PC Fan Noise Relief

There is almost no PC hardware anymore that can get by without a fan. Now, the CPU, the graphics card, the motherboard and the case all require fans. If low-noise fans are not used, the decibel level quickly goes up to over 50 dB(A), which becomes unbearable. However, fan controller solutions exist that can help mitigate this noise pollution factor.

THG tested 15 fan control devices which, at least according to the manufacturers' specifications, are able to reduce noise levels effectively and cleverly. The basic premise is that fans do not always have to run at top speed and can be adjusted. With normal office usage, only low revolution numbers are necessary. Only with games or computing-intensive tasks do chips produce excessive heat. In those situations users generally can't escape the noise.

15 current fan controllers put to the test

Difference between daytime and nighttime operation: click on this image for a demonstration

Fan Controllers With A Display: Regulating Often Means Monitoring

If you want to regulate your fans you should also make sure that your fan controller features a temperature monitoring function. That at least gives you an idea of whether the turned-down fans are still sufficiently cooling the system. If the computer's internal temperature reaches a critical point, an alarm function is usually triggered in the form of a beep tone to signal that the system is getting too hot. You have to experiment until you find the optimal revolution settings. It's better for the fans to have a few revolutions too many than to end up with damage to your expensive hardware.

We can only recommend a few of our test candidates, since many of them lack a number of important functions that are necessary for trouble-free fan control and monitoring. It's no use reducing noise while dramatically increasing the risk of doing damage to your hardware.

A fan controller must thus monitor fan noise levels in addition to performing control and alarm tasks. It would also be ideal if the device could shut down the PC in the event of a critical situation. As of now, however, you have to do without that function or tweak the BIOS of the motherboard - it turns out that none of the test products could manage this. One should never give up hope, though, because this problem is being worked on.

Akasa Fan Controller: Exchangeable Faceplates

Akasa’s Fan Controller offers up to four system fans and simultaneously monitors four different temperatures. Four separate dials are used to set the fans anywhere between 7 and 12 Volts. With 120mm fans that always turn more slowly, rotation rates can fall below 600 rpm at a seven-volt setting, thus triggering the alarm function. The beeping stops automatically after about 20 seconds. A lovely multi-colored display shows one fan and one sensor at a time. Switching to the next fan and sensor is done by push button. Included in the package with the Akasa fan controller are several different faceplates, so that this fan controller can match almost any PC case.

With some cases, installing the small device is problematic.

Listen to the alarm sound

It sounds like you’re at Mc Donald’s, when the fries are done.

Colorful : An array of different faceplates

Pleasant : Four dials glow in blue.

The background color changes with a push of a button.

The fan controller provides power to the separate fans.

Cooler Master Musketeer I: An Analog Display That Takes Getting Used To

The 5.25" Cooler Master is unique in that it doesn't have a digital display, but rather an analog one. The Musketeer I is only made for a single fan and a single heat sensor. The display in the middle beats to the rhythm of the sound card, picking up the sound signal and recording it via a pulsating needle.

Available in either black or silver

A matter of taste: analog readout instead of digital numbers

One display for the fan control, one for the sound, and one for the temperature.

The Musketeer I from Cooler Master does not offer a large number of ports.

Enermax UC-A8FATR4: Split Personality

Already at first glance, the Enermax UC-A8FATR4 sets itself apart from the competition, as its left and right dial controls glow in different colors. At first we thought that it was intended that way just to look cool. As we began to understand the functions though, the color coding made sense. The left dial and the blue-lighting in the display pertain to one of two separate fan controllers. Green is for the other one. When you throw a switch the display turns green to show the temperature and fan data for the second controller.

The UC-A8FATR4 will first detect whether a rotating fan is attached to one of the four possible connections before displaying the rotations. If the fan is stopped or is rotating below 1000 rpm, it starts to beep. The signal only goes away after restarting the fan or resetting the controllers. A small sliding control in the faceplate switches the display between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

The fan controller is actually made up of two separate units.

Is that an alarm clock? Time to get up again already?

The dual button is used to switch over to the other controller.

Both controller units share the same display.

One unit glows green, the other blue.

