We are back with more Kolink goodies! This time, it’s more additions to the Observatory HF Series and some handy dandy cables hitting our virtual shelves.
There is a total of five new cases and five new cables joining the Kolink ranks today, and we simply love it. You know what time it is – time to grab a cuppa and some biscuits as we talk you through all these new Kolink shinies.
The Observatory HF Series
There are three new Kolink Observatory HF models, the Core, Mesh PWM, and Plus ARGB. Both the Core and Plus ARGB also come in Glass and Mesh editions – bringing the total up to five. In terms of hardware and cooling support, these cases share the same foundation, but they have a few key differences that make them suitable for a variety of needs.
Core
- No pre-installed fans
- Hinged tempered glass side panel
- Choose between Glass and Mesh editions
- Lower price point
Mesh PWM
- 3 x Classic 120mm PWM black fans
- Flat metal side panel
- Mesh front panel only
- Great for the office
Plus
- 6 x pre-installed 120mm and 140mm ARGB/PWM fans
- Hinged tempered glass side panel
- Choose between Glass and Mesh editions
- Suitable for gamer and streaming builds
Hardware Support
With their differences established, it’s now time to talk about their strong foundations. Each of these Observatory HF PC cases can accommodate an ATX, Micro-ATX, or Mini-ITX motherboard, with seven expansion slots to support PCIe devices. Plus, with 330mm GPU clearance, there is ample space for a wide variety of the graphics cards on the current market.
Keeping the interior looking clean is the dedicated PSU shroud. This separate compartment at the bottom of the chassis can hold power supplies up to 180mm and features four drive bays for your storage devices. Two can hold either 2.5” or 3.5” drives, whilst the other two only support 2.5” SSDs.
For all your connectivity needs, the front I/O panel features one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, as well as an HD audio jack. Naturally, this also includes a power and a reset button – which can also be used for fan control if you want. Alternatively, fans can be controlled by a 3-pin ARGB cable on your lead fan.
Thermal Solution
Whilst each new version of the Observatory HF case comes with different fan configurations, the base support for your thermal solution is all the same. Fans can be mounted to the front, top, and rear panels, and on the PSU shroud. Alternatively, you can install radiators on the front and rear panels if water-cooling is more your speed. On top of this, there is 160mm clearance for CPU coolers, optimising compatibility with a wide range of models.
Here is a full breakdown of what each of these cases supports in terms of fans and radiators:
| Panel | Core | Mesh PWM | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 3 x 120mm or 140mm fans Up to 360mm radiator | 3 x 120mm or 140mm fans Up to 360mm radiator 2 x 120mm PWM fans pre-installed | 3 x 120mm or 140mm fans Up to 360mm radiator 3 x 140mm ARGB/PWM fans pre-installed |
| Top | 2 x 120mm or 140mm fans | 2 x 120mm or 140mm fans | 2 x 120mm or 140mm fans 2 x 120mm ARGB/PWM fans pre-installed |
| Rear | 1 x 120mm fan Up to 120mm radiator | 1 x 120mm fan Up to 120mm radiator 1 x 120mm PWM fan pre-installed | 1 x 120mm fan Up to 120mm radiator 1 x 120mm ARGB/PWM fan pre-installed |
| PSU Shroud | 2 x 120mm fans | 2 x 120mm fans | 2 x 120mm fans |
New Kolink Cables
Never afraid of spoiling us, Kolink is also launching five new cables. Sure, cables aren’t the most glamorous thing in your gaming PC, but they are essential for power and data transmission. Plus, I would argue that three of these cables have plenty of glamour thanks to vibrant ARGB LEDs!
There are two extension cables, for the motherboard and PCIe devices, a GPU power cable, and two PCIe Gen 5.0 riser cables joining the line up. Of course, we’re going to take a closer look.
Umbra Radiant
There are three Kolink Umbra Radiant cables – the 24-pin motherboard extension, 2 x 8-pin PCIe extension, and 12V-2×6 to 12V-2×6 GPU power cables. Each of them features over 100 vibrant ARGB LEDs, shrouded in a UV-protected silicone shell. The extension cables utilise 18AWG silver-plated wiring whilst the full cable has 16AWG silver-plated wiring, ensuring secure transmission of power.
All three cables sport a stylish white finish and cable clips to keep the wires tidy. For a cheeky TL;DR, we’ve got a table breaking down everything you need to know about these Umbra Radiant cables.
| Features | 24-pin Motherboard Cable | 2 x 8-pin PCIe Cable | 12V-2×6 to 12V-2×6 GPU Cable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 183mm UV-protected shell 240mm total length | 260mm UV-protected shell 310mm total length | 260mm UV-protected shell 700mm total length |
| Wire Gauge | 18AWG | 18AWG | 16AWG |
| No of LEDs | 140 | 128 | 128 |
| Power / Extension | Extension | Extension | Power |
| Connectors | Male to female | Male to female | 90-degree angled connector |
| Colour | White cables Clear connectors | White cables Clear connectors | White |
| Cable Clips | Yes | Yes | Yes |
PCIe Gen 5.0 Riser
The last two products we’re looking at are the Kolink PCIe Gen 5.0 Riser cables – with either a 90-degree or 180-degree connector. At 300mm long, these cables are perfectly sized to work with most Kolink cases, and you can pick the connector type that will work best with your build! We do love having choice.
Utilising PCIe 5.0 technology, these riser cables are both future-proofed and backwards compatible with previous PCIe generations. All very useful stuff, I’m sure you’d agree. Better yet, the inner wiring features six-layered, tin-plated copper with a parallel, double-ground structure, to ensure uninterrupted signals, effective heat dissipation, and high-speed performance.
The outer material is TPE, which is soft but resists bending. This is paired with a segmented cable design to make cable management easier and any curves to the wire nice and smooth.
We have one more table for you, breaking down the specs and differences between these two riser cables.
| Feature | 90-Degree | 180-Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 300mm | 300mm |
| Connector Angle | 90-degree | 180-degree |
| PCIe Gen | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Wiring | Six layer copper | Six layer copper |
Available Now!
If these are getting you itching to upgrade, then you’re in luck – all of these great Kolink products are available to pre-order from Overclockers UK!
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- 6 min read
Emily Haylock
Author
Emily is a board and cosy gamer, keyboard obsessive, and content copywriter for Overclockers UK. She has been with Overclockers UK since 2020, writing about everything from noblechairs to 8Pack PCs. She writes from within her desk nest with a foster pup at her feet. (What, a desk duvet is a totally normal thing!) In her downtime, she likes to play board games, farming sims, and old-school Final Fantasy. IX to be specific. It is the best, and that is a hill she will die on.
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