Testing
A Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 512MB GDDR4 (770mhz core/ 1125mhz RAM) with Catalyst 8.10 drivers was used for testing on a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H mATX motherboard with an AMD Phenom X3 8750 processor and the stock AMD heatsink in a Thermaltake Lanbox Lite mATX case with an OCZ 720W EvoStream power supply. The card was tested at idle and then full load using Folding@Home’s GPU client to achieve 100 percent GPU load over a 10 min period in a 26°C room with the case lid off.
Testing was done with dual Xigmatek XSF-F9251 92mm fans. We contacted the engineers at Thermalright and it was their recommendation to test with dual 37 cfm fans.
Use double 92*92*25mm fans on the T-rad2. 2000RPM . noise level 24dbA. 37CFM.
For the ATI 4850 & 4870 vga card test. 92mm fan*2 it’s our recommend
For 9800+ , 9800GTX 9600GT (G94 core) single 12cm fan it’s cool enough.
The Xigmateks push 37.8cfm at 28dB and fit the bill nicely. We did not test with the 120mm fan as a single 120mm fan blowing the same cfm, while quieter, does not offer the same performance potential because it can not cover the entire surface area of the T-Rad². Users opting for a 120mm fan should only do so when looking for quiet computer cooling and not maximum performance.
Conclusion
The T-Rad² performs admirably, especially so when considering that it maintains the same sound levels at idle and load. The stock ATI cooler on the HD 3870 has a high-pitched whine similar to a muffled hairdryer and reminiscent of the old Delta 60mm “screamer” fans popular with hardcore (and possibly deaf) enthusiasts just a few years ago. When the GPU is stressed, the card becomes a noisy annoyance. Conversely, the T-Rad²’s sonic footprint isn’t any greater than an enthusiast PSU.
Other GPU coolers on the market may out-perform the T-Rad² in some cases, but they often require users to sacrifice space and extra motherboard slots or SLI/Crossfire compatibility for and extra degree or two of cooling performance. The only real downside to the T-Rad² is its price. The $59.95 suggested retail price is very steep for an aftermarket cooler; especially when that cooler does not come with any fans. The inclusion of a high-quality TIM can account for some of the high price, and the build quality of the T-Rad² is amazing, but the price premium makes the T-Rad² less attractive to users who do not need the slim profile.
In the end, the cooler’s well-executed design, swank looks, and admirable performance win out for this reviewer. The T-Rad² combines form and function into a compact, well-rounded package. As a new product, its availability on retail shelves is a bit slim at the moment but we expect to see it available through most major online vendors soon.
Pros:
Good performance
Compact fit
Ease of installation
Robust package
Cons:
May interfere with motherboard components
Price
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