Kingston HyperX 1800 Review

Link to Manufacturer: Kingston

Kingston is one of the major manufacturers when it comes to RAM, with its HyperX range being the product of choice for a large amount of system builders. HyperX RAM can be classed as an enthusiast product as it generally runs over 1333Mhz, however, it does not break the bank. The kit Kingston have sent me to review is the KHX1800C9D3K2/4G. This is a HyperX ‘Genesis DDR3’ kit comprised of 2x2GB modules which should cost you around the £60 mark. This is a competitively priced kit featuring high memory speeds and a heatsink.

Specifications

DDR3-1800Mhz

Non-ECC

Unbuffered DIMM

4GB 2x2GB

Latency timings: 9-9-9-27

1.7-1.9V

A closer look

Let’s get a little closer and have a look at these modules. They come packed in blister packaging with an information leaflet nestled underneath.

The RAM has a nice, dark-blue heatsink with a raised contoured HyperX logo.  This coloration will compliment many motherboards colour schemes from manufacturers such as ASUS and GigaByte.

The Heatsink isn’t any taller than a standard RAM module and so shouldn’t be affected by large CPU coolers. However, some memory in the HyperX range such as the T1 line does have a taller heatsink.  The heatsink did a great job of keeping the RAM cool even when overclocked to 2000Mhz. Overall, this is a very good-looking kit with practical dimensions with a colour scheme that will compliment many motherboards.

Performance

Now, to the key part of the review, how the memory actually performs.

As mentioned earlier, this RAM runs at a frequency of 1800Mhz. This is faster than most RAM, even system builders use 1600Mhz the majority of the time. This gives the HyperX an advantage over many competitors.  

The rated speed can also aid when overclocking both the CPU and the RAM. For example, you can underclock the RAM and set it to a speed such as 1600Mhz which then gives you a lot of headroom for overclocking. This means you don’t have to drop your memory speeds to below standard when ramping up your processor. This then leads me to overclocking the RAM itself. It was a breeze to crank the HyperX up to 2000Mhz with only a slight adjustment and a little fiddling in the BIOS.

The HyperX has timings of 9-9-9-27 (CAS 9). These are not the tightest timings possible, however the latencies have differing importance depending on the tasks and activities being undertaken.

Value

The Kingston HyperX costs around £60 for the 2x2Gb set, this is slightly more expensive than offerings from competitors such as Corsair where you can get a 2x2Gb kit FOR £45.(however this runs at a slower 1600Mhz). This is not ludicrously over-priced, but you will have to decide for yourself whether it is worth paying the premium.

Benchmarks

Conclusion

In conclusion, this is a fantastic kit of RAM. It looks great, has excellent memory read speeds and is a great overclocker. The only downfall of this is the price in relation to similar alternatives. For these reasons I am awarding the Kingston Hyper X ‘Genesis’ my Silver Award. I can recommend this RAM for those searching for high performance memory. 

Video Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH_UcmjNDbU

Fractal Design Define XL Review

Link to Manufacturer: Fractal Design

The Define XL is the new full tower case offered up by Fractal Design. Fractal have been increasing in popularity fairly rapidly and it seems rightly so. They are producing good-looking cases which are easy to build in.

Specifications:

Full tower case

E-ATX motherboard support

10 3.5” Drive bays

4 5.1/4” Drive Bays

Supports full length graphics cards

What’s in the Box?

To find out what’s included with the case watch the unboxing video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwTTxQXnpMA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Unfortunately the case arrived slightly damaged from shipping, the lower section of the front-panel having fallen off. Fortunately this didn’t really affect the function of the case too much and I took this into account when writing and recording the review.

When I use cases I am looking for four things: Cable-management, Noise, Looks and Cooling.

Cable Management

The XL has some of the best cable management solutions I have ever used. It has the rubber grometed cable-routeing holes which have become standard on high-end cases. The gromets are well-placed to effectively route cables to appropriate places. On the back side of the case there is ample room to lay cables upon each other and still be able to close the side panel. There are also loops to attach the included zip-ties to. The PSU cables were stretched due to the large size of the case, just reaching. However, this added to the tidy look of the build overall.

Noise

Another area where the Fractal excels. Noise deadening on the side panels and in the front keep the noise in the Fractal XL to a minimum. The case also has the ‘Modu-Vent’ system where you can choose to replace some sound insulation with a fan.

Looks

The XL looks very sleek with its stylish front door. Its all black interior adds to this – a very nice looking case. However, this case is HUGE, unsurprising really from a case called XL. Don’t take the name lightly.

Cooling

Because of the sound deadening the cooling in the XL isn’t fantastic, the thick material contains the heat. You can choose to replace the ‘Modu-Vent’ with a fan to improve temperatures.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a fantastic case which I am going to give my Silver Award. The only thing preventing this from winning Gold and Editors choice is its thermal capability.

