Aerocool Advanced Technologies has launched one more brand PSU series. This time the line of products has been entitled Templarius Imperator to correspond to its magnificent design. Magnificence is seen in an elaborate combination of style and color: instead of traditional black and gold colors, the manufacturer has implemented white and silver colors of casing. More dramatic effect is ensured by the built-in white LED backlight.



Templarius Imperator is represented by five models of 550W/650W/750W/850W/1150W power. All tenderfoot power supply units correspond to 80Plus standard, though there are variations within the classes. Thus, the senior model of 1150W power features 80Plus Gold certificate due to its high efficiency level (more than 90%); 850W and 750W models are known to demonstrate up to 88% efficiency that allowed them to get 80Plus Silver certificate. Junior models 650W and 550W feature 80Plus Bronze standard, since their average efficiency level does not go higher …

Motherboards based on Intel Z77 chip have been lately given much attention, to the detriment of products featuring AMD solutions. In fact, motherboards with AMD chips are in abundance in the market, providing a competitive conditions for the manufacturers and plentiful offers for potential consumers. Asus developed a lot of boards with Intel Z77 chip, but it also boasts the products, like Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0, based on AMD 990FX chip for AM3+ socket. This model is an apt sample of performance, resources and design.



Integration


Asus M5A99FX PRO R2.0 is developed in ATX form-factor and features 305x244 mm dimensions. The motherboard accommodates five sockets for the connection of fans and large heatsinks which manage heat quite efficiently; heatsinks located on the northbridge and CPU power converter are joined by a heat pipe. There is one peculiar feature pertained to the implemented heatsinks: each of them is notable by an individual fixture type. The reverse side of the …

Display expanders cannot be found in abundance on PC hardware market. In fact, not every user knows what the main purpose of those devices is. In the most general meaning, display expanders are splitters that allow the connection of two monitors towards a single output on a graphics card. However, their destination is not limited by this function only, since it might serve some other means as well. Sapphire introduces its own similar solution in the form of Vid-2X Display Expander model. The manufacturer assures that this splitter differs from traditional couplers in terms of functional and reliability.



Framework


Splitter Sapphire Vid-2X Display Expander is housed in a black plastic casing with gray side plates. The casing's cover is divided in two parts; the spacing between them serves ventilation and heat management means. The base accommodates rubber stands which provide for the framework steadiness. It should be mentioned that Sapphire delivers two models simultaneously …