I would like to thank Antec for supplying the review sample.
Antec seems heavily invested in the Flux platform because it is a unique selling point that stands out in this otherwise crowded sub-$100 market. With the original DF600 Flux, we saw some thermal benefits, but it was not worth the increased operating noise due to the fact that it only included the fans but not a fan controller. Then there was the P10 Flux, which actually made good use of that thermal platform, and its approach to silence provided a better use case for the Flux setup. Today, we get to review the Antec DF700 Flux, which is also part of the Dark Fleet series and seems to improve usability for that unique fan setup.
We can all agree that the last 12 months have been challenging and stressful for everyone, and I wanted to utilise Kitguru in a positive way for a great cause. Over the next two weeks, we are holding a silent auction via email for our readers and supporters, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice. Additionally KitGuru will be donating the same amount as the winning bid, effectively doubling the donation to the charity. This is a very worthy cause that we want to support this year and everyone who enters will know that they are potentially going to help children in real need.
Watch via our Vimeo channel (below) or over on YouTube at 2160p HERE
The NI Childrens Hospice has been helping children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions as well as their families for over 35 years. It is a cause that we are very much in support of and we hope many of our readers will be interested in getting involved on some level. We discussed possibly holding this auction on the UK’s biggest platform – EBAY, however we really wanted to involve as many of our readers as possible, without directing it towards the mass public who are not associated with the KitGuru audience. I didn’t want this system going to a random person in the UK who doesn’t really understand what we are trying to do.
KitGuru will be matching the winning bid for the chance to own this Gaming PC, doubling the overall amount we donate. KitGuru will also give the winner a full 1 year warranty directly. So if any component or peripheral was to fail in the first year, we will replace it and it will be shipped to your door, completely free of charge.
In the gallery below, you can see the gaming PC and accompanying peripherals that make this build, including a 144hz gaming Monitor.
Here are the full specifications for the system:
AMD Ryzen 3800X CPU
Asus ROG Strix B550-F (Wi-Fi)
Gigabyte Gaming OC 5700 XT
T-Force Xcalibur 16GB kit (2X8GB) DDR4-3600
Cougar Trofeo Case
Cougar Aqua 240 AIO Cooler
Cougar GEX 650W PSU
Cougar Attack X3 Keyboard RGB
Cougar Bunker mouse Bungee RGB
Cougar Revenger S mouse RGB
Cougar Neon mouse mat RGB
Viper VPN100 1TB M.2 SSD
AOC 24G2U 24” 144Hz monitor
While the prices of these components are constantly changing, the current market value as we go live to print today is around £1700. Special thanks to all the great companies involved that jumped at the chance without questions to help such a great cause.
Entering is really simple. If you want to be in with a chance to get this system delivered to your door just send your single best ‘bid’ to ‘[email protected]‘. Subject field ‘Bid for Hospice Charity System’.
Please do not send your address or any personal information in the email – we just need to know your final bid for the system in pounds sterling – please only submit a bid you can afford and will be able to send when it ends. There is no minimum bid you can offer, but the more you can bid, the greater your chances of winning the auction.
If you have an email client installed click here to enter
Please do not send multiple entries with various bids from the same email, and only submit a bid that you can afford. We do not want anyone to have financial problems due to entering this auction.
At the end of the auction period, we’ll contact the person with the best offer – get payment sent to our business account directly over bank transfer then KitGuru commits the same amount – effectively doubling the donation – which we directly send to the Children’s Hospice.
The charity auction will end 10th Of March and the winner will be announced by 15th of March and contacted directly by email.
Shipping information: We can only accept submissions inside the United Kingdom due to complex and troublesome Brexit terms which came into play January 2021. Kitguru covers all of the shipping costs inside the United Kingdom – all of the hardware will be shipped UPS tracked and insured directly to the winner. From date of delivery KitGuru will cover the cost and replacement of any hardware that fails inside a one year period including any related shipping costs.
Terms and Conditions: In compliance with GDPR, all emails and correspondence will be deleted from our servers once the auction ends. We do not keep or store your personal data and you won’t be signed up to any mailing lists by entering. No personal data is shared with any companies. We value your privacy as much as we value our own.
KitGuru Says: Thanks to all who participate in this charity auction. Good luck to everyone who enters – Allan ‘Zardon’ Campbell. KitGuru Editor In Chief/Managing Director.
Following on from AMD’s RX 6700 XT announcement stream last night, MSI revealed its line-up of custom-cooled solutions. Besides an AMD Reference design model, MSI will also be releasing Mech and Gaming series Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics cards.
Featuring the company’s Twin Frozr 8 thermal cooling solution, the dual-fan cooler of the MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X uses the Torx Fan 4.0 design, connecting the centre of the fan to an outer ring through the fan blades, resulting in increased airflow. Additionally, the Gaming X cooling system also includes a metal backplate for additional passive cooling and protection, thermal pads for additional heat dissipation, and a Zero Frozr mode to stop fans when temperatures are low.
The Radeon RX 6700 XT Gaming X cards also feature MSI’s RGB Mystic Light lighting, which users can synchronise with other Mystic Light-compatible devices.
MSI Mech series cards also feature a dual-fan cooler, but instead of using Torx Fan 4.0 design, it employs the older Torx Fan 3.0. Similar to the Gaming X cards, the Mech series also features a metal backplate, thermal pads for extra heat dissipation, and Zero Frozr mode to prevent the fans from spinning at low loads.
Base and boost clocks, memory clock, and TGP of the Gaming X and Mech cards have not been disclosed yet. Both cards are powered by 2x 8-pin PCIe power connectors and MSI recommends the use of a 650W PSU. Available video outputs include 3x DisplayPorts 1.4 and an HDMI 2.1 port.
Custom MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics cards will launch in mid-March 2021. Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.
KitGuru says: Would you choose a custom MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card over the reference one? Which MSI Radeon RX 6700 XT graphics card do you prefer?
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The Cooler Master ML360 Sub-Zero appeals to enthusiast system builders burdened with deep pockets, seeking sub-ambient temps and ease of installation. It does well, but also comes with some distinct caveats.
For
Easy install
Single digit (or lower) idle temps can be possible
New high-flow pump
Against
Expensive
Supports only LGA1200
Under sustained loads, doesn’t cool overclocked CPUs as well as normal AIOs
High power draw during use
Features and Specifications
The terms Peltier and thermoelectric (TEC) cooling have brightened the eyes of many would-be overclockers over the years, with the promise of sub-ambient cooling under the highest of loads. But with these solutions often came the demand for required liquid cooling systems and a dedicated power supply to in order to operate, keeping them off the list of best CPU coolers for most people. The thermoelectric cooling of yesteryear was certainly interesting and saw scattered use in the most committed of overclocking and cooling forums on the web.
Enter the Cooler Master ML360 Sub-Zero, a 360mm AIO with a built-in thermoelectric cooling plate powered by an 8-pin auxiliary adapter from a standard PSU. If your power supply has the rating and available power cables, it can support this cooler in your build. Well, your system also has to be an Intel 10th Generation Intel CPU seated in a socket LGA1200 motherboard, since the Sub-Zero is limited to a specific list of hardware. Support for Rocket Lake-S will of course come once those CPUs arrive.
Ironically, while the cooler is advertised as being a Cooler Master and Intel partnership, which encourages the use of Intel’s powerful desktop overclocking software suite, Cooler Master recommends against overclocking powerful i7’s and i9’s with this cooler and suggests sticking with single core overclocking or factory boost speeds. It performs well in some respects, but this isn’t the uber-overclocking device that enthusiasts have dreamed of with peltier coolers of the past.
