Month: May 2008

AudioEngine A2: Little Big Speakers

Computer speakers are not my thing, and I’m a late convert to MP3s. For the longest time, neither seemed to sound good enough. The SqueezeBox3 converted me to digital audio files, and MP3s started slipping into my music collection. Now, Audioengine’s A2 powered speakers are bending my ears and semi-idiophiliac attitudes. Find out how.

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Cooler Master Hyper Z600 CPU Cooler: A Real Heavyweight

It’s humongous, heavy and fanless. Cooler Master says the Hyper Z600 is a passive CPU heasink but has outfitted it with mounting clips and hardware for two fans. Let’s see what this giant can do, fanless or not.

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Intel’s HSF for high-end Core 2 Extreme CPUs

Intel has a new, cool-looking radial heatsink/fan for its high end retail processors. Do the the aftermarket HSF makers have anything to fear?

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Thermaltake V1: “Peacock Tail” Cooler

Our headline refers to the unusual shape and design of the V1 cooler. The V1 is Thermaltake’s only vertical tower cooler, made entirely of copper and sporting a host of interesting features. How does it fare in the cool and quiet sweepstakes?

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Zalman ZM1000-HP: Quiet KiloWatt PSU

You read right. It’s a 1000W PSU, and it’s quiet. Quiet enough to take on all comers. We never thought we’d say it, but it’s even recommendable for silencers. Sheesh! Go on and read the review. Maybe you’ll catch some errors to prove us wrong.

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Fan Roundup #5: Attack of the 120 Scythes

Scythe 120mm fans have become the de facto choice for SPCR users in the know in recent months, particularly the Slip Stream series. The brand offers more 120mm fan lines than any other in the computer DIY market. We tackle the Slip Streams, Kama PWMs, and the Ultra Kazes in a massive Scythe-attack.

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Xigmatek Battle-Axe: First Direct-Touch Heatpipe VGA Cooler

Xigmatek’s direct heatpipe-to-heatsource technology finds its way to VGA cooling. The big, aptly named, 4-pipe Battle-Axe looks like a serious contender for cooling the hottest video cards. Does it do it well… and quietly?

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