Thermaltake Beetle
Performance:
Idle temperatures were obtained by leaving the system alone for 30 minutes. Load temperatures were obtained by stressing the CPU with CPUBurn-In v1.00 for 30 minutes. All temperatures were recorded through GKrellM 2.2.4 with LM_Sensors 2.8.8. Testing also occured with both of the heatsinks on low and high fan-speeds. For comparison purposes, we also tested a Thermalright SLK947U with an 80mm fan. Ambient temperature during testing was maintained at 22°C. Click here to see the Thermaltake Beetle's LEDs in action (or here if you experience problems with your web browser).
Hardware Components | |
Processor: | Intel Pentium 4 3.0C @ 3.6GHz |
Motherboard: | ASUS P4P800 |
Memory: | 2GB Kingston DDR400 |
Graphics Card: | ATI RADEON 9800PRO |
Hard Drives: | 4 x Western Digital 120GB |
Cooling: | 2 x 120mm case fans |
Case: | Thermaltake Shark |
Power Supply: | Fortron 530W |
Software Components | |
Operating System: | FedoraCore3 |
Linux Kernel: | 2.6.10-1.770 |
Conclusion:
As the results show, the Beetle outperformed the SLK947U in every aspect. For low fan speed settings, there was a 7°C difference and on high speed, the 947U lagged by 3°C. Overall, this cooler performed as well as it looked. The completeness of the accessories provided by Thermaltake was definitely a plus. As far as installation goes, there are some improvements that could be made, but it worked out in the end. We here at Phoronix can recommend the Thermaltake Beetle to anyone in the market for a new heatsink. The price tag can be a little hefty (~ $60), if you’re looking for good performance and great looks, this is the HSF for you.
Pros:
· LED lighting
· Good performance
· Plenty of accessories
· Fan speed control
Cons:
· Installation is a hassle
· Incompatible with some motherboards
· Price is a bit expensive
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