http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front-large.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front3.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/phantom630.jpg
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!
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/reactormod.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front2.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front1.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/XIOS_DS_main2.png
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!
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/blackandwhite.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/hdd-history.jpg
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.
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/front.jpg
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!

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler Review

Installation
Taking the parts out of the white box you will find two manuals, a mounting plate, the top mounting plate and a bag of accessories.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Inside the bag Cooler Master included the needed supplies for attaching a second fan, a resisted 4 pin fan connector for damping down the noise level of your fan, thermal grease, and mounting hardware.  One unique item is the included nut driver meant to be used with a screwdriver, very nice.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Following the instructions, you are going to want to first remove the fan from the heatsink.  This is done by simply bending back slightly one side of the clips and pulling the fan off forward.  With the fan off you will have easy access to the screws to attach the cooler to the mounting bracket.

Now we attach the mounting bracket to the back of the motherboard with the nuts and oversized mounting stand-offs.


Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Once you get them all started go back through in a cross pattern using the “Nut setter” provided by Cooler Master and a Philips head screwdriver tightening the screws the rest of the way.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Now that the stand-offs are installed set the screws on the retention plate (shaped like an X) to the correct hole for your socket.  These have a clever spring loaded retention mechanism.  Once set push ends of the X together to make the plate narrow enough to fit through the bottom of the cooler.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Once in place spread the plate back into an X.  The plate itself notches into a hole and post on the block and lightly locks into place.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Next you will want to take the included thermal grease and apply it to the CPU.  I use the grain of rice method for this cooler.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

Now simply press the cooler into place on the CPU and attach it to the stand-offs with your Philips screwdriver.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

The final step is to simply attach the fan and plug it into the motherboard CPU_FAN header.

Cooler Master TPC 812 CPU Cooler

« Previous Page » Next Page

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5

Tags:

  • Pingback: News for Saturday December 15th 2012

  • Pingback: News and Reviews for December 15th 2012 | DragonSteelMods

  • Pingback: News and Reviews for Saturday December 15th 2012

  • Pingback: Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition | Project Konnect

  • Pingback: Tech News December 14, 2012—OCmodshop.com

  • JohnW
    Your cooling reviews are terribly inconsistent.

    It is voltage that increases heat not clock speed. You’re running 1.48v, of course its going to run very hot. In other reviews you only go to 1.43v maximum.

    This cooler seems on par with others you’ve claimed are very good but this one is very disappointing?

  • Derrick
    JohnW,

    First, thanks for taking reading my review.

    I’m sure you are aware that overclocking is not an exact science. Aside from locking in a set of parameters and simply swapping out the cooler for every review, (which is not possible since I have other aspects of each coolers performance to test) I simply can not make everything perfectly the same. I do use as many of the same settings as I can (saved in bios profiles), but ultimately still have to play with voltages to get a stable overclock.

    While I admit this is not laboratory perfect I do feel it is a very strong representation of real life.

    Specifically to this cooler it actually took 1.464v under load to achieve the overclock. Performance and other factors combined, this cooler was not up to par with many others that I’ve tested.

    Thank you for your interest!