Testing low-end coolers. Spring 2007
Author:
Date: 30.03.2007 |
|
Recently, we have been increasingly telling about novelties among the CPU "chillers" of the major league, powerful coolers, water-based cooling systems. Meanwhile, most users are quite content with just an ordinary aluminum housing to cope with the job and, if possible, not to irritate with its annoying noise. Why pay extra 50-70 dollars for a CPU cooling system, if a 10-15$ is a perfect match for nominal operation?
But let's not forget that the rule "why pay more?" works in both the hi-end sector of cooling systems and in the value sector as well. Therefore, even a low-end cooler should be chosen carefully because good cooling of the CPU is a guarantee of stable operation in the hot season of year. Although processors no longer "burn up" nor explode, no one is likely to test the anti-overheating protection hardware on himself. That's really nasty and makes no sense.
Today, we are reviewing and testing a number of low-end coolers for both topical CPU platforms: LGA775 (Intel) and Socket AM2 (AMD).
GlacialTech Igloo 5072 (Silent / Light / PWM)
It's hardly needed to present GlacialTech in the low-end sector - those who keep trace of our reviews are already familiar with their products (GlacialTech Igloo 7210, GlacialTech Igloo 7300) in this field. Moreover, the series of powerful coolers like Igloo 5700/7700 has also proven successful. Today, we'll be reviewing the slightly renewed series Igloo 5072 in order to verify how these coolers show themselves in action.
Click to enlarge
The classically modest package houses only the cooler, a thrust plate for the reverse side of the motherboard, and a brief installation guide.
Click to enlarge
Prior to an in-depth examination, browse through the specifications of the new Igloo 5072 line of coolers:
|
Model Name
|
Igloo 5072 Silent
|
Igloo 5072 Light
|
Igloo 5072
|
Igloo 5072 PWM
|
|
Support for processor sockets
|
Intel LGA775
|
|
Supported processors
|
Intel
Pentium D 3.4 GHz (95 W)
Prescott 3.4 GHz (84 W)
Core 2 Duo E6700 (65 W)
Core 2 Extreme X6800 (75 W)
All Celeron
|
Intel
Pentium D 3.73GHz (130 W)
Prescott 3.8 GHz (115 W)
Core 2 Duo E6700 (65 W)
Core 2 Extreme X6800 (75W)
All Celeron
|
|
Material of the radiator
|
Aluminum
|
|
Mounting dimensions (WxDxH), mm
|
90 x 90 x 85
|
|
Fan dimensions, mm
|
90 x 90 x 25
|
|
Fan's supply voltage, V
|
12
|
|
Bearing type
|
1x rolling / 1 sliding
|
|
Rotational speed, RPM
|
2400 (± 10 %)
|
2800 (± 10 %)
|
3200 (± 10 %)
|
800 (± 300)~4500 (± 10 %)
|
|
Air flow, m3/hr
|
51,3 (±10%)
(30,2(±10%) CFM)
|
59,8 (±10%)
(35.2(±10%) CFM)
|
68,4 (±10%)
(40.3(±10%) CFM)
|
24,1 ~ 96,4 (±10%)
(14.2 ~ 56.8 (±10%) CFM)
|
|
Noise, dB
|
22
|
25
|
29
|
16 ~ 37
|
|
Power socket
|
3-pin
|
4-pin
|
|
Thermal interface
|
Thermo paste of high heat emission rate is applied onto the foot of the radiator
|
|
Weight, g
|
396
|
|
Approximate price, $
|
9~10
|
As you see, the three younger models are aimed at cooling CPUs of maximum heat emission up to 95 W, and the higher-end cooler promises to dissipate even 130 W. That is, even the quietest models are easily able to cope with almost any Intel CPU, except Intel Pentium D models of clock speeds 3.4 GHz and higher. The official web site brings in a reservation saying that in using CPUs of high heat emission it is advisable to install an additional "blow-out" fan and only in this case a stability of cooling is guaranteed.
Click to enlarge
It is also seen from the specifications that all the models of the Igloo 5072 series differ in only the rotational speeds of their fans, while the radiator being absolutely identical. By the way, we have already come across such a design of the cooler on Igloo 5071 series, and if we recall their design, it becomes evident that the «5071+1» series have acquired only a new-type fan.
Click to enlarge
Nothing has been changed on the base - again, the same efficient thermo compound is applied in a uniform layer. The fastening scheme is simple and convenient enough, but to install a cooler on the motherboard it has to be dismantled out of the housing. The cooler is attached with screws to the thrust plate on the reverse side. The screws on the fastening legs are equipped with plastic guide nipples to prevent the screwdriver from jumping onto the motherboard.
Pay a special attention to make the prolonged parts of the cooler not rest against the add-on components around the CPU socket, because it is quite a common problem for coolers of this design. Normally, is solved through turning the cooler by 90°.
The noise level varies essentially as we move from quite models to powerful ones. While Igloo 5072 Silent can still be regarded as noiseless in a closed housing of the CPU unit, the «Light» model stands out among quiet housing fans. The simple modification of Igloo 5072 produces a distinct howling noise, so have to admit the quite unpleasant tone of the howl - it is of irritatingly high notes. As to the noise of Igloo 5072 PWM at the maximum speeds, it is awful, so it was really intolerable to stand the noise within the same room during the tests. Anyway, if your motherboard offers a full-fledged support for the PWM features that controls the fan's rotational speeds, you are unlikely to hear the howl of Igloo 5072 PWM rotating at its full speed.
Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 (64)
Arctic Cooling is known first of all for its noiseless solutions, and this series of low-end coolers follows the general trend of the company. The series is not vast – there are merely two models, Alpine 7 and Alpine 64. The former is universal for all modern platforms, whereas the latter is aimed only for AMD platforms.
