SAMSUNG, OCULUS ANNOUNCE $99 GEAR VR HEADSET

Virtual reality is taking a few steps closer to the mainstream with Samsung unveiling a headset that brings the technology to its latest smartphones at half the price of its previous model, Facebook launching support for 360-degree video, and online video services like Netflix and Hulu jumping into the format.

The announcements at a developers conference in Los Angeles for virtual reality technology company Oculus represent attempts to push the platform beyond a video-gamer-focused niche.

Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who cut a deal to buy Oculus for $2 billion last year, told some 1,500 conference attendees that virtual reality is "the next logical step'' in online sharing after text, photos and video.

"In just a few years, VR has gone from being this science fiction dream to an awesome reality,'' he said. "And now we all here have a chance to change the way we play, communicate and collaborate.''

Zuckerberg showed off a promo for the upcoming "Star Wars'' movie showing a speeding vehicle zooming over the desert landscape of fictional planet Jakku. Users can look around in any direction using their mouse as the video is playing.

Samsung said its new virtual reality headset will be 22% lighter and cost $99, half the price of its previous model. The Gear VR, which requires users to insert the latest version of a Samsung smartphone into the headset, will ship in November.

Netflix content is available to be viewed in Oculus or Samsung headsets starting September 24, while Hulu said it would also bring its app to the Oculus platform where users can stream 2D content as well as an original virtual reality short film called "The Big One,'' from YouTube star Freddie Wong's RocketJump production company. A Hulu launch date wasn't announced.

 

Selfie Spoon: Now take pictures while you eat

 

They were so caught up with wondering if they could, they never thought whether they should. Someone at Cinnamon Toast Crunch has invented a selfie spoon to help you click selfies while eating breakfast. Why? We are still trying to figure that part out.
Introduced by the cereal company, the “selfie spoon” is a stick with a spoon at the end that extends up to 30 inches so cereal eaters can take photos of themselves while eating cereal, TIME reported.
The General Mills brand created this new spin on the selfie stick to solve the first world problem of “choosing between eating and posting” a selfie, according to their ad.
To use the selfie spoon, people would just have to turn on the Bluetooth feature on their smartphones so the white remote will be recognized — there is one grey button that takes photos on Android phones, and one that takes photos on iOS devices.

 

Raspberry Pi Kits to Be Provided to Every School: Kerala Chief Minister

 

Looking to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools, the state government today said that all schools in Kerala, both government and aided, will soon be equipped with electronics and Raspberry Pi kits.
Speaking at the inauguration of an ‘Electronics@School’ project, initiated by the state IT Department, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that 6,000 government schools would be given electronics kits to support and nurture a “maker- culture” among their students.
“Besides providing Raspberry Pi kits to 10,000 students selected on merit basis, steps will be taken to provide every government and aided school with a Raspberry Pi kit for common coding practice,” Chandy said.
He also launched the distribution of electronic kits under the Electronics@School project and gave away prizes to winners of a coding competition held as part of the first phase of the ‘Learn to Code’ project.
These projects are being implemented jointly by the Kerala Start-Up Mission and IT@School. Minister for IT and Industries, PK Kunhalikutty, launched the second phase of ‘Learn to Code’ project and flagged off the distribution of Raspberry Pi kits to 7,500 schoolchildren.
The minister suggested it would be appropriate for the Department of General Education to take up these projects for their better implementation.
“The projects aim to skill Kerala’s schoolchildren to cope with the future revolution in technology and entrepreneurship,” Kunhalikutty said.
Education Minister PK Abdu Rabb said both the ‘Learn to Code’ and ‘Electronics@School’ projects would be made part of the curriculum.
“The electronics kit, which is aligned with the Physics syllabus of classes 9 and 10, has been reviewed and approved by the curriculum committee,” he said.
“The project’s aim is to add 40,000 talented youngsters from schools to the vibrant maker community being developed through community participation programmes initiated by the Kerala Startup Mission,” said PH Kurien, Principal Secretary, Department of IT and Industries.
Prizes for district-level winners were, meanwhile, handed out at Saturday’s function.
IT@School Wayanad District Coordinator VJ Thomas was acknowledged for facilitating and guiding the maximum number of projects.
In the pilot phase, which was launched by Chandy in February, 2,500 selected students of class eight across all district centres were given Raspberry Pi kits and trained in programming by IT experts.
The Raspberry Pi is a computer developed by an UK-based firm for aiding the teaching of basic computer science in schools.

