[Review] Nexus Prominent 52 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on December 18, 2011
The Nexus Prominent 5 silent case features tool-less installation making it a quick and easy installation of your components. A black mesh front, aluminum edges, and black interior with orange accents give the Prominent 5 a different look. Nexus outfitted the Prominent 5 with a 140mm on the top and a 120mm is placed in the front for the air-intake. Some isolating padding, where the PSU is placed, prevents resonance and there are ventilation holes, and room for a fan, in the bottom of the case ...
[Review] Rosewill Blackhawk4 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on September 23, 2011
Rosewill’s BLACKHAWK is one of their newest introductions into the chassis market. They have pre-installed four 120mm and one 140mm fans for almost maximum cooling. Right out of the box, it will save users from spending extra money on missing fans. They have also incorporated the traditional I/O ports most users look for in today’s market, as well as a top-mounted HDD dock. With long VGA card and water cooling support, integrated cable management, CPU back plate cutout, and easy-clean ...
[Review] Silverstone CW02 HTPC7 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on July 27, 2011
The CW02 from Silverstone’s Crown Series is crafted to allow users to really appreciate the design of this high quality HTPC chassis. At first glance, the all-aluminum construction and reinforced aluminum dress plates in the front set off the already classy case. The interior design of the CW02 is able to accommodate extended length graphics cards, proficiently displaying the HTPC system at its best. Capable of supporting CPU coolers of 160mm in height for additional cooling options, its s...
[Review] Silverstone Precision Series PS062 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on June 29, 2011
To improve their Precision thermal design, SilverStone implemented the 180mm Air Penetrator fan (AP181) into the PS06 tower chassis. With the AP181 and an included silent 120mm fan, the PS06 should be capable of cooling all your hardware with ease. Two additional 120mm fan slots let users further improve cooling performance if necessary. To help keep the dust out, all intake fan slots are also equipped with removable fan filters to work effectively with the default positive pressure airflow sche...
[Review] Cooler Master Storm Enforcer2 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on May 12, 2011
Continuing with its tradition of revolutionary designs, Cooler Master Storm has released its new Enforcer chassis. The new chassis contains internal USB 3.0 connections, SSD drive support, and a removable/rotatable HDD cage to support easy installation of the largest video cards. Cooler Master Storm has tried to come up with a design that not only meets the expectations of its customer base and enthusiasts, but also tries to do so within a price range that all will appreciate. We will be thor...
[Review] Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced9 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on May 10, 2011
The HAF Series of cases brought about the aesthetics of battle-hardened military vehicles. Each offers the user access to customizing their airflow and rearranging their internal system layout. Together, these features were realized for the first time within the HAF 932, and they will be back again in the new HAF 932 Advanced. The HAF 932 Advanced also comes with an internal USB 3.0 connector as well as tool-free installation. We will be tossing the Cooler Master HAF Advanced on the review ta...
[Blog] nMEDIAPC Black Aluminum / Steel HTPC 3000B ATX Media Center / HTPC Case0 Comments By ArchercloseAuthor: ArcherName: Kevin Marlin Email: kevinsmarlin@embarqmail.com Site:http://www.techreaction.net About:See Authors Posts (18) on March 16, 2011
Introduction:
Inexpensive cases are many times seen as sub standard and garbage; this is not always the case; though, it does apply (in part) to this case. Generally you get what you pay for and this case is no exception; though, the design, fabrication, fit and finish are of very high quality some things are substandard and to a point make this case a looser to the builder who has no patience. For the builder who does not mind fighting with a component here and there and removing parts this cas...
[Review] NZXT Phantom – Full Tower Chassis5 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on February 20, 2011
The NZXT Phantom Full Tower Chassis, designed with sleek & pristine contours, radiates personality and quality. As with all NZXT products, they strive to set themselves apart from the rest by offering unique and original designs. The Phantom delivers high performance cooling advantages with seven fan cooling options, dual radiator support, quad water cooling cutouts, and five 20W per channel fan controls built-in. It has an innovative 5.25” screw-less drive system with five bays and vast...
[Review] In-Win Dragon Rider2 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on December 28, 2010
The Dragon Rider is a chassis that is designed to cool even the most demanding of components. Enveloped totally in black, the dark design is punctuated by yellow fan blades to create a subtle, but distinct appearance. The unique side panel shield design creates the necessary space for tidy cable routing and multiple fan mounting points for up to eleven 120mm fans, which make it possibly the ultimate chassis for cooling customization. Pre-fitted with a large 220mm side fan for effective graphics ...
