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Installation & Testing
This part proved to be a little challenging. If
you plan on using this as a HSF, I would definitely recommend removal of your
heatsink in order to install the Dual Storm. I installed this unit on a stock
AMD 2500+ Athlon XP cooler using a 60mm to 80mm bracket. Along with the stock
60mm fan, I also ran a generic 80mm fan on the same adaptor. The system was my
lightly OC’d Barton on an Abit NF7-S motherboard set up in a Logisys Phantom
case. I chose this case because it had a side window fan and excellent
ventilation, and I wanted to make sure the adaptor and Dual Storm would still
be able to fit in alongside the window mounted fan.
**click to enlarge**
Testing consisted of loading the processor with
Prime95 for an hour, then taking a temp reading from a probe, and verified
with the onboard sensor. Ambient air temperature stayed within a half degree
of 25°C during the testing. Each fan had idle temp tested first, then the load
test. For the Dual Storm, I allowed the system to shut down and cool off
completely before switching the fan speed.
|
|
Idle |
Load |
|
Stock 60mm |
44°C |
50°C |
|
Generic 80mm |
43°C |
50°C |
|
Dual Storm (High) |
39°C |
52°C |
|
Dual Storm (Low) |
45°C |
48°C |
The tests do show some surprising numbers, but I
believe that the adaptor used to mount the two 80mm fans probably affected the
amount of air actually getting into the heat sink. Thus, the lower Dual Storm
setting resulted in a less forceful flow that was not deflected as easily. The
test also showed that it is a much more serious issue at load then idle, where
the higher airflow was able to remove the less intense heat more readily.
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