We will do as we promised. We will test all motherboards with two processors – a powerful one, which will push the board hard, and a weaker one, which will show something a bit different. Namely, how the more expensive motherboard will (not) help the cheaper processor from the lower class. Can more expensive boards really benefit cheaper models in CPU tests, as some believe? Read more “Follow-up: MSI MAG B660M Mortar WiFi performance with Core i5”
While others have resigned from full-fledged motherboard tests long ago, we’re just kicking it off. Tests with differently powerful processors, without power limits, but also with limits set by Intel. And when we test performance, we also test M.2 slots, USB or Ethernet. Power draw analysis done at the level of individual branches, and thermal imaging with temperature tests (including SSD heatsink efficiency measurements) are a no-brainer. Read more “Larger test of the smaller MSI MAG B660M Mortar WiFi mobo”
Akasa’s latest CPU cooler doesn’t look bad at all. It oozes drive for the highest possible efficiency at the lowest possible price within the mid-range. And this particular segment doesn’t have a representative that clearly stands out. The Alucia H4 cooler has a very solid fan, as evidenced by our wind tunnel. We don’t have standard cooler tests yet, but unless there is some hidden bad news in the heatsink, your jaw might still drop. Read more “Cooling newcomer that may surprise – Akasa Alucia H4”
Thermalright has released a new Macho cooler, which has seen the most significant changes in fin geometry between generations. It is still a wide single tower cooler, but the intention seems to have been to increase the efficiency of the design. In other words, to make more sensible use of the available material from which the cooler is made. Macho Maxx does have a lower heatsink weight than its predecessor (Macho rev. B), but it will probably not be weaker. Read more “New Thermalright Macho Maxx: Lower weight, higher performance?”
With all the hardware news, it’s good to stop and look back sometimes. In cooperation with the now-defunct ExtraHardware.cz magazine, we once created the biggest cooler comparison on the Internet. However, until now it has never been published in English. So finally. A large part of the coolers are still up-to-date (including Noctua NH-D15) but there are also some historical models such as Thermaltake Sonic Tower or the first Scythe Mugen. Read more “Gigantic retrotest of 80 CPU coolers (2005–2015)”
A harsh headline, but a fair one. We always try to find mostly good things when testing, but sometimes it’s tricky. That’s the case here, where SilverStone is misleading its customers. The grille doesn’t significantly increase noise? We have no sympathy for hoaxes like this. Especially when it’s all “well thought out” and staged. Such practices do not shed a good light on the combination of three different blade shapes, which actually has something to it. Read more “The AP123 or how SilverStone’s been fooling people for years”
In addition to basic parameters such as air flow, static pressure and noise level, information on vibration intensity should also be provided with fans. But it’s not. Manufacturers do not seem to be too concerned about this issue and are very lax in their approach. This is a pity, because the noise levels quoted are very abstract quantities, which in practice are shaped by the amount of fan vibration. Read more “Vibration: a parameter to which fan companies turn a blind eye”
The legendary HAF series of cases is getting more extensive with an upgraded model that has 200-millimeter fans, as well as adjustable graphics card cooling, for example. In addition to the main haul, Cooler Master also suddenly introduced the cheaper MasterBox 500 and MasterBox TD300 Mesh. That’s the smallest case of the trio, but even at 38 litres, it can fit two large liquid cooler radiators. Read more “Three new cases from Cooler Master, HAF 500 and two MasterBoxes”
Last week, Nvidia quietly released GeForce RTX 3080 with 12GB of VRAM, which was strangely buried in an announcement of a driver release for God Of War. But there was yet another new feature hidden in it: Deep Learning Dynamic Super Resolution (DLDSR). It’s a new technology for GeForce RTX cards based on DLSS, but this time it’s not about upscaling, but ironically about downscaling, enhancing the Dynamic Super Resolution feature. Read more “Nvidia introduces DLDSR: Dynamic Super Resolution with AI scaling”
Less than a year into the MX-5’s existence, the first publicly known flaw is associated with this thermal paste for which it may achieve lower thermal conductivity than expected. This is due to the compound that makes up the paste not holding together properly, and the thermally conductive interface will harden before application, in the tube. Arctic has supposedly already withdrawn these batches from circulation, but one needs to be cautious. Read more “Beware, some Arctic MX-5 thermal pastes may dry out faster”
Scythe has followed up the original Big Shuriken 3 cooler with a new revision. It brings, in addition to native support for Alder Lake processors, a supposedly improved fan. The Kaze Flex II is said to achieve the same cooling performance at lower noise levels, which is nice in the inexpensive top-flow category. There are really few coolers like this, and the Big Shuriken 3 rev. B has all the prerequisites to sit on an imaginary throne in its price category. Read more “Big Shuriken 3’s revision B: LGA 1700 support and better fan”
In this test, we’ll take a look at Noctua’s anticipated first representative and how it ranks next to other fans. We’ll start from the bottom with the most affordable one from this Austrian company. It should be noted that Noctua views this class of fans slightly differently than other brands, and has the base perched very high. However, there is one BUT, which is rather insignificant, but still “lifted some people out of their chairs”. Read more “Noctua NF-P12 redux-1700 PWM: Not every low-end is the same”
SilentiumPC presents the Fluctus 120 PWM as its very best fan. But, to beat the whirring Sigma Pro 120 PWM and the obviously sketchy Sigma Pro Corona RGB 120 is relatively simple. The company’s marketing, however, talks about psychoacoustic optimizations. And while there’s no reason to smirk (psychoacoustics is a legitimate scientific field), there were some imperfections that the Poles didn’t avoid. Read more “SilentiumPC Fluctus 120 PWM: “Miracle” fan from the Fera 5″
We avoid it like the plague when it comes to backlighting LCD monitors, but we can’t imagine the best fans without it. We’re talking about pulse-width modulation for voltage regulation. In this article, we will explain in the simplest possible terms the reason why PWM regulation is gradually replacing linear regulation. Related to this in computers is the strong disproportion of 3-pin to 4-pin fans, of which there are considerably more. Read more “PWM vs. DC control. Why do fans work better with impulses?”
Added value in fans can take different forms. In the case of Akasa’s new OTTO SF12 and OTTO SC12 fans, it is dust resistance and the fans are also not to be disrupted by contact with liquid. Such designs are typically suited to the harsh ambient conditions of industrial plants. But neither airflow nor pressure is supposed to be on the second track. Finally, the fans also excel with a sophisticated anti-vibration system. Read more “Akasa releases suspended fans resistant to dust and water”
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