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Intel Core i7-4930K Review

Last month we took a look at the big daddy processor in the Ivy Bridge-E family, the Core i7-4960X Extreme Edition. This chip burned through our benchmarks almost as fast as its sticker price will burn down your savings account. This month, Intel sent us a much more affordable Ivy Bridge-E in the form of the Core i7-4930K.

For a little more than half the price of the Extreme Edition, this processor is lacking a mere 200MHz on the base clock, 100MHz on the Boost clock, and 3MB in Intel Smart Cache. You can mitigate those first two disparities with a very modest overclock, afforded by the K Series’ exceptional overclocking capabilities, but there’s nothing you can do to boost this processor’s cache. Aside from these, naught else is changed. This 22nm 64-bit processor features six physical cores, but because Hyper-Threading is enabled, your OS recognizes it as having a cool dozen. Other features carried over from the flagship include a 5GTps Direct Media Interface bus; SSE4.2, AVX, and AES instruction sets; and a 130W maximum TDP. At its default settings, however, the Core i7-4930K will likely draw less power than the Core i7-4960X, if that’s important to you.

If you run any memory-intensive applications, then you can rely on this Ivy Bridge-E chip to chew through them with aplomb. The Core i7-4930K supports up to 64GB of DDR3-1866 and features a quadchannel memory controller capable of delivering up to 59.7GBps of memory bandwidth, which is 8.5GBps faster than Sandy Bridge-E’s flagship chip. This processor also supports IntelXMP 1.3 (though we tested with 1,866MHz memory).

One of the best features of the Ivy Bridge-E processors is that most current X79 motherboard users can slot one in to replace their Sandy Bridge-E processor. As a K Series CPU, you can overclock this processor by adjusting the multiplier, which does a good job of stressing the core and leaving the uncore (read: bus speeds) to its own devices.

In the benchmarks, we noticed that scores between the Core i7-4930K and the Core i7-4960X were extremely close. For instance, the more expensive processor was less than 100 points faster than this chip in PCMark 8, and just nine points faster in 3DMark’s Fire Strike Extreme demo. The $1,000 Ivy Bridge-E processor took a large lead in Cinebench (12.13) compared to the Core i7-4930K’s 11.63 score. POV-Ray showed a similar gap, but the game tests were identical.

If your curiosity was piqued after reading last month’s Ivy Bridge-E flagship review, but you wept at the price, then this processor was builtwith your performance needs (and budget) in mind.

Specs:Clock speed: 3.4GHz (base), 3.9GHz (Turbo); 6 cores; Unlocked multiplier; Quad-channel memory; 12MB Intel Smart Cache; Hyper-Threading; Turbo Boost; 22nm; 130W Max TDP

Test system specs:Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X79-UP4; GPU: XFX Radeon HD 7970; RAM: 16GB Patriot Memory Viper Xtreme Division 4 DDR3-1866; Storage: 1TB Western Digital Black; OS: Windows 8 Enterprise (64-bit)

Cooler Master CM Storm Mech

The first Aluminum Gaming Series component we got our hands on from Cooler Master’s CM Storm division was the Pulse-R headset, and we liked it for its audio fidelity as much as for its aesthetics. The Mech, Cooler Master’s latest CM Storm gaming keyboard, has a similar visual appeal thanks to a large aluminum plate framing the keys and a subdued CM Storm swirl etched into the plate and the plastic wrist rest.

This is a full-sized gaming keyboard that acts as USB hub and has built-in audio ports for connecting a headset. A handle running along the left edge makes the Mech easily portable. As its name implies (and like the Trigger and Quick Fire keyboards that preceded it), the Mech is a fully mechanical keyboard that comes with your choice of Cherry MX switches, in Blue, Brown, or Red. The unit we tested uses Cherry MX Brown switches, which are designed to deliver medium resistance and tactile feedback. Blue switches offer a more audible clickclack feedback, and Reds are lighter linear switches that offer little to no feedback. We could write pages on which style switch can be best suited to which type of tasks, but it generally comes down to personal preference. Suffice it to say that the Brown switches that this keyboard has work well for both typing and gaming (two things we do lots of around here).

This keyboard comes with a bright white backlight and four illumination modes—all on, all pulse, all off, or just the gaming keys (WASD, arrows, and macro). To access the illumination settings, you can press the right Function key and press F4 (to select a mode), adjust brightness with the F2 and F3 keys, or disable all LEDs with the F1 key. The F5 through F11 keys support multimedia functions, and the F12 key can be used to lock the Windows key (or left Function key), saving you from instant death if you accidentally tap it instead of Z, SHIFT, or CTRL while in-game. There is a row of programmable macro keys on the left side of the Mech, but you can also tweak the key mapping via the software. All told, the keyboard can store 75 macros and five distinct profiles thanks to the 72MHz RapidFire Engine and 128KB of onboard memory. It also delivers 64-key rollover, a 1,000Hz polling rate, and a 1ms response time.

The Mech is very solid thanks in part to its steel backplate and the aluminum cover that bolts (literally) over the top. You can remove the seven screws with the included hex wrench and customize the plate in a variety of ways. Removing the cover also makes cleaning the Mech simple. Other features we like include the removable USB cable and the NUM LOCK, CAPS LOCK, and SCR LOCK key lights that appear in the reflective groove at the bottom-right corner of the keyboard.

Like with the Pulse-R, we found that the Mech performs as well as it looks. If you’re in the market for a new gaming keyboard that can take some punishment but keep on ticking (and looking sharp), then check out Cooler Master’s Mech.

