Gigabyte GA-X99-UD4P

Last month, we took a look at GIGABYTE’s GA-X99-SOC Champion and found it to be an excellent motherboard for overclockers and enthusiasts, especially those aiming for world records. GIGABYTE recently added several models to its X99 Champion series, and although these motherboards don’t include all of the high-performance features that the GAX99-SOC Champion does, you’ll find similar onboard components as well as support for cutting-edge technology. The GA-X99-UD4P is one of the latest models to bear the Champion moniker.

Thermaltake Riing 12 LED

Not all fan blades are the same. Some are designed to maximize airflow in situations where there’s little resistance to air movement. We often classify fans with these types of blades as “high-airflow” models, and they can often be found near a case’s intake and exhaust vents. Other fan blades are engineered to push air through places where airflow is restricted, such as the dense fin arrays of a radiator or a crowded intake fan near a case’s drive bays. It’s these latter situations where Thermaltake’s Riing 12 LED fans shine. The 120mm fans feature Thermaltake’s CCB (Concentrated Compression Blade) design that focuses the weaker inner circle of airflow to the blades’ outer section. The outer fan blades pressurize and compress the air, generating high static pressure.

MSI 970A SLI Krait Edition

The 970A SLI Krait Edition is the world’s first AMD-based motherboard to come with USB 3.1 technology. Boasting 10Gbps transfer speeds, USB 3.1 operates up to twice as fast as USB 3.0 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0. MSI equips the 970A SLI Krait Edition with two USB 3.1 ports on the rear panel, so your system can handle multiple high-speed external storage devices. MSI also outfits the USB 3.1 ports with a Type-C connector that’s fully reversible, which is much handier than conventional USB ports.

Fractal Design Define S

Fractal Design’s Define-series cases have been around for several years now, and most builders are likely familiar with their smooth lines and trademark black-with-white-accents aesthetic. And at first glance, you might think the new Define S is business as usual for the Scandinavian company, but a closer inspection (aka removing its side panel) very quickly dispels that notion. True, the Define S bears a strong resemblance to its elder siblings and shares their durable steel construction. But its interior is so advanced that this frankly feels like it should be the first model in an all-new family of cases.