Custom PC - UK (2020-05)

Incoming

INCOMING / NEWS

FRACTAL UNLEASHES

DEFINE 7 RANGE

Showa Denko (SDK), the largest independent manufacturer

of hard disk platters, claims that 70-80TB 3.5in drives could

soon be a possibility, thanks to its advances with Heat Assisted

Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. The new SDK

platters use a platinum/iron magnetic alloy film, and SDK

claims the platters are nearly ready for full-scale production.

The drives themselves are touted as plug and play

replacements for existing 3.5in drives, so there should be little

discernible difference from a consumer’s point of view. HAMR

involves temporarily heating the hard drive platter during the

write process, making it more amenable to magnetic effects

and allowing much smaller areas of the platter to be used for

writing, increasing the data density.

PHIL HARTUP

PALIT PASSIVELY

COOLS GEFORCE

GTX 1650

HAMR TIME

The next generation of Fractal Design’s acclaimed Define range is now here,

and it includes an ‘XL’ model. Among the new features are a redesigned

interior that can take up to a 285mm E-ATX motherboard, as well as a new

design of mounting bracket, which means you can use any unused fan mount

to attach a hard drive or SSD, or even a pump for your water-cooling system.

The case also has what Fractal calls a ‘dual-layout’ design. You can either

have a clean interior with loads of room for a water-cooling setup, or you can

detach the right-hand side of the motherboard tray and set up a large storage

bay section, with room for up to 14 hard drives. As with the Define R6, the

new Define 7 also retains the top 5.25in drive bay mount, although it can be

converted into an extra 140mm front fan mount if you’re not going to use it.

Meanwhile, the XL model can hold up to a massive 480mm radiator in

the front or top, and it also offers the potential for even more storage, with

two 5.25in bays and up to 18 hard drive bays. The Fractal Design Define 7

cases are available now, starting at £140 inc VAT from scan.co.uk for the

base model, and £190 inc VAT for the XL version.

Palit has launched a fanless GeForce GTX 1650 card called the KalmX.

The card retains the full standard specification for a card in its class,

with a 1485MHz base clock and 1665MHz boost clock, but it uses a

massive heatsink and no dedicated fans.

The heatsink doing all the work has a dual-heatpipe design that

covers the GPU and VRM. As with many GTX 1650 cards, there’s no

additional PCI-E power connector either – the card runs purely from

the power coming from the PCI-E slot, and has only a 75W TDP.

The KalmX heatsink is rather larger than the standard for this type

of card, so it takes an extra

slot, and because it’s sitting

there essentially stewing

in its own heat rather than

blowing it anywhere, it’s

advisable to give it some

room. Having a well-

cooled case is also a must

for this sort of cooling.

PHIL HARTUP

has a d

h many GTX 165

tor either – the card runs

CI-E slot, and has only a 75WTDP

her larger than the standard for this type

ng

ng

han

e, it’s

tsome

well-

also a must

f cooling.

INCOMING / NEWS

FRACTAL UNLEASHE

DEFINE 7 RANGE

Showa Denko (SDK), the largest independent manufacturer

of hard disk platters, claims that 70-80TB 3.5in drives could

soon be a possibility, thanks to its advances with Heat Assisted

Magnetic Recording (HAMR) technology. The new SDK

platters use a platinum/iron magnetic alloy film, and SDK

claims the platters are nearly ready for full-scale production.

The drives themselves are touted as plug and play

replacements for existing 3.5in drives, so there should be little

discernible difference from a consumer’s point of view. HAMR

involvestemporarily heating the hard drive platter during the

writeprocess, making it more amenable to magnetic effects

andallowing much smaller areas of the platter to be used for

writing,increasing the data density.

PHILHARTUP

PALIT PASSIVELY

COOLS GEFORCE

GTX 1650

HAMR TIME

The next generation of Fractal Design’s acclaimed Define range is now here,

and it includes an ‘XL’ model. Among the new features are a redesigned

interior that can take up to a 285mm E-ATX motherboard, as well as a new

design of mounting bracket, which means you can use any unused fan mount

to attach a hard drive or SSD, or even a pump for your water-cooling system.

The case also has what Fractal calls a ‘dual-layout’ design. You can either

have a clean interior with loads of room for a water-cooling setup, or you can

detach the right-hand side of the motherboard tray and set up a large storage

bay section, with room for up to 14 hard drives. As with the Define R6, the

new Define 7 also retains the top 5.25in drive bay mount, although it can be

converted into an extra 140mm front fan mount if you’re not going to use it.

Meanwhile, the XL model can hold up to a massive 480mm radiator in

the front or top, and it also offers the potential for even more storage, with

two 5.25in bays and up to 18 hard drive bays. The Fractal Design Define 7

cases are available now, starting at £140 inc VAT from scan.co.uk for the

base model, and £190 inc VAT for the XL version.

Palit has launched a fanless GeForce GTX 1650 card called the KalmX.

The card retains the full standard specification for a card in its class,

with a 1485MHz base clock and 1665MHz boost clock, but it uses a

massive heatsink and no dedicatedfans.

The heatsinkdoingallthework al-heatpipedesignthat

covers the GPUandVRM.Aswit 0 cards,there’sno

additional PCI-Epowerconnec purelyfrom

the power comingfromthe P.

The KalmXheatsinkis rat

of card, so ittakesanextra

slot, and becauseit’ssitti

there essentiallystewi

in its own heatrathert

blowing it anywher

advisable togivei

room. Havinga

cooled caseis

for this sorto

PHIL HARTUP

h s

nyG

either– thecardr

I-Eslot,andhasonlya 7

larger than the standard for thistyp

n

it’s

ome

l-

o a mu

cooling.