Specs:Mechanical switch type: Cherry MX Brown/Red/Blue; white LED backlight; 64-key rollover; 128KB onboard memory; USB 3.0 interface; USB 3.0 hub and audio I/O ports; removable faceplate

Fractal Design Arc Mini R2

By now you are most likely aware of Fractal Design’s unique design sensibility; the company’s PC cases represent the pinnacle of attractive restraint among enthusiast DIY enclosures. What you may not know yet if you’ve never seen a Fractal case in person is how impressive their build quality is and how much value you get for your money.This month, we took a look at the Arc Mini R2. Arc series cases reflect the same understated Scandinavian design ethos as the company’s other chassis, but are optimized for air flow and cooling. The ARC Mini R2’s front and top panels contain steel mesh insets that, when combined with its three included fans, create a healthy flow of cool air in and warm air out. The case also features removable dust filters at the front and bottom, as well as beneath the top panel, and comes equipped with a three-speed fan control switch at the front of the top panel.

That’s where the cooling options start. If you see fit, you can add up to three more fans to the included front 120mm unit, top panel 120mm fan, and the 120mm fan at the rear: a second fan up front, a second 120/140mm fan beneath the top panel, and another 120mm fan at the bottom. And thanks to its highly flexible drive cage system, it’s easy to use those same top and front panel mounting points to secure radiators to either surface or both of them. The top panel can accommodate a dual rad with the dual 5.25-inch bay cage in place, and if you choose to build without an optical drive you can put a triple there. If you remove both of the two included 2.5/3.5-inch drive bay cages (each of which holds as many as three drives), you can put a dual radiator up front, and thanks to the inclusion of two SSD mount points on the right side of the motherboard tray, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

As its name suggests, the Arc Mini R2 is the smallest member of the Arc series, and this is reflected in its motherboard compatibility: The Mini R2 is designed for mATX and Mini-ITX builds. Don’t let that fool you into thinking you can’t pack the case with high-end components, however. The case offers enough front-to-back space to hold 10-inch video cards with the middle drive cage installed and will take cards a hair longer than 15.5 inches (so, basically, all of them) without it. If you choose to install a bottom panel fan, you can run a PSU that’s 6.69 inches from back to front; without the fan you can add a PSU up to 8.7 inches long.Its flexibility and cooling aside, the thing that is most striking about the Arc Mini R2 up close is how everything fits together smoothly and feels solid and tight. The case’s side panels slide on and off smoothly, and the drive cages and the trays within operate with a quiet, solid feel that is refreshing for any DIY case, much less one that costs less than $100. The Mini R2 also has some of the best stock case feet we have ever seen, with grippy rubber soles that keep it firmly in place.

If you have limited desk space and prefer dark, smooth elegance to angular surfaces and bright colors, Fractal Design’s Arc Mini R2 should be at the top of your short list.

Specs:Dimensions: 15.9 x 8.3 x 19.1 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Steel, plastic; Motherboard support: mATX, Mini-ATX; Bays: 2 5.25-inch external, 6 2.5/3.5-inch internal, 2 2.5-inch SSD internal; Fans (included): 1 120mm front, 1 120mm top, 1 120mm rear; Fans (optional): 1 120mm front, 1 120mm/2 140mm top, 1 120mm bottom; Ports: 2 USB 3.0, audio I/O

LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker

The genuine leather strap that came on our unit is brown, but we quickly swapped it for the black one that this speaker system ships with. Four rubber feet on the bottom of the unit ensure there’s no vibration to distort the sound, and they also serve to keep the unit in place when it’s blasting tunes. There are four metal buttons on the front edge of unit for power and syncing, volume down, speakerphone/play/pause, and volume up. The Groovy also features a line-in port for connecting non-Bluetooth devices. A micro USB port is there for charging the unit, and a mic lets you use the device as a speakerphone. While listening to music streaming from an iPhone, we were able to take an incoming call by simply pressing the speakerphone button. The caller came across loud and clear, and she never complained of the tinny echo you can sometimes get when you’re on speakerphone.

Here at CPU, we have a kind of love/hate relationship with wireless speaker systems. On one hand, they’re great for delivering soothing sounds wherever we happen to be, without having to fuss with physical connections. Sadly, they also tend to produce a sub-par listening experience, either because of a persistent buzzing sound in the background or because the speakers themselves are too small to deliver much sonic punch. The LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Stereo Speaker suffers from neither problem and adds a few handy features to the portable speaker pot.

The Groovy is gorgeous. Its housing consists of a single thick piece of aluminum bent into a C shape with the pair of speakers wrapped in mesh and slotted in the middle. There’s a gap between the bottom of the speaker mesh and the base of the aluminum housing, giving the illusion that the speakers are hovering ever so slightly. Thanks to its Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR radio, this speaker system is a perfect mate for your smartphone. Syncing is as simple as powering on the speaker and enabling the connection from your device. In our range tests, we found that the speaker began to cut out when we traveled about 33 feet from the source device, but that’s with walls intervening, which did impress us. For such a small device, the sound you’ll get from the Groovy is surprisingly loud, but it can get distorted at the higher settings. Even so, at medium volume, we found that the system easily filled the room with sound.

The LUXA2 Groovy Wireless Speaker System is perfect if you’re in the market for an attractive wireless speaker system that you can easily tote between your bedroom, kitchen, family room, and even on outdoor adventures. Your smartphone never sounded so good.

Specs:Dimensions: 3 x 7.3 x 2.1 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Brushed aluminum, fabric mesh, leather strap; Wireless: Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR; Battery: rechargeable lithium-ion 1800mAh (3.5 hours at max volume); Frequency response: 100Hz to 20kHz; Weight: 1.22 pounds; Speakerphone with mic; Line-in support; A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile, stereo audio streaming); AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile, support for wireless remote control.

Mountain Mods Bob Slay V2 UV Green

Bob’s back, and he’s better than ever. Mountain Mods turned heads with the original Bob Slay—an acrylic case that had loads of customization options. It should come as no surprise, then, that the Bob Slay V2 is more of the same, only better.

