5 computer components with RGB illumination
A modern gaming PC should not only be high-performance and quiet, but also effective looking. Fortunately, modding is much easier now than it used to be. There is no need to make your own LED strips, because many components are equipped with RGB by default. The main thing is to synchronize the backlight with the motherboard software or an external controller. So the CPU cooler, RAM, power supply, fans, and front panel of your PC case will all glow in unison.
be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX - tower CPU cooler
Reasons to buy: Moderate height 15.5 cm, does not overlap memory, four copper heat pipes, TDP 150W, quiet 12 cm fan with RGB illumination.
Reasons not to buy: If you prefer water cooling.
the be quiet! Pure Rock 2 FX is a tower CPU cooler with 150W of heat dissipation. But the German brand be quiet! often humbly understates the TDP of its coolers. Most likely, will pull the cooler for 30 watts more. Not least this is achieved by the High-Speed modification of the Light Wings 120mm PWM fan. This is the company's first tower cooler with LED lighting. Fortunately, it is made in the form of a ring, which allowed to keep the aerodynamic grooves on the blades.
The bearing used is a threaded Rifle Bearing with a uptime of up to 60,000 hours. The maximum speed is 2000 rpm and even at this speed the noise level does not exceed 25 dB. At low RPMs the turntable can not be heard at all. The radiator is in contact with the processor through four 6mm copper tubes with direct contact. Both the tubes and the aluminum fins are painted black. The height of the design is 15.5 cm and the weight is about 700 g. The rib array is made asymmetrical so as not to overlap the memory slots.
- Moderate height 15.5 cm, does not overlap memory
- four copper heat pipes
- TDP 150W, quiet 12 cm fan with RGB illumination
Patriot Viper Steel RGB - Dual Channel RAM
Reasons to buy: Auto Overclocking XMP up to 3600 MHz, identical chips on both modules for stable performance, metal radiators with RGB illumination.
Reasons not to buy: If you need a low-profile RAM.
The Patriot Viper Steel RGB is a ready-made set of two 2x8GB DDR4 RAM modules with XMP single-button auto overclocking up to 3600MHz. Equipped with thick-walled metal heat sinks and a translucent light diffuser with five ARGB diodes underneath. Addressable backlighting means you can set the color for each diode separately. This allows you to create not only a single-color glow, but also a smooth shimmering.
By default the memory starts at a JEDEC frequency of 2666 MHz with CL19-19-19-43 timings (delays). To activate XMP overclocking, you need to press the corresponding button in your motherboard BIOS menu. As a result, the frequency will increase up to 3600 MHz with CL20-26-26-46 timings. If you want, you can experiment with further manual frequency increase or decrease the timings. Especially appreciate the increase in memory frequency, as well as in general two-channel mode of its operation, built-in video card Radeon Vega (double increase of FSP in games).
- Auto Overclocking XMP up to 3600 MHz
- identical chips on both modules for stable performance
- metal radiators with RGB
Chieftronic Nova Set - case fan set
Reasons to buy: High air pressure with moderate noise level, 32 LEDs on each fan, central hub and remote control.
Reasons not to buy: If your PC case has default fans.
The Chieftronic Nova Set is a set of three luminous fans, a hub to connect them centrally, and a remote control. Similar fans are also sold individually, in case your PC case has four seats, for example. Maximum rotation speed is 1600 rpm at which the noise level does not exceed 24 dB. The fan has two connectors: one is a 4 pin 12V PWM for the electric motor and another is a 3 pin ARGB 5V for the backlight.
There are nine blades, they create more pressure to pump more fresh air inside the PC case. At the corners are placed anti-vibration pads. And each fan has as many as 32 LEDs equally inside and outside the frame. So both the frame and translucent blades of the fan are lit. Chieftronic Nova is probably the brightest fans on the market. Of course, the brightness, color and flicker mode can be adjusted using the remote or the motherboard app.
Cougar XTC650 ARGB - energy efficient power supply
Reasons to buy: 80 PLUS White certified HEC platform, Taiwanese high temperature capacitors, 12cm ARGB fan.
Reasons not to buy: If you need a modular PSU.
The Cougar XTC650 ARGB is a power supply with a total output of 650 watts, of which the main +12V line supplies 624 watts. It is this line that powers the most power-hungry PC components: the CPU and the graphics card. The cables are not modular, but are made in the form of flat malleable noodles, which contributes to their neat stowage behind the back wall of the PC case. The CPU cable length is 65 cm, which is enough even for the bottom PSU location inside the PC case.
There are two 6+2-pin video card connectors available to connect any if not flagship, then certainly pre-luxury video card. The internal circuitry of the PSU was developed by HEC. The high-voltage capacitor is from CapXon, Taiwan, and it is of high-temperature series for 105 degrees Celsius. But the most remarkable, of course, is the 12cm fan with ARGB illumination. By default it cycles over, but synchronizes with the motherboard if desired.
Antec NX420 - case with viewing window
Reasons to buy: Good airflow, 4mm tempered glass side panel, ARGB illumination, XL-format compatibility with tower coolers and VBOs.
Reasons not to buy: If you need a case with multiple fans at once.
The Antec NX420 is an American full-size Midi-Tower case made of 0.5mm cold-rolled steel and tempered glass. For its format the case has a solid weight of 5 kg. The front panel is installed with perforated grating for maximum ventilation and decorated with ARGB tape. The package includes only one 120 mm fan without illumination at the back of the case. This reduces the cost of the case and gives the user the freedom to choose exactly how to implement the PC cooling system.
The front panel accommodates 3 120mm or 360mm FANs and the top panel accommodates 2 120mm or 240mm FANs. The CPU tower fits up to 175mm high and the graphics card up to 330mm long. The power supply is insulated with a shroud for maximum heat dissipation in the case and the cable management is done in the form of mounting rings. There are three USB ports on the interface panel, one of which is fast 3.0, and a separate button to control the backlight.
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