To find out why in more detail and to get a better look check out my video review here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frcEV3Z1HO8

Big thanks to Fractal for sending me this product to review.

Review of the Flip Ultra HD

Link to Manufacturer: Flip

Flip has become famed for its compact, handheld camcorders with their unique USB flip-out design. At the time of review this camera will set you back around £110 or $172. Now, let’s take a detailed look at what could be set to be a very popular Christmas gift. The Ultra HD is the latest model in the Ultra range; the specifications are as follows:

Resolution: 1280 x 720

Frames per second: 50

H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, MP4 files format

Fixed Focus Lens

Image stabilisation

Included Rechargeable battery (with 8gb model) 3xAAA batteries can be used

4.16” x 2.11“ x 0.88”    4.5 oz

Packaging:

The Ultra HD comes in a very slick, well presented box.

Included is the Flip itself, some user manuals and warranty information, soft carry pouch, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and a carry strap.

This is a decent bundle. An excellent inclusion is the soft carry pouch meaning you don’t have to go and spend extra. Another good inclusion is the rechargeable battery (note: the rechargeable battery isn’t included with the 4gb model). Unfortunately, a mini-HDMI cable is not included so if you want to hook the Flip up to your TV you will have to buy that cable separately.

The video where I unbox the Flip to show you its contents can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2FRg6RnPrk

Hardware Tour

As you can see from the pictures the camera has the flip out USB stick using the slider. It features a speaker. On the bottom we have a tripod mount, mini HDMI port, a ‘Flip Port’ (for adding accessories) and a latch to lock the back on.

The camera has a soft, matte feeling which is excellent for gripping onto the camera while feeling really nice to hold. This coating doesn’t smudge and will make the camera comfortable when filming longer clips.

The absence of a SD card slot will probably tell you that the Flip Ultra HD line has built in memory. The benefit of this is it can work out of the box without having to purchase a memory card. However, on the flip side (no pun intended), this means you are stuck with the set amount of memory. This shouldn’t be an issue for most as you can just transfer your clips off the camera onto your PC or Mac.

The small LCD screen is great for quickly checking you captured what you wanted and is surprisingly crisp. Being so small you will want to transfer your videos to your computer or TV to see them properly.

User Interface

Another feature of the Flip is how easy it is to use. There are 7 buttons on the front each which is blatantly obvious to its function. To record, playback and delete is fantastically simple. This simple design makes video-taking quick and easy.  A slight problem with this is that you cannot tinker with the settings, but seeing as this is just point and shoot advanced settings were not expected.  Overall, the simplicity of the user-interface means even a 5 year old could work this camera.

The software included on the Flip which you can use to upload your pictures from your camera is also really simple and easy to use.

Quality

Now on to the main feature, the quality that this camera produces. The Ultra HD shoots in a resolution of 1280x 720 – a resolution of 720p. It also shoots 50 frames-per-second (fps). This means it should take very high quality video capable of capturing fast action without blurring.

I set to test out a number of features: how good the quality looked, image-stabilisation, how it handled action shots, low light footage, audio quality and some detailed up close video.

The video quality looks fantastic and is ideal for uploading high-quality YouTube videos and home-movies. The video is very crisp and defined with good colouration.

Image stabilisation is a new addition to the Ultra HD and is very welcome as footage taken on handheld camcorders. It does help smooth out some wobbles, but won’t be able to cope with huge wobbles. It also helps iron out the bumps while walking around.

The action shots with the 50fps are really good. The Ultra HD managed to capture all the detail without blurring at all. This is great for filming your kids running around or sports events.

Low-light footage isn’t fantastic on this camera; occasionally looking slightly grainy, but it is definitely acceptable. But, what do you expect from a £100, handheld camera?

The Ultra HD uses a built in microphone so obviously the audio won’t be studio quality. I found the audio to be very good for an integrated microphone even capturing sounds such as footsteps in the frost. Voices sound clear but perhaps slightly altered from true life. The Ultra HD cannot accept a normal stereo microphone although it is possible to attach a special microphone through the Flip Port. (The Blue Microphones ‘Mikey’ is set to launch in early 2011.

As detailed, up-close shots are my most frequent I was very impressed by the Flip. It has exceptional quality close-ups showing great detail and no loss in quality.

My quality tests can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jmd4en5O8

In conclusion, the Flip Ultra HD offers fantastic image quality at a fantastic price.  Flip has really built upon their innovative design by adding the new features. The Flip is a fantastic handheld camcorder that delivers quality you would expect of a more expensive device. It is everything you want from a handheld camcorder and therefore is a fantastic gift for Christmas. Because of this, I am awarding the Flip Ultra HD my Silver Award!

Unboxing Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2FRg6RnPrk

Quality Test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9jmd4en5O8