What started from simply an aluminium block in the Intel Pentium I era, CPU coolers have become one of the most adapted pieces of hardware used in computers. However, the principle of such a product is much the same to how it stood back in 1993 when the original Intel Pentium microprocessor was introduced.

In the last few years, there seems to have been a definite slow-down in the modification of CPU coolers. Companies are now seeming to follow a standard: aluminium fins, copper heat-pipes and a 120mm fan. And would you blame them? Well as the saying goes ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, so probably not. Today, for review, we have a CPU cooler from a company named ‘Spire’, they’re fairly new to us, so let’s see if this TherMax Pro cooler surprises us with any new offerings to the processor cooling scene…

Compatibility

Features

• Three 8mm all copper u shaped heat-pipes
• All new Direct-Touch heat-pipe technology
• UV-reactant 90mm BlueStar fan design
• Amazingly silent at just 25.0 dBA
• PCI-Fan speed controller included
• 45 stamped Aluminium Micro-Fin’s
• Supports the latest Intel & AMD micro-processors

Specifications

Introduction

Cool Age, a company you’ve probably never heard of before, is starting to stir up some competition in the CPU Cooler market with their newly revealed X120TF heat sink. The Korean heat sink manufacturer has managed to develop a heat sink boasting 6 copper heat pipes and a unique fin design which Coolage call ‘Wind Tunnel Technology’. But is this CPU Cooler really all what it’s cracked up to be? Today we’ll find out in our review on the Coolage X120 Transform.

Product Briefing

“Wind tunnel heat sink is a new type of heat sink developed by COOLAGE, which is characterised by hexagonal, square of round shape design contributing to remarkably extending the area of radiation versus that of heat sink.

In addition, it adopts a new heat sink technology that focuses on using air flow coming through airways formed between heat sinks to rapidly discharge any heat accumulated inside heat sink.

Moreover, it is expected that the airway formed between heat sinks will reduce potential frictional explosive noise caused by friction of air with straight heat sink, and thereby will help create low noise environment as well.”

Seems like a lot of physics have been considered in the development of the Coolage 120TF…

Features

• Quiet and powerful cooling due to multiple heat pipes and large aluminium fin area.
• Proprietary WIND TUNNEL design to minimize airflow resistance.
• Support Multiplatform installation tool.
• Includes high-performance thermal compound CA-TC3.

Specifications

Introduction

Prolimatech are a company I have not previously encountered. After a brief inspection of their site it would appear that they have not been established for that long either. One of their first products to be introduced into the market is their Megahalems CPU cooler. Boasting an impressive array of heatpipes, fins and a single 120mm fan, it’s certainly heading in the right direction.

The cooler is compatible with the latest Intel i7’s processors but with a TDP of 130W to counter, many coolers have come unstuck and simply wilted in the heat. So, have the new boys bitten off more than they can chew or is this an up-and-coming triumph? Only one way to find out…

Features

• Minimal air resistance between fins allowing best balance between noise and performance in range of 800-1200RPM
• Heatpipes are lined up in a straight line to prevent air back draft allowing air to easily pass through the heatsink body
• Wide fins with mathematically calculated thickness to maximize best air-to-surface cooling rate
• Uniquely designed, easy-to-install socket 775 and 1366 retention mechanism to increase cooling ability
• Easy to apply, high grade thermal compound, a perfect sidekick to all Prolimatech heatsinks

Specifications

• Heatsink Dimension (L)130mm X (W)74mmX (H)158.7mm
• Heatsink Weight 790g
• Heatpipe Ø 6mm X 6pcs
• Suggest Fan 120mm X 120mm X25mm
• Suggest Fan Speed 800~1200rpm
• Suggest Noise Level (dBA) Below 26dBA
• Air Flow 57CFM
• Direction of heatsink Faces the rear exhaust system fan

Introduction

For true CPU cooling performance and silence, air cooling is not thought to be the solution. You need water cooling. It seems a scary concept – cooling your processor with water – which is why many enthusiasts steer clear of the idea. Moreover, it can be costly with an average kit easily topping the £100 mark.