The Bob Slay V2 measures 13.2 x 12.1 x 15.6 inches (HxWxD), so it’s not technically a cube, although Mountain Mods’ site refers to it as one. Do we care? No, because we’re more interested in build quality than semantics. The construction here is second to none. The acrylic panels have an almost perfectly seamless fit. “Seamless” is a word that gets thrown around far too often these days, but we don’t use it lightly here. Think of the Bob Slay V2 as the Lexus ES 300 of cases: For a custom acrylic case, the tolerances are ballbearing good.

The Bob Slay V2’s motherboard tray runs parallel to the top and bottom panels. Once you remove the case’s top panel (or, perhaps more appropriately, before you attach it, since the Bob Slay V2 ships unassembled by default), working within the case is effortless.

Additionally, there are three generous notches cut into the edges of the motherboard tray, so running cables precisely where they’re needed is no problem—a great option for modders who like to cut their rigs’ cables to length. Technically, the case can accommodate 10.5-inch-wide E-ATX motherboards, although a board like this will hang over the cable management channel closest to the left side panel.

By default, the Bob Slay V2 has a quintet of 120mm fan mounts. There is a pair up front and three on the case’s rear panel. With mATX and Mini-ITX boards, it’s possible to install a 240mm radiator within the case, but if you’re rolling with an ATX or E-ATX mobo, fear not. For five bucks, you can upgrade the case’s rear panel to let you bolt on an external rad.

The machining of the Bob Slay V2 is stupendous, to be sure, the real advantage of this case is the company behind it. Mountain Mods is in a lot of ways more like a boutique builder than a big, corporate component manufacturer. As a result, factory customization options abound, as evidenced by the Bob Slay V2 sent to us for review. Our Bob included a helpful, and ridiculously durable, Lamptron handle, plus machined aluminum feet, an illuminated antivandal switch, and custom acrylic fan grilles. Without them, the stock Bob Slay V2 with UV green tinted acrylic costs $184.99. Of course, there are many, many more options and accessories available in Mountain Mods’ arsenal. UV green not your bag? Maybe UV blue, smoked grey, or mirror panels sound better. It’s not an exaggeration to say that you can commission Mountain Mods to make you a truly one-of-a-kind case if desired.

Build quality, internal accessibility, and customization potential are the checkboxes that matter most to us. The Bob Slay V2 ticked them all. Maybe you wouldn’t call it a budget buy, but it’s worth every penny.

Specs:Specs: Dimensions: 13.2 x 12.1 x 15.6 inches (HxWxD); Materials: UV-reactive acyrlic; Motherboard support: E-ATX, ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX; Bays: Up to 2 5.25-inch external, up to 3 storage drives; Fans (optional): 2 120mm front, 3 120mm rear; Ports: N/A

ThermaltakeChaser A21

Prior to the launch of the Chaser A21, you had four other cases in the Chaser family from which to choose, ranging from large to slightly larger. The new case has slimmed down considerably: Depending on which case in the family you’re comparing it to, the Chaser A21 shaved between 3 and 4 inches from the height and between 1 and 2 inches from the width by eliminating interior space for large liquid-cooling radiators and restricting the headroom for CPU coolers. Case depth remains very similar to that of the Chaser A31 and A41, which lets you still cram a graphics cards up to 12.6 inches long into this enclosure.

Aesthetically, the A21 looks strikingly like the A31 from the front. The plastic front panel features a bank of what appear to be seven 5.25-inch bay covers, each of which are black and blue plastic surrounding a foam-backed piece of metal mesh. There are actually three external 5.25-inch bays available, and there’s an adapter to turn one of them into an external 3.5-inch bay. The remaining front section of the case can house up to six HDDs. There’s a lone 2.5-inch SSD bay built into the bottom of the case. Five of the HDD bays and all of the 5.25-inch bays have blue and black plastic tool-less locking mechanisms.

The interior and exterior of the Chaser A21 are painted a fine textured black. A small plastic window gives you a view to the CPU. There’re numerous cooling options available with this enclosure in addition to the included 120mm blue LED exhaust fan. You can install up to three 120mm intake fans in the front, bottom, and side panels. You can also add a pair of 120mm exhaust fans to the top panel. Despite the narrower dimensions, the Chaser A21 lets you install CPU coolers that are up to 6.1 inches tall.

The Chaser A21 has a number of features that you may not expect from such an affordable case. There’s a USB 3.0 port on the front panel. The removable dust filter in the bottom panel is nice, as are vibration-minimizing rubber pads that elevate the PSU from the floor of the case. The motherboard tray features a large CPU cutout and a wide-open space behind the 3.5-inch HDD bays for stuffing cables and wires. That being said, there’s not much space behind the motherboard tray for excess cabling, so we recommend going with a modular PSU or one with cables that lack bulky ferrite chokes. Clips in the motherboard tray can help with wire routing, and there’s even a couple circular portals on the rear panel in case you want to install an external radiator.

Overall, the Chaser A21 is a compact case that can handle quite a bit of highperformance gear if you’re not afraid of small enclosed spaces. And the money you save on the enclosure can help you pay for a faster processor, better motherboard, more powerful GPU, or more memory. That’s not a bad trade-off at all.

Specs:Dimensions: 16.8 x 7.7 x 19.6 inches (HxWxD); Material: Steel; Motherboard support: ATX, mATX; Bays: 3 5.25-inch external, 1 3.5-inch external (via adapter), 6 3.5-inch internal, 1 2.5-inch internal; Fan: 120mm blue LED rear; Fans (optional): 1 120mm front, 2 120mm top,1 120mm bottom; 1 120mm left side panel; Ports: 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, audio I/O

GIGABYTE Luxo M30 Black

Midtowers aren’t always the best when it comes to airflow, due to their limited space inside for case fans. With GIGABYTE’s Luxo M30, there are no such limitations, as you can install up to six 120mm fans throughout the case. GIGABYTE includes four 120mm fans (one front, one rear, two top) to give you plenty of airflow right out of the box. GIGABYTE has also put some thought into the Luxo M30’s exterior look, as the front fan’s blue LEDs illuminate the chassis’ front panel. You’ll find a similar shade of blue on the plastic pull tabs for the case’s 5.25-inch drive bay covers.

