Showing posts with label Hardware review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardware review. Show all posts
  • 2010 Power Supplies You Care The Most About PSU vendors focused more on efficiency in 2010, and if a power supply offers an energy efficiency of greater than 80%, you can bet that it’ll be listed prominently on the box. Other popular additions include thermally regulated fans, sleeved cables, and quiet fan bearings. Most newer power supplies now include split PCI-E connectors to support a variety of graphics cards.

    Winner: Enermax EMG800EWT MODU87+ 800W
    $249.99; www.enermax.com
    The Enermax EMG800EWT MODU87+ was one of our favorites in the June issue because of its Dynamic Hybrid Transformer topology, which improves the power supply’s ability to deliver consistent output with dynamic loads. The keys to the Dynamic Hybrid Transformer include a resonant transformer array that combines a resonant choke, the main transformer, a driver transformer, and a standby transformer; dynamic voltage transforming to provide power saving when idle; and dynamic frequency transforming for energy efficiency under load.

    Overall, Enermax indicates the EMG800EWT MODU87+ 800W can deliver at least 87% efficiency at 20% and 100% load. Enermax also installs a 13.9cm Twister-bearing fan to reduce noise and improve the lifespan (100,000 hours MTBF) of the power supply. It offers ATX12V v2.3 support, so you can power the latest Intel and AMD processors, and the EMG800EWT MODU87+ 800W is also CrossFireXand SLI-ready. The 24-pin ATX, +12V auxiliary, and two 6+2 pin PCI-E connectors are built into the power supply; the rest of the power cables are modular. Enermax includes four 6+2 PCI-E plugs, 12 SATA connectors, and eight 4-pin Molex plugs.

    We also like that Enermax includes its HeatGuard, SafeGuard, and CordGuard technology to protect the power supply’s circuitry and prolong use. For instance, the HeatGuard technology keeps the EMG800EWT MODU87+ running for 30 to 60 seconds after shutdown to remove the heat remaining in the power supply. Because of the unit’s 80 Plus Gold certification, it’s ideal for enthusiasts with a high-performance processor and one high-end or two midrange graphics cards.


    First Runner-Up: Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200
    $277.99; www.corsair.com
    We checked out the Corsair Professional Series Gold AX1200 in the August issue (see page 25) and found that it was ideal for power users. Some of the features of the AX1200 include a 100A (1,204.8W) single +12V rail, a fully modular cable system, and a lownoise design based around a thermallycontrolled 140mm fan. For power efficiency, the AX1200 offers individual DC-DC regulation for the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V rails. On the secondary side of the AX1200’s circuitry, Corsair employs low-loss MOSFETs in the synchronous rectification circuitry and in a four-layer modular connector board. Overall, the Professional Series Gold AX1200 meets the 80 Plus Gold efficiency standard.

    Another benefit of the Professional Series Gold AX1200 is Corair’s Zero Voltage Switching and Zero Current Switching technology, which minimizes switching losses to improve efficiency and reduce waste heat. The 1,200 watts of power means that this Corsair power supply can handle pretty much any system you throw at it.


    Second Runner-Up: PC Power & Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W
    $159.99; www.pcpower.com
    PC Power & Cooling rates the Silencer Mk II 750W as 88% efficient and indicates that the +3.3V, +5V, and +12V DC outputs run within 2% of regulation. We checked out the unit in the September issue and found that Silencer lived up to its name, because it was nearly noiseless during the testing process. To accomplish the quiet design, PC Power & Cooling installed a 135mm, ball-bearing, thermallycontrolled fan. The Silencer MkII 750 offers four PCI-E (two 6-pin, two 6+2 pin) connectors, eight SATA connectors, and support for both ATX12V and EPS12V motherboards. PC Power & Cooling offers a seven-year warranty on the Silencer MkII 750W.

    2010 Processors You Care The Most About

    Source of Information : Computer Power User (CPU) January 2011

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  • 2010 Memory You Care The Most About Other than the typical jumps in frequency speeds, RAM didn’t change too much in 2010. Intel’s X58 chipset is still the only one that works with triplechannel memory, while every other Intel and AMD chipset features a dualchannel configuration. The increase in RAM frequencies has led to greater heat, so there’s a greater need for cooling, including tall finned heat spreaders and fans for many memory modules faster than 1,800MHz.


    Winner: 8GB Patriot Viper Xtreme Series DDR3-2000MHz (PX538G2000ELK)
    $249.99; www.patriotmemory.com
    Patriot’s Viper Xtreme series features an extruded aluminum shield that’s built around 6 grams of copper to efficiently cool the modules. Stock timings are 9-10- 9-27 at 1.65V. Patriot indicates that the 8GB DDR3-2000 kit has been optimized for performance on P55 chipsets. The modules are Intel XMP-ready, so you can easily overclock the memory using recommended settings and voltages.

    We also like that this kit is comparatively affordable for an enthusiastlevel 8GB set that consists of two 4GB modules. And because the 8GB only takes up space in two slots, you have space to add more memory in the future. In CPU’s test of the 6GB triple-channel version, we experienced above average results in 3DMark Vantage, MainConcept, and WinRAR benchmark tests. The Viper Xtreme Series timings also give you flexibility when overclocking.


    First Runner-Up: 12GB Corsair Dominator GT DDR3-2000 (CMT12GX3M3A2000C9)
    $403.99; www.corsair.com
    This 12GB kit consists of three 4GB modules and was one of the most popular choices for memory in our Dream PC issue. The Corsair Dominator GT triple-channel DDR3 memory runs at 2000MHz and includes Corsair’s Airflow fan to cool the modules, so you won’t need to invest in any third-party memory cooling. The red and black modules feature Corsair’s DHX (Dual-path Heat Xchange) design with tall finned heat spreaders to cool the fast memory.

    The 12GB Corsair Dominator GT DDR3-2000 kit features timings of 9-10-9-27, and you can use one of the Intel XMP settings to overclock the memory or configure your own settings. We also like that the Corsair Dominator GT module’s fins are removable, so you can add extended fins, or connect a liquidcooler such as Corsair’s Hydro Series H30 memory cooler, to customize the modules to meet your overclocking needs. Corsair offers a limited lifetime warranty on the 12GB Corsair Dominator GT DDR3-2000 kit.


    Second Runner-Up: 6GB Kingston HyperX T1 DDR3-1866 (KHX1866C9D3T1K3/6GX)
    $142.99; www.kingston.com
    The HyperX T1 series is the top of the line for Kingston, and this 6GB kit includes three 2GB DDR3 modules that can run at up to 1,866MHz. The affordable kit features impressive latency timings of 9-9-9-27, and you can program a CAS latency of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10. The extra-tall HyperX T1 heat spreaders (the modules measure 2.4 inches high) give Kingston the ability to push memory frequencies and timings. Each module of the 6GB HyperX T1 DDR3-1866 kit features a PCB made of 16 128MB 8-bit chips. The kit is Intel XMP-ready and comes with a limited lifetime warranty from Kingston.

    2010 Storage Devices You Care The Most About

    Source of Information : Computer Power User (CPU) January 2011

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