Specifications
The Cooler Master ML360 Sub-Zero looks the part of an ultra-high end cooling solution, with its sleek blacked-out design and a touch of opulence from the chromed Cooler Master silhouette logo across its brushed pump face. A single LED indicator light illuminates the lower corner of the pump housing, offering the working status of the cooler’s Peltier cooling system. HAL-9000 would be proud.
Thickness
1.10″ / 27.9mm (2.25″ / 57.15mm w/fans)
Width
4.75″ / 120mm
Depth
15.5″ / 394mm
Pump Height
3.75″ / 95.3mm
Speed Controller
BIOS/Software
Cooling Fans
(3) 120 x 25mm
Connectors
(4) 4-Pin PWM,
(1) 3-Pin tach,
(1) SATA
Weight
82.5 oz / 2340g
Intel Sockets
LGA1200 (only)
AMD Sockets
N/A
Warranty
5 years
Web Price
$350
Features
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Box contents for the ML360 Sub-Zero include just enough mounting hardware for Intel’s LGA1200 platform CPUs, allowing for the Peltier unit atop the CPU socket to have the tension screws integrated into the housing. A motherboard backplate, threaded standoffs and SATA power cable are included to keep things mounted and powered up, while a micro USB to 9-pin header provides the link to your best motherboard. For now at least, software support with Intel’s Cryo Cooling Technology is limited to the following silicon: i5-10600K, i5-10600KF, i7-10700K, i7-10700KF, i9-10850K, i9-10900K and i9-10900KF.
Cooler Master covers the ML360 Sub-Zero for a warranty period of 5 years.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The ML360 Sub-Zero makes use of an integrated Peltier or thermoelectric cooler (TEC), a specialized semiconductor which makes use of DC current to create a temperature differential between specific electrical junctions, using high volumes of current. In short, one side of a Peltier gets very cold while the other gets quite hot. The ML360 Sub-Zero relies on the cold side to maintain cooling against the integrated heat spreader (IHS) of the CPU, while the hot side is cooled by the rest of the AIO cooler itself.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
As an example, the cooler can easily get idle CPU temps down to actual freezing temperatures, far below ambient room readings. Normal air or liquid cooling can never allow a processor to reach sub-ambient temperatures due to the physics involved, but phase change and thermoelectric cooling makes this possible.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Requiring the use of an 8-pin auxiliary power, often used to power graphics cards, the ML360 Sub-Zero uses DC power from your power supply to power the thermoelectric Peltier cooling unit. This also requires a beefy power supply, as the cooler alone is rated to draw up to 200w by itself. So make sure to account for overall system load usage and count on investing in a high-quality, high-wattage power supply.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The base of the ML360 Sub-Zero ships with a pre-applied patch of thermal compound over a base shaped like a copper pyramid with a leveled, plateau face. Power cables from the Peltier DC controller extend down the side of the cooler, where they meet the TEC at the base.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The perimeter of the cooler features an integrated rubber boot, which is designed to create a barrier or curtain around the CPU socket once the cooler is installed. This is meant to prevent comparatively warm ambient air from circulating near the base of the copper cold plate, allowing condensation to collect near the motherboard socket. This has long been the danger of Peltier coolers, as temperature differentials causing water to form on exposed electrics is obviously very bad. The angled copper base is the area where the greatest threat of condensation or frost collection might occur and possibly drip onto motherboard circuitry below. Hence the rubber barrier around this area.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Cooler Master utilize a new pump design, which is situated in-line between the Peltier unit and radiator. The pump itself is quite significant in both size and mass, giving every indication that it is far more powerful than what is used in standard, everyday AIOs. In fact, when accounting for noise levels, strength of vibrations and tubing pulses, it appears to encroach into custom watercooling pump territory, although this claim would require several standalone tests to confirm.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
A trio of 120mm PWM fans and an aluminum radiator make up the heat exchanger portion of the ML360 Sub-Zero. The cooling fans are devoid of any aRGB/RGB lighting effects, sticking instead with a stealth theme for discreet sub-ambient operation.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The flattened of the cooler is expertly milled to rest atop your favorite Intel LGA1200 socket CPU.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
This milled base provides for a quality mount for the ML360 Sub-Zero, making for an even distribution of thermal compound when tension is applied during the cooler installation.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With the ML360 Sub-Zero up and running and with Intel’s Cryo Cooling Technology software installed, operation of the thermoelectric cooler is relatively simple. Select the service icon in the taskbar and choose whether to run in Cryo or Unregulated mode.
Cryo mode is the standard cooling mode when the system is under standard loads, beyond idle desktop or light web browsing. The Peltier unit will cycle into this mode and briefly off as needed based on environmental variables to maintain system safety and prevent condensed water from collecting.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Unregulated mode allows the cooler to operate to full effect, which does prompt a warning box that condensation could collect around the cooler and the motherboard, causing permanent damage. In short, clicking the box to acknowledge this warning is the electronic form of signing a waiver and understanding the consequences. Unregulated mode is typically reserved for brief sessions of cooling where an all-out assault on thermals is required.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
As 360mm coolers go, the Cooler Master ML360 Sub-Zero radiator fits a normal mount location as any other AIO we’ve tested. The standalone pump uses a pair of machine screws to mount within a set of standard chassis eyelets. While USB link cables are rather common for many AIOs, having an additional power cable running to your cooler adds a bit of extra clutter to an otherwise uneventful installation.
We would like to thank Kolink for supplying the review sample.
Kolink is a Caseking house brand well known for its high bang for the buck products. The Kolink Classic Power PSU line includes four members with capacities ranging from 400 W to 700 W. All of these have fixed cables and come without power cords to keep the cost as low as possible. OEMs tend to charge a lot for power cords, which makes removing them from the bundle to cut the final price by a euro or two a good idea. For a power supply like the Classic Power 400, sold for a mere €40, two euros are a lot.
The Classic Power 400 is a power supply for mainstream PCs with integrated graphics or dedicated graphics cards with low power consumption. Interesting is that it uses DC-DC converters to generate the minor rails, which is usually not the case in this price range. Another interesting fact is that its model number shows the peak power it can deliver for a short period of time, not its maximum continuous power output, which is 50 W lower, actually restricted to 350 W.
The provided warranty is three years long, which is enough for a €40 power supply, and in terms of efficiency, the PSU is 80 PLUS Bronze and Cybenetics Silver certified. All of the above sounds too good to be true, so I am anxious to see where the catch is here as it is a PSU for €40 with DC-DC converters and 80 PLUS Bronze/Silver efficiency. Alright, it doesn’t have an AC power cord, but who cares? Most users have several lying around, so why pay extra for it.
Specifications
Kolink Classic Power 400W
Features & Specifications
Max. DC Output
400 W
PFC
Active PFC
Efficiency (230 V)
80 PLUS Bronze, Cybenetics Silver (87%–89%)
Noise (230 V)
Cybenetics A (20–25 dBA)
Modular
No
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
Yes
Operating Temperature
0–40 °C
Protections
Over Voltage Protection Under Voltage Protection Over Power Protection Over Temperature Protection Over Current Protection Short Circuit Protection
I would like to thank Deepcool for supplying the review sample.
The Macube series from Deepcool offers a solid steel exterior and a clean glass side panel with a functional no-frills interior while being budget-friendly. So when Deepcool offered us the Macube 110 for review, we jumped at the opportunity. The Deepcool Macube 110 is a smaller mATX variant to the larger ATX Macube 310, but with the same solid feel and clean, understated design. As with the bigger variant, the Macube 110 is available in black or white.