 

Best handheld Wi-Fi test tools

Best handheld Wi-Fi Test Tools

 

Many Wi-Fi test tools are software-based, such as Wi-Fi stumblers and analyzer programs that use a laptop’s internal Wi-Fi or maybe a USB wireless adapter. Here, we review four hardware-based products that you can throw in a laptop bag and carry around with you.
The four products are

1.AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester,

2.Yellowjacket-BANG Wi-Fi Analyzer

3. Wi-Spy DBx 

4. WiFi Pineapple Mark V.

Intel Compute Stick review: An entry level PC in your pocket, but comes with its quirks

Intel Compute Stick review: An entry level PC in your pocket, but comes with its quirks

Small form factor PCs have been around for a while now. We have seen companies such as Asus and ZOTAC releasing small form factor PCs for years now and more recently Intel had released its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) as a compact form factor PC with an Atom processor. While the category is old, there hasn’t been much adoption on the consumer front in terms of sales. For most people a computer still means a desktop or a laptop at least.

Intel announced the Compute Stick earlier this year at Computex, which is basically an entry level computer on an HDMI stick. This is quite a unique form factor for a small form factor PC. At first glance it resembles any other media-player on an HDMI stick such as the Chromecast, but offers much more in terms of usability. Let us have a look at how the Compute Stick fares.

You have to hand it to Intel for making a complete working PC inside such a small form factor. We are so used to seeing PCs in a box form factor, with just the dimensions getting smaller, that the Compute Stick design is refreshing. Of course, it is reminiscent of other product categories no doubt – but to get a PC inside this compact form factor is commendable.

The Intel Compute Stick measures 147 x 85 x 72 mm and weighs just 340 gram. That makes it easily portable and you can carry it in your back pocket. It is made of hard plastic with a glossy top finish and matte finish on other sides. There are openings on the top and sides to let the heat dissipate. Intel has also bundled in an HDMI extender, in case the HDMI port on your TV or monitor is difficult to directly attach the Compute Stick to.

Intel’s Compute Stick comprises the Intel Atom Z3735F processor which is clocked at 1.33GHz with the burst frequency going to 1.8GHz. It is a quad-core non-hyperthreaded processor. It comes with Intel HD graphics. The processor is paired with 2GB of DDR3 RAM and also has 32GB of onboard eMMC storage. The Compute Stick comes in a 32-bit Windows 8.1 OS with Bing variant as well as in a Linux variant. On the connectivity front, you get Wi-fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0. If you get the Windows 8.1 OS variant of the Compute Stick, then you naturally get the option to upgrade it to Windows 10 OS as well.


We got the Windows 8 version for review. When it comes to connectors and ports, on the right hand side you have a microSD card slot whereas on the left hand side there is the single USB port, a microUSB port for power and further down there is the power button. The Compute Stick will require USB power for it to turn on. You can either use the spare USB port on your TV or in case your monitor has a USB Hub. Else Intel bundles a external power adapter for the USB cable.

Performance

Considering the Intel Compute Stick is targeted more as a secondary or tertiary computing device, the raw performance numbers aren’t that great. For instance, Cinebench R11.5 gave a score of 0.8. The data transfer speed on the 32GB flash storage maxes out at 147 MB/s for sequential read and 45 MB/s for sequential write. In short, it is at par with Intel Atom Z3735 processor sporting devices such as the Micromax Canvas Laptab. But we are talking two completely different product categories.

However having said that, the Windows 8.1 OS runs smooth on the Compute Stick. We did not notice any laggy experience while using the OS. Simple tasks such as surfing the web, working on word and excel documents, watching full HD videos on streaming sites works fine with the Compute Stick. You can even load HD movies onto your microSD card and play them off the Compute Stick without issue. For streaming the CPU usage hovered around 25-30%, but for HD playback it was around 10%. Gaming is best avoided. Apart from using it to do basic tasks, you can use the Compute stick to convert your regular TV into a smart TV.

Bluetooth connectivity is a bit of an issue as we faced many instances where we just lost connectivity. Plus if you are going to use your TV as a monitor, the Compute Stick is attached behind the TV and it can be tricky if you do not have a spare USB port. If you are using your spare desktop monitor to connect the Compute Stick, one USB port on the Compute Stick may feel limiting unless you do not have a USB hub on you. It is annoying to make a decision of either using keyboard or mouse to make the initial setting – if you want to setup bluetooth. An additional USB port would certainly help.

Verdict and Price in India

So who should go for the Intel Compute Stick. Well, that is a tricky one to answer as this is an entirely new product category in a way. The advantage it offers over the incumbents in the small form factor PC space is its sheer size. At Rs 9,999 price point, you are getting an entry level PC if you already have the supporting peripherals such as the keyboard, mouse and monitor. As compared to streaming devices such as a Chromecast or Teewee2, you can do much more on the Compute Stick such as office related work, surfing on a popular browsers in addition to consuming media. The challenges lie in limited connectivity ports and non-reliable bluetooth connectivity.

