thinking of getting a Thermaltake_VOLCANO_11

[Apocalypse23]

i want a good and durable collingfan/heatsink for the xp2500+ when i oc it to 3200

i think this one is affordable for me. ANy suggestions on it? I think its pretty good.

 

[blade]

I'd think again.

You may like the looks of it, but the SK-7, SK-6+ with a decent 80MM fan will cool better than the V11, and be cheaper too.

Scroll down here.

 

[Tab]

ThermalTake is probley one of the worst companies ever. I think they should officaly rename themselves to thermalbreak!

 

[Apocalypse23]

Question is, will this one work porperly enough if i OC the processor?

 

[MDE]

The SK-7 is the best bang for the buck heatsink out there, just slap on an 80mm case fan and go (Don't forget the thremal paste!).

 

[Apocalypse23]

damn, all this thermal paste stuff, is confusing, cant i just fix it normally? why do i need thermal paste now

 

[MDE]

If you put a bare heatsink on a bare processor, the CPU will burn, especially an Athlon. It's not hard, but it's something you have to do. Squeeze a LITTLE paste on and smear it on the CPU core and slap on the heatsink.

 

[Apocalypse23]

well the SK-7 is like 44 canadian for me which is too much. I am getting a Sk-6+ used one for wuite cheap, trouble is that i dont know if 80mm fans will fit in that, plus i dont know if itll suffice the cooling needs.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Tabb
ThermalTake is probley one of the worst companies ever. I think they should officaly rename themselves to thermalbreak!

i must agree

 

[MDE]

The retail HSF should do the jod for your OC. Right now, I'm on a 2500 @ 1.60V that is at 40C with Folding@Home running in the background 24\7 using a Vantec Aeroflow. Once I get my NForce2 board back (Monday) I'll post overclocked temps, but I'd say choose between the SK-6+, retail heatsink, or the Aeroflow, you can't lose with any of the three. BTW, the SK-6+ WILL take an 80mm fan according to a quick Google.

 

[MDE]

The retail HSF should do the job for your OC. Right now, I'm on a 2500 @ 1.60V that is at 40C with Folding@Home running in the background 24\7 using a Vantec Aeroflow. Once I get my NForce2 board back (Monday) I'll post overclocked temps, but I'd say choose between the SK-6+, retail heatsink, or the Aeroflow, you can't lose with any of the three. BTW, the SK-6+ WILL take an 80mm fan according to a quick Google.

 

[MDE]

The retail heatsink temps are about 2C higher than the Aeroflow, and the retail unit can take a small voltage boost if needed.

 

[Cerb]

I've used Thermaltake products before...never have been impressed. The Volcano 9 wasn't as bad as the orbs, but still not good.
I just got my SK-7, and now, 3 days into it, my idle temps are 31/39C [well, 33/40 at night] and load are 34/43C (ambient is 29C, I'm on the second floor of the house and it's summer), and that's with a fan that the bad L1As I got would blow out of the water (if they didn't vibrate like crazy), as would most fans of a similar noise level.
From now on I'll be getting Thermalright...even if it's a bit more expensive, this little guy was built well and is cooling admirably. On top of that, it's the most secure clip I've ever used.

 

[McArra]

I have Volcano 11 and doesn't cool bad. I'm 42/49 degrees everytime with ambient temps of 28 degrees. The fan is running at 4300RPM and the Barton overclocked from 2500XP to 2800. There maybe are better choices but this one is not that bad.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: McArra
I have Volcano 11 and doesn't cool bad. I'm 42/49 degrees everytime with ambient temps of 28 degrees. The fan is running at 4300RPM and the Barton overclocked from 2500XP to 2800. There maybe are better choices but this one is not that bad.

Unless those are diode temps, that's not as good as the retail cooler should do.

 

[McArra]

Originally posted by: Cerb

Originally posted by: McArra
I have Volcano 11 and doesn't cool bad. I'm 42/49 degrees everytime with ambient temps of 28 degrees. The fan is running at 4300RPM and the Barton overclocked from 2500XP to 2800. There maybe are better choices but this one is not that bad.

Unless those are diode temps, that's not as good as the retail cooler should do.

Those are the temps ASUS probe and BIOS tell. Whats diode temps?

