
By TechRadar, published 25-09-2011
How to build a PCSystem builders are great and everything, but unless you emit static electricity or are terminally lazy, you should be thinking about building your own PC. Why? Because not only do you get the satisfaction of having crafted your machine from the ground up, growing and harvesting each component from the soil… or something like that. You also get full control over what goes in the chassis. And what the case will look like. System builders do a great job of delivering sensible packages of components at attractive price points, but building your own rig gives you full control. All the parts you need, none that you don't. And no extra expense to you. And that level of control's important. It's what being a PC enthusiast is all about. It's what elevates us above the hunched si...

By MaximumPC, published 13-06-2011
When you're outfitting a new computer, it can be tempting to just buy the cheapest no-name case you can find, slap your new parts into it, and call it a day. While that might have been a valid choice in ye olde beige days—heck, early Dream Machine builds didn't even list the case—it's not one we'd recommend today. Enthusiast components today put out a lot of heat, and if that heat isn't dealt with, your rig's lifespan and performance will suffer.That doesn't mean you have to spend an arm and a leg on your chassis, though you certainly can. This month, we round up eight cases, from the budget to the extreme, to see how they measure up to the task of holding your precious modern components.How We Perform Thermal TestingTo ensure useful thermal test results, we have to use components that...

By TechRadar, published 24-05-2011
It's hard not to like overclocking. Take a system, tweak it and it becomes faster! What's not to like? Some components are happier being pushed than others, and testing the boundaries of overclocking usually involves slowly increasing frequencies and voltages of board and processor until it becomes uncooperative and falls over. Often, that's because something has got all hot and bothered. If you're putting together a hot system, literally as well as figuratively, dissipating heat is key. Improving your cooling improves your overclocking potential, which means more sugary gaming goodness.We're all familiar enough with spot cooling. To keep you processor cool, for example, you add a decent chip cooler. However it's awfully easy to get a little obsessed when it comes to spot cooling, and to t...
By jonnyGuru, published 21-01-2011
Corsair have, of late been getting to grips with entirely new markets. We have seen them just recently branch off into the world of audio. Back in the Summer of 2009, Corsair launched their very first computer case the Obsidian 800D and entered a new market. Today we take a look at their 3rd case to launch, named the 600T. Although fairly simplistic in its visual appearance like the 700D and 800D, the 600T doesn't have sharp edges but has a curvy exterior, is a mid-tower case and has LED fans.