Fractal Design’s Meshify 2 Compact offers an excellent foundation for thermally demanding ATX gaming systems. And although it’s a bit expensive, it’s a very well thought-through chassis that ships with three good fans.
For
Thoughtful interior and classy design
Ships with three quality fans
Great cable management
Excellent thermal performance
Easy filter access for cleaning
Against
Strong competition
Materials could be better
Sticky power button (at least on our sample)
Fans don’t have PWM control
No RGB (a pro, for some)
Specifications and Features
When Fractal Design launched its Meshify 2 chassis, it impressed us so much that we had no choice but to award it a rare five stars. So you can imagine that I was quite excited when the company reached out asking if I wanted to review the new Meshify 2 Compact. In essence, it’s the same case but a little shorter, cutting back on the extreme storage or radiator setup possibilities, but offering the same basic design.
Because of this, the Meshify 2 Compact is arguably the more mainstream case suited to standard ATX setups that don’t need a ton of space – the vast majority of gaming systems. However, priced at $110, it’s not the most budget-friendly option, and it’s competing in a crowded segment. Let’s find out if Fractal Design has what it takes to earn yet another spot on our Best PC Cases list.
Specifications
Type
Mid-Tower ATX
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX
Dimensions (HxWxD)
18.7 x 8.3 x 16.8 inches (474 x 210 x 427 mm)
Max GPU Length
14.2 inches (360 mm)
CPU Cooler Height
6.7 inches (169 mm)
Max PSU Length
6.5 inches (165 mm)
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
2x 3.5-inch
2x 2.5-inch
Expansion Slots
7x
Front I/O
2x USB 3.0, USB-C, 3.5 mm Headphone, 3.5mm Mic
Other
(Removable) Tempered Glass Panel
Front Fans
2x 140mm (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Rear Fans
1x 120mm (Up to 1x 120mm)
Top Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm)
Bottom Fans
None (Up to 1x 120mm)
Side Fans
✗
RGB
No
Damping
No
Warranty
1 Year
Features
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For this review, I asked Fractal Design to send us the gray option as I was curious to see how this color option would turn out. We had already seen the black color on the full-size Meshify 2, and white wasn’t available just yet.
Circling around the case, it’s immediately clear that this is a Fractal Design chassis – if not from the ‘Fractal’ text on the front mesh’s door handle, you can tell from the folds in the mesh and the grille pattern that’s also unique to Fractal Design.
The sheet metal isn’t particularly thick, nor is this a heavy case. If you’re after a tank-type case, perhaps the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh is more up your alley. But the thin sheet metal here is only really noticed when you’re handling the case. Once sat in place, the Meshify 2 Compact looks like a quality piece of kit and the design efforts stand out beautifully.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
That being said, Fractal Design goes out of its way to make the case look good, almost to a fault. At the top IO, you’ll note that the tolerances between the removable top panel and the ports and buttons is extremely tight. This looks great, and for the ports it isn’t an issue, but it’s a little bit problematic on the power button. Our sample had a sticky power button. If you pressed it near the top, the button would get stuck in the down position – and yes, it did shut down our PC when we weren’t paying attention.
We didn’t experience this issue with the bigger Meshify 2, so it’s very possible that it’s something down to our sample. But if you have the same issue, don’t hesitate to ask Fractal Design for a fix . A sticking power button shouldn’t happen with any case, especially not one that costs $110.
Otherwise, top IO comprises discrete headphone and mic jacks, a USB Type-C port, and two USB 3.0 ports – all very complete.
To pull off the side panels, you simply pull them from the rear tab and take them off the case – it’s that easy. With that, we move on to the case’s internals.
Internal Layout
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When it comes to the interior layout of the Meshify 2 Compact, there’s very little worth mentioning – it’s all very industry standard with a main motherboard compartment with room for GPUs up to 13.4 inches (341 mm) long with the front fans installed (14.2 inches, or 360 mm without), CPU coolers up to 6.7-inches (169 mm) tall, two 3.5-inch drives in the PSU compartment and two 2.5-inch drives behind the motherboard tray.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
What I also appreciate is the cable management system. The case comes with rubber grommets on almost all access points to the main compartment, which goes a long way to making things look tidy on the inside by hiding the clutter behind the motherboard tray.
Cooling
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You can fit up to a 240mm AIO at the top of the case, along with up to a 360mm AIO at the front. The PSU shroud will be in the way of longer radiators on the intake, but it has removable pieces to make space for bigger coolers. Just note that if you do install a large radiator at the front, you’ll have to bump the HDD tray to make space. That said, 280mm radiators will fit fine without this sacrifice.
Of course, the Meshify 2 Compact’s strength is in cooling. The chassis comes from the factory with two 140mm fans on the intake and one 120mm fan at the rear exhaust, which is very complete indeed. That’s more than most cases, but it should be for $110.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Filtration is provided on every possible intake location, including the top exhaust. The front filter is easily removed by swinging the door open, pulling it out of its hinge, and then removing the filter. You can access the top filter by pulling off the top panel from the rear.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Another detail we appreciate is the bottom filter, as it’s removable from the front of the case. If you’re like us and have the back of your PC stuck near a wall, you know how annoying it can be to have to move the entire chassis to get to the PSU’s filter.
I would like to thank Phanteks for supplying the review sample.
When Phanteks introduced the original Evolv Shift, it made quite the headlines. Now, over 3 years later, Phanteks has introduced the Evolv Shift 2, which comes with a lot of subtle but functional changes while keeping the design fundamentals of the original.
The Phanteks Evolv Shift 2 comes in two color options: “satin black” and “anthracite gray,” which are, as the names imply, black and a dark gray. On top of that, you may pick between a glass or cloth side panel variant, the latter of which is the Evolv Shift 2 Air. We got the version with glass, but Phanteks was kind enough to also send us some cloth panels so that you can see how that setup performs.
Specifications
Phanteks Evolv Shift 2
Case Type:
Vertical Small Form Factor
Material:
Aluminium, glass, and steel
Weight:
N/A
Slots:
2
Drive Bays:
Up to 4x internal 2.5″ (2 included) 1x internal 3.5″
Motherboard Form Factors:
Mini-ITX
Dimensions:
170 x 490 x 274 mm (W x H x D)
Front Door/Cover:
N/A
Front Fans:
N/A
Rear Fans:
2x 120 / 140 mm (1x SK 140 mm D-RGB fan pre-installed)
The XPG Pylon 650 is a top offering in this efficiency and wattage category.
For
Full power at 40 degrees Celsius
Good overall performance
Build quality is high enough
Low inrush currents
Highly efficient 5VSB rail
FDB fan
Long cables and 2x EPS connectors
Compact dimensions
Low EMI emissions
Compatible with the Alternative Sleep Mode
Against
Not modular and both EPS connectors are on the same cable
Lower than 17ms hold-up time
Transient response is not so good
Ripple at 12V could be lower
Gets noisy at higher loads (>450W)
Specifications and Part Analysis
The XPG Pylon 650W is a very good offering in the category of affordable, mid-range PSUs, taking the lead from most of its competitors. Only the Cooler Master MWE Bronze with similar capacity achieves higher overall performance. Still, the Pylon has a quieter operation, although its fan speed profile could be a bit more relaxed. If you need RGB lighting and you don’t have a problem spending more, the Corsair CX650F RGB is another option in this category. For higher-end offerings in the 650W category, check our best PSU picks.
