Testing the cooling system, sent by the manufacturers in our "court", we somehow missed the one-quietly important novelty, which has been neglected almost criminal.
The appearance of the heat pipes at one time gave a tremendous impetus to the development kulerostroeniya, for several years, all the coolers, and a top middle-class use them in their designs. Many experiments with form, orientation, and heat pipe radiator has allowed to identify the most effective combinations, the most popular of which is the construction of a "tower with heat pipes." Separate versions are better able to express themselves in some cases, but the overall effectiveness of the leader is often a "tower". The image of this cooler is simple, as all genius: from the ground come a few U-shaped heat pipes, strung them on the edges form a heat sink, which is blown from the side fan. The effectiveness of this design is most determined by the quality of heat transfer from the base of the CPU to heat pipes cooler, the number of tubes, as well as the shape and size of the radiator.
These truths are often installed when testing the coolers, and they can include virtually any type of construction. The most important of all factors include the quality of heat transfer from the lid of the processor to the cooler's heatpipes. The path of heat transfer is rather complicated from the lid of the processor, heat is transferred to the base of the cooler, then the main role played by the uniformity of the base, the quality of its processing and thermal conductivity of thermal grease. The second obstacle to the articulation of the heat is heat pipe cooler with a base, this important area of maximum exposure and minimum thermal resistance of the connection (most effective method for solder joint).
Recently, with the uniformity of the base have become much cooler as many problems as well as to the quality of treatment, for the heat pipes at the base of the groove can be made special with a rounded profile, which allows for maximum contact area. Optimal solutions are found. But there is another way.
The first cooler with the technology of direct contact heat pipes and processor were released by Ice Hammer back in 2006, but was not included in our test lab.
Here's how the technology is characterized by the manufacturer's website:
Heat pipes "HeatpipeDirect" differ in that they are not "sewn" into the base of the cooler, and, passing through it, come into direct contact with the surface of the CPU, which should increase the efficiency of cooling the latter and thus significantly reduce the price and weight characteristics of products.
Though personally tested these coolers we have failed, online surveys suggest that there is nothing extraordinary, they were not able to show, taking a niche, "is another good cooler." The idea of direct contact with the base of the heat pipes was noticed and appreciated, in the meantime published several other manufacturers of products using this technology, however, until the mass use of speech was not. Until recently …
The next stage of evolution of technology HEATPIPE DIRECT TECHNOLOGY (HDT), brought a new range of coolers, Ice Hammer, who was still provided by the manufacturer for testing in our laboratory.
Although some late, but we still introduce you to the first cooler based on the technology of direct contact of HDT.
Ice Hammer IH-4300B
Obtained on the test specimens are pre-production, and therefore do not have the original carton. So we skip this item and immediately proceed to the description set.
The radiator, fan, staples for his mount, speed control, a bag of branded thermal paste a sticker on the case and, finally, the frame for mounting on a CPU LGA775 socket with four pins.
All you need is, and even wish to have nothing. In the boxed configuration will probably have instructions for installation, although installation of the cooler is so simple that there is no need for special and.
Characteristics of the cooler:
* According to www.price.ru on 04/29/08.
The table features in the eye did not so very evident, but we note that in terms of Dollar value of the cooler is less than 600 rubles. For a cooler with heatpipe price is good, let's see what he is closer.
Before us is a cooler with classic design "tower with heat pipes." The set of aluminum fins are strung on three thick heat pipes, forming a heat sink.
The distance between the edges is about 1.5 mm, the diameter of the heat pipes from our measurements is 8 mm, which coincides with the declared value.
The photograph shows that the heat pipes, leaving the base, slightly to the sides, thereby more evenly distributing the heat over the surface of the ribs. The ribs on the heat pipes are pressure-tested with the use of "fillers" that extend the contact area. On the opposite side of the fan on the location of the edges are bent slightly towards the bottom, this way the air flow is directed towards the motherboard to cool the space near the CPU. However, the angle is so small that it is unlikely to give noticeable results, but the larger the angle can not be done, otherwise increase the resistance to air flow, which reduces the effectiveness of blowing the radiator.