With the Luxo M30, GIGABYTE built the motherboard tray on the left side of the chassis, and there’s a clear window along the right side panel. This orientation is opposite of the typical case configuration and nice option for those who want to place their PC on the left side of a desk. The clear side panel gives you plenty of room to show off your rig’s motherboard, memory, and graphics cards. GIGABYTE also includes two 120mm fan mounts on the clear side panel, too, which gives you the option to blast even more air over the components that matter most.

GIGABYTE has also flipped the motherboard tray orientation, so the processor and CPU cooler are below the graphics cards. The power supply opening remains on the bottom of the case, so it’ll be a short run for most of the PSU’s power cables. The Luxo M30 has cable openings along the side of the motherboard tray and gives you around half an inch of space behind the tray to route cables. The Luxo M30 offers tool-less bays for up to three 5.25-inch drives. Below the 5.25-inch drive bay cage, there are eight 3.5-inch internal bays, four of which feature tool-less locks. Screws are provided, too, if you need to install more than four storage drives. The case can handle ATX and mATX motherboards, and you’ll have seven slots for add-in cards.

The Luxo M30 is fairly lightweight (13.7 pounds), as much of the case consists of ABS plastic and perforated steel. The metal mesh along most of the front and top panels, in combination with the integrated fans, will help to ventilate your rig. For front panel connectivity, you’ll find two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and audio I/O. GIGABYTE offers the Luxo M30 in both black and white; as of press time, we found it available online for a mere $52.99. It’s a smart choice for discerning builders in search of an affordable midtower with the cooling potential necessary for performance parts.

Specs:Dimensions: 16.93 x 7.55 x 17.32 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Steel, plastic; Motherboard support: ATX, mATX; Bays: 3 5.25-inch external, 1 3.5-inch external, 8 3.5-inch internal; Fans (included): 1 120mm blue LED front, 1 120mm rear; Fans (optional): 2 120mm top, 2 120mm right side panel; Ports: 2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, audio I/O

Thermaltake Toughpower DPS 750W

Want to know how much it costs to power your PC? The new Toughpower DPS 750W power supply works with Thermaltake’s DPSApputility. This helpful, downloadable app calculates the cost of the electricity your system uses. It also displays the PSU’s efficiency in real time and provides info on wattage and voltage. This PSU offers digitally controlled power, which improves voltage regulation and load efficiency, according to Thermaltake.

With DPSApp, Thermaltake becomes the latest company to develop its own PSU monitoring utility. The software presents a wealth of information about your PSU beyond what we’ve already mentioned, including internal temperature, fan speed, and the selected rail’s voltage and amperage. Note that DPSAppcalculates electricity costs based on national averages rather than your specific state or city.

The Toughpower DPS 750W’s single 12V rail supplies a maximum current of 62A, which equates to a maximum output power of 744 watts. DC-to-DC converters are built into the PSU for the 3.3V and 5V outputs to increase efficiency. The Toughpower DPS 750W uses Japanese capacitors that can handle temperatures up to 105 degrees Celsius. Industry-grade protection is built-in for overcurrent/power/voltage/temperature, undervoltage, and short circuits. The PSU is 80 PLUS Gold-certified.

The Toughpower DPS 750W is completely modular, and all of the modular cables feature a flat, low-profile design that makes them easier to route behind motherboard trays and through your case. We tested the Toughpower DPS 750W with both an Extech True RMS Power Analyzer Datalogger and the DPSApputility. Between the two power monitoring tools, real-time measurements for wattage, amperage, and voltage were within 2% of each other. We stressed the system by simultaneously running POV-ray Beta 3.7 and the Aliens vs. Predator.

In SLI, the Extech datalogger displayed a maximum wattage of 652W at an impressive power factor of .986. With one GeForce GTX 580, the Toughpower DPS 750W produced a maximum wattage of 428W and a power factor of .985.

When you consider the cost of something like Extech’s datalogger, the DPSApputility is great for those who crave real-time data about their PSU. The Toughpower DPS 750W also tested well in our benchmarks, so this isn’t just a PSU that’s propped up with gimmicks.

Test system specs:Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K; Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-UD5H; GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 580 (2x, SLI); RAM: ADATA XPG V2 DDR3-2400; Storage: 128GB Crucial RealSSD C300; OS: Windows 8 Enterprise (64-bit)

Cooler Master Glacer 240L

Lately, the engineers at Cooler Master seem to be all about expandability, with recent product releases such as the HAF Stacker case system and Glacer 240L CPU cooler. We got to test out the latter, which at first blush appears to be an ordinary closed-loop CPU cooler. The kit is prefilled, pressure-tested, and fully sealed. The big difference with the Glacer 240L is that it features 5/8-inch PVC tubing with swivel G¼ fittings that make it possible to connect and expand the system to other liquidcooling components. A G¼ fill-port thread on the radiator lets you quickly remove and add coolant to the system.

Cooler Master worked with Swiftech to create a pump that could handle additional components on the cooling loop. Cooler Master indicates that the Glacer 240L’s pump can reach a maximum speed of 3,500rpm, which equates to a flow rate of 165 liters per hour and a pressure of 2,650mm H20. The exceptional speed of the pump, in addition to the cooling capability of the 240mm radiator, should allow for GPU cooling if you opt to expand your loop. The pump itself is powered by a SATA connection and 4-pin PWM fan connector. It can adjust its speed between 1,200 and 3,500rpm based on system load.

