Items tagged with cooling
Companies that make cooling products for PCs have been stepping up to the plate with free mounting kit upgrades for Intel's upcoming Alder Lake CPUs, which employ a new LGA 1700 socket design. MSI is the latest to join the fray, and in doing so, it may have tipped the release date for Alder Lake, which is something Intel has not announced yet. The only indication from Intel so far is that Alder Lake will arrive before the end of the year, with motherboards based on its accompanying Z690 chipset in tow. And since Alder Lake supports DDR5 RAM, we can expect DDR5 memory kits to broadly launch at or near the same time as well. Some kits have already been announced—for example, TeamGroup recently...
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Aw, would you like at that, how adorable! I'm talking about the teeny-tiny case fan the Raspberry Pi Foundation has released for its Raspberry Pi 4 mini PC module. It is more of an cooling kit, actually, as it also comes with an aluminum (I presume it is aluminum, anyway) heatsink to attach onto the Raspberry Pi 4's system-on-chip. While small in stature, do not let the little size fool you. The official case fan (cooling kit!) is designed with overclockers and power users in mind. It is not going to bring an arctic chill to the Raspberry Pi 4 like some elaborate liquid cooling setup, but it can offer a dramatic reduction in temps, according to the board maker. And that is important, because...
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The cooks at EVGA (who are best know for their graphics cards) have come up with a new recipe for the company's Frostbite thermal grease and is ready to serve it up to the public. As with the original formula, EVGA claims its Frostbite 2 thermal grease is "built for high performance" and will keep "temperatures on ice" when overclocking or simply running at stock settings. EVGA's original Frostbite formula debuted to much hype almost a decade ago. At the time, EVGA said it was "world's first thermal paste validated for extreme overclockers as well as everyday users," with EVGA plastering the product page with a set of performance graphics comparing its Frostbite grease to unnamed competitors....
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Quantum computing is incredibly complex, and if not properly harnessed, a scientist could find himself trapped in time, jumping from body to body. That's what I learned from Quantum Leap, a late 1980s and early 1990s TV show, anywa. Maybe that part about being trapped in time is fiction, but quantum computing is pretty intense, and as such it requires extreme cooling. Therein lies part of the challenge. Researchers from the physics department at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) may have cracked the cooling code, however, to reaching a near absolute zero temperature on a permanent basis. Developed as part of a startup called "kiutra GmbH," the team says it succeeded in implementing a permanent...
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It seems a little late in the game to be reviewing Arctic's Accelero Xtreme IV GPU cooler, so what gives? Well, I recently upgraded my ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card to an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Founders Edition model, and while that is a solid GPU upgrade for sure, it is a downgrade acoustically and thermally. Some people prefer the blower style cooler that ships on Founders Editions cards. I am not one of them. My main system sits in an open air Thermaltake Core P5 chassis, so there really is not a benefit to expelling hot hair out of the rear of the case, as Founders Edition cards do. If anything, the open air design exacerbates the noise since the card and cooler are...
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Professional system builders are usually obsessed with silence and cooling. Custom cooling solutions are some of the biggest differentiators in pre-built systems. And one of the chief selling points of aftermarket cooling gear for enthusiasts is noise output, usually listed in decibels. There are even companies, like "be quiet!" for example, that focus on noise output as a main selling point for entire line-ups of cases, power supplies, and heat sinks. CPUs and GPUs are typically what get the most attention when it comes to aftermarket cooling. Stock coolers on GPUs usually do an adequate job, but there exists a decent aftermarket for GPU coolers, usually reserved for overclockers...
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In case you haven't been following the news surrounding Intel's Skylake launch, be advised that the chip maker is not bundling a cooling solution with its recently announced Core i7-6700K and Core i5-6600K processors, both of which are unlocked parts. However, Intel will sell a retail heatsink and fan combination separately, and it looks to be a rather decent one. We can sense your skepticism, and truth be told, we don't blame you. It's not as though Intel's previous stock cooling solutions have been anything to get excited over -- while sufficient, Intel's bundled coolers typically fall way behind third-party cooling solutions aimed at enthusiasts and overclockers. Will that be the same with...
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One of my favorite companies to watch out for at every CES is Corsair, as the company doesn't only offer a wide-range of products, most of what's seen is usually really solid in design and instills me with that "I WANT IT!" feeling. This year, the company has announced a new SSD, flash drives, a power supply, a budget chassis, and a couple of cooling products. For those yearning for an SSD with "no compromises", there's Corsair's Neutron XT. Available in sizes of 256GB ($150), 512GB ($270), and 960GB ($540), this Phison-based drive will deliver 560MB/s reads and 540MB/s writes. In what seems to have become a theme at this CES, no further performance (or durability) information...
