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The NZXT Guardian 921 Gaming Chassis Offers Top Features and a Low Price-July 24, 2008
The latest system case from NZXT is an evolution of their existing Guardian design, and the aptly-named Guardian 921 chassis builds on this popular brand name, while ramping up the features and price-performance ratio. The Guardian 921 is part of the Crafted Series, which means it uses a gaming-culture design, with a clear side pane and smooth lines. This also includes various accents, custom grills, LED lighting, and multiple color choices, which are all options of the Guardian line. NZXT hasn't scrimped on the construction either, and the Guardian 921 features .88mm and 1.00mm steel, with room for up to four internal hard drives.
The unit also offers constant temperature monitoring, allowing for up to three temperature probes for real-time system monitoring. The NZXT Guardian 921 ships with three default 120mm cooling fans, for a combination of high performance and low ambient noise. Peripheral output options are extensive for the class, and the Guardian 921 chassis provides E-SATA, Intel HD audio, microphone, and dual USB inputs as standard equipment. "With the Guardian 921, we've reached an optimal balance of pricing and performance," said Johnny Hou, Chief Designer at NZXT. "This chassis is perfect for the PC Gamer/enthusiast who's looking for a phenomenal building block for their new rig without breaking the bank." The NZXT Guardian 921 will be available in July, and have a suggested retail price of $89.99.
Related Link: NZXT BFG Introduces the GeForce 9800 GTX+ OC 512MB Video Card-July 23, 2008
The GeForce 9 Series is far from dead, especially in the performance mainstream, and BFG Technologies has introduced a new card based on the GeForce 9800 GTX+. But like many BFG-based video cards, their GeForce 9800 GTX+ OC 512MB features all the basics of a NVIDIA reference card, with the added bonus of higher GPU and memory clock speeds. The BFG card has all the basics, including PCI Express 2.0 connectivity, and support for PureVideo HD, DirectX 10/SM4.0 support, NVIDIA PhysX, CUDA, SLI and HybridPower technology.
Where is differs is in the default clock speeds, and BFG has ensured their GeForce 9800 GTX+ OC 512MB card will outperform a standard NVIDIA reference card. Its GPU clock speed is set at 760 MHz (compared to 738 MHz standard), while the card's onboard GDDR3 memory is set at 1890 MHz (compared to 1836 MHz standard), which will provide a nice speed boost. BFG states that their GeForce 9800 GTX+ OC 512MB card is the fastest graphics board in its price range, and will fit perfectly with high-end gaming and HD video playback. "We’ve overclocked the BFG GeForce® 9800 GTX+ OC to provide customers more performance without the risk and hassle of doing it themselves," said John Malley, senior director of marketing for BFG Technologies. The BFG GeForce 9800 GTX+ OC graphics card is also eligible for the BFG Trade Up Program, which offers an opportunity to upgrade to a higher performance BFG graphics card, and only pay the difference in cost. BFG has not yet announced pricing.
Related Link: BFG Technologies Lancool Launches the New PC-K12 Mid-Tower Case-July 23, 2008
Lancool has recently announced their latest system enclosure, the PC-K12 mid-tower case. It features 9x 5.25" drive bays, for exceptional upgrade space and lots of airflow. The PC-K12 also supports a patented anti-vibration HDD cage, with support for three hard drives, all in a modular format. The hard drives are each mounted with a thumbscrew and rubber grommet, which makes sure the drives are both solidly attached and designed for vibration-free operation. There is also an integrated 120mm HDD cooling fan in the cage, which supplies added cooling and stability.
The noise reducing technologies also go beyond the hard drive case, and even the front and side doors of the PC-K12 include sound padding and special clips to help dampen any noise from the system. The front door can also be opened from either direction, and the motherboard tray is removable, allowing extra flexibility. The PC-K12 includes dual front and back-mounted 120mm cooling fans, each running at 10K RPM, and the PSU bracket is fully secured. The key feature to the PC-K12 mid-tower case, like some other Lancool units, is in its hybrid construction, with an inner steel core supporting an all-aluminum chassis, giving it a combination of strength and light weight. This also means that case modders will have an easy time with the Lancool PC-K12, as it can easily be cut and modified to individual tastes. Lancool has issued a suggested retail price of $160 US on the PC-K12.