When I got news that CoolIT had released an all-in-one water-cooling solution for processors which is selling for under £80 I was undoubtedly intrigued. Is this the start of something new? Is it time we all replaced our air coolers? Let’s unleash the CoolIT Domino A.L.C and hopefully we’ll find out…

About CoolIT

For years, CoolIT has been working with leaders in the computer industry to research, design, and provide an affordable new cooling product that provides a comprehensive solution for end users while exceeding high OEM standards. This carefully designed and patented technology unleashes the full potential of a PC, providing superior cooling performance while reducing system level noise and improving reliability of vital components. This small, but potent, pre-assembled product can be easily installed inside any standard chassis.

Features and Specifications

• User Interface
  – High contrast backlit LCD
  – Single push button control for configuring operation mode and temperature scale
  – Audible status alerts
• Operation Modes (Fan Speeds)
  - Quiet: 1100-2500 RPM
  – Performance*: 1100-2500 RPM
  – Full: 2900 RPM
  *System automatically increases cooling performance at an increased rate compared to Quiet Mode.
• Physical Specifications
  - Dimensions: 14.0 x 12.5 x 15.5 mm
  – Weight: 1.03 kg
  – Operating Voltage: 11.6-12.4V
  – Power Consumption: 8W (Max)
  – Life Cycle: 50,000 Hours (MTBF)
• Fan 
  - Long life, low noise
  – Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm
  -Noise: 19.2 dBA (Min)
• Pump
  - CFF1 long life ceramic bearing
  – Noise: <21 dBA
• Radiator
  - Custom engineered for low noise heat dissipation
  – Dimension: 157 x 120 x 27 mm
• CPU FHE (Fluid Heat Exchanger)
  - Copper Micro-Channel
  – Surface Dimension: 50 x 50 mm
• Coolant
  - Proprietary with anticorrosion/antifungal additives
• CPU Thermal Grease
  - Proprietary Pro Advanced Thermal Compound
• Warranty
  - 2 Year Manufacturer

Introduction

Manufacturers of the highly popular MX-3 paste, Arctic Cooling are definitely not a manufacturer unknown to computer cooling solutions. One range of product which Arctic Cooling is significantly growing its product base in is CPU coolers. Today we’ll be reviewing the latest processor cooler to enter their product portfolio, the Arctic Cooling Freezer XTREME. Let’s see how ‘xtreme’ this cooler really is…

Main Features

• Unmatched cooling performance – 160 Watts
• Unique twin tower 102-fin heat sink design
• Effective heat dissipation via 4 double-sided heatpipes
• 1 ultra quiet 120mm PWM fan
• Patented fan holder eliminates the buzzing sounds
• Voltage regulators and north bridge cooling
• Pre-applied MX-2
• 6 Years Warranty

Specifications

Cooler Master Hyper N520

Introduction

Here at Tech-Reviews we have had more than our fair share of CPU coolers to play around with.We have had all sorts from the downright crazy Scythe Orochi to the more conservative offerings of Xigmatek. But today we have a CPU cooler from a company which we have had an array of different products: Cooler Master. The name Cooler Master is synonymous with quality and excellence so I have come to expect great things from their products lets hope this is another great product. I introduce the Hyper N520…

About Cooler Master

Cooler Master was founded with the mission of providing the industry’s best thermal solutions. Since its establishment a decade ago, the company has remained faithful to this mission, emerging as a world leader in products and services for companies dealing with devices where heat issues must be resolved.

