How big is too big? With their latest V8 GTS, Cooler Master is pushing the boundaries of size when it comes to CPU coolers.
Cooler Master V8 GTS
Cooler Master is a company which became renowned as a cooling solutions manufacturer. Even though the company has diversified into many segments of the market, today they still offer a great number of cooling solutions, from OEM cooler replacements to extreme solutions for hardcore enthusiasts.
Today we will be looking at their latest high performance cooler, the V8 GTS, an air cooler of massive proportions, which Cooler Master is hoping to combine excellent performance and a unique appearance with. The V8 GTS also comes with a hefty price tag, retailing for about 100 USD at the time of this review. Does it perform well enough to justify the price? We will find out in this review.
Manufacturer features and specifications
ModelRR-V8VC-16PR-R1CPU SocketIntel® LGA 2011/1366/1156/1155/1150/775
AMD FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3 /AM2Dimensions154 x 149.8 x 166.5mm (6.1 x 5.9 x 6.6 in)Heat Sink Dimensions154 x 140 x 153.5mm (6.1 x 5.5 x 6.0 in)Heat Sink MaterialVapor Chamber / 8 Heat Pipes / Aluminum FinsHeat Sink Weight854g (1.9lb)Heat Pipe DimensionsØ6mmFan DimensionsØ 140 x 20 mm (5.5 x 0.8 inch)Fan Speed600 – 1,600 RPM (PWM) ± 10%Fan Air Flow28 – 82 CFM ± 10%Fan Air Pressure0. 3 – 1.45 mmH2O ± 10%Fan Life Expectancy160,000 hrsNoise Level36 dBABearing TypePOM bearing – Cooler Master 4th Gen. Bearing (*POM = Polyoxymethylene)Connector4-PinRated Voltage12 VDCRated Current0.31APower Consumption3.72WFan Weight110g (0.24 lb) x 2*
Product packaging and bundle
The box
The packaging of the V8 GTS betrays the size of the cooler, as it could easily fit a normal ATX power supply in it and more. It is very well designed, with a colorful theme and several pictures displaying the cooler from multiple angles. Information regarding the cooler have been printed on the back side of the box.
Bundle
Despite the class of the cooler, Cooler Master supplies the bare essentials with it. Inside the box we found the mounting hardware, retention brackets and backplates, installation manuals and a small syringe with thermal compound. There are no special extras or even a case badge supplied with the V8 GTS.
The cooler
Cooler Master V8 GTS
The proportions of Cooler Master’s new V8 GTS cooler are truly massive, measuring about 15cm wide and nearly 17cm tall. The cooler comes pre-assembled, with the 140mm fans already installed in-between the fin arrays and everything held together by a large plastic frame. At 1150gr, it is not the heaviest CPU cooler ever made, yet not nearly lightweight either.
Top view
Cooler Master has designed the plastic frame of the V8 GTS to resemble, as the name of the cooler suggests, the appearance of an 8-cylinder car engine. It slightly does, perhaps not the aggressive look of American muscle car engines but it is close to the serious look of the European V8 designs.
Cooling fins
The V8 GTS has a large central array of fins and two smaller side arrays, with two 140mm fans sandwiched between them and the large central array.* The two side arrays are quite small, with both of them together hardly reaching the mass and surface of the central array. As such, this may not be the most thermally efficient design, as the incoming air warms up before entering the central array, where the bulk of the heat dissipation is taking place, which may be actually reducing the overall efficiency of the cooler, as the cooling efficiency strongly depends on the temperature delta between the exchanging bodies (in this case, the air and the surface of the fins).
6mm ID heatpipes
Eight 6mm thick heatpipes are responsible for drawing the heat away from the CPU and to the aluminum fin arrays of the cooler. Cooler Master Nickel plated the copper heatpipes, obviously in order to improve the aesthetics of the cooler and to minimize corrosion, as untreated copper speedily turns black due to oxidation.
