silentpcreview.com - Cooling

SPCR's Unique Heatsink Testing Methodology

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 20:35:51 +0000

After our two main test beds for heatsink testing developed intermittant defects, we've rebuilt our test bed for the fourth (or is it the fifth) time so we can continue to bring you quality heatsink reviews. At the same time, we've brought our article on testing heatsinks up to date — a long overdue update that brings it out of the era of Athlons and P-IIIs into the present day where Socket 775 now rules the roost. We've also tossed in some gems about VRMs and testing CPU power, as well as a quick re-test of some old favorites to kick things off.

Recommended Heatsinks

Fri, 27 Aug 2004 07:47:19 +0000

Recommended Heatsinks lists SPCR-reviewed cooling devices for CPUs, VGA and other hot computer parts, ordered by cooling performance and low noise. Jan 16, 2008 is the date of the most recent update.

Xigmatek Battle-Axe: First Direct-Touch Heatpipe VGA Cooler

Fri, 2 May 2008 19:35:44 +0000

Xigmatek's direct heatpipe-to-heatsource technology finds its way to VGA cooling. The big, aptly named, 4-pipe Battle-Axe looks like a serious contender for cooling the hottest video cards. Does it do it well... and quietly?

Thermaltake MaxOrb Heatpipe Cooler: Maximum Orbness

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:51:08 +0000

Thermaltake radial-style "Orb" line has had many variants (and colors) for cooling chipsets, video cards, and processors. Manufacturers appear to have abandoned the radial design these days, though Zalman is an exception, with its CNPS8700, an updated heatpipe version of their CNPS7700. Now it's Thermaltake's turn to try and extend the radial heatsink/fan's epoch with the MaxOrb.

Xigmatek HDT-S1283 & SD964 "heatpipe direct-touch" CPU coolers

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 20:51:18 +0000

Yes, these tower coolers from Xigmatek feature bases in which the heatpipes themselves make direct contact with the top of the CPU. Elimination of a heat transfer interface to improve cooling performance is the aim. In other aspects, the coolers are typical heatpipe tower coolers. Does it work?

Akasa AK-965 socket 775 tower cooler

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:38:36 +0000

Akasa's 92mm fan tower heatpipe cooler for Intel 775 CPUs has all the key features at a very budget price. Can it run with the big boys?

Ninja Copper: Scythe's 5th Year Celebration

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:52:27 +0000

To celebrate its fifth anniversary, Scythe decided to do an all-copper makeover of its ever popular Ninja heatsink. It turned the already big heatsink into a >1kg heavyweight. How does it fare in the world of CPU cooling champs?

Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 Pro: The Alpine 7 Revisited

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 06:43:20 +0000

Arctic Cooling has updated their quiet, budget socket 775 cooler with a new "Pro" version that simplifies installation by using Intel's stock pushpins. The heatsink block has also been changed to accommodate the new mounting hardware. Is that all that has changed or has Arctic Cooling messed too much with a good thing?

Arctic Cooling Accelero S2 VGA Cooler + Turbo Module

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:12:59 +0000

A slightly smaller, slightly cheaper version of the AC Accelero S1 performs a bit worse. Is there really a market for this inexpensive, admittedly brilliant performing VGA cooler when the slightly bigger S1 (Rev 2) fits the same video cards, and performs better for only $3 more?

Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 VGA Cooler

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 08:22:48 +0000

Arctic Cooling's Accelero S1 fanless GPU coolers promises excellent cooling with its huge size and open fin spacing. We put it through its paces in our new VGA testing platform.

Updated VGA Card/Cooler Test Platform

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:46:51 +0000

The PC system used as our test platform for VGA cards and coolers was recently overhauled. The improved hardware and test procedures have made for a quieter, cooler system that should give us more consistent test results with a bit more ease.

Asus Triton 75 CPU Cooler

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:27:49 +0000

Asus makes not only motherboards and laptops, but also... just about every type of consumer IT product. They have a couple dozen heatsinks in their thermal solutions range; the Triton 75 is the first Asus heatsink to survive SPCR's torture chamber.

Gigabyte G-Power 2 Pro CPU cooler

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:05:03 +0000

Gigabyte's top CPU cooler model has a different slant, much like their earlier Volar that we already reviewed. Five fat, long heatpipes, a 120mm fan, copper base, and a huge curved array of thin fins: Is it a formula for quiet cooling?

Gigabyte Volar CPU heatsink/fan

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 22:53:47 +0000

Gigabyte's Volar is certainly unusual. It's a tower heatsink on a 45° angle that seems to use Intel's stock heatsink for its fins. Throw in a frameless fan and you've got an odd mongrel of a heatsink. It was tough to know how it would perform ahead of time, so a full test on our test bed was a necessity. How did it do? Keep reading to find out...

Zalman VF1000 LED Graphics Card Cooler

Mon, 5 Nov 2007 07:51:47 +0000

The Zalman VF1000 LED VGA cooler features 100% copper, four heatpipes, and a massive array of linear fins. It has all the makings of a lean, mean cooling machine. We're going to pit it against one of its predecessors, the Zalman VF900-CU — which for more than a year has been a favorite for those seeking quiet GPU cooling in a compact form. Will it be a fair fight, or will the VF1000 reduce it to the role of punching bag?