble a giant heatsink.

CL500 isn’t all about airflow and appearance though, it also includes some handy built-in features such as tool-free side panel removal, both the tempered glass and steel side panels are attached to the case magnetically making them easy to remove for quick tool-free access to the system components. The top panel also removes from the chassis tool-free with a simple push-button release.

Inside the case, Deepcool has included what the company calls practical accessories. A four-way PWM fan hub is located on the back of the motherboard tray towards the top of the case and a built-in GPU support bracket helps to take up the sag we often see in heavy, high-end graphics cards. Both of these features we have seen before in the Deepcool Macube 310P that we reviewed earlier this year.

However, the CL500 is a very different case compared with the Macube 310P, there has certainly been more work done with the new stylish appearance. As well as the high airflow and tool-free panels, the case features a two-tone colour scheme with contrasting black and gunmetal front and top panels but there is no out of the box RGB lighting, just a simple plain black 120mm system fan is pre-installed at the rear of the case.

The Deepcool CL500 is a regular size mid-tower case standing 519mm tall, 473mm deep and 226mm wide, which means it can support liquid cooling hardware such as up to 360mm front-mounted radiators or AIOs, 240mm top radiators and 120mm at the rear. Alternatively, the front panel can house up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans, two 120mm or 140mm fans can also be installed in the roof with a single 120mm fan space at the rear.

Full-size ATX motherboard support is also included, so that means mATX and Mini-ITX boards can be fitted too. Maximum supported GPU length is up to 330mm so an extensive range of graphics cards can be installed inside the CL500. Maximum CPU cooler height is 165mm and power supplies up to 160mm can be installed behind the integrated PSU shroud.

Around the back of the case is the usual seven horizontal PCIe slots, however, there is no official word on vertical GPU mounting support. At the front of the case, the I/O panel includes one USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a single 3.5mm TTRS headphone and mic jack as well as the usual power and reset buttons.

Key Features

  • High airflow design
  • Tool-free panel removal
  • Integrated fan hub
  • Built-in VGA support bracket
  • Multiple radiator support

Specifications

Motherboards Mini-ITX / Micro-ATX / ATX
Materials ABS+SPCC+Tempered Glass
Product Dimensions 473 x 226 x 519 mm (L x W X H)
Item Weight 8.4kg
Warranty 1 year
5.25″ Drive Bays 0
3.5″ Drive Bays 2
2.5″ Drive Bays 2
Front I/O Panel USB3.0 x2

USB3.1 Type-C x1

Audio x1

Expansion Slots 7
Cooling Fans Compatibility Front: 120mm x3 / 140mm x2

Top: 120mm x2

Rear: 120mm x1 (Pre-installed)

Power Supply Type ATX PS2 (160mm max length)
CPU Cooler Height Limit 165mm
Radiator Support Front: 360mm, 280mm

Top: 240mm

Rear: 120mm

VGA Length Limit 330mm
Cable Management 23mm

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Deepcool CL500 PC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-cl500-pc-case-review/feed/ 0
Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-b550-aorus-master-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-b550-aorus-master-motherboard-review/#respond Tue, 16 Jun 2020 13:00:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=472000 It's a cracking B550 board from Gigabyte, but is it worth the steep £300 asking price?

The post Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
AMD’s B550 chipset has finally launched, and we get to look at Gigabyte’s flagship B550 Aorus Master offering. Can the price reduction for the B550 silicon versus X570 prove sufficient in freeing budget for Gigabyte to cram in features typically associated with higher-end X570 motherboards?

Gigabyte is clearly aiming for the premium treatment when it comes to the £300 B550 Aorus Master. The motherboard is equipped with a true 16-phase Infineon-based power delivery solution that is, quite simply, market-leading for AM4 at this price point. And despite B550’s more limited PCIe Gen 4 capability versus X570, Gigabyte uses a quirky trick to deploy a trio of Gen 4 M.2 connectors.

Other notable features include 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet onboard, Intel-based WiFi 6, and six 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. The typical Aorus infusions are also blended in, with Gigabyte deploying an armada of fan headers, RGB capability, and premium styling touches.

Clearly, £300 for a motherboard using the more budget friendly B550 chipset will have many people scratching their heads. But, does Gigabyte’s flagship B550 Aorus Master offer enough raw performance and high-end features to justify its position as an alluring AM4 offering?

Features (information taken from the Gigabyte webpage):

  • Supports 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Processors
  • Dual Channel ECC/ Non-ECC Unbuffered DDR4, 4 DIMMs
  • Direct 16 Phases Digital VRM Solution with 70A Power Stage
  • Advanced Thermal Design with Fins-Array Heatsink, Direct Touch Heatpipe and Thermal Baseplate
  • Ultra Durable™ PCIe 4.0 Ready x16 Slot
  • Triple Ultra-Fast NVMe PCIe 4.0/3.0 x4 M.2 with Thermal Guards
  • Onboard Intel® WiFi 6 802.11ax 2T2R & BT5 with AORUS Antenna
  • AMP-UP Audio with ALC1220-VB and WIMA Capacitors for Rear 120dB SNR
  • Blazing Fast 2.5GbE LAN with Bandwidth Management
  • USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C™ & HDMI Support
  • RGB FUSION 2.0 Supports Addressable LED & RGB LED Strips
  • Smart Fan 5 Features Multiple Temperature Sensors , Hybrid Fan Headers with FAN STOP and Noise Detection
  • Q-Flash Plus Update BIOS without Installing the CPU, Memory and Graphics Card
  • Pre-installed IO Shield for Easy and Quick Installation

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Gigabyte B550 Aorus Master Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/gigabyte-b550-aorus-master-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
Deepcool Macube 310P Mid-Tower Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-macube-310p-mid-tower-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-macube-310p-mid-tower-case-review/#respond Mon, 18 May 2020 11:53:40 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=465126 Looking for a mid-tower case under £70? we check out the Macube 310P

The post Deepcool Macube 310P Mid-Tower Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Deepcool’s new Macube 310P mid-tower case strikes a resemblance to the Macube 550 we reviewed back in December last year but with a more compact approach. Just like the Macube 550, the 310P features a largely blocked off front panel with just two narrow side vents for front airflow, so it will be interesting to see if the Macube 310P suffers from poor cooling due to this restricted front panel.

Unlike the Macube 550, the 310P has top ventilation, which may help in our thermal performance tests. The top vent is capable of housing up to three 120mm or two 140mm fans, however, the limited space between the top of the case and the motherboard means that radiator or AIO installation in this location is impossible which is a little disappointing as it would be ideal for radiator placement with this large vent to exhaust hot air.

