Thanks are due to Thermaltake
for supplying the Indigo Orb for evaluation.
Introduction :
Having become accustomed
to Pentium 3's relatively frugal heat dissipation, Pentium
4 users are now having to follow the same thermal management
regime that Athlon users have become quite expert in. Using
the 0.18 micron process still, the P4 burns some 55 watts,
and even though Intel have reverted to using a heat spreader
to avoid damaging hot spots developing, a quality cooler is
still needed for optimum stability. Intel is also advising
at least one 80mm case cooling fan, and this is partly due
to the near 90 degrees (C) of heat given off by the i815 chipset
alone.
Thermaltake are rapidly
becoming one of the best known names in HSF production, and
their rapid execution for Pentium 4 shows they don't intend
resting on their laurels.
Specifications :
| Fan Dimensions |
60x60x25mm |
| Rated Voltage |
12V DC |
| Rated Current |
0.24A |
| Starting Voltage |
6.0V |
| Rated Speed |
5500 RPM |
| Max.Airflow |
36 CFM |
| Max. Static Pressure |
8mm - H2O |
| Noise Levels |
30 dB-a |
| Locked Protection |
72 hours |
| Polarity Protection |
Yes |
| Input Power |
2.88 Watts |
| Operating Temperature |
10C-60C |
| Storage Temperature |
-40C-70C |
| Bearing Type |
Ball Bearing |
| Life Time |
50,000 hours |
In the box comes the Orb
itself (no surprises there), 2 standard design retaining clips
and of course the compulsary silicone based thermal grease,
which you may want to bin in favour of something a little
more efficient (though it still knocks spots off the old pre-applied
gum).
As can be seen from the
specs, this fan claims to bulk-shift an impressive 36CFM of
air in exchange for rather reasonable 30dB-a of noise, and
from my initial look, it doesn't seem too far off the mark.
At a height of 5.5cm,
and with a base thickness around 6mm, the Indigo orb is quite
heavy, but this shouldn't be a problem as most motherboards
follow Intel's reccomendation for allowing the heatsink retainer
to screw straight through into the case chassis, or at least
use a metal plate design behind the board to take the strain.
Not many (that I'm aware of) have attached the retainers to
the board using plastic lugs which may happen on some cheaper
boards.
As is the case with all
of the Tt HSF's I've so far seen, construction was of the
highest quality and the anodised indigo coating added to the
look rather than making it appear tacky.
The fan sports three wires,
meaning of course that it is of the RPM sensing type, though
I should mention that on arrival, one of the three wires had
escaped its plastic retainer beneath the motor and ridden
up enough that it would have stopped the fan turning. It was
easy enough to put pack, but for someone who fits and closes,
even with the 72 hour locked fan protection, it could have
ended in tears. It was probably due to rough handling during
shipping, but remember to check before you close your case.
The Tt sticker on the
back of the motor is further proof that Thermaltake are ready
and able to supply their own components, and that has to be
admired.
The base, as on all
the previous orbs, was suitably flat, though it still sports
those very fine concentric machining ridges, which while not
deep enough to cause problems once the grease has been applied,
will almost certainly have the hobbyists reaching for the
fine grit.
So there we have it. Thermaltakes
latest offering to the P4 community, the Indigo Orb. My main
concern is what Tt will do when they run out of colours to
name their orbs after.
Now, I doubt I'm stating
anything unusual when I tell you that I don't have a P4 system
with which to test this cooler, but a rather makeshift experiment
on my Athlon 700 gave me the impression that performance wise,
this cooler is very nearly reaching Super Orb levels of cooling.
However fear not, I may not have a P4 to test on, but I know
a man who has!!
Performance figures as
soon as I get them.