The Glacer 240L’s radiator is built with a mix of copper and brass, which according to Cooler Master provides excellent heat dissipation. To move heat away from the radiator, Cooler Master provides two 120mm Blade Master fans that operate at 2,400rpm. The high-speed fans produce of airflow 86.15cfm and have a life expectancy of 40,000 hours. At 2,400rpm, Cooler Master estimates that the noise level of the Blade Master fans will reach 40.33 dBA. The Glacer 240L is compatible with the usual assortment of Intel and AMD sockets. Cooler Master preinstalls mounting screws for Intel LGA1150/1155/1156/1366 sockets, and spare mounting screws are available for Intel LGA2011 and AMD AM2/AM3/FM1/FM2 sockets.

To test the Glacer 240L, we monitored the CPU temperature with Core Temp and ran three separate tests to give you an idea of performance. First, we let the PC run at idle for 10 minutes, which produced a maximum temperate of 30 degrees Celsius. Next, we ran POV-Ray 3.7 Beta on all cores for 10 minutes to put the processor under full load. The Intel Core i7-4770K hit only 53 C, which is five to 10 degrees lower than what we usually see with closed-loop CPU coolers. Finally, we ran four instances of Prime95 for 10 minutes, and the processor registered a maximum temperature of 56 C. These numbers indicate that the Glacer 240L will give you plenty of room for overclocking your CPU.

You can start out with a closed-loop setup, and if you invest in other liquidcooled parts, the Glacer 240L makes it relatively easy to incorporate them into your loop. It’s an intriguing option for builders who never stop building.

Specs:Materials: Copper (waterblock), copper/brass (radiator); Fans: 2 120mm (2,400rpm); Pump speed: 1,200 to 3,500rpm; Pump power: 13 watts; Warranty: 2 years

Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K; Motherboard: GA-Z87X-UD5H; GPU: GIGABYTE GV-N760OC-4GD; RAM: 8GB ADATA XPG V1.0 DDR3-1866; Storage: 128GB Crucial RealSSD C300; OS: Windows 8 Enterprise (64-bit)

Zalman Reserator 3 Max

Zalman has been a big name in CPU coolers for a long time, but we’ve never seen anything quite like the Reserator 3 Max. First off, the radiator in this closed-loop cooler is not your conventional black box, as Zalman has engineered a circular unit that actually has two radiators set up in a spiral pattern. Secondly, Zalman utilizes nanofluids (a mix of nanoparticles and liquid that is more thermally conductive than liquid by itself) to improve the coolant’s ability to conduct heat away from your CPU.

The nanofluids inside the closed loop are cooled by Zalman’s Quadro cooling path system, which consists of two copper heatpipes that run through the inner radiator and outer radiator. Because the heatpipes split into upper and lower paths within each radiator, there are four overall paths for the radiator to absorb heat. Additionally, the fins on the radiators are made of pure copper, rather than the aluminum found inside most radiators.

Zalman included a single 120mm fan to cool the fins, and the PWM fan operates between 1,000 and 2,200rpm. We’ll also note that Zalman provides extra screws for adding another 120mm fan (not included) to the Reserator 3 Max, creating a push-pull setup. The comparatively small size of the radiator ensures that you’ll be able to install it in most any case with a 120mm fan opening. Zalman also added blue LED lighting to the fan and heatsink/pump for a little visual flair.

Zalman also applied some engineering expertise to the cold plate, which is a pure copper base with micro fins on the interior. The micro fins offer a larger surface area for the nanofluid coolant to absorb heat from the cold plate, which Zalman indicates will increase overall thermal conductivity.

Like almost all of the closed-loop CPU coolers we’ve tested, Zalman provides a set of Intel and AMD universal brackets for the heatsink/pump unit. Overall, you’ll find support for Intel LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2 sockets. Once you’ve attached the universal clip to the heatsink/pump unit, you can mount it to the universal backplate. We like the Zalman provides a sticker that you can affix to the universal backplate, so you won’t need to hold it in place while mounting the heatsink/pump. With the radiator, we utilized the extra screws and attached it to the rear exhaust fan on our case.

We tested the Reserator 3 Max with a stock-clocked Intel Core i7-4770K on a GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-UD5H motherboard. We monitored CPU temperatures with Core Temp. After letting the system idle for 10 minutes, we measured a maximum temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. We put the processor under load with two separate tests: running the POV-Ray 3.7 beta benchmark for 10 minutes and starting four instances of Prime95 for 10 minutes. Impressively, maximum temps never climbed above 66 C (65 C in POV-Ray and 66 C in Prime 95). With Intel’s Core i7-4770K, that’d leave you with around 40 C of thermal headroom before the CPU automatically throttles itself.

We were excited to see the comparatively small Reserator 3 Max put up numbers on par with closed-loop coolers with larger radiators. Overclockers should also like the flexibility the Reserator 3 Max offers, because it could work with most 120mm fans inside your case. Certainly it’s a CPU cooler worth checking out for your next build.

Specs:Materials: pure copper (waterblock), pure copper and black-pearl, nickel plated (radiator); Fans: 1 120mm (1000-2200rpm); Cooling capacity: 400 watts

Aerocool Dead Silence Black Edition

You want to love mini towers. You look at that diminutive physical footprint and think, “How cool would it be to build a monstrously powerful PC inside a case so small?” But, as they say, therein lies the rub. The confines of such a small chassis can really restrict what you’re able to do with a build in terms of component selection. It’s heartbreaking.

Worry not, though; Aerocool is here to make it all better. The company’s Dead Silence Black Edition may tout subdued acoustics as its claim to fame, but what we’re really excited about is the amount of flexibility you get in a case so small.

The Dead Silence measures a relatively squat 16.2 inches tall. Unlike several other Aerocool cases, this one is free of LED fans and other visual embellishments. Chalk up the Dead Silence in the “sleek, minimalist” column rather than “flashy, daring.” We happen to like the understated look, and Aerocool actually managed to make it functional, too. Small slits ring the perimeter of the front and top panels, which helps with airflow without being distracting.

