silent | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Mar 2023 11:45:55 +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 silent | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Gigabyte X570S motherboard spotted, could be linked to Zen 3 refresh https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/joao-silva/gigabyte-x570s-motherboard-spotted-could-be-linked-to-zen-3-refresh/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/joao-silva/gigabyte-x570s-motherboard-spotted-could-be-linked-to-zen-3-refresh/#respond Wed, 07 Apr 2021 08:30:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=510956 Gigabyte has listed eight new X570S motherboards on the EEC database. According to some sources, this new chipset is linked to the rumoured Zen 3+ refresh, although others claim that this is just a more efficient fanless version of the X570 chipset.  According to a report from VideoCardz, the Gigabyte X570S motherboards are launching in preparation …

The post Gigabyte X570S motherboard spotted, could be linked to Zen 3 refresh first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Gigabyte has listed eight new X570S motherboards on the EEC database. According to some sources, this new chipset is linked to the rumoured Zen 3+ refresh, although others claim that this is just a more efficient fanless version of the X570 chipset. 

According to a report from VideoCardz, the Gigabyte X570S motherboards are launching in preparation for new Zen 3+ refresh processors, codenamed “Warhol”. However, it is worth noting that Moore's Law is Dead has disputed this, claiming that this is just a more efficient X570 chipset, with the “S” standing for “Silent”, indicating no fans on the motherboard itself.

Either way though, new motherboards are on the way. Gigabyte filed two listings on the EEC database, the first one includes the X570S Aorus Master, X570S Aorus Elite AX, X570S Aorus Pro AX, X570S Aero G, and X570SI Aorus Pro AX motherboards. The second listing finishes off the list with the X570S Aorus Elite, X570S Gaming X, and X570S UD motherboards. Additionally, the Z390 UD V2 was also in the last entry.

Whether or not these motherboards are linked to a Zen 3+ launch is still up in the air, as there is not much information available yet. If these processors do get launched, they will offer slight performance improvements over Ryzen 5000,

Despite all of this, the Zen 3+ processors are still a possibility. There is not much information about them, but if they get released, we expect they will offer a slight performance improvement over the Ryzen 5000 CPUs.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru says: Do you think we will see AMD release a refresh of the Ryzen 5000 processors? Hopefully we'll have more information on this soon. 

The post Gigabyte X570S motherboard spotted, could be linked to Zen 3 refresh first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/joao-silva/gigabyte-x570s-motherboard-spotted-could-be-linked-to-zen-3-refresh/feed/ 0
MonsterLabo The First Review – Not Quite Silent https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/monsterlabo-the-first-review-not-quite-silent/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/monsterlabo-the-first-review-not-quite-silent/#respond Mon, 27 May 2019 12:49:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=413515 It's an ALMOST silent Mini ITX chassis - but how well can it cool your hardware?

The post MonsterLabo The First Review – Not Quite Silent first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
MonsterLabo The First is a PC chassis that is built around the largest heat exchanger we have ever seen inside a computer. Picture the heatsink used in, say, a large be quiet! cooler and then imagine something five times larger and you have a starting point for The First. This enormous heatsink is located in the upper half of the chassis and is connected via heat pipes to a CPU cooler and a GPU cooler, to which you attach your motherboard assembly and graphics card.

Yes, you first need to remove the stock cooler from your graphics card and yes, you need to check the FAQs to see whether your hardware will fit inside The First. We would love to claim this is a passively cooled PC, however MonsterLabo sent us their Premium Package that comes with a 140mm Noctua fan so while this PC is very quiet indeed, technically it is not completely silent.

Note: if the above images are not displaying properly, you may need to disable Ad Block as it is known to interfere with our display code

Specification:

  • Motherboard support: Mini-ITX.
  • Included fans: Premium Package includes 1x 140mm Noctua.
  • Fan mounts: 1x 120/140mm.
  • Radiator mounts: None.
  • Fanless configuration: CPU 100W, GPU 120W.
  • Active configuration: CPU 140W, GPU 160W.
  • 5.25-inch optical drive bays: None.
  • Internal drive bays: 1x 3.5-inch, 3x 2.5-inch.
  • Power supply: ATX, SFX-L, SFX (Max. length 160mm)
  • Dimensions: 430mm H x 205mm D x 215mm W.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post MonsterLabo The First Review – Not Quite Silent first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/monsterlabo-the-first-review-not-quite-silent/feed/ 0
be quiet! Pure Power 11 700W PSU Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/aris-bitziopoulos/be-quiet-pure-power-11-700w-psu-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/aris-bitziopoulos/be-quiet-pure-power-11-700w-psu-review/#respond Tue, 13 Nov 2018 09:47:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=393930 Today we look at a new power supply from be quiet!. Its expensive but can it deliver ?

