Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles, including How to Configure Your Router, SSD Form Factors: Everything You Need to Know, CORSAIR Hydro Series H105 CPU Cooler Review, BitFenix Prodigy M, and QNAP TS-470 review: a new benchmark



Beginner Geek: How to Configure Your Router @ Howtogeek

If you have Internet access, you probably have a router and your router has its own settings screens full of options. Everyone should know how to use their routers web interface, if only to configure their Wi-Fi security settings. Some of the options you may find on your router include parental controls, Internet connection time limits, and status pages that show you whos connected to your Wi-Fi networks. These options are useful for managing your home network. Accessing Your Routers Web Interface First of all, youll need to access your routers settings interface through your web browser.

Read more: Beginner Geek: How to Configure Your Router @ Howtogeek

SSD Form Factors: Everything You Need to Know @ Techspot

The term ”form factor” is used in the computer industry to describe the shape and size of computer components, like drives, motherboards and power supplies. When hard disk drives initially made their way into microprocessor-based computers, they used magnetic platters up to 8 inches in diameter. Because that was the largest single component inside the HDD, it defined the minimum width of the HDD housing—the metal box around the guts of the drive.

The height was dictated by the number of platters stacked on the motor (about 14 for the largest configurations). Over time the standard size of the magnetic patter diameter shrank, which allowed the HDD width to decrease as well. The computer industry used the platter diameter dimensions to describe the HDD form factors, and those contours shrank over the years. Those 8” HDDs for datacenter storage and desktop PCs shed size to 5” to today’s 3.5”, and laptop HDDs, starting at 2.5”, are now as small as 1.8”.

Read more: SSD Form Factors: Everything You Need to Know @ Techspot

CORSAIR Hydro Series H105 CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps

Even though the Hydro H105 has just been officially presented to the masses at the CES 2014 Trade Show, MadShrimps is already introducing you to this latest sibling of the CORSAIR Hydro series. The H105 is manufactured for CORSAIR by Asetek and looks at first glance as a beefed up version of a Hydro H75 with a 240mm radiator. Over the years CORSAIR keeps on innovating in the AIO segment. The CORSAIR LINK software unleashed extra end-user tuning possibilities with the Hydro series. The included Static Pressure Fans allow for better cooling performance at lower noise levels. The Hydro H90 and H110 got equipped with 140mm Fans. So what's new with the Hydro 105? The biggest improvement for the H105 is the thicker 240 radiator, now measuring 38mm instead off the regular 25mm. How it all will perform will become more clear on the following pages...

Read more: CORSAIR Hydro Series H105 CPU Cooler Review @ Madshrimps

BitFenix Prodigy M @ PureOverclock

The desktop PC has evolved into a platform for enthusiasts and modders to cram as much gear into a case as they can. Sometimes it is just not practical for taking to a LAN or using as an HTPC due to the size and weight of a custom PC. There has been a concerted effort by some case manufacturers to reduce the footprint of the desktop without leaving the features of a larger chassis behind. We all have grown spoiled to the conveniences of cable routing, drive bays and countless cooling options. This is where the ingenuity and innovation of BitFenix comes into play. BitFenfix, the creator of the popular mini ITX Prodigy case is looking to fill a gap in the small form factor market. Many complained the original Prodigy did not support the larger micro ATX board and felt left out. The Prodigy M with full support for micro ATX and mini ITX boards is said to offer the same flexibility and style of the original Prodigy case with the same small footprint. Let’s take a look into how BitFenix pulled this off.

Read more: BitFenix Prodigy M @ PureOverclock

BitFenix Ronin review @ DV Hardware

Since the company's launch in 2010, BitFenix has quickly become a household name among computer enthusiasts. The firm sells everything from fan controllers to fans and LED strips, but is primarily known for its series of cases. One of the newer additions to BitFenix' case lineup is Ronin, a mid-tower with "a dark, stealthy design with enhanced hardware compatibility for a chassis built for vengeance".

Ronin is a Japanese word for "wandering man", someone who is without a home. The historical meaning was a samurai with no lord or master during the feudal period (1185-1868) of Japan. Will you become Ronin's new master? Read our review to find out whether this case is worth adopting!

BitFenix ships Ronin in a relatively plain cardboard box. The case is well-protected by pieces of styrofoam to prevent damage during transport.

Read more: BitFenix Ronin review @ DV Hardware

Cougar CMX V.3 850W Power Supply Unit @ NikKTech

One of the things every single one of us likes about the computer industry in its entirety is that as time goes by once expensive enthusiast grade hardware eventually always becomes mainstream and I'm not only talking about old products. Take SSDs for example, 3-4 years ago only enthusiasts and professionals could afford them while now you can find incredibly fast models for as low as USD80/80Euros not to mention that most PC systems (desktop and notebook) come with at least one pre-installed. The same also applies for power supply units so although a while back you needed to invest quite a bit on a good model now you can find very good ones for a lot less. Cougar may not be one of the most well-known PSU manufacturers (still it's a sister company to the very well-known HEC/Compucase brand) but in the somewhat short time they've been around their products have managed to secure many awards by media around the world and for good reason since they offer both performance and quality. Today's review is about one of their latest PSUs to hit the market the CMX V.3 850W model.

Read more: Cougar CMX V.3 850W Power Supply Unit @ NikKTech

XFX Radeon DD R9 290X 1000M 4GB reviewed @ Fudzilla

It delivers Über performance with a lot less noise

Today we’ll take a closer look at XFX’s custom Hawaii card, the R9 290X Double Dissipation. XFX settled on a dual-fan cooler with what might be the most attractive shroud placed on a Radeon card in a while. Of course, aesthetics aren’t enough, but XFX promises that the custom cooler should reduce average load temperatures by up to 20 degrees Celsius, with a noise reduction of up to 30 decibels. As you can see, we have a good reason to commend XFX for the design – the card looks stunning.

Read more: XFX Radeon DD R9 290X 1000M 4GB reviewed @ Fudzilla

QNAP TS-470 review: a new benchmark @ Hardware.Info

The design of the QNAP TS-470 looks exactly like that of the other QNAP NAS devices we've tested, but looks can be deceiving. Inside, a 2.6 GHz processor is churning away, and with no less than four gigabit ethernet ports this is a NAS powerhouse. 

We frequently test NAS devices and like other product segments, one innovation follows another. We try to make our tests demanding enough in order to create a clear distinction between the various products and models.

Read more: QNAP TS-470 review: a new benchmark @ Hardware.Info