Specification and Features

Universal Design

• Intel (LGA 1366/LGA775)
• AMD (AM2+/AM2/940/939/754)

Optimum Air Flow

• Distinct appearance with dual fan bracket
• Unique dual fan cooling design ensures cool air accelerates straight through the heatsink

Superior Cooling Performance

• Mirror finished copper base guarantees perfect contact between CPU and cooler
• 5 heat pipes optimize heat transfer

Introduction

It seems when CPU coolers are designed these days appearance is the main concern for the designers. The one with the most lights or copper on display steals all the attention. What happened to the old days? Competition is your answer my friend. In the computing industry nowadays, there are many companies manufacturing OEM CPU coolers. Smaller companies are then buying these OEM’s, shoving an LED fan or two on and rebranding them. And the sad thing is, is that we’re buying them! One such company who is very against this is Scythe. Scythe design all their own CPU coolers, they’re completely unique! Today we have a cooler for review from Scythe, the Mugen 2, alike many of Scythe’s products, this one too is beefy but basic in bling, let’s see how this bad boy performs…

About Scythe

“At Scythe, we believe that the best ideas for product come simply from knowing customers’ needs and their expectations.  Based on this philosophy, the PC enthusiasts working at Scythe know what to develop because that is exactly what we would like to have for ourselves too!  We offer products with 100% quality assurance and total pride, and if the product has the Scythe name on it, you can rest assure that its quality will be up to the "Zero Tolerance" standards!”

Features

• F.M.S.B. (Flip Mount Super Back-Plate)
  The newly developed F.M.S.B. (Flip Mount Super Back-Plate) both improves the compatibility and mounting of the cooler with the motherboard. With this system, a solution was developed which is not using push pins but is instead based on a Back Plate/screws mounting set. Of course, Mugen 2 is compatible with all the current sockets, including the new Intel Socket LGA1366.
• Multi Fan Mount Structure
  As with the former Mugen it is possible to mount the supplied fan in four different directions. By this, the user can arrange the air flow to the circumstances of his deployment area. Furthermore, a maximum of 4 fans be installed, the needed fan clips have to be bought separately.
• M.A.P.S. (Multiple Airflow Pass-Through Structure)
  The newly developed M.A.P.S. (Multiple Airflow pass-through structure) is a completely new fin structure, where the airflow generated by the Scythe Slip Stream 120 mm PWM fan can be used perfectly.

Specifications

• Model Name:
  Mugen 2 CPU Cooler
• Model Number.:
  SCMG-2000
• Manufacturer:
  Scythe Co., Ltd. Japan
• Compatibility:
  Intel:
  Socket 478
  Socket T / LGA775
  Socket LGA1366
  AMD:
  Socket 754
  Socket 939
  Socket AM2
  Socket AM2+
  Socket AM3
  Socket 940
• Combined Dimensions:
  130 x 100 x 158 mm / 5.12 x 3.94 x 6.22 in
• Fan Dimensions:
  120 x 120 x 25 mm / 4.72 x 4.72 x 25 in
• Noise Level:
  0 – 26.50 dBA
• Air Flow:
  0 – 74.25 CFM = 0 – 126 m³/h
• Fan Speed:
  0(+200 rpm) ~ 1,300 rpm(±10%)
• Weight:
  870 g / 30.69 oz
• Material of Base Plate:
  Nickel-plated copper

More information can be found here and at QuietPC.com.

Introduction

If you haven’t heard of Zalman, be ashamed. The world famous Korean manufacturer has always been the leading company for air coolers. Their iconic and highly efficient flower design has managed to survive many revisions and changes to support even the latest processors. One of their most recent models is the CNPS9900 LED, let see how it performs in comparison to some other top CPU Coolers.

About Zalman

“Zalman Tech Co. is a Korean company that develops and provides aftermarket desktop computer products with primary focus on cooling enhancement.

Zalman has done considerable product development since its 1999 founding, and now holds several patents focusing on both cooling and fan noise-reduction. Personal computer systems can generate significant heat and noise, the management of which is important for those modifying or assembling computer systems. Zalman’s product range includes specialized heat sink and fan solutions for CPUs, as well as quiet power supplies, computer water cooling systems, motherboard chipset coolers, graphics card heat sink and fan combos, laptop coolers, cases, and hard disk cases that lower temperature and reduce noise.”

