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.
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41 Comments
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yyrkoon - Monday, April 9, 2007 - link
These 40 posts are a mostly 'bitches' from people who 'claim' Anandtech reviewers are 'wrong' ?In case it is not already obvious, Anandtech is an enthusiast site, which means they cater to the overclockers, and people who care about computer hardware in general, not people who can not sleep when someone drops a pin over in china . . .
Seriously, I can understand pointing out typos, and a disagreement or two on the finer points, and what not, but complaining because you think their data is incorrect, based on data given by another site(which obviously is not even in the same class of a site), is plain stupid. Do you actually know for a fact that the data from this other site is correct ? If so, how do you know ? If 30dba is what is considered a quite room, wtf does it matter if Andantech 'claims' the fan used here is 14dba or not ? Personally, I think some of you guys, are entirerly too anal, and need to learn how to socialize a tad better. something like: 'I do not think 14dba is possible on a computer fan(Correct me if I am wrong), but <insert some other point here>' probably would have worked just fine, without sounding like you are bashing the reviewers of the site.
There are many ways to say that you think the data given is incorrect, without sounding like a horses ass, and in the long run, no one is twisting your arm to come here and read the reviews. If you really, really like this other site so much, that you feel it nessisary to come here and bash the Anandtech crew, I think we all can agree, it would be a much better place here, if you just stayed away.
Affectionate-Bed-980 - Friday, April 6, 2007 - link
Real world testing is great, but isnt this how someone's Core 2 duo article got FLAMED to death because there was a bottleneck?When we test fans, yea it's great to know that 14 dB fan won't do jack in my system when my PSU is running around 30.
Just like it doesn't matter that my sticks of RAM can clock to DDR600 because my Opteron 170 won't let me go past 250 HTT anyways, so I can only go to DDR500 anyways unlesss I really want a lower multiplier.
There are limits left and right, but EVERYONE wants to know the specifications and capabilities of THE PRODUCT IN INTEREST. This is similar to high school science or junior high or whenever you learn that in experimenets, your goal is to isolate one variable and test it.
I don't give a damn that my PSU is going to be loud. What if i used a fanless system? There are people out there who want to know how loud this damn SilenX fan is, and we wnat to know how loud it REALLY IS compared to the specs.
I'm tired of hearing how really only REAL WORLD performance matters. Give us the LAB numbers and then give us how real world performance might come into play.
As an engineer, when you look up materials properties like strength tests, hardness numbers, stress concentration data, it's ALL lab samples that are perfect. It's your job when you choose a material to use in applications to understand the real world implications.
Similarly, it's your job to understand that when you pick up a 14 dB fan, that your PSU may still be louder and that your system may not be that quiet.
DrMrLordX - Friday, April 6, 2007 - link
The "product in interest" is the HSF itself, not the add-on fan. The whole point of adding the fan, I suppose, was to show that the included fan produced as much (or more) noise while yielding significantly inferior results.The HSF still wasn't that great even with the add-on fan, so it's all rather academic to me. Unless this HSF sells for a very low price, I can see no reason to shell out ~$50-$60 for it + the SilenX fan when you can get a cooler that performs better for the same amount of money. Choose wisely, and you might even get one that's just as silent.
People need to stop making a mountain out of a mole-hill here. Geez.
strikeback03 - Friday, April 6, 2007 - link
then go read over at SPCR. They try and tell you how loud each component is, Anandtech tries to tell you whether it matters. no point in repeating tests easily available elsewhere.Affectionate-Bed-980 - Saturday, April 7, 2007 - link
Yes I know that. It's great going to SPCR to see good sound testing, but it's just a PITA that I have to hit up like 10 different hardware sites to get information.poohbear - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
wow socket A support for this cooler?!? it prolly costs more than the socket A cpu and mobo put together! lolWesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Socket A is not supported.bob4432 - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
skt 468...sh!t, i missed a whole family of cpus... :(Wesley Fink - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
Typo corrected :)scott967 - Thursday, April 5, 2007 - link
I like the noise testing, but at least in my systems I have a problem with hi freq fan whine. It would be nice in your fan review if you could get a spectrum analyzer and look for noise spikes as well as average dBa.