The post be quiet! Pure Power 11 700W PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The new be quiet! Pure Power 11 700W features a higher efficiency rating (80 PLUS Gold) than its predecessor and according to be quiet! it also delivers exceptionally quiet operation. Are those two enough though to justify the increased price tag? 

Every year be quiet! releases a new Pure Power line, hitting the eleventh version this year. The Pure Power 11 series consists of both semi-modular and non-modular models, with the latter covering a large wattage range (300W to 700W) through six units. There are four semi modular supplies in the range and their capacities range from 400W to 700W. The major differences with the previous generation models are the increased efficiency levels (80 PLUS Gold Gold for the 400W and higher capacity units, instead of Silver) and the longer warranty (five vs three years).

In today's review we will evaluate the flagship model (model number L11-CM-700). It is based on a platform provided by FSP, which uses an Active Clamp Reset Forward (ACRF) topology in the primary side. This topology manages to offer high efficiency and a long hold-up, while using less (and lower cost) components compared to half/full bridge configurations. FSP is one of the very few brands that still utilize this topology – which doesn't tend to perform so well under transient loads.

The native cables that this power supply features, besides a small number of modular ones, might look odd nowadays however this is the only way to keep the production cost low. The orange accent around the fan, its special designed blades and the nice fan grille, are the main features of this product's external design.

Read our How We Test Power Supplies HERE

Specifications

Manufacturer (OEM) FSP
Max. DC Output 700W
Efficiency 80 PLUS Gold, ETA-A (88-91%)
Noise LAMBDA-A+ (15-20 dB[A])
Modular (Semi)
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
Operating Temperature 0 – 40°C
Over Voltage Protection
Under Voltage Protection
Over Power Protection
Over Current (+12V) Protection
Over Temperature Protection
Short Circuit Protection
Surge Protection
Inrush Current Protection
Fan Failure Protection
No Load Operation
Cooling 120mm Rifle Bearing Fan (BQ QF1-12025-HS)
Semi-Passive Operation
Dimensions (W x H x D) 152 x 87 x 162mm
Weight 1.73 kg (3.81 lb)
Form Factor ATX12V v2.4, EPS 2.92
Warranty 5 Years

The max operating temperature is 40°C and according to be quiet! all necessary protection features are provided. The cooling duties are handled by a 120mm fan with a rifle bearing and strangely enough, there is no semi-passive operation. Nonetheless, from the moment the fan profile is relaxed we don't mind the lack of passive operation.

The unit's dimensions are compact with 162mm length and the weight is kept low as well. Finally, the provided warranty reaches five years which is a long period for a mid-range product.

Power Specifications

Rail 3.3V 5V 12V1 12V2 5VSB -12V
Max. Power Amps 25 20 36 30 3 0.3
Watts 150 56A 15 3.6
672
Total Max. Power (W) 700

The minor rails have a very high maximum combined power level, given today's needs, and the pair of +12V rails cannot deliver the PSU's full power alone. This looks strange as usually in power supplies that feature DC-DC converters for the generation of the minor rails, the +12V rail has the same capacity as the unit's maximum power.

The 5VSB rail is a bit stronger than the usual, with 3 Amps max current output.

Cables & Connectors

Native Cables
Description
Cable Count
Connector Count (Total)
Gauge
In Cable Caps
ATX connector 20+4 pin (550mm)
1
1
18-24AWG
No
4+4 pin EPS12V (600mm)
1
1
18AWG
No
Modular Cables
Description
Cable Count
Connector Count (Total)
Gauge
Gauge
6+2 pin PCIe (500mm+150mm)
2
4
18AWG
No
SATA (500mm+150mm+150mm)
1
3
18AWG
No
SATA (500mm) / 4-pin Molex (+150mm+150mm)
1
1 / 2
18AWG
No
SATA (500mm+150mm) / 4-pin Molex (+150mm) / FDD (+150mm)
1
2 / 1 / 1
18-22AWG
No
AC Power Cord (1360mm)
1
1
18AWG

The absolutely necessary cables are fixed, with all the rest being modular. All cables have sufficient length, considering that usually a budget-oriented power supply is not combined with a huge full tower chassis, and the number of connectors is satisfactory.

We would like to see of course a second EPS connector, but according to be quiet! this is a mainstream product so we cannot be too hard on them.

The distance between the connectors, in cables that have more than one, is adequate at 150mm. The only problem that we spot here is the fixed FDD connector. In our opinion this connector should be provided through an adapter (4-pin Molex to FDD), since most users won't even need it.

