Thermalright V1 Ultra Review

Name: Thermalright V1 Ultra
Brand: Thermalright

W1zzard

on Dec 6th, 2005,

in VGA Coolers.

Manufacturer: Thermalright

(4 Comments) »

Fan Noise

In order to give a measurement of how loud the fan is, we used an IEC651 Type II sound level meter on the dbA slow setting.

The distance between fan and sound level meter was 10cm. Please note that this is very little, compared to the "standard" measurements, which are made at 1m distance. We had to do this, to get proper readings with our sound level meter, because we obviously can't spend thousands of dollars on audio measuring equipment.

The cooler was connected to an external lab PSU. 12V is the standard rated fan speed. For easier comparison we also tested the fan noise at 7V and 5V.

At 5V you will not hear the fan over the other components in your system. At 12V it is audible but not too loud.
If the fan is too loud for you, or you need more cooling performance, no problem. The fan is a standard 80mm fan which can be easily replaced.

Value and Conclusion

The Thermalright V1 Ultra can be yours for about $45. Really expensive for a VGA cooler.

Awesome performance
Quiet
Wide compatibility
Fan can be changed

Horrible installation
May need some rework/longer screws
Does not connect to video card fan output
Expensive

The Thermalright V1 Ultra delivers excellent cooling performance, even when the fan is running slow. Good cooling performance does not mean that it is loud, the fan noise is very acceptable.
What I really didn't like was the complex installation, but you have to be a bit patient with Thermalright. They are a new player in the VGA cooling business and their products sure seem to be able to compete with the best of the competition. The other installation issues can be easily fixed yourself. I would also assume that Thermalright will fix the problems soon.
The price of $45 is a bit steep but cooling performance has its price. I would also assume that the price will drop quickly once the product becomes more popular and mass production can ramp up.