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Where PC cooling is concerned, you can't get much more standard than copper - it's simply everywhere. Even if you're using an OEM box, chances are it at least has a copper base, and while it might not have many or any fins, your notebook will have a large copper heatpipe. So if copper is that effective, why not create a heatsink with a massive amount of it to keep a PC totally silent, and cool? I've evaluated the possibilities of such a design while daydreaming in the past, but Germany's Silent PC have made it a reality - and I can honestly say, its real-world design looks nothing like what I've ever dreamed up. Behold, the PC with copper mesh hat: I've been unable to find real photos of this...
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Stealth specializes in the industrial computer and peripherals market, and its newest product, the LPC-480FS, fits right in with that mold. It's a rugged mini PC that doesn't have any cooling fans, so other than any electrical noise that might possibly emanate from the system, it's silent rig designed for a variety of demanding applications, the company says. Heat is the biggest concern with any PC, especially silent systems that skimp or skips on active cooling. In this case, the system is housed in an extruded aluminum chassis that acts like a giant heatsink. The system measures just 6.1 inches wide by 10 inches deep by 2.17 inches high, roughly the size of a hard cover book, according to Stealth's...
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CyberPowerPC has gone all out with its announcements at CES, unveiling not only a new notebook and small form-factor PC, but one of the beefiest and most robust water-cooling kits we've seen in a while. Let's take it from the top. It seems that lately, "console-sized" is all the rage, and that's exactly how CyberPowerPC is describing its brand-new Zeus SFF. It offers an attractive full-tower chassis (9.5" x 9.84" x 3.9") sporting two front USB 3.0 ports. Because of its size, it could be assumed that Zeus SFF could be used with a television or PC that's far from a router. As such, it includes support for 802.11n wireless. The base Zeus SFF includes an Intel Core i5-3570L CPU, AMD Radeon HD 7750...
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Datacenters are known for a lot of things. Their immense size, ultra-complex configurations, noise and sometimes, how futuristic some of them are. Noise is one of the biggest factors that tops most lists, however, and that noise is caused primarily by one thing: cooling. Even on our desktops and notebooks, efficient cooling is important. Some enthusiasts spend upwards of $100 or more simply to keep their processor running at modest temperatures. Now, imagine needing to cool thousands or even tens of thousands of processors crammed together in tight spaces. You not only need efficient coolers then, but large, high-RPM fans. That equates to incredible noise and a high energy bill. It's...
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Corsair announced the Hydro Series H100i and H80i liquid CPU coolers. These new coolers are redesigned versions of the popular H100 and H80 coolers. The new H100i and H80i models are designed to provide better cooling, quieter operation, easier installation, and Corsair Link digital control. The Hydro Series H100i and H80i utilize new copper cold plates that are more efficient, improved manifolds, optimized fan designs, and larger diameter tubing to deliver better cooling than previous generations. The Hydro Series H100i employs a 240mm radiator while the Hydro Series H80i uses a double-thick 120mm radiator and two fans configured in a ‘push-pull’ arrangement. To reduce noise, the...
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Corsair announced a new version of its Hydro Series H60 liquid CPU cooler as well as the new Hydro Series H55 liquid CPU cooler. The Hydro Series H60 features a new cold plate and manifold design. It also uses larger diameter tubing to increase the coolant flow rate. This cooler makes use of new composite rubber tubing, thereby providing for easier installation while still retaining low evaporation rates. The Hydro Series H60 also features a new magnetic mounting bracket that is designed to make it easy to select the correct motherboard socket format. The new H60 comes with a 120mm fan based on the Air Series SP120. This fan features a motor that has been tuned for high torque, ensuring high...
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Today's graphics cards push pixels harder and faster than ever, and it takes plenty of cooling prowess to keep these modern day GPUs from burning up. Stock coolers get the job done, but they tend to run loud. Enter third party players like Arctic Cooling, which just launched its new Accelero Xtreme III VGA cooler for both Nvidia and AMD videocards. The Accelero Xtreme III features a trio of 92mm PWM fans with a maximum cooling capacity of up to 300 watts. Underneath is an 84-fin heatsink with 5 copper heatpipes and pre-applied MX-4 thermal compound. According to Arctic Cooling, all this technology adds up to a cooler that's much more efficient than most stock coolers. Compared to the reference...