Nevertheless, we can still install a radiator or AIO in the Macube 310P, it just means that this must be at the front of the case where airflow may be restricted due to this enclosed front panel design. The side vents of the front panel are less than 15mm wide, so we expect this to somewhat restrict airflow. However, we will test whether or not this is the case later in our thermal performance tests.

The Macube 310P is a much more compact case compared with the 550 but it still supports installation of motherboards up to standard ATX form factor, it is also equipped with a full cover PSU shroud where up to 160mm power supplies can be installed. The case can house graphics cards up to 330mm long, CPU coolers up to 165mm tall and in the front, there is space to mount up to a 360mm radiator or AIO.

In terms of storage space, there is a removable and adjustable HDD cage where either two 3.5-inch or two 2.5-inch HDDs can be installed and on the back of the motherboard tray there are two removable 2.5-inch HDD brackets. Front-panel I/O consists of two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 3.5mm HD audio jacks as well as power and reset buttons.

Understated looks are what the Macube 310P is all about, the front panel has a very clean appearance with a matte black coating and a small Gamer Storm logo etched into the panel at the bottom. However, there are some very interesting features, both the tempered glass left-hand panel and the steel right-hand panel are attached to the chassis via magnets which complements the clean aesthetics and offers tool-free removal.

Inside the case, there are more premium features too. At the back, there is a vertical graphics card mounting slot, however, there is no riser cable or bracket supplied with the case. To the right-hand side of the motherboard tray is a VGA support bracket to help eliminate unsightly GPU sag. Some cable cut-outs have rubber grommets and behind the motherboard, there is approximately 23mm of space for cable management with plenty of eyelets to tie cables down, as well as a fan hub to connect up to four PWM fans.

The Macube 310 version we have is the 310P which means it has some minor upgrades compared to the original 310. The only difference we can see is the vented top panel, the original 310P featured a solid top panel much like the front.

Key features

  • Tool-free side panels
  • Tempered glass window
  • Integrated GPU support bracket
  • Understated aesthetics
  • Power supply shroud
  • Vertical GPU mounting

Specifications

Motherboards Mini-ITX / Micro-ATX / ATX
Materials ABS+SPCC+Tempered Glass
Product Dimensions 424.6mm×215mm×494.6mm(L×W×H)
Net Weight 8.33KG
Gross weight 10.34KG
5.25″ Drive Bays 0
3.5″ Drive Bays 2
2.5″ Drive Bays 2
I/O Panel USB3.0 x 2, Audio x1、Mic x1
Expansion Slots 7+2 Slots
Cooling Fans Compatibility Pre-installed: Rear: 1x120mm DC fan

Optional: Front: 120mm x3/140mm x2, Top: 120mmx 3/140mm x2

Power Supply Type ATX PS2 (Length less than 160mm)
CPU Cooler Height Limit 165mm
Liquid Cooler Compatibility Front: 120/140/240/280/360, Rear: 120
VGA Length Limit 330mm
Cable Management 23mm clearance

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Deepcool Macube 310P Mid-Tower Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/deepcool-macube-310p-mid-tower-case-review/feed/ 0
Xigmatek introduce a new open-air PC chassis https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/xigmatek-introduce-a-new-open-air-pc-chassis/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/xigmatek-introduce-a-new-open-air-pc-chassis/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2020 15:50:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=452480 Xigmatek has had a busy start to the year with a bunch of new product launches coming in quick succession, the company hasn’t finished just yet since it has recently announced the launch of a new open-air PC chassis. The Zeus Arctic features a fresh white colour scheme and is an update of the original …

The post Xigmatek introduce a new open-air PC chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Xigmatek has had a busy start to the year with a bunch of new product launches coming in quick succession, the company hasn’t finished just yet since it has recently announced the launch of a new open-air PC chassis. The Zeus Arctic features a fresh white colour scheme and is an update of the original Xigmatek Zeus open chassis.

The original Xigmatek Zeus open-air chassis debuted back in 2019 with a black design. The new Zeus Arctic version is simply the same chassis but in a wintry white colour scheme. The majority of the Xigmatek Zeus Arctic metal frame panels are covered in a matte white finish with contrasting dark tinted tempered glass side windows, black thumbscrews and standoffs.

Xigmatek has not included any fans with the Zeus Arctic, however, there is space for up to eight 120mm fan in total. Three in the front panel,  three 120mm or 140mm fans can be installed at the top of the chassis and a further two 120mm fan mounting locations are situated in the rear. This vast selection of fan mounting locations also provides ample support for radiators, a 360mm radiator can be installed in the front or top of the case, with space for a 120mm radiator at the rear.

As well as excellent cooling options, the Xigmatek Zeus Arctic also support motherboards up to ATX form factor, graphics cards up to 320mm long and CPU air coolers up to 160mm tall. Behind the motherboard tray is room for either a single 3.5-inch HHD or two 2.5-inch SSDs to be installed, the front I/O consists of power and reset buttons, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports and HD Audio jacks for headphones and a microphone to be connected.

Xigmatek announced the new Zeus Arctic in white on 17th February but is yet to confirm availability or pricing. The case is expected not to include any fans out of the box, however, Xigmatek suggests to use RGB fans with white frames to best complement the aesthetics of the system.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: We have seen a few of these type of open-air chassis in recent months in the form of the Antec Torque and the Thermaltake AH T600. We would love to hear what you guys think of them and which one is your favourite, let us know in the comments section below.

The post Xigmatek introduce a new open-air PC chassis first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/xigmatek-introduce-a-new-open-air-pc-chassis/feed/ 0
ASRock TRX40 Creator Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-trx40-creator-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-trx40-creator-motherboard-review/#respond Wed, 12 Feb 2020 08:25:17 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=451237 ASRock’s TRX40 Creator motherboard is fully loaded. Check out Luke's indepth review today

The post ASRock TRX40 Creator Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
ASRock’s TRX40 Creator motherboard is firmly positioned in the market to appeal to prosumer users looking to adopt the latest Threadripper platform. A few ways in which ASRock achieves that aim is by omitting onboard RGBs and fancy aesthetic shrouds in favour of 10Gb Ethernet and a quad-GPU slot layout.