    

Power Distribution

Power Distribution

12V1

ATX, Peripheral, SATA, PCIe2 (Left)

12V2

PCIe1 (Right), EPS

This unit has two +12V rails and the power distribution is not optimal, since the second +12V rail mixes one of the PCIe sockets with the single EPS connector. Normally none of the PCIe sockets should be on the same rail with the EPS cable.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post be quiet! Pure Power 11 700W PSU Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/aris-bitziopoulos/be-quiet-pure-power-11-700w-psu-review/feed/ 0
be quiet! Silent Base 601 Review – No RGB, No Problem! https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/be-quiet-silent-base-601-review-no-rgb-no-problem/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/be-quiet-silent-base-601-review-no-rgb-no-problem/#respond Thu, 06 Sep 2018 07:36:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=385880 If you're going to spend over £100 on a new case, is the Silent Base 601 worth buying?

The post be quiet! Silent Base 601 Review – No RGB, No Problem! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
be quiet! tells us the Silent Base 601 is a reworking of the original Silent Base 600 that we reviewed back in October 2015.

This may well be true, up to a point, however we feel the Silent Base 601 has been changed from end-to-end and is effectively a new case. Primarily the case has lost the optical drive bays and gained a power supply cover but we feel it is best to approach the 601 as a new model rather than a 600 Rev. 2.

Note: if the above images are not displaying properly, you may need to disable Ad Block as it is known to interfere with our display code

Incidentally, in our video your host got confused by two different cases from be quiet! that have similar names and referred to an older model with a top panel that can be raised on posts for ventilation. In point of fact this feature is actually present on the Pure Base 600 from 2017 rather than the Silent Base 600.

Of course we could have edited out that slip, however it acts as a prompt for us to say that is it worth taking a look at the Pure Base 600 review to get a feel for the different approaches that be quiet! takes with its various ranges of cases.

The Silent Base 601 has been changed extensively yet maintains a familiar approach to tackling noise levels. The panels are chunky and heavy and use convoluted passages for the airflow along with the thickest noise deadening foam panels we have ever seen.

Specification:
Motherboard support: E-ATX up to 275mm wide, ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX.
Expansion slots: 7+2.
Included fans: 1x 140mm front intake Pure Wings 2 1,000rpm, 1x 140mm rear exhaust Pure Wings 2 1,000rpm.
Fan mounts: 2x 120mm/140mm front, 3x 120/140mm roof, 1x 120/140mm PSU shroud.
120mm radiator mounts: 120mm/240mm/360mm front, 120mm/240mm/360mm roof, 120mm rear.
140mm radiator mounts: 140mm/280mm front, 140mm rear.
5.25-inch drive bays: None.
Internal drive bays: 7x 3.5-inch (3 included)/14x 2.5-inch (6 included).
Dimensions: 514mm H x 532mm D x 240mm W.

Building our test PC inside the be quiet! Silent Base 601 was quick and simple as the layout is completely conventional. We referred to the user guide just once to check how to remove the front panel over the air filter – you just slide it vertically upwards – and that was only to satisfy our curiosity. The build was straightforward and it certainly helped that we were using a be quiet! Dark Rock 4 CPU cooler and didn’t have to think about where we were going to mount a radiator or an All In One cooler.

We were able to install our chosen Core i7-8700K on a Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming motherboard, followed by 32GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum SE 3466MHz memory and could then top off the assembly with the CPU cooler. The package then slipped easily inside the Silent Base 601 so you can imagine our frustration when we first spotted the fan was back to front and later saw that the cooler had the be quiet! logo upside down. There are times where even the most simple thing can get complicated.

As we point out in the video, cable management is a weakness with this case. It is fiddly to route the cables around the lower drive mount and use a bunch of zip ties to anchor the fan and front panel cables. Then you feed the power supply cables through the chunky orange cable management grommets, which are immediately next to the great big cut-outs where you can install optional drive bays.

The version of Silent Base 601 that we were sent does not have a tempered glass window and does not come with blanking covers for the drive bay cut-outs, which all feels a little peculiar. And then you close the two doors and cable management becomes a complete irrelevance as you can see absolutely nothing inside the case whatsoever. Provided you haven’t got any cables trapped in the cooling fans it pretty much doesn’t matter what you do inside the case as all evidence of your laziness is invisible to the outside world.

Nonetheless, there are more expensive versions of Silent Base 601 that come with the glass panel and it follows those those customers will need to put in the required effort with cable management to get the desired result.

In our video we note the two supplied 140mm fans are be quiet! Pure Wings 2 and refer to ‘better fans.’ In case there is any doubt we were referring to be quiet! Silent Wings 3. It strikes us as curious that the front fan is positioned low down in the case but that is doubtless intended to help with cooling for the hard drive tower.

With the PC finished the build looked tidy and we had plenty of options for adding more storage and were all set to check for air flow, cooling and noise levels.

Testing
To put this case through its cooling paces we will be using a test system consisting of an Intel Core i7-8700K, reference EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC 11GB and an SSD. This system allows us to produce a substantial amount of heat and effectively test the be quiet! Silent Base 601‘s cooling capabilities.
For stress testing we use AIDA64 to create the maximum amount of load our CPU and GPU are ever likely to see.