Cooler base
The base of the V8 GTS cooler is partially made out of nickel plated copper (bottom half) and aluminum (upper half). The copper part is responsible for drawing the heat away from the CPU and to the heatpipes, while the upper part is solely responsible for the mounting of the cooler. Although the base is very smooth and well done, Cooler Master has not polished it much, which might disappoint some users who would like to see a mirror-like finish.
Installation
Although the installation of the Cooler Master V8 GTS is not overly complex, the size of the cooler demands extra caution. Although the cooler may be installed with the motherboard still inside the case, granted that the motherboard’s tray has an opening over the CPU area, we highly recommend removing the motherboard from the case if you are not highly experienced with the installation of similar products. The first step is classic; placing the retention backplate onto the rear side of the CPU socket.
The proper retention brackets will have to be secured on the base of the cooler, using the supplied screws. Do not forget to peel off the warning label!
Back to the motherboard, after the CPU has been installed and a thin layer of thermal compound has been applied, the cooler is being secured onto the motherboard by slowly screwing the hexagonal nuts, using the supplied tool.
This mounting method is far from flawless; actually, it screams trouble. If the motherboard has sizable heatsinks, as every high performance motherboard does, it will be a huge pain or even impossible to reach behind them and secure the nut.
After the installation is complete, the user gets to appreciate the massive proportions and aggressive appearance of the Cooler Master V8 GTS. The huge cooler will cover everything above the first PCI Express slot, including some of the RAM slots; the use of RAM modules less than 50mm high is highly recommended. The height of the cooler also demands a rather wide case, leaving the V8 GTS incompatible with low and several middle-range solutions.
Testing equipment and performance
In order to provide you with the most professional and accurate reviews, we are using the following equipment to test the performance of coolers. The system automatically calculates the Delta T temperature, which is the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature at the top of the thermal core. We test each cooler with the included thermal grease.
More information about our testing equipment and methodology can be found in this article.
As it can be seen from the table above, the thermal performance of the Cooler Master V8 GTS is excellent, allowing it to surpass most high-performance air coolers and even a few all-in-one liquid cooling solutions in the process. However, we still stand slightly disappointed, as we expected such a behemoth and pricey product to perform even better. The two 140mm fans running at maximum speed though are rather noisy and would be annoying for casual users and during typical everyday PC usage. Thankfully, both fans are PWM controlled, allowing your motherboard to control their speed.
Final words and conclusion
Quality (30% of the total score)
Cooler Master placed a lot of focus on the quality of their latest cooler. As a result, the V8 GTS is exceptionally well made and the materials are of very high quality. There was not even a slightly dent or mediocre soldering joint that we could spot. Even the installed fans have thermoplastic bearings, which last much longer than typical sleeve bearings. However, the massive weight of the cooler could become a problem if the system is being frequently transported, not because of the additional 1kg imposed by the cooler alone but due to the mechanical stress such a weight imposes on other components, as it could easily damage the motherboard.
Quality Score 9.5/10
Performance (40% of the total score)
In terms of performance, the Cooler Master V8 GTS left us with mixed feelings. Although the thermal performance of the cooler was exceptional, we expected slightly more from such a behemoth, especially considering the hefty 100 USD price tag. Nevertheless, one cannot claim that the overall performance of the V8 GTS is not excellent, as the cooler delivers one of the best thermal/acoustic combination figures that we have ever received from an air cooler, plus the PWM controlled fans are a great bonus for those seeking versatility; that you cannot ever replace the fans however, is not, especially in case of failure.
Performance Score 8.5/10
Aesthetics (20% of the total score)
Aesthetics played a great role on the creation of this product, this is for certain. Cooler Master tried to imitate the strong, dominant appearance of a V8 engine, which we believe that it was a good idea, especially considering the name of the cooler. The end result was good, with the plastic frame of the cooler slightly resembling the plastic cover of the cylinder heads/intake assembly of some modern V8 engines. Even without a comparison, the appearance of the V8 GTS cooler is clearly imposing, which will appeal to a lot of modders.
