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This is the newest , baddest , bad boy on the
block at the moment , and from what I understand , there are
not too many Volcano 7+ in Australia at the moment . So I would like
to take the opportunity to thank Garrison Huang from Anyware
Computer Accessories for making this review possible . Lets have a
look at some pictures now .
As you may or may not
know this heatsink comes with mounting hardware for P4 and socket
370 / socket A applications , being in the socket A camp myself we
wont bother with the P4 setup . Let me assure you that this being a
solid copper cooler that there is a reasonable weight penalty ,
according to my kitchen scales this cooler weighs in at 650grams or
1pound 7ouncess . So you Lan Gamers be careful , esp when
transporting you computer. Warning : At 6.6W do not attempt to run
this fan of your MB fan headers . Cooler
Specs: Fan
Dimension: 70x70x25 Rated
Voltage: 12VDC Rated
Current: 0.55AMP max Power
Input: 6.6W max Bearing
type: 2 ball bearing Life
time : 50 000 Hours Fan
speed settings : H, M, L Fan
speed : H = 6000rpm, M = 4800rpm, L = 3000rpm Max
air flow : 49CFM Noise
: H = 47dBA, M = 35dBA, L = 24dBA On
to the test : My cpu is
a AMD XP1700 running slightly overclocked @ 1.53ghz , 1.75v on a
Asus A7v133c Mother board . The test will be run with the side cover
of , with 3Dmark2001 demo looped for 20min and then 2 3Dmark2001
benchmarks in a row . My Arkua 6228 will then be run against it ,
current room temp is 21-22deg Celsius. Volcano
7+ @ the slowest setting . Very
very quiet , yes folks Thermaltake should have called this speed
setting the Hush Mode . So lets see how it did . 
43deg
C : Thats
a rather impressive result , esp considering the lack of noise , for
you chaps out there running servers out of your bedrooms , please
take note . Volcano
7+ @ the Medium setting . Now you start
to notice the fan , its not so bad as to be irritating , but you
will certainly be made aware of its presence . Lets take a look at
how it performs . 
40deg
C : Well
the performance is now in the major league arena , dont forget that
we still have one more speed to play with , High ! Volcano
7+ @ the High setting . Well
if you didnt notice the fan before , you will now . Its the
unfortunate price you pay for serious cooling power . 
39deg
C : Thats
a seriously good result , esp since I already know how the Arkua
6228 performed . Arkua
6228 . This is my
favorite cooler when it comes to performance cooling , and the
yardstick by which I judge other coolers . Lets see how it did . 
40deg
Celsius. After
Thought: Thermaltake has succeeded in
making a cooler to suit everyone , in the one package . A nice quiet
cooler for when you want to quietly get down to some serious work or
just surfing the net . A cooler that can turn on the power when the
weather turns hot , and a cooler that can perform with the best ,
for keeping that overclocked cpu cool . I can not fault this cooler
, even with its larger than standard size , it went on my mother
board , first time , first try . The tension on the retaining clip
seems to be just right , the only 2 warnings that I would make are
common sense ones . Dont abuse your computer when transporting
it , less you want the cooler lose in your precious machine . Two ,
screw or glue the speed controller down , its made from metal , and
if left free may short your puter . Even on
the slowest setting this is a powerful cooler , and I wish I wish it
was mine to keep ( would be nice if Thermaltake sent me one to use
as a yardstick to measure other coolers by , hmmm ? ) .
Unfortunately I had to give it back , but from what I understand it
wont be too long before a shipment of Thermaltake Volcano 7+ make it
to our shores . The volcano 7+ is now the
second best cooler that I have tested to date , and the performance
is so close to the Swiftech MCX 462 that the only way to tell for
sure which is the better would be to run them against each other . Conclusion: Wow
, this cooler evokes so many thoughts its not funny , so what come's
to mind besides I want one ? Its well made , big , powerful ,
and has Hush mode built in . It really is 3 coolers in one , and
when your deciding if you want one , keep that in mind , esp the
cost of single speed copper cooler . Thermaltake have come up with
another must have cooler , its trick , its hot , its now . The
Volcano 7+ is where cooling is at the moment , 10 out of 10
Thermaltake you've done it again . I
would like to thank : Anyware
, for making this review possible . Matt
Korhonen : 15 March 2002 . |