SanDisk announces Connect Wireless Stick at Rs 2,790 for 16GB variant

SanDisk announces Connect Wireless Stick at Rs 2,790 for 16GB variant

SanDisk has introduced a brand new wir

eless pen drive called the Connect Wireless Stick to enable easy sharing, transferring and accessing of photos and videos between mobile devices and computers. This drive will be compatible with iOS, Android, Windows as well as Mac OS.
SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick will come in four storage variants: 16GB priced at Rs 2,790; 32GB priced at Rs 3,790; 64GB priced at Rs 5,490 and finally 128GB priced at Rs 9,490. The drives will initially sell only on Flipkart and will be seen selling via other channels in a phased manner from December.

SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick works with smartphones, tablets as well as computers via the relevant SanDisk Connect app for the platform. Users can access the media even when the wireless stick is in your pockets or bags, so long as it is connect to a wireless network.
On a single charge, supporting a single stream of data, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick works for 4.5 hours.
Speaking at the launch of the Stick, SanDisk India country manager Rajesh Gupta said, “The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is designed to give people a simple, intuitive way to save and access all of the great content they create and consume across multiple devices, without breaking the bank.”

Facebook tests temporary profile pictures for supporting causes

Facebook is currently testing a new feature which will allow users to temporarily set a new profile picture, which will then go away after a fixed period of time.
According to TechCrunch, the new Temporary Profile Picture feature, that’s slated for a broader roll-out, will allow users to change their picture and revert to the old one after a set number of hours, days or weeks.

In conversation with TechCrunch, Facebook stated, “We often see people use their profile pictures to support a cause, root for a team, and commemorate milestones like birthdays and anniversaries. Today, we’re testing a new feature that allows you to set a temporary profile picture for a specified period of time.”

The company also pointed out that, “Temporary profile pictures make it easier to to express who you are and how you’re feeling at a given moment, without having to worry about changing your profile picture back later.”

Those who receive the feature will be able to see an option to set an expiration date when they select a new profile picture. As soon as one reaches the expiration date, the profile picture reverts back to the old one without publishing a News Feed story announcing the change

Microsoft is auto-downloading Windows 10 on PCs without user permission

Microsoft is automatically downloading between 3.5GB to 6GB of Windows 10 installation files onto PCs even without users opting for the upgrade.
According to a report by The Inquirer, one of its readers complained about a large folder labeled ‘$Windows.~BT’ taking up space on his PC. He also added that the update shows up to install Windows 10 every time he starts his PC.
According to the report, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 is being downloaded to computers whether or not users have opted for it. However, the files being downloaded does not imply that Windows 10 is automatically installed. But once they are present, Microsoft will prompt users to install the software every time a computer is rebooted.
The company stated, “For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.” Microsoft added, “When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.”
This move by Microsoft can create a problem for users who may not have the space to download a large update or for those, who are not ready to upgrade yet.
Microsoft had earlier released the third cumulative patch for Window 10, and also announced that its latest operating system is now installed on 50 million devices. It has now hit a new milestone with 75 million devices as it edges towards its target of 1 billion installations of Windows 10.

Verizon to offer new Cisco Software-Defined Networking technology

 Verizon to offer new Cisco Software-Defined Networking technology 

 

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.
- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/verizon-to-offer-new-cisco-software-defined-networking-technology/13582/#sthash.DRQxwXlb.dpuf

 

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.
- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/verizon-to-offer-new-cisco-software-defined-networking-technology/13582/#sthash.DRQxwXlb.dpuf

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.

 Epson introduces RIPS technology to reduce print costs

 

Epson has introduced its Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) printers which claims to drastically reduce costs. The Epson WorkForce Pro RIPS series utilize high capacity Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) that can hold a far higher volume of ink compared to traditional ink cartridges.

The system provides the ease-of-use of a cartridge-based system, combined with the high volume printing of an ink tank system. The Workforce RIPS printers can provide enough ink to print up to 75,000 A4 pages of Black and Colour. “Workforce RIPS printers offer the lowest print cost in this category of 30 Paise for B&W and 75 Paise for Colour, and an amazingly low energy consumption of just 40Watts,” according to a statement.

Epson claims this new system gives business owners and corporates the freedom to print without worrying about the cost or physical waste. The company also announced its entry into the copier segment with the launch of the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-R8591 and WF- R5691. While the WF-R8591 is priced at Rs193,999 (Desktop Model) and Rs 262,996 (Pedestal Model) respectively, the WF-R5691 is priced at Rs 98,999.

- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/epson-introduces-rips-technology-to-reduce-print-costs/13632/#sthash.NZuha8xL.dpuf

 Epson has introduced its Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) printers which claims to drastically reduce costs. The Epson WorkForce Pro RIPS series utilize high capacity Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) that can hold a far higher volume of ink compared to traditional ink cartridges.

The system provides the ease-of-use of a cartridge-based system, combined with the high volume printing of an ink tank system. The Workforce RIPS printers can provide enough ink to print up to 75,000 A4 pages of Black and Colour. “Workforce RIPS printers offer the lowest print cost in this category of 30 Paise for B&W and 75 Paise for Colour, and an amazingly low energy consumption of just 40Watts,” according to a statement.

Epson claims this new system gives business owners and corporates the freedom to print without worrying about the cost or physical waste. The company also announced its entry into the copier segment with the launch of the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-R8591 and WF- R5691. While the WF-R8591 is priced at Rs193,999 (Desktop Model) and Rs 262,996 (Pedestal Model) respectively, the WF-R5691 is priced at Rs 98,999.

Epson has introduced its Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) printers which claims to drastically reduce costs. The Epson WorkForce Pro RIPS series utilize high capacity Replaceable Ink Pack Systems (RIPS) that can hold a far higher volume of ink compared to traditional ink cartridges.

The system provides the ease-of-use of a cartridge-based system, combined with the high volume printing of an ink tank system. The Workforce RIPS printers can provide enough ink to print up to 75,000 A4 pages of Black and Colour. “Workforce RIPS printers offer the lowest print cost in this category of 30 Paise for B&W and 75 Paise for Colour, and an amazingly low energy consumption of just 40Watts,” according to a statement.

Epson claims this new system gives business owners and corporates the freedom to print without worrying about the cost or physical waste. The company also announced its entry into the copier segment with the launch of the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-R8591 and WF- R5691. While the WF-R8591 is priced at Rs193,999 (Desktop Model) and Rs 262,996 (Pedestal Model) respectively, the WF-R5691 is priced at Rs 98,999.

- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/epson-introduces-rips-technology-to-reduce-print-costs/13632/#sthash.NZuha8xL.dpuf

Epson introduces RIPS technology to reduce print costs

- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/epson-introduces-rips-technology-to-reduce-print-costs/13632/#sthash.NZuha8xL.dpuf

Epson introduces RIPS technology to reduce print costs

- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/epson-introduces-rips-technology-to-reduce-print-costs/13632/#sthash.NZuha8xL.dpuf

Noctua NH-D9L

Not only is the segment getting popular, but it has also seen an increase in the variety of components available to quench the thirst for performance. All of this increase in demand for small form factor PC’s can be attested by the fact that small form factor components are quite big on performance these days. When you can build a powerful PC that’s almost half the size of regular ones and hide it anywhere, it surely becomes an interestingly viable option.

Over the course of time, we’ve tested plenty of coolers from both – the air and liquid cooling categories and coolers from Noctua have always stood out for their quality, performance and extreme silence. In fact, the Noctua NH-D15 is the best performing CPU air cooler that we’ve ever tested and it won our best performer award in the segment not too long ago. While the NH-D15 is a full-size air cooler with a huge heatsink, this time around, Noctua sent us their NH-D9L for review which belongs to their small form-factor range of CPU coolers. And so, according to Noctua, the NH-D9L is being marketed towards people building a silent small form-factor PC as it has a humble 95x95mm width and depth. So, let’s put Noctua’s new kid on the block to test and see how it fairs.
Testing and Performance Results

As we mentioned previously, we have a standard set of components that we use for testing the CPU coolers and they remain the same for testing air as well as liquid coolers. This makes easy for you to understand and gauge the performance difference between all the coolers that we test and then take a pick depending on your usage scenario. This also ensures a level playing field between all the coolers and prevents any cooler from getting an unfair advantage over the others. Also, we make use of a digital temperature monitor to keep the ambient room temperature in check in order to make for any corrections if there is any deviation from an ambient room temperature of 28°C.

Test Components
CPU: Intel Core i7 3770K;
Motherboard: ASRock Z77 Extreme 6;
RAM: Kingston HyperX 16GB (4GB x4 sticks) 1600MHz;
Storage: Intel X25-V 40GB SSD;
Power Supply: Antec VP650P;
Cabinet: Cooler Master HAF-XM;
Operating System: Windows 8

As for the testing software, we use Real Temp and HWMonitor to keep the idle and load CPU core temperatures in check and run Prime95 for stress testing the system and note down the readings. To take a note of the idle operating temperature, we first let the system run for at least 45 minutes to an hour in order to wait for the temperature to stabilize and then measure readings.

