OCZ Vindicator: Heatpipe Tower Cooling from OCZ
by Wesley Fink on April 5, 2007 4:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Cases/Cooling/PSUs
Additional Fan Tests
Initial test results showed the fan of the Vindicator was heavily slanted to silence. The stock fan provided average to below average results in our cooler overclocking tests. To determine whether the overclocking limitations were a result of the cooler design or the fan selection, additional cooling tests were run with a remarkable new fan we just got in for review.
The SilenX IXTREMA 120 claims to provide the world's best noise-to-airflow ratio. The specifications certainly support that claim with an exceptional 14 dB-A noise level coupled with 72 CFM airflow. Perhaps even more remarkable is the rated watts of 1.92 which should be safe on almost any motherboard fan header.
We extend our sincere thanks to Frozen CPU for providing the SilenX IXTREMA 120 for testing. We are preparing for a roundup of 120 fans and Frozen CPU has provided an assortment of tantalizing fans that we think you will enjoy seeing in the upcoming 120 fan roundup.
The claimed low noise and high output of the SilenX fan certainly sounds attractive, so the IXTREMA was used to see if higher fan output would improve the cooling and overclocking of the OCZ Vindicator. Results with a single stock OCZ fan and a single SilenX IXTREMA 120 are reported in all performance charts and graphs.
Push-Pull Testing
Since a push-pull fan configuration made a significant improvement in our review of the Scythe Infinity cooler, push-pull was briefly tested using two stock OCZ Vindicator fans. Overclocking performance was also tested briefly using two SilenX IXTREMA 120 fans.
Push-Pull results were mixed and not directly comparable to the findings on the Infinity. A stock single OCZ Vindicator fan topped out at an overclock of 3.80Ghz. Using two of the 40 CFM fans allowed us to reach a top stable overclock of 3.87GHz - better than one fan, but still below the top heatpipe tower coolers and the push-pull Infinity.
However, a single 72 CFM SilenX allowed a top stable overclock of 3.90GHz - matching the top results with the Thermalright Ultra 120/SFLEX, Tuniq Tower 120, Cooler Master Hyper 6+, and Scythe Infinity (with two push/pull 46.5 CFM fans). This certainly points to a better fan providing better results with the OCZ Vindicator. The soon-to-be-released Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme remains alone at the top of our performance charts with an overclock of 3.96GHz combined with temperatures among the lowest tested at each overclock.
With these results with a single SilenX we were excited to test the OCZ Vindicator with two SilenX fans. To our surprise two SilenX 72 CFM fans in a push-pull configuration provided no better overclocking than a single 72 CFM SilenX. The conclusion is that increasing airflow in the Vindicator definitely improves performance - moving it from average to a top competitor. However, increasing airflow, even with high output low-noise fans, is not without limits. Eventually you reach the point where increasing airflow provides no further improvements in cooling or overclocking. This optimum point is likely to vary with each cooler and each type of design. It is a subject we will explore further in our 120mm fan roundup.
Since results were the same with one or two SilenX fans, we report results with one SilenX fan and the stock OCZ Vindicator fan. This is also consistent with the fact that two OCZ fans in push-pull improved cooling, but not to the extent of the improvement with one SilenX IXTREMA fan.
Initial test results showed the fan of the Vindicator was heavily slanted to silence. The stock fan provided average to below average results in our cooler overclocking tests. To determine whether the overclocking limitations were a result of the cooler design or the fan selection, additional cooling tests were run with a remarkable new fan we just got in for review.
The SilenX IXTREMA 120 claims to provide the world's best noise-to-airflow ratio. The specifications certainly support that claim with an exceptional 14 dB-A noise level coupled with 72 CFM airflow. Perhaps even more remarkable is the rated watts of 1.92 which should be safe on almost any motherboard fan header.
We extend our sincere thanks to Frozen CPU for providing the SilenX IXTREMA 120 for testing. We are preparing for a roundup of 120 fans and Frozen CPU has provided an assortment of tantalizing fans that we think you will enjoy seeing in the upcoming 120 fan roundup.
The claimed low noise and high output of the SilenX fan certainly sounds attractive, so the IXTREMA was used to see if higher fan output would improve the cooling and overclocking of the OCZ Vindicator. Results with a single stock OCZ fan and a single SilenX IXTREMA 120 are reported in all performance charts and graphs.
Push-Pull Testing
Since a push-pull fan configuration made a significant improvement in our review of the Scythe Infinity cooler, push-pull was briefly tested using two stock OCZ Vindicator fans. Overclocking performance was also tested briefly using two SilenX IXTREMA 120 fans.
Push-Pull results were mixed and not directly comparable to the findings on the Infinity. A stock single OCZ Vindicator fan topped out at an overclock of 3.80Ghz. Using two of the 40 CFM fans allowed us to reach a top stable overclock of 3.87GHz - better than one fan, but still below the top heatpipe tower coolers and the push-pull Infinity.