Aesthetics Score 9.5/10
*
Value (10% of the total score)
Value is the only area where the Cooler Master V8 GTS really suffers. Currently priced at nearly 100 USD, the V8 GTS is more expensive than a lot of all-in-one liquid cooling solutions and perhaps the most expensive air cooler currently in the retail market. Despite the high quality, appearance and performance of the V8 GTS, the high retail price will certainly be a strong problem for Cooler Master against competition.
Value Score 7.0/10
- Read more at http://vr-zone.com/articles/cooler-m...iew/54704.html
Cooler Master V8 GTSCooler Master is a company which became renowned as a cooling solutions manufacturer. Even though the company has diversified into many segments of the market, today they still offer a great number of cooling solutions, from OEM cooler replacements to extreme solutions for hardcore enthusiasts.
Today we will be looking at their latest high performance cooler, the V8 GTS, an air cooler of massive proportions, which Cooler Master is hoping to combine excellent performance and a unique appearance with. The V8 GTS also comes with a hefty price tag, retailing for about 100 USD at the time of this review. Does it perform well enough to justify the price? We will find out in this review.
Manufacturer features and specifications
ModelRR-V8VC-16PR-R1CPU SocketIntel® LGA 2011/1366/1156/1155/1150/775
AMD FM2/FM1/AM3+/AM3 /AM2Dimensions154 x 149.8 x 166.5mm (6.1 x 5.9 x 6.6 in)Heat Sink Dimensions154 x 140 x 153.5mm (6.1 x 5.5 x 6.0 in)Heat Sink MaterialVapor Chamber / 8 Heat Pipes / Aluminum FinsHeat Sink Weight854g (1.9lb)Heat Pipe DimensionsØ6mmFan DimensionsØ 140 x 20 mm (5.5 x 0.8 inch)Fan Speed600 – 1,600 RPM (PWM) ± 10%Fan Air Flow28 – 82 CFM ± 10%Fan Air Pressure0. 3 – 1.45 mmH2O ± 10%Fan Life Expectancy160,000 hrsNoise Level36 dBABearing TypePOM bearing – Cooler Master 4th Gen. Bearing (*POM = Polyoxymethylene)Connector4-PinRated Voltage12 VDCRated Current0.31APower Consumption3.72WFan Weight110g (0.24 lb) x 2*
Product packaging and bundle
The boxThe packaging of the V8 GTS betrays the size of the cooler, as it could easily fit a normal ATX power supply in it and more. It is very well designed, with a colorful theme and several pictures displaying the cooler from multiple angles. Information regarding the cooler have been printed on the back side of the box.
BundleDespite the class of the cooler, Cooler Master supplies the bare essentials with it. Inside the box we found the mounting hardware, retention brackets and backplates, installation manuals and a small syringe with thermal compound. There are no special extras or even a case badge supplied with the V8 GTS.
The cooler
Cooler Master V8 GTSThe proportions of Cooler Master’s new V8 GTS cooler are truly massive, measuring about 15cm wide and nearly 17cm tall. The cooler comes pre-assembled, with the 140mm fans already installed in-between the fin arrays and everything held together by a large plastic frame. At 1150gr, it is not the heaviest CPU cooler ever made, yet not nearly lightweight either.
Top viewCooler Master has designed the plastic frame of the V8 GTS to resemble, as the name of the cooler suggests, the appearance of an 8-cylinder car engine. It slightly does, perhaps not the aggressive look of American muscle car engines but it is close to the serious look of the European V8 designs.
Cooling finsThe V8 GTS has a large central array of fins and two smaller side arrays, with two 140mm fans sandwiched between them and the large central array.* The two side arrays are quite small, with both of them together hardly reaching the mass and surface of the central array. As such, this may not be the most thermally efficient design, as the incoming air warms up before entering the central array, where the bulk of the heat dissipation is taking place, which may be actually reducing the overall efficiency of the cooler, as the cooling efficiency strongly depends on the temperature delta between the exchanging bodies (in this case, the air and the surface of the fins).
