Reviews                                                         

Saya review Casing ITX terbaru dari Darkflash iaitu Darkflash DLH 21 ITX Case

 Darkflash Symphony 240 AIO Liquid Cooler 

Saya review Casing ITX terbaru dari Darkflash iaitu Darkflash DLH 21 ITX Case

Spesifikasi Gaming PC:

CPU : Ryzen 9 5900X

MOBO : ASRock Phantom Gaming X570 ITX

RAM : XPG D51 16GB DDR4 3200Mhz

SSD : Seagate Firecuda 520 1TB NVME SSD

Cooler : Darkflash Symphony 240 AIO Liquid Cooler 

GPU : PNY RTX3060Ti

PSU : FSP Dagger Pro 650W

CASE : Darkflash DLH 21

Review Darkflash DLH 21 Luxury ITX Case (Pilipino)

Currently, the most common case fans on the market are 12 cm and 14 cm. However, fans pre-installed in cases are still predominantly 12 cm. What are the differences between these two sizes, and should you consider upgrading to a 14 cm fan?

| Differences Between 12 cm and 14 cm Fans |

The primary differences between 12 cm and 14 cm fans are airflow, cooling performance, noise levels, and case compatibility.

When operating at the same speed, a 14 cm fan will generate higher airflow, resulting in better cooling performance compared to a 12 cm fan.

At the same noise level, a 14 cm fan operates at a lower speed while providing stronger airflow. However, at the same fan speed, a 12 cm fan will produce less noise.

Since 14 cm fans require larger spaces and screw holes that specifically fit the 14 cm size, not all cases support 14 cm fans. It’s important to check compatibility before purchasing.

| Who Should Upgrade to 14 cm Case Fans? |

14 cm fans offer higher airflow at full speed, lowering internal temperatures more effectively than 12 cm fans.

14 cm fans tend to be noisier than 12 cm fans. They are ideal for users who typically wear headphones while gaming or using their PC for extended periods.

| Why Aren’t 14 cm Case Fans the Mainstream Choice? |

While some cases come pre-installed with 14 cm fans, 12 cm fans are still the most common choice. This is due to several reasons:

14 cm fans tend to be slightly more expensive than their 12 cm counterparts. For example, the Owl NF-P12 and NF-P14 fans are priced at $20 and $23, respectively. The price difference of $3 per fan can add up to $9 for 3 to 4 fans. However, real-world testing shows that a 14 cm fan only reduces temperatures by about 1 degree compared to a 12 cm fan, which may not justify the higher cost.

↑ Test Results from PC Build (Video from 

Most consumers do not run their PCs at full speed for extended periods. The airflow and cooling performance of 12 cm fans are sufficient for everyday use, so upgrading to 14 cm fans is often unnecessary.





Currently, the most common case fans on the market are 12 cm and 14 cm. However, fans pre-installed in cases are still predominantly 12 cm. What are the differences between these two sizes, and should you consider upgrading to a 14 cm fan?



| Differences Between 12 cm and 14 cm Fans |

The primary differences between 12 cm and 14 cm fans are airflow, cooling performance, noise levels, and case compatibility.



Airflow and Cooling Performance

When operating at the same speed, a 14 cm fan will generate higher airflow, resulting in better cooling performance compared to a 12 cm fan.







Speed and Noise Levels

At the same noise level, a 14 cm fan operates at a lower speed while providing stronger airflow. However, at the same fan speed, a 12 cm fan will produce less noise.







Case Compatibility

Since 14 cm fans require larger spaces and screw holes that specifically fit the 14 cm size, not all cases support 14 cm fans. It’s important to check compatibility before purchasing.



| Who Should Upgrade to 14 cm Case Fans? |

Users with Higher Cooling Needs: 

14 cm fans offer higher airflow at full speed, lowering internal temperatures more effectively than 12 cm fans.



Users Less Concerned About Noise: 

14 cm fans tend to be noisier than 12 cm fans. They are ideal for users who typically wear headphones while gaming or using their PC for extended periods.







| Why Aren’t 14 cm Case Fans the Mainstream Choice? |

While some cases come pre-installed with 14 cm fans, 12 cm fans are still the most common choice. This is due to several reasons:



Lower Cost-Effectiveness

14 cm fans tend to be slightly more expensive than their 12 cm counterparts. For example, the Owl NF-P12 and NF-P14 fans are priced at $20 and $23, respectively. The price difference of $3 per fan can add up to $9 for 3 to 4 fans. However, real-world testing shows that a 14 cm fan only reduces temperatures by about 1 degree compared to a 12 cm fan, which may not justify the higher cost.





