Cooler with heat pipes – is 90% of the classic "tower with heat pipes," or a regular cooler with fins coming out of the base, which is to improve the efficiency and more permeated with heat pipes. These two basic designs have proven themselves and are actively used: the first – in the high-coolers, the second – in the budget.
It would seem that a universal recipe is found, but it does not stop desperate engineers, that the master new, previously unseen structures. And that in itself is great! Let the majority of attempts end in failure, but some are crowned with success. And so goes progress.
This philosophy, we parted for a reason, the fact that today we will talk about two new coolers from the company Cooler Master, one of which is the result of proven technologies, and the second markedly different from all previously unseen by us.
Let's start with the classics of the genre.
Cooler Master Hyper TX [RR-PCH-S9U1-GP]
The cooler comes in a plastic blister pack that allows you to examine it from all angles before purchase. Already at this stage, it becomes clear that the cooler is intended only for the platform Intel LGA775. This is reflected in the box labeled «Intel», and even at the base immediately strikes the standard mount, used in the boxed cooler. Incidentally, the version for AMD as well there, and differs only in the method of attachment. But since we tested only the model was provided by Intel, will only further the story about her.
In addition to the cooler in a plastic bag can be found except a brief installation guide.
Even cooler is the first survey attracted an unusual view of the fan, and after opening becomes even more beautiful.
Before turning to a more detailed examination of his, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with its specifications, which are drawn from the back of the package:
The design of the tower as a heat pipe is a classic of our time, and probably the most successful concept for today. But this cooler has the same number of unusual and solutions that distinguish it from similar devices.
Transparent cover directs air flow from the fan along the edges, which transfer heat to three U-shaped heat pipes. And the back cover has a special "skirt", the guide portion of the flow of air to blow the power battery of the motherboard.
The fan used on the Cooler Master Hyper TX, deserves special attention.
The impeller has nine blades of unusual aggressive glossy black and is surrounded by a pipe which has a funnel-shaped profile. Instead of fixing screw used rubber bushings, extinguishing the mechanical vibration. The fan is really thoroughly optimized for maximum performance at minimum noise levels. This is evident in the specification and practice. At speeds up to 1800 rev / min, it creates a slight rattling noise no more than the stated 22 dB.
At the base of the cooler is initially caused quite a thick layer of thermal interface, which is why in the configuration we have found nothing except a brief installation instructions.
Moreover, thermal paste is very thick and almost squeezed out. The processing quality of the base is poor, and check for uniformity revealed a significant concavity.
Another drawback can be called a rather weak clamping cooler to the CPU. Given the presence of very thick thermal interface is not particularly happy.
Apart from some problems with the base of the cooler has left a positive impression, and we hope that after testing, it will not change. In the meantime, proceed to the second candidate from the company Cooler Master, which is fundamentally different from the one just discussed, and positioned itself as the company's flagship solution.
Cooler Master Eclipse (RR-CCB-WLU1-GP)
As befits a flagship cooler, Cooler Master Eclipse is packaged in an impressive-sized cardboard box, which opens to him a beautiful view through the plastic base. Moreover, it is a very important marketing weapon, because the look of this cooler certainly surprised everyone.
Agree, have rarely seen such an unusual design of the cooling system for the processor.
Of the four copper base heat pipes transfer heat to the massive radiator in the form of a snail, which is located inside a powerful turbine.
All specifications are cooler, like last time, neatly printed on the back of the pack, and are as follows:
Unlike the previous cooler from a company Cooler Master, it is universal for all current processor platforms, up to the "fresh» Socket F.
Overall dimensions of the cooler, of course, are impressive, but the weight of even very modest – only 670 grams. It is ambiguous in the specification indicated the noise level emitted by the turbine: specify only the minimum and average and maximum of silence. After checking the cooler, we'll come back to this point.
Equipment is quite modest, but there is everything necessary for installation on all supported platforms.
You can see the bracket for mounting on the platform AMD, paws for the opposing platform Intel LGA775, as well as a bag of screws / washers, and of course the installation instructions and a tube of thermal grease original. Interest can cause mysterious jumper, but its purpose will be discussed later.
Part of the fin originates at the base of the cooler, and some simply strung on the heat pipes.
All connections are carefully soldered, and the edges in contact with the heat pipes are stamped "necks" to increase the contact area.
Plastic cover over the radiator is not only decorative, but also is designed to direct air flow from the turbine to the elements of the motherboard. Moreover, this case can be moved around the circumference of the radiator in five different positions to optimize air flow.
By the way, the designers of Cooler Master used a rather unusual way to control turbine speed: the cooler has a four-pin connector to connect to the motherboard, which allows automatic control of the speed of the turbine. But beyond that provided for and fixed modes of the turbine, this has an additional three-pin connector and a jumper. Having closed this bridge contacts 1 and 2, we get a maximum speed of the turbine – 3300 rev / min, and closing the contacts 2 and 3 – "silent" mode, 1800 rev / min.
In the original state of the base is protected from scratching the film, which must be removed before installation. After removal of the film can be considered the base carefully.
Processing, frankly, not impressed, the base of rough and polished until it is clearly not reached. But the test for uniformity has given excellent results, so that arbitrarily set on the item "credit" because the uniformity is much more important than polished.
At the same image seen four threaded holes that are designed for mounting the bracket under the platform Intel LGA775.
After installing the bracket, the holes in their legs twisted the screws, and screwed it counter-clockwise, to prevent them from twisting when installing the cooler on the CPU. Next on the screws put on rubber pads – ready to install the cooler on the CPU socket. It remains only to apply thermal compound and secure it with nuts on the back of the card. By the way, for the crackdown is a special adapter for a Phillips screwdriver.
Mounted on the AMD platform is made with a special bracket, which has a collapsible design and is passed through the slots in the ribs, in one case, and between the ribs in the other.
In those places where you have to pass through the bracket, the ribs do not reach the base, and have a circular shape, the same as that of the extreme edges.
Turbine with curved blades eleven sucks air from the sides of the "snail" and runs through the fins, throwing the heated air in a circle. That is, the air flow from the turbine is directed to all parties, including the space near the motherboard. This can be called an advantage. But it can also be called a drawback. It is not necessary to put the cooler in the system unit, to imagine that it creates air currents. Despite the fact that on both platforms the cooler can be oriented in any of the four sides, it can only be set in one or two positions. Due to the fact that it sticks strongly to one of the sides, its body can be directed either to the side of memory, either side of the chip, and in other positions, he is almost in any case will rest against or in the power supply or fan rear. We have to test the cooler was located as follows:
Returning to the air flow, we conclude that no matter how we orient the cooler, much of the hot air will once again return to the turbine blades, reducing cooling efficiency. Considered earlier cooler Cooler Master Hyper TX had this problem, because tower construction will direct the flow of heated air exactly a fan on the back, or upward in the direction of the fan on the power supply.
This concludes our overview, as it was time to move on to the practical test. But finally, we still note a few remarks, which appeared to the cooler Cooler Master Eclipse after a preliminary examination. Do not really like the method of attachment to the platform LGA775, it's pretty confusing, but in the brief instructions for installing the Russian language does not. The second difficulty arose during the process of installing the motherboard: Cooler Master branded thermal paste is so thick and inviscid, which put it on the smooth surface of the processor almost unrealistic. And even more evenly. Such a thermo compound is applied at the last GlacialTech coolers, and Titan, but he was at least a little tough, but Cooler Master thermal interface applied only crumbs. However, Eclipse cooler clamp is strong enough, which should compensate for the thickness of the thermal paste.