|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
RBMODS REVIEWS |
Date 2007-05-18
Provider: Thermaltake
Author: Niko Lupala
Editor: Amber Lupala
Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooler Review
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
The heat sink is made of a machined copper base that interfaces with the CPU and a set of fins connected by four copper heat-pipes. The copper base appeared to be machined-smooth and free of imperfections, and it came with a protective plastic sleeve that we’ve come to expect with most coolers. The cooler also comes with variable resistance fan, which is controlled using a small knob/potentiometer connected to the fan. My only complaint with this is that the knob is too small and has too short of a core; you have to reach inside your computer in order to adjust it. This makes on-the-fly adjustments harder to do.
|
|
Please click on thumbnails to get bigger pictures
The Thermaltake cooler was very easy to install onto my AMD test system, so much so that the directions on the side of the package weren’t even needed. The first step in most cooler installations is of course to remove the existing cooler and add a dab of thermal paste. Next, simply place the cooler on top of the CPU, insert the mounting bracket over the CPU block and latch one side, then latch the other side using the simple lever. The only thing that was a little difficult to figure out is which direction to mount the fan; I would have liked to have seen an arrow or some other obvious indication of the fan direction.
Due to the unique shape of the cooler, as expected I had no clearance issues. No concern with this cooler hitting any of the capacitors, RAM, the Northbridge cooler, etc. After turning it on, I was pleasantly greeted with a nice blue glow from the LEDs installed on the cooler.
During testing, I tried out both the high and low fan speeds and noticed a great deal of difference in noise levels. The low fan speed was very quiet, lending itself to noise-sensitive applications. As you would expect, the higher fan speed was louder yet not too obnoxious, thanks to the larger fan diameter. Overall this cooler has good noise performance, especially at low speeds.
Testing:
Test System:
AMD 64+ 4000+ S939
Biostar T-Force Motherboard
Corsair 1GB ValueSelect PC3200 DDR RAM
GeForce 7600GS
Western Digital 250 GB 7200 rpm harddrive
Idle temperatures were taken running Windows and full loads were taken while running SiSandra’s Burn-in Module. Temperatures (in degrees Celsius) were recorded with the results compared with two recently reviewed air coolers: the Evercool Buffalo cooler and the Rosewill Z3 vertical cooler. Ambient temp was about 22C.
|
|
Stock speed:
Results after overclocking to 2640 MHz-
Overclocked:
As seen in both tests, the Thermaltake cooler’s performance was slightly better than the Evercool cooler yet slightly worse than the Rosewill cooler, which is another horizontal cooler. I suspect that some of the design features I mentioned earlier might have hampered this cooler’s performance slightly. Yet this is still very respectable performance from a cooler and should support most applications.
Conclusion:
The Thermaltake V1 CPU cooler is a stylish, sophisticated-looking cooler that definitely adds some flair to an average computer build. Its bold design certainly stands out amongst the cooling crowd. Plus, it is very easy on the ears, with low noise output, especially at low speeds. Unfortunately, this cooler doesn’t offer similar results in terms of cooling performance but rather is average when it comes to lowering CPU temperatures. However, if you’re looking for a stylish cooler to compliment your build, you might want to give this cooler a try.
Pros:
+ Easy installation
+ Solid noise performance, especially at low speeds
+ Compatible with both Intel/AMD processors
+ Attractive, unique design with LEDs on fan
Cons:
- Average cooling performance
- Big
- Speed control is small and has small cord
Current Real Time Pricing
Related Articles:
Evercool Buffalo CPU Cooler Review
ThermalTake BlueOrb FX Cooler Review
Arctic Cooling Accelero S2 Video Card Cooler Review
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2002-2008 Rbmods.com. All Rights Reserved
Rbmods.com | Rbarcade.com | Rbconsoles.com
| BigMan´s Blog | flash templates | vista icons |
| Make Money Online |   
Our Friends - GideonTech | Metku | AllTheMods | OCModShop | Bona Fide Reviews | Rbmods | ThinkComputers | PCApex | TweakTown |
|
|
RSS