Features

• Does not generate noise or vibration in Silent Mode.
• 100% copper heatsink with aerodynamically optimized “tunnel” design for maximum cooling efficiency.
• Patented heatpipe design for cooling performance of up to 6 heatpipes with the use of just 3.
• Ultra-thin 0.2mm fins for minimized weight and significantly reduced airflow resistance.
• Compatible with all Intel Socket 1366/775 and all AMD Socket AM2+/AM2/754/939/940 based Single, Dual, and Quad Core CPUs.
• Ultra quiet 120mm PWM LED fan for automatic fan speed control according to the CPU’s temperature.

Specifications

Heatsink

Fan

CPU Socket Support

• 1366
• 775
• AM3
• AM2+
• AM2
• 754
• 939
• 940

As you can see, the CNPS9900 supports a wide variety of processors – both new and old.

]]> http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/zalman-cnps9900-led-cooler/feed/ 0 http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/evercool-buffalo/ http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/evercool-buffalo/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 22:37:38 +0000 Rhys http://tech-reviews.co.uk/?p=739

Introduction

As you’re probably aware, Evercool are a very popular manufacturer in the computing cooling industry. They have a vast range of coolers and heatsinks designed for all types of computing components. One such component that actively needs extensive cooling is the processor. Today, Evercool have kindly sent us their Buffalo LGA775 CPU Cooler. Let’s find out how well it cools…

Features

• HPFI7-10025: for Intel Core i7HPFI-10025: for Intel LGA775HPFA-10025: for AMD
• Compatible for all kinds of high-end CPU version.
• Dual Ø6 heat pipe cooler with high thermal conductive technology and special welding techniques enable seamless connections between finsand pipes.
• By using 10 cm fans there’s stronger air flow and less noise.
• Easy to install for all users.
• Bullfight design to make it unique and characteristic.

Specifications

Introduction

The CPU Cooler we have here today is a little different on the usual tower-format design; the distinctive V-shape makes this product stand out but will it be able to compete with the tried and tested tower-format that has dominated in recent times? Introducing the Scythe Kama Angle…

Kama Angle

Features

• Airflow Vector Structure:

  Optimize the airflow through your system by utilizing the PSU and rear case fans.

• MultiFan Mount Structure:

  Install the supplied 120 mm fan in a number of locations to aid airflow and improve compatibility by avoiding interference with other components.

• 4-Way Mounting is Available:

  Allows the user to rotate the cooler 360° providing greater flexibility.

• Wide Range Cooling Purposes (PWM):

  If you require a CPU cooler to be virtually silent, or you want it for overclocking, this cooler has every angle covered!

Specifications

Model Name: KAMA ANGLE

Model: SCANG-1000

Manufacturer: Scythe Co., Ltd. Japan

Heatsink

Dimension: 123 x 123 x 160 mm     4 7/8 x 4 7/8 x 6 1/4 inch

Weight: 640 g     1.41 lb

Base plate-Material: Nickel-plated copper

Fan

Dimension: 120 x 120 x 25 mm     4 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 1 inch

Weight: 115 g     0.25 lb

Speed: 324 ~ 1,200 rpm (±10%) PWM Function

Noise Level: 6.4 ~ 24 dBA

Air Flow 14.43 ~ 68.54 CFM

Bearing: Sleeve Bearing

Thermal Elixer [Scyte-1000]

Features

• For CPU and GPU:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer can be used both for CPUs as well as for GPUs.

• Perfect heat transfer between cooler and GPU / CPU:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer allows an optimal heat transfer between the CPU / GPU and heatsink.

• High performance thermal grease- ideal for Overclockers:

  Measured at a TPD of 180 W, new Scythe Elixer thermal grease is 5% better than standard Scythe thermal grease.

Specifications

• Model Name:

  Scythe Thermal Elixer Thermal Grease

• Model-Number: SCYTE-1000
• Weight:

  3.5 g = 0.12 oz. / Tube

• Thermal Resistance:

  0.032°C / W

• Thermal Conductivity:

  2.89 W/ (m·K)