Aerocool says the Dead Silence’s top and front panels are “leather-coated.” It looks a lot better than it sounds, in truth. Essentially, these panels have a matte finish with a slightly softer texture—another nod to restraint and subtlety when the current trend is polish and gloss. The case comes with a second top panel that’s entirely honeycombed metal mesh if your case’s airflow is more important than its acoustic signature.

Inside, you’ll immediately notice a difference with the Dead Silence: Aerocool opted to tip the motherboard tray 90 degrees on its Z axis so that any motherboard installed in the case will lie flat, like what you’d find on an open-air test bench chassis. This orientation ends up making an initial installation considerably easier. And speaking from experience (we’ve experienced more than one shipping disaster with our CPUSystem Workshop builds’ graphics cards), you’ll cherish this motherboard tray implementation if you’re constantly hauling your rig to and fro. However, any time you need to tinker within your system, those graphics cards will have to come out.

Underneath the motherboard tray, you’ll find bays for the PSU and up to four storage drives. The first internal drive cage is accessible with the left side panel removed as has two tool-less drive trays for either 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drives. The second cage is only compatible with 2.5-inch drives and is located behind the PSU bay, so you have to remove the right side panel to install drives. Still, it’s a clever use of space.

The PSU bay merits a separate discussion. Aerocool recommends sticking with a PSU that’s no longer than 6.3 inches, and while you might be able to cheat that a little, you won’t be squeezing a 1,200W PSU into the Dead Silence without modding the 2.5/3.5-inch drive cage, at the very least. This will affect your graphics setup more than anything. Although there’s enough physical room for a pair of graphics cards up to 13.78 inches long, you need to be absolutely sure any PSU you install has enough juice to power them.

Up above, it’s possible to hang a 240mm radiator from the rafters of the Dead Silence, but it likely means sacrificing the 5.25-inch external drive bay. For that kind of cooling potential, we call that an acceptable loss; these days, it’s easier than ever to get away without an optical drive.

Towers this small are vexing beasts because they demand creative engineering while affording precious little space to do so. With the Dead Silence, though, we think Aerocool’s managed to do just that. It turns out you can still think big inside a small case.

Specs:Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 15 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Steel, plastic; Motherboard support: mATX, Mini-ITX; Bays: 1 5.25-inchexternal, 1 3.5-inch external; 2 2.5/3.5-inch internal, 2 2.5-inch internal; Fans: 1 200mm front, 1 120mm rear; Fans (optional): 2 120/140mm top; Ports: 2 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, audio I/O

GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 5 - The Ultimate Z87 Gaming Board

Once you decide on an Intel®4th Gen Core™CPUs for your gaming PC build you have to find the perfect motherboard to go with it, and there are many to choose from. Narrowing them down may seem like a daunting task, but if you are looking for all the latest features, smart design,industryleading durability, and support for high-end configurations, your decision is simple: The GIGABYTE G1.Sniper 5 has everything you want and more.

FeaturesUEFI DualBIOS.The G1.Sniper 5 is equipped with a laundry list of cutting-edge features, starting with GIGABYTE’s exclusive UEFI DualBIOS. UEFI DualBIOS not only gives you access to your BIOS settings and system status information in a handy GUI, but also uses a secondary BIOS chip to recover your system settings automatically in the event of a corrupted or failed BIOS, ensuring that your system will boot normally.

Power up.The board also has GIGABYTE’s On/Off Charge 2 feature, which lets you charge your mobile devices via the board’s 10 available USB 3.0 ports (six on the rear panel and up to four available via internal header connection) just as quickly as if you used a charger plugged into a wall socket. Best of all, you have access to quick charges even if your PC is powered off; the days of booting your system just to charge your iPhone or iPad are over.

Cool down.Ever installed a closedloop CPU cooler and had to hunt around for an extra power connection on your motherboard because the cooler required one connection for the pump and another for the fan? GIGABYTE’s 8 Series boards come with OPT fan support in the form of a second CPU fan pin header, so you’re covered. Monitoring and controlling up to nine fans in your system is easier than ever, too, thanks to GIGABYTE’s Smart Fan 2 controller and its associated app, which let you easily configure individual cooling profiles for precise control. And speaking of cooling, the G1.Sniper 5 comes with flexible on-board chipset and VRM cooling; the unified heatsink is an effective passive cooler and also has connectors on either end that make it easy to add to a custom watercooling loop.

A/V.The G1.Sniper 5 has audio and video squared away, too. All 8 Series G1-Killer boards are equipped with a dedicated 600-ohm amplifier for the board’s frontpanel headphone connector, as well as Creative’s Sound Core3D audio processor that runs the latest SoundBlaster audio software and features a gold-plated EMI shield. All audio connector ports are goldplated, too, for improved conductivity and resistance to corrosion. And for those with truly discriminating tastes, GIGABYTE’s AMP-UP Audio feature lets you extract its standard OP-AMP (operational amplifier) quickly and easily with the provided IC extractor and replace it, either with one of the two included specialized amplifiers or with one that you buy separately. On the graphics front, the G1.Sniper 5 has four PCI Express x16 slots, two that run at x16 and two more at x8. The board has full support for 4-Way SLI or CrossFireX and PCI-e 3.0, as well as 4K displays.

