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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: Videos

Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 Overview (Video)

Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 Overview (Video)

Today we opened up and got our first look at a pretty cool product from Lenovo. It is their IdeaCentre A720 All-in-On system. This system features an Intel Core i5 processor, NVIDIA graphics, 8GB of memory, TV tuner, a 27-inch HD display that supports 10-point multitouch and much more! Read on to check out our overview video of this sleek system!

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DeepCool Neptwin CPU Cooler Unboxing

DeepCool Neptwin CPU Cooler Unboxing

Today we are getting our first look at one of DeepCool’s latest products, the Neptwin. The Neptwin is a dual-stack CPU cooler that features 6 U-shaped copper heatpipes that go up into the two heatsink stacks. Two large 120mm fans provide cooling and the CPU block is very thick, made entirely of copper and has a mirror finish. The Neptwin is universally compatible with both AMD and Intel CPU’s including Intel’s 2011 socket. Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video!

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ASUS HD7970 DirectCU II Video Card Unboxing

ASUS HD7970 DirectCU II Video Card Unboxing

Today we are getting a first look at one of the largest video cards we have seen in quite a while, the ASUS HD7970 DirectCU II. This video card features ASUS’s DirectCU thermal design which utilizes six all-copper heatpipes and 20% bigger dissipation area, achieving 20% cooler and 14dB quieter performance than reference cards. This card also has ASUS’s DIGI+ VRM with 12-phase Super Alloy Power technology that delivers precise digital power and enhanced durability for stable overclocking. Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video of the ASUS HD7970 DirectCU II.

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Case Labs Merlin SM8 Case Overview

Case Labs Merlin SM8 Case Overview

If you’re an enthusiast, chances are you’ve heard of Case Labs. Some of their cases have garnered worldwide acclaim and the utmost care and attention goes into their designs, builds, and company ethos. Case Labs’ cases are 100% made in the USA, and are hand assembled in the Case Labs warehouse (if you opt for assembly!).

Case Labs recently launched the SM8, the first is their new “Merlin” line, boasting support for E-ATX boards. Crafted from 100% aluminum, with absolutely no plastic to be found, the Merlin SM8 is built incredibly well. Promising support for even the most demanding cooling setups, Case Labs’ newest case is staggeringly detailed.  Case Labs were nice enough to send us over a Merlin SM8 for review, and we’ve put together a brief overview with an explanation of some of the features of this very well thought out case.

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SilverStone PS07 Case Overview

SilverStone PS07 Case Overview

We have just received one of the SilverStone’s latest cases, the PS07. The PS07 is the first case in the Precision Series that is designed for Micro ATX cases so you have a good balance of size and functionality. With 2 included cooling fans, room for both 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives, removable motherboard tray and top panel and USB 3.0 support this is a fully featured case. We’ve put together a video to give you a brief overview of the case, check for our full review very soon!

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Unboxing the ROCCAT Savu Gaming Mouse

Unboxing the ROCCAT Savu Gaming Mouse

Today we are getting a first look at another ROCCAT gaming mouse, the Savu. Being a mid-sized gaming mouse the Savu is going to appeal to many gamers. It features a total of 4 customizable buttons with scroll wheel, a 4000 dpi sensor, no-sweat side grips and a customizable light system. We know ROCCAT for giving gamers exactly what they want and this mouse has many of the same features that are in other ROCCAT gaming devices. Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video.

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Unboxing the EK H3O 360 HFX Watercooling Kit

Unboxing the EK H3O 360 HFX Watercooling Kit

We are slowly getting into DIY watercooling kits and thanks to EK we have our first real kit. Watercooling can be a little intimidating at first, but over the next few weeks we will be showing you that it is not that hard at all. The H3O 360 HFX Kit from EK has everything you need to get watercooling up in running in your system. The kits from EK are perfect for the beginner as they include everything you need to get started. Read on as we open up this kit, see what all is inside and give you an overview of the main components.

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Unboxing the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro & Performer

Unboxing the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro & Performer

All-in-one watercooling systems are becoming quite common. We’ve seen them in many of the custom systems we have reviewed and many now you can get them from quite a few different companies. Thermaltake is calling their AIO systems Water 2.0 and today we are getting a first look at their entry system (Performer) and their mid-range system (Pro). Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video.

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Unboxing the ASRock Z77 OC Formula Motherboard

Unboxing the ASRock Z77 OC Formula Motherboard

When I first heard that ASRock was coming out with a motherboard specifically made for overclockers I was excited, then I saw the color scheme they were using for the board and I was really excited! The black and yellow Z77 OC Formula Intel Z77 Motherboard features built-in watercooling, an 8 layer PCB, all digital power design, premium alloy chokes and much more. Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video!

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Unboxing the Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 Gaming Keyboard

Unboxing the Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 Gaming Keyboard

The first time I heard of the Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 Gaming Keyboard I was like “damn that is sweet!”. We have seen quite a few different gaming keyboards here at ThinkComputers, but we have not seen a modular gaming keyboard. The Cyborg S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 has 7 different modular pieces that enable you to configure it in quite a few different ways. Did I mention this keyboard also has a touchscreen LCD that you can use to launch programs, change the colors of the keyboard and much more. So let’s get right into it! Read on to check out our unboxing and overview video!

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