Test System:
Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K
Motherboard: Gigabyte Z370 Aorus Ultra Gaming
CPU cooler: be quiet! Dark Rock 4
Memory: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum SE 3466MHz
Graphics card: EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC 11GB
Power supply: be quiet! Straight Power 11 750W
Storage drive: Samsung 960 Pro M.2 SSD
OS: Windows 10

Cooling Performance.

Cooling Performance Overview
It has been quite some while since we used an air cooled CPU and GPU in a case review so for this build we decided to use the be quiet! Dark Rock 4 cooler on the CPU, along with a regular EVGA GTX 1080 Ti graphics card. The upshot was a PC that operated at temperatures in the range of 70-80 degrees C at stock clock speeds with the CPU rising to the 89 degree throttling point when we overclocked to 4.8GHz and put the system under 100 percent load.

Acoustics Performance Overview
In regular operation the be quiet! Silent Base 601 is very quiet, however when the CPU and GPU are highly stressed and the fan speeds rise you can certainly hear them working away. We didn’t hear a significant difference between the three settings on the fan controller (which are adjusted using the switch on the I/O panel) but  setting one was marginally quieter than the other settings so we used that throughout.

Closing Thoughts

The be quiet! Silent Base 601 is a decent contender in the world of ATX cases, however it is tricky to point to a feature that is new or innovative. Indeed, for many potential customers the main attraction will be the absence of RGB lighting and they will likely choose the version of the 601 we reviewed with two solid doors rather than tempered glass.

The incremental changes made by be quiet! include the removal of the optical drive bays, which gives you a good deal more space at the front of the case. In addition, the 601 is larger in all three dimensions than the 600, and as a result the specification states that you can install a 280mm or 360mm radiator at the front and a 360mm radiator in the roof.

We have no doubt those figures are correct, however we have little interest in installing a radiator in the roof of this case, regardless of the provision of a sliding radiator rack to ease installation.

We would be perfectly happy to install a radiator or All In One in the front of the case, and if we went down that path we would move the front Pure Wings 2 fan to the roof of the case. The approach we took instead was to use a be quiet! Dark Rock 4 air cooler on our Core i7 CPU and that worked very well. We feel confident we would have got even better cooling results if the case was equipped with be quiet! Silent Wings 3 fans.

Perhaps the most interesting features of the Silent Base 601 are the hefty great slabs of noise deadening material and the two doors that swing out slightly and lift off vertically. If your PC is located under a low desk that might be a problem but for many other people the arrangement gives rapid access to the innards of the PC.

This is the level of detail you need to consider with the Silent Base 601 as it is truly difficult to get excited about the way the power supply installs from the rear or the fact that the 601 has a power supply cover.

All we know is that here in the UK the price is uncomfortably high and we wish the exchange rate would move in a more favourable direction.

You can pre-order the Silent Base 601 for £114.95 from Overclockers UK HERE.

Pros:

  • Solid build quality.
  • Side panels lift off vertically.
  • Full length dust filters on the front and bottom.
  • Low noise levels during regular operation.

Cons:

  • UK price is quite steep.
  • Fan controller can only manage three fans.
  • I/O panel does not have USB Type C.

KitGuru says: be quiet! Silent Base 601 is a solid piece of work that will delight RGB heathens.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

The post be quiet! Silent Base 601 Review – No RGB, No Problem! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/leo-waldock/be-quiet-silent-base-601-review-no-rgb-no-problem/feed/ 0
CES 2017: SuperMicro unveils passively cooled mini-ITX PC https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/jon-martindale/ces-2017-supermicro-unveils-passively-cooled-mini-itx-pc/ https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/jon-martindale/ces-2017-supermicro-unveils-passively-cooled-mini-itx-pc/#respond Fri, 06 Jan 2017 12:18:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=316735 SuperMicro has shown off a new passively cooled cube concept PC at CES 2017. Complete with some strong internal hardware and a compact chassis, the system has the potential to be a powerful little gaming PC that is devoid of noise entirely. While SuperMicro might be mostly focused on the creation of servers, that doesn't …

The post CES 2017: SuperMicro unveils passively cooled mini-ITX PC first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
SuperMicro has shown off a new passively cooled cube concept PC at CES 2017. Complete with some strong internal hardware and a compact chassis, the system has the potential to be a powerful little gaming PC that is devoid of noise entirely.

sueprmicro04

While SuperMicro might be mostly focused on the creation of servers, that doesn't mean it doesn't know what it's doing with gaming PCs too. This latest conceptual design contains an Intel Core i5-7500 CPU, paired off with a GTX 1060 graphics card and a brand new Kaby Lake motherboard of the mini-ITX form factor.

sueprmicro01 sueprmicro03

While hardware like this would usually take at least some measure of active cooling, what's most impressive about this SuperMicro build is that it doesn't have a single fan in its design. Instead if features a large mesh of aluminium fins which help natural air current dissipate the heat that builds up inside.

sueprmicro02

Although usually concept builds don't make it further than a trade show like CES, we're told that this PC should end up going on sale for around £1,000, though when is anyone's guess.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Normally I would say that quiet fans are enough to get by, but having run a pump-whining Fury X for a while, the idea of a passive system sounds pretty nice. 