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Shopping a fan controller doesn't sound particularly glamorous or sexy, but that's because they don't all look like Fractal Design's new Adjust 108, a six-channel fan controller with a brushed black aluminum finish and bi-color LED lighting beneath each of the sliders. Each of half dozen channels supports up to 36W and changes color depending on the intensity of the fan. At 100 percent, the LED glows blue and at 50 percent it glows white. Push the slider all the way down (off) and the LED turns off completely. You'll need a free 5.25-inch drive bay to accommodate the Adjust 108. It comes with four screws, six fan cables, a single SATA / MOLEX power cable, and a user manual. No word on how much...
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Corsair has thrown its hat into yet another ring; the company announced a new line of cooling fans, each with its own dedicated purpose. There are fans in the line designed for low and good airflow; high airflow; low noise and high airflow; low noise and high pressure; and high pressure. Corsair designed the fans from scratch, testing its own blade designs and looking for ways to tailor airflow for various situations and system configurations. Its Airflow Performance fans have thinner blades, and the Airflow Quiet versions run at a lower RPM; the Static Pressure models have thicker (and fewer) blades and are designed to force air through objects, such as heat sinks. They also come in Performance...
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NZXT announced the Cryo E40 notebook cooler for laptops up to 15 inches. Unlike other notebook coolers, the Cryo E40 features two 80mm moveable fans that let you target your notebook's hot spots. The fans use low-powered magnetic clasps to give you flexibility in positioning them exactly where you want them for maximum cooling effectiveness. The Cryo 40 also has a removable mesh cover for quick access to the fans. You can route the USB cable on either side of the cooler for added flexibility. The Cryo E40 will be available for $27.99 in May. NZXT Unveils Cryo E40 Adaptable Notebook Cooler with Moveable Fans New addition to the Cryo family features magnetic, adaptable fans allowing users to pinpoint...
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MSI’s latest graphics card include the R7850, R7770, and R7750 Power Edition, all of which support the Triple Overvoltage feature in the company’s MSI Afterburner overclocking tool. The story, though, concerns the cooling features of the cards. The R7850 Power Edition 2GD5/OC features the Twin Frozr IV Thermal Design, which has a nickel-plated copper base and technology that makes the 8cm fans spin in reverse whenever the system boots to blast out any dust. The R7770 Power Edition 1GD5/OC and R7750 Power Edition 1GD5/OC also have the dust removal technology, but they also boast the customizable MSI TransThermal thermal design, which allows users to slap another fan on top of the existing...
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Next to power supplies, computer case fans are arguably the least glamorous part of a PC build. Granted, some ship with flashing LEDs, and there was a time when laser cut fan grills were all the rage, but for the most part, they just sit there largely unseen, spin around all day long, and thanklessly keep your computer parts nice and chilly, or least prevent them from overheating to the point of failure. That's what they're supposed to do, anyway, and some of them can't help but be obnoxiously loud. Fractal Design's new Silent Series R2 fans, on the other hand, are designed to quietly cool your components. Fractal Design is making a big deal about the use of high performance hydraulic bearings...
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NVIDIA made waves in the GPU market when it finally launched Kepler last week, and now EVGA is looking to make a splash by announcing the "immediate availability" of its GeForce GTX 680 Hydro Copper graphics card. Actually, like all GeForce GTX 680 graphics cards, EVGA's Hydro Copper variant is currently out of stock, but we suspect that will change soon. In the meantime, let's take a look at some of the specs. The main attraction here is the pre-installed Hydro Copper waterblock, which you can also order separately for $160 direct from EVGA. This is a full-cover end-to-end waterblock with a chrome plated electrolytic C110 copper base and new 1/2-inch and 3/8-inch compression fittings. It also...
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Totally silent computing isn't exactly the Holy Grail of PC enthusiasts, but it is a worthy challenge that carries just as much geek cred as overclocking. Companies are making it easier to get the job done. Take Sapphire, for instance, which just announced what it claims is the "first totally silent card to embody all of the features of this new generation of products based on the revolutionary new GCN (Graphics Core Next) architecture from AMD." More specifically, Sapphire just rolled out a passively cooled Radeon HD 7750 graphics card. The Sapphire HD 7750 Ultimate uses a passive heatpipe and heatsink cooler devoid of any moving parts. Oddly enough, Sapphire doesn't mention what kind of cooling...
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