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CPU Heatsink Roundup Fall 2007

Cooling/CPU Cooling by jmke @ 2007-11-06

In this large group test we compare over 30 CPU heatsinks with different fan speeds, giving you the data on both thermal and decibel performance. Want to upgrade your stock cooler? This roundup will help you out.

OCZ Vendetta

Provided by: OCZ Technology

Platform support: Intel S775, AMD S939/AM2
Type of heatsink: Tower
Installation Type: Push Pins, Clip
Materials: Aluminum, Heat Pipes
Fan Support: 1x92mm
Extra’s: no
Average Selling Price: ~$30

OCZ is not an unknown name for the hardware enthusiast; they made their name with high end memory modules, adding quality power supplies to their product line up later on. They are now venturing into the cooling world, the OCZ Vendetta is their first retail cooling product available to the masses. It’s a unique design, where the large heat pipes also make up the base, touching the CPU directly. This reduces cost and allow OCZ to put this product up for sale at the $30 price point.

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These are the specifications given by OCZ:

Heatsink Dimension: (L)97 x (W)79 x (H)134mm

Fan Size: 92mm

Fan Speed: 1200-2800RPM

Fan Air Flow: 39-54.6 CFM

Noise Level: 22-34 dBA

Bearing type: ball

Inside the box you’ll find mounting material for the different platform, a 92mm fan, a small plastic bag with thermal paste and a manual:

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The Vendetta is a compact tower cooler, build for usage with a 92mm fan, the aluminum fins are formed as to maximize the exposure to airflow in areas where is there is more flow:

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The unique feature of this OCZ cooler is without a doubt the base, here you can see the 3 thick heat pipes flattened to make a base:

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The front of the unit where the fan is mounted has a small indent at the side to allow the fan mounts to be installed:

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The mounting gear allows for plug and play installation on all platforms, after you have installed the heatsink, you slip the fan in place using the provided soft rubber mounts:

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Here’s the Vendetta installed and lined up with the rear exhaust:

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We usually place a small drop of the thermal paste in the middle of the CPU IHS and let the pressure spread out the paste evenly, however with the OCZ Vendetta this method does not prove 100% successful as you will see in the photo below. We had to spread out the paste manually to ensure an even coverage of the IHS.

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Comment from Rutar @ 2007/11/06

impressive

A new sheriff in town from Coolink (former Noiseblocker), it is VERY interesting that it seems to be geared towards silent computing (hence performing best there while not outperforming with a high speed fan. I can't seem to get it here tough

Comment from thorgal @ 2007/11/06

John, in your chart the "coolIT freezone" : where is that review ?

Edit : found it :$ But it's watercooling :s : why did you include it in the charts ? Shouldn't there be an explanation added ?

Comment from jmke @ 2007/11/06

it's water cooling and it's not water cooling at the same time imho; this all in one kit doesn't install different from many other heatsinks, there is zero maintenance, zero risk. It gives you an idea of TEC performance combined with water cooling. Plus, if you state that I should not include it, why include the GTO-990 ? It has a radiator, pump and water block, mounted on a small surface; should I not include that one either?

While the CoolIT does use water to cool down the CPU, it's such a compact and one in all device that I never stopped to think of it as a water cooling setup, similar to the Swiftech and Dangerden offerings. It can be installed by any PC illiterate without risk of damage, most water cooling kits sold do require a bit more knowledge and include some risk.

Comment from thorgal @ 2007/11/07

My feeling is you're walking a thin line here. I do not disagree with your previous post, but to my feeling : air is air, and water is water

Hassle is not a criterea I think, or you could just as well include a resorator from Zalman for example : all in one solution with only one waterblock to install to the cpu, almost the same as the CoolIT in my book. Zalman uses a clamp system not unlike CoolIT to attach the tubing to the cpu block, external connections with Zalman are clampless. Just to say there's no hassle there as well (I'm not a real resorator fan myself

)

And then there's the price : air coolers of around $40 compared to a watercooling system from over a $100... in that respect the CoolIT is definately in the watercooling league.

Anyway : the chart is not necessarily wrong, and provides an interesting comparison between the two technologies, but isn't this comparing apples to oranges ?

All imho of course

Comment from jmke @ 2007/11/07

The Ultra ChillTEC is $120+, all air cooled. THe reserator is not all in one kit, you need to handle the tubes = more risk

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