Related Link: Lancool OCZ Jumps on the Fatal1ty Bandwagon with latest DDR2 and DDR3-July 23, 2008
OCZ Technology has introduced a new series of enthusiast-level DDR2 and DDR3 memory, branded as the Fatal1ty Series, and which OCZ contends were co-developed with the expertise of Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel, a 12-time World Champion professional gamer. These OCZ Fatal1ty Series modules are specifically tuned for the requirements of high-end gamers, and are the official memory of the Championship Gaming Series (CGS). The first memory kits to be introduced under the OCZ Fatal1ty Professional Series line include DDR2-800/1066 and DDR3-1333 matched pairs, in high-end configurations.
The OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Fatal1ty Edition dual channel kit features 2x2GB modules running at 800 MHz and featuring EP-ready timings of 5-4-4-18. The OCZ DDR2 PC2-8500 Fatal1ty Edition upgrades the clock to 1066 MHz, but backs down to a 2x1GB configuration, along with EPP timings of 5-5-5-15. The DDR3 PC3-10666 Fatal1ty Edition ramps up to a full 1333 MHz, while offering standard timings of 9-9-9-26 and is available in both 2x1GB and 2x2GB kits. The Fatal1ty Edition all share one thing: Fatal1ty-branded XTC heatspreaders with OCZ's XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) technology. "Fatal1ty knows what it takes to win at the highest level of eSports, and these new kits deliver superior stability and performance to gamers whether you are a professional player on the Championship Gaming Series, or a weekend warrior looking to dominate when playing the latest titles," commented Alex Mei, Chief Marketing Officer of the OCZ Technology Group. OCZ has not yet announced suggested retail pricing on the Fatal1ty Edition memory.
Related Link: OCZ Technology Toshiba Extends Notebook Line with 5400 and 7200-RPM Drives-July 17, 2008
Toshiba Storage has updated its 2.5" mobile hard drive lineup with a pair of new product introductions. The Toshiba MK4058GSX is a 400GB, 5400-RPM mobile hard drive in the 2.5" form factor. It is Toshiba's 58th generation 2.5-inch hard drive, and provides 400GB through dual 200GB platters, an industry first at this range. The MK4058GSX features a SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, an 8MB data buffer, and an average seek time of 8ms. Toshiba contends that this combination of high capacity, light weight, quiet seeks, and 5400-RPM speed has reduced acoustics to nearly imperceptible levels.
The Toshiba MKxx54GSY series offers a wide variety of capacities, including 80GB, 120GB, 160GB, 250GB, and 320GB, all featuring a 7200-RPM spindle speed. The MKxx54GSY models feature a 16MB data cache and a SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, while average seek times are 10.5ms for read and 12ms for write duties. For added durability in mobile applications, there is an option of adding a free-fall sensor to this series. Toshiba is also promoting the eco-friendly design and power-saving features of these new drives, adding that the MK4058GSX takes this initiative further by discontinuing the usage of specified hazardous halogens and toxic chemicals across all components incorporated in the drive, while achieving low power idle specifications of 0.6W on the MK4058GSX and 0.9W for the MKxx54GSY series. Toshiba has not yet announced suggested retail prices on these new 2.5" hard drives.
Related Link: Toshiba Storage Patriot Hits "Warp" Speed with New Line of Solid State Drives-July 17, 2008
Patriot Memory is the latest company to join the Sold State Drive (SSD) revolution, having unveiled its new Warp lineup of SSDs. These latest Sold State Drives are available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, and offer the usual selection of advantages over standard, mechanical hard drives. With no moving parts, and dispensing with traditional magnetic platters, the NAND flash technology present in Patriot's Warp SSD series allows for lower seek times, faster data read/write performance and enhanced reliability, all with a lower power-usage envelope.
Data integrity is also of paramount importance, and Patriot's Warp SSD provides Error Checking and Correction (ECC), along with proprietary wear-leveling algorithms, which ensure both an extended lifespan and increased data integrity. The Patriot Warp drives offer a SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, sequential read data rates of up to 130MB/s, sequential write speeds of up to 60MB/s, a MTBF of 1,000,000 hours, data retention of 10 years, a weight of 88 grams, and a power consumption spec of only 540mA. Patriot is also marketing these outside the notebook market, projecting these high-speed drives as solutions for desktops, laptops, workstations, servers, and PC enthusiasts. OS support includes Windows 2000/XP/Vista, MAC OSX, and Linux, but Patriot has yet to announce suggested retail pricing.