However, a single 72 CFM SilenX allowed a top stable overclock of 3.90GHz - matching the top results with the Thermalright Ultra 120/SFLEX, Tuniq Tower 120, Cooler Master Hyper 6+, and Scythe Infinity (with two push/pull 46.5 CFM fans). This certainly points to a better fan providing better results with the OCZ Vindicator. The soon-to-be-released Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme remains alone at the top of our performance charts with an overclock of 3.96GHz combined with temperatures among the lowest tested at each overclock.
With these results with a single SilenX we were excited to test the OCZ Vindicator with two SilenX fans. To our surprise two SilenX 72 CFM fans in a push-pull configuration provided no better overclocking than a single 72 CFM SilenX. The conclusion is that increasing airflow in the Vindicator definitely improves performance - moving it from average to a top competitor. However, increasing airflow, even with high output low-noise fans, is not without limits. Eventually you reach the point where increasing airflow provides no further improvements in cooling or overclocking. This optimum point is likely to vary with each cooler and each type of design. It is a subject we will explore further in our 120mm fan roundup.
Since results were the same with one or two SilenX fans, we report results with one SilenX fan and the stock OCZ Vindicator fan. This is also consistent with the fact that two OCZ fans in push-pull improved cooling, but not to the extent of the improvement with one SilenX IXTREMA fan.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
41 Comments
View All Comments
Chunga29 - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
I have to wonder if part of the issue might be your sound meter. Some meters are only good to measure levels down to ~35 dB. I've played with a sound meter at work (the HR department had to conduct "ergonomics testing" [rolls eyes], and as the IT guy I had to make sure the PCs weren't "too loud". Not sure what we were supposed to do if the Dell systems made too much noise for comfort, though....) Our offices were at a pretty consistent 45-50 dB during the day. Even a normal conversation would jack that level up to 55-65 dB (depending on the speaker(s).At night with all the computers shut down, however, the noise level dropped below 30 dB and our meter was no longer useful as far as I could tell. Of coruse, at that point even moderate breathing in the vicinity of the meter would increase the detected noise level, as would walking. In my experience, then, 30 dB is basically extremely quiet (even "silent"), and anything lower than that is not likely to be meaningful unless you are testing in some soundproof location.
I would think in a standard house with all of the noise generating equipment (fans, refrigerators, heat/AC, TV, etc.) shut down that reaching 25 dB should not present a problem. Whether your equipment can reliably measure noise levels at that point is the real question.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
CORRECTED - Editors would also like to be able to edit their comments :)It seems that every cooler or hard drive review that we have recently posted is met with rocks from SilentPC "readers". This is really puzzling, since we have stated many times that we admire the good SPC has done in making manufacturers pay much more attention to the noise their components generate. There are many more choices of low-noise components because enthusiasts and sites like SPC have pointed out the noise offenders, and buyers have bought the quieter version instead.
Testing component noise in isolation provides useful information, but AnandTech has a long tradition of "Real World" testing. Overclocking also has very different demands than building the quietest PC to run at stock speeds. The noise floor for any working system will be the power supply generally, and possibly the video card or ambient room noise. It doesn't matter in our approach how quiet a fan is if the power supply is 20db louder. This is pretty obvious but it is rarely mentioned when people are screaming about a fan at 14dbA versus a fan at 18dbA or hard drives that are 2db apart at 26db. Does it really matter if the power supply in the system is at 36dbA?
We do plan to move to a quieter power supply in our test bed as soon as we can find one that meets our needs. We have looked at several of the power supplies proclaimed in comments in past reviews as "MUCH quieter than the OCZ PowerStream 520W". They were quieter at idle, but at load those power supplies were virtually the same noise level as the OCZ. Idle noise might matter if you sleep in the same room with your computer, but you can't do anything with an idling computer except look at it. We believe the normal operating noise measurements are the noise levels that matter most.
If readers prefer the review approach of another site that is their right, but we do hope they will stop investing so much emotion in their comments. We think there is room for both the component isolation approach and the AnandTech "real world" approach. We also don't think there is any "right" or universal truth to be gleaned here - they are just different approaches.
We chose the SilenX fan because it specified higher output than the SFlex at noise levels that were far below our system noise floor. We could just as easily have used the SFlex with a specified 63.7cfm instead of the 72cfm of the SilenX. However, since we have not yet done our fan review we didn't want to tilt sentiment too strongly to one brand name so we chose another quality product to put another deserving brand in the spotlight.
Our plan going forward is to complete a few more waiting cooler reviews, and then select the top air cooler from our reviews. This will be followed by a fan roundup testing fans on our top performing HSF. New reviews will then be tested with stock components PLUS the top fan from our roundup. This should provide some consistent answers to some valid real-world questions.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Yes, it appears SPCR had the SilenX wars recently, but the fan in this review is NOT the same one tested at SPCR. Someone needs to back away and also point out that while the SilenX fan did not match it's noise specs in the SPCR review it DID test at less than 18db, which is still exceptionally quiet. In addition a recent SPCR review of the 14DBa SilenX power supply concluded "The SilenX 14 dBA advances the state of quiet fan-cooled power supplies by another few decibels."The SilenX DID improve the cooling ability and the overclocking ability of the OCZ Vindicator compared to the stock fan, and it did so at measured noise levels below the noise floor of our system. These things we did confirm in our review. We did not test the claimed specifications since our concern was cooler performance, overclocking, and noise lower than our system noise floor.
