Over the past few years, the term "overclocking" ("acceleration" in Russian) became very popular and widespread sport. If earlier it was a lot of enthusiasts, and now this has become practically available to each user. The market took an increasing share of the device, originally designed to run on the excessive speeds. It is not necessary to be an expert to understand and fine-tune the BIOS, in the right section, you can set the system's performance on the item "Bring on the 10%", "Bring up to 20%", "Bring up to 30% …" A "smart" motherboard is carefully put up the correct settings, increase the voltage, where necessary, reduce the frequency of memory bus multiplier … Video card is also not remain on the sidelines, their boxes are full of inscriptions «Overclocking Edition», «TOP Edition» and the like. Often, every self-respecting manufacturer always has in stock or overclocked, or intended to disperse the product.
But let's not forget that the increase in the frequency and voltage dramatically increases the heat, which means that standard means of cooling may not be enough. Fortunately, manufacturers of cooling systems to keep up with are not going to progress, and modern high-end coolers are able to "subdue passion," almost any overclocked CPU.
Today we tell you about the three new coolers from the well-known company ASUS, which supports outstanding opportunity motherboard overclocking appropriate cooling systems. Let's see whether in this field are the same successes.
In this review, we will finally be able to teach you not new, but very interesting cooler Scythe INFINITY. The flagship product of the famous Japanese company has gained considerable popularity, but for reasons beyond our control, got into our test lab just now. Therefore, we will immediately introduce you to its features, advantages and disadvantages.
ASUS V-60
"Mini Tower Silence", it describes the cooler by ASUS. V-60 is packaged in a fairly compact box with a transparent window through which to contemplate one side of the radiator. The walls of the box quite informative: are the main advantages of the cooler, its specification, and installation on the motherboard. After this, the need for additional instruction is eliminated. And so no less, it is, and still have a hard plate on the back of the motherboard and the cooler itself.
Modestly, but rather, the cooler is designed for installation only on the LGA 775 platform. Other parameters to be learned from the specification: Frankly, the price of this "baby" is not for children, especially given its intended for a single processor socket. "Silence" in the concept of ASUS Noise refers to the range of 16 to 28 dB, with the last digit is hard to accept, but the fan supports intelligent speed control PWM, so that the maximum speed it is unlikely to go full-time situations.
The tower has a closed structure in which the fan inside the heatsink, it allows more efficient use of air flow. His direction in these circumstances it is difficult to determine at a glance, but to facilitate the task, on the side of the specially embossed arrow pointing to it.
In practice, the noise level was much lower than expected. Yes, it can be heard, unless to listen, but even at maximum speed it will remain invisible against the background of case fans. And it can be considered very good.
If the top cover of the fan covers, decorated with a company logo, then the bottom fan is specifically extends slightly beyond the radiator. Made it to some of the air flow blew the battery of the motherboard.
As you can see that is not in complete thermal interface is initially deposited on the surface of the base. The processing quality is very good, but not to a mirror shine.
Mounted on the motherboard will do so carefully, as the cooler as a whole – at the ends of the metal legs are spring-loaded screws that need to be screwed to the end of a stubborn frame on the back of the motherboard. Please note that on the back of legs are provided with special plastic spacers that prevent damage to the motherboard during installation. In addition, the screw heads are surrounded by metal pipes, not to thwart screwdriver. Finally, even the screws are made of hardened metal, so it can not be afraid to spoil the slot.
It is difficult to suggest whether the ASUS V-60 to justify its considerable price performance, it will show the tests, but before we can say that it justifies its quality and precision manufacturing.
ASUS Silent Square PRO
Another tower from ASUS is interesting that the universality of attachment allows you to install it on any modern processor platforms, which lacked the previous cooler. Accordingly, the package is richer: a fan of a variety of frames, thrust plates and screws we still have not seen none of the cooler.
On the other hand, it is determined the abundance of support for current CPU sockets, and versatility for a top cooler – an important parameter. From the specifications of the cooler you can find the following information: a little more overall heat sink is now equipped with five heatpipes and a fan with a higher rate of rotation of the impeller. However, references to the noise level could not be found either on the box or on the official website … strange.
Tower of the five U-shaped heat pipe consists of two separate radiators. As in the previous case, the fan is tucked away between them so that they created the flow of air was used on both sides.
Aluminum radiators shroud covers the sides and top, which means that virtually the entire air stream passes through a lossless edge radiators. The bottom fan is not specifically covered by a hood, and a guiding wing blowing power transistors of the motherboard. The direction of air flow created by the fan, indicated by the arrow on the side of the cooler, similar to ASUS V-60.
Experience has shown that knowingly concealed in the characteristics of the noise level. He is clearly audible inside the housing and against the backdrop of a quiet system case will stand out quite significantly. While annoying, too, can not call him. By the way a little bit surprising, because the fan speed ASUS V-60 of 200 rev. / Min. below, but the fan is practically inaudible. It is a pity that the Silent Square Pro models have not applied a similar fan design.
Nickel-plated copper base has a fairly uniform surface, but a perfectly smooth it will not name, there is even a slight roughness of the finger.
Contact heat pipes and the base is made very carefully, firmly soldered to the tube grooves between the two halves of the foundation, none of the gap is not found. The tube is filled with proprietary thermal grease compound known to us, which is characterized by an extremely difficult application to the surface of the processor. It does not spread over the surface, and vice versa – is seeking to gather in a single mass. Therefore, it should be applied, slowly spreading over the surface, trying to do it in one motion. Do not expect to obtain a thin uniform layer, will not work, you must achieve at least that the thermal paste was distributed throughout the base. When heated, it liquefies, and squeezed out the excess.
Methods of mounting the cooler on the CPU socket – is another story. In the beginning we were a bit surprised to see such a variety of refractory plates, frames and other obscure details when the time came to understand in more detail, we really had to work hard. Russian language in the instructions there, so we had to peer at the small picture. Go to the motherboard is attached a special frame with six teeth. The clip is cooler yoke which engages its edges over the teeth.
An interesting feature revealed during the installation, when the cooler is on the processor with thermal paste buttered, the heat pipes run into the close edge of the frame. One gets the feeling, as if it would interfere with good contact with the base of the CPU cooler. In fact, this problem does not arise. But not for the fact that another instance of the cooler so everything goes smoothly, though a small gap in these areas is needed.
As you probably noticed earlier, complete with a cooler is not one, but three thrust plate on the opposite side of the board, one of them is universal. It would seem that, where is the logic? Universal plate is designed for mounting holes s478, LGA775 and s754/s939/s940. This mounting system was developed in the days when sAM2 was not there, so today I had to add in another set of thrust plate for the new platform AMD. The third plate is more compact option for LGA775, just in case, if the plate is a universal would be incompatible with the motherboard.
If the LGA775 platform rotate the cooler at 90 њ is carried out without problems, the mounting holes are located at equal distances from each other, then for other platforms, this feature is necessary to provide special. For sAM2 included are two additional plates, which are bolted to the frame with screws, and other platforms have gone unheeded. However, it is not so bad – for s754/s939/s940 typical arrangement of mounting holes (vertical) is just good, but to buy an expensive CPU cooler s478 – not the most sensible idea.