Joined on 08/06/04
A classy chassis in a class of its own
Pros: Easily the best designed watercooling case on the market - you might even call it 'revolutionary' in its thoroughness. It's so sleek you hardly notice how immense it is until you get inside and realize how many options you have. So much thought obviously went into the design and presentation, right down to the packaging and accessories, that $250 actually seems like a bargain.
Cons: It's big, & it's heavy. If you aren't building a watercooled system, you might want to ask yourself if you really want a case this big? There are 8 inches of space below the motherboard tray, which is perfect for a radiator but sort of useless 'dead space' otherwise. But if big & sleek with lots of space to build is what you want then this is the case for you.
Overall Review: This is Phanteks's debut in the pc case market, and with it they've announced their presence loud and clear. They really raised the bar with this one. A++ *note: check phanteks.com for comprehensive product info and FAQ
Pretty, but overpriced
Pros: All-copper construction, pretty blue LED fan. Easy installation, effective cooling for stock cpu speeds and idle/low-load use.
Cons: If you're planning to overclock your cpu (and really, why would you be spending this much on a heatsink if you weren't?), the effectiveness of this unit doesn't hold up at high speeds... it can't dissipate enough heat for an overclocked i7 at load (not sure how it performs on a Core2, but according to most reviews it's comparable to performance in an i7 system). For the price of this unit, you can get better.
Overall Review: I'm RMA'ing this in favor of a comparably priced True Ultra-120 which outperforms the Zalman at every level. Newegg, why don't you carry the True?? I hate having to go elsewhere for my pc needs. :(
Pros: Requires very low vcore and runs cool at stock clock and up to about 4.2ghz.
Cons: Did not actually enable PCI-E 3.0, though this may be a failing of gpu or mobo, not really sure. Not overclockable past 4.6ghz at reasonable voltage (although IB-e has an inherent performance advantage over its predecessor, so 4.6 is a respectable oc)
Overall Review: Overclocked to 4.6ghz (100x46) @1.38v.
Pros: Consolidates your SSDs/HDDs to a compact space and provides directed airflow to keep them cool. Fan is virtually silent. Removable dust filter for easy cleaning.
Cons: None
Overall Review: You know those useless 5.25" bay spaces that just sit there empty in your pc case? This handy little device lets you keep your SSDs/HDDs there, allowing you to free up the space in the lower front portion of your case where uninhibited airflow is important to keep your pc internals cool. This is of particular value if your case has a removable HDD cage in the lower portion. Using this allows you to completely remove that lower HDD cage, thus allowing air to flow more freely from the front of your case to cool your chipset and gpu(s).
More power than you'll ever know what to do with
Pros: Loaded with features, super-comprehensive BIOS settings
Cons: OC Key doesn't work with 120Hz monitor (no dual-DVI)
Overall Review: This is quite simply the most impressive motherboard I've ever seen. It is so loaded with features you won't even know what to do with half of them, and the BIOS options are so overwhelmingly comprehensive, you'll be amazed at the level of control this mobo gives you. But that's not a bad thing -- when you're using the model that world champion overclockers use to overclock their systems, you've got plenty of room to grow. Asus scored a real win with this one.
Brilliant!
Pros: Works with virtually any pc game and many applications; easy to install; easy to use; the glasses are comfortable and work fine over eyeglasses or contacts;
Cons: They aren't cheap; the 120Hz monitor that you have to buy to go with these isn't cheap and there are a limited number of models that are compatible (check the 3d Vision system requirements page on nvidia.com before you buy!); support from nvidia is spotty at best; there may be other potentially better options available very soon from large TV manufacturers
Overall Review: What was the last computer upgrade you got that felt revolutionary? Not just "incremental," but truly revolutionary? This is it. If you are a pc gamer, these will change your life. I've been using them for over a year and would recommend them 100% for any pc gamer.