Related Link: Patriot Memory OCZ Adds the Elixir Keyboard to its Alchemy Gaming Line-July 15, 2008
OCZ Technology has incorporated the new Elixir Keyboard to its line of Alchemy gaming peripherals, expanding its influence into the controller market and offering another OCZ-branded solution for enthusiast gamers. The keyboard itself offers a sleek and sturdy rectangular format, with 10 tri-mode programmable macro keys up the left and right sides of the unit. Other features include a pop-up menu shortcut and Windows Media Players optical controller, and there are five Internet hot keys, eight media keys and a Mode Selection button to switch between standard and gaming modes.
The Elixir keyboard features membrane tactical keys with 100% rubber-coating for no-slip gaming and excellent comfort. The OCZ Elixir supports a USB 2.0 connection, and functions as a single USB hub. The keyboard weighs 1.85 pounds and has a lifespan of 5 million cycles. "Just because gamers have a budget doesn't mean they shouldn't enjoy premium gaming features, and our first Alchemy solution the Elixir gaming keyboard is designed with quality ergonomics and offers efficient game-play with programmable macro keys," said Eugene Chang, Product Manager of the OCZ Technology Group. The OCZ Elixir series is compatible with Windows XP SP2 or higher, and Windows Vista.
Related Link: OCZ Technology Seagate Unleashes 1.5TB of Storage with the Latest Barracuda Hard Drive-July 11, 2008
Seagate has upped the storage ante with the latest Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB hard drive being the first single drive to reach that capacity. The 500GB increase is also the largest disk capacity jump in the history of hard drives, adding 50% to the current crop of 1TB performance models. This new model naturally uses perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) technology to squeeze 1.5TB onto a 4-platter drive. The rest of the specifications are standard for the Barracuda 7200.11 class, including a Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, a 7200-RPM speed, and 32MB of cache.
In addition to the 1.5TB desktop unit, Seagate has also extended the Momentus line to include a pair of new 500GB mobile 2.5" hard drives. The Momentus 5400.6 mobile drive is a standard notebook model, sporting a 5400-RPM spindle speed, a Serial ATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, and 8MB of data cache. The higher-end Momentus 7200.4 500GB hard drive is also a 2.5" mobile unit, but it has been upgraded in some very important areas. In addition to sharing a SATA 3.0 Gb/s interface, the drive spins at 7200-RPM and includes a 16MB of cache. All Barracuda and Momentus drives feature a 5-year warranty, and Seagate states that the Barracuda 7200.11 1.5TB will ship in August 2008, while the Momentus 5400.6 and 7200.4 500GB drives will hit a bit later, in the 4th quarter of 2008.
Related Link: Seagate Lancool Unveils their K1 and K1-Pro Mid-Tower Cases-July 10, 2008
Lancool, a brand owned by Lian-Li, has announced a set of new mid-tower cases. The Lancool K1 and K1-Pro are somewhat hybrid designs, offering a steel inner-core for additional strength, but with a lower weight than a full-metal frame. Lancool states that this makes the cases 40% stronger than all-aluminum chassis, and at a significant cost savings, and while the 7.2kg weight exceeds that of an aluminum case, it is lighter than a standard design. The cases support full ATX, and micro-ATX form factor motherboards, features an all aluminum chassis exterior, and all case internals have been honed and smoothed for added safety.
Both the Lancool K1 and K1-Pro cases feature blue LEDs mounted in the front and back, and a windowed side-panel. Lancool also promotes these to the modder community, as the outer aluminum housing is easily cut and configured, while the internal steel core provides exceptional stability. As for system cooling, both cases feature a back-mounted 120mm extraction fan (1000RPM), while a 140mm intake fan (900RPM) supplies cool air at the front. Silent padding to the front panel reduces noise levels, and the side panels have special anti-vibration clips. Other features include a removable motherboard tray, vent holes on the PCI slot brackets, 7x PCI slots, 5x 5.25" bays, an I/O bracket with dust cover on the top panel (2x USB2.0 / 1x IEEE1394 / and HD+AC97 Audio), and a secure PSU bay designed to keep the power supply rigid during transportation. Special clips on the back of the motherboard tray handle cable management, and there is a set of pre-bored holes for water pipes/water cooling.
Related Link: Lancool |
