Most HTPC users will find that there are only a limited number of CPU coolers available to use in most HTPC cases because of their smaller size. OrigenAE created the C10 to help fill that void. The C10 has three U-shaped copper heatpipes that come in direct contact with the CPU, and 35 aluminum fins behind a standard size 70mm fan.
Thermaltake's V1 CPU heatsink has a classy, elegant design like no other. The all-copper construction and subtle scrolls make this heatsink stand out from the rest. While the V1 is not Thermaltake's flagship cooler, it still performs very well.
On the heels of the successful NH-U12F CPU heatsink, Noctua has released a newer, more compatible version called the NH-U12P. This version has more clearance below the fins, making it easier to install on many motherboards. It comes with the new, ultra-quiet NF-P12 fan and a tube of the new NT-H1 thermal compound.
The Xigmatek HDT-S1283 is a massive cooler with just as big 8 mm heat pipes. With the heat pipes actually making contact on the CPU this cooler shows us something different in the way of keeping your CPU cool. The cooler is in a line of products from Xigmatek making its way into the rigs around the world.
Gigabyte recently announced its new G-Power 2 Pro CPU heatsink which adds additional airflow to the CPU Mosfets. This airflow helps to provide additional cooling for those Mosfets, making it easier for the motherboard to provide stable power for hungry CPUs. The G-Power 2 Pro has some nice features, including a very quiet 120mm fan.
Zerotherm has just announced an new all-copper CPU heatsink based on their classic "butterfly" design: the BTF92 Overclocker Edition. This heatsink features 92 copper fins, eight effective heat pipes and a shiny copper base. Add a 92mm fan with blue LEDs and a fan controller, and the BTF92 is ready to cool all the latest CPUs from both Intel and AMD.
Today Zerotherm launches the new Nirvana NV120 Premium tower style heatsink, which features a copper base and four U-shaped heatpipes with aluminum fins. Over the entire surface of the Nirvana Premium is a dark gray mirror finish like no other heatsink I have seen. Included is a 120mm blue LED fan with a fan controller to dial in the right noise level for any system. With all this style comes great performance, too.
Akasa has just introduced a new CPU cooler called the Revo, which features their new SilentFlux technology. This cooler utilizes a bubble pump to move the heat from the base through a radiator where it can be cooled by a fan. We put the Revo to the test to see how well this new cooling technology performs.
Next month Zaward will be releasing a new CPU heatsink called the Vivo. This new cooler is based on a 92mm fan and uses exposed heatpipes that contact the CPU heatspreader directly. Add to that the Dimple Technology Golf fan and a unique fan shroud, the Vivo's compact size really packs a punch.
In the quest for silent performance, users are looking toward heatpipes for most of their cooling needs. Today we are looking at the new fanless chipset cooler from Zaward, called the Twin Towers. This chipset cooler has two heatpipes, one of which can rotate around the other to reduce compatibility issues. We put the Twin Towers to the test to see what kind of performance comes with its silence.
Not everyone can afford the latest and greatest heatsink on the market. Some users are stuck with the noisy stock coolers that are lacking in performance. What else can the user do? We take a look at a new entry level heatsink from Sunbeam called the Silent Whisper. At just $19.99, the budget-minded consumer might just have a reason to get rid of the stock heatsink.
Cool Jag's new Falcon 92 Cu CPU cooler comes with wide compatibility for all current sockets. As the name suggests the cooler is made from Copper - a cheaper Aluminum version is available as well. During our testing we came to the conclusion that this extremely quiet cooler has no problems keeping up with the other heatsinks we tested so far.
The Sunbeam Tuniq tower is one of the largest heatsinks around, with a 120mm fan sandwiched between two rows of aluminum fins. The three U-shaped copper heatpipes carry away the heat from the copper base, and the included fan controller allows the user to dial in the fan speed and noise to their liking. The Tuniq Tower goes on the test bench to see what kind of performance this monster can give.
