MSI continues the development of brand chassis for the North-American market. The company's latest development, chassis codenamed Barricade, offers the whole range of privileges for its potential customers. The model is designed in Mid-Tower form factor and is compatible with the motherboards of ATX and micro-ATX form factor. Barricade goes in black casing with blue strips and at quite affordable price.



MSI barricade boasts 450x185x412 dimensions and the availability of transparent side window. The major peculiarity of this product is a grid-like clipboard and three integrated 120 mm fans. Two fans are located in the frontal part and go with LED lighting, and the third one is located at the rear part of the casing. In addition, the customer is capable to supplement the kit with two more fans of the same dimensions (at the top of the casing) to provide for better airflow and cooling.


This chassis is equipped with seven PCI Express expansion slots, four 3.5 inch bays, three …

Intel Corporation has a rather wide range of motherboards for processors Core i5/i7-3000 (Ivy Bridge), but, nevertheless, continues to produce products based on chipsets 7-Series. According to reports, the release of two motherboards Intel LGA1155 — DZ77GAL-70K is planned soon with code-named Gasper Light and DZ75ML-45K (Middle Lake). The first model uses a set of system logic Z77, second — Z75. Both models will receive a certificate of Windows 8 WHQL, support of Fast Boot technology and Lucid Virtu MVP.



Model Intel DZ77GAL-70K is based on the same PCB, as the previous DZ77GA-70K (Gasper) and DZ77RE-75K (Roads End). In contrast to the board DZ77GA-70K, new doesn’t have a rich set of delivery: WiDi-compatible adapter with an antenna, Bluetooth, remote panel with two USB 3.0 ports and a mouse pad Intel Extreme Series. Due to this, it will be cheaper than DZ77GA-70K.


In turn, Intel DZ75ML-45K (Middle Lake) is a compromise models between the DZ77SL-50K and DH77KC. This …

Zalman keeps on developing high-end cooling systems with a radial arrangement of plates. Its latest product, CPU cooler CNPS9900DF, is considered to be universal in terms of compatibility and implemented facilities. Still, some IT experts view this model as a modification of previously launched Zalman CNPS9900 MAX, although with two fans. In spite of visual resemblance, the company tried to design a truly uncommon cooler, with remarkable specifications and reliability.



Framework Peculiarities


Zalman CNPS9900DF is distinguished by an unusual framework. It's not a traditional vertical tower, as long as heatsink ribs feature fan-like location relative to the central axis of symmetry. Such approach provides for a comprehensive heat dissipation over all key motherboard components due to absence of frames on fans. Heat pipes embrace the cooling plates in a circle, then bend at 90 degrees, piercing the base. At first sight it seems that the framework involves six heat pipes, but …