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Product:
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Micro Cool NorthPole XE Whisper Cooler |
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Price:
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$43 (CDN) / $32 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Micro Cool
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Author:
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Mars
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Date:
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June 10th, 2006
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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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Before installing the cooler the user must remove a protective film from the base exposing a nice flat, smooth and shiny
surface.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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With the all copper skived heatsink removed we can see the circuit board that controls the thermally controlled fan.
Due to risk of damage I was unable to remove the circuit board to find out more about the fan.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Remove the old Northbridge fan and select the proper length of mounting studs from the two different lengths that come
in the kit from 59mm and 55mm and secure according to the instructions to the back of the motherboard with the supplied
nuts and washers. The instructions show the rubber washers should be mounted on the backside of the motherboard. Due to
a resistor in the way, I had to use the nylon washers instead, which is supposed to be used on the front side of the
motherboard.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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With the two studs installed we are ready to install the cooler. Apply a light even coat of thermal paste, choose the
proper mounting brackets, and secure down with the provided thumb nuts finger tight.
Testing:
Having faced the same problems I encountered in my Cooler Master Blue Ice Review
on my nForce 4 based motherboards, I had to use an old Socket A motherboard that I was going to use to build an HTPC
system that I had acquired after a recent upgrade to my son’s computer. The Northbridge fan was noisy and on it’s way
out, providing me a perfect opportunity to upgrade it. Before purchasing this product, check your motherboard for
compatibility, and installation restriction problems that may arise
- MSI KT 333 ULTRA-ARU Motherboard
- Athlon XP 1800+ Thoroughbred (B Core)
- OCZ PC 3200 2X 256MEG DC
- Asetek Waterchill X-Treme Pump
- Generic Case (without cooling fans)
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Click image for larger view
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The Via Apollo chipset is unable to provide a temperature reading on the Northbridge the way some newer model motherboards do.
Being forced to improvise by using the control module off an Asetek water pump. The control module has the ability to
provide 2 temperature readings from thermal probes, as well the ability to control and report fan speeds through a
software control panel. One thermal probe was placed directly inside the fins of the Micro Cool NorthPole Whisper XE
and the other was placed to measure ambient room temperature. The 3-pin power connector was connected directly to the
power supply while the RPM lead was connected to the module to enable fan RPM reporting.
Before I installed the NorthPole Whisper XE I powered up on the bench and noticed the fan RPM was a lowly 1480 RPM with
an ambient room temperature of 22.2 degrees. Once the cooler was installed and the system at an idle load I observed a
temperature of 31 degrees at 2150 RPM.
I then turned the fan off, and noticed the temperature rose to a maximum of 37.5 with no system errors; indicating the
XE works well in passive mode. Once I plugged the fan back in I noticed the fan speed was at 3700 RPM, showing the
thermal control of the fan in operation. As the temperature started to drop, so did the fan speed down to the idle
reading I observed earlier at 2100 RPM at 31 degrees.
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Conclusion:
I found the NorthPole Whisper XE from Micro Cool to be a well made quality product. It was much quieter than my original
chipset cooler and was a welcomed upgrade that will be a permanent fixture in my HTPC system. The copper base and 40mm
thermally controlled fan and aluminum shroud provides good performance for a wide variety of platforms. The NorthPole
Whisper XE cooler can be used to replace a faulty or noisy original chipset cooler, or can also be used to upgrade to a
better solution for overclockers. I did not find anything negative that caused frustration or dislike with this product,
although the pictures in the installation manual could be a bit more clear or better yet in colour. There is a PDF
available on the website in sharper detail. Overall, I think this is a worthy, useful addition to anyone’s system and I
am award a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. If you have any
questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Micro Cool website for more
information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Quiet operation
- Compact size compare to most.
- Thermally controlled fan
- All copper base
- Wide range of applications
- Effective as a passive cooler
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Cons:
- Unclear pictures in installation instructions
- Product availability for North American markets
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