Biostar is about to release a new oblectation for audiophiles – the B85Z system board. Featuring micro-ATX form-factor (224x174 mm dimensions), the model combines a full-blown spectrum of facilities each full-format board has. It is developed on Intel B85 Express chipset with Socket LGA1150 for Intel Haswell processors of Core, Pentium and Celeron families. The nominal delivery kit will allegedly comprise DVD with drivers, a pair of SATA cables, a user’s manual, and a rear panel plug.



Biostar B85Z comes equipped with prime-quality capacitors, field-effect transistors, and 4-phase VRM. Memory subsystem is introduced by two slots for DDR3-1600 MHz modules (up to 16 GB overall capacity). The availability of a single PCIe x16 & a pair of PCIe x1 slots ensures sufficient expansion facilities. Moreover, the user is free to create a voluminous storage by means of four SATA III and two SATA II ports.


To continue, the major peculiarity pertained to the motherboard is an …

SilentiumPC has announced the release of its newest cooling solution – an all-powerful Grandis XE1236 CPU cooler. The model features 130x105x158 mm dimensions and weighs 1160 g. According to the manufacturer, it is able to manage heat on top loading, preserving CPU in sober thermal conditions. The cooler is backed by a 2-year’s warranty and comes at $49.



SilentiumPC Grandis XE1236 consists of a copper base, six U-shape heatpipes (6 mm), a two-section aluminum heatspreader with a polished base, and a pair of fans of 120 mm dimensions. The GF12-25 fans are based on a fluid-dynamic bearing that is set to demonstrate up to 50 thousand hours of fool-proof operation.


To continue, the connection to the motherboard is realized via 4-pin connector. The fans might operate at +12V voltage, accelerating speed from 500 RPM to 1500 RPM due to PWM technology support. On the maximal speed the noise level does not exceed 21 dB. Upon the whole, the blades can produce up to 55 CFM …

The lineup of tower cases developed by SilverStone has been replenished by a new price-efficient solution, entitled Precision PS12. The model features 405x360x170 mm dimensions and is ready to accommodate small-sized motherboards (mini-ITX, micro-ATX) as well as four expansion cards. The chassis is made of high-quality plastic, supplemented by a fine-meshed metallic grid on the front panel.



Inside, there is a single rack for the installation of optical drives; it’s estimated for two 5.25-inch units. There is also space for 4x 3.5-inch drives and 1x 2.5-inch drive. Hence, there is little space for graphics adapters, the length of which should not exceed 358 mm. The layout is intended for 140-mm high CPU coolers & standard ATX PS/2 power supply units.


SilverStone Precision PS12 is shipped with a single preinstalled 120-mm fan (front panel). Additionally, it’s possible to include one 80-mm fan (front panel) and one 80-/92-mm fan (rear panel). Pricing is set at $45.