The connection cables almost all attach firmly onto the fan controller.

Innovatek Fan-O-Matic: Configuration Via Software

Innovatek's fan controller can be configured on the PC using software. To do this, the controller is connected to a serial interface. Too bad if the motherboard doesn't have one of these anymore. The four different fans connected can be set or turned off individually using the Windows software, which is easier than using the four push-buttons on the faceplate. The Fan-O-Matic monitors up to six heat sensors that can be placed anywhere within the system. Fans and sensors work together and are not only shown in the fan control display but also by the fan controller software. If there is a network in place, data from different computers can also be accessed, even via the Internet. Setup is very simple and leaves a lot of options for personalizing the setup. Fan and sensor names can be freely defined and are not prescribed by the manufacturer. The only drawback is the price for this little wonder. You have to shell out over $130, which is not exactly small change.

The Fan-O-Matic comes out ahead in almost all areas, but its alarm function is inferior. The only error warning appears within a dark and hard-to-read display, without any noticeable signal tone.

Other faceplate colors are available optionally as well.

Each fan can be named individually.

Simple configuration using Windows

The display shows only the essentials.

All connections are located on the back

Superflower Fan Master: Twin Of Akasa Fan Controller

With the exception of the writing on the faceplate, the Superflower Fan Master is identical to the Akasa Fan Controller. The functions are 100% the same, even the blue lighting for the sliding control. The sole difference is in the documentation, which appears in an Asian language along with English. With six exchangeable faceplates, the Fan Master can go with almost any case color.

Four fans and four sensors can be connected with the Fan Master.

Listen to the alarm sound

Even the alarm signal sounds like that of its twin

Faceplates are exchangeable so they can match almost any PC case.

The three keys T / F / C are for configuring the Fan Master

The display can take on seven different colors.

Four dials glow with a steady blue.

A small Piezo speaker provides an acoustic signal when fans are not moving.

Silverstone Eudemon SST-FP52: Automatic Adjustment

Once it's installed and configured, the Eudemon SST-FP52 takes control of the connected fans. Manual operation is not an option with this fan control. The unit's various sensors measure the temperature and regulate fan revolutions autonomously. Rotation speed is increased in several stages and then reduced again as cooling takes place. The date and time are shown in the blue-lit display along with temperature and fan rotation. The SST-FP52 has its own power source so that its own internal clock keeps running. A battery provides power to the built-in alarm clock.

Too bad: no fans are located behind the two round grilles.

Too muted for an alarm function. You can hardly hear it.

The display lights up in blue when the PC is turned on.

The fans show up in the display only when they are activated.

Fans are connected either directly or using the included extension cables

This battery allows the clock and alarm to work offline too.

W-Force Super Panel: Made Only For A Single CPU Fan

The 5.25" faceplate of the W-Force device allows control of three heat sensors but only controls one fan. An extra-large stepless dial is used for setting the connected fan. If the fan rotates at less than 1,500 rpm, however, the W-Force makes a signal tone; therefore the W-Force is not suited for 120 mm system fans. When one of the temperature gauges reaches the 65 degrees Celsius mark the device gives off a tone that only stops when the problem has been resolved.

Only one fan can be controlled using the Super Panel from W-Force.

That's how an alarm function should sound. You'll never mistake that one.

The display shows one temperature reading along with the CPU fan rotation.

USB 2.0 and Firewire can be brought to the front through the W-Force.

Hooking up the fan to the front jacks is done internally.

Evaluation

Technical Data

Fan Controls With Display And Hard Drive Cooling

The following test candidates are also suitable for controlling 3.5" hard drive cooling fans. It doesn't matter what type of connection the disk has. With all of these devices the disks are placed into a metal bracket and cooled with the use of a heat sensor and/or small fans. Even fast disks with 10,000 or 15,000 rpm can be cooled down this way. In addition, the space that would be wasted by a fan control is used optimally. Additional plug-ins on the fan controller's front for USB, FireWire and audio connections add considerably to its value. Unfortunately, however, only one of the fan controllers tested was equipped this way.

