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NOISE RECORDINGS IN MP3 FORMAT
- Reference 120mm fan (not tested): 5V-7V-9V-12V, 5s Ambient between
levels: One Meter,
One Foot
The reference fan was not re-recorded on the Asus Triton 75, because the recording above (made with the fan just blowing into free air) is very close to that of its sound while mounted on the Triton 75. If there is any audible difference, it would be at the 12V full speed level, where a touch more turbulence might be heard. But inside a case, this difference would not be audible.
Comparatives:
- Scythe Infinity: 5V-7V-9V-12V, 5s Ambient between levels:
One Meter, One
Foot
- Zalman CNPS8700 LED: 5V-7V-9V-12V, 5s Ambient between levels:
One Meter
- Scythe Mine w/ stock fan: 5V-7V-9V-12V, 5s Ambient between levels:
One Meter, One
Foot
- Thermaltake Big Typhoon: 5V-7V-9V-12V, 5s Ambient between levels:
One Meter, One
Foot
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HOW TO LISTEN &
COMPARE
These
recordings were
made with a high resolution, studio quality, digital recording system
and are intended to represent a quick snapshot of what we heard during
the review. Two recordings of each noise level were made, one from a
distance of one meter, and
another from one foot away.
The
one meter recording
is intended to give you an idea of how the subject of this review sound
in actual use — one meter is a reasonable typical distance between a
computer or computer component and your ear. The recording contains
stretches of ambient noise that you can use to judge the relative
loudness of the subject. For best results, set your volume control so
that the ambient noise is just barely audible. Be aware that very quiet
subjects may not be audible — if we couldn't hear it from one meter,
chances are we couldn't record it either!
The
one foot recording is
designed to bring out the fine details of the noise. Use this recording
with caution! Although more detailed, it may not represent how the
subject sounds in actual use. It is best to listen to this recording
after you have listened to the one meter recording.
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FINAL CONCLUSIONS
If we awarded prizes for innovations in design, this Asus would not even get near the podium, but the proof of a heatsink is in the cooling. The Triton 75 is an excellent heatsink, offering great cooling performance with either low or high airflow fan settings. The Triton 75 can run within a few degrees of the coolest, baddest coolers around despite its low weight (whether it's 398g or 350g, it's lighter than most high performance CPU coolers). Leaving the choice of fan up to the user is a great idea that's been long practised by Thermalright. It works well here, because the Triton 75 is equally at home in an overclocked extreme gaming rig or in a super quiet SPCR-ideal system, and the only difference would be the fan chosen (and the speed at which it's run). The downward flow of the fan is a benefit to cooling of the VRM on most motherboards.
The "fangs" and the stock Intel locking pins for socket 775 mounting are annoying, but now that you're warned, you can take care to avoid injury. With some motherboards (like the test platform board), the heatsink fins might extend too far over the edge of the board and interfere with the power supply on that side. Aside from those cautions, the only other downside to this cooler is that it's not that widely distributed right now, at least not in the US and Canada.
The pricing of ~$35 in the US is quite good, especially if you already have a fan (or a collection of them) to go on the Triton 75. With so many motherboards now supporting some kind of fan speed controller, it should be easy to get a quiet operation with this cooler, and never worry again about overheating your CPU.
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Pros
* AMD mounting clip is easy and secure
* Excellent performance even with very low airflow
* Low weight means less stress on the motherboard
* Downward fan airflow helps cool the VRM
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Cons
* Stock Intel pins for socket 775 mounting
* Sharp corners of fins interferes with installation
* May not fit if CPU socket is close to edge of mainboard
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Much thanks to Asus
for the Triton 75 sample.
* * *
Articles of Related Interest
Recommended
Heatsinks
SPCR's
Unique Heatsink Testing Methodology
Thermaltake
Big Typhoon Heatsink / Fan
Thermalright SI-128
Zalman CNPS8700 LED
CPU Cooler: Update of a Classic
Scythe Andy Master
* * *
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