Cases, Cooling & PSU News - Page 1

Fractal Design's North mid-tower computer case is still relatively new, but its minimal design mix with stylish wood paneling has made it an instant classic among builders. The Fractal Design North case is pure style and class for those looking for something that is the polar opposite of a glass paneled case showcasing a range of RGB-lit components - and per our review, it has excellent cooling to boot.

At Computex 2024, the company showcased a fun new creation called Project: North Pi, which took the North design and shrunk it down for tiny Raspberry Pi devices. DIY Raspberry Pi systems have been a go-to for many years, as they are brilliant for creating low-power, compact, and efficient media players, emulation boxes, or mini PCs that can handle most basic tasks.

What may have been a fun little showpiece for Computex has now become a reality. Fractal Design is leaning into the DIY spirit of Raspberry Pi devices by making Project: North Pi available to everyone to download as 3D-print files.

The new XPG INVADER X BTF Mid-Tower chassis is available now. As the name suggests, this refresh of the popular 'ocean view' or fishbowl-like case from XPG supports ASUS BTF motherboards with hidden connectors. With its wrap-around (front and side) 3mm tempered glass panels, the new XPG INVADER X BTF Mid-Tower chassis showcases components without seeing cables.

And for those wondering, the new XPG INVADER X BTF Mid-Tower chassis still supports standard ATX, Micro-ATX, and all Mini-ITX motherboards, with the addition of ATX and m-ATX BTF 'Reverse-Connector Motherboards.'

The XPG INVADER X BTF Mid-Tower chassis also supports horizontal and vertical GPU mounting (bracket included) and can accommodate a chunky graphics card up to 400mm in length. Having the case ship with the GPU bracket is a nice touch, as is having five pre-installed 120mm fans (out of the up to ten supported by the XPG INVADER X BTF).

One of the more recent and popular trends with PC cases has been the arrival of the fishbowl design, which combines two tempered glass panels on the side and front to present a more open case look to showcase the internal components.

The new Corsair 3500X Series Mid-Tower PC Case, which is available now, sports this design in an affordable package starting from $89.99 USD for the non-ARGB variants.

The case supports multiple motherboard form factors, ranging from Mini-ITX to EATX, and is compatible with the new hidden connector boards such as ASUS BTF and MSI Project Zero. With a glass panel on the front and side, this has been factored into the cooling, with fans on the side, roof, rear, and even the bottom of the case to increase airflow. There's also support for 360mm radiators on the roof and the side (near the front of the case).

Cooler Master is a brand known for creating a range of PC hardware, including CPU AIO coolers. The company's MasterLiquid range has been a go-to for many builders and PC gamers for several years. However, its latest MasterLiquid AIO cooler introduces a first for the company - an LCD display. This week, Cooler Master launched the MasterLiquid 360 Ion, the company's first liquid cooler to feature an LCD display.

The MasterLiquid 360 Ion is the company's new flagship AIO cooler. As per the name, it arrives with a 360mm radiator paired with three of its premium Mobius 120P ARGB Fans pre-installed. The Gen X Dual Chamber Design pump once again sports a dual chamber design for more efficient cooling - with the single-piece design sporting premium components like a graphite ceramic shaft that is temperature resistant.

Back to the cooler's big addition, the LCD screen - it's 2.1 inches and fully customizable via Cooler Master's MasterCtrl software. The display also features ARGB halo lighting for good measure and can showcase system info like component temperatures.

Originally showcased at Computex 2024, Phanteks has announced that its new NV5 MKII mid-tower chassis is available now. This next-gen or upgraded version of the NV5 adds support for new BTF and Project Zero motherboards designed to hide cable connectors by placing them on the underside.

This is great because the Phanteks NV5 MKII features a 'near-seamless glass panel' look designed to showcase your PC hardware. The new NV5 MKII is also larger than its predecessor, with the increased width offering more room for today's chunky GPUs and 12VHPWR cable connectors found on the GeForce RTX 40 Series. Plus, support for up to eight 120mm fans.

Cooling-wise, the case includes plenty of mesh for increased airflow and dust filtration. You'll also notice the removable PSU cover for easy access and style. On the style front, the Phanteks NV5 MKII has integrated RGB lighting, including a software-free controller that makes customization a breeze.