[Review] Cooler Master Centurion 5 II1 Comment By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on December 2, 2010
The all new Centurion 5 II (MSRP $59.99) has been vastly improved from the inside. This mid-tower chassis is designed with increased drive bay capacity, more airflow thanks to the enhanced ventilation and fan options, and easy-to-install features. The removable I/O module for flexible installation is a great feature, especially for those people wanting to add their own I/O module or take out the I/O module completely to free up room for something else. Let’s check out the new Centurion 5 ...
[Blog] Corsair Graphite Series™ 600T – all internal dual loop9 Comments By miahallencloseAuthor: miahallenName: Jeremiah Allen Email: miahallen.ironmods@gmail.com Site:http://www.ironmods.com About: Well, I was playing with computers ever since my Dad got a Commodore 64 when I was 6 years old (1986), when I was 10 (1990) he bought a custom build 486DX33, and I was in love. Mostly back then I was just a kid playing games, but my fascination with computers had a start. Because I had no money of my own, I was stuck playing with my Dad's computers, and really couldn't "play" too much. So in 1998, the year I graduated, I spent some of my college savings to by a "computer for school", haha. It had two Voodoo2 12MB 3D accelerators in it, so you can imagine how much school work was done on it ;-) It had an AMD K6-233 that I had a really mild OC on, but my custom computer builder friend Aaron had done all the work. So I can't really take the credit there. My fascination with graphics just kept growing and growing over the years, and I was constantly in a struggle to keep my games looking as sharp and smooth as possible. OCing played a big role.
My whole world was rocked in 2004 when I was deployed to Iraq as a US Army soldier. The whole year I was there I had a cheap IBM Thinkpad R40 with a 2GHz Celeron, 1GB DDR-333 RAM, a 60GB 4200RPM HDD, and ATI Radeon Mobility graphics (same technology as a 7000 series with only 16MB of memory). It started out rough as I was really into Command and Conquer Generals at the time, and the machine would only play the C&C slide show LOL. So, I downloaded PowerStrip, and OC'ed the GPU by 40%...amazingly, the game was playable!
Things changed dramatically in 2007 when I met a guy named Matt while I was stationed in Japan. He introduced me to www.ocforums.com, and the "Benchmarking Team" there. I had not had much interest in benchmarking previously, I always though of myself as more practical. But, I thought I'd play along and I joined the team. My first introduction to an actual competition was was is "The Raptor Pit", "Forum Warz 2008" in the spring of 2008. I was running a Q6600 and an 8800GTX. With air cooling I was able to bench my Q6600 at over 4GHz, and tore up the competition in my class. Overall OCF won the Forum War in 2007, Winter and Summer of 2008, and 2009...that means five in a row. I was not part of the first one in 2007, but the four since then, I have participated in. After winning the 2008 Winter and Summer Warz, Tom's Hardware Guide announced they were looking for nominations for individuals to compete in their first ever international overclocking competition, called "Overdrive". I was nominated, and chosen to compete in the North American semi-finals in Los Angeles in November 2008. I was placed on "Team IRONMODS" as they only had two guys, yet three man teams were allowed. We won the semi-finals in LA, and our prize was a trip to Paris the following month, to compete with the best in the world.
The following month, Ton, Jake, and myself flew to Paris as "Team USA" to face off against the best from Taiwan, France, Germany, and Italy. It was a very intense competition, but after two heated days of battle (16 hours of benching), we emerged the victors. Amidst our celebration, Ton and Jake officially invited me to join "Team IRONMODS" on a permanent basis, and I graciously accepted. Ton, aka "TiTON", is a world renown case moder, and is also very well known for some of the AMD overclocking he has done. Jake, aka "CPT.Planet", is a genius overclocker, and a really fun guy. The team has a great synergy when working together, we really have complementary styles.
After winning the world championship in December 2008 things were a bit quite for a couple months, then in the spring of 2009 I received an invitation to the 2nd annual Gigabyte Open Overclocking Championship "GOOC". I would compete in the North American semi-final in LA, where the winner would win a ticket to the world championship in Taipei Taiwan during CES in June 2009. The competition was tough with 14 of the best from North America gathering for a 1 on 1 competition of OCing. But once again, I completed the competition well, and rose above the others. I won 1st place and the trip to the world finals in Taipei.
