CPU cooler tests Gigabyte Volar
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Introduced at Computex 2007 in June 2007, CPU Cooling System Gigabyte Volar (from Latin “volare” – to fly) represents an innovative approach to cooling the space around the socket. The fact is that the radiator of the new cooler is not only in a suspended state, but also installed obliquely at an angle of 45 degrees. Such an original design really creates the illusion of the cooler flying, apparently for this reason, the logo of the novelty is made in the form of two open wings:
However, if we recall the coolers we tested earlier, which are also focused on cooling the space around the socket, we can conclude that such cooling systems are not very efficient. Scythe Kama Cross, Katana / II or
Cooler Master Sphere
They were not at all impressed from the point of view of overclocking processors, and the air flow directed by their designs to cool the elements of the near-socket space did not increase the frequency potential of the CPU.
Today we will check how it happened with the cooler made by Gigabyte.
packaging and equipment
The box in which the new cooling system from Gigabyte is supplied is made in the best traditions of high-quality packaging. 🙂… Here is also thick cardboard with a cutout in the full size of the cooler:
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… and a listing of the connectors supported by the cooler, and icons and key features, and even the noise level. The sides are literally dotted with information about the cooler:
A description of its main features with a photo of the cooler ends with a detailed list of technical characteristics. In general, the packaging of the cooler is such that in order for an experienced overclocker to understand what kind of cooling system it contains and even determine its approximate efficiency, the box need not be opened.
Although if you do decide to check the efficiency of the cooler in practice, then first you have to sweat over opening the plastic shell, since the latches are inserted very tightly into it:
On the other hand, this inconvenience is compensated by the reliability of the packaging itself and the minimal risk of damaging the cooler during shipment.
Above the cooler there is a small box with accessories of the delivery set, which includes:
- two plates for attaching the cooler to motherboards with an LGA 775 socket;
- universal mount-rocker of a cooler for motherboards for AMD processors of the K8 family;
- wire (with a soldered resistor) that reduces the fan speed;
- four screws for fixing for LGA 775;
- SilMORE thermal paste;
- instructions for assembling and installing the cooler in several languages.
The country of manufacture of the new cooling system is China.
design features
The design of the Gigabyte Volar stands out for its originality compared to other cooling systems. First of all, this is the unusual location of the radiator, which is installed on the tubes at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the base:
That is, the aluminum radiator seems to hang in the air above the base and the heat pipes coming out of it. A 120 mm fan is installed above the radiator, and the sides of the radiator are covered with a mesh casing:
If you look at the cooler from below, you will find that the outlines of the heatsink are very similar to the shape of the so-called “boxed” cooler for Intel processors:
Well, if you unscrew the fan from the heatsink, then it seems that the Gigabyte Volar is simply based on an aluminum heatsink from boxed Intel processors with a removed copper “glass” and heat pipes inserted into it:
It is easy to see that there are only three copper heat pipes 6 mm in diameter in the cooler’s design, and not four at all, as it might seem at first. One tube, the two ends of which extend from the central part of the base, makes a loop in the central part of the radiator and then terminates again at the base. Moreover, if you look at the side of the radiator, you can find that it consists of two halves, between which the heat pipe is inserted:
Taking into account the ribbing of the heatsink, it is rather difficult to provide contact between the heat pipe and the heatsink fins, so Gigabyte did not regret the thermal interface, as you can see. Well, the other two tubes are much shorter and come out of the base of the cooler along its edges, immediately ending in the central part of the heatsink.
The fins of the radiator bifurcate from about half their length, thus increasing the heat exchange area:
On top of the radiator there is a seven-blade fan with a standard size of 120 x 120 x 38 mm:
The fan impeller speed is 2000 rpm, but can be reduced to 1500 rpm by means of the supplied variable resistor, made in the form of a short wire and inserted into the gap between the wire from the fan and the connector on the motherboard. At the same time, the manufacturer indicates the noise level of 23 and 18 dBA, respectively.
Fan model F121225SL released by Everflow:
Judging by the marking, the thickness of the fan is 25 mm, and not at all the declared 38, however, an elementary measurement of the fan thickness with a tape measure showed that the manufacturer is not deceiving us. Bearing type – sliding. The declared fan life is 30,000 hours or more than three years of continuous operation.
The base of the cooler is protected by a paper sticker with a warning about its obligatory removal before installing the cooler. However, given the bright red color and the warning sign, it’s hard to imagine who can install the cooler without removing this sticker. Under the sticker there is an even, but completely untreated base:
There is no need to talk here not only about polishing, but also about any of its processing in general. The stripes on the surface are tactile. However, for fans of mirror surfaces, this drawback of the Gigabyte Volar is not a significant problem, and with the availability of appropriate materials, certain knowledge and direct hands, it can be corrected within 10-15 minutes.
installing a cooler on motherboards
Gigabyte Volar can be installed on motherboards with LGA 775 and Socket 754/939/940 / AM2 connectors. To install the cooler on a platform with AMD K8 processors, you must use the supplied steel rocker arm with a plastic locking flag:
In this case, the cooler can be oriented in only two positions, although this is more a feature of the processor socket and its mounting frame than the cooler mounting itself.
If your processor was recently released by Intel and no longer belongs to the Socket 478 design, then to install it, you need to screw the LGA 775 mount to the cooler base, having first unscrewed the plate above the pipes:
As with most cooling systems, for a platform with an LGA 775 socket, the Gigabyte Volar can be oriented in any of four positions. I installed the cooler so that the air flow from the fan blades was directed to the copper heatsink installed on the motherboard mosfets and towards the back of the case:
Due to the high position of the aluminum heatsink on the pipes, no interference is created to the elements of the space around the socket, and even the high heatsinks of RAM located on the Gigabyte GA-X38-DQ6 in close proximity to the processor socket did not interfere with the cooler fan. Removing the cooler is also convenient and simple. Only one of the four latches of the cooler mounting legs is not very convenient to turn, as it is located too close to the heatsink of the motherboard chipset. Although this is all just trifles.
If, nevertheless, something remains not completely clear in the procedure for installing Gigabyte Volar on motherboards, then the step-by-step instructions with photos can be downloaded from the official website (PDF format, 1.36 Mb).
technical characteristics and recommended cost
Technical characteristics and the recommended cost of new items are presented to your attention in the table:
Name of technical characteristics | Gigabyte Volar (GH-PSU21-FB) |
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Cooler dimensions L x W x H (fan), mm | 122 x 125 x 141 (120 x 120 x 38) |
Heatsink material and construction | aluminum ribs for three copper heat pipes with a diameter of 6 mm and copper the basis |
Fan speed, rpm | 1 500 / 2 000 |
Noise level, dBA | 18.0 / 23.0 |
Air flow, CMF | n / a |
Type and number of fan bearings | 1, slip (EBR) |
Fan MTBF, hours | 30 000 |
Possibility to install on CPU sockets | LGA 775, Socket 754/939/940, Socket AM2 |
Cooler full weight, gram | 640 |
Additionally included | variable resistor, SilMORE thermal paste |
Recommended cost, US dollars | 35 ~ 40 |