|
Extras
Local Gamming & LAN Party Sites
|
Arctic-Cooling Copper Silent 2L CPU cooler Sponsored by arctic-cooling
This is the second product arctic cooling has provided Marns CDA. If it is anything like the 80mm Pro2L TC fan, then this will be a good read. Arctic-cooling has put its silent technology to the test with the production of this cooling fan. They used everything from fan speed controls to rubber bumpers to reduce vibration. We will see if it really delivers a quiet cooler that performs as well.
Price: Recommended Retail Price 22 USD / 18 EUR Newegg price $18.49 USD Purchase link Newegg.com
Specs:
Application:
Main
Features Note: All the data in specs section is from arctic-cooling's product pages linked below
Installation: Install on the cooler is pretty standard for this type of cooler. AC uses a pressure bar system. This system is simple: apply the silicon grease provided by AC to the center of your CPU, make sure not to get the grease anywhere but on the top center of the chip. When placing the sink on the CPU, make sure that you remove the protective plastic on the copper plate. This coating is there to prevent any damage that might occur in shipment. It is always important that the plate is as smooth as possible, hence the use of lapping by main modders to increase heat dispersal.
There are a few nice features AC does with the install. Mostly, is the quality silicon provided: it comes in a syringe making application easy.
Fan installation is a snap. Just use the 3 pin motherboard connector for power. The controls are mounted on a IO card port that sets in the back of the case.
Total time for this install shouldn't be more then 30 minutes, including the removal of the old CPU cooler. Please be very careful when applying the pressure bar mount. I have seen many instances where the screwdriver slips and dings the motherboard. It is always better to take your time rather then cause unnecessary damage to your PC.
Appearance: At first glance, the most unique part on this Cooler is the fan. The fan is totally open, there are no sidewalls to restrict airflow and the fan itself is raised a bit to prevent dead spots or areas where airflow is nonexistent.
Note the globs of rubbery substance placed under the fan. These act as a barrier between the sink and the fan itself. The reason for this is to decrease vibration that is cause by the spinning of the fan, reducing overall noise created by the cooler.
The aluminum sink is pretty standard/normal. The fan shaped fins dissipate the heat from the center of the copper plated mounting surface that is in direct contact with the CPU.
The fan has LED lights placed in the clear frame, similar to the Pro2l TC. When lit, the blue color shows off well. It is just the right amount of luminescence for any case.
The overall appearance of this heat sink is an A+. The combination of cool color lighted fans and a unique shape is something worth showing off in any window case.
Performance: Now you should first realize this is not an over clocker cooling unit, it is a QUIET alternative to a stock fan. I stress this because the selling feature is the noise level, not how cool the CPU is kept. If you are looking for an over clocking beast, this is not the CPU for you. We are going to run our normal Zone A test in a case with internal temps over 80 F, and test out the RPM'S and Temp at each of the 3 settings under load and idle conditions. Then we will take a look at the noise level of the fan and see if it really is as quiet as AC promises.
Illustration 1.1 AC cooler on high setting wit 100% CPU load 44(d) Celsius Idle temp was 34(d) Celsius
illustration 1.2 AC cooler on Medium setting with 100% CPU load 49(d) Celsius Idle temp was 37(d) Celsius
Illustration 1.3 AC cooler Low setting with 100% CPU Load 51(d) Celsius Idle temp was 37(d) Celsius
As the images above show the overall performance of the heat sink when discussing temperature, there isn't much to write home about, but it is not bad. The tolerances for an AMD XP or Duron is somewhere in the 75(d) to 85(d) Celsius range, and in an A zone environment it does more then keep the CPU below that temperature.
When discussing sound, however, even at the highest setting in our test machine there was no sound noticeable even with the case open. We turned all other fans off except the PSU fan, and even on the high setting, the only way to hear the Cooler fan was to be within a few inches. I found this aspect to be absolutely amazing.
Maximum fan RPM's on the three settings are: High 2657 Med 2187 Low 1500
The overall performance of this cooler is satisfactory. The noise level is above anything I have seen on the market, however the cooling power is that of the stock heat sink. Considering this cooler was geared around being quiet, not cool, and the fact that it is very inexpensive, it gets a thumbs up from me.
Pros:
This Cooler is the most silent Cooler I have ever tested. Appearance is very appealing. Fan control is a nice extra. Size for the most part is not too large. Silicon grease is A#1. Price is right under 20 USD.
Cons:
Can't really over clock a CPU. No installation documentation provided.
Conclusion:
If you want a silent running PC that runs well with stock configuration, this is the cooler for you. It not only runs silent but the Blue LED's are nice to look at. All this for around $20.00. There are a few draw backs, no documentation could be a pain but it is not too difficult to figure out the install. All in all, I definitely recommend this product for anyone that wants a quiet running Heat Sink and doesn't want to spend $50.00. Arctic-Cooling is awarded Marns CDA's "Blue Ribbon Seal of Approval".
Rating
5 out of 6 Stars Review Date 11/14/04 Reviewer pr101j (Paul)
Company Info
Contact Info
End Customers Distributors &
Assemblers /System Builders Marns CDA By pr101j
|
Good Links Other Good Links
Mod Sites & Guides
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
New Stuff 10-28-04 UV Pen Mod By Lee
10-23-04 Red CCFL Fan Kit Review 10-14-04 Corsair XLPro XMS3200 Benchmark Results 10 -04-04 ATI RADEON 9600 XT 128 Meg
09-30-04 ATI Comparison 9100Pro Vs. 9600XT 3DMark200l & 3DMark0309-27-04 ProLink GeForce FX 5700 LE 256Meg card
09-22-04 Message Board Check it Out!!!
09-19-04
ThermalRight NB-1C
Chip Set Cooler
09-17-04
09-16-04 Pololu Custom Acrylic Grills all Laser Cut
09-14-2004 ProLink GeForce FX 5700 LE 256Meg DDR Benchmarks 3DMark03 09-01-2004
Project
Sound Wave Website updated
08-25 2004 |
Manufacturers
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Copyright
© 2004 Marns CDA
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