XPG decided to enter the affordable PSU category with the new Pylon series, consisting of four models with capacities ranging from 450W to 750W. All have ratings from both 80 PLUS (Bronze) and Cybenetics (Silver) and use a platform offered by Channel Well Technology (CWT). The Pylon with 650W max power will be this review’s main subject. It has enough power to support a stock Nvidia RTX 3060 and an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU, allowing you to build a competent gaming system.
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Product Photos
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There are no modular cables in the Pylon units, and this will probably be a let down for most users, but fixed cables cost less and allow for lower price tags. The Pylon 650 has the same compact dimensions as the other models in this line, and it uses a fluid dynamic bearing from Hong Hua. It is not common to see an FDB fan in this category, which besides lower noise output, has a higher lifetime, as well. Finally, the warranty is three-years long, which is satisfactory, but Thermaltake offers five-years in its Smart BM2 line, which uses the same CWT platform without the part upgrades that XPG asked for.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Product Photos
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Specifications
Manufacturer (OEM)
CWT
Max. DC Output
650W
Efficiency
80 PLUS Bronze, Cybenetics Silver (85-87%)
Noise
Cybenetics S++ (30-35 dB[A])
Modular
✗
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
✓
Operating Temperature (Continuous Full Load)
0 – 40°C
Over Voltage Protection
✓
Under Voltage Protection
✓
Over Power Protection
✓
Over Current (+12V) Protection
✓
Over Temperature Protection
✓
Short Circuit Protection
✓
Surge Protection
✓
Inrush Current Protection
✓
Fan Failure Protection
✗
No Load Operation
✓
Cooling
120mm Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan (HA1225H12F-Z)
Semi-Passive Operation
✗
Dimensions (W x H x D)
150 x 85 x 140mm
Weight
1.97 kg (4.34 lb)
Form Factor
ATX12V v2.52, EPS 2.92
Warranty
3 Years
Power Specifications
Rail
3.3V
5V
12V
5VSB
-12V
Max. Power
Amps
20
20
54
2.5
Watts
110
648
12.5
3.6
Total Max. Power (W)
650
Cables & Connectors
Native Cables
Description
Cable Count
Connector Count (Total)
Gauge
In Cable Caps
ATX connector 20+4 pin (660mm)
1
1
18-22AWG
No
8 pin EPS12V (650mm) / 4+4 pinEPS12V (+150mm)
1
1 / 1
18AWG
No
6+2 pin PCIe (560mm+150mm)
2
4
18AWG
No
SATA (560mm+150mm+150mm) / 4-pin Molex (+150mm)
2
6 / 2
18AWG
No
SATA (560mm+150mm) / 4-pin Molex (+150mm) / FDD (+150mm)
1
2 / 1 / 1
18-20AWG
No
Modular Cables
AC Power Cord (1380mm) – C13 coupler
1
1
18AWG
–
The PSU has two EPS connectors, which is an asset, but the problem is that both are installed on the same cable, so you cannot fully utilize them. The proper way to offer two EPS connectors is through dedicated cables.
All of the cables are long enough, and there are an adequate number of peripheral connectors, although it would be better to replace the FDD connector with a 4-pin Molex one. Finally, the distance between the peripheral connectors is long enough, at 150mm.
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Cable Photos
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Component Analysis
We strongly encourage you to have a look at our PSUs 101 article, which provides valuable information about PSUs and their operation, allowing you to better understand the components we’re about to discuss.
General Data
–
Manufacturer (OEM)
CWT
PCB Type
Single Sided
Primary Side
–
Transient Filter
4x Y caps, 2x X caps, 2x CM chokes, 1x MOV, 1x CAP200DG (Discharge IC)
Inrush Protection
NTC Thermistor SCK – 2R58 (2.5 Ohm)
Bridge Rectifier(s)
1x GBU1506 (600V, 15A @ 100°C)
APFC MOSFETs
2x Great Power GP18S50G (500V, 18A, Rds(on): 0.19Ohm)
Hong Hua HA1225H12F-Z (120mm, 12V, 0.58A, Fluid Dynamic Bearing Fan)
5VSB Circuit
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Standby PWM Controller
Power Integrations TNY287PG
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Overall Photos
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The heat sinks are small on both the primary and secondary sides. Despite the small PCB, there is ample space between components, so the airflow is good. The only cramped area is hosting the fixed cables, which can only be fixed with a modular board. The latter would notably increase the production cost, though.
The build quality is good, and XPG used Elite caps on the secondary side to boost reliability without increasing the BOM (bill of materials) cost. The FDB fan is also an asset to this product.
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Transient filter
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The EMI filter includes all necessary parts to restrict EMI emissions effectively. It also has a discharge IC to provide a small efficiency boost.
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A single bridge rectifier is used, which is bolted onto a small heat sink.
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APFC converter
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The APFC converter uses two Great Power FETs and a single boost diode, provided by On Semiconductor. The bulk cap is my Chemi-Con, and it is the largest that this platform can support.
The combo PFC/PWM controller is a Champion CM6800 IC, which was popular some years ago. It is supported by a CM03X controller, which restricts energy losses when the PSU is on standby.
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Main FETs and primary transformer
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The main FETs are by Silan Microelectronics and have higher RDS (on) than the APFC converter’s FETs, so more energy will go wasted on them.
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12V SBRs and VRMs
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The 12V rail uses Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBRs) instead of FETs. SBRs allow for lower ripple, but they are not so efficient because they have higher voltage drops than FETs, where energy losses are tied to the RDS (on) value.
CWT installed a pair of DC-DC converters for the minor rails, which use four FETs and an ANPEC PWM controller.
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Filtering caps
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All caps on the secondary side, both electrolytic and polymer, are provided by Elite, so they are of good quality. In this category, Japanese caps would increase the price notably, so Elite is a good alternative.
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5VSB Circuit
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The standby PWM controller is a Power Integrations TNY287PG.
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For the supervisor IC (IN1S429I – DCG) there is no information available.
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Soldering quality
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Soldering quality is satisfactory.
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Cooling fan
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It is great to see an FDB fan in this category, where rifle and sleeve bearing fans are mostly used.
Razer’s Tomahawk takes an excellent case as foundation and bolts on some basic design flaws, ruining a case design that could otherwise have been brilliant
For
Absolute tank of a chassis
Heavy, quality materials
Quiet operation
Great looks
Against
Restricted front intake
Air doesn’t flow through front intake filter
Only includes one fan
Thermally abysmal
Features and Specifications
When Razer announced its Tomahawk ATX chassis, the first thing that stood out to me is that it appeared to carry the same internals as the Lian Li Lancool II Mesh, a case that we awarded full marks. As such, the Tomahawk ATX is off to a good start, but there’s one big elephant in the room that we must address before we continue: this Razer chassis, despite the same foundations, costs a mighty $200 – twice the price of Lian Li’s excellence.
Therefore, when Razer offered to send a sample, I was very curious to find out where the added $100 went. So without further ado, let’s find out whether the Tomahawk ATX is actually worth its price tag and deserving of a spot on our Best PC Cases list, or whether you should save yourself some money and opt for the excellent Lancool II Mesh instead.
