Mr. Fox

FANTASTIC review of the case and fans (pun intended). Very professional and thorough. Nice work, Brother @RageSet.

That is a really nice case, too. It looks like the front glass panel is hinged rather than screwed or snapped to the chassis. Is that accurate?

A trend with rear chamber cases seems to be moving the PSU up from the bottom and having it kind of centered on the rear I/O panel. My O11 XL EVO is like that as well. There are pros and cons to it. I don't like that the PSU partially covers the CPU back plate access hole with the PSU positioned there. But, otherwise I think having the area beneath it open has some benefits.

Well, I put that 14900KF that I recently bought with the excellent SP ratings and SA bug into my mini-ITX Munchkin PC and it's doing quite nice. The only thing holding it back now is the 360 AIO. It can't cool more than 57x all P-core and 46x all E-core effectively even after a delid. I ordered an EK CR360 Direct Die AIO to replace this CR360 Dark AIO so we will see how that does when the IHS isn't holding it back. That won't be arriving until sometime in May (on backorder). I was able to get the memory overclock to 8200 with tight timings. Now I will start pushing the cache and see how much it can handle so I can pull that latency down. If it can manage 51x cache with the 1.130V VCCSA that should bring it down to around 51 ns. I'm getting better results with this little guy, in spite of its thermal and power handling limitations, than some folks are getting with a much larger and more robust platform.
 

I put my Byski RAM jackets on the G.SKILL 8000 and my generic aluminum heat sink strips screwed to the top of them with a Corsair RAM fan blowing on that and now I can finish long memory stability tests without the memory overheating like it does with the crappy stock heating blankets.
 

I just played a little over an hour of MWIII and with enjoyed ~150 FPS with maxed out settings at 1440p using the ARC A770.

5 hours ago, ENTERPRISE said:

 

I agree 100%, we should definitely cater to EHW-adjacent related content, no doubt about that and I will add it to the above list. However, I am also focusing on the basic/common items, such as "How to reset CMOS" as ultimately I am looking to build a library of content. Granted that the topic has been covered a thousand times by other sites and can be found almost anywhere via a Google search, but we should also be one of those thousands of sites picked up on Google search for that type of content, there is no downside

 

As an update, our Tutorial section is ready, I now just need to setup the Drafts category. This category will be made available to all those who want to submit a Tutorial. In this drafts section will also be a template to be followed so that all the submissions follow a common theme. As soon as this is all ready, I will post again here.

The thing is, if we create a tutorial for something simple like clearing CMOS, once it is there, it can be referenced and linked to open in a new window in the context of another tutorial where clearing CMOS is a recommended procedure. So, even if it offers minimal value as a standalone, it can be used to support other tutorials. Then you don't have to waste time explaining how to clear CMOS in a tutorial focused on another topic.

I like it. Fantastic idea. I have identified several topics I could easily tackle. Below (from your list) are things that I routinely do where a tutorial could be benficial to others. Let's see how many respond and want to chip in. As long as it is an area of familiarity to me, you can count on me to fill in gaps if anyone is passionate about taking a specific topic. 

On 28/01/2024 at 07:58, ENTERPRISE said:

- Using NVCleanstall to debloat Nvidia driver installers.

- Overclockers Arsenal - Must have software/utilities for overlockers.

- What services are safe to disable in Windows to free up resources?

- Utilities for tweaking Windows (Winaero Tweaker or similar).

A few similar topics could be things like how to take control of Windows Updates, Tweaking for Performance vs. Security, Disaster Preparedness using Drive Images (Macrium Reflect), How to Multi-Boot Operating Systems, etc.

10 hours ago, Sir Beregond said:

Yeah I don't get why companies do that.

 

Good review and always appreciate the accompanying video reviews/walkthroughs!

Thanks for the compliment, brother.

12 hours ago, RageSet said:

Great professional review as always, brother. I prefer wireless mice but there is still a huge market for those that desire wired peripherals.  

Thanks, brother.  It's a shame they are not going to release it in the US. I don't understand that.

Quote

Our friends at Cooler Master have blessed us with the opportunity to take a close look at one of the newest weapons in their arsenal of peripherals. Namely, the Cooler Master MM712-Wired mouse. Read our review to see how we got on with it.