Arguably most prominent for ASRock’s TRX40 Creator is the notable provision for quad graphics card slot spacing. Despite the TRX40 platform’s healthy PCIe lane allocation, ASRock’s offering is one of the few options that makes installation of four graphics cards a possibility. And it does so while sticking to the standard ATX form factor, which is a significant positive for chassis compatibility.

Of course, professional freelancers and content creators demand more than just preferential slot spacing. That’s where ASRock throws in 10Gb Ethernet via an Aquantia NIC and a 2.5Gb partner from Realtek. High-speed connectivity doesn’t end there, with the inclusion of 2.4Gbps WiFi and a 20Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port.

Priced at just under £450 in the UK, which is particularly reasonable for a sTRX4 offering, ASRock is not asking potential buyers to break the bank for the luxury of workstation-geared design choices and included features. Let’s take a closer look.

Features (information taken from the ASRock webpage):

  • Supports 3rd Gen AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ Processors
  • 8 Power Phase Design, 90A Dr. MOS & Power Choke
  • XXL Aluminum Alloy Heatsink & Heatpipe Design
  • Supports DDR4 4666+(OC)
  • 4 PCIe 4.0 x16
  • NVIDIA® NVLINK™, 4-Way SLI™, AMD 4-Way CrossFireX™
  • 8 SATA3, 2 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4), 1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4 & SATA3)
  • 1 Rear USB 3.2 Gen2 x2 20Gb/s Type-C
  • 3 USB 3.2 Gen2 (1 Front Type-C, 2 Rear)
  • 8 USB 3.2 Gen1 (4 Front, 4 Rear)
  • 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC4050H+ALC1220), Supports Purity Sound™ 4 & DTS Connect
  • AQUANTIA® 10G LAN, Realtek 2.5G LAN
  • Intel® Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4Gbps) + BT 5.0

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post ASRock TRX40 Creator Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-trx40-creator-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
New Kolink chassis are available at Overclockers UK now https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/new-kolink-chassis-are-available-at-overclockers-uk-now/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/new-kolink-chassis-are-available-at-overclockers-uk-now/#respond Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:25:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=449081 Overclockers UK has teamed up with Kolink again to bring PC enthusiasts in the UK a new RGB mid-tower chassis. The new Kolink Void RGB Mid-Tower PC case is designed to meet the demands of today’s high-performance PC builds. Earlier this month, OCUK brought us the Kolink Big Chungus display case and now the folks …

The post New Kolink chassis are available at Overclockers UK now first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Overclockers UK has teamed up with Kolink again to bring PC enthusiasts in the UK a new RGB mid-tower chassis. The new Kolink Void RGB Mid-Tower PC case is designed to meet the demands of today’s high-performance PC builds.

Earlier this month, OCUK brought us the Kolink Big Chungus display case and now the folks at Kolink have introduced the Void case that features a striking v-shaped RGB illuminated front panel. The Void’s front panel is equipped with an infinity mirror glass panel and an RGB strip in the shape of a V to provide a stylish, yet understated appearance.

The Kolink Void RGB chassis is capable of housing Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX and full ATX size motherboards behind a mildly tinted tempered glass panel. The case comes with a single 120mm ARGB fan and supports radiators up to 240mm in the front, graphics cards up to 310mm long, CPU coolers up to 160mm tall and power supplies up to 180mm can be installed beneath a full cover PSU shroud.

In terms of storage, there is space inside the Void to install two 3.5-inch HDDs or 2.5-inch SSD, as well as a further two 2.5-inch SSD mounting locations on top of the power supply shroud. Connectivity to the front I/O panel consists of two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports and HD audio jacks. The Kolink Void is available to purchase from Overclockers UK now, priced at just £46.99.

Kolink is expanding its PC case range even further with the addition of a new Micro-ATX chassis. The Kolink KLM-002 is an extremely compact chassis, measuring just 35.5 x 9.5 x 28.5cm. The Kolink KLM-002 can be used in either horizontal or vertical orientation, with a vertical stand included. The case supports Micro-ATX motherboards and compact SFX power supplies.

The Kolink KLM-002 is pre-installed with a single 80mm chassis fan, it offers space for up to three 2.5-inch storage drives to be installed or a single 3.5-inch HDD. The KLM-002 is ideally suited to systems with integrated graphics, however, a low profile GPU with a maximum length of 150mm could also be installed. Front panel connectivity consists of a single USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports and HD audio jacks. The Kolink KLM-002 is also available from Overclocks UK now for £29.99.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Kolink has a couple of extremely cost-effective cases available from OCUK now. The Void looks like it offers all the specifications you would need to build a budget gaming system with a smart appearance. What do you guys think of these two new cases from Kolink at Overclockers UK?

The post New Kolink chassis are available at Overclockers UK now first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/new-kolink-chassis-are-available-at-overclockers-uk-now/feed/ 0
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-x-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-x-motherboard-review/#respond Mon, 06 Jan 2020 12:25:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=442239 ASRock's connectivity-loaded Z390 flagship gets a VRM upgrade to 14-phases

The post ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel's desktop CPUs have lingered at 14nm since the arrival of desktop Broadwell in 2015 (i7 5775C) followed by desktop variants of Skylake (i7 6700K, 2015), Kaby Lake (i7 7700K, 2017), Coffee Lake (i7 8700K, 2017) and the Coffee Lake refresh (i9 9900K, 2019).

To compensate for persistent delays in shrinking to 10nm Intel has changed its approach, choosing higher CPU core counts and faster frequencies through product refreshes to provide the necessary “generational” performance gains consumers have come to expect.

By direct consequence motherboard vendors have faced renewed challenges to ensure that motherboards can keep up with an increasing power demand from Intel's CPUs on its mainstream platform, like the 127W TDP 5GHz 8-Core i9 9900KS. This has led to motherboard vendors refreshing designs to include higher capability power delivery systems, the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X is one such example.

KitGuru already examined the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 motherboard during its initial launch in Q4 of 2018, and the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X is more of an incremental revision, rather than a complete redesign.

There are many similarities between the two motherboards in terms of shared specifications and the physical likeness, prospective buyers will notice a like-for-like rear I/O panel and seemingly identical connectivity across the board.

The main area of difference is the CPU VRM which is improved for Intel's Core i9 9900KS with its standard 127W TDP, up from 95W on the Core i9 9900K. While Intel's i9 9900KS wasn't released until October 2019, ASRock had already released the Phantom Gaming X revision by July 2019 in anticipation of the release that Intel had communicated to its board partners.