The post CES 2017: SuperMicro unveils passively cooled mini-ITX PC first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/desktop-pc/gaming-rig/jon-martindale/ces-2017-supermicro-unveils-passively-cooled-mini-itx-pc/feed/ 0
Corsair Gaming STRAFE Silent RGB mechanical keyboard https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/keyboards/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-strafe-silent-rgb-mechanical-keyboard/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/keyboards/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-strafe-silent-rgb-mechanical-keyboard/#respond Thu, 12 Nov 2015 09:03:55 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=273958 Corsair has produced some fantastic looking keyboards in the last year. Adding to that line up now is a variant on its highly praised STRAFE design – the Silent. This board features the same RGB backlighting, media keys and attachable wrist rest, but with modified mechanical switches to make them that much quieter when you …

The post Corsair Gaming STRAFE Silent RGB mechanical keyboard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Corsair has produced some fantastic looking keyboards in the last year. Adding to that line up now is a variant on its highly praised STRAFE design – the Silent. This board features the same RGB backlighting, media keys and attachable wrist rest, but with modified mechanical switches to make them that much quieter when you are typing.

Corsair assures us that doing so has not affected the responsiveness of the Cherry MX switches and in-fact thanks to the inclusion of gold connectors they may even be faster than before – which considering this review model sports modified mechanical switches akin to Cherry MX Reds, is plenty fast indeed. 

corsairstrafesilent
Corsair STRAFE SILENT RGB Features:

  • Cherry MX “Silent” switches.
  • Per-key backlighting offers high-level customisation.
  • Fully programmable keys for remapping.
  • USB port for connect-through.
  • Textured and coloured keycaps for comfort and control.
  • Gaming circuitry gives 100 per cent anti-ghosting.
  • Easy access to media with built-in media keys.

The Corsair Gaming STRAFE Silent may not look much different then the standard STRAFE. It has all of the same features and back-end software perks with the addition of the quieter switches, which Corsair brands in a class of their own. Now when you go to buy a STRAFE RGB keyboard, you can get it with Cherry MX Red, Brown or MX Silent switches.

But what makes these work differently than others?

switchtype

The Cherry MX Silent switches are built much like a standard switch, but they also feature a pair of “component tappets” to reduce the impact of the key at the base of the switch. That base, we are told is made from a patented “glass fibre,” which also helps cut back on noise output.

The post Corsair Gaming STRAFE Silent RGB mechanical keyboard first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/keyboards/jon-martindale/corsair-gaming-strafe-silent-rgb-mechanical-keyboard/feed/ 0
be quiet! Silent Base 600 case winners announced! https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jon-martindale/be-quiet-silent-base-600-case-winners-announced/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jon-martindale/be-quiet-silent-base-600-case-winners-announced/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2015 10:54:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=273694 If you entered last month's be quiet! Silent Base 600 case competition, you weren't alone as more than 3,000 of you threw your names in the hat to be in with a chance of winning one of three chassis that we reviewed very highly not too long ago. Of course though as much as we'd …

The post be quiet! Silent Base 600 case winners announced! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If you entered last month's be quiet! Silent Base 600 case competition, you weren't alone as more than 3,000 of you threw your names in the hat to be in with a chance of winning one of three chassis that we reviewed very highly not too long ago. Of course though as much as we'd love for you all to walk away with a brand new case, that just isn't possible on anyone's budget, so we're restricted to just three of you. We can now confirm who those three are though, with a big congratulations for all involved.

bequietcases
Which one would you have picked?

To be in with a chance of winning the Silent Base 600 cases from be quiet! we asked you to answer one simple question: “How many additional fans (besides the pre-installed ones) can be installed in the Silent Base 600 (non windowed version)?”

The answer was of course C: five.

Many of you got it right, but only thee could be true winners. They are as follows:

  • Damien Cox from England, who particularly wanted an Orange, windowed version of the Silent Base 600.
  • Francesco Trozzi from Italy. He didn't specify his preference, so be sure to get in touch to let us know which you want.
  • Sarina Bosch from Holland. She fancied a Windowed silver option, which we'll be more than happy to provide.