You must know that since the Noctua NH-D9L comes with only one fan, but supports installation of two fans, we also tested the cooler in a dual-fan based setup for posterity. So let’s take a look at how it fares against Noctua’s own NH-U9S which is a similar 92MM cooler. We’ve also shown results of two of our other favourite coolers (albeit full size ones) - the Cooler Master Hyper 212X and the Noctua NH-D15 so that you can see the difference between all of them.

Conclusion

The current CPU cooler market is over saturated with a huge number of coolers available in plenty of different price segments but when it comes to coolers that are primed for small form-factor builds using Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX boards, there aren’t many good choices available. After all, a cooler for small builds has to have certain dimensions that make it not only fit a small PC case but also allow for enough room around it for other components. And trust us when we say this that we’ve experienced an insane number of CPU air coolers that didn’t provide for any sort of RAM and PCIe clearance. So much so that we had to sacrifice one or more RAM slots that are immediately adjacent to the CPU socket owing to the big-ass size of extravagant heatsinks. But the Noctua NH-D9L doesn’t give any of this unnecessary trouble.

Not only is the segment getting popular, but it has also seen an increase in the variety of components available to quench the thirst for performance. All of this increase in demand for small form factor PC’s can be attested by the fact that small form factor components are quite big on performance these days. When you can build a powerful PC that’s almost half the size of regular ones and hide it anywhere, it surely becomes an interestingly viable option.
Over the course of time, we’ve tested plenty of coolers from both – the air and liquid cooling categories and coolers from Noctua have always stood out for their quality, performance and extreme silence. In fact, the Noctua NH-D15 is the best performing CPU air cooler that we’ve ever tested and it won our best performer award in the segment not too long ago. While the NH-D15 is a full-size air cooler with a huge heatsink, this time around, Noctua sent us their NH-D9L for review which belongs to their small form-factor range of CPU coolers. And so, according to Noctua, the NH-D9L is being marketed towards people building a silent small form-factor PC as it has a humble 95x95mm width and depth. So, let’s put Noctua’s new kid on the block to test and see how it fairs.
- See more at: http://www.digit.in/pc-components/noctua-nh-d9l-review-5926.html#sthash.2Xu5hI6K.dpuf

Not only is the segment getting popular, but it has also seen an increase in the variety of components available to quench the thirst for performance. All of this increase in demand for small form factor PC’s can be attested by the fact that small form factor components are quite big on performance these days. When you can build a powerful PC that’s almost half the size of regular ones and hide it anywhere, it surely becomes an interestingly viable option.
Over the course of time, we’ve tested plenty of coolers from both – the air and liquid cooling categories and coolers from Noctua have always stood out for their quality, performance and extreme silence. In fact, the Noctua NH-D15 is the best performing CPU air cooler that we’ve ever tested and it won our best performer award in the segment not too long ago. While the NH-D15 is a full-size air cooler with a huge heatsink, this time around, Noctua sent us their NH-D9L for review which belongs to their small form-factor range of CPU coolers. And so, according to Noctua, the NH-D9L is being marketed towards people building a silent small form-factor PC as it has a humble 95x95mm width and depth. So, let’s put Noctua’s new kid on the block to test and see how it fairs.
- See more at: http://www.digit.in/pc-components/noctua-nh-d9l-review-5926.html#sthash.2Xu5hI6K.dpuf

Not only is the segment getting popular, but it has also seen an increase in the variety of components available to quench the thirst for performance. All of this increase in demand for small form factor PC’s can be attested by the fact that small form factor components are quite big on performance these days. When you can build a powerful PC that’s almost half the size of regular ones and hide it anywhere, it surely becomes an interestingly viable option.
Over the course of time, we’ve tested plenty of coolers from both – the air and liquid cooling categories and coolers from Noctua have always stood out for their quality, performance and extreme silence. In fact, the Noctua NH-D15 is the best performing CPU air cooler that we’ve ever tested and it won our best performer award in the segment not too long ago. While the NH-D15 is a full-size air cooler with a huge heatsink, this time around, Noctua sent us their NH-D9L for review which belongs to their small form-factor range of CPU coolers. And so, according to Noctua, the NH-D9L is being marketed towards people building a silent small form-factor PC as it has a humble 95x95mm width and depth. So, let’s put Noctua’s new kid on the block to test and see how it fairs.
- See more at: http://www.digit.in/pc-components/noctua-nh-d9l-review-5926.html#sthash.2Xu5hI6K.dpuf