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Product:
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Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set |
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Price:
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$43 (CAN) / $32 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Micro Cool
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Author:
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Mantis
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Date:
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October 1st, 2003
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Federico from Micro Cool
for sending the Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set for review.
Introduction:
The enthusiast cooling market encompasses several high-end cooling solutions designed for optimum thermal
control for an overclocked environment. A favorable amount of these products are specifically targeted
and designed towards cooling an overclocked CPU. With the latest breed of enthusiast performance motherboards
bringing newer, more efficient and faster chipsets that open the road to greater performance and upgrades,
the need for additional cooling devices when overclocking is becoming painfully necessary. The role of
the Northbridge is imperative in the operation of the motherboard and is often easily overlooked when
overclocking. The inclusion of an actively cooled Northbridge versus a passively cooled one can often
dictate overclocking performance barriers; unfortunately this decision is often done at the manufacturer’s
discretion. Today in MTB Labs, we will be evaluating the Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set.
Specifications:
The Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set is designed to bring performance cooling to the Northbridge
of any Intel or AMD motherboard which supports mounting holes around the Northbridge. This product is
specifically targeted towards the enthusiast community for users wishing to maximize the highest
attainable Front Side Bus speeds from their motherboards. Here are some specifications taken directly from
the Micro Cool website:
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Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set - Key Specifications:
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| Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set: Manufactured by Micro Cool |
| Cooler Dimension: 46mm (L) x 43mm (W) x 51mm (H) |
| Heatsink Material: Copper |
| Fan Dimensions: 40mm (L) x 40mm (W) x 20mm (H) |
| Rated Voltage: 12VDC |
| Power Input: 1.6W |
| Max Air Flow: 10.8 CFM |
| Air Pressure: 6.85mm |
| Noise: 27.5 dB(A) |
| Bearing Type: Vapo bearing system |
| Connector: 3-pin |
| Weight: 195G |
| Chip Heatsink: 6XMOFSET, 2XPLL |
| Warranty: 3 years |
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Micro Cool NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set ships in a retail corrugated cardboard box with the
Micro Cool logo and product name gracing the top and side portions. The NorthPole Northbridge Cooler Set
comes complete with all the necessary items for installation. Included in the package is the Micro Cool
Northpole Cooler, generic thermal compound, mounting screws, instruction manual and a set of 6 MOSFET
and 2 PLL aluminum heatsinks.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Out of the box, my initial impressions of the NorthPole Northbridge Cooler were positive. The unit is
constructed from a solid copper base coupled with an aluminum fan shroud. As previously stated, the
NorthPole Northbridge Cooler is compatible with any motherboard that provides mounting holes around the
Northbridge. A 3-pin 40mm x 40mm x 20mm Sunon fan resides up top which is capable of pushing 10.8 CFM
with a noise level of 27.5 dB(A). The Northpole Northbridge cooler measures 46mm (L) x 43mm (W) x 51mm (H)
and weighs a total of 195G.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The NorthPole Northbridge Cooler features an all copper-constructed heatsink that accounts for the
majority of the unit’s weight. The copper base measures approximately 5mm thick for maximum thermal
dissipation. The top portion of the copper heatsink uses Skiving Technology to form multiple thin
copper fins. The base of the Northpole Northbridge Cooler has been machine finished to a satisfactory
flat surface with moderate reflections and slight machine marks visible. Users may want to lap the
base for greater performance yet it is entirely optional.
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