↑ Test Results from PC Build (Video from Super Computing Network)



Not Aligned with Market Demand

Most consumers do not run their PCs at full speed for extended periods. The airflow and cooling performance of 12 cm fans are sufficient for everyday use, so upgrading to 14 cm fans is often unnecessary.





14 cm case fans offer better cooling performance, but due to cost-effectiveness and market demand, 12 cm fans remain the mainstream choice.

What Are the Differences Between 14cm and 12cm Case Fans?

As a DIY beginner, you are often reminded to apply thermal paste when installing a cooler, or your system might fail to boot properly. But why is thermal paste so important? What makes this paste so essential?

Although the surfaces of the CPU and cooler might appear smooth to the naked eye, they are not perfectly flat. The gaps between them prevent effective heat transfer. Applying thermal paste fills these gaps, allowing the cooler to work at its maximum efficiency.

There are four common methods for applying thermal paste: the dot method, five-point method, cross method, and spread method.

Apply a small dot of thermal paste in the center of the CPU and then press the cooler down to spread the paste evenly between the CPU and cooler.

The five-point and cross methods are similar, ensuring that thermal paste is evenly applied from the center to the corners.

Apply a small amount of thermal paste to the CPU and use a spatula to evenly spread it across the surface.

| What Happens If You Don't Apply Thermal Paste? |

Even with a powerful cooler, if the heat from the CPU cannot be effectively transferred to the cooler, it won’t perform efficiently.

The CPU will throttle due to overheating, leading to a decrease in overall performance.

Prolonged high temperatures can significantly shorten the lifespan of the CPU and other components.

| Thermal Paste Selection and Usage Tips |

When selecting thermal paste, opt for one with a high thermal conductivity rating. Combining this with the proper application technique will ensure the best cooling performance.

Since the motherboard is filled with electronic components, using conductive thermal paste could cause interference or, in the worst-case scenario, permanent damage to your computer's components.

Before applying thermal paste, it’s a good idea to clean the surfaces of the CPU and cooler using alcohol and a cloth to ensure the highest possible cooling performance.

Thermal paste is an essential part of processor cooling. Not only does it improve computer performance, but it also extends the lifespan of your hardware.





As a DIY beginner, you are often reminded to apply thermal paste when installing a cooler, or your system might fail to boot properly. But why is thermal paste so important? What makes this paste so essential?



| Why is Thermal Paste Necessary? |

Although the surfaces of the CPU and cooler might appear smooth to the naked eye, they are not perfectly flat. The gaps between them prevent effective heat transfer. Applying thermal paste fills these gaps, allowing the cooler to work at its maximum efficiency.



↑ From intel official website

| How to Apply Thermal Paste |

There are four common methods for applying thermal paste: the dot method, five-point method, cross method, and spread method.





Dot Method

Apply a small dot of thermal paste in the center of the CPU and then press the cooler down to spread the paste evenly between the CPU and cooler.





Pros: Helps prevent excessive paste from spilling over the edges of the processor.



Cons: The distribution of thermal paste may be uneven around the edges of the CPU.



Five-Point / Cross Method

The five-point and cross methods are similar, ensuring that thermal paste is evenly applied from the center to the corners.





Pros: Ensures an even distribution of thermal paste, improving heat transfer.



Cons: If not applied correctly, thermal paste may spill over the processor.



Spread Method

Apply a small amount of thermal paste to the CPU and use a spatula to evenly spread it across the surface.





Pros: Offers better coverage and heat transfer than the five-point or cross methods.



Cons: If too much thermal paste is applied, it may spill over the edges of the processor.







| What Happens If You Don't Apply Thermal Paste? |

Wasted Cooler Performance: 

Even with a powerful cooler, if the heat from the CPU cannot be effectively transferred to the cooler, it won’t perform efficiently.



Reduced CPU Performance: 

The CPU will throttle due to overheating, leading to a decrease in overall performance.



Hardware Damage: 

Prolonged high temperatures can significantly shorten the lifespan of the CPU and other components.







| Thermal Paste Selection and Usage Tips |

Choose a High Thermal Conductivity Paste

When selecting thermal paste, opt for one with a high thermal conductivity rating. Combining this with the proper application technique will ensure the best cooling performance.







Select Non-Conductive Thermal Paste

Since the motherboard is filled with electronic components, using conductive thermal paste could cause interference or, in the worst-case scenario, permanent damage to your computer's components.