My luck ran dry in Taipei where I started off with a bad motherboard, and went through 5 more during the course of the competition due to various reasons. Despite the poor finish in Taipei, I have high hopes to redeem myself next year.See Authors Posts (24) on November 28, 2010
One of my co-workers is a hardcore gamer and power user. Since we’ve met, he’s become more and more interested in the hardware aspect of computing, and recently asked me to help build him a new system.
He previously had a Phenom II X4 940 based system with 4GB of memory and dual GTX 260 graphics cards. Everything was run at stock speeds as he preferred to spend his time gaming as opposed to tweaking. Although his system was no slouch, as any hardcore gamer knows; “the fas...
[Review] Thermaltake Armor A602 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on November 24, 2010
The Thermaltake Armor A60 comes with several great features, including some dust filtration features and USB 3.0. The A60 is the first case in the world to have a SideClick EasySwap hard drive feature, as Thermaltake calls it. They have even gone so far as sleeving their pre-installed fans wires. The front I/O ports include one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 connection. It also includes an eSATA connector along with a mic and speaker plug-in. The sleek, refreshing, and different look of the A60 is alwa...
[Review] Silverstone FP55 – Drive Bay Converter1 Comment By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on November 4, 2010
Looking for a new addition to your case to help consolidate space and clean up your hard drive area? The FP55 could possibly be your solution. With the capability of holding 3 hard drives, two 2.5″ and one 3.5″ hard drive, this could be a great addition to any HTPC. The stylish, high quality brushed aluminum will look good in almost any case. Let’s move on and see how easy the installation is, as well as what type of setups the FP55 will allow.
Packaging:
Specifications:...
[Review] Cooler Master Elite 3702 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on October 12, 2010
Cooler Master’s Elite 370 case is on our test table for review today. The Elite 370 is a budget mid-tower which claims to have been made with quality products and features. It is designed to move a lot of air and keep your components nice and cool. The 370 also features a classic black Cooler Master design with clean, attractive lines. The drive bay is a smoked acrylic which gives a reflective look from far off, but a see-through look up close. How well does the 370 live up to the claims...
[Review] Cooler Master HAF 9123 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on September 6, 2010
Cooler Master has been so kind as to send us their latest version of the HAF line of chassis. This mid-tower HAF 912 is aimed at enthusiasts on a budget (MSRP $59.99), yet it still has most of the aesthetics and qualities of the more expensive HAF that have come before it. The 912 helps keep the legacy of the HAF line of chassis going strong, bringing with it the ease of installation, excellent airflow, and compatibility with water cooling. We will be taking a detailed look at all of these fe...
[Review] Zalman Z7 Plus1 Comment By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on August 27, 2010
Zalman sent us their Z7 Plus case today to put through the paces. This ATX mid-tower chassis has some interesting features that we noticed right away, for example, the side mounted fan controller that can control up to two fans. Another feature is the top mounted IO ports that can be covered up when not in use. In addition, their Zalman LED logo is also a nice touch, and from first appearances the Z7 Plus is doing a good job so far. Now let’s get on with the testing so that we can find o...
[Blog] Review – XCLIO Windtunnel Case3 Comments By TheDramaLlamacloseAuthor: TheDramaLlamaName: Alvin Yan Email: ayan6@gatech.edu Site: About:See Authors Posts (2) on July 16, 2010
I recently did a gaming build, and wanted to do a review on a few of my new parts. Some of them are generic, but one stood out to me – the XCLIO Windtunnel, a full tower ATX case with two enormous 250mm fans and enough airflow to keep your feet chilled.
No, that last part wasn’t a joke. I can no longer game barefoot. :’(
[Image courtesy of Newegg. Find the Windtunnel here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011]
Behold the massive glory that is the X...
[Review] Cooler Master HAF 932 Black Edition6 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on July 13, 2010
We had a monstrosity show up at our doors today! When we finally got close enough to see what it was, there was the HAF 932 Black Edition! The HAF Black Edition (MSRP $179.99) is another version of the HAF line of chassis Cooler Master offers. They seem to have struck gold with this line of chassis due to the superior quality and amazing cooling power the case provides. Weighing in at just under thirty pounds, it definitely shocked us once we started moving it around and reviewing it. Well, ...
