The number of graphics solutions designed by HIS cannot be figured from a cursory calculation only. Indeed, the company's product line counts dozens of cards destined at various audiences, with various needs and budgets. Take HIS HD 7850 series alone: it consists of ten models (three with 1GB memory and seven with 2GB memory). The latest HIS 7850 IceQ X Turbo X belongs to '2GB echelon' and is distinguished by the heightened GPU and memory frequency. Upon the whole, this graphics adapter features outstanding cooling and overclocking facilities.



Design and PCB


Graphics adapter HIS 7850 IceQ X Turbo X is a standard representative of the second HD 7850 revision. It is housed on a short printed circuit board and is equipped with only a single power socket, two heatpipes and a large fan. HIS developers advanced the heatpipes outside the board to elongate its contours; nevertheless, this card can't be considered voluminous, since its width hasn't been touched at all. The top part …

Along with the launch of new PC chassis, Cooler Master is ready to release new G-series power supply units. The series is introduced by three models – G500, G600 and G700 – with 500W, 600W and 700W power, respectively. All of them correspond to ATX12V v2.3 standard, support Active PFC option and a range of protection tools (from short circuit, overvoltage, current overload, power overload). Moreover, these units employ a dual EMI-filter and take benefit from a single 120 mm fan with automatic speed control functions.


Cooler Master G-series PSUs have been felicitated with 80Plus Bronze certificate, due to their high efficiency (approximately 85%) and an estimated mean time between failures of 100.000 hours. The two junior models, G500 and G600, are able to operate at 456W and 576W load, correspondingly, on +12V rail. They are quipped with six SATA Power sockets and a pair of PCI Express Power 6+2-pin sockets. G500 unit will come to the market at the price of €60, while …

Alphacool introduced its latest Eisbaer line of nonmaintained cooling systems for processors. This series offers six products differing in heatsinks’ dimensions (120/140/240/280/360/420 mm) and possessing one, two or three 120 or 140 mm fans. For higher productivity, all novelties are equipped with copper (not aluminium) radiators.



360 and 420 mm heatsinks may be regarded as overeffective for one CPU, that’s why the manufacturer supplied Eisbaer cooling systems tubes with a quick disconnect, allowing adding a water block for the Eiswolf GPX-Pro graphics card. The processor is chilled by a copper water block with the 50 х 50 mm base and a low-noise ceramic bearing pump, operating at 2,600 rpm and producing the 70 l/h coolant stream.


120 mm fans feature the 550–1,700 rpm rotary speed, the 63.85 CFM (108 m3/h) air flow, the 1.66 mm H2O static pressure, as well as the 29 dBA noise level, whereas bigger 140 mm fans have the 1,100 rpm rotary velocity, the 62.31 CFM (106 …