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Product:
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Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler |
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Price:
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$41 (CAN) / $30 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Thermaltake
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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July 14th, 2003
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Thermaltake
for sending the Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler for review.
Introduction:
Heat Pipe Technology has been used in a wide variety of fields ranging from aerospace to industrial
applications. The technology provides some excellent benefits in terms of improving thermal transfer
properties for passive cooling. In its basic form, Heat Pipes have a small amount of liquid in them,
and an internal porous lining which can be likened to a wick. As heat is generated inside the tubing,
the liquid is vaporized from the wick, and works its way towards a condenser. When the heat is
extracted from the vapor, it condenses back into a liquid state, and works its way down the
wick back to the evaporator. This continuous cycle transfers large quantities of heat with very low
thermal gradients. In recently years, we have seen a few manufacturers incorporate this technology into
heatsink design and more recently video card cooling. Today in the MTB Labs, we will be evaluating the
Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler from Thermaltake, a product that offers much better heat dissipation by
the use of passive cooling.
Specifications:
The Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler is an all-inclusive kit that includes all the necessary
components for installation. Installation of this product can be completed in less than 30 minutes with
only a screw driver required. The Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler uses a universal mounting clip which
makes this product compatible with most NVIDIA and ATI video cards. Here are some of the specifications
taken directly from the Thermaltake website:
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Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler - Key Specifications:
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| Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler: Manufactured by Thermaltake |
| Suited for NVIDIA and ATI based VGA products with PCB mounting holes |
| Much better heat dissipation is delivered by larger heat sink surface |
| Heat Pipe technology makes the heat transporting efficiently |
| Embedded a high performing fan, keeps the VGA card temperature down |
| Universal clip for both nVIDIA and ATI |
| Heatsink: Aluminum |
| Fan Dimension: 45mm x 45mm x 10mm |
| Rated Voltage: 12V |
| Rated Current: 0.23 A (Max) |
| Power Input 2.76 W (Max) |
| FAN Speed: 5400±10% R.P.M |
| Air Pressure: 4.77 mm-H2O |
| Max. Air Flow: 11.35CFM |
| Noise: 28dBA |
| Bearing Type: Sleeve bearing |
| Heat Pipe Nickel-plating Copper Tube (Ø 5mm) |
| Connector: 3-pin |
| Life Expectation: 30,000 Hours |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler ships in a formed Perspex package suitable for retail display
with a blue cardboard insert that displays the company name as well as various features of the Giant II.
On the back of the cardboard is the product list and packaging date as well as a clear view of all
parts.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Thermaltake Giant II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler Kit requires some mild assembly and comes with an assortment
of parts that include the following:
- 1 x Main front heatsink
- 1 x Main rear heatsink
- 2 x Clip sets
- 1 x Front heatsink base
- 1 x Rear heatsink base
- 1 x Heat Pipe
- 1 x Fan guard
- 1 x 40mm Fan
- 1 x Tube of thermal grease
- 1 x Assorted package of mounting screws
- 1 x 24-page instruction manual
All the parts included in the kit are comprised of high quality aluminum with the exception of the heat
pipe itself, which is a nickel-plated copper tube. A 24-page instruction manual covers all the details
of each component, basic heatsink installation, clip installation for NVIDIA and ATI based video cards,
heat pipe installation and fan installation.
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Click image for larger view
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Giant II 45mm cooling fan
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At the center of this kit is the GPU heatsink block which sits on top of any GPU core. The unit itself
is compact and has a series of 4 pre-drilled holes for the mounting mechanism. The GPU heatsinks consist
of two components, one that sits directly on top of the GPU and a secondary unit, which is placed on the
rear. The base of the GPU heatsink base was smooth but not reflective, there were only a few minor machining
marks noted on the surface. The rear GPU heatsink base has been covered with black adhesive tape to
prevent the base from touching the traces on the back of the video card. While the emphasis on the Giant
II VGA Heat Pipe Cooler Kit has been a migration to passive cooling, the product includes a small 45mm
fan that is incorporated into the design. The 45mm fan is capable of pushing 11.35 CFM at 5400 RPM with
a noise level of 28dBA. Power to the fan consists of a 3-pin header that attaches directly to any compatible
video card or via a 3 to 4-pin Molex adapter.
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