There are, however, other subtle amendments such as the addition of new WiFi-6 into the on-board WiFi module, inclusion of new thermal armor & backplate and an integrated rear I/O shield.

ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X
Form Factor ATX, 24.4 x 30.5cm
CPU Socket Intel LGA 1151 v2
CPU VRM PWM
Renesas Intersil ISL69138 PWM controller in 6+1 phase mode for 12+2 virtual phases

7 Renesas Intersil ISL6617A doublers

CPU VRM MOSFETs
14 x Vishay SiC634 50A Integrated Power Stages
Chipset  Intel Z390
Memory DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics Intel UHD Graphics (on supported CPUs)
Discrete Graphics Up to 3-way AMD CrossFireX/Quad CrossFireX, Up to 2-way Nvidia SLI, Quad SLI
Expansion Slots  3 x PCIe 3.0 16X slots (x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0, x8/x4/x4)
2 x PCIe 3.0 1X slots (closed-ended)
Storage 6 x SATA III (Intel Z390)*
2 x SATA III (ASMedia ASM1061)
3 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 X4 or SATA III 6Gbps (Slot 1 and 2, 80mm max, Slot 3, 110mm max)*SATA ports 0&1, 3, and 4&5 share bandwidth with M.2 slots 1,2 and 3, respectively, when used in SATA mode (either/or arrangement)
USB  5 x USB 3.1 10Gbps (4 Rear [1 Type-C, Redriver], 1 Front [1 Type-C, ASM1562])

8 x USB 3.0 5Gbps (4 Rear [Intel Z390], 4 Front [ASM1074])

3 x USB 2.0 (3 Front [Intel Z390])

Networking 1 x Realtek Dragon RTL8125AG 2.5 Gigabit LAN
1 x Intel I219V Gigabit LAN
1 x Intel I211AT Gigabit LAN
Intel 802.11ax WiFi-6 2T2R up to 2.4Gbps with MU-MIMO and Bluetooth 5.0 (Intel AX200NGW)
Audio  Realtek ALC1220 7.1 channel HD audio with NE5532 amplifier
RGB 2 onboard RGB lighting zones (chipset heatsink and rear I/O cover)
2 x 12V G R B headers
1 x 5v digital addressable header
Fan Headers 8, all support 3/4 pin fans, (1 x CPU, 1 x CPU/WP, 6 x CHA/WP)
Rear I/O 2 x WiFi Antenna Ports
1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
1 x HDMI Port
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
3 x USB 3.2 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (Supports ESD Protection)
1 x USB 3.2 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (Supports ESD Protection)
4 x USB 3.1 [5 Gb/s] Ports (Intel Z390) (Supports ESD Protection)
3 x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
1 x Clear CMOS Button
5 x HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone (Gold Audio Jacks)
UEFI  2 x 128Mb UEFI AMI BIOS (1 Main, 1 Backup)

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming X Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-x-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
Sharkoon launch a new line of budget RGB PC cases https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/sharkoon-launch-a-new-line-of-budget-rgb-pc-cases/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/sharkoon-launch-a-new-line-of-budget-rgb-pc-cases/#respond Sat, 14 Dec 2019 12:00:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=441652 Sharkoon has announced a new range of RGB enabled PC cases, the company has introduced two new Midi ATX towers: the RGB LIT 100 and RGB LIT 200 feature striking designs with tempered glass panels at a budget price. Both the LIT 100 and LIT 200 from Sharkoon include RGB integrated tempered glass front panels …

The post Sharkoon launch a new line of budget RGB PC cases first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Sharkoon has announced a new range of RGB enabled PC cases, the company has introduced two new Midi ATX towers: the RGB LIT 100 and RGB LIT 200 feature striking designs with tempered glass panels at a budget price.

Both the LIT 100 and LIT 200 from Sharkoon include RGB integrated tempered glass front panels with full tempered glass side windows for a great view of internal system components, plus an addressable RGB fan in the rear and an RGB LED strip running along the bottom of the tempered glass side panel.

The only noticeable difference between the two cases is the RGB lighting pattern designs on the front. Sharkoon says the LIT 100 catches the eye with a circuit board style front RGB pattern while the LIT 200 has a series of jagged waves. Both cases provide enough space for powerful hardware, multiple cooling fans and up to six SSDs.

RGB lighting in both cases can be configured to synchronise with other compatible RGB components. Behind the front panel of both cases is a standard 120mm fan which works together with the rear RGB fan to ensure there is a constant flow of air across the case internals. Sharkoon says the vents in the front panel are capable of drawing in enough fresh air to keep system temperature under control.

A total of four additional 120mm fans can be installed in the LIT 100 and 200 – two at the front and two at the top of the case. The spacious design of the LIT 100 and LIT 200 means there is even enough room for water cooling setups with space for radiators up to 64mm thick at the front and 55mm thick radiators can be installed in the top of the case.

Other features of the Sharkoon LIT 100 and LIT 200 includes a full cover PSU shroud with several pass-throughs to hide unsightly power cables, dust filters behind intake vents with enough space available for installation of graphics cards up to 350mm long and CPU coolers up to 157mm tall. This means users should find the LIT cases are compatible with a great range of hardware components.

The Sharkoon LIT 100 and LIT 200 cases are both available now, with a manufacturer suggested price of just €59.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: RGB and tempered glass with space to install high-end discreet graphics and water-cooling means the Sharkoon LIT series should represent excellent value with a price of just €59.90, what do you guys think? 

The post Sharkoon launch a new line of budget RGB PC cases first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/sharkoon-launch-a-new-line-of-budget-rgb-pc-cases/feed/ 0
Corsair 110R PC case review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/#respond Sat, 02 Nov 2019 15:41:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=431959 Corsair's 110R is a budget case, but does it offer enough to tempt the enthusiast user ?

The post Corsair 110R PC case review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Corsair is well known for its series of high-end gaming PC cases, memory and a huge range of cooling products. The company also produce products aimed at the budget end of the spectrum. Today, we have one of those budget products to examine. The 110R focuses on the savvy gamer looking to save a bit of their hard-earned cash over the high end models on the market today.

Corsair’s 110R case is a compact Mid Tower chassis, available with either a steel side panel variant (110Q) or with a tempered glass side to display components in full view. The 110R’s minimalist design ensures that your system can fit in almost any environment without looking out of place.

Flexible storage options are provided in the Corsair 110R – the case supports up to four storage drives including two 2.5-inch trays and two combo 3.5/2.5-inch removable cages. Additionally, there is a 5.25-inch ODD bay which is often a rarity these days.

