Antec VCool VGA Cooler

Installation:

Installing this VGA cooler is quite simple, as it doesn't require the removal of the graphics card heatsink or any other devices. Simply insert the VCool into two available expansion slots immediately beneath the AGP or PCI Express slots. Depending upon the size and location of the VPU on the graphics card, you may or may not need to use the extension duct. In our situation, with a low profile Power Color ATI RADEON 9250 we first had installed the extension duct, but later had removed it to better focus the fan upon the passive Power Color heatsink. The Antec VCool VGA Cooler was a quick and easy installation.

Performance:

The system where the VCool was tested contained the following components.

To get a better understanding for how the VCool could handle cooling the passive ATI 9250, we ran the cooler with four different fan speeds, which were off, low, medium, and high. The temperature results were obtained from a thermal probe (included with the A-Top XPlode) positioned between the VPU and heatsink. Close attention was paid during this process to a sure the probe wouldn't interrupt the heat transfer. For each of the four tests, three instances of glxgears were running. After the testing had wrapped up, we found a two degree Celsius difference between the Antec VCool fan off and its lowest fan speed possible. Between the low and medium speeds was another two-degree difference. Between medium and high was a mere one degree Celsius difference.

Conclusion:

Antec's website stated a five to fifteen degree drop in temperature, from using the Antec VCool, in our testing we experienced roughly a five-degree drop between the fan on its maximum speed setting and it being off. Even with this fairly significant boost in cooling, we're pleased to report even when the fan was spinning at its maximum speed, the unit remained fairly quiet. Overall, we appreciated the boost in performance presented by the Antec VCool VGA Cooler, while keeping noise to a minimum and also illuminating the case with a nice blue light. We would recommend this product to anyone who is looking to prolong the life of his or her graphics card.

Pros:

· Compatibility
· Easy to Install
· Three blue LEDs
· 3-speed switch
· VGA Temperature drop
· Cheap (~ $20)

Cons:

· Lack of documentation