Specifications
Type
Mid-Tower ATX
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX, Micro-ATX, ATX, E-ATX (280 mm)
Dimensions (HxWxD)
18.7 x 9.3 x 19.5 inches (475 x 235 x 494 mm)
Max GPU Length
15.1 inches (384 mm)
CPU Cooler Height
6.9 inches (176 mm)
Max PSU Length
8.3 inches (210 mm)
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
3x 3.5-inch
2x 2.5-inch
Expansion Slots
7x
Front I/O
2x USB 3.0
3.5 mm Headphone
3.5mm Mic
Other
2x (Removable) Tempered Glass Panel
Chroma RGB Controller
Front Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm, 3x 120mm)
Rear Fans
1x 120mm (Up to 1x 120mm)
Top Fans
None (Up to 2x 140mm)
Bottom Fans
None (Up to 2x 120 mm on PSU shroud)
Side Fans
✗
RGB
Yes, Razer Chroma
Damping
No
Warranty
1 Year
Features
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Circling around the outside of the chassis, it’s clear that Razer opted for a very clean and blocky style. It’s quite appealing really, as paired with the extremely dark-tinted glass panels, the chassis has a heft, power, and mystery to it. This thing does look like a $200 case.
But don’t miss me when I say heft – this is a chonky 30-pound (13.5 kg) boy. I’m not kidding when I say it was a challenge to take out of the box.
Okay, so maybe I’ve been away from the gym too much in this pandemic, but all the 0.8mm thick steel and oceans of tempered glass do give the case a quality feel. It’s built like an absolute tank and that goes a long way toward justifying the price point.
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Both the tempered glass panels swing outwards to open up. First, you press them once to click them out, after which you can pull the door away from the magnet – or if you don’t want to get fingerprints on them, just grab the panels from below to pull them out. After opening all the way, you can lift both panels off their hinges.
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And with the hinges, Razer went the extra mile. Whereas the Lancool II has hinges on the outside that kind of look a little cheap, Razer designed a hinge that sits on the inside of the case, giving a much cleaner appearance on the outside – even if it’s at the back of the case.
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Front IO comprises USB-C (something that’s an optional extra on the Lancool II Mesh), two USB 3.0 ports, and discrete headphone and mic jacks.
Internal Layout
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Turning to the inside of the chassis, on the motherboard side we find space for up to 280 mm wide E-ATX motherboards, though you’ll have to remove the cable management cover to fit such boards. Standard-width ATX boards fit best. GPUs can be up to 15.1 inches (384 mm) long and CPU coolers up to 176mm tall.
The PSU shroud has a door that’s also magnetically held in place and can flip down for access. Here you’ll find a trio of 3.5-inch caddies that slide out toward you. There’s plenty of space here for large PSUs too, with supported lengths of up to 8.3 inches (210mm).
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Behind the motherboard tray on the other side of the case you’ll find two 2.5-inch drive bays. These can be moved to the top of the PSU shroud if you want to show off pretty SATA SSDs. You’ll also find the cable management space here with three Velcro straps and the Chroma RGB hub. This hub connects to and is powered through an internal USB 2.0 header.
Cooling
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When it comes to cooling, I suspect things are going to get interesting with the Tomahawk ATX – and I don’t mean that in a good way.
Starting with the good stuff, the case has plenty of room for fans and radiators. You can fit up to two 140mm spinners at the top, two 140mm spinners at the front (or three 120mm units in both cases), two 120mm fans on top of the PSU shroud, and one 120mm spinner at the rear exhaust location. There’s also lots of radiator space in here.
Where things go sour is in the intake design and the included fans – or rather, lack thereof. From the factory, Razer only includes a single 120mm fan, and it isn’t even PWM controlled, nor does it feature any RGB. This isn’t the kind of skimping you expect to see on a $200 case.
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That being said, we’ve proved in the past that cases can get away with a single fan, right? Well, yes, but only if the intake is open mesh – which it isn’t here. As you can see in the images above, the front intake for the Tomahawk ATX is severely restricted, with an attempt at filtration behind the already tight perforation on the front edges.
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To make matters worse, the case also has a shortcut that air can take around this intake – at the bottom handhold to pull the front panel off. As such, the Tomahawk ATX doesn’t have any real airflow path, nor proper intake filtration – this system will get dirty on the inside faster than other cases.
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Fortunately the power supply does have a good air filter, so you won’t need to tear it apart for cleanup jobs.
What’s the best mining GPU, and is it worth getting into the whole cryptocurrency craze? Bitcoin and Ethereum mining are making headlines again; prices and mining profitability are way up compared to the last couple of years. Everyone who didn’t start mining last time is kicking themselves for their lack of foresight. Not surprisingly, the best graphics cards and those chips at the top of our GPU benchmarks hierarchy end up being very good options for mining as well. How good? That’s what we’re here to discuss, as we’ve got hard numbers on hashing performance, prices, power, and more.
We’re not here to encourage people to start mining, and we’re definitely not suggesting you should mortgage your house or take out a big loan to try and become the next big mining sensation. Mostly, we’re looking at the hard data based on current market conditions. Predicting where cryptocurrencies will go next is even more difficult than predicting the weather, politics, or the next big meme. Chances are, if you don’t already have the hardware required to get started on mining today (or really, about two months ago), you’re already late and won’t see the big gains that others are talking about. Like the old gold rush, the ones most likely to strike it rich are those selling equipment to the miners rather than the miners themselves.
If you’ve looked for a new (or used) graphics card lately, the current going prices probably caused at least a raised eyebrow, maybe even two or three! We’ve heard from people who have said, in effect, “I figured with the Ampere and RDNA2 launches, it was finally time to retire my old GTX 1070/1080 or RX Vega 56/64. Then I looked at prices and realized my old card is selling for as much as I paid over three years ago!” They’re not wrong. Pascal and Vega cards from three or four years ago are currently selling at close to their original launch prices — sometimes more. If you’ve got an old graphics card sitting around, you might even consider selling it yourself (though finding a replacement could prove difficult).
Ultimately, we know many gamers and PC enthusiasts are upset at the lack of availability for graphics cards (and Zen 3 CPUs), but we cover all aspects of hardware — not just gaming. We’ve looked at GPU mining many times over the years, including back in 2011, 2014, and 2017. Those are all times when the price of Bitcoin shot up, driving interest and demand. 2021 is just the latest in the crypto coin mining cycle. About the only prediction we’re willing to make is that prices on Bitcoin and Ethereum will change in the months and years ahead — sometimes up, and sometimes down. And just like we’ve seen so many times before, the impact on graphics card pricing and availability will continue to exist. You should also be aware that, based on past personal experience that some of us have running consumer graphics cards 24/7, it is absolutely possible to burn out the fans, VRMs, or other elements on your card. Proceed at your own risk.
The Best Mining GPUs Benchmarked, Tested and Ranked
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With that preamble out of the way, let’s get to the main point: What are the best mining GPUs? This is somewhat on a theoretical level, as you can’t actually buy the cards at retail for the most part, but we have a solution for that as well. We’re going to use eBay pricing — on sold listings — and take the data from the past seven days (for prices). We’ll also provide some charts showing pricing information from the past three months (90 days) from eBay, where most GPUs show a clear upward trend. How much can you make by mining Ethereum with a graphics card, and how long will it take to recover the cost of the card using the currently inflated eBay prices? Let’s take a look.
For this chart, we’ve used the current difficulty and price of Ethereum — because nothing else is coming close to GPU Ethereum for mining profitability right now. We’ve tested all of these GPUs on our standard test PC, which uses a Core i9-9900K, MSI MEG Z390 ACE motherboard, 2x16GB Corsair DDR4-3600 RAM, a 2TB XPG M.2 SSD, and a SeaSonic 850W 80 Plus Platinum certified PSU. We’ve tuned mining performance using either NBminer or PhoenixMiner, depending on the GPU, with an eye toward minimizing power consumption while maximizing hash rates. We’ve used $0.10 per kWh for power costs, which is much lower than some areas of the world but also higher than others. Then we’ve used the approximate eBay price divided by the current daily profits to come up with a time to repay the cost of the graphics card.
