Testing
The following system was used in testing:
Case: NZXT Tempest
Motherboard: XFX 680i LT SLI
CPU: Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz
Memory: 2x2GB OCZ SLI Ready DDR2 800 MHz
CPU cooling:
– Masscool 8W553
– SilenX iXtrema IXC-120HA2
– Thermaltake DuOrb
– Titan Cool Idol
– Cooler Master GeminII S
– Cooler Master Sphere
– Cooler Master Hyper 212
– Zalman CNPS9300 AT
– Vantec AeroFlow FX 92
– Vantec AeroFlow FX 120
– Xilence Xilent Blade Pro
– Thermaltake MaxOrb EX
– Thermaltake Spinq
– Noctua NH-C12P
– Thermaltake BigType 14 Pro
– Cooler Master V8
– Titan Fenrir TTC-NK85TZ
– Thermaltake TMG IA1
– Cooler Master V10
– Thermaltake ISGC-100
– Thermaltake ISGC-200
– Thermaltake ISGC-300
Video Card: XFX 9800 GTX Black Edition
Tests were conducted under idle and load states. The computer was left to sit after 30 minutes after being turned on to check the idle temperature. The load temperature was found by running the latest version of Prime95 which supports multi-core CPUs by default. Temperatures were obtained through SpeedFan.
Both the low and high tests for the ISGC-300 were top performers. They didn’t quite break our records for cooling, but they came pretty close. I’m glad that it did perform better than the ISGC-100 and 200, since increasing the number would make it seem better; so far so good. The ISGC-300 under low fan speeds achieved an idle temperature of 41C and load temperature of 54C while the high fan speeds achieved 39C under idle and 51C under load.
Conclusion
Overall the ISGC-300 is a very good cooler. The cooling temperatures are great, it’s silent and it doesn’t take up a lot of room inside of your case. Sure the cooler is tall, but it is narrow compared to some other CPU coolers. It can be found online for around $45-$55 which would seem about right price for the performance. Overall Think Computers awards the Thermaltake ISGC-300 CPU Cooler a 9 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– Powerful cooling
– Good cooling for its size
– Plenty of features
– Affordable
Cons:
– Strange internal packaging
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