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Intel Core i7-4770K Haswell Processor Review
Just a year ago Intel launched their Ivy Bridge processors and now a year later we have another platform launch from Intel. The 4th Generation Core Haswell processors are the “tock” to Intel’s “tick” and “tock” release schedule. A “tock” represents a new architecture and a “tick” represents a process refinement. So Haswell brings with it a new architecture, but is still built on the same 22nm process as Ivy Bridge. Intel has introduced a new LGA1150 socket with Haswell and a new chipset so you will not be able to throw this processor in an older motherboard, you will have to buy a new one. Today we are taking a look at the top of the line Haswell desktop chip the Core i7-4770K. Of course the “K” denotes that it is an unlocked processor. This is a quad-core processor that has a default clock speed of 3.5 GHz and a turbo frequency that goes all the way up to 3.9 GHz.
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XSPC AX Radiator Desk Stand Review
One of the biggest limiting factors in what you can do with watercooling is how much room you have in your case. With so much equipment to pack in for watercooling alone, space ends up being one of the chief concerns for builders and modders. And the single biggest limiting factor: how much radiator one can fit. Radiators are large, bulky, and inflexible in how they need to be installed. This can easily lead to the builder having to sacrifice cooling surface for space. There is a solution to this problem though; external radiator stands. And if you have chosen to use XSPC’s AX series of radiators, then you’re in luck. Today we will be looking at the AX Radiator Desk Stand from XSPC.
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Win a NZXT Phantom 630 Case!
It is summer time and it is the perfect time to give you, our readers some free hardware! We have teamed up with our friends at NZXT to give away a brand new NZXT Phantom 630 Case! This Ultra Tower not only looks good it has room for quite a lot inside like long graphics cards, XL-ATX Motherboards, 8 hard drives and a lot of watercooling! Like many of our contests we will be running this one on Facebook and it is extremely easy to enter!
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Case Mod Friday: ReactorMod
Welcome to another Case Mod Friday showcase! This week we have a builders ReactorMod build. Here is what he had to say about it: It's a modded Chieftec BX-03 case. I wanted to make it look like it's quite old and kinda shabby. I was thinking about this build for quite a long time, so I managed to collect some cool stuff that I've found on a nearby scrap yard (e.g. switch or steel sheet that I used to make the radiator cover). I also used some spare parts that I had lying around.
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Enermax Triathlor FC 550W Power Supply Review
Enermax is a brand whose strong product is their power supplies, especially when it comes to the high-end spectrum. Their Platimax and MAXREVO units are some of the best out there. But these units are not cheap in terms of cost. Enermax knows not everyone has a ton of cash to throw at a new power supply so they have created the Triathlor series of power supplies. There are actually the Triathlor and Triathlor FC units. The Triathlor units are lower wattage and non-modular and the Triathlor FC units are higher wattage and are modular. Today we are checking out the Triathlor FC 550W unit which is 80PLUS Bronze certified and offers quiet operation.
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SilverStone ARM22SC ARM Two Dual LCD Monitor Mount Review
We mainly know SilverStone for their cases and for good reason, they are high quality and look great. What if SilverStone took that same quality and put it into a LCD monitor mount? Then you would have what we are reviewing today which is the ARM Two ARM22SC dual LCD Monitor Mount from SilverStone. LCD arms are a great addition to any computer setup, especially if you are using a multi-monitor system. The ARM22SC is constructed with robust aluminum alloy and steel so this is a heavy duty piece of hardware. It will support two displays with VESA mounts. Read on as we get this installed and see how it transforms our desk.
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Win a Pivos XIOS DS Media Player!
Pivos is a company we have been working with lately and they make some pretty cool little media players. We have already reviewed their XIOS DS media player and it is a very unique device. Pivos was nice enough to give us one to give away to our readers! Just like all of our contests this one is very easy to enter and we will be running it on Facebook? So what are you doing get out there and get your entry in!
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Case Mod Friday: Black and White
Welcome to another Case Mod Friday showcase! This week we have Christian Black and White build. Here is what he had to say about it: Well this is the first time I do something like this, and it really is interesting the world of case modding the project is BLACK AND WHITE and really was a design chosen because I began to paint the cabinet only and one thing leads to another as in all cases and was thinking of some ideas for covers.
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The History Of The Hard Drive
In 1953, engineers in IBM's California-based laboratory invented the very first hard drive. Since that first disk drive, technological advances have been made at an astonishing rate, with data capacity increasing and size and price decreasing exponentially, year on year. 60 years on, the hard drives of today are unrecognizable from the first models, which took up an entire room. Hard drives today are measured in terms of gigabytes and terabytes, rather than megabytes-an amount of data that would have been almost unimaginable in the early history of computers. Here we take a look back at the evolution of the hard drive as it grew from 5MB to 4TB.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 Review
Lenovo has been making headlines with their IdeaPad Yoga. It is a tablet convertible that can be used as a laptop as well. There are 11-inch and 13-inch models. While the larger 13-inch model has the choice of Intel Core processors, the 11-inch does not and is rather powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 3 platform. Today we will be taking a look at that unit which does offer a very sleek and slim design, responsive 11.6-inch touchscreen, Lenovo’s patent-pending hinge design that allows the screen to flip completely over and it is running Windows RT. Let’s check it out!