It’s rather surprising to see older GPUs at the very top of the list, but that’s largely based on the current going prices. GTX 1060 6GB and RX 590 can both hit modest hash rates, and they’re the two least expensive GPUs in the list. Power use isn’t bad either, meaning it’s feasible to potentially run six GPUs off a single PC — though then you’d need PCIe riser cards and other extras that would add to the total cost.
Note that the power figures for all GPUs are before taking PSU efficiency into account. That means actual power use (not counting the CPU, motherboard, and other PC components) will be higher. For the RTX 3080 as an example, total wall outlet power for a single GPU on our test PC is about 60W more than what we’ve listed in the chart. If you’re running multiple GPUs off a single PC, total waste power would be somewhat lower, though it really doesn’t impact things that much. (If you take the worst-case scenario and add 60W to every GPU, the time to break even only increases by 4-5 days.)
It’s also fair to say that our test results are not representative of all graphics cards of a particular model. RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 can run high GDDR6X temperatures without some tweaking, but if you do make the effort, the 3090 can potentially do 120-125MH/s. That would still only put the 3090 at third from the bottom in terms of time to break even, but it’s quite good in terms of power efficiency, and it’s the fastest GPU around. There’s certainly something to be said for mining with fewer higher efficiency GPUs if you can acquire them.
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Here’s the real problem: None of the above table has any way of predicting the price of Ethereum or the mining difficulty. Guessing at the price is like guessing at the value of any other commodity: It may go up or down, and Ethereum, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies are generally more volatile than even the most volatile of stocks. On the other hand, mining difficulty tends to increase over time and rarely goes down, as the rate of increased difficulty is directly tied to how many people (PCs, GPUs, ASICs, etc.) are mining.
So, the above is really a best-case scenario for when you’d break even on the cost of a GPU. Actually, that’s not true. The best-case scenario is that the price of Ethereum doubles or triples or whatever, and then everyone holding Ethereum makes a bunch of money. Until people start to cash out and the price drops, triggering panic sells and a plummeting price. That happened in 2018 with Ethereum, and it’s happened at least three times during the history of Bitcoin. Like we said: Volatile. But here we are at record highs, so everyone is happy and nothing could possibly ever go wrong this time. Until it does.
Still, there are obviously plenty of people who believe in the potential of Ethereum, Bitcoin, and blockchain technologies. Even at today’s inflated GPU prices, which are often double the MSRPs for the latest cards, and higher than MSRP for just about everything, the worst cards on the chart (RTX 3090 and RX 6900 XT) would still theoretically pay for themselves in less than seven months. And even if the value of the coins drops, you still have the hardware that’s at least worth something (provided the card doesn’t prematurely die due to heavy mining use). Which means, despite the overall rankings (in terms of time to break even), you’re generally better off buying newer hardware if possible.
Here’s a look at what has happened with GPU pricing during the past 90 days, using tweaked code from:
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti: The newest and least expensive of the Ampere GPUs, it’s just as fast as the RTX 3070 and sometimes costs less. After tuning, it’s also the most efficient GPU for Ethereum right now, using under 120W while breaking 60MH/s.
Radeon RX 5700: AMD’s previous generation Navi GPUs are very good at mining, and can break 50MH/s while using about 135W of power. The vanilla 5700 is as fast as the 5700 XT and costs less, making it a great overall choice.
GeForce RTX 2060 Super: Ethereum mining needs a lot of memory bandwidth, and all of the RTX 20-series GPUs with 8GB end up at around 44MH/s and 130W of power, meaning you should buy whichever is cheapest. That’s usually the RTX 2060 Super.
Radeon RX 590: All the Polaris GPUs with 8GB of GDDR5 memory (including the RX 580 8GB, RX 570 8GB, RX 480 8GB, and RX 470 8GB) end up with relatively similar performance, depending on how well your card’s memory overclocks. The RX 590 is currently the cheapest (theoretically), but all of the Polaris 10/20 GPUs remain viable. Just don’t get the 4GB models!
Radeon RX Vega 56: Overall performance is good, and some cards can perform much better — our reference models used for testing are more of a worst-case choice for most of the GPUs. After tuning, some Vega 56 cards might even hit 45-50MH/s, which would put this at the top of the chart.
Radeon RX 6800: Big Navi is potent when it comes to hashing, and all of the cards we’ve tested hit similar hash rates of around 65MH/s and 170W power use. The RX 6800 is generally several hundred dollars cheaper than the others and used a bit less power, making it the clear winner. Plus, when you’re not mining, it’s a very capable gaming GPU.
GeForce RTX 3080: This is the second-fastest graphics card right now, for mining and gaming purposes. The time to break even is only slightly worse than the other GPUs, after which profitability ends up being better overall. And if you ever decide to stop mining, this is the best graphics card for gaming — especially if it paid for itself! At around 95MH/s, it will also earn money faster after you recover the cost of the hardware (if you break even, of course).
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What About Ethereum ASICs?
One final topic worth discussing is ASIC mining. Bitcoin (SHA256), Litecoin (Scrypt), and many other popular cryptocurrencies have reached the point where companies have put in the time and effort to create dedicated ASICs — Application Specific Integrated Circuits. Just like GPUs were originally ASICs designed for graphics workloads, ASICs designed for mining are generally only good at one specific thing. Bitcoin ASICs do SHA256 hashing really, really fast (some can do around 25TH/s while using 1000W — that’s trillions of hashes per second), Litecoin ASICs do Scrypt hashing fast, and there are X11, Equihash, and even Ethereum ASICs.
The interesting thing with hashing is that many crypto coins and hashing algorithms have been created over the years, some specifically designed to thwart ASIC mining. Usually, that means creating an algorithm that requires more memory, and Ethereum falls into that category. Still, it’s possible to optimize hardware to hash faster while using less power than a GPU. Some of the fastest Ethereum ASICs (e.g. Innosilicon A10 Pro) can reportedly do around 500MH/s while using only 1000W. That’s about ten times more efficient than the best GPUs. Naturally, the cost of such ASICs is prohibitively expensive, and every big miner and their dog wants a bunch of them. They’re all sold out, in other words, just like GPUs.
Ethereum has actually tried to deemphasize mining, but obviously that didn’t quite work out. Ethereum 2.0 was supposed to put an end to proof of work hashing, transitioning to a proof of stake model. We won’t get into the complexities of the situation, other than to note that Ethereum mining very much remains a hot item, and there are other non-Ethereum coins that use the same hashing algorithm (though none are as popular / profitable as ETH). Eventually, the biggest cryptocurrencies inevitably end up being supported by ASICs rather than GPUs — or CPUs or FPGAs. But we’re not at that point for Ethereum yet.
Update: The original listing for the PSU is sold out. It is available from another seller on NewEgg here for $330 instead. Original Article below:
Using GPUs for mining cryptocurrency, especially Ethereum, is currently witnessing an intense flare-up, and manufacturers are coming out with all sorts of devices to make it easier. In that light of that, EVGA’s new power supply is just what you need to set up a lavish mining rig, packing a 1300 W power rating and including cables for up to six GPUs, as spotted by Vortez.
Of course, EVGA isn’t being loud about the launch — there was no announcement or press release. Rather, the unit just appeared on NewEgg, seemingly out of nowhere, but I guess this is logical: companies that come out with mining hardware aren’t exactly popular right now. The PSU also isn’t listed on EVGA’s website either.
The power supply comes with an 80-plus Gold rating, is fully modular, and has all the protection mechanisms we’d expect from a modern power supply including over-voltage protection, short-circuit protection, over-temperature protection, and a few more.