The Max Orb is Thermaltake's new "flagship" cooler, which consists of six heatpipes, a nickel-plated copper base and lightweight aluminum fins. This new cooler is compatible with many current CPU socket types, including Intel's Socket T (LGA775) and AMD's Sockets AM2, 939 and 754. The Max Orb definitely has a lot of good looks, but what about the performance?
I was extremely pleased with the Andy Samurai Master Cooler. The quality of the construction is excellent, the base is very smooth and flat, and the whole cooler is light in weight. The installation was so incredibly easy, it only required a few quick steps, and nothing had to be removed from the case to install it. On top of that, the performance was great. Although fan noise was not completely silent, it was rather low and, in fact, much lower than the three heatsinks tested against it.
Noctua's NH-U12F CPU cooler is a high-performance heatsink that uses eight heatpipes to get the heat off your processor. The included fan is of the 120 mm variant and is fairly quiet. If you need to reduce the fan noise even more you can use the included Ultra Low Noise Adapter which makes the fan almost inaudible.
Ever hear of "the point of diminishing returns", where something gets to the point where you can't improve on what you have unless you come up with a completely new idea? With air coolers, manufacturers are hitting that wall, but recently some companies have devised a new means of heat sink technology. Direct touching heat pipes - Today we take a look at Xigamtek's new cooler using this design.
It is big and it is cool - It's the iCEAGE from 3RSystem. With a 120 mm fan and new heatpipe technology that has the heatpipes as part of the contact base it sure does look promising. Today we will put the iCEAGE to the test and see if it can live up to its name. We'll take a closer look at the Direct Touch Heatpipe design, and see if it does make a difference or not.
Where would computers be without coolers? Nowhere... High-end systems put out heat just like an engine, and they need to be cooled just like an engine. Water cooling is becoming a more popular format to keep these systems in line, but what if you don't want or can't afford a water system? High-end air coolers are the only next option. XIGMATEK is now starting to fulfill this need with coolers like the 055 which we'll look at today.
The Scythe Infinity is a huge high-performance CPU cooler using five heatpipes. The cooler comes with Scythe's ingenious mounting system which makes installation a breeze. Scythe has included mounting kits for the Sockets 939, AM2, 478 and 775. This means that this cooler is a future proof investment for users who are considering a Conroe S775 upgrade in the near future.
With the Katana Cu Scythe has delivered a very solid all copper cooler that has excellent cooling performance. It uses a 92mm fan with an integrated fan speed controller. When the fan speed is turned all the way down the noise is reduced to an inaudible 30% of full speed, yet temperatures under load are only increased by 3°C.
The Thermalright Ultra 90 is a solid performing air cooler with six heatpipes to keep your CPU temperature down. Its unique design allows you to use your own 92mm fan for fine tuning of heat vs. fan noise. A competitive price of 25 USD makes this cooler even more attractive, and if you need more cooling power you can just get the 120mm Ultra 120.
Thermaltake has been around for only seven years, but every one of them has been spent turning the heads of the hardware community. From the original Golden Orb's effective cooling at near silent levels to the current array of water and air coolers, Thermaltake continues to impress with both design and function. When Thermaltake designed the Big Typhoon, they went all out, using six heatpipes and a 120mm fan. Is bigger really better? Let's find out...
Thermalright is one of the foremost cooling companies in the overclocking community. They have been around for many years providing that extra edge needed to keep your system cool. Although their lineup has changed quite a bit recently, many users out there are still cooling their CPUs with the Thermalright XP-90 and the XP-90C. Today we will take a look at the famous XP-90C and see what it can do in a current S939 setup.
The Thermaltake Big Typhoon is known for being one of the top-performing air coolers out there. Now Thermaltake has released a smaller, lighter cooler called the Mini Typhoon which is is supposed to offer the best features of the Big Typhoon at a fraction of the cost. Can six heatpipes and a 92mm fan keep your CPU cool?
