Axagon Riddle (9/2024). Can you guess what’s in the photo?

In cooperation with Axagon, we have prepared a cyclical activity for this year, which may be of interest to HWCooling readers. We’ll post a detail of some piece of hardware and you can guess what it is. You can compete (and eventually win something) on a regular basis, with a new challenge every month. But for now, you need to get “to the next round” through the next one, in September. Read more “Axagon Riddle (9/2024). Can you guess what’s in the photo?” »

Welcome, Adam! 18 years of experience in graphics card testing

Join us in welcoming Adam Vágner on board HWC today. Of the authors I know, he’s the most experienced with graphics cards. That’s what he’ll be covering. Thus, graphics card testing will be taken over by a tester who’s been doing it for a long time (and intensively). This is the approach we pride ourselves on and will continue to do so. There are plenty of “experts in everything”, but true specialists are slowly disappearing from the map. Read more “Welcome, Adam! 18 years of experience in graphics card testing” »

PCCooler CPS RZ820: Against the elite, weighing over 1.8 kg

They were so emphatic about their cooler being optimized for Intel LGA 1700 processors that we had to try it out. And given that the CPS RZ820 is a “hefty chunk” of material, the reference sample selection included the kind of competitive coolers that are at the top of the tower model database. These should give the PCCooler CPS RZ820 a good run for its money. At the same time, this cooler should not be more expensive. Read more “PCCooler CPS RZ820: Against the elite, weighing over 1.8 kg” »

AMD prepares three Radeons with Navi 48, we have memory specs

This week, the first leak of a Radeon RX 8000 in the Geekbench database appeared online. It could have been an ES sample of this GPU or a similar early prototype, so it’s unclear how close these GPUs are to launch. But this seems to have kicked off leaks for this new generation of AMD graphics cards. A bit more detail has now surfaced on the web about what to expect from these GPUs, especially the more powerful mainstream Navi 48 GPU. Read more “AMD prepares three Radeons with Navi 48, we have memory specs” »

Returning to PC case tests (comment on methodology)

Probably as early as next month, in September, we will release an analysis of the first case that will go through our new testing methodology. We already have a rough outline of it and we would like to present to you what we are going to do and how and why we are going to do it. This is also to give you a chance to comment on things you might think are missing that we could easily incorporate into the standard concept. Read more “Returning to PC case tests (comment on methodology)” »

Patch speeding up AMD CPUs is out. Even for old Windows

A few days ago, we reported that Ryzen CPUs with the Zen 3, Zen 4, and especially Zen 5 architecture (with which the biggest impact is expected) should get a performance boost in a future Windows 11 update to version 24H2. This big update isn’t out yet – it’s the Copilot+ release that brings various AI innovations and was at one time reportedly being considered for launching as Windows 12. But Ryzen owners won’t have to wait that long. Read more “Patch speeding up AMD CPUs is out. Even for old Windows” »

AMD X870, X870E, B850, B840 chipsets: Features and launch dates

Along with new CPUs based on the Zen 5 architecture, AMD has announced new boards in June, more precisely new chipsets for them, on which the new boards will be based (the CPUs themselves work in all AM5 boards). The date when these boards will come out seems to be clearer now. But this year, we’ll only see the more expensive X870 and X870E models and it will be a longer wait for the cheaper B850 and B840 variants. Read more “AMD X870, X870E, B850, B840 chipsets: Features and launch dates” »

Arrow Lake will launch a bit later. Store availability date revealed

When we covered the models and specs of the Intel Core Ultra 200 (Arrow Lake) desktop CPUs leaked recently, we reported the processors will be released on October 10. However, we have to correct this a bit. While the information wasn’t entirely untrue, it was related to the official unveiling or announcement, not the actual sales start, it turns out. Actual store availability of Arrow lake will come slightly later. Read more “Arrow Lake will launch a bit later. Store availability date revealed” »

DeepCool Assassin 4S – The stealthy tamer of high temps

A year ago, the excellent DeepCool Assassin IV cooler was tested here and eventually took our top award. Today we take a closer look at a modified version of this cooler called Assassin 4S. This variant may have lost the rear fan, but the middle one has been completely redesigned to compensate for this loss. So today’s article logically aims to find out how much of an impact this major change has on efficiency and acoustics. Read more “DeepCool Assassin 4S – The stealthy tamer of high temps” »

Noctua NF-A14x25r on a radiator. Tested with DIY frame

Due to the atypical spacing of the mounting holes for its format, the new Noctua NF-A14x25r G2 PWM fans cannot be installed in 140mm positions as standard. You need a conversion frame for that, and one such frame was designed, made and sent to us by an HWCooling reader. So, we were able to simulate and test one of the most anticipated fans of recent years (NF-A14x25 G2 PWM) already now. Read more “Noctua NF-A14x25r on a radiator. Tested with DIY frame” »

Latest Arctic Freezer coolers get LGA 1200/115x support

Roughly half a year after the release of the Freezer 36 and Liquid Freezer III, Arctic has reconsidered its decision to support, or rather not support, older Intel platforms. Initially, you couldn’t even install these coolers on Rocket Lake processors. But that is now changing. However, you need to be careful and add a new mounting kit to your cart in addition to the cooler if you want to use it on LGA 1200 or even older LGA 115x processors. Read more “Latest Arctic Freezer coolers get LGA 1200/115x support” »

DeepCool also brings new ARGB fans to Gamescom (2024)

Starting August 21, DeepCool, among others, will be among the vendors at Gamescom 2024. There will be a lot of cooling hardware at their booth that you haven’t been able to come in contact with yet because it’s not sold yet. But now you can come and see live, for example, fans from the FT or FD series (with ARGB LED) and a good attraction is also the Assassin IV VC Vision and many more, still shrouded in a veil of secrecy. Read more “DeepCool also brings new ARGB fans to Gamescom (2024)” »

Intel Arrow Lake CPUs launch date and specifications revealed

We are slowly approaching the release of Intel’s new generation of desktop CPUs, dubbed Arrow Lake. These will bring new, significantly improved CPU architectures, advanced chiplet design and also the new LGA 1851 platform. Last but not least, it will also replace the failure-prone Raptor Lake processors, hopefully improving reliability a lot. Now, we’ve learned from leakers when these CPUs will come out, as well as the detailed specs. Read more “Intel Arrow Lake CPUs launch date and specifications revealed” »

Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4: Motherboard with X870 specs

Are you eagerly awaiting the new AMD X870(E) motherboards? They don’t necessarily have to be “better” than the Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4 in any fundamental way. The features of this motherboard match what can be expected in models with “800 series” chipsets. These will be coming out soon, but USB4 support, which is a key new feature, is already available on the Gigabyte motherboard. So there might not be too many practical differences. Read more “Gigabyte B650E Aorus Pro X USB4: Motherboard with X870 specs” »

Axagon EEM2-SB2 SSD enclosure: Small, fast, versatile

Perhaps the Axagon EEM2-SB2 will be the SSD (M.2) enclosure that you will evaluate as “optimal” for frequent carrying to work, for example. It has a number of external features to indicate this. From the small dimensions, low weight, to the good-looking brushed aluminum shell surface and the above-standard SSD support (both NVMe and SATA). The cable with a pair of different USB connectors included with this case is also handy. Read more “Axagon EEM2-SB2 SSD enclosure: Small, fast, versatile” »