|
Statistics
Visitors: 925698
Advertisement
Notebook Computers
For the best deals on laptop computers visit www.Geeks.com.
|
|
Cooler Master Cool Drive 3 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Alexandru Spataru
|
|
Sunday, 01 July 2007 |
|
Page 1 of 2
Thanks to Cooler Master for the product sample.
Cooler Master, the well known manufacturer of coolers and aluminum cases, has recently launched a number of accessories for both overclocking and aesthetical purposes. Cooler Master complements their beautiful aluminum cases with stylish aluminum accessories like CD-drive front bezels, HDD coolers and so on. And it's really nice that they do so, because a beige drive ruins the entire look of an aluminum case. The latest of these Cooler Master aluminum accessories is a new HDD cooler, the Cool Drive 3, which is the subject of this review. The actual part number is DHC-U43, in case you can't find the product by name. Like all Cooler Master products, the Cool Drive 3 comes packed in a very nice retail box, black, with the product picture on it.
I like the box very much, in fact it's the nicest HDD cooler retail box I've ever seen. Of course, this thin black cardboard is not the only protection the HDD cooler has. The actual unit is packed inside a thicker box. Not that the aluminum cooler needs protection against damage, but nobody would like their brand new HDD cooler to be scratched. Opening the box reveals the cooler itself, or more like the parts of it.
The aluminum part features a thermal interface (the white colored square) for optimal heat transfer. Very few HDD coolers feature a thermal interface; most of them are plain and not very efficient. The steel plate is used to hold the HDD in place and it's the bottom of the cooler. It also acts like a spacer and it doesn't touch the PCB of the HDD drive. The drive is very easy to install in the cooler, you just use the supplied screws:
I have not yet figured out what the plastic screws are for, but I guess they can be used as a replacement for the metal ones. The installation guide comes quite handy if you're not a very experienced computer user. Cooler Master also one online just in case. The cooler is very stylish and it pairs perfectly with almost any aluminum case, but especially with those that have a aluminum front panel. Strangely enough, the cooler is not only stylish on the outside, but on the interior as well.
Anyway, you get the idea. This part of the cooler will most likely stay inside the case and not be seen. Besides the good looks, this device has a practical function as well and that's why it is called an HDD cooler. I've showed you the heatsink but there's also a fan, a 40x40x20mm, model A4020-40RB-4DN-PI to be precise, with the following specs:
- Rated voltage: 12 VDC
- Rated speed: 4500 RPM
- Airflow: 9.21 CFM
- Noise level: 29 dB(A)
Here's a picture of this blower:
At 29dB this fan should be pretty quiet and it actually is. The airflow is not bad either for a 40mm fan, 9.21CFM should be enough for cooling a hard drive. Of course it also depends on the type of HDD used, but for most drives this cooler is more than adequate. The front panel of the cooler can be removed in case you want to clean out the dust.
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Last Updated ( Saturday, 14 July 2007 )
|
|
|