6mm ID heatpipesEight 6mm thick heatpipes are responsible for drawing the heat away from the CPU and to the aluminum fin arrays of the cooler. Cooler Master Nickel plated the copper heatpipes, obviously in order to improve the aesthetics of the cooler and to minimize corrosion, as untreated copper speedily turns black due to oxidation.
Cooler baseThe base of the V8 GTS cooler is partially made out of nickel plated copper (bottom half) and aluminum (upper half). The copper part is responsible for drawing the heat away from the CPU and to the heatpipes, while the upper part is solely responsible for the mounting of the cooler. Although the base is very smooth and well done, Cooler Master has not polished it much, which might disappoint some users who would like to see a mirror-like finish.
Installation
Although the installation of the Cooler Master V8 GTS is not overly complex, the size of the cooler demands extra caution. Although the cooler may be installed with the motherboard still inside the case, granted that the motherboard’s tray has an opening over the CPU area, we highly recommend removing the motherboard from the case if you are not highly experienced with the installation of similar products. The first step is classic; placing the retention backplate onto the rear side of the CPU socket.
The proper retention brackets will have to be secured on the base of the cooler, using the supplied screws. Do not forget to peel off the warning label!
Back to the motherboard, after the CPU has been installed and a thin layer of thermal compound has been applied, the cooler is being secured onto the motherboard by slowly screwing the hexagonal nuts, using the supplied tool.
This mounting method is far from flawless; actually, it screams trouble. If the motherboard has sizable heatsinks, as every high performance motherboard does, it will be a huge pain or even impossible to reach behind them and secure the nut.
After the installation is complete, the user gets to appreciate the massive proportions and aggressive appearance of the Cooler Master V8 GTS. The huge cooler will cover everything above the first PCI Express slot, including some of the RAM slots; the use of RAM modules less than 50mm high is highly recommended. The height of the cooler also demands a rather wide case, leaving the V8 GTS incompatible with low and several middle-range solutions.
Testing equipment and performance
In order to provide you with the most professional and accurate reviews, we are using the following equipment to test the performance of coolers. The system automatically calculates the Delta T temperature, which is the difference between the ambient temperature and the temperature at the top of the thermal core. We test each cooler with the included thermal grease.
- Custom copper thermal core with automatic power controls
- Watlow heat generation rods
- PT100 temperature sensors
- Lutron DW-6091 Power Analyzer
- SL-5868P digital sound level meter
- CompuLAB interface
- MyPClab thermal interface
- Custom calibration box
- Custom software
More information about our testing equipment and methodology can be found in this article.
Cooler
Thermal Test
Fan Speed
Noise
50W (°C)
75W (°C)
120W (°C)
180W (°C)
(RPM)
(dBA)
Cooler Master Seidon 240M
9,6
12,4
16,6
24,4
2400
59,0
Corsair H80i
9,8
13,2
18,5
24,8
2700
58,6
Phanteks PH-TC14PE
11,0
13,8
20,1
25,6
1200
40,2
Cooler Master Seidon 240M
12,6
14,0
20,0
27,5
1200
39,0
Corsair H100i
12,4
14,5
19,8
28,1
1300
38,2
Cooler Master V8 GTS
11,3
14,0
20,5
28,2
1600
40,0
Corsair H80i
12,8
14,7
20,1
28,4
1300
38,4
Corsair H60
12,8
14,9
20,1
28,6
2000
44,2
Noctua NH-C14
11,2
13,9
20,7
28,9
1200
37,2
Noctua NH-D14
11,4
14,0
20,8
28,9
1300
37,4
Thermaltake Frio Extreme
11,6
14,1
21,0
28,9
1800
49,2
Corsair H100
13,0
14,9
20,2
29,0
1300
39,1
Thermaltake Frio
13,5
16,9
22,0
29,7
2500
63,4
Thermal Test
Fan Speed
Noise
50W (°C)
75W (°C)
120W (°C)
180W (°C)
(RPM)