 

[1sikbITCH]

I'm going to put my neck on the chopping block here. In my experience, there is nothing wrong with the Volcano 11+. I had one, and it ran just as cool as my SLK-800.

My current rig- Epox 8k9AI, T-Bred 1700+, SLK-800 w/Smart Fan II at full blast.
Idle cpu temp 35C, case 32C @stock speed. (I do OC now, but didn't with the Volcano so can't compare those temps).

Same exact temps as with the Volcano 11+. I had the Thermaltake on my rig before I read here how it was garbage, and so I spent another $30 on the SLK-800, and $10 on another SF II, to end up exactly where I started. 32C and 35C. Not one degree cooler in the exact same setup.
It worked out though, my brother had a B-day and so I built him a PC:

Epox 8K5A, T-Bred 1700+ running stock with the Volcano 11+ and Smart Fan II full blast, idle cpu 35C, case 32C. Same exact temps.

Does the Volcano 11 lose it at higher speeds/ temps? I've never OC'ed my 1700+ to 2Ghz with the Volcano, but I did with the SLK and it was fine. Just my vidcard didn't seem to handle it

I'm not trying to be a smartass, I just see people always complain about Thermaltake and never give specs or stats or anything showing us why Thermaltake sucks so bad.

 

[FearoftheNight]

I like TT. Thier Heatsink are kinda weak tho... I use a SK7 w/ a TT smartfan ii.

 

[spyder500]

I'm with the others.
Thermaltake = garbage. Your better off with OEM than Thermaltake. LOL

Thermalright SK7 or SK6 (all good)
Also the Alpha PAL is a good choice and Swiftech if you got the money.
Coupled with a nice fan = decent air cooling.

Last choice if you are broke, get the CoolerMasters OC HSF (last choice now). LOL

Big Ballers get the Koolance Liquid Cooling Case (Turn up that AC! It's hot in their)

You cant buy cooling products at specialality cooling stores like
http://www.svc.com/
http://www.plycon.com/
or your local hardware and everything comp store
http://www.newegg.com/
http://www.googlegear.com/

or search for the cheapest price
http://www.pricewatch.com/

 

[1sikbITCH]

See, another person saying TT is garbage, with no explanation. Please give us the proof.

 

[blade]

They are usually more trouble to install and take off. I had to struggle mighty to get a V9 on, then almost had to resort to a crowbar to remove it. Maybe I got a too-short clip on mine, I don't know. The V7+ is their best heatsink and it is a good heatsink. But the fan is only tolerable on the lowest speed.

I've tested both against the newer thermalright heatsinks and only on high do they come remotely close. But then, they are too annoyingly loud, while I was using a quiet fan on the thermalright sinks.

They just feel cheaply made. And if they only stack up on their highest and most annoying speed, why bother.

I use a temp sensor on the bottom of the cpu. If you are relying on mobo monitor, the temps reported are rarely accurate. As are onboard temp sensors.


Scroll down here to their socket a heatsink comparisons. Look what is at the top, then notice where the thermatake ones are, and that V11.

 

[1sikbITCH]

That's exactly what I was asking Thx. I imagine that if the Volcano's weren't so expensive, people wouldn't be so critical of them.
What makes the SLK better, I guess, is that you could turn the fan down and still get good cooling. I've got around 30% hearing loss from years of rock concerts anyhow, so I don't have to worry about turning fans down

 

[blade]

Huh?



Another point I forgot to add, thermatake seems to focus more on what they believe are "cool looks", rather than top performance.

Thermalright focuses on performance only. Then you can add in any fan you want.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: 1sikbITCH
That's exactly what I was asking Thx. I imagine that if the Volcano's weren't so expensive, people wouldn't be so critical of them.

Not at all. Sure, they look great, but with the retail coolers the Bartons have now, I just can't see an advantage.

What makes the SLK better, I guess, is that you could turn the fan down and still get good cooling. I've got around 30% hearing loss from years of rock concerts anyhow, so I don't have to worry about turning fans down

Heh...I'm going to be working on that .
I've only used the SK-7, and it is the best heatsink I've touched. Best clip I've yet used, nice temps (even with a crappy fan), and even getting it with a decent fan, you'd be hard pressed to run $30 (unless you get it from Newegg, which wouldn't be bad as part of a $1000 system, just not great as a stand alone purchase).