Author: Viktor Baranov
Yes, yes, yes, the "super-coolers from GlacialTech" – it's not a typo. That's right, a company previously known for excellent low cost coolers, the beginning of the expansion in the sector of Hi-End cooling devices. On the first fruits of this expansion we are now and will tell you.
In fact, the first step in this direction was made long ago – in the pages of our site we have already talked about cooler GlacialTech Igloo 5600PWM. Even then he showed the makings of a great. Perhaps that is why its design formed the basis of new cooling devices of class Hi-End. To put this more precisely, its design was refined and corrected. Take a look:
On the left is cooler Igloo 5600 PWM, the place occupied by right of its continuation – Igloo 5700 MC. It is easy to see what has changed: the first thing – it became much more massive heatpipe was one more – not two, but three. The second most noticeable change – a fan, "slimovy" was replaced by 80 mm, at last, a normal 92mm fan, and the area of the fins become much longer.
Cooler Igloo 7700 MC is a nearly exact copy of the Igloo 5700 MC, differing only in the shape of the lower radiator and method of attachment – it is intended for platforms AMD. Yes, this is the first powerful cooler for AMD processors from the company GlacialTech.
Before embarking on a detailed examination of their, let's examine them in comparison with the specification of the model Igloo 5600 PWM.
Igloo 5700 MC
According to the documentation, the cooler Igloo 5700 MC is able to cool even a "hot" processor, like Intel Pentium D 840 (3.2GHz), TDP which is equal to 130W. In other words, this cooler can cope with almost any processor Intel. And now look again at the specs, what are the differences between the models Igloo 5700 MC and 7700 MC? Weight less than 50 grams, and that's all. That is, we have almost a complete clone. And if Igloo 5700 MC to cope with the "hot" dual-core Pentium D, AMD processors that among his "clone" just do not have restrictions. It is unclear why GlacialTech led such a long list of supported processors AMD, you could just write a single line: "All AMD processors support", because up to TDP = 130 W yet none of them could not reach.
Sound characteristics of all reported very interesting, but they are all written in an unusual GlacialTech box, it's really worth seeing.
For the first time we can witness the really serious packing coolers GlacialTech. Previously had to settle for black and white OEM packaging, or in small boxes with a simple layout. And there is not just big and beautiful box, it has made clear paste that allows you to review some cooler. Side of the box marked full specification, we present in the table above, and on the reverse side with pictures and explanations of the entire installation process is displayed cooler on the motherboard. In addition, the diagram shows the "correct" location of the cooler in which air flow is optimized best:
In addition, on the front side in large letters affixed extremely pretentious words "The most powerful and quiet cooler in the history of cooling the CPU!"
None of the major grants kulerostroeniya has not allowed himself to such loud statements. Such a provocative inscription great responsibility. But let's not punish GlacialTech advance look at first, whether these coolers to justify it.
This colorful box, apart from the cooler, you can find the mounting kit and a special fan speed control.
The controller is installed in a constructive 3.5 "drive bay system unit, allowing you to conveniently adjust the fan speed manually cooler. Nice as well and that the internal wires are removed in a neat braid – for buildings with transparent side walls is especially important.
This photograph also shows that the thrust plate on the back of the card has a new revision – is equipped with a tight plastic seal, eliminating damage to the motherboard. Thrust plate early revision was not compatible with some motherboards. It is good that this error was quickly corrected, but many people have time to suffer from it.
Since the design of Igloo 5700 and Igloo 7700 MC MC is almost identical, we will consider them together, separate dwelling on differences.
Powerful processor needs a good cooler. But the purpose of such coolers, Igloo 5700 MC as soon as possible to call a strongly cooled overclocked processors. Fans of Silence – a second group of buyers of super-coolers, only a powerful and high-quality cooler can maintain decent performance at minimum fan speed.
Forty-five of thin aluminum plates are strung on three U-shaped heat pipes carrying heat away from them rather thick copper base, nickel-plated which is to forestall corrosion and improve the appearance.
For beauty in the radiator casing carved a special window, which is tightened by a dense transparent film. No lights in there, but overall, it gives some unusual cooler.