Congratulations to the three winners and thanks to everyone that took part in this competition. Apologies to the many of you that didn't win, but we would imagine you know what time of year this is. It's heading very much towards the season of giving, so don't be surprised if there is much, much more to win when visiting KitGuru in the coming weeks.

Not least a free game of your choice, which you can win in just a couple of days time by posting your best, funniest, most interesting screenshot in our Steam Group.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Are any of you planning to treat yourselves to some new hardware in the build up to Christmas?

The post be quiet! Silent Base 600 case winners announced! first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jon-martindale/be-quiet-silent-base-600-case-winners-announced/feed/ 2
Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition Mid-Tower Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/henry-butt/corsair-carbide-100r-silent-edition-mid-tower-case-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/henry-butt/corsair-carbide-100r-silent-edition-mid-tower-case-review/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2015 09:19:59 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=236934 Today we are going to take a look at one of the latest cases in the Corsair range, the Carbide 100R Silent Edition.  We have commended products from the Carbide range in the past as we have found that they are a great option for those looking to build a quality system on a tight …

The post Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition Mid-Tower Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are going to take a look at one of the latest cases in the Corsair range, the Carbide 100R Silent Edition.  We have commended products from the Carbide range in the past as we have found that they are a great option for those looking to build a quality system on a tight budget.

Corsair are one of the most respected component manufacturers in the market and have been producing PC cases for a number of years now.

While we are more accustomed to testing their high-end models we are excited to see that they are expanding their range to cater for those customers who have more restricted budgets.

100R_Silent_001

Features:

  • Warranty: Two years
  • Weight: 4.8kg
  • Case Form Factor: Mid-Tower
  • Dimensions: 471mm x 200mm x 430mm
  • Case Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX
  • Maximum GPU Length Top Slots: 414mm
  • Lower Slots: 275mm
  • Maximum CPU Cooler Height: 150mm
  • Maximum PSU Length: 230mm
  • Case Expansion Slots: 7
  • Case Drive Bays (x2): 5.25in, (x4) Combo: 3.5in/2.5in
  • Case Material: Steel
  • Case Power Supply: ATX (not included)
  • External Connections:@ (x2) USB 3.0, (x1) Headphone Port, (x1) Microphone Port
The post Corsair Carbide 100R Silent Edition Mid-Tower Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/henry-butt/corsair-carbide-100r-silent-edition-mid-tower-case-review/feed/ 1
Streacom FC5 EVO Fanless HTPC Case Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/henry-butt/streacom-fc5-evo-fanless-htpc-case-review/ Mon, 07 Oct 2013 07:28:14 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=150709 Today we are going to take a look at the Streacom FC5 EVO Fanless chassis which is designed for those people who are looking to build a completely silent home theatre PC.  This takes things one step further than most HTPC cases which are designed to be low-noise, as there are no fans at all …

The post Streacom FC5 EVO Fanless HTPC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are going to take a look at the Streacom FC5 EVO Fanless chassis which is designed for those people who are looking to build a completely silent home theatre PC.  This takes things one step further than most HTPC cases which are designed to be low-noise, as there are no fans at all in this particular case.

You'd be forgiven for not having heard of Streacom as they were only founded in 2010.  They produce a limited range of high-quality small form factor PC cases.  They have a number of models on offer, including both standard and fanless models.  We haven't experienced many fanless cases in the past, so we are excited to see how the FC5 EVO has been designed.

IMG_2898

Specification

  • Chassis Material: All aluminum, 10mm thick front panel
  • Available Colors: Silver / Black – sandblast finish
  • Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX
  • Hard Drive Bays: Up to 3 x 3.5″ or 4 x 2.5″ (with mini-ITX board only)
  • Optical Drive Bays: 1 x Slim slot loading drive, universal eject button
  • Side Ports: 2 x USB2.0, right side (USB3.0 Ready, cable sold separately)
  • Expansion Slot: 1 x Full height or 1 x half height expansion slot (riser card required)
  • Cooling: Heatpipe Direct Touch 4 Pipes – Recommended CPU TDP 65W, Max TDP 95W**
  • Dimension: 435 x 325 x 60mm (W x D x H)
  • Power Supply: NanoPSU & AC Adapter (not included)
  • Remote Control: MCE compatible IR receiver & remote (not included)
  • Net Weight: 5.2KG
The post Streacom FC5 EVO Fanless HTPC Case Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
BitFenix Ghost Chassis Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/simon-telford/bitfenix-ghost-chassis-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/simon-telford/bitfenix-ghost-chassis-review/#comments Fri, 07 Dec 2012 08:08:54 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=115271 The BitFenix Ghost is a mid-range chassis, designed with gamers in mind. Bitfenix claim that not all gamers are willing to deal with excessive fan noise so they have attempted to design a chassis with minimal noise characteristics. To create a silent chassis BitFenix have armed the Ghost with an array of features. These include …

The post BitFenix Ghost Chassis Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

The BitFenix Ghost is a mid-range chassis, designed with gamers in mind. Bitfenix claim that not all gamers are willing to deal with excessive fan noise so they have attempted to design a chassis with minimal noise characteristics.