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The actual 12V stable power output is rated at 1296 W, which is not a figure to scoff at. Included cabling comprises a single 4+4 pin cable for the CPU (because mining rigs don’t need much CPU power), an ATX power cable, and some molex and SATA power cables.
Meanwhile, it’s not exactly clear how many GPU cables the power supply comes with. Newegg’s page suggests twelve 6+2 pin and six 6-pin power cables for your GPUs, but the image shows six cables with a 6+2 pin and 6 pin configuration — either way, enough for six GPUs.
The included warranty is surprisingly good with 3 years on parts and two years on labor — I’d have expected less given that buyers of this power supply are likely to run it at near-full power much more than most PSUs conventionally would.
The PSU is currently in stock for a price of $330.
Does This Mining Craze Upset You Too? You’re Not Alone
Of course, this is all bad news for gamers, who would rather not see crypto reach these levels of popularity and want the ability to purchase graphics cards at somewhat normal prices. The GPU situation was already bad before the new crypto bubble, and this makes matters even worse.
Component shortages including display panels and circuits for LCD screens may extend the laptop shortage into the first quarter of 2021, according to a new report from Digitimes.
This runs counter to the publication’s previous research, which estimated that increased interest in remote work and study would cause laptop shipments for 2021’s first quarter to drop by less than 10% as opposed to the typical 15-25% of past years. Digitimes was even speculating that, due to the pandemic, global laptop shipments could “double on year due to lower comparison basis for first-quarter 2020.”
Laptop shipments normally take a hit in the early year thanks in part to Lunar New Year festivities in China, which leave fewer workers to help make components. However, Digitimes‘ sources are now saying to expect an even more drastic decrease in “driver ICs, display panels and passive components” that could make the publication’s predictions moot. Let’s not even get into the possibility that laptops are being used for mining.
The sources didn’t give many details to speak of in terms of numbers or root causes, but the sources did say that Chinese manufacturers are already planning to maintain a more standard workload during the Lunar New Year holidays to help counteract the supposed shortage. The sources also said ODMs are currently stocking up on supplier shipments to help offset shortage expectations that they’re predicting will last throughout the year’s first half.
This would also fall in line with Digitimes‘ data, which says that laptop keyboard, camera module and PSU suppliers saw their revenues hit record highs in 2021 and have clear order visibility through the second quarter.
We would like to thank XPG for supplying the review sample.
XPG is going strong in the PSU segment because of their great Core Reactor PSUs, two of which (850 W and 750 W) I have reviewed. XPG now also has a more affordable line for those seeking less expensive but still reliable power supplies. The Pylon series consists of four models with capacities ranging from 450 W to 750 W. In this review, I will take a look at the strongest of these, the XPG Pylon 750 W.
It uses a CWT platform (CSB-A), which offers good performance for the price. With the part upgrades XPG had implemented by the OEM, the platform has also improved in performance and reliability. I will go through these part upgrades in the components section of this review. To keep cost low, the modular cables were the first to go since they would have notably increased the price. So if you don’t like native cables, this PSU is not for you.
With the 80 PLUS Bronze and Cybenetics Silver efficiency certifications, platform efficiency is sufficient for those on tight budgets. Because of the current situation, shipping cost has skyrocketed as well, and while stock isn’t high, prices are. $100–$110 would have gotten you a Gold 750 W PSU before. As such, many buyers are turning to 80 PLUS Bronze/Cybernetics Silver certified PSUs instead. Hopefully, the situation will normalize soon.
Specifications
XPG Pylon 750
Features & Specifications
Max. DC Output
750 W
PFC
Active PFC
Efficiency (230 V)
80 PLUS Bronze, Cybenetics Silver (87%–89%)
Noise (230 V)
Cybenetics Standard++ (30–35 dBA)
Modular
No
Intel C6/C7 Power State Support
Yes
Operating Temperature
0–40 °C
Protections
Over Voltage Protection Under Voltage Protection Over Power Protection Over Temperature Protection Over Current Protection Short Circuit Protection
In recent years, several representatives from PC case companies have told us that mini-ITX cases are a niche, without enough interest to be worth heavily investing in. Yet oddly, over that same period, more and more companies seem to be churning out these compact small form-factor (SFF) chassis.
The latest entry into the mini-ITX case space is the Meshlcious, from Ssupd (Sunny side up design), a new spinoff brand from Lian Li. As you might guess by the name, the Meshlicious is all about mesh–or nearly, as the case ships with one tempered-glass side panel, which can be attached to either the GPU or CPU side of the case. It will also be available in either black or white. Our review unit arrived dressed in black.
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At 14.17 x 9.65 x 6.55 inches, the Meshlicious is similar in size to the Jonsbo A4 case we used for the
RGBaby build
last year (the A4 is 13.39 x 10.75 x 6.65 inches), and much smaller than the last ITX case I built in,
Asus’ ROG Z11
(20.9 x 7.6 x 15.2 inches) pictured above. At $119 (MSRP) the Meshlicious is also much cheaper than either of those cases, while offering up lots of versatility (within the confines of its 14.67 liter volume), as well as a riser cable for showing off your graphics card. To help keep your components cool, it has mesh covering four of its six sides (or five if you spend $30 on a second mesh side panel to replace the glass side that ships in the box). As I found during testing, though, you’ll probably want to add at least one front intake fan.
Despite its small size, the Meshlicious supports graphics cards up to 12.6 inches and four-slots thick, thanks to a motherboard tray that can be slid forward or back to make room for thick cards. Just note that, as with all cases this small, there are a whole lot of limitations due to space constraints. Installing a long graphics card limits space for SATA storage, for instance. And while you can use a full-size ATX power supply, you may want to opt for a modular SFX PSU just so that there’s less excess cabling to hide. There’s really nowhere to hide excess bulky power cables.
Specifications
Type
Mid-ITX Tower
Motherboard Support
Mini-ITX
Dimensions (HxWxD, vertical orientation)
14.17 x 9.65 x 6.55 inches (360 x 245 x 166.4mm)
Max GPU Length
12.6 inches (320 mm)
CPU Cooler Height
2.87 inches (73mm) with 3-slot GPU, 2.09 inches (53 mm) with 4-slot GPU
External Bays
✗
Internal Bays
Up to 2x 3.5-inch and 3x 2.5-inch with SFF GPU, or 3x 2.5-inch with full-length GPU
Expansion Slots
1x
Front I/O
1x USB 3 Type-A, 1x USB-C
Other
Tempered Glass Side Panel
Front Fans
None (2x 120/140mm supported)
Rear Fans
None
Top Fans
None
Bottom Fans
None
Weight
8.16 pounds (3.7 kg)
Warranty
?
Panels Galore
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Working in the Meshlicious is fairly easy for an SFF chassis, thanks to its easily removable panels. Every side save for the bottom has one, and by default, all are mesh except for one side which is tempered glass with a moderate tint. As noted earlier, you can pop that glass side on either the motherboard side or the graphics card side, depending on which you want to show off.
Metal push pins hold all the sides on, and they stay on snugly and pop off with ease. This is a mechanism I wish more case makers would use, though I’m sure it works much better with small panels than it would with large full-ATX towers. The case and side panels are all steel (save for the glass panel) and reasonably thick and rigid. Nothing feels cheap or flimsy, which is nice given the case’s relatively low price for an ITX chassis.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With the side panels off, the Meshlicious becomes a minimal shell, housing a PCIe 3.0/4.0 riser cable for vertically mounting your graphics card, and a few cables for the top-panel connections. (The $119 version we tested has a PCIe 3.0 cable, but a $159 version with a PCIe 4.0 cable will also be available.)