[Review] Cooler Master Elite 4303 Comments By The DukecloseAuthor: The DukeName: Drew Briggs Email: drew@techreaction.net Site:http://www.techreaction.net About: Just keeping it real for the average joe overclocker and computer user.See Authors Posts (169) on June 2, 2010
Our good buddies at Cooler Master surprised us once again. What was waiting for us at the front door? The brand new Cooler Master Elite 430 mid-tower case (MSRP $59.99), that’s what! It is always a great way to start off the day when you have packages waiting for you at the front door. We unpacked it like it was Christmas all over again, and got to work examining this new edition to the Cooler Master Elite chassis line-up. Now it’s time for you to see exactly what we found with the ...
The Nexus Prominent 5 silent case features tool-less installation making it a quick and easy installation of your components. A black mesh front, aluminum edges, and black interior with orange accents give the Prominent 5 a different look. Nexus outfitted the Prominent 5 with a 140mm on the top and a 120mm is placed in the front for the air-intake. Some isolating padding, where the PSU is placed, prevents resonance and there are ventilation holes, and room for a fan, in the bottom of the case ... 
Rosewill’s BLACKHAWK is one of their newest introductions into the chassis market. They have pre-installed four 120mm and one 140mm fans for almost maximum cooling. Right out of the box, it will save users from spending extra money on missing fans. They have also incorporated the traditional I/O ports most users look for in today’s market, as well as a top-mounted HDD dock. With long VGA card and water cooling support, integrated cable management, CPU back plate cutout, and easy-clean ... 
The CW02 from Silverstone’s Crown Series is crafted to allow users to really appreciate the design of this high quality HTPC chassis. At first glance, the all-aluminum construction and reinforced aluminum dress plates in the front set off the already classy case. The interior design of the CW02 is able to accommodate extended length graphics cards, proficiently displaying the HTPC system at its best. Capable of supporting CPU coolers of 160mm in height for additional cooling options, its s... 
To improve their Precision thermal design, SilverStone implemented the 180mm Air Penetrator fan (AP181) into the PS06 tower chassis. With the AP181 and an included silent 120mm fan, the PS06 should be capable of cooling all your hardware with ease. Two additional 120mm fan slots let users further improve cooling performance if necessary. To help keep the dust out, all intake fan slots are also equipped with removable fan filters to work effectively with the default positive pressure airflow sche... 
Continuing with its tradition of revolutionary designs, Cooler Master Storm has released its new Enforcer chassis. The new chassis contains internal USB 3.0 connections, SSD drive support, and a removable/rotatable HDD cage to support easy installation of the largest video cards. Cooler Master Storm has tried to come up with a design that not only meets the expectations of its customer base and enthusiasts, but also tries to do so within a price range that all will appreciate. We will be thor... 
The HAF Series of cases brought about the aesthetics of battle-hardened military vehicles. Each offers the user access to customizing their airflow and rearranging their internal system layout. Together, these features were realized for the first time within the HAF 932, and they will be back again in the new HAF 932 Advanced. The HAF 932 Advanced also comes with an internal USB 3.0 connector as well as tool-free installation. We will be tossing the Cooler Master HAF Advanced on the review ta... 
Introduction:
Inexpensive cases are many times seen as sub standard and garbage; this is not always the case; though, it does apply (in part) to this case. Generally you get what you pay for and this case is no exception; though, the design, fabrication, fit and finish are of very high quality some things are substandard and to a point make this case a looser to the builder who has no patience. For the builder who does not mind fighting with a component here and there and removing parts this cas... 
The NZXT Phantom Full Tower Chassis, designed with sleek & pristine contours, radiates personality and quality. As with all NZXT products, they strive to set themselves apart from the rest by offering unique and original designs. The Phantom delivers high performance cooling advantages with seven fan cooling options, dual radiator support, quad water cooling cutouts, and five 20W per channel fan controls built-in. It has an innovative 5.25” screw-less drive system with five bays and vast... 
The Dragon Rider is a chassis that is designed to cool even the most demanding of components. Enveloped totally in black, the dark design is punctuated by yellow fan blades to create a subtle, but distinct appearance. The unique side panel shield design creates the necessary space for tidy cable routing and multiple fan mounting points for up to eleven 120mm fans, which make it possibly the ultimate chassis for cooling customization. Pre-fitted with a large 220mm side fan for effective graphics ... 
