X-bit labs

OCZ Vindicator CPU Cooler Review: When the Copy is As Good As the Original (page 4)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 05/08/2007 | 04:36 PM ]

Installation Tips

To install the heatsink on any of the compatible platforms (it cannot be installed onto obsolete Socket A or Socket 478 platforms), you will not need to remove the mainboard from the system case. If you have an LGA 775 mainboard, the cooler can be installed simply by pressing the clips into the holes around the processor socket. I would like to remind you that Intel’s boxed coolers are installed exactly the same way. As for the AMD platform for K8 processors, you will first have to replace the bracket at the bottom of the cooler: you will need to remove the LGA 775 frame and install the Socket AM2/754/939/940 bracket instead and then make it catch to the hooks on the standard plastic retention bracket on the mainboard PCB.

The heatsink base is pressed pretty tightly against the CPU top heat-spreader in both cases. To be fair I have to say that since there is no backplate for this cooler, the mainboard textolite will slightly curve under the cooler weight in case of an LGA 775 platform. It is not a crucial drawback, but still a drawback in my opinion.

Then all you have to do is mount the fan on the heatsink with the wire clips and hook its three-pin plug to the corresponding mainboard connector. The polished to mirror-shine OCZ Vindicator looks very beautiful inside a system case:

The lower heatsink plate is still high enough above the base, so it will not conflict with the MOSFET heatsinks installed on the mainboard voltage regulator circuitry elements. However, you should note that I had to move the memory modules from the first and second DIMM slots to the third and fourth (picture on the right), because they were hitting against the fan. Although it is the tall heat-spreaders of Corsair Dominator TWIN2X2048-9136C5D installed in my system that are to blame for that, not OCZ Vindicator. If you are using standard memory modules, there will be no cause for concern.

Before we move on to the technical specifications of the cooler I suggest that you take a look at the side-by-side comparison of OCZ Vindicator and Scythe Ninja Plus Rev.B coolers:

Besides differently shaped heatsink plates, the finish quality and different lower heatsink I would also like to point out that the plates on Scythe Ninja’s heatsink are spread out at a greater distance from one another, although there are also 23 of them. The thing is that the Japanese cooler uses the entire length of the heatpipes starting right at the lower heatsink, while the plating on OCZ Vindicator heatsink starts a little higher. And of course, we shouldn’t leave out the different fans: 1,000rpm fan by OCZ and 1,200rpm fan by Scythe. Once again, the design, dimensions and weight of these cooling systems are identical.