A research team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EFPL) have developed a 2D quantum cooling system that's capable of reducing temperatures down to 100 millikelvins, all by converting heat into electrical voltage.

Ultra-low operating temperatures are the cornerstone of quantum computing, as quantum bits (qubits) are sensitive to heat and must be cooled down to less than 1K. Even the thermal energy generated by the electronics needed to run the quantum computer itself have caused performance issues of qubits.

LANES PhD student Gabriele Pasquale explained: "If you think of a laptop in a cold office, the laptop will still heat up as it operates, causing the temperature of the room to increase as well. In quantum computing systems, there is currently no mechanism to prevent this heat from disturbing the qubits".

We first saw LIAN LI's new EDGE Series of power supplies at Computex 2024. The new form factor, components, features, and unique 'L-Shape design' helped it earn one of our Best of Computex awards. Designed for dual chamber cases with a vertical installation, the LIAN LI EDGE Series of PSUs are fully modular and all about making the build process as easy as possible.

Available in black and white and in 1300W, 1000W, and 850W models, LIAN LI EDGE PSUs also feature a built-in USB expansion hub to make connecting multiple devices, RGB gear, fans, and controllers a breeze. With the new shape, the outward-facing strip featuring all of the power connectors simplifies the build process so that you don't need to thread and connect everything simultaneously.

The LIAN LI EDGE Series of PSUs are backed by a 10-year warranty and feature industrial-quality EPCOS and Japanese capacitors, as well as 80Plus Platinum, Cybenetics Platinum, and PPLP Platinum ratings. Available now in the US and UK (850W models will be released later in the year), hit the jump for full specs and pricing.

Noctua has just introduced its brand-new NH-D15 G2 CPU cooler, revising its dual-fan NH-D15 design with engineering improvements that make it quieter, stronger, and improved in its air-cooling abilities. Check it out:

The new Noctua NH-D15 G2 cooler has some design tweaks, with offset, asymmetrical fin stacks above 8 separate heat pipes, which are redesigned pieces of metal that have 20% more surface area for cooling through dual 140mm fans, as well as a more smoothed-out acoustic profile. So good, so far, Noctua.

The company itself posted a promotional video that shows its new NH-D15 G2 cooler being 20% better at heat dissipation load at 60C. The company will offer its new NH-D15 G2 cooler in three different configurations:

The new Fractal Mood PC case is the company's next minimal, stylish, and compact case. It sports a 'pillar design' and a removable cover made of breathable fabric. Available in black or grey, the low-volume design was created to minimize the PC's overall footprint but still offer enough room to install a 280mm radiator and a graphics card up to 325mm in length.

The GPU's airflow looks pretty good here. It connects via a PCIe Gen 4 riser cable to the board and is mounted on one side with fans facing the breathable fabric to improve thermal performance. The case also comes with one of Fractal's 180mm Dynamic fans designed to move air "up through the case."

Compatibility-wise, as an SFF case (a tall one at that), it supports mITX motherboards and SFX or SFX-L power supplies. Still, there's plenty of room for cooling and even additional storage, including a 3.5-inch drive and two 2.5-inch drives. Fan-wise, in addition to the 180mm fan, there's room for two 120mm fans and two 140mm fans.

Into cars and PC's? LIAN LI has your back with a partnership with Lamborghini that has spawned a Lamborghini-themed PC case that comes with all the bells and whistles you would expect.

LIAN LI and Automobili Lamborghini announced on June 14 a new partnership that has created the limited edition O11D EVO RGB Automobili Lamborghini PC case, which has been designed with performance and innovation at its forefront. Notably, there will only be 6498 units of this case, and according to LIAN LI's CEO Jameson Chen, the partnership with Lamborghini isn't just about collaborating with an iconic name but "redefining the boundaries of PC craftsmanship".

So, what does your Lamborghini-themed PC case come with? Engineers have integrated authentic carbon fiber into the design of the case, with the inclusion of a removable top piece that adds to its overall aesthetic design. Additionally, Lamborghini has sprinkled some magic onto the case with an Automobili Lamborghini Dashboard that's inspired by past Lamborghini designs.