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In
Use :::...
In
these pictures you can see the 3D Slot Fan installed. I
doubt I'd use the adjacent slot to my graphics card normally
as it's a touch close but I wanted to show it can be done.
The single fan mounted on the top edge helps cool both the
graphics card's memory chips and also the North Bridge sink
too.
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Installed
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Installed
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The fans by the way use two blue and two green LEDs which
look very slick when in action. The blue/green scheme adds
to the sensation of cooling airflow.
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The
Fans Lit
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Performance:::...
I
won't waste much time here with performance figures because
the 3D Slot Fan is so versatile and its possible environments
so varied that it's almost impossible ay results I get will
be duplicated anywhere.
What
I will say is that using the 3D Slot Fan lowered my case
temperatures by a full four degrees, something I'd have
bet against considering I have good airflow anyway, and
that they lowered the running temperature of my X800 Pro
by one degree whilst at the same time increasing its overclocking
potential by 12 MHz on the memory.
This
doesn't sound like much but like I said, the case had good
airflow to begin with and to some extent we're recirculating
warm air, not bringing in cooler fresh air.
I
was very impressed with noise levels considering this thing
has three sets of blades spinning full tilt, and adding
a nice fan controller or basic switch would allow you to
activate them only when you need them and leave them idle
when you don't.
Conclusion
The
3DVelocity 'Dual Conclusions Concept' Explained: After discussing
this concept with users as well as companies and vendors
we work with, 3DVelocity have decided that where necessary
we shall aim to introduce our 'Dual Conclusions Concept'
to sum up our thoughts and impressions on the hardware we
review. As the needs of the more experienced users and enthusiasts
have increased, it has become more difficult to factor in
all the aspects that such a user would find important, while
also being fair to products that may lack these high end
"bonus" capabilities but which still represent
a very good buy for the more traditional and more prevalent
mainstream user. The two catergories we've used are:
The
Mainstream User ~ The mainstream user is likely to put
price, stock performance, value for money, reliability and/or
warranty terms ahead of the need for hardware that operates
beyond its design specifications. The mainstream user may
be a PC novice or may be an experienced user, however their
needs are clearly very different to those of the enthusiast,
in that they want to buy products that operate efficiently
and reliably within their advertised parameters.
The
Enthusiast ~ The enthusiast cares about all the things
that the mainstream user cares about but is more likely
to accept a weakness in one or more of these things in exchange
for some measure of performance or functionality beyond
its design brief. For example, a high priced motherboard
may be tolerated in exchange for unusually high levels of
overclocking ability or alternatively an unusually large
heat sink with a very poor fixing mechanism may be considered
acceptable if it offers significantly superior cooling in
return.
The
Mainstream User ~
Don't
be fooled into thinking the 3D Slot Fan will cure all your
case cooling woes. Before I'd every recommend the 3D Slot
Fan I'd suggest those of you with poor case ventilation
tackle this problem first.
Once
you're case is breathing easy with at least a single intake
and exhaust fan, then it's time to decide if you need a
more specific cooling solution like this.
The
3D Slot Fan isn't only for overclockers. I'm a big believer
that cool electronics are happy electronics no matter how
hard you're working them, and provided you're sole aim in
life isn't the pursuit of silent computing, the 3D Slot
Fan lets you keep air moving over those typically hot components
like your VGA memory, hard drive/s, motherboard North Bridge
(and possibly the MOSFETs too), CPU (indirectly) and so
on.
Not
an essential component but a useful one all the same, and
coupled with some kind of switch or controller a very versatile
option that needn't add to your noise pollution unless it's
needed.
Hardly high-tech engineering or bleeding-edge innovation
but if you need what it offers it delivers with
style.
The
Enthusiast ~
If
you're serious about your overclocking you're probably using
water, TEC or phase change cooling, but for times when you
need a little extra targeted airflow the 3D Slot Fan delivers
and looks good too.
Noise
levels are very reasonable considering we have three fans
going at it, and the flexible mounting system makes for
very accurate airflow control. This could benefit even water-cooled
graphics cards by helping cool the memory chips both on
the front and more crucially on the uncooled rear of the
card. Increase the effectiveness with a set of RAM sinks
too!
I'd
prefer the bracket chromed rather than black, I'd like a
switch or speed controller bundled with it, but I'm being
picky and these all add to the cost. I'm also not sure why
the main bracket needs holes cut in rather than being completely
open. I doubt the thin struts between the holes add much
to the strength and doing away with them would cure the
problem of the fan blades making contact with them.
Overall
though the 3D Slot Fan does exactly what it sets out to
do very well and can be directed exactly where it's needed.
The fact that it also looks slick through that side window
is just a nice bonus. For what it is there's nothing much
to dislike.
We're
always looking for ways to make our reviews fairer. A Right
To Reply gives the manufacturer or supplier of the product
being reviewed a chance to make public comments on what
we've said. They can explain perhaps why they've done the
things we were unhappy with or blow their own trumpet over
the things we loved. It's easy for us to pick a product
apart but sometimes things are done a certain way for very
specific reasons.
Should
Jetart decide to exercise their "Right To Reply",
we'll publish their comments below:
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