Cooler Master Cooldrive 4: Fan Control Included

At first you think the thing is a car radio. This impression is deceiving, however. The Cooldrive 4 is a combination product consisting of the Aero Gate II and a hard drive bracket. The actual fan controller of the Aero Gate II supports four fans and four sensors. The different temperature displays and the connected fans appear in the easy-to-read, blue-lit display. With the push of a button, the display changes.

That's no car radio, its a fan control with HDD bracket.

The alarm tone is easy to hear.

The display lights up in a permanent dark blue.

Not a lot: only one fan and one temperature are displayed

Control element: uncomplex and simple to operate

A 3.5" hard drive will later be put in here

Jetart Xpanel DT 5000: More Racket Than Utility

The system start of the DT5000 is both dramatic and irritating. You can tell that the Xpanel is on not only because the display lights up, but also by the excruciating little tune from the Piezo speaker within the device. It doesn't take long for it to play through the scales, but this will really wake you up after you turn on your computer in the morning. This ridiculous function cannot be turned off, so your neighbors will be thrilled.

The XPanel is activated when the computer is turned on.

A large, user-friendly dial is used for controlling the fans, which can also switch between the three fans and sensor cable. The sensor data can be displayed either in Celsius or Fahrenheit. The Xpanel DT5000 also features ports on the front for audio, USB and Firewire; the cables included are attached to the corresponding slots on the back of the PC. Fan control is done via pulse method, in which the fans are driven by electricity pulses and do not have their voltage reduced, as is the case with most other fan controllers. This causes a constant and very unpleasant rattling sound, especially with smaller fans. The rattling can hardly be heard though with 120 mm system fans.

The Xpanel DT5000 fan control is multi-functional.

Listen to the fan sound

The signal tone sounds like somebody getting murdered.

The DT5000 fits into a 5.25" bay.

This large dial is for controlling all of the fans.

Several ports are built into the front

A 3.5" hard drive can be installed into the casing.

Jetart Xpanel DT 6000: Pulse Fan Control

In contrast to the other fan controls, the DT6000 does not lower operating voltage but rather pulses it. That means that the DT 6000 interrupts the current as soon as a certain fan rpm level has been reached. This has the disadvantage that although the connected fans do turn more slowly, they make even more noise than before because they constantly have to speed up again. The hard disk fan in the DT6000 is of just this sort and quickly gets on your nerves. With 80 and 120 mm fans the pulse effect was not that noticeable.

Hollywood-type special effects. Look out for UFO's.

Inside the control unit there is enough space for a 3.5" hard drive. The large dial serves on the one hand for regulating the fans, and also for switching between the connected fans and temperature gauges. In the display itself only a single fan and sensor status appears at a time.

The dimensions are about the same as a DVD drive.

Awful! Your audiologist and health insurer will be glad.

Fans can be freely adjusted using the large dial.

Only a single fan and temperature status visible at one time.

A small fan cools the hard drive, which can also be regulated.

Antec HD Cooler: Monitored Hard Drive Cooling

The mounting frame for a 3.5" hard drive is built into a free 5.25" bay. A display on the front alternately shows the temperature data from the two sensors that get placed inside the computer. The display can be switched between Celsius and Fahrenheit internally using a DIP switch. Two small 40 mm fans next to the metal frame provide cooling of the mounted hard drive. At a level of 45 degrees Celsius/113 Fahrenheit the LED’s in the display start blinking. An acoustic signal would be better, but there is none with the Antec HD Cooler.

The module fits into a free 5.25" bay.

Easy-to-read display. Switchable between Celsius and Fahrenheit

Two small 40 mm fans provide cooling for the hard drive.

Evaluation

Technical Data

Fan Controls Without Display Or Monitoring

The simplest, but also the most dangerous approach is to use fan controls without a monitoring function. None of these test candidates fared well in the test - without a display and without heat sensors, these products are only of limited use. You can't tell how fast, or rather, how slow, a fan is rotating when using one of the following fan controllers.

Cooler Master Aerogate I: For Control Of A Maximum 4 Fans

The Aerogate I from Cooler Master is only suited for regulating up to four fans. Four small dial controls are located on the front for this purpose. The voltage output is between 7 and 12 volts. Aerogate I does not have a display, nor does it monitor the connected fans and their temperatures.

