APU A-Series from AMD has already proved itself as a fair correlation of performance and consumer properties. This allows users to create budgetary home systems that can readily cope with all contemporary tasks, video games, simultaneously providing a considerable speed increase. MSI is one of the companies to develop a motherboard on the basis of this platform, ensuring in its FM2-A85XA-G65 rich functional and maximal performance. The developers have managed to design the board with a minimal amount of additional controllers, though expansion facilities are sure to satisfy the majority of potential customers.



Design and Layout


Motherboard MSI FM2-A85XA-G65 belongs to Military Class III line and is developed in ATX form-factor. Similar to other products of this line, this model is differentiated by a voluminous cooling system and a quite powerful VRM node. This board is destined for Socket FM2 logics and is ready to accommodate processors of A-Series and Athlon. It is based …

FSP, a renowned developer and supplier of power supply units, introduces a new product that is widely recognized as ‘noiseless’ PSU. Codenamed FSP Aurum Xilenser 500 (AU-500FLD), it employs a passive cooling system instead of an air cooler, thus its dump operation is easily explainable. The unit also characterizes by a startling efficiency which provided for the acceptance of 80+ Gold certificate.



Aurum Xilenser 500 takes similar to Aurum Pro/CM models design with a totally black casing and a comb-like top grid enclosed in a golden stripe. The model is able to operate at the nominal 500W power and support the latest ATX12V/EPS12V standards. It should be noted that this unit utilizes a standard framework with all power connectors soldered on the printed circuit board. A set of connectors involves five SATA connectors, a single 4-contact FDD, four 4-contact Molex, and a pair of 6+2-contact PCI Express connectors. Naturally, it contains two main 24-contact and 4+4-contact …

Nowadays the differentiation of computer integration becomes more obvious. There is an accepted concept of ‘draught horses’ which are intended for the accomplishment of unpretentious assignments (for home use or office use), and high-end devices called to work miracles while working with diverse applications or playing 3D games. The first type of devices usually goes in standard integration without any foul-ups, but high-end models require more thorough approach towards the assembly.


Chassis is among those components which define the ‘filling’ of each individual computer, that is why, the selection of the appropriate item might take some time. CM Storm Trooper belongs to the chassis type which provides for the high-end computer integration. Moreover, this chassis is considered to be an ideal component for devices with high performance and solid high-temperature elements.



External and Internal Design


1. External design. CM Storm Trooper is characterized by the …