To create a silent chassis BitFenix have armed the Ghost with an array of features. These include BitFenix Serenitek Silencing Material in the front and side panels, support for a 240mm watercooling radiator on top and 2 x BitFenix ‘Whisper-Quiet' Spectre fans.

Specifications

Materials Steel, Plastic
Color (Int/Ext) Black/Black
Dimensions (WxHxD) 210 x 522 x 510mm
Motherboard Sizes Mini-ITX, mATX, ATX
5.25” Drive Bays x 3
3.5” Drive Bays x 4
2.5” Drive Bays x 3
Hot Swap Bay x 1 (SATA III 6Gbit/s)
Cooling Front 140mm x 1 or 120mm x 2 (120mm x 1 included)
Cooling Rear 120mm x 1 (included)
Cooling Top 230mm x 1 or 200mm x 1 or 140mm x 2 or 120mm x 2 (optional)
Cooling Bottom 140mm x 1 or 120mm x 1 (optional)
PCI Slots x 7
I/O USB 3.0 x 2, USB 2.0 x 2, HD audio, SATA III hot swap bay
Power Supply PS2 ATX (bottom, multi direction)
Extras Serenitek™ silencing material, NanoChrome™ surface treatment, S4™ hot swap and storage, Spectre™ cooling, dedicated locations for Alchemy™ LED Strips, anti-vibration HDD trays, 240mm radiator ready, removable dust filters (front, top, bottom), tool-free drive locking
The post BitFenix Ghost Chassis Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/simon-telford/bitfenix-ghost-chassis-review/feed/ 4
Arctic F12 Pro PWM 120mm Fan Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-f12-pro-pwm-120mm-fan-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-f12-pro-pwm-120mm-fan-review/#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2012 12:56:38 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=114124 Today we are going to take a look at one of Arctic’s fans, the F12 Pro PWM. This is a 120mm model which is designed to be ultra quiet. It has a number of interesting features including a unique two-part rubber damped enclosure and PWM fan speed control.

The post Arctic F12 Pro PWM 120mm Fan Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Arctic has a long history of producing a wide range of quality cooling products including CPU coolers, GPU coolers and fans.  It's only recently that they have diversified into different markets like gaming peripherals and power accessories.

Today we are going to take a look at one of Arctic's fans, the F12 Pro PWM.  This is a 120mm model which is designed to be ultra quiet.  It has a number of interesting features including a unique two-part rubber damped enclosure and PWM fan speed control.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 18.5 mm
  • Fan Speed: 400 – 1500 RPM (PWM Controlled)
  • Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Air Flow: 57  CFM / 96.8 m3/h
  • Noise Level: 0.5 sone
  • Weight: 140g
The post Arctic F12 Pro PWM 120mm Fan Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-f12-pro-pwm-120mm-fan-review/feed/ 3
Arctic Cooling Alpine 64 Plus Cooler Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-cooling-alpine-64-plus-cooler-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-cooling-alpine-64-plus-cooler-review/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:31:25 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=112419 Today we are going to look at one of Arctic's low profile CPU coolers … the Alpine 64 Plus, which is designed to be used exclusively with AMD processors.  This makes it ideal for use in small form factor systems or HTPCs.  We imagine many users will purchase this cooler to use in combination with …

The post Arctic Cooling Alpine 64 Plus Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Today we are going to look at one of Arctic's low profile CPU coolers … the Alpine 64 Plus, which is designed to be used exclusively with AMD processors.  This makes it ideal for use in small form factor systems or HTPCs.  We imagine many users will purchase this cooler to use in combination with one of AMDs Vision A8 APUs in a media system where acoustics and performance are both important considerations.

Arctic produce a wide range of cooling products for various different applications.  In the past we have been quite impressed by their CPU coolers which offer great performance at an affordable price.  These allow users to achieve a significant overclock on their system without great expense.


Specifications

  • Max cooling capacity: 100 Watts
  • Heatsink material: Aluminium
  • Fan: 92 mm, 600 – 2000 RPM (PWM Controlled)
  • Bearing: Fluid Dynamic Bearing
  • Noise Level: 0.4 Sone
  • Current / Voltage (per fan): 0.22 A / 12 V
  • Power Consumption: 2.64 Watts
  • Dimensions: 115 x 98 x 70 mm (LxWxH)
  • Weight: 430 g
  • Warranty: 6 Years
The post Arctic Cooling Alpine 64 Plus Cooler Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/henry-butt/arctic-cooling-alpine-64-plus-cooler-review/feed/ 2
Be Quiet! Silent Wings 2 (80mm/120mm/140mm) Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/simon-telford/be-quiet-silent-wings-2-80120mm140mm-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/simon-telford/be-quiet-silent-wings-2-80120mm140mm-review/#comments Sun, 19 Aug 2012 19:07:17 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=94473 While not the sexiest subject to write about on a regular basis, high quality cooling fans can really make a difference within an up-to-date gaming system. Today we are taking a look at Be Quiet! Silent Wings 2 80mm, 120mm and 140mm fans. Are these the ideal choice if you want to reduce system noise …