ATWindsor - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Less than 18 dba at 10 cfm that is, at full speed it is noticably more noisy. (the SPCR-test puts it at 33 dba), I have myself measured fans, and the specs are more or less hit and miss, my conclusion was that the very best indicator of noise is the rpm of the fan. 14 dba isn't even close to realistic at stock speed. Hower also SPCRs reults are not entirely reliable at levels below 20 dba, that is very quiet for a room not specifically designed for it, and most sound-level-meters (even good ones), have a noise floor on the 15 dba-range.The problem is that nobody knows how these numbers are measured, 14 dba at what range? 20 meters? It like saying "this heater will give you a room-temperature of a 100 degrees F. Its more or less meaningless when you now nothing about the room, as a heater, sound should be stated as sound-power. Then you can easily calculate sound pressure level in a given room at a given distance.
coldpower27 - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Are you going to be doing some comparisons to the value coolers?Sunbeam Silent Whisper Socket 775
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro
Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
A value cooler roundup is planned for the future.Bumtrinket - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
I think what's got up SPCR readers' collective noses is the way you allowed SilenX's claim to pass without challenge, and presented it as established fact: "Replace the stock fan with the quiet (14 dB-A) and powerful (72 CFM) SilenX IXTREMA 120 and the Vindicator can overclock with the best." Unless there's some way SilenX have found to defy the laws of physics, there's no way a fan capable of shifting that much air could be that quiet.I'm not sure if you're aware of SilenX's history of deceit as regards SPCR, but that was like a red rag to a bull.
Incidentally, you state that the Scythe Ninja needs a mounting bracket for use with Socket 775 mobo's - that's not true, as it's used the standard Intel pushpin method since revision B was launched several months ago. I'm a bit surprised you consider this would be "good news," especially in a heatsink of this size and weight.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Easy mounting is always good news, but there are valid concerns about the huge weight being supported by something as flimsy as pins. That concern is also stated in the review.I have the Ninja Plus Rev. B in for review and the bracket and instructions for the AMD AM2/754/939/940 is NOT a push pin install. For AMD the bracket attaches and clips onto the center pin of the AMD mounting cage - which is supported by screws and a back plate. You still do not need to remove the board or the "cage" to install the Nija Plus Rev. B on an AMD board. THe bracket for Intel 775 IS push pin, but it is the only push pin solution.
Bumtrinket - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
ermm... OK, but I was referring specifically to socket 775, not AMD. It's hardly worth arguing about, but you might want to correct what you actually said: "The good news is the OCZ Vindicator comes preconfigured for Intel Socket T, where the Scythe requires installation of a bracket before it can be used on that socket. Mounting socket plates on both coolers is basically the same."I was rather hoping there would be a bolt-thru plus backplate solution for socket 775, which would have avoided the main gripe with the Ninja, but it seems it's not to be.
Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
It seems that every cooler or hard drive review that we have recently posted is met with rocks from SilentPC "readers". This is really puzzling, since we have stated many times that we admire the good SPC has done in making manufacturers pay much more attention to the noise their components generate. There are many more choises of low-noise components because sites enthusiasts and sites like SPC have pointed out the noise offenders, and buyers have bought the quieter version instead.Testing component noise in isolation provides useful information, but AnandTech has a long tradition of "Real World" testing. Overclocking also has very different demands than building the quietest PC to run at stock speeds. The noise floor for any working system will be the power supply generally, and possibly the video card or ambient room noise. It doesn't matter in our approach how quiet a fan is if the power supply is 20db louder. This is pretty obvious but it is rarely mentioned when people are screaming about a fan at 14dbA versus a fan at 18dbA or power supplies that are 2db apart at 26db. Does it really matter if the power supply in the system is at 36dbA?
We do plan to move to a quieter power supply in our test bed as soon as we can find one that meets our needs. We have looked at several of the power supplies proclaimed in comments in past reviews as "MUCH quieter than the OCZ PowerStream 520W". They were quieter at idle, but at load those power supplies were virtually the same noise level as the OCZ. Idle noise might matter if you sleep in the same room with your computer, but you can't do anything with an idling computer except look at it. We believe the normal operating noise measurements are the noise levels that matter most.
If readers prefer the review approach of another site that is their right, but we do hope they will stop investing so much emotion in thier comments. We think there is room for both the component isolation approach and the AnandTech "real world" approach. We also don't think there is any "right" or universal truth to be gleaned here - they are just different approaches.
We chose the SilenX fan because it specified higher output than the SFlex at noise levels that were far below our system noise floor. We could just as easily have used the SFlex with a specified 63.7cfm instead of the 72cfm of the SilenX. However, since we have not yet done our fan review we didn't want to tilt sentiment too strongly to one brand name so we chose another quality product to put another deserving brand in the spotlight.
Our plan going forward is to complete a few more waiting cooler reviews, and then select the top air cooler from our reviews. This will be followed by a fan roundup testing fans on our top performing HSF. New reviews will then be tested with stock components PLUS the top fan from our roundup. This should provide some consistent answers to some valid real-world questions.