X-bit labs

Roundup: AeroCool Double Power, Thermaltake DuOrb, Zalman VF1000 LED and a Few Other Good VGA Coolers (page 16)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 02/26/2008 | 04:13 PM ]

Conclusion

Well, the only cooling solution we cannot really recommend at this time is AeroCool Double Power, because of lack of cooling efficiency, not very convenient design and relatively high price. However, even this cooler has a few indisputable advantages, such as universal design, low level of generated noise at minimal fan rotation speed and original white highlighting. However, other today’s testing participants also boast the same features, except the white highlighting.

The leader of our today’s test session is evidently Accelero S1 with a Turbo Module. This very efficient and quiet cooler also turned out the cheapest of all cooling systems discussed today. As for the drawbacks, we should remember that it blocks two mainboard slots next top the graphics card. Besides, the hot air is only partially ousted from the system case, while the reference coolers on Radeon HD 3870 and GeForce 8800 GTS send almost all of the hot air outside.

Two testing participants with solid copper heatsinks – Zalman VF1000 LED and Thermaltake DuOrb – also showed their real best in this test session having proven efficient enough for overclocked graphics cards. I have to admit that unfortunately, Thermaltake DuOrb turned out pretty loud, therefore we hope that one day Thermaltake will add a fan rotation speed controller or a 7V (maybe even 5V) power adapter to the cooler bundle. At the same time, the Zalman solution is free from this drawback although it is just a little weaker than Thermaltake DuOrb at the maximum fan rotation speed. Among the drawbacks both these coolers have we should point out their high price and incomplete hot air exhaust outside the system case.