Small 5.25" module: fits with ease into any PC case.

The color button allows selection of different colors for the lighting.

Four dials are easy to operate.

The Aerogate connects to the power supply on the back.

Sunbeam Rheobus: Garish LED's Show Voltage Level

The Rheobus fan controller runs up to four fans. What's special about the Rheobus are the dials and the four LED's. Depending on how the dials are turned, these light up differently. In the zero position the connected fan and the LED receive no power. The LED lights up red up until the midpoint at around seven volts. From seven volts and up, the formerly red LED lights up blue. As voltage increases, not only do fan revolution speeds go up, but the blue LEDs also become brighter.

No problems with installation

Up to 7 volts the LED's light up in red, after that, in blue.

Connections for the four fans and the power supply are located on the back.

The blue LED's light up especially brightly.

Zalman ZM-MFC1: 6-fan Controller

The Zalman fan controller runs a maximum of six fans, four of which are operated via potentiometer and two by toggle switch. The two toggle switches correspond to one to five volts and six to 12 volts. In the third position, power is switched off, stopping the connected fan. The other four dials are freely adjustable. The more power is released, the faster the fans turn and the faster the monitoring LED blinks. Installation was difficult with a number of PC cases that employed installation rails.

Installation can be difficult with cases having installation rails.

Four fans are operable at any level between five and 12 volts.

The red LED signals that the SW1 fan is running at maximum speed.

Four of the six fans are connected with the fan control unit by plugs.

Evaluation

Technical Data

Test Configuration

System Fan With 8 Cm Diameter

In order to really put the fan controllers to the test, we got hold of different types of fans and connected them up. We put together a colorful trio of regular system fans that also happen to be UV-sensitive. The colors of the three 80 mm fans are a feast for the eyes even without a UV lamp. Under 12 volts they rotate at 2,500 rpm and can be heard clearly.

System fans don't always have to be black.

Source: ibks.de

Available in: blue, orange and green

System Fan Measuring 12 Cm In Diameter

120 mm fans are made to be slower and are therefore quieter. They are available for less than $17. At 12 volts, the two fans from Revoltec still manage an airflow rate of 4.5 liters/min. By comparison, the 80 mm fans from Akasa move around two and a half times as much, but are also twice as loud.

120 mm fans rotate at just under 1000 rpm, which corresponds to 4.4 liters/min.

Source : listan.de

Available in : blue, red

3D Edge FAN

Those who don’t have any room to spare in their system for additional fans can install as many as four extra fans in their computer with the 3D Edge FAN. The 3D Edge is used just like an expansion card, yet is not actually connected to the PCI slot, so it cannot cause short circuits. Each fan can be individually connected to a fan controller.

The 3D Edge fan caters for plenty of air circulation in the system.

Source : logisyscomputer.com

CPU Fan

The CUS3 from Sharkoon rotates at 2500 rpm and works with an 80 mm fan. Unregulated fans usually rotate at 4000 rpm, which is rather loud. This makes it a perfect candidate for our fan-controller test.

The CUC3 from Sharkoon was used as a CPU cooler.

Source: alternate.de

Available in: blue, orange and green.

CPU Fan Turbine

Cooler Master has long been well known for its offbeat CPU fans. The turbine, the Jet 4 (ICB-V83), whilst coming with a controller, was adapted by us to the fan controller for the test series.

The turbine from Cooler Master also had to hold out.

Source: coolermaster.de

Mains Adapter

Nothing will run without electricity, not even a fan controller. Rated at 380 watts, the Tagan mains adapter, which offers a particularly large number of sockets for periphery devices and a long and very flexible wiring harness, supplied sufficient power.

Rated at 380 watts, the Tagan TG380-U01 mains adapter supplied sufficient power.

Source: maxpoint.de

Available in: 330, 380 or 480-watt versions

Midi Tower Case

We used our last test winner, the Lian Li PC1000 case, to install the fan controllers. Find out more about the Lian Li midi tower here .

Everything was installed in the Lian Li midi tower.

