Your jumping from one review to another and taking the "good" points about the Stock cooler from both without refering to the negatives. You have to stick to one review or your point is pointless, because both reviews have different results.
Why does each review have different results, also one of my points.
So we are talking about Frosty's here, because I clearly state that the Stock cooler is louder than the Glacialtech.
Now in relation to Frosty's: Sure the Stock cooler is the same noise level, BUT it performs a lot worse, especially when going under heavier load. Now, the Glacialtech IS worth it because at only $30, you can get a cooler that performs 10-20 degrees cooler than the Stock!!
Yes, the performance is worse, I don't dispute that, especially under heavy load. HOWEVER, the performance is acceptable. You are claiming that people buying this cooler are doing it for the silence, and that is why it is worth the money. But if the performance of the Intel cooler is still more than acceptable and the noise is the same, what is the point of this cooler? If you are just looking for silence, the stock cooler already provides that. Yes, this cooler performs better, I'm not disputing that. I'm disputing your claim that people want silence. The Intel cooler give silence. If noise is all you are concerned about, the Intel has that already. Just saying it is 10-20 degrees cooler doesn't matter much. How is that lower temperature helping you? The Intel cooler is still holding the temperature under 65°C even under the heavy load. So there is no benefit to having an after market cooler, 10-20°C isn't helping you in any way. So even if you overclock your Core 2 Duo to put out 150w, which is pretty hard to do, the temps are still going to be under 65C.
So this is my review, as the Glacialtech performs worse but stock is louder.
In relation to my review: Well, simply, there are a lot of people who want quiet rigs and don't care all that much about performance (eg, HTPC rig). At only $30, you can get a noiseless cooler that does the job fine!!
I agree, with you here. There are a lot of people that don't care about performance and just want silent. So if the Intel cooler performs worse, they don't care as long as it is just as silent, which according to Frosty it is. My point from the begining was that you can keep temps in acceptable levels with the Stock fan, and have similar silence. Which the Frosty review confirms. Now if the temps were breaking 70C with the Intel cooler I would say people should start to worry. But that simply isn't happening. So those people that you claim want this cooler only because it is silent and don't care one bit about performance as long as the cooler is keeping the processor safe will be just as happy with the Intel cooler, even if it is 10-20C hotter.
Back to Frosty's (Stock isn't silent in my review)
According to Frosty's review the Glacialtech does perform a lot better, and again, for $30 that performance is worth it to some people.
And again, the people that the performance is worth it to will be fine with the louder stock fan which performs better.
My review again...(Stock being louder)
As stated, people DO buy coolers for silence and not performance.
Yes, and as stated before, those people will be fine with the stock performance. Even if you take your loud stock cooler and slow the fan down to make it silent. Those people don't care that the processor is hotter because, like you said, they are after silence.
I believe the reason your thinking it isn't worth it is because your unconsciously being bias (no offence or anything). As a reviewer, you have to consider ALL viewpoints. Some like silence, some like performance, some like looks. At $30, the cooler is not all that expensive. Going from either review, it has its advantages. From both reviews: Its a good looking cooler. Thats personal preference, but is still an advantage over the Stock cooler. Whichever review you look at the Glacialtech DOES have advantages over the Stock, hence, it ISNT a waste of $30 for some (who may desire the features the Glacialtech offers).
See your not taking it from everyones perspective, but rather, your own. The point of a cooler is NOT just for lower temperatures (as you may find it). The point of a cooler is a range of things, each suiting different people's needs. That paragraph basically says: its all about performance.
Trust me, I'm taking it from all points of view. I have an HTPC that I want to be silent, in fact I want it to be so silent that the CPU is running passive. And I am an overclocker that want all performance and doesn't care about noise. This cooler doesn't appeal to either side.
Personally, I am using the Glacialtech over my G-Power PRO for the sole reason that it's installation is easy, because I am constantly taking my computer apart and have been frustrated too much with the G-Power. That being said, I am an overclocker who likes his temps as low as they can go. Something as simple as installation (which is many times disregarded) can change someones mind.
Oh, I can hear you on that. Ease of installation is wonderful. There are actually many factors that go into a cooler's worth, far more than just performance and noise. Ease of install is one, not being so massive that you cut youself on the fins every time you open your case is another one for me. Again, I'm not debating that this cooler has some good qualities. I'm not even debating your 9 rating. You feel it deserves that, and that is fine. It has some nice qualities.
The problem we have, is that we have two conflicting reviews. We have yours that says the stock cooler is louder, but performs better. And we have Frosty's that says the stock cooler performs worse and isn't louder. Like I said, the reason is most likely due to Intel's multiple stock cooler designs.
The reason to buy an aftermarket cooler is, IMO, to get better performance at lower noise levels, just to get better performance if noise doesn't bother you, or get lower noise at the same performance level. Which is why, IMO, this cooler isn't worth the $30. From both reviews, it isn't proven to me that this cooler fills any of those roles. If we go by your review, it is quieter but at a performance cost. If we go by Frosty's review then performance is indeed improved but noise isn't. And neither show that both noise and performance is improved.
That is the problem that comes up when you have two reviews that are saying the exact opposite, which again is no fault of your own, it is more likely than not entirely the fault of Intel releasing multiple stock coolers all with different cooling and noise properties.
This is getting to be a mess and just walls of text. I'll just drop it here. My opinion is still the same. This cooler is not worth any money if you already have the stock cooler.