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Speaking of the top ports, things are fairly minimal (like the rest of the case’s design), with one USB 3 Type-A port and one Type-C. There’s no real need for an audio jack in a case this small, given that the audio ports around back are inches away from the front, and will generally deliver better audio than external ports would anyway.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The included accessories are also minimal, and include a bracket for mounting SATA drives, which you’ll need to leave in the box if using a long graphics card — as I did for this build. Also included is an angled HDMI cable, which you’ll need if using a full-size graphics card, as the Graphics card ports are at the bottom in this layout. The cable I got was quite short at just over three feet (not quite enough to make it to my arm-mounted test monitor), but a company rep told me Ssupd would make a change to include a longer cable (and larger zip ties) on future shipments, although initial versions will likely include what you see above. The zip ties included aren’t nearly big enough to wrangle the excess mess of power cables I encountered with my ATX power supply.
The silver aluminum bar above is a shorter mount for the motherboard tray. You’ll use this if installing a four-slot graphics card, to shift the tray more toward the motherboard side. Keep in mind that doing this also minimizes the cooler clearance, which is also quite limited to begin with. You get 2.87 inches of CPU cooler clearance as standard, which shrinks to 2.09 inches if you make room for a thicker card. That means if you’re using a 4-slot card, there will even be some AIO coolers you’ll need to avoid. As I used a slim Noctua air cooler (more on this below), the limited space here wasn’t an issue.
The 2.5-slot Zotac RTX 2080 Amp Extreme I used fit without adjusting the motherboard tray, but left little room between the side panel and the case fans. So I’d recommend either opting for the mesh panel on the GPU side or moving the motherboard back. 240 or 280 mm radiators (or just 120/140mm fans) are supported in the front for cooling your CPU. But note if adding a fan and radiator, things will likely get very tight, since this is also where your excess power cable slack also needs to go. Even if you just install intake fans here, you may have issues with cables pushing up against your fan blades. So you’ll need to take extra care to keep this from happening.
The case supports either SFX or larger ATX power supplies, although the bracket of an SFX power supply comes pre-installed. And I’d recommend using one of these smaller supplies if at all possible, since it will give you extra space and you’ll likely have less cable slack. I used a modular ATX Seasonic Focus PSU and wound up with a big ugly bundle of cables zip-tied together and no place to hide them.
The Meshlcious supports basically two distinct component layouts, each with a mini-ITX motherboard. You can either use a small-form-factor graphics card mounted horizontally, up to 8.3 inches (or less with a front radiator), or a longer full-sized GPU up to 12.6 inches mounted vertically (which is what I installed). With the former, you can also install a drive rail system for 3.5 or 2.5-inch drives. With averically mounted longer GPU you’re limited to mounting two 2.5-inch drives on the bottom of the case. Rather than go over the full details of possible layouts, here are a couple of diagrams, direct from Ssupd.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The build scenario I went with was a combination of these two, using an air cooler like in the image above, left with a long GPU (below, right).
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Building in the Ssupd Meshlicious
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
With the four sides popped off in a matter of seconds, building in the Ssupd Meshlicious was fairly straightforward, at least at first.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
For the sake of simplicity, I carried over the core components from the Asus ROG Z11 case story, including an ROG Strix B550-I Gaming motherboard, an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU, a low-profile Noctua NH-L9a-AM4 chromax.Black CPU cooler, and the aforementioned Zotac RTX 2080 graphics card. We would have loved to upgrade to a Rzyen 5 CPU and a 30-series graphics card. But in case you haven’t noticed, both have been extremely scarce since launch, and for our purposes here, the existing parts work just fine.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
I dropped the motherboard in first, complete with the cooler and RAM. Next I tried to jam the ATX power supply in before realizing the SFX bracket comes pre-installed. I removed that via four screws, then slotted in the Seasonic ATX PSU in the area to the right in the image above. That went without issue, until I realized the GPU riser cable wasn’t fully extended on the other side, and was stuck behind my power supply. So I had to remove the PSU momentarily and secure the PCIe slot near the bottom of the case for the vertical RTX 2080. For smaller cards mounted horizontally, the cable gets mounted near the top.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
That done, I was ready to install the graphics card and the sole SATA SSD for this build, an attractive Team Group T-Force Delta Max RGB model that added some extra RGB to this case that ships without lighting or fans. In this configuration, another 2.5 inch drive can be mounted on the bottom, in a tight spot below the power supply. But for that you’ll need remove the PSU, or install it and connect the cables before installing the power supply. Again, for those who want to install more than two 2.5-inch drives here, you’ll need to use the drive bracket, which necessitates you also use a much shorter graphics card, mounted horizontally. But given many ITX motherboards include two M.2 slots (one often hidden on the back like with our Asus board), plus the ability to install two 2.5 inch drives on the floor of the Meshlicous, that should suffice for most setups. If you’re looking to install lots of storage drives, you probably aren’t also looking for a super compact case.
With everything installed in the Meshlicious,it was instantly clear that I had a bunch of excess cabling, mostly from the power supply, but some from the SATA drive (which also requires a USB cable for its light show). And given that the case is so small, there was no place to effectively hide the mess. Had I installed a radiator and fans in the front and used an SFX PSU with shorter cables, perhaps I could have hidden the cables along the back edge of the radiator. But of course the radiator, pump and fans would have introduced more cabling and taken up a fair amount of space itself.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
For the sake of hitting the launch day on this case, I bunched the cables together hastily with a few zip ties and velcro straps and called it a day. I clearly could have been a bit neater, but with the cables near the CPU/motherboard side of the case, they aren’t all that visible with either the tinted tempered-glass side over the GPU area, and even less so if you opt for using the mesh panel here.
Gaming and Conclusion
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Given that most of the sides on the Meshlicious are mesh, you could get away without adding intake fans for plenty of builds, as I did here. But adding at least one in the front would be a good idea. Either that, or if you’re using a large and powerful GPU, you might want to consider buying a second mesh side panel to replace the glass one — even if just during long gaming sessions. The panel can be popped off and replaced in just a few seconds.
After about a half hour of playing Borderlands 3 at high settings with the glass panel on, the panel got surprisingly hot, which isn’t exactly surprising given how close the fans are to the un-vented side panel. And while you could swap the side panels and put mesh in front of the graphics card, that would mean your glass panel is going to sit right up against the intake of your power supply. I don’t have to tell you that restricted airflow like that — at the very least — isn’t great for the longevity of your PSU.
Moving the motherboard tray back nearly an inch, as noted earlier, could alleviate this issue somewhat, but not if you’re using a graphics card that’s 3 slots or more thick. It would have been nice if Ssupd had included at least one fan to mount in the front, but I can also see why the company didn’t. Most people will likely either want to install a front radiator (which will come with a pair of fans on its own) or use specific fans, be they RGB or, say, quiet and efficient Noctua spinners.
And again, for many more modest builds with graphics card TDPs south of 200 watts, you could likely get by without any added fans. After all, the Meshlicious gets its name from the fact that three of its sides are all mesh by default. Opt for a fourth mesh side panel for an extra $30 and your CPU and GPU coolers shouldn’t have an issue dissipating heat themselves.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Just don’t expect the Meshlicious to be any quieter than your components of choice, especially if you opt to put the mesh panel in front of your graphics card. Just as small cases like this involve tradeoffs in terms of component support, a mesh-covered case is going to trade some noise for better thermal dissipation. You should always choose your components wisely. But if building in this Ssupd case is your aim, you’ll want to spend extra time making sure your parts will … mesh well with the Meshlicious.
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