Source: hampton-technologies.com

Available in: silver
Price: $220

Useful Accessories

Magic Fleece MAG - Magnetic Insulating Mats

You can also use insulating mats for soundproofing. These are normally stuck to the inside of the case and, once in place, are very hard to remove. It's a lot easier using the insulating mats from Noise Control , which are magnetic. The down side is that they will not adhere to aluminum or plastic. A set of Magic Fleece MAG is enough for slightly less that half a square meter and costs less than $40.

Very convenient: the mats are cut to size, which saves you having to do this arduous task.

Source: noisecontrol.de

Think Tank: Midi Tower With Integrated Fan Controller And Cell Phone Battery Charging Station

Instead of PC cases with built-in fan controllers, we took a look at the THINK TANK, a midi tower with an integrated fan controller. The controls for the internal fan controller are located next to the front display, and allow you to control up to two fans simultaneously, although it has to be said the term "control" is rather exaggerated. The fan only has four different settings ranging from slow, normal to fast. There's nothing in between. The hub box is connected to the motherboard and display using the enclosed cable. An adapter socket, attached between the mains adapter and the motherboard, supplies the display and the fan controller independently with power. But the main attraction of this case is the cell phone battery charging station that is slotted onto the side of the case. Using a special charging cable that varies depending on the make of mobile, you can charge a cell phone.

The cell phone battery charging station is attached to the side of the case.

This box is attached loosely to the midi tower case.

The display doesn't really display much at all.

Source: coms-com.com

Price: $45

Cooler MasterMusketeer II: Analog Display For Audio Output

The audio deflection on the Musketeer II is displayed in analog

The round meters of the Musketeer II can light up in up to six different colors

Source: coolermaster.de

Available in: silver, black

Silverstone: Silent 300-watt Mains Adapter

Not only system and CPU fans are loud, mains adapter fans also share the blame for computers not being suitable for use in the bedroom or living room. Only few manufacturers have so far demonstrated that this doesn't necessarily have to be the case and consequentially charge a pretty penny for fan-free mains adapters. If you now switch off the CPU and graphic card fans, your computer will be very quiet indeed. You'll never truly be able to eradicate the rattle of the hard drive, not even with good soundproofing.

The 300-watt mains adapter gets by without a fan.

The packaging promises no sound at all

Heat dissipation is ensured using heatpipe technology

Source: silverstonetek.de

Available: SST-ST-30NF 300 watts

Sharkoon Fan Adapter: What Doesn't Fit Will Be Made To Fit

Most CPU or system fan brackets are only suitable for 80 mm fans and do not allow the installation of larger 120 mm fans. Using a suitable 120 mm adapter there's nothing to stop you installing this kind of fan, unless of course there's not enough room in your PC. Because of the larger shovel blades, a larger fan will offer the same cooling capacity at a lower rpm level and is therefore far quieter than an 80 mm fan.

Now even 120 mm fans fit.

Source: alternate.de

Available in: blue

Conclusion

It is shocking what kind of junk there is out there to buy. Only 30% of the devices tested are worth paying for. If you are interested in regulating your fans, you should also furnish your system with numerous heat sensors. An alarm function triggered at critical levels should alert the user that the PC is getting too hot, or better yet, automatically take control of and adjust fan settings. But that is a luxury that can only be had for a lot of money. The Fan-O-Matic by Innovatek can do all this, but its alarm function is pitiful, thus it falls into second place. The victor and recommended device is therefore the SST-FP52 Eudemon fan controller from Silverstone, which fulfils all of these tasks like a champ.

AMD Bundled Coolers: Blessing Or Curse?

Before the Athlon XPs with Barton cores were even launched, we started getting a deluge of e-mails from readers wanting to know how effective the coolers that ship with boxed Athlon XPs actually are. And yet another outpouring of e-mail basically read: "I've got an Athlon XP 2400+ and want to upgrade to an Athlon XP 2700+. Do I need a new, more powerful cooler?"