Archive for category: Buyers Guides

The Top 3 Tablets Under $300

The Top 3 Tablets Under $300

As technology expands and more gadgets are being used to surf the internet, companies are consistently working on creating new toys for the big kids to play with! With all the tablets that are hitting the market every month, it can be confusing as to which one to choose, especially without putting a dent in your pocket. Tablets aren’t just becoming a toy to play with or used as a bedtime read, in fact, many professionals use tablets to get work done while on the go, or even at home. The features and capabilities the tablets have expanded to, allow people to use tablets almost just as much as they use their computers. These are the top 3 tablets to consider for just under $300!

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Top 5 iPhone 5 Alternatives For 2013

Top 5 iPhone 5 Alternatives For 2013

The dominance of the iPhone is waning. Apple’s stock prices are gradually dropping and more consumers are switching out their iPhones for more sophisticated and modern choices. As the prestige of owning an iPhone wears off, people are looking for new companies and innovations to help them decide on what smartphone to buy. Following is a list of the top 5 alternatives to the iPhone 5, ranging from phones with more power to phones designed from the ground up for the business person.

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The Best Gaming Keyboard of 2012

The Best Gaming Keyboard of 2012

During the year if you’ve read the reviews I’ve submitted you’d know that I have a tendency to compare ‘this keyboard’ to ‘that keyboard’ but what would happen if I compared all the keyboards I reviewed in the past year and picked one to conquer all; A straight up prize fight based on all the categories that matter to you, the consumer. This is the first Keyboard of the Year Award ThinkComputers will ever hand out, so who will reign supreme? Let’s take a look!

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The Best Cases of 2012

The Best Cases of 2012

One of my most common questions I get when one of my friends is building a new computer is, “What case should I get?”.  Your case is a very important part of your system.  It is what you are going to see each time you sit down at your desk, the first thing someone is going to see at a LAN party and the case you are going to have to deal with when you decide to upgrade your system.  This past year we have reviewed a lot of great cases, but a few really stick out from the rest.  Our list of the best cases of 2012 are drawn from only the cases we have reviewed this year.  So if you think an awesome case is off the list that may be why.  Read on to check out what we consider the best cases of 2012!

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ThinkComputers Holiday 2011 Staff Wish List

ThinkComputers Holiday 2011 Staff Wish List

Well it is that time of year again, Christmas!  Each year we always tell our loved ones what we would like for Christmas, but we do not always get it.  The staff here at ThinkComputers has compiled a list of products they would like for Christmas.  Even though we review awesome products all year there are still a few things that we want so read on to check out the staff wish list for 2011!

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ThinkComputers Staff Holiday 2009 Wish List

ThinkComputers Staff Holiday 2009 Wish List

Here at ThinkComputers we get to take a look at a lot of cool gear, a lot of which we get to keep, but there are always things that we would like to have. Each staff member has comprised a list of products they would like to receive this year for Christmas. Some of these items are what you might expect, but others are totally off the wall! Read on to see what the ThinkComputers staff wants for Christmas…

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ThinkComputers Holiday 2009 Stocking Stuffer Buyers Guide

ThinkComputers Holiday 2009 Stocking Stuffer Buyers Guide

Well it is that time of year again! The holiday season means tons of buying gifts for family and friends. Sometimes it is hard to find the right gift for someone, so we have compiled a list of great tech-related stocking stuffers for you. Some of these items are very inexpensive and others will break your bank, but they are small items that will fit perfectly inside of holiday stocking, so let’s take a look at what we picked out this year.

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2008 Budget Holiday Gift Guide

2008 Budget Holiday Gift Guide

This holiday season is different from many that we have seen in the past. The main reason for that is because the economy is horrible right now. Most people are spending less than they ever have before on holiday gifts this year. Things are so bad that most stores do not even have those amazing deals that we are used to seeing this time of year. If you look at Black Friday’s deals none were really earth-shattering. So with that said here are some things you can get for that computer enthusiast or yourself on the cheap.

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