K.S. Studios
Home of Fox Underground
New Z87 Motherboards from Asus
May 19, 2013
by Keith Soreghen
in News
Photo Credit: rog.asus.com
Intel’s new 22nm Haswell CPU architecture is expected to be released this June, and we were excited to see some news about a few of the motherboards that will support this new chip. Asus has been a long time favorite for us due to our experience reviewing computer components (we are currently using an Asus P8Z77-M Micro-ATX board for our test bed system). We’re not going to be reviewing these parts until they are released, but you might find the article on Tom’s Hardware interesting if you are looking forward to any of these boards. So it seems that the Z87 chipset is the one to watch for performance systems in the Haswell world.
SilverStone Argon Series AR02 Cooler
May 18, 2013
by Keith Soreghen
in Reviews
Today we’re taking a look at one of the latest CPU coolers from SilverStone, the new Argon Series AR02. This series of tower-style coolers features copper heat pipes with aluminum fins and comes in three models, the AR01, AR02 (featured here) and AR03. While the three coolers all support the same socket types, they vary by fan size, heat pipe configuration and fin dimensions.
The AR02 has three 06mm heat pipes and uses a 92mm fan. This cooler is the smallest of the three, at 92mm (W) x 50mm (D) x 134mm (H) without the fan. The AR02 seems like a perfect fit for smaller chassis where a large cooler might not fit. The case that we are testing with today has no such restrictions for cooler size, so let’s see how the AR02 fares against our current favorite air cooler, the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo.
SilverStone Redline Series RL04
April 21, 2013
by Keith Soreghen
in Reviews
Today we’re taking a look at SilverStone’s latest case in their Redline Series, the RL04. This series was created to provide an affordable case for enthusiasts while still having features that are typically found on more expensive models. By using high-strength plastic for the front panel, SilverStone was able to create a sturdy enclosure while still keeping costs down. The RL04 has four 5.25″ drive bays, five 2.5″/3.5″ hard drive bays, one front mounted 120mm case fan, seven expansion slots, support for USB 3.0, and can accommodate power supplies of any size. Graphics cards up to 11.5″ can be installed, which gives builders a lot of options when selecting components. While there aren’t many accessories to speak of, builders get all of this for an incredibly low price of $48.99. Let’s see what we get for under fifty bucks after the jump.
SilverStone Precision Series PS07 White Edition
April 16, 2013
by Keith Soreghen
in Reviews
Just over a year ago, Silverstone sent us the Precision Series PS07 case to take a look at. The Precision line is a great choice for the budget minded builder, and we were interested to see what kind of quality and features they could pack into a chassis retailing for $78.99. At the time, any case under the $100 mark was typically made with flimsy materials and was lacking in accessories. The quality and features of the PS07 won us over and proved that a budget chassis didn’t have to be a last resort purchase. We gave our recommendation and we stand by that decision today. Until now, the PS07 has only been available in black (SST-PS07B). Today we’re going to review the white edition (SST-PS07W) with a MSRP of $83.99.
The case can accommodate one 2.5” and six 3.5” hard drives, has room for power supplies up to 180mm long, and can accept Micro-ATX, DTX, and Mini-ITX motherboards. Cooling is handled by two included 120mm front intake fans and room for an optional 120mm rear exhaust fan. These fans are hidden behind a door and feature an easily removable filter for maintenance. The removable top cover includes an isolated intake for the power supply, complete with a magnetic fan filter. The PS07 also has a removable motherboard tray to make assembly fast and easy. The front panel includes two USB 3.0 ports, mic and audio ports, and the power and reset switch. The PS07 is shipped with an adapter to convert to USB 2.0 if your motherboard does not have the required header for USB 3.0.