Although classed as ‘budget', the corsair 110R can fit a total of four 120mm or two 140mm fans inside the chassis. Corsair claim there is also space for multiple radiators inside the relatively small case. A full-length PSU shroud has been implemented into the design to hide away those unsightly cables.

The 110R also features an acceptable amount of dust filtration so you don’t have to worry about cleaning the internals regularly. There are filters located in the floor, roof and at the front. Also, upfront is an I/O shield featuring USB 3.1 ports and a combined microphone/headphone socket.

While it may not be the most feature-packed case on the market, the 110R does offer exceptional value. With a price of just £54.95, could this be the budget PC case we have all been waiting for? Let's find out.

Key Features

  • Tempered glass side panel
  • Compact design
  • Budget price
  • Full cover PSU shroud
  • Flexible storage options and ODD bay

Specifications

  • Motherboard compatibility: Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
  • Case Dimensions: 418mm x 210mm x 480mm
  • Maximum GPU Length: 330mm
  • Maximum PSU Length: 180mm
  • Maximum CPU Cooler Height: 160mm
  • Case Expansion Slots: 7
  • Case Drive Bays: ”(x2) 3.5in (x2) 2.5in
  • Case Material: Steel, Tempered Glass
  • Radiator Compatibility: 120mm, 140mm, 240mm, 280mm
  • Compatible Corsair Liquid Coolers: H55, H60, H75, H80i, H90, H100i, H105, H110i, H115i
The post Corsair 110R PC case review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/james-dawson/corsair-110r-pc-case-review/feed/ 0
ASRock X570 Taichi Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-x570-taichi-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-x570-taichi-motherboard-review/#respond Sat, 21 Sep 2019 11:00:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=425195 It's ASRock's £300 X570 offering - what does Luke make of it?

The post ASRock X570 Taichi Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Aiming to prove that a £300 spend still nets you a premium X570 motherboard, the ASRock X570 Taichi features a 14-phase power delivery solution, triple M.2 connectors, and 802.11ax WiFi 6.

Fans of RGB should be impressed, too, as there’s little skimping on ASRock’s part when it comes to onboard lighting. You get three onboard lighting zones – the rear IO and chipset areas – in addition to ASRock’s edge LED lighting down the right side of the motherboard. I must say, the glowing edge lighting zone looks superb. That could be an important factor to styling-conscious users who see competing options as frugal when it comes to onboard lighting.

One rather unique factor for the ASRock X570 Taichi is the shroud that covers a large proportion of the motherboard’s expansion slot area. This aluminium piece is held in position with three screws and uses thermal pads to make direct contact with all three M.2 SSDs and the X570 chipset heatsink.

In theory, a big lump of metal for the SSDs to dump their heat onto should be better than the small metal strips that we’re used to seeing. Further testing will indicate whether that’s the case.

Features (information taken from the ASRock webpage):

  • Supports AMD AM4 Socket Ryzen™ 2000 and 3000 Series processors
  • Intel® Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4Gbps) + BT 5.0
  • Supports DDR4 4666+ (OC)
  • 3 PCIe 4.0 x16, 2 PCIe 4.0 x1
  • NVIDIA® NVLink™, Quad SLI™, AMD 3-Way CrossFireX™
  • 7.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC1220 Audio Codec), Supports Purity Sound™ 4 & DTS Connect
  • 8 SATA3, 2 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4 & SATA3), 1 Hyper M.2 (PCIe Gen4 x4)
  • 3 USB 3.2 Gen2 (Rear Type A+C, Front Type-C), 8 USB 3.2 Gen1 (2 Front, 6 Rear)
  • Intel® Gigabit LAN
  • ASRock Polychrome SYNC

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post ASRock X570 Taichi Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]> https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/luke-hill/asrock-x570-taichi-motherboard-review/feed/ 0 MSI MEG Z390 ACE Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-meg-z390-ace-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-meg-z390-ace-motherboard-review/#respond Mon, 13 May 2019 11:43:02 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=411691 MSI has an ACE up its sleeve with this high-end Z390 motherboard

The post MSI MEG Z390 ACE Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel's Z390 platform continues to be a firm favourite with the DIY enthusiast audience, in large part because of the excellent performance delivered by the Core i9 9900K. That processor, however, is more power-hungry than its predecessors and motherboard vendors have necessarily responded with higher-end power circuitry. MSI's Enthusiast Gaming (MEG) ACE motherboard crystallises this approach with 12 phases purely aimed at powering all eight cores with overclocking.

The MSI MEG Z390 ACE is designed to be a high-end performer loaded with connectivity and features, leading MSI to make bold design decisions. One of those is completely doing away with the integrated graphics to maximise board space for connectivity and CPU VRMs; things MSI believes the overclocking audience demands.

MSI hasn't just got tunnel vision on VRMs though, MSI has gone all out on connectivity with a hefty eight USB 3.1 10Gbps ports, three M.2 slots, four RGB headers and both wired and wireless networking solutions. Troubleshooting and overclocking features have been implemented generously as well: a clear CMOS button, onboard diagnostic LEDs, debug code reader, BIOS flashback and VRM monitoring sensors all come included.

MSI has managed all of the above while still coming to market at a lower or similar price point to many of its rivals. On paper at least, MSI looks to have pulled it off, but let's find out how the MEG Z390 ACE stands up to scrutiny.