Click to enlarge
The cooler is packaged in a compact black box whose walls briefly list the major advantages of the design and the most important specifications. A complete list of specifications can be found in the table:
|
Model Name
|
Arctic Cooling Alpine 7
|
Arctic Cooling Alpine 64
|
|
Support for processor sockets
|
Intel LGA775
AMD Socket 754/939/940/AM2
|
AMD Socket 754/939/940/AM2
|
|
Supported processors
|
Intel
All Celeron D
Pentium 4 up to 650
Pentium D up to 940
All Core 2 Duo
AMD
All Sempron, Athlon 64
All Athlon 64 X2
All Opteron
|
AMD
All Sempron, Athlon 64
All Athlon 64 X2
All Opteron
|
|
Material of the radiator
|
aluminum
|
|
Mounting dimensions (WxDxH), mm
|
101 x 113 x 91.7
|
|
Fan dimensions, mm
|
101 x 113 x 49
|
|
Fan's supply voltage, V
|
12
|
|
Bearing type
|
Fluid Dynamic Bearing
|
|
Rotational speed, RPM
|
900 ~ 2000 (PWM)
|
|
Air flow, m3/hr
|
62
(36 CFM)
|
|
Noise, Sone
|
0,6
|
|
Power socket
|
4-pin
|
|
Thermal interface
|
thermal paste MX-1 applied onto the base
|
|
Weight, g
|
486
|
|
Approximate price, $
|
17~24
|
15~24
|
Both the models differ in only support for CPU platforms and the price, that is, they differ in the fastening only. That becomes well seen if you look closely at the cooler and its package bundle.
Click to enlarge
The positioning frame for the CPU socket Intel LGA775 has two teeth which are used to tighten the cooler with metal legs. Here is the package bundle of Arctic Cooling Alpine 7. If you throw the frame, the thrust plate and fastening screws aside, then we get an Arctic Cooling Alpine 64 cooler, with its legs hooking right at the teeth of the near-CPU frame of AMD platforms. It turns out that the price difference about $2 is made up just by the additional fastening kit for Intel LGA775.
Click to enlarge
The aluminum radiator is of simple enough design without extravagances, but the fan is not plain. It has no nipple, and its fastening on the radiator is arranged in a way to blow about the whole space near the CPU.
Apart from using high-quality bearings and controllable rotational speed of the fan, the noise reduction is also provided by the way of fastening the fan on the radiator.
Click to enlarge
The fan is on a rubber hanger so that vibrations are not transferred to the radiator.
Click to enlarge
A thin layer of thermal interface is applied on the base which is wide enough, but in installing a cooler on the motherboard you have to be ensure it doesn't rest against the add-on components around the CPU socket.
From this view, you can easily see the fastening brackets which have a bend in the middle, due to which a resilient effect is achieved which doesn't let to overtighten the screws.
Both cooler models have a 4-pin power connector for the fan and fully support the PWM intelligent control of the rotational speed. Although that is not mandatory, even at the maximum 2000 rpm the cooler is almost unheard from inside the housing.
SilverStone NT04
SilverStone has long been there on the Russian market, with its stylish housings and power supply units enjoying a special popularity. Today, we've got a low-end cooler under this mark which is especially aimed at modern AMD platforms.
Click to enlarge
Through a transparent window you immediately see the glittering gold-plated impeller of the fan, which really looks attractive.
According to the data on the box walls and from the official web site, you can compile the following specifications table:
|
Model Name
|
SilverStone NT04
|
|
Support for processor sockets
|
AMD Socket 754/939/940/AM2
|
|
Supported processors
|
Athlon 64 4000+ (Socket 754/939)
Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (Socket AM2)
|
|
Material of the radiator
|
aluminum
|
|
Mounting dimensions (WxDxH), mm
|
94.2 х 80 х 75
|
|
Fan dimensions, mm
|
80 х 80 х 25
|
|
Fan's supply voltage, V
|
12
|
|
Bearing type
|
rolling
|
|
Rotational speed, RPM
|
2500 ±10%
|
|
Air flow, m3/hr
|
49,4
(29.07 CFM)
|
|
Noise, dB
|
25
|
|
Power socket
|
3-pin
|
|
Thermal interface
|
thermal paste applied onto the base
|
|
Weight, g
|
300
|
|
Approximate price, $
|
N/A
|
The cooler is aimed at the vast majority of modern AMD processors except those of the top-end. It also stands out with its small weight and minor size.
Click to enlarge
The radiator appears to be an aluminum rack with the patterned upper rim reducing the air resistance. The fan is a "spice" of this cooler, its nipple is made of aluminum, with the impeller glittering by its "gold-plated" coating. This is unlikely to somehow affect the fan's efficiency, but the exterior is definitely on par.
By the noise level, the fan doesn't have much to complain about, the slight rumbling does not prevent a comfortable work at the computer.
The unused slit across the fins hints to the fact that the cooler is a modification of one aimed at the Socket A platform.
Click to enlarge
The layer of thermal paste on the base is definitely a bit thick and strongly resembles the unpleasant "silver" paint which is so hard to remove off the CPU and your hands.
The method of fastening on the motherboard is simple - used is a classical clip that hooks at the teeth of the frame near the CPU. This clip made by SilverStone has one trait – you can adjust the pressing force upon the cooler through changing position of the clamp on the clip.
 |
Content: |
 |
|
|
Top Stories: |
|
 |
|
MoBo:
|
|
|
|
VGA Card:
|
|
|
|
CPU & Memory:
|
|
|