The all new Centurion 5 II (MSRP $59.99) has been vastly improved from the inside. This mid-tower chassis is designed with increased drive bay capacity, more airflow thanks to the enhanced ventilation and fan options, and easy-to-install features. The removable I/O module for flexible installation is a great feature, especially for those people wanting to add their own I/O module or take out the I/O module completely to free up room for something else. Let’s check out the new Centurion 5 ... 
One of my co-workers is a hardcore gamer and power user. Since we’ve met, he’s become more and more interested in the hardware aspect of computing, and recently asked me to help build him a new system.
He previously had a Phenom II X4 940 based system with 4GB of memory and dual GTX 260 graphics cards. Everything was run at stock speeds as he preferred to spend his time gaming as opposed to tweaking. Although his system was no slouch, as any hardcore gamer knows; “the fas... 
The Thermaltake Armor A60 comes with several great features, including some dust filtration features and USB 3.0. The A60 is the first case in the world to have a SideClick EasySwap hard drive feature, as Thermaltake calls it. They have even gone so far as sleeving their pre-installed fans wires. The front I/O ports include one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0 connection. It also includes an eSATA connector along with a mic and speaker plug-in. The sleek, refreshing, and different look of the A60 is alwa... 
Looking for a new addition to your case to help consolidate space and clean up your hard drive area? The FP55 could possibly be your solution. With the capability of holding 3 hard drives, two 2.5″ and one 3.5″ hard drive, this could be a great addition to any HTPC. The stylish, high quality brushed aluminum will look good in almost any case. Let’s move on and see how easy the installation is, as well as what type of setups the FP55 will allow.
Packaging:
Specifications:... 
Cooler Master’s Elite 370 case is on our test table for review today. The Elite 370 is a budget mid-tower which claims to have been made with quality products and features. It is designed to move a lot of air and keep your components nice and cool. The 370 also features a classic black Cooler Master design with clean, attractive lines. The drive bay is a smoked acrylic which gives a reflective look from far off, but a see-through look up close. How well does the 370 live up to the claims... 
Cooler Master has been so kind as to send us their latest version of the HAF line of chassis. This mid-tower HAF 912 is aimed at enthusiasts on a budget (MSRP $59.99), yet it still has most of the aesthetics and qualities of the more expensive HAF that have come before it. The 912 helps keep the legacy of the HAF line of chassis going strong, bringing with it the ease of installation, excellent airflow, and compatibility with water cooling. We will be taking a detailed look at all of these fe... 
Zalman sent us their Z7 Plus case today to put through the paces. This ATX mid-tower chassis has some interesting features that we noticed right away, for example, the side mounted fan controller that can control up to two fans. Another feature is the top mounted IO ports that can be covered up when not in use. In addition, their Zalman LED logo is also a nice touch, and from first appearances the Z7 Plus is doing a good job so far. Now let’s get on with the testing so that we can find o... 
I recently did a gaming build, and wanted to do a review on a few of my new parts. Some of them are generic, but one stood out to me – the XCLIO Windtunnel, a full tower ATX case with two enormous 250mm fans and enough airflow to keep your feet chilled.
No, that last part wasn’t a joke. I can no longer game barefoot. :’(
[Image courtesy of Newegg. Find the Windtunnel here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011]
Behold the massive glory that is the X... 
We had a monstrosity show up at our doors today! When we finally got close enough to see what it was, there was the HAF 932 Black Edition! The HAF Black Edition (MSRP $179.99) is another version of the HAF line of chassis Cooler Master offers. They seem to have struck gold with this line of chassis due to the superior quality and amazing cooling power the case provides. Weighing in at just under thirty pounds, it definitely shocked us once we started moving it around and reviewing it. Well, ... 
Our good buddies at Cooler Master surprised us once again. What was waiting for us at the front door? The brand new Cooler Master Elite 430 mid-tower case (MSRP $59.99), that’s what! It is always a great way to start off the day when you have packages waiting for you at the front door. We unpacked it like it was Christmas all over again, and got to work examining this new edition to the Cooler Master Elite chassis line-up. Now it’s time for you to see exactly what we found with the ... 
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