Ultra Durable

Your PC’s motherboard is a longterm investment, so it’s wise to choose one that is built to last. The G1.Sniper 5, like all G1-Killer 8 Series boards, benefits from GIGABYTE’s Ultra Durable 5 Plus technology. That means that it features high-end 10,000-hour solid capacitors, rated for operation at up to 105 degrees Celsius, and GIGABYTE’s 2X Copper PCB technology, which includes dual layers of copper and a new glass fabric insulation layer that is stronger than traditional materials and providesbetter humidity protection.The G1.Sniper 5 also has a CPU socket with a 15μ layer of gold plating for resistance to corrosion and a longer overall lifespan. Each of the board’s 10 potential USB 3.0 ports has a dedicated fuse, so a malfunction of any one port is isolated to that port. And because getting the right amount of power to your delicate internal components is crucial for their continued operation, GIGABYTE built the G1.Sniper 5 with all-digital power control in the form of PowlRstage controllers from International Rectifier, which means that your CPU, memory, and other vital board components receive precisely the power they need. PowlRstage controllers also run cooler than traditional MOSFETS, so you can achieve better overclocks without worrying about overheating.

No Compromise

GIGABYTE’s G1.Sniper 5 is designed to connect all of the components you want in a high-end gaming PC, help them perform at peak levels, and protect them so that they can work together to provide you with cuttingedge performance for years to come.

Measure Twice, Cut Once (Or Twice)

Advertising firm Barkley out of Kansas City, Mo., must be looking forward to winter. The company has the usual corporate website, but for at least a couple of years now it also has had a separate “Make-a-Flake” site at snowflakes.barkleyus.comwhere you can take a pair of on-screen scissors and cut up virtual snowflakes to your heart’s content. After making your flakes, you can post them to the site’s gallery.

You also can download JPEGs of them that you can save or print (or, if you’re more ambitious, you can download editable EPS versions that you can use in other design programs like PhotoShop). Is it true no two snowflakes are alike? Well, just try to make the same flake two times in a row (yeah, we dare you). Evidently some people have tried to make some other rather . . . uh, unique designs, because the site includes a report option in case you run across “offensive” snowflakes. Stay classy!

DropCam Pro With Cloud Recording

DropCam (the company) has an updated version of DropCam (the camera). The new DropCam Pro is a dual-band Wi-Fi video camera that includes two-way audio, 8X digital zoom, night vision, and intelligent alerts (receive notifications via email or text). The lens of the camera has a 130-degree field of view, so you can capture an entire room and then zoom in remotely if you want to see something in detail. (Baby crib, anyone?) An optional subscription-based service saves either the last seven days or 30 days of your video to the cloud, letting you review the video later at your leisure.

You can even clip and save sections of video to your desktop or share links to saved clips with friends. The Cloud Recording service for one camera runs $99/year for seven days of video storage and $299/year for 30 days; there is a 50% discount for Cloud Recording that you add to additional cameras. The camera itself retails for $199.

Net In Every House & VideoEnabled Devices In Every Pot

Research firm IHS is forecasting there will be more than 8 billion video-enabled devices online in 2017, which will exceed the total human population of the earth at that time (expected to reach 7.4 billion). Currently there are about 4.3 billion tablets, smart TVs, smartphones, Blu-ray players, PCs, gaming consoles, and so on that are connected to the Internet, but IHS says that number is growing much more rapidly than the population of homo sapiens.

Although PCs represented 93% of all connected devices less than 10 years ago, in 2017 their share will be only 23%. SmartTVs will have 5%, gaming consoles 2%, and smartphones and tablets will represent the lion’s share at 67%.

Put Some Coder On That Pi

Googler Jason Striegel, a member of the Google Creative Lab crew, has released a nifty bit of open-source code that he calls “Coder” that can turn a Raspberry Pi into a personal web server and development tool. Striegel says he embarked on the project with design friend Jeff Baxter and others as a way to help new coders learn how to program for the web. Now you can use Pi as the environment for experimenting with Javascript, HTML, CSS, and the like.

To learn more about how Coder works and download the free program, go to: googlecreativelab.github.io/coder. You’ll also find links there to other items you may need (a Raspberry Pi, a Wi-Fi module, a power supply, and so on). Now you know what to get that hard-to-buy-for budding coder on your gift list.

TotalRecovery Tools Fixes Glitches

TotalRecovery Tools from FarStone Technology is a backup utility suite that includes disk imaging and other tools to clone hard drives and SSDs, browse files and rescue data, shred data, recover passwords, and otherwise manage the data on your PC from outside of the Windows environment. The suite requires no installation as it runs from a self-booting thumb drive or DVD.

Running outside of Windows allows you to configure boot options, check OS errors, partition drives, and rescue data if your system crashes. The suite includes an Emergency Rescuer utility for crashed systems as well as a Universal Restore utility. FarStone says using TotalRecovery Tools saves time and leaves no footprints when systems crash and need to be restored. The suite sells for $79.99; see www.farstone.com/software/totalrecovery-tools.php.

Release Your Inner Van Gogh

With Alien Skin’s Snap Art 4Have an artist’s eye but no dexterity with a paintbrush? Snap Art 4 is a program that can apply painting and drawing techniques to a photo and make it look handcrafted. The software can mimic the looks of different media—water color, oil, pencil sketch, crayon—and instantly transform a photo into a work of art. Snap Art 4 integrates with other well-known photo tools (Photoshop, Aperture) or can work as a standalone application.

Alien Skin says it has reworked the user interface in Snap Art 4 to make it even more intuitive and easy to use than earlier versions. Current owners of Snap Art can upgrade for $69, otherwise the program sells for $99 at www.alienskin.com. (NOTE: The graphic shown here is from an earlier version as the new UI was still being tweaked as we went to press.)

Personal Cloud NAS From Shuttle

Smaller form factor computer pioneer Shuttle announced it has a new NAS product for small-office or home user types who want an easy way to store, access, and share different types of data. The OMNINAS KD20 is a two-bay network-attached storage device that Shuttle designed to be a multimedia content hub, a place where people can store home movies, photos, and music, or even documents for their small business.

The KD20 makes it easy to then share those files with others, even if they are uploading or dowloading to/from an Android or iOS device. The KD20 also can act as a print server and a streaming content server, so you can store your audio and video files in one place and then watch or listen to your files through other devices such as game consoles or your TV. The bays can support up to two 4TB drives as JBOD, RAID 0, or RAID 1.