Features & Specifications

The wired version of Cooler Master's 3rd generation lightweight gaming mouse from the acclaimed MM710 series boasts all of the impressive features of the Pro version. Although limited to a maximum polling rate of 1000Hz due to different hardware than the MM710, it still delivers exceptional performance. You can say goodbye to the cheese grater design. The honeycomb shell that made the MM711 lightweight is gone and the MM712 sports a seamless whole chassis with ergonomic form factor while still maintaining a total weight of less than 50 grams.

• Refined Lightweight Design - Optimized shell to prevent pinching on the right buttom and centered sensor placement on the bottom, all while keeping the weight under 50g

• Elite Gaming-Grade Hardware - High-end PAW3395 optical sensor adjustable up to 26,000 DPI, and optical micro switches rated for 70 million clicks and near-instantaneous input time

• Exclusive Ultraweave Cable - Exceptionally lightweight and designed to eliminatee cable snag when swiping, and reduce drag in the heat of battle

• Supreme PTFE Feet for Unrivaled Glide - Enhanced feel made from PTFE material for low friction and lasting durability, deliver a smooth glide without cable pull

• Limitless Customization - New, improved MasterPlus+ software empowers you to remap controls, fine-tune your RGBs, personalize your macros, and more

• Dazzling RGB Illumination - Celebrate your victories in stayle with customizable RGB lighting

Read Full Review HERE

1 hour ago, Papusan said:

 

A good review Mr. Fox. Yep, there is no point spend much more money than this on a PCIe 4.0 (5.0) M.2 ssd's. And you won't gain extra performance in gaming/normal work-flow if you go with the more expensive  PCIe 5.0 ssd's. You only spend more for almost nothing. Keep up the good work

Thank you. I appreciate the feedback. Yes, it is a good drive for a good price.

Quote

CORSAIR has been a brand that computer enthusiasts have trusted for 30 years. The Milpitas Monster makes all the things we love with an attention to quality, detail and performance that we all appreciate, but often take for granted. Their list of products is an ever-growing one, and we saw their first SSDs come to market in early 2009. As a manufacturer of computer memory, moving into solid state storage was a logical decision. With roughly 15 years of success behind them, they continue to impress us with fast and reliable storage options.

They were kind enough to provide us with their latest and greatest entry to the NVMe market for review. So, grab your favorite beverage, a snack and whatever else floats your boat, and get ready to explore the CORSAIR MP600 ELITE M.2 SSD

Read Full Review HERE

Great review and a thorough analysis of this air cooler's capabilities. For an air cooler it does an impressive job. The fact that it beat the universally respected Noctua NH-D15 in a measurable way commands some respect. I think your observations are excellent and the recommendation against using an air cooler for an overclocked CPU capable of pushing over 250W is spot-on. This cooler looks like a very good low-cost thermal solution for someone running a system with basic use routine in mind and modest performance expectations that remain below its TDP-handling limitations.

I read this review and got side-tracked and forgot to post. Excellent job on the review. That's quite the speedy NVMe drive. It's crazy how fast these Gen5 can move data.

Very good review! Thorough and professional.

  A new masterpiece from Brother Tom... sweet. Not a rap fan, but I do love the message and the good men behind the message.

And a couple of good recent releases... especially like the first one.

Just crested beyond the official half-way mark today. Some say that's over the hill, but by my calculations it is still a long way to the top. 

2 hours ago, Barefooter said:

That IceMan Cooler Direct Touch Memory Cooler is a great looking kit!

Thank you. I agree.

3 hours ago, acoustic said:

I wasn’t aware IceMan made a direct-touch block now. I have their original kit that works extremely well. They’re pumping out great products, and a lot easier to get than the foolishness that is dealing with SuperCool.

 

nice

Yes, I agree on both things. I have two direct die CPU blocks, a dual D5 pump housing and now the direct-touch memory block from IceMan Cooling and all of their stuff seems to be top quality. It is a real pain dealing with Supercool, and they are so slow. Quality is generally acceptable, but their direct die block is a pain in the butt to deal with how it mounts. Requires extra effort to avoid spilling water, which is silly. And, it took me multiple emails and posts in comments on their YouTube videos to get the missing parts sent to me for their RAM block. And, they still never sent the missing screws. Luckily, I had some that worked, but do not match the design. I think Supercool is run like a hobby more than a business.