Clean Before Application

Before applying thermal paste, it’s a good idea to clean the surfaces of the CPU and cooler using alcohol and a cloth to ensure the highest possible cooling performance.







Thermal paste is an essential part of processor cooling. Not only does it improve computer performance, but it also extends the lifespan of your hardware.

The surface between the CPU and the cooler is not perfectly smooth, which is why thermal paste is needed to ensure optimal heat transfer.

Why You Must Apply Thermal Paste When Installing a Cooler

As a gamer, you may have come across recommendations online for AMD’s X3D series processors. Thanks to the use of AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, these processors offer exceptional gaming performance. But what exactly is 3D V-Cache technology, and how can the X3D series benefit gamers?

3D V-Cache is an advanced 3D packaging technique that stacks cache memory directly on top of the CPU. This innovation helps alleviate cache memory bottlenecks. The main advantage is the increased cache capacity, which reduces performance losses caused by cache misses.

| Advantages of the X3D Series Processors |

The X3D processors feature larger cache memory, optimizing memory access during gaming and resulting in higher frame rates.

To balance heat dissipation, the base frequency of X3D processors is slightly lower than that of their standard counterparts in the same generation.

↑ The X3D series CPUs can deliver higher gaming frame rates.(From 

| Who Should Consider Purchasing X3D Series Processors? |

Given the larger cache memory capacity of the X3D processors, they are primarily beneficial for gamers. However, they don’t offer significant advantages for productivity tasks or content creators. If your PC needs are focused on productivity or content creation, the X3D series may not be the best choice.

| The New Ryzen 7 9800X3D Improves on the Zen3 and Zen4 Weaknesses |

Earlier Zen3 and Zen4 X3D processors stacked the cache memory on top of the CPU core, leading to inefficient heat dissipation. This design prevented the CPU core from directly contacting the top cover, which caused cooling issues. The new Ryzen 7 9800X3D has swapped the positions of the CPU core and cache memory, allowing the core to directly contact the top cover. This change not only solves the heat buildup problem but also allows the X3D series to achieve higher processor clock speeds.

Check out the Ryzen 7 9800X3D Introduction Video





As a gamer, you may have come across recommendations online for AMD’s X3D series processors. Thanks to the use of AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, these processors offer exceptional gaming performance. But what exactly is 3D V-Cache technology, and how can the X3D series benefit gamers?



| What is 3D V-Cache Technology? |

3D V-Cache is an advanced 3D packaging technique that stacks cache memory directly on top of the CPU. This innovation helps alleviate cache memory bottlenecks. The main advantage is the increased cache capacity, which reduces performance losses caused by cache misses.





↑ Image Credit: Geek Bay



| Advantages of the X3D Series Processors |

1.Gaming Performance: 

The X3D processors feature larger cache memory, optimizing memory access during gaming and resulting in higher frame rates.



2.Lower Power Consumption: 

To balance heat dissipation, the base frequency of X3D processors is slightly lower than that of their standard counterparts in the same generation.





↑ The X3D series CPUs can deliver higher gaming frame rates.(From Geek Bay YT)



| Who Should Consider Purchasing X3D Series Processors? |

Given the larger cache memory capacity of the X3D processors, they are primarily beneficial for gamers. However, they don’t offer significant advantages for productivity tasks or content creators. If your PC needs are focused on productivity or content creation, the X3D series may not be the best choice.



| X3D vs. Non-X3D Series Processors |





| The New Ryzen 7 9800X3D Improves on the Zen3 and Zen4 Weaknesses |

Earlier Zen3 and Zen4 X3D processors stacked the cache memory on top of the CPU core, leading to inefficient heat dissipation. This design prevented the CPU core from directly contacting the top cover, which caused cooling issues. The new Ryzen 7 9800X3D has swapped the positions of the CPU core and cache memory, allowing the core to directly contact the top cover. This change not only solves the heat buildup problem but also allows the X3D series to achieve higher processor clock speeds.







Check out the Ryzen 7 9800X3D Introduction Video



The AMD X3D series processors use advanced packaging technology to stack cache memory, improving CPU performance, especially in gaming scenarios.

What Sets AMD X3D Processors Apart from Regular CPUs?

As an enthusiast of games and computer DIY in this age, we, darkFlash, feel proud and grateful for keep thinking how to develop impressive and extraordinary products with high-end facilities by assembling and using the PC cases, CPU coolers, case fans, and even gaming chairs and tables in person.

Our goal is to create products that could extremely exert its effect by every user.