Valve’s Gameplan Picks Up Steam

Valve has big plans for your gaming entertainment, and they include playing games on a wide range of devices from multiple manufacturers that fall loosely under a spec the company is creating for something called the “Steam Machine.” Valve says consumers will see Steam Machines from several manufacturers next year, and it is collecting entries for a beta program where 300 lucky individuals will receive prototypes and be asked for their input on creating the final specs for retail products.

Also on tap for gamers is a new type of input device for the boxes that Valve is calling the Steam Controller. The new gaming device uses dual trackpads in place of the usual analog thumbsticks, and the company says they offer a “higher-fidelity” gaming experience. (NOTE: For more information, see “Valve Opens The Floodgates” in this issue.)

Nest Protect Rethinks Home Safety

The original Nest Thermostat woke up a sleepy home improvement category, and now the company is grabbing attention again with its new combo fire alarm and carbon monoxide detector. The Nest Protect shows what can happen when smart engineers and designers rethink how products should work. Instead of being standalone devices, Protect alarms communicate with each other as well as with Nest thermostats. For example, if Protect detects a high level of carbon monoxide, it notifies Nest to turn off the home furnace until the source can be identified. If an alarm goes off in one area of the home, Protect wakes up its brethren to ensure everyone is warned in time to get to safety.

And in a truly brilliant move, Nest Labs put an early warning system called “Heads Up” into Protect, so that the alarm will tell you, in a human voice, if it detects smoke (and where). Then if it turns out to be a false alarm—maybe your significant other burned the meat loaf again—you can simply wave at Protect to turn off the alert before the sirens start.

Corsair Is Back In Black

If you need a roomy full tower for your next build, check out Corsair’s new Obsidian Series 750D ($159.99). The brushed aluminum and steel case has plenty of space for all the latest component goodness you want to add to your system. In addition to tool-less side panels and drive bays, and you’ll find little extras like cable routing grommets that will keep your wires safe and secure as you piece together your build.

The case comes with three 140mm fans (two front, one rear), but has room for up to eight, and there are easy-access dust filters at the top, rear, and front. Included are six internal 3.5/2.5-inch bays in two modular cages, and you can add up to four more SSDs via dedicated sideways-oriented mounts. The case’s nine expansion slots mean SLI and CrossFireX configs are no problem, and the front panel has four USB ports (two USB 3.0) and headphone/mic jacks. Dimensions are 22 x 9.25 x 21.5 inches (HxWxD); weight is 21.4 pounds.

CyberPowerPC Adds HX6 Series To Fangbook EVO Notebook Line

CyberPowerPC has announced three powerful new notebooks that are available under the series name Fangbook EVO HX6. The HX6 100 has a Core i7-4700MQ processor, 8GB of DDR3L 1600MHz system memory, and a 1TB SATA300 HDD. The HX6 200 has the same processor but steps up to 16GB of DDR3 1600MHz memory, and it comes with a 64GB SanDisk SSD. The HX6 300 has an i7-4900MQ processor, 16GB of DDR3 1600MHz memory, a 60GB Intel SSD, and a 1TB SATA300 HD.

All three systems sport an NVIDIA GTX765M with 2GB of graphics memory, as well as a true HD (1,920 x 1,080) 15.6-inch LED-backlit screen. Systems in the HX6 series come with Windows 8.1, and they all offer Matrix Multi Display capabilities, so you can run up to three screens including the notebook display when you want to really put yourself in the middle of all the action. Prices start at $1,019.

OCZ’s PSUs Have Looks That Kill

The latest refreshes in the OCZ Fatal1ty line of PSUs are now available at retail. OCZ first announced the new 550W and 750W models at Computex in June. Priced at $79.99 and $109.99, they are partof an ongoing collaboration with world champion gamer Jonathan “Fatal1ty” Wendell to produce power supplies tailored to the needs of enthusiasts. Both of the new PSUs have 80-Plus Bronze efficiency ratings, come with single +12V rails, and are built to last with premium components.

They also feature load and temperature controlled 135mm fans with LEDs that glow the signature red of the Fatal1ty line. Modders will enjoy the flexibility afforded by the modular cabling system, too, as the PSUs come with a full assortment of connectors and cabling that lets system builders select only the wiring they need for their particular rigs.

Archos Ups The Ante With GamePad 2

Archos is beefing up its original GamePad handheld gaming system with an HD screen, larger battery, and more powerful processor. The second-generation GamePad 2 also ditches the multiple directional buttons—something that was roundly criticized on the original model—in favor of a single directional control that the company says offers a better gaming experience.

The new system will be powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core A9 generation processor and 2GB of RAM. Two versions will be available, one with 8GB of storage and one with 16GB, and a microSD slot is once again included that can add up to 64GB more. GamePad 2 is a tablet as well as a gaming device and runs the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The GamePad 2 is priced at $199.99 and should be in full launch mode by the time you read this.

MSI Announces GP Notebooks

The holiday season is on us, so you might as well ask Santa now for that new system you’ve been wanting – maybe one of the new GP series laptops by MSI would make you happy? The three laptops in the series were designed with gamers in mind, offering 8GB of DDR3L 1600MHz system memory and NVIDIA’s GeForce GT740M with 2GB of GDDR3 video RAM.

Two of the models have an Intel Core i5-4200M processor, but one has a 16-inch screen (resolution 1,366 x 768) and a 750GB HD, while the other has a 17-inch screen (resolution 1,600 x 900) and 1TB HD. The third model in the series also offers a 16-inch screen (with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080) and 750GB HD, plus it sports a Core i7-4700MQ and a more powerful battery. All systems come with Windows 7 Home Premium as the OS; prices start at $899.99.

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