Let's first take a look at the maximum thermal-power readings of high-end Athlon XPs with Thoroughbred A, B and Barton cores (source: AMD Data Sheets Processor Model 8 and Model 10):

The Athlon XP 3000+ with a Barton core has the highest maximum thermal power: 74.3 watts. But since its die is 20 percent larger than high-end models with Thoroughbred B cores, such as those you'll find in the Athlon XP 2600+ and 2700+, its maximum specific thermal power is almost eight watts (or some ten percent) less at 73.56 watts/cm².

AMD Bundled Coolers: Blessing Or Curse? Continued

Now let's look at the (boiled-down) equation that describes the cooling capacity/ heat conduction provided by a cooler:

Iw = G*(TD -TA ) whereas G=* (A/l)

where

Iw : Heat flux (thermal power of the processor)

G: Thermal conductivity coefficient of the cooler
?: Thermal conductivity of the cooler material
A: Surface through which heat flows (contact surface between die and cooler)
l: Path taken by heat flux
TD : Maximum acceptable die temperature according to specifications
TA : Temperature of the air surrounding the fan

According to the equation, the greater the contact surface between the cooler and the die, the greater the heat flux. It also indicates a proportional relationship between the heat flux, Iw, and the contact surface, A. To get back to our Athlon XP 3000+ and the 2700+, the equation tells us that CPUs with Barton cores are "easier" to cool because the die surface is twenty percent greater, while their maximum thermal power is a mere ten percent higher.

So any cooler suitable for the Athlon XP 2700+ shouldn't have any problems cooling a Barton CPU like the 3000+. In fact, the advantage gained by the larger die surface won't be cancelled out until you reach maximum thermal-power levels exceeding 82 watts.

Specific thermal power of different AMD cores.

Measuring Like AMD: Temperature Sensors Right On The Die

Since the last comparison test, THG has been using the same measurement platform preferred by AMD for its own cooler tests.

The testing platform consists of a modified A7V333 motherboard from Asus and a temperature-sensor evaluation kit from Maxim. The temperature-sensor evaluation kit reads the exact die temperature while the PC is running and displays it on the control computer. The modifications on the board allowed us to measure both processor voltage and current while the computer was running.

The testing platform allows you to measure thermal power and the die temperature precisely.

The temperature-evaluation sensor kit is below the motherboard.

This is a very precise method of measuring thermal power, which is the product of current consumption times the voltage drop across the processor.

The GUI from the temperature-sensor kit.

We measured the ambient temperature with an additional sensor placed about one inch above the fan wheel. A DOS program "heated" the processor (AMD Athlon XP 2400+), keeping the CPU under a constant, maximum load. Instead of thermal pads, we used Arctic Alumina thermal grease in all the tests.

We plugged the readings for the thermal power of the processor, PV, the die temperature, TD, and the ambient temperature, TA, into the following equation:

Rtherm =(TD -TA )/PV in °C/W

This gave us the thermal resistance, Rtherm, for that particular combination of cooler and thermal grease. The lower the resistance, the better the cooler. Thermal resistance is also the key variable in the test. It the measure of the effectiveness of the cooler. To give you the most complete picture possible, we've also listed the highest die temperature in both the text and the tables. But this reading is of limited value when ranking individual coolers by effectiveness.

AMD 2000+ Bundled Cooler

The cooler bundled with the AMD Athlon XP 2000+ is based on an aluminum cooler profile. The ribs are made using skived-fin technology.

In skiving production, horizontal layers/ shavings are cut from aluminum blocks and then placed vertically, creating the cooler profile. Not only is this manufacturing process very cost-effective, the aluminum profiles also have an enormous surface area because the fins and the spaces between them (the pitch) are 1.3 millimeters thick. What's more, the profiles are better at conducting heat because the ribs are part of the base plate, instead of being welded or crimped on.

The underside of the cooler is relatively smooth, albeit not polished to a mirror finish. It comes factory-fitted with a thermal pad that we stripped off for the test. A clip keeps the cooler clamped to the middle gib on the socket. Installing it was a breeze. We determined that the thermal resistance of the cooler was 0.48° C/W, while the maximum die temperature was 54° C when running at full steam. The noise level stood at 52.5 dB(A) - not too shabby considering the speed of the fan (5800 rpm).