Now it's time to consider the most important one "flavor" cooler – its base, which shows us the HDT technology in action.
Three thick heatpipes are directly on the bottom of the cooler, liaising directly with the heat-spreading lid of the processor. Implemented this is quite simple: the aluminum plate at the base has three semi-circular groove width of 8 mm and a depth of 5 mm. These grooves pressure-tested three heat pipes. Further, the surface polished to a state of a single plane. The wall thickness of the heat pipes, apparently, is big enough to allow it, but its specific value is not specified anywhere.
With such a complex structure of the foot is very difficult to achieve a mirror surface, and not in this particular need. The base is smooth to the touch, the gaps at the edges of the tubes is hardly noticeable. The overall uniformity is high, as confirmed by the imprint of thermal compound on the base, after removing the cooler from the test stand:
By the way, note that the fingerprint can be seen that almost the entire area of the Intel is in contact with heat pipes, aluminum inserts given to no more than 15% of the contact area. On AMD processors ratio is not as profitable, they have heat-spreading lid area much larger. On the other hand, the CPU core is located in the center, just below the heatpipes, which compensates for this feature.
Theoretically, this arrangement of the base should differ more efficient heat transfer from the CPU to the fins of the radiator than the classic design of the base. Can only confirm that the test results, so that, putting aside the findings for later, we continue to consider the cooler.
Going to set the fan has a size 92h92h25 mm, the manufacturer could not be established, the engine has a sticker with the logo "Ice Hammer". However, nothing remarkable in its construction there. The only detail that you should pay attention – this is quite an original way to absorb vibrations.
At the four corners of the fan in contact with the heatsink glued small porous pads that act as a damper. The fan is mounted to the radiator the usual staples, and the clamp gives a very strong. As a result, vibration damping pads perform their role is very mediocre, as they are under intense pressure.
Fan speed can be controlled manually using the classical speed control, which many times we have met with a cooler and Ice Hammer Zalman. By the way, nice to see that even the youngest model in the line is equipped with these simple but very useful device. The user can choose exactly the balance of performance and noise level that is acceptable to him.
Methods of mounting the cooler on the motherboard is made very easy and very convenient. Go to the bottom of the cooler with two screws screwed arm, which clings to the teeth of the near frame on motherboards for processors AMD. For mounting on board with the Intel LGA775 socket has a separate frame.
Note an important feature: the installation of the framework does not require the removal of the motherboard from the case, the frame is simply inserted into the mounting feet holes and secured by four bolts. The process takes less than a minute, and the reliability of the attachment, no less than any cooler with clips as they are made on the same principle.
By the way, the frame can also be removed without removing the motherboard from the case. Once removed the studs, you must poshatat frame from side to side, and she succumbs. Change the processor can be, even without removing the frame. While at it, and there is no specific cut for fixing checkbox LGA775, like a similar solution Zalman, little effort, still can not open socket. However, when this procedure is necessary to pull the locking pin from the frame, it will reduce its resistance.
Follower pushes the cooler is strong enough to efficiently squeeze out the excess thermal paste, but it is to make sure that the base was located exactly in the center of the processor, as the rocker arm allows him to move to the side of 2-3 mm.
Since the LGA775 mounting holes are located at equal distance from each other, the frame can be freely rotated by 90 њ, which allows you to send a cooler in any of the four sides. AMD processors can only be two options, but if the frame is positioned vertically classically, it is available the most advantageous position, when the heated air is directed toward the exhaust fan at the rear.
The disadvantage of this design include some restrictions on compatibility with motherboards. The fact is that after installing the rocker arm bracket has a length of about 105 mm, and installation may prevent closely spaced radiators Northbridge and power transistors. In our nominal fee ASUS P5K Premium cooler was installed in all positions. But in one case in the main beam depended on the heat sink transistors, and in another it is a miracle fell between the ribs of another radiator, allowing the cooler in the best position. Not everyone can be lucky as well.