As can be seen in the photo plates are connected with tubes of the "right" way – with an increase in contact area due to the special "necks" in the areas of contact. These are the most necks, and a separator between the plates. According to the GlacialTech is not just saw off the edges on the heat pipes, and connected with them by soldering, which is known to provide the greatest efficiency. The base is connected to the heat pipes with the same effective way.
Another distinctive feature of the radiator – a wave-like profile of the ribs, which, coupled with the increasing distance between them, provides the least resistance to air flow, and thus speeds up the heat.
This profile has a heatsink on both sides, and mounting holes for the fan located on each of them. Thus, it is possible to install the fan on either side. And you can put just two fans, one for intake, and the second blowing out, but much good it will not bring as radiator, and so has low resistance to air flow, because the gain from such a configuration, hardly amount to more than 2 … 3 degrees, and the noise becomes much larger.
On top of the heat pipes are pressed to the bottom of a small passive heatsink, which is probably intended to further remove heat from the hot spot cooler. Compared to the Igloo 5600 PWM he was just a "passive", because the flow of air from the fan now it is not blowing. It's funny that this cooler has a complicated form of the base and the variable height of the ribs – such methods are used to increase the effectiveness of active blown radiator, because in this case, they are more decorative.
Fan, as before, produced by Everflow, which has long been supplying excellent GlacialTech fans quiet and productive.
Fan size is 92x92x25 mm and a maximum speed of about 3100 rev / min. Quite interestingly, this fan is used just two types of bearings: rolling and sliding. Special slot in the housing has long been used in the manufacture of fans, they reduce noise and aerodynamic drag. Power connector fan has only three pins, not four, but the automatic speed control is possible in this case – a good name brand motherboards have special features like "Smart Fan" and others like her. In addition, provide manual control of speed on the front of the computer.
The cooler base is one of the most important of its nodes, because it is the first heat transfer resistance in the circuit, and his soundness depends on a lot. Its base Igloo 5700 MC received from his prototype Igloo 5600 PWM.
Almost everything remains the same: at the base caused a well-known for their high performance thermal interface is proprietary GlacialTech, which is protected from dust and finger plastic casing. A few words about the thermal interface. This time it is applied in a uniform layer, so that it will suffice for a maximum of two units cooler. Yes, and smear it on the ground – the task is not simple, because of its specificity it is not spread out like a normal thermal compound, and vice versa – rolled into one. So it evenly to reinstall the fan turned only one way – as if "lyapaya" its point touches the entire surface of the base. Try it – you will too.
If you recall the review of the Igloo 5600 PWM, then the main complaint against him was terrible treatment of the base, which was distinctly rough, even to the touch. When designing a new cooler, GlacialTech took into account the mistakes of the past, and the base of Igloo 5700 MC is a very different view:
It was smooth and kind of reflection is unclear it can be seen. Although the ideal is still far. In addition, the network is clearly visible scratches, which caused more fear when viewed Igloo 5600 PWM, but this time they became less and they are not noticeable to the touch.
Method of attachment, as base design, completely migrated from the Igloo 5600 PWM for Igloo 5700 MC, with the only difference being that now the screws are spring-loaded, and disappeared plastic bezel, protecting against the screwdriver from jumping. But the slot on the screw deep enough so that the risk is very small screwdriver from jumping.
Mounted on the motherboard, the cooler looks very massive, but it does not interfere with any neighboring elements.
The heated air directly hits the fan mounted behind the cabinet, quickly leaving the outside shell. If your power supply is equipped with a large 120mm fan, you can direct the flow of air upward – straight at him, but experience has shown that the first way better. And if you direct the flow upwards, then part of the hot air, bypassing the power supply fan, accumulates at the top in the drive and eventually gets back to the fan of the cooler.
Method of attachment can not be called difficult, rather the opposite – stubborn sticky-pad is equipped with a special area in the center, so that after removing the protective film, it just clings to the underside of the board, which is very convenient. Then, the cooler is fastened to it with four screws. Everything would be fine, but there is one disadvantage.
Tighten the two screws from the fan should still be able to! Screwdriver has greatly tilted and she always comes off, risking hopelessly ruin the motherboard. Safety is only one option – to twist the fan, and then mount the cooler. However, the fan is not attached screws and screw normal, because this process is complete without complications.