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Product:
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MTB Exclusive: Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit |
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Price:
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$15 (CAN) / $11 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Lizard Tree
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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June 8th, 2003
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Richard from Lizard Tree
for sending the Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit for review.
Introduction:
Case modification is considered an art form of self expression and takes on several different levels to
complete one project. The popularity of deploying multiple acrylic windows in a standard design is more
common and consumers have the option of using the DIY approach or purchasing a pre-modified kit.
Aesthetics play a very important role in terms of defining design and function. One of the key areas
that need to be addressed when a window design is used is cable management. There are currently a wide
variety of solutions available ranging from split loom, spiral wrap, zip ties and now sleeving material.
Today in the MTB Labs, we will be evaluating the Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit, a brand new product from
Lizard Tree designed to simplify the process of keeping a case interior clean and cable management to a
minimum.
Specifications:
The Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit is one of several available all-inclusive kits that will be available
to the Canadian and U.S markets. Kits can be ordered in different sizes and colour formats ranging
from Black, Tangerine, Neon Orange, Neon Yellow, Neon Red and Neon Amber. Potential vendors looking to
stock this product can reach the manufacturer at lizard_tree@rogers.com.
Here are the full specifications taken from the Lizard Tree website:
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Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit - Key Specifications:
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| Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit: Manufactured by Lizard Tree |
| Lengths in 12 and 36 inches |
| Current sizes: 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 14mm and 18mm |
| Available in 7 colours |
| Suitable for all standard and P4 certified PSU's |
| Adds structual integrity to wire groupings |
| Expandable |
| Does not interfere with air flow dynamics |
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The Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit arrived in a clear plastic baggie with the Lizard Tree
label and address across the front. Included in the package is the following:
- 4 x 6mm springs
- 1 x 8mm spring
- 1 x 13mm spring
- Instructions and tip sheet.
A single dual page instruction sheet covers the product features, warranty information and suggested
applications where this product can be used.
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There are a total of 6 springs included in the package with a circular diameter ranging from 6mm to 13mm.
Each spring is coiled in a circular pattern extending in two different lengths both 12 inches and 36
inches. The springs are constructed of soft plastic and have a a good level of flexiblity for cases
which have small case interiors. Lizard Tree advises that the Chameleon Springs work well in heat
sensitive environments and will not interfere with air flow dynamics.
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The primary feature of the Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit is to completely tame wire
management issues with standard ATX and P4 certified PSU's. For this review, I removed a Turbolink 300w
Power Supply with dual fan speed control. The PSU rivals similar units currently on the market and
includes a standard 20-pin ATX connector, P4 12v connector, 6-pin AUX P4 connector, 4 x 4-pin Molex
connectors, and 2 x floppy connectors. In a previous installation of this PSU, all cables were bundled
using zip ties and split loom.
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Installation the Chameleon Springs is straightforward and begins by seperating each PSU cable into
groups. The 4mm spings are used for the smaller wires which connect to computer components while the
8mm can be used to double up wires. The larger 13mm spring is used to bundle the wires connecting to
the 20-pin ATX connector. All that is required is to twist the springs in a 360 degree motion to
cover the complete wire. After 15 minutes of work, each of the PSU wires were neat and organized.
One point that I did note is that there are a few PSU's on the market such as the Enermax brands
where the length of each wire extends at least 2-5 feet. Consumers might want to invest in two of
these kits in order to cover the desired length of each cable.
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The Turbolink 300W PSU was installed back into a standard desktop case which contains a Pentium III 1 GHz CPU,
Asus TUSI-M motherboard, Oboard video, Soundblaster 128, 256MB RAM and a Western Digital 10GB hard drive.
Prior to using the Chameleon Springs cable management was a big issue since it complicated regular
system maintenance and air flow. The case interior is less cluttered and PSU wire management has been
minimized.
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Conclusion:
The Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit is a simple yet effective solution for managing a cluttered
case interior by bundling loose cable wire. The installation is straightforward and can be completed in
less than 15 minutes. The kit is available in 7 different colours to suit any case theme and retails
for less than $20. Consumers will appreciate that one kit can cover a complete PSU unit but results
may vary for different brands of PSU's where the cable length extends up to 5 ft in length. Overall,
I'm rating the Lizard Tree Chameleon Springs ATX P4 Kit an
8 out of 10 and would recommend this product
to consumers looking for an all-inclusive cable management alternative. If you have any questions
regarding this review be sure to visit the Lizard Tree
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- All-inclusive kit
- Adds structual integrity to wire groupings
- Available in 7 different colours
- Price
- Simple and effective
- Installation can be completed in less than 15 minutes
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Cons:
- Dual kits may be needed for PSU's which have wires that extend 5 feet
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