AMD 2700+ Bundled Cooler

The Athlon XP 2700+ ships with a composite cooler: a cooler profile made of aluminum and a base plate made from copper.

Four screws attach the plate to the profile, with a thin layer of thermal grease in between to reduce the thermal resistance. The base plate is nickel-plated, probably to prevent the copper from oxidizing. However, there's a downside to using nickel for the contact surface: nickel is a much worse heat conductor than copper (90.7 W/mK as opposed to 402 W/mK for copper). That said, this design does a more than adequate job of keeping die temperatures down: they peaked at 55° C under a full load, while the thermal resistance ran at 0.50° C/W. On the noise front, the cooler for the 2700+ generates a mere 46.6 dB(A), much less than the 2000+.

A Fresh Breeze Blows From CeBIT: Coolermaster Aero7

Coolermaster waited until CeBIT to launch the Aero7/ ASB-V73. The Aero7 has a fan-control switch, but what makes it really special is its blower. The blower draws in air, redirects it by 90°, and pushes it directly towards the heat sink.

Thanks to this design, the cooler can blow cool air directly onto the center of the CPU. It follows that this cooler should be very effective.

The heat sink is made of copper with skived fins, providing thermal-conduction properties far superior to profiles manufactured by welding or crimping ribs to the base plate.

The underside of the Aero7 hasn't been lapped to a shine. However, the visible "unevenness" of the surface doesn't have a negative effect on the cooler's thermal conductivity since the thermal grease nestles evenly in the ridges.

The fan speed can be set to anywhere from 1900 rpm to 4500 rpm. You can either install the switch with the 3.5" bay cover or, as is often the case with Coolermaster, on the back of your computer with a PCI bracket. Ratcheting up the fan speed will increase cooling performance - and the noise level. In that regard, the blower is no different from a conventional fan. The thermal resistance of the cooler fluctuated between 0.28° C/W and 0.44° C/W; the die temperatures stayed between 42° C and 53° C.

The noise level ranged from 62.5 dB(A) to 43.8 dB(A).

These scores make the Aero7 the most powerful cooler on the market. The weight and dimensions of the Aero7 are also top notch: the copper block with blower weighs in at 638 grams and is 108 millimeters high.

We also liked the Aero7's ergonomically-designed triple clip, which made it easy to install without any tools. Unfortunately, on some boards, the clip and the RAM modules are on a collision course, as the picture (Asus A7V333) shows.

Loud Or Quiet, Hot Or Cold: A Direct Comparison Of Several Coolers

To help you rank the tested coolers by effectiveness, we have listed the results from this test next to those from the previous test.

Please note that the noise level measurements were taken with the side panels removed, at a distance of approximately 35 cm from the fan wheel and with an ambient noise level of 34 dB(A). Your levels may be considerably below our results with the side panels, and your sound insulation, in place.

Thermal resistance is the key variable. It is the measure of the effectiveness of the cooler. We calculated it from the readings for the thermal power of the processor, PV, the die temperature, TD, and the ambient temperature, TA, using the following equation:

Rtherm =(TD -TA )/PV in °C/W

Note that the die temperature is just an operand: it is heavily dependent on the CPU's thermal loss, which can vary wildly for any one particular clock speed setting. "Our" Athlon XP 2400+ managed a maximum thermal power score of 57 watts. According to the data sheet, though, the Athlon XP 2400+ can get up to 68 watts. If you were to run these two 2400+ CPUs using the same cooler with a thermal resistance of, say, 0.5° C/W, the die on the THG 2400+ processor would be some 5.5° C cooler. This simple example clearly demonstrates that thermal resistance is the key variable.

Specifications: Coolers At A Glance

Conclusion: Bundled Coolers Generally Sufficient

As this test of AMD's bundled coolers reveals, these chill-machines are more than adequate for most users and applications.

However, if you're in the market for a quieter model, a real freezer powerhouse or a cooler that offers variable cooling capabilities, you should take a look at the vast array of cooler manufacturers.

If you want a cooler with excellent, variable capabilities, the brand-new Aero7 from Coolermaster is an outstanding choice.