(dBA)
Cooler Master Seidon 240M
9,6
12,4
16,6
24,4
2400
59,0
Corsair H80i
9,8
13,2
18,5
24,8
2700
58,6
Phanteks PH-TC14PE
11,0
13,8
20,1
25,6
1200
40,2
Cooler Master Seidon 240M
12,6
14,0
20,0
27,5
1200
39,0
Corsair H100i
12,4
14,5
19,8
28,1
1300
38,2
Cooler Master V8 GTS
11,3
14,0
20,5
28,2
1600
40,0
Corsair H80i
12,8
14,7
20,1
28,4
1300
38,4
Corsair H60
12,8
14,9
20,1
28,6
2000
44,2
Noctua NH-C14
11,2
13,9
20,7
28,9
1200
37,2
Noctua NH-D14
11,4
14,0
20,8
28,9
1300
37,4
Thermaltake Frio Extreme
11,6
14,1
21,0
28,9
1800
49,2
Corsair H100
13,0
14,9
20,2
29,0
1300
39,1
Thermaltake Frio
13,5
16,9
22,0
29,7
2500
63,4
As it can be seen from the table above, the thermal performance of the Cooler Master V8 GTS is excellent, allowing it to surpass most high-performance air coolers and even a few all-in-one liquid cooling solutions in the process. However, we still stand slightly disappointed, as we expected such a behemoth and pricey product to perform even better. The two 140mm fans running at maximum speed though are rather noisy and would be annoying for casual users and during typical everyday PC usage. Thankfully, both fans are PWM controlled, allowing your motherboard to control their speed.
Final words and conclusion
Quality (30% of the total score)
Cooler Master placed a lot of focus on the quality of their latest cooler. As a result, the V8 GTS is exceptionally well made and the materials are of very high quality. There was not even a slightly dent or mediocre soldering joint that we could spot. Even the installed fans have thermoplastic bearings, which last much longer than typical sleeve bearings. However, the massive weight of the cooler could become a problem if the system is being frequently transported, not because of the additional 1kg imposed by the cooler alone but due to the mechanical stress such a weight imposes on other components, as it could easily damage the motherboard.
Quality Score 9.5/10
Performance (40% of the total score)
In terms of performance, the Cooler Master V8 GTS left us with mixed feelings. Although the thermal performance of the cooler was exceptional, we expected slightly more from such a behemoth, especially considering the hefty 100 USD price tag. Nevertheless, one cannot claim that the overall performance of the V8 GTS is not excellent, as the cooler delivers one of the best thermal/acoustic combination figures that we have ever received from an air cooler, plus the PWM controlled fans are a great bonus for those seeking versatility; that you cannot ever replace the fans however, is not, especially in case of failure.
Performance Score 8.5/10
Aesthetics (20% of the total score)
Aesthetics played a great role on the creation of this product, this is for certain. Cooler Master tried to imitate the strong, dominant appearance of a V8 engine, which we believe that it was a good idea, especially considering the name of the cooler. The end result was good, with the plastic frame of the cooler slightly resembling the plastic cover of the cylinder heads/intake assembly of some modern V8 engines. Even without a comparison, the appearance of the V8 GTS cooler is clearly imposing, which will appeal to a lot of modders.
Aesthetics Score 9.5/10
*
Value (10% of the total score)
Value is the only area where the Cooler Master V8 GTS really suffers. Currently priced at nearly 100 USD, the V8 GTS is more expensive than a lot of all-in-one liquid cooling solutions and perhaps the most expensive air cooler currently in the retail market. Despite the high quality, appearance and performance of the V8 GTS, the high retail price will certainly be a strong problem for Cooler Master against competition.
Value Score 7.0/10
- Read more at http://vr-zone.com/articles/cooler-m...iew/54704.html
via VRForums | Singapore Technology Lifestyle Forums - News around the web! http://forums.vr-zone.com/showthread.php?t=2919817&goto=newpost
No comments:
Post a Comment