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Product:
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Thermaltake Hardcano 2 HD Cooler |
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Price:
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$59.95 (CAN) / $37.95 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Thermaltake
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Author:
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Shennon
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Date:
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April 24th, 2002
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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I’ll be using my Quantum Fireball Plus 20.5 Gig hard drive for this review and test installation. It isn’t a stellar performer, but will do
the job in a pinch. At the point of the installation of the hard drive brackets, I ran into some trouble. I couldn’t figure out how to put
the kit together. Every combination meant that it would not fit into the case without a screw in the way, or it was too wide, or the hard
drive didn’t fit. After about 15 minutes, I bit the bullet and went to Thermaltake’s website. A 3D reference diagram for the Hardcano 2
is available but didn’t help too much with screw placement. I think there should have been two flat head screws with the screw holes counter-sunk
to match the 3D view. Ultimately, I slid the hard drive in first with the rails, and then followed with the front panel. My problem stemmed
from the fact that my case was just a fraction off and I had to wrestle with it to get the Hardcano 2 to sit flush. This is more of the
fault of the generic case, rather than the hard drive cooler as I can fit it into another case without any problems.
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Click image for larger view
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CPU temperature monitoring
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Before I slid the unit into the case, I attached one of the flat thermal sensors onto the bottom of the hard drive and under my CPU. Earlier
in the review, I mentioned that the sensors are flat, almost paper thin and the wires are thin enough to sit between the processor and the
socket for CPU temperature monitoring. The wires themselves from the display are long enough to mount the sensor anywhere, even in full
server style cases.
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Click image for larger view
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Thermaltake Hardcano 2 cooling results
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The Thermaltake Hardcano 2 does look impressive when mounted in the case, but it was time to check out how well it works in cooling down an
active hard drive. To stress the hard drive as much as I could, I defragged my hard drive for 20 minutes, with and without the cooler plugged
in and about a half hour in between tests to return to an ambient temperature. The Hardcano 2 utilizes a 40mm TT-4020A front intake fan which
draws cool air into the unit and over the hard drive. The sound of the fan was not an issue at all, as I could barely hear it while the system
powered. Overall there was a 5.4% different in active cooling with the use of the front intake fan which indicates that the Hardcano 2 is
performing as advertised.
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Conclusion:
The Thermaltake Hardcano 2 does what it is supposed to do, although not in an earth-shattering way. While the aesthetics of the HD cooler
are great, I must admit it does stick out like a sore thumb against non-aluminium based cases. The HD cooler is very practical for combating
heat generated from a over active hard drive. The two thermal temperature sensors are a welcome addition for instant temperature readings
and the probes can be extended to any portion of a case. The only negative aspect of the Thermaltake Hardcano 2 is the lack of clear
instructions included with the product to assist with assembly of the mounting brackets. I also found that the unit was priced higher than
more conventional HD coolers on the market. This which might keep this product out of some consumer’s machines, but it all comes down to
personal preference. Aside from a few minor issues, I'm rating this kit a 7 out of 10
and would only recommend this product for those individuals that want a good cooling solution for dissipating heat from hot hard drives.
If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Thermaltake
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Two temperature monitors
- Thin thermal sensors to mount virtually anywhere
- Aluminum construction matches most aluminum cases
- Chrome looks good on anything
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Cons:
- Price
- No assembly instructions
- Lack of backlight option on the temperature probes
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