2 hours ago, neurotix said:

I rarely see people water cooling memory. Compared to you, my system is pleb, lol.

 

Looks absolutely fantastic and the performance is crazy, I'd love to see your AIDA64 results with your RAM clocked that high.

I actually showed it in a previous screenshot, but I just ran it on both systems at 8600. Here are the screenshots, with all of the timings and voltage values.

Apex Encore

Apex

I am one place behind Gunslinger now with stock vBIOS and I haven't found the max OC yet for this Xtreme Waterforce GPU. Going to have to shunt mod this bad boy and use the 2000W Kingpin vBIOS on it. This blew away my prior 2080 Ti FTW3 shunt modded score. I also haven't reduced the core count in the BIOS for the Physics and combine scores yet. The way things are set up now it is super easy for me to switch the chiller from one system to the other with quick disconnect fittings. This might get interesting.

Windows 7 will never be matched by another Micro$lop OS.

https://hwbot.org/submission/5460849_ | https://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/16162166

Edit: OK, now I leapfrogged Gunslinger, LOL.

https://hwbot.org/submission/5460910_ | https://www.3dmark.com/3dm11/16162200

What? No 3DMark 11 Benchmark Thread. That's sacriligious, but we're fixing that right now. I guess I need to start one for 3DMark Vantage next.

Finally received the IceMan Cooling Direct Touch Memory Cooler.  Got a nice gain in RAM cooling on the Apex Encore. The IceMan direct touch RAM block seems to give about the same delta as the Supercool does. These suckers are super heavy. Heavier than the Supercool because the backplate is thicker. The black bezel on top that covers the screws is magnetized and also made of metal. If there is anything that I wish would be different is the use of Philips head screws to attach the block to the jackets. They are a bit soft. Stainless steel Allen or Torx would have been better.

Comparing it to the Byski memory water cooling kit...

And, temps are still nice with my 8600 profile even with the elevated voltage. IceMan Cooling did really great with the memory cooling kit. The water in the cooling system for the Apex is about 5°C colder than the water in the Apex Encore loop. (The Apex has a 5-gallon reservoir and the radiator is near an open window, and the radiator for the Encore is in a corner of the office.) And, the difference in temperature reflects that precisely. That being the case, I call it a draw... "Even Steven" comparing it to the Supercool memory cooling kit.

11 hours ago, iamjanco said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was a good movie, and the music has a way of growing on you.

2 hours ago, Slaughtahouse said:

Nice! I dropped RDR 2, I need to restart and do a full playthrough at some point. RDR (1) is one of my all time favourite games. 

 

 

It's my guilty pleasure of 2023. Plays more like Crysis than Fry Cry but it's definitely in that lane. I don't typically like to use the guns (bow and spear is more satisfying for me) but the weapons all feel and sound very good. I'm about 40 hrs in now and 67% complete. I feel you could beat it faster if you put it on normal and only did the main quests. Maybe 15-20hrs? TBD. Super fun to just explore and get lost in the nature. With the graphics, audio, playing on Hard with Explorer mode (hides HUD, waypoints etc.) it's really amps up the entire package for me. For example, in that first vid, I had a fun time just scoping out the base and taking my time.

If it plays like Crysis then I definitely need to get it when it falls into my game purchase range. The Crysis franchise is my favorite and the GOAT. I do not care for open world gameplay though. I lose interest swiftly. Linear FPS titles are the only ones I find captivating and play to the end, sometimes more than once.

1 hour ago, Slaughtahouse said:

Playing around with Youtube / recording. I made two more videos with a higher bitrate. 1st one is 1440p (native), SDR. 2nd one is 4K (Quality upscaling) HDR. It's a shame I couldn't get it to record in HDR (not sure how) but I hope these videos give a better insight how the visuals look in motion in different regions.

 

 

 

 

 

That actually looks like pretty good game. I will have to grab it when the price drop to around $20-$25. It looks like one I would enjoy (FPS fanboy here).

5 hours ago, neurotix said:

 

This is amazing man! Nice work and rig!

Thank you. I feel blessed to have it. The silicon lottery is a pretty brutal thing at times and Lord knows there are more losers than winners in any lottery.