EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler Preview

So look what just came in today... the EVGA Superclock CPU cooler!  It's a rebranded Swiftech Polaris - the differences are that red LEDs have been added to the fan and it has been applied with black nickel plating (except for the base).  It's a monster - even larger than the Prolimatech Megahalems which it will be tested against.  It has five direct-touch 8mm copper heat pipes as well as what looks like a standard 55-56 aluminum fins (unknown density).  Here is more info on the cooler.

So it arrived today and I took some photos.  You'll find a link on this blog to the full review soon.  It will be done on GND-Tech.com of course.  For the review I'll test it against the Prolimatech Megahalems on an Intel Core i5 760 which will be overclocked up to 4.2 GHz.  The thermal paste used will be OCZ Freeze and I'll use the stock fan on the EVGA Superclock Cooler (120mm x 25mm PWM fan - 750 - 2500 RPM, 26-84 CFM, 13.2 - 41.5 DBA, "hydraumatic" bearing.  This will be used on the i5 760 at the stock 2.8 GHz.  For the 4.2 GHz testing, I'll use a Nidec VA450DC with a shroud (5300 RPM/220 CFM/64 DBA, ball bearing, 21 mmH20 static pressure).  Anyway here are those photos.

Check back for the full review and Megahalems comparison...

EVGA High Flow Bracket Results

When the NVIDIA GTX 400 series video cards came out, people were shocked by the amount of heat these cards produced.  So EVGA came out with an inexpensive aid to these temperature issues, known as high flow brackets.  These little pieces of metal featured wider openings to allow more heat to escape through the back of the card.  The high flow brackets made their way onto the 500 series cards as well.  Below you'll see my own personal results using one of these and an EVGA GTX 480 video card.

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Computer Fans: Information and Recommendations

Fans are becoming more and more necessary for modern computers. They're used to simply move air through the computer or cool specific components. What more people should realize is that not all fans are the same, and it is a wise choice to select high quality fans that last long, fit your noise tolerance and provide enough airflow for your needs. In this guide I'll make recommendations on fans to choose from, and go over several important things you should know about fans.


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CPU Air Cooling Guide

Aftermarket CPU cooling solutions are often skipped, since both Intel and AMD include their own heat sink. While it is true that the stock heat sink will do for stock CPU clocks, many of us have the urge to overclock, especially if your CPU is bottlenecking your graphics solution. Aftermarket CPU heat sinks can be purchased for a low price, and they're much better than the standard cooling solutions. 

There are many choices when it comes to third party CPU cooling solution. You have a variety of brand names such as Arctic Cooling, Cooler Master, Prolimatech, Thermalright, Thermaltake, Zalman, and much more. Many CPU coolers differ in construction and functionality. So here I will go over the basics and help you choose a good product. 

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Computer Airflow Guide

In order to properly cool your PC and its components, a good airflow setup is a necessity. Most pre-built PCs come with lousy airflow, thus heating up your components rather quickly. The use of fans is very important, and so is the location and orientation of the fans.  In this guide you'll find information on general fan setups inside of a computer case, as well as the differences between positive and negative air pressure.

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