The post Be Quiet! Silent Wings 2 (80mm/120mm/140mm) Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

While not the sexiest subject to write about on a regular basis, high quality cooling fans can really make a difference within an up-to-date gaming system. Today we are taking a look at Be Quiet! Silent Wings 2 80mm, 120mm and 140mm fans. Are these the ideal choice if you want to reduce system noise levels?


Specifications – 140mm:

  • Dimensions (L x W x D), (mm): 140 x 140 x 25
  • Fan speed @ 12V (rpm): 1000
  • Air flow @ 12V (cfm, m3/h): 60.4 / 102.6
  • Air pressure @ 12V (mm H2O): 0.81
  • Noise level @ 12V (dB(A)): 15.8

Specifications – 120mm:

  • Dimensions (L x W x D), (mm): 120 x 120 x 25
  • Fan speed @ 12V (rpm): 1500
  • Air flow @ 12V (cfm, m3/h): 50.5 / 85.8
  • Air pressure @ 12V (mm H2O): 1.63
  • Noise level @ 12V (dB(A)): 15.7

Specifications – 80mm:

  • Dimensions (L x W x D), (mm): 80 x 80 x 25
  • Fan speed @ 12V (rpm): 2000
  • Air flow @ 12V (cfm, m3/h): 26 / 44.2
  • Air pressure @ 12V (mm H2O): 2.25
  • Noise level @ 12V (dB(A)): 14.5
The post Be Quiet! Silent Wings 2 (80mm/120mm/140mm) Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/simon-telford/be-quiet-silent-wings-2-80120mm140mm-review/feed/ 6
Cooler Master unveils Project Silent M https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jules/cooler-master-unveils-project-silent-m/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jules/cooler-master-unveils-project-silent-m/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:55:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=36692 While KitGuru loves to get its hands on an enormous chassis with more fans than Justin Bieber, our real passion is silent performance. The idea that you can achieve excellent performance, in complete silence, is a real draw. Cooler Master has something very special coming up in this area. Something very special indeed. Thinking back …

The post Cooler Master unveils Project Silent M first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
While KitGuru loves to get its hands on an enormous chassis with more fans than Justin Bieber, our real passion is silent performance. The idea that you can achieve excellent performance, in complete silence, is a real draw. Cooler Master has something very special coming up in this area. Something very special indeed.

Thinking back to the classis cinema phrase, ‘In space, no one will hear you scream', when Zardon put a Sapphire HD5670 CrossFire set up through its paces last year, it delivered an impressive 50 frames per second in Aliens Vs Predator at HD resolutions.

There are a number of CPU coolers that can run in (near) silent mode and most of the top vendors have a silent series of power supplies – so the dream of a powerful rig where you ‘can't even tell if it has been switched on', is almost a reality.

That brings you down to the case itself.

There have been many attempts to create the perfect ‘noiseless chassis' over the years. The most successful at noise reduction, like the Zalman TNN 300, were crazy expensive. The question has to be, can you deliver a noise suppression chassis, that looks fantastic and doesn't cost the Earth?

From what we have seen at CeBIT 2011, Cooler Master has achieved just this.

Initially attracted by the ladies grooming each other, our eyes quickly switched to something equally desirable

Once our fascination with the ladies passed, our gaze drifted to the system they were sitting next to.

Cooler Master Project M Noiseless Chassis

The Project M chassis is well-built and has ample space for your kit.

As an ATX-sized chassis, it uses a combination of rigid steel, plastic and acrylic to achieve a strong design. In addition to regular drive bays, it also offers X-Dock connection points and a range of connectivity options, including and SD card reader and USB 3.0 port.

Inside, you can see the additional noise-suppression features like anechoic foam.

Air flow comes from the 800 RPM ‘silent' 120mm fans, mounted front and rear.

Internals are accessible and - obviously - aimed at silence. Nicer name than the Sileo. Much nicer.

The chassis should be available in UK stores around the middle of May 2011 and probably won't cost much more than £70.

KitGuru says: Well worth considering for your next silent-build. Will be interesting to know just how much power can be installed into the Cooler Master Project Silent M, before you can actually hear anything at all.

Comments below and in the KitGuru forum.

The post Cooler Master unveils Project Silent M first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/components/cases/jules/cooler-master-unveils-project-silent-m/feed/ 2