Just installed it yesterday so here are my first impressions.
First I have to say that I pretty much had no other options except this model. This was the only system under $100 suitable for my old LGA775 processor.
Product arrived well packaged and more importantly contains all necessary screws, elements and cables. Contains easy to use instructions. All in all it took me only a few minutes to install. There is a thermal paste included in the package however I did not use it. I ordered Arctic Silver since I have used it in the past.
The product consists of a pretty bulky and heavy radiator attached with two heavy duty hoses to the pump. Also included are two bulky fans that are supposed to be attached on both sides of the radiator. Attaching the fans is not easy however. The holes on the radiator do not align with the holes on the fans or those on the case. Also the whole set up was to wide for me so I could not fit it in my case. Thus I only use the one fan and attached the opposite side of the radiator to the case pushing air out. Doing this was the hardest part of the process. Using two fans would have made the job pretty much impossible in my opinion.
Mounting the pump was relatively easy. Only complication was that I had to detach the mother board in order to place the back support. No biggie.
The fans have 3 speeds and since I am using only one I decided to set it on the highest speed. The fans are super noisy (70db). Another problem is that the control knob is on the fan and is currently on the inside facing the radiator. Thus I now have to dismantle the whole thing if I want to change the speed. I will probably end up buying a new fan.
As far as cooling goes I can only say "unbelievable". I have an old home made PC with a Q9550 processor that was running pretty hot. 60C on idle, 80C while watching a movie and over 100C while gaming. With the new cooling system it idles at 35C. I've had it at 100% load for the last few hours and temp is at 50C. Again, this is with only one fan but at max rpm.
Overall: great cooling, some difficulties with installation and needs new fans. Will definitely recommend.
Update: a few months down the road everything is fine. Replaced the fan with a Noctua. Now it is a perfect cooling system.
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 9 x 10 x 6 inches |
|---|---|
| Brand | Enermax |
| Power Connector Type | 4-Pin |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Wattage | 2.28 watts |
| Cooling Method | Water |
| Compatible Devices | Desktop |
| Noise Level | 30 dB |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 1500 RPM |
| Wireless Type | 802.11a |