MSI MEG Z390 ACE
Form Factor ATX, 24.4cm x 30.5cm
CPU Socket Intel LGA 1151 v2
CPU VRM PWM
Infineon International Rectifier IR35201 in 6+1 actual phase operational mode, 12+1 virtual phase mode
6 x Infineon International Rectifier IR3598 phase doublers
CPU VRM MOSFETs
12 x ON Semiconductor NTMFS4C029N (high-side) and 12 x On Semiconductor NTMFS4C024N (low-side)
Chipset Intel Z390
Memory DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 4500MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics Not supported (no display outputs or iGPU VRM)
Discrete Graphics Nvidia 2-Way SLI or AMD 3-Way CrossFire
Expansion Slots 3 x PCIe 3.0 X16 (from CPU, 16x/0x/0x, 8x/8x/0x or 8x/4x/4x)
3 x PCIe 3.0 X1 (from PCH)
Storage 2 x M.2 SATA III 6Gbps or PCIe 3.0 X4*
1 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 X4 only*
6 x SATA III*
*Bandwidth sharing between SATA and M.2 ports
USB 8 x USB 2.0 (4 Rear, 4 Front, from PCH)
4 x USB 3.0 (4 Front, from ASM1042)
8 x USB 3.1 10Gbps (4 Rear Type-A, 2 Front Type-C from PCH, 1 Rear Type-A and 1 Rear Type-C from ASM3142)
Networking 1 x Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet
Intel Wireless-AC 9560
Audio Realtek ALC1220 7.1 channel HD audio with ESS Sabre 9018 32-bit Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC)
RGB 1 onboard RGB lighting zone (rear I/O)
2 x 12v G R B
1 x 5v Digital Addressable
1 x Corsair-specific 5v Digital Addressable
Fan Headers 7, all support 3/4pin (1 x CPU, 1 x PUMP, 5 x SYS)
Rear I/O
Clear CMOS Button
4 x USB 2.0 Ports
1 x Killer E2500 Gigabit LAN
2 x Wi-Fi /Bluetooth Antenna Connectors
5 x HD Audio Connectors
BIOS FLASHBACK+ Button
6 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Ports Type A+C
1 x Optical S/PDIF-Out
UEFI AMI compliant

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post MSI MEG Z390 ACE Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/msi-meg-z390-ace-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
EVGA Z390 FTW Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/evga-z390-ftw-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/evga-z390-ftw-motherboard-review/#respond Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:30:33 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=410687 EVGA tries to lure motherboard buyers away from the "big four".

The post EVGA Z390 FTW Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
EVGA's motherboards have long held a strong following within the PC DIY community. EVGA maintains a relatively small motherboard portfolio by the standards of its competitors, just a handful of motherboards per chipset, containing models specifically for overclockers and gamers alike. EVGA simply does not do a “low-end” or “entry-level” motherboard for Z390, as the Z390 FTW intends to demonstrate.

The EVGA Z390 FTW is one of the company's two Z390 options, sitting alongside the Z390 DARK, and is the more affordable of the pair. The focus with the FTW (For The Win) model is on overclocking and performance, at a more accessible price than the DARK model. That said, the FTW is still positioned as a premium motherboard option for high-end system builds.

From the get-go the Z390 FTW lays down its overclocking intentions by completely omitting a VRM for the Intel integrated graphics, instead focusing on delivering power primarily for the CPU cores (VCore). EVGA has some other novel interpretations of motherboard design such as a large number of right-angled connectors across the motherboard for cable management and horizontally mounted audio capacitors for a striking visual impact.

Clearly, the Z390 FTW is not your average Z390 motherboard. However, is it style over substance or innovation over practicality? Let's find out.

EVGA Z390 FTW
Form Factor ATX, 24.4 x 30.5cm
CPU Socket Intel LGA 1151 v2
CPU VRM PWM
Infineon International Rectifier IR35201 in 4 phase operation, 8 effective (VCore + VCCSA), uP1537p 1 phase (VCCIO)
CPU VRM MOSFETs
 9 x International Rectifier IR3556M (VCore + VCCSA), 1 x On Semiconductor 4C10N & 4C05N (VCCIO)
Chipset  Intel Z390
Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs, up to 64GB, up to 4133MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics  Not supported (No iGPU power supply (VCCGT) provided)
Discrete Graphics  2-way Nvidia or Quad-SLI, 2-way AMD CrossFireX or Quad CrossFireX
Expansion Slots 2 x PCIe 3.0 X16 (16x/0x, 8x/8x, from CPU)
1 x PCIe 3.0 X4 (PCH)
2 x PCIe 3.0 X1 (PCH)
1 x M.2 32mm (“Key E” WiFi module slot, PCIe 3.0 X1)
Storage   2 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 X4 (32Gbps) or SATA III (6Gbps)*
6 x SATA III (Intel Z390)
*bandwidth shared with SATA ports 4/5
USB  6 x USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front, all via Z390)
4 x USB 3.0 (2 Rear, 2 Front, all via Z390)
5 x USB 3.1 [10Gbps] (4 Rear, 1 Front – Type-C Header, all via Z390)
Networking 1 x Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet
Audio Realtek ALC 1220 7.1 Channel HD Audio (+ EVGA Nu Audio)
RGB No onboard RGB lighting
2 x 12v G R B headers
Fan Headers 6 x 3/4 pin (2 x CPU, 4 x PWM/DC), all support maximum power of 12v @ 1A (12W)
Rear I/O 1 x Clear CMOS Button
2 x USB 2.0
4 x USB 3.1 (10Gbps)
2 x USB 3.0
1 x Intel i219V Gigabit LAN
5 x Audio Jacks
1 x Optical S/PDIF
UEFI Type-686 UEFI AMI BIOS

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post EVGA Z390 FTW Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/evga-z390-ftw-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-strix-z390-e-gaming-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-strix-z390-e-gaming-motherboard-review/#respond Fri, 14 Dec 2018 08:54:41 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=396420 Is a 4-phase VCore VRM enough for an ROG motherboard?

The post ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel's new Z390 chipset has pushed motherboard companies to refresh their entire Intel Z370 product portfolio, ASUS included. A lot has been learnt from the prior generation and during the last 12 months about a changing market appetite for high-quality VRM solutions and increased consumer awareness of technical elements of motherboard design. ASUS has released its new ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming motherboard into this market with a brave new slant on VRMs.

The new ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming has a distinctly different look to its predecessor, the ROG Strix Z370-E Gaming. There's new heatsinks designs all around for the CPU VRM, chipset and M.2, as well as some of the benefits of the new Z390 chipset over older Z370.

These include USB 3.1 support and 802.11ac WiFi direct from the chipset, whereas on Z370 these things had to be added separately at additional cost. That aside the feature level isn't all that different from its predecessor and ASUS pitches the “E” model as a mid-range option based on its asking price, around £220 UK and $240 USA at the time of writing.

The main change for ASUS with Z390 is a shift in VRM design that runs almost contrary to growing consumer understanding and media opinion of motherboard VRMs – that more real phases are better and doublers are better than no doublers. ASUS is moving away from having doublers on its VRMs to using less phases and doubling up the number of MOSFETs, drivers, inductors and capacitors per phase.

The way this takes shape on the ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming is with a 4+2 phase design that uses “8 phases worth” of MOSFETs, drivers, chokes and capacitors for those 4 CPU phases.

ASUS has avoided major controversy in this instance because consumers appear to have lost interest in the topic as it has happened so frequently. At present the company has opted out of advertising the VRM of this motherboard, and similar motherboards, as an 8 phase design. Though it has been rumoured online that ASUS was previously marketing these boards as “8 phase” products, before quietly amending the product pages, though we've seen no proof of this so they remain just rumours.

ASUS has been fairly quiet about the situation and why it has taken this approach but ASUS ROG motherboard R&D collaborator “Elmor” shared some information suggesting that this solution can actually be “better” than an 8 phase based on doublers.

The 8 phase solution based on doublers with interleaving is dubbed an “Extended 8-phase VRM” and the solution based on 4 PWM signals each with 2 phases worth of components per phase is labelled a “Twin 8-phase”. The testing results of the “Twin 8-phase” solution suggests an improved transient response and as a result less voltage drop between load switching.

With all that in mind it must be said that VRMs are clearly not the be all and end all, so let's see how the ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming handles itself under testing.

ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming
Form Factor ATX, 30.5cm x 24.4cm
CPU Socket LGA 1151 v2
CPU VRM PWM
ASUS ASP1400CTB (possibly a custom packaged International Rectifier Controller) in 4+2 phase configuration (no doubling on VCore phases so 2 MOSFETs and 2 Chokes per phase)
CPU VRM MOSFETs
10 x On Semiconductor NCP302045 integrated driver and MOSFET packages (high & low side)
CPU VRM Capacitors and Inductors
MIL 560uF 6.3v “5KY34” Capacitors
10 x Inductors
Chipset Intel Z390
Memory DDR4, 4 DIMMs up to 64GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics Intel UHD Graphics (on supported CPUs)
Discrete Graphics Up to 3-way AMD CrossFireX/Quad CrossFireX, Up to 2-way Nvidia SLI, Quad SLI
Expansion Slots 3 x PCIe 3.0 16X slots (x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0, x8/x4/x4)
3 x PCIe 3.0 1X slots
Storage 6 x SATA III (Intel Z390)
2 x M.2 (Slot 1* SATA III & PCIe 3.0 x4, 2280; Slot 2 PCIe 3.0 x4, 22110)
*when slot 1 is used in SATA mode, SATA_2 port is disabled
USB 5 x USB 3.1 (4 Rear (1 Type-C), 1 Front, via Intel Z390)
4 x USB 3.0 (2 Rear, 2 Front, via Intel Z390)
6 x USB 2.0 (2 Rear, 4 Front, via Intel Z390)
Networking 1 x Intel I219V Gigabit Ethernet
Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11ac 1733Mbps WiFi + Bluetooth 5.0 with MU-MIMO
Audio Realtek ALC1220 7.1 channel HD audio
RGB 1 onboard RGB lighting zone (rear I/O cover)
2 x 12V G R B headers
1 x 5V Digital Addressable header
Fan Headers 7, all support 3/4 pin fans (1 x CPU, 1 x CPU_OPT, 2 x CHA, 1 x W_PUMP, 1 x AIO_PUMP, 1 x M2_Fan)
Rear I/O 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
1 x HDMI 1.4b
1 x LAN (RJ45) port(s)
4 x USB 3.1 (3 x Type-A+1 x USB Type-C)
2 x USB 3.0
2 x USB 2.0
1 x Optical S/PDIF out
5 x Audio jack(s)
1 x ASUS Wi-Fi Module
UEFI 1 x 128Mb UEFI AMI BIOS

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post ASUS ROG Strix Z390-E Gaming Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asus-rog-strix-z390-e-gaming-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-9-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-9-motherboard-review/#respond Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:41:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=395508 Intel's new Z390 chipset with ALL the connectivity.

The post ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Intel's Z390 marks an incremental improvement to the preceding Z370 chipset, rather than a major redesign, but many motherboard manufacturers have chosen to set standards higher with Z390 motherboards than with Z370. Intel's Z390 chipset is there to facilitate new Coffee Lake Refresh processors like the Core i9 9900K and i7 9700K which have more cores, higher power requirements and a higher price point. The new ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 is an ideal candidate for these new processors.

The list of official changes between Intel's Z370 and Z390 chipsets is short. Intel Z390 brings the following additional features over Z370: six native integrated USB 3.1 (Gen2) 10Gbps ports, Integrated Intel Wireless-AC Support (CNVi) with Bluetooth v5.0 and an Intel Management Engine Firmware uplift to version 12. In the longer term Intel Z390 will likely phase out Z370 but the two will run parallel for as long as the market holds existing inventory.

Many motherboard vendors have uprated the quality of their VRMs, onboard connectivity and features with Z390 to attract the type of buyer willing to splash out on one of Intel's newest Coffee Lake Refresh CPUs. A quick glance at any major etailer shows the entry, average and most expensive prices for Z390 motherboards is higher than Z370 equivalents.

That said the availability of more affordable Z390 motherboards has begun to increase in recent weeks for consumers looking to pair up with “normal” Coffee Lake 8000-Series CPUs.

ASRock's Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 joins the segment of the Z390 market aimed at i9 9900K and i7 9700K users looking for a capable foundation to build on. The headline feature for this motherboard is the new Realtek 2.5 Gigabit LAN solution, though in practice the important feature for most buyers is the 10 plus 2 phase VRM for the CPU, which includes heat-pipe cooling.

Other interesting features include dual Intel Gigabit LAN and Intel AC WiFi as well as plentiful onboard RGB lighting and ample LED expansion headers. It's feature rich by anyone's definition, but can the ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 justify its high price tag? Let's find out.

ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9
Form Factor  ATX, 30.5cm x 24.4cm
CPU Socket  LGA 1151 v2
CPU VRM PWM
IR35201 Controller in 5+2 phase mode (VCore + iGPU)
10 VCore (5 IR3598 Doublers) + 2 iGPU phases (1 IR3598 dual driver)
2 x Anpec APW8720B Single Phase Controllers (VCCSA + VCCIO)
CPU VRM MOSFETs
12 x 87350D Texas Instruments NextFETs (VCore + iGPU)
2 x SM7341EH MOSFETs (VCCSA + VCCIO)
CPU VRM Capacitors and Chokes
14 x 60A inductors
Nichicon FP Series 12K Capacitors
Chipset  Intel Z390
Memory  DDR4, 4 DIMMs up to 64GB, up to 4266MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics  Intel UHD Graphics (on supported CPUs)
Discrete Graphics Up to 3-way AMD CrossFireX/Quad CrossFireX, Up to 2-way Nvidia SLI, Quad SLI
Expansion Slots 3 x PCIe 3.0 16X slots (x16/x0/x0, x8/x8/x0, x8/x4/x4)
2 x PCIe 3.0 1X slots (open-ended)
Storage 6 x SATA III (Intel Z390)*
2 x SATA III (ASMedia ASM1061)
3 x M.2 PCIe 3.0 X4 or SATA III 6Gbps (Slot 1, 80mm max, Slots 2 and 3, 110mm max)
*SATA ports 0, 1, 3, 4 and 5 share bandwidth with M.2 slots 1,2 and 3 when used in SATA mode
USB  5 x USB 3.1 (4 Rear [Redriver], 1 Front [ASM1562])
8 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear [Intel Z390], 4 Front [ASM1074])
3 x USB 2.0 (3 Front [Intel Z390])
Networking  1 x Realtek Dragon RTL8125AG 2.5 Gigabit LAN
1 x Intel I219V 1 Gigabit LAN
1 x Intel I211AT 1 Gigabit LAN
Intel 802.11ac 1733Mbps WiFi + Bluetooth 5.0 (Intel 9260NGW) with MU-MIMO
Audio  Realtek ALC1220 7.1 channel HD audio
RGB 3 onboard RGB lighting zones (chipset heatsink, audio PCB and rear I/O cover)
2 x 12V G R B headers
1 x 5v digital addressable header
Fan Headers  8, all support 3/4 pin fans, (1 x CPU, 1 x CPU/WP, 6 x CHA/WP)
Rear I/O  2 x WiFi Antenna Ports
1 x PS/2 Mouse/Keyboard Port
1 x HDMI Port
1 x DisplayPort 1.2
1 x Optical SPDIF Out Port
3 x USB 3.1 Type-A Ports (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (Supports ESD Protection)
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Port (10 Gb/s) (ReDriver) (Supports ESD Protection)
4 x USB 3.0 Ports (Intel Z390) (Supports ESD Protection)
3 x RJ-45 LAN Ports with LED (ACT/LINK LED and SPEED LED)
1 x Clear CMOS Button
5 x HD Audio Jacks: Rear Speaker / Central / Bass / Line in / Front Speaker / Microphone (Gold Audio Jacks)
UEFI 2 x 128Mb UEFI AMI BIOS (1 Main, 1 Backup)

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 9 Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/asrock-z390-phantom-gaming-9-motherboard-review/feed/ 0
Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Motherboard Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-b450-aorus-pro-motherboard-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-b450-aorus-pro-motherboard-review/#respond Thu, 04 Oct 2018 07:23:52 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=388447 Featured-packed and affordable, but lacklustre for overclocking.

The post Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
AMD's B450 chipset has economic advantages over Intel's Z370 at the budget-end of the market. For equivalent money, AMD's overclocking-ready B450 motherboards are better equipped than their Z370 counterparts and, for now, AMD CPUs for the B450 platform continue to have higher core counts than Intel Z370, 8 vs 6 cores. Affordable ATX motherboards for the B450 platform, such as the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro, are increasingly appealing to consumers looking to maximise value for money in their next PC build.

Gigabyte's B450 Aorus Pro uses a shared platform for most of Gigabyte's low-end to mid-range AM4 offerings, all motherboards on this platform (B450 Aorus Pro WiFi, B450M DS3H, B450 Aorus M, X470 Ultra-Gaming [WiFi], X470 Gaming 5 [WiFi]) use roughly the same design and VRM implementation, with slight adjustments to differentiate between price points and form factors.

Unfortunately for Gigabyte the B450 Aorus Pro and this shared platform has attracted some negative publicity around the company's claim of a “Hybrid Digital 8+3 Phase PWM Design”, which has been criticised as potentially misleading to consumers. In response the claim has since been removed from Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro's product page and some other motherboards on the shared platform.

However, taking a step back from the VRM issue, which is somewhat superfluous at the price point of the motherboard, the B450 Aorus Pro actually has a great deal to offer. Notable product highlights are the dual cooled M.2 slots, high-quality Realtek ALC1220 based audio, integrated RGB lighting with expansion headers and USB 3.1 10Gbps including Type-C.

Let's how the Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro stands up to testing.

Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro
Form Factor ATX, 30.5cm x 24.4cm
CPU Socket AMD AM4
Chipset AMD B450
Memory DDR4, 4 DIMMs up to 64GB, up to 3200MHz+ with OC
On-board Graphics Radeon Vega Graphics (Supported APUs only)
Discrete Graphics Up to 2-Way AMD CrossFire, Single Nvidia GPU Configurations only
Expansion Slots 1 x PCIe 3.0 X16
2 x PCIe 2.0 X16 (X4* and X1 electrical)
1 x PCIe 2.0 X1
*The PCIe 2.0 X4 slot operates at X2 when both X1 slots are populated
**Reduced PCIe bandwidth available when using Ryzen APUs
Storage 2 x M.2 (M2A supports PCIe 3.0 X4 or SATA up to 22110, M2B supports PCIe 3.0 X2 only up to 2280)
6 x SATA III 6Gbps (4 via B450, 2 via CPU)*
*The 2 CPU provided SATA ports are unavailable when using a PCIe SSD in M2A, one CPU SATA port is unavailable when using SATA SSD in M2A. Chipset SATA ports 2 and 3 are unavailable when using PCIe SSD in M2B
USB 2 x USB 3.1 (2 Rear, Type-A and -C, via B450)
6 x USB 3.0 (4 Rear via Ryzen CPU, 2 Front via B450)
4 x USB 2.0 (4 Front, via B450)
Networking Intel I211-AT Gigabit Ethernet
Audio Realtek ALC1220 based 7.1 channel HD audio
RGB 3 onboard RGB lighting zones (chipset heatsink, audio PCB and rear I/O cover)
1 x 12v G R B W header
2 x Digital 5v headers
Fan Headers 5, all support 3/4 pin fans (1 x CPU, 1 x CPU_OPT, 3 x SYS)
Rear I/O
1 x HDMI 2.0 port
1 x DVI-D port
4 x USB 3.0 ports
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C port
1 x USB 3.1 Type-A port (red)
1 x RJ-45 port
1 x optical S/PDIF Out connector
5 x audio jacks
UEFI 2 x 128Mb AMI UEFI BIOS chips with Gigabyte DualBIOS support

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post Gigabyte B450 Aorus Pro Motherboard Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/ryan-martin/